Evaluation of Peer Reviews

 Hi blog! Welcome back, last week, I reviewed five of my colleagues' films. This week, I'll be reviewing their reviews of my group's movie premiere, addressing their critique, and deciding what we'll do with it. 

Review 1: Kaylana DeHarde-Payne

https://keylime43.blogspot.com/2025/03/peer-review-movie-opener.html?m=1

"The tracking shots were the particular technical aspect of the movie's opening that I enjoyed. They were realistic and complemented the scene's mystery-thriller tone flawlessly. In keeping with the conclusion, where a suspicious figure grabbed Brooke's character, the way the three friends were recorded conversing enhanced the mood and created the feeling that someone was observing them. One thing, though, that I didn't enjoy was how the camera pans into the following scene. This occurs when the protagonist's pan sporadically cuts to the leaves while they are filming the lake area. The tracking shots were the particular technical aspect of the movie's opening that I enjoyed. They were realistic and complemented the scene's mystery-thriller tone flawlessly. In keeping with the conclusion, where a suspicious figure grabbed Brooke's character, the way the three friends were recorded conversing enhanced the mood and created the feeling that someone was observing them. One thing, though, that I didn't enjoy was how the camera pans into the following scene. This occurs when the protagonist's pan sporadically cuts to the leaves while they are filming the lake area"

Kaylana stated she especially liked the tracking shots in the film's introduction because they felt authentic and matched the mystery-thriller tone nicely. She claimed that these pictures, combined with the way the three companions were filmed speaking, added to the sensation that someone was observing them, heightening the tension, particularly before the moment when a suspicious figure grabbed me. However, I disliked how the camera panned into the following scene, particularly when the protagonist's pan abruptly shifts to the foliage while recording the lake area. While she did not make specific solutions for her issue, I believe we may improve by using smoother cuts and transitions.

Review 2: Johansen Rey

https://johansenrey.blogspot.com/2025/03/peer-review-opening-sequence.html?m=1

"My favorite part of the film was the switching between a vlog and the filming of the group by the camera man. I think this sets up a cool concept in which we get to see different perspectives. Or it gets possibly used for evidence by police for investigating a kidnapping. It has a lot of possibilities as well as it adds more technical elements like the close up shot seamlessly. I didn’t really like the lack of score. Score usually helps set up a tone for a scene and without it, I didn’t really know what to expect. It did look like a movie opener but it did lack some sort of suspense. There was just a sudden kidnapping that seemed to be out of nowhere. Thought i was left wondering “what just happened?” And wondered what would happen to the character considering it seemed to be some type of betrayal. I was confused at first because of how sudden everything was but I think I understood the gist of the opening. To make it better, maybe there could have been some type of score or maybe more angles to make the kidnapper seem more sinister. A Dutch angle could’ve accomplished this, or some type of score that represented a sudden twist in mood. Or maybe some diegetic sound that overemphasized footsteps."

This reviewer stated that his favorite aspect of the film was the transition between a vlog and a cameraman photographing the group, as it provided diverse perspectives and may be utilized as evidence in an abduction inquiry. However, he disliked the lack of a score since it made the tone uncertain and lessened tension. He felt the kidnapping was too unexpected, contributing to the overall uncertainty. To improve, he proposes adding a score, using other camera angles, such as a Dutch perspective, or stressing diegetic sounds, such as footsteps, to assist build suspense and make the scene more powerful. I believe this evaluation was concise. It incorporated various elements that my group had previously discussed wanting to add or improve before submitting our final opening, such as highlighted diegetic sounds and music. I appreciate his comments on the angles and wish we had followed through on our original plan to include a Dutch angle, which we still aim to do. I hope our final modifications may alleviate some of his confusion!

Review 3: Clarissa Beneche

https://thelifeofclarib.blogspot.com/?m=1

"The specific technical element of the film opening that I liked was the tracking shots. They felt realistic and fit perfectly with the mystery-thriller vibe of the scene. The way the three friends were recorded talking added to the atmosphere, and it gave the impression that someone was watching them, which tied in well with the ending when a suspicious figure grabs Brooke’s character. However, one thing I didn’t like was the camera cuts into the next scene with a pan shot. This happens when the protagonist is recording the lake area, and it randomly cuts to the leaves with a pan of the protagonist. I think a different technique, like an over-the-shoulder shot (since the protagonist is already shown from the back), would’ve made it look cleaner. Also, the reveal of the kidnapper could’ve been done better instead of just cutting to him walking into the video. Overall, the movie does a great job of leaving the audience with a mysterious ending that makes them wonder what will happen next, creating curiosity about potential plots, like whether the kidnapper will target the protagonist’s friend or if he will ever be found. I wasn’t confused by anything in the video, and I think it was directed well. My main suggestion would be to use other technical elements instead of random cuts, but other than that, it was a good opening sequence."

She appreciated the tracking shots in the film's introduction because they were authentic and added to the mystery-thriller mood. She claimed the way the three companions were videotaped talking added to the mood, giving the idea they were being observed, which corresponded to the ending when a suspicious figure grabbed me. She didn't enjoy the random camera pan into the next scene, where the protagonist films the lake area and then pans to the foliage. She suggests a cleaner style, such as an over-the-shoulder shot, which could have worked better. Furthermore, she stated that the reveal of the kidnapper might have been done more successfully rather than simply cutting to him entering the scene. She believes the film does an excellent job of leaving the audience with a mysterious ending that piques interest in what happens next, such as if the kidnapper will target the protagonist's companion or if they will be discovered. She was not bewildered by anything, and the direction was clear. Her key suggestion is to prevent random cuts and employ other technical components to help the flow, but she thought it was a good beginning sequence. My key takeaway from her comments is that we need to enhance our editing to make the film feel more unified and less "random". I appreciate her feedback on our camera angles, and while we cannot add them to these exact situations, we will endeavor to add more with our subsequent filming.

Review 4: Maya Miller

https://mmmediastudies01.blogspot.com/?m=1

"What specific technical elements of the film opening did you like? I really liked the wide shot at the beginning of the film. Additionally, the tracking shots following the characters was my favorite as it made the characters’ conversation more dynamic. The midshot of the creepy figure also helped add a sense of mystery to the film. What specific technical elements of the film opening did you dislike? There was nothing I disliked specifically. This film was actually my favorite out of all of the films I watched because it felt like a real movie opener. Did this look like a movie opener and did it make you want to know what happens next? Explain. This film does a great job at building a mysterious atmosphere. It leaves room for further story building and is ambiguous enough for the viewer to want to know more. The film does this by ending on the disappearance of the main characters. Was there anything that left you confused? (be specific) I was not left confused by anything in this film because of how clear the creators were able to make the storyline. What suggestions do you have to make this movie opener better? I would suggest adding more camera angles. This would make the film more technically interesting and add more depth to the current story. I would also suggest maybe including some type of music or sound to make it more engaging."

Maya particularly enjoyed the broad shot at the start, as well as the tracking shots that made the actors' interaction feel more alive. She underlined that the midshot of the frightening figure contributed to a tremendous feeling of mystery. She had no special dislikes about our film. In fact, it was her favorite of all the films she saw since it seemed like a genuine movie opener, which is a great compliment to both me and my group. She thought our video does a great job of creating a mysterious atmosphere while providing possibility for future story development. The uncertainty and denouement, with the main characters' departure, pique the viewer's interest in what happens next. She was not bewildered by anything in this film because she thought the plot was simple and easy to follow. To improve the film, she proposes adding more camera angles to make it more technically intriguing and give the plot more depth. She would also advocate using music or sound to increase interest. As I mentioned in earlier evaluations, my group and I had already discussed adding more sound and/or background music. We intend to increase the number of camera perspectives through additional filming.

Review 5: Janelle Praeger

https://janellep27.blogspot.com/?m=1

"The consistent use of tracking shots throughout the film showing the main characters walking through the wooded area allowed me to see that the characters were getting deeper into the woods. Accompanied by the long shots within said scenes, the shots overall build tension and told me that the characters were probably in some sort of danger, as they were moving further and further away from where they entered. I also enjoyed the occasional switch from the outside perspective of the following camera to one of the character's phone camera, as it made the final scene, where someone comes up behind her, even more dramatic by allowing the scene to end with the chaos of the camera following, as the audience is left wondering what happened to the main character. The handheld camera movements also allows the audience to really feel involved and inside of the scene along with the characters, which I also enjoyed. The only thing I really disliked was that I couldn't really hear what the characters were saying at times, as the dialogue was kind of low. I also would have liked to see some cuts other than straight cuts, which were all I really noticed (other than a sort of eyeline match scene where she is looking at the lake and the camera cuts to it). Overall, the sequence does feel like a movie opener, as it draws the audience in and builds tension really well. I would want to see what happens next, because it ends on a cliffhanger as the audience doesn't know what happened to the main character. The scenery was also a nice choice, as the wooded area further builds tension and conveys the idea that the teenagers are far away from society and anyone who could offer them aid. The only part I was really confused at was when I couldn't hear the dialogue at some points (i.e. when Brooklynne starts filming and talking to the camera, I couldn't hear her). Also, Sam is wearing the same hoodie when he is walking with his friends as the end where the presumed killer/stalker attacks Brooklynne. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but it creates the idea that he is the same person (which I do like anyway, as it changes the storyline and paints the antagonist as a supposed friend) which may conflict with any additional footage the group adds (as, the scene still needs about 40 seconds of footage). Overall, I would just say the group needs to add more footage to make the 2-minute time requirement. They could do this in a few ways, like adding more transitions (i.e. a fade in and out of black when the group reaches the lake, at the part where Brooklynne's friends go missing and she is about to look back for them to create a sense of time moving forward/ tension as something bad has happened). They could also add their title sequence, as I also noticed that was missing. They could fade to black at the very end, after the camera falls to the ground, and add the title sequence there."

Janelle commented that the film's use of tracking shots and long views effectively depicted our protagonists advancing deeper into the woods, increasing tension and implying danger. She believed that switching to a character's phone camera heightens the suspense, particularly during the final moment where I am being attacked, and leaves the audience wondering what happens next. She also felt that the handheld camera motions helped to immerse viewers in the scene. She believed, however, that the dialogue was often difficult to hear, and that our film relied primarily on straight cuts with few other transitions. Despite this, she believes the scenario functions as an effective movie beginning, capturing the audience's attention with tension and a cliffhanger. The woodland setting contributes to the sense of seclusion and danger. Her biggest concern was the imprecise conversation, particularly during a sequence in which I film myself, as well as the possible confusion caused by a character wearing the same hoodie at the beginning and end, which could hint at a twist involving a buddy as the antagonist. To improve, she believes we could add more footage to match the 2-minute time limit, perhaps through extra transitions (such as a fade in/out) or our title sequence, which is now lacking. She also proposes that the film should close with a fade to black, followed by the title. I agree with most, if not all, of Janelle's points. My group had already discussed the faint conversation, and we were considering adding a voice over to help the audience hear more clearly. I absolutely agree with adding more footage, which my group has been striving to organize, but we are all quite busy with conflicting schedules. The hoodie was a planned costume choice to promote our metaphorical plot. We will also include our title sequence before submission!