Chess Film: CCR Planning

     For my creative critical reflection (CCR), I plan on reflecting thoroughly on my teams work, including the decisions I made while producing this one-minute chess film. The films unique idea where a murderer plays chess (seemingly against no one) and each time he knocks a piece off the board and someone dies- offers lots of room and ideas for creative reflection. This is a planning sheet for the ideas I have for my CCR.

1) How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues? 

    The game of chess is traditionally used as a symbol of intellectual superiority. In our film, chess becomes a tool of power and death. Our film challenges the conventions by including a murderer who uses chess to commit crimes, disregarding the common portrayal of chess players as intellectuals. 

-Chess normally portrayed as a game for strategic thinkers, here it is a metaphor for power and death.

-Representation of social groups; One black antagonist and one black protagonist in our film.

2) How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

For this question, the idea of creating a voice over with certain clips from the film comes to mind. I can discuss how these clips were created in order to engage audiences with suspense and surprise. The shot where the murderer hits the investigator with the chess piece could be used; as well as the shot where the murderers face is officially confirmed to the audience. These two scenes create lots of suspense and surprise in our film.

-Engagement: Since the film has such a short duration, it is a good hook for digital platforms used today. Examples of this include Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The suspense of these films would keep viewers on edge while also encouraging them to share the video with others. 

-Distribution: Since this is a short film, it could be distributed through social media or streaming services that offer short specials. 

3) How did your production skills develop throughout this project? 

    This point can be presented with a voice over of behind the scenes photos, showing the stages from pre-production to filming and editing. It can include pictures of how we captured certain shots and methods we learned regarding the technology. As cinematographer, I can mention how I experimented with different camera angles and how I learned to achieve them.

4) How did you integrate technologies - software, hardware, and online - in this project?

    Creating a PowerPoint voiceover with slides is an idea to answer this question. This way, I can showcase the different technologies we included in our project with photos. 

-Show equipment used. Including the specific iPhone camera, tri-pod, and hand held phone rig

-Also include what online software was used for editing, Abode Premiere Pro. Talk about how it allowed us to change the footage into black and white, and add effects like flashing lights. I can include the before and after scenes and how the editing completely changes the theme of the film.