Creation #5: Short Subject "A Shed in the Woods"

Daily Creation #5 - A Shed in the Woods from Donovan Keith on Vimeo.

Based on the standard cabin in the woods horror genre, this is an experiment in what I can accomplish in a single afternoon by myself. There's a lot that I would like to fix (Foley for one) but probably won't. The goal is to create a "complete" project in a single day, and learn from my mistakes for the next one.

What Worked:

• Location, location, location - Finding a "filmic" location is half the battle.
• Tho logo on my t-shirt and jacket were too distracting, so I turned them both inside-out and it worked.
• The "dead" shot was surprisingly successful.
• My personality came through in my one line.
• Shooting through objects can create a sense of being watched.
• Some of the cinematography is quite pretty; I'm buying a DSLR when next I have the cash.

What I Learned:

• Stories need a beginning, not just a middle and an end. If I'm going to recognize the "monster" in the end, I should know that I'm looking for him in the beginning.
• POV shots only cut, if there's a closeup of a face first.
• Shots of shoulders to feet with no head are just awkward.
• Things that feel really unnatural look fine on video.
• If an action is only implied, you can make it real with sound. So know what sounds you need to capture to create that reality.
• Long takes of long shots feel long.
• Final shots can be meditative if you've earned them, so give them time to breathe.
• If you're not fully committed, you should just play it deadpan; at least that can be interpreted as shock.