The Dark
Dear Diary, I don't know if I am smart enough or I can make it, it feels dark, let me tell you why.........
It was 11th of September, 2017, and final year has taken its start. I really don’t know how to feel about it. It was our first class for Copywriting and art direction and Ma’am gave us the assignment to create a visual representation of a market research being conducted by the brand Canolive, and I have no clue how to even set camera for a video, how to write dialogues or anything, and we have to shoot 3 scenes with minimum 2 shots. Ma’am taught us basics of shots in the class but this requires practice and I have none.
11 September,
2017
So dialogues and shots got ready and I feel our ideas turned out to be super cute. But what we wanted couldn’t happen. We thought we’ll show a scene in which there is a kid with a grandfather and highlight Canolive through kid playing with the Canolive and talk to grandfather. But due to last minute actors backing out we had to let that go. Our final scenes included a guy talking about how much he loves to cook for his mom, Sister in laws shopping together and a girl expressing why they prefer Canolive. I took a shift of focus shot which turned out to be very smooth and motivated me. I had watched tutorials and helping videos whole night before so I am prepared to shoot good. Since we couldn’t shoot at Al fatah, we chose a local store which was small and with my prime lens it was difficult but I guess I managed. Ayesha took the responsibility of editing the video which turned out great.
13th September,
2017
GUESS WHAT! Ma’am has already informed us about our Midterm and Final project details and I feel I can’t do it. But of course, I have to do it so let’s see what future has on hold for me. Ma’am gave us a brief based on a compulsive gambling advertisement. She instructed us that we have to create a TVC based on that for our midterm so for the class we had to brainstorm ideas.
When I was in O levels, for my English Language exam essay, I had written a very dark essay based on memories of a child, which I still love. I myself think it was brilliant and it’s concept never leaves my mind. So I shared the story with Khizer Ayesha Laveeza, how about using a child and represent him going through the memory lane of his father’s changing habits due to gambling. Ma’am wanted more creativity in this so Ayesha suggested, how about making it visually amazing by showing a child’s shift of expressions with each memory, which ma’am liked and gave us a heads up to work on it and create a script.
At the end of the class, we were shown a mentos ad which we had to analyze and identify names of each shot in the ad. It was kind of tough since I didn’t remember the names of shots but oh well. Now I’ll know. I guess this is how one learns.
18th September,
2017
Surprise class assignment alert! Ma’am asked us to recreate the mentos ad class! For that, we had to recruit actors, make a list of shots, find the right place with lightings and shoot it. In just three hours. And guess what? We did it! But it was crazy we were all over the place. I took the responsibility of finding the right class and actors and help in shooting and acting. Found Lab 1 free, it had an appropriate amount of light and open corridor required for the first shot. Each shot had to be evaluated according to angle to be shot from and how close is the shot supposed to be the actor. All are too technical and makes me appreciate the advertisements more. Each shot requires a lot of thought process. The reason why I did not join the strategy team or take responsibility for shooting because I really think I can’t do it. Makes me fear for my future how will I manage all the assignments ahead?
25th September,
2017
Last week, Ayesha, Khizer and I, had discussed and finalized the script. Ayesha asked to write the first draft of the script herself as she had learned how to write one during her internship. Ma’am did not approve of the dialogues of the script and gave further remarks about it regarding the changes needed in the script. After this discussion, the class started.
We were taught about three point lighting, by one of the assistants at TV studio. They taught us all the critical points to be kept in check while shooting, e.g. shadows around the nose and behind the person. After which we were divided into groups and asked to demonstrate what was taught. I had brought my camera so I took the responsibility of shooting. I was failing at lights, and to be honest the whole group was. In the end, we managed to do something, and there was only one shadow around Ayesha’s nose (she was modeling) but besides that, it was incorrect. The teacher told us where we went wrong and then it was time for the next group.
During all this, we got marks for the quiz on mentos ad shots and I have scored bad, of course. I don’t know why, but I always seem to lack behind. It was a surprise quiz for all, others scored well. Why am I never able to do as good! I don’t know..
2nd October,
2017
