Even though the film starts with struggles, towards the end a portion of the heaviness of this struggle appears to have been lifted from Joseph and the film completes on a more playful note. The storyline has a reasonable starting, center and end thus it keeps running in a request that viewers will expect and can comprehend, implying that the story is clear and familiar and the audience won't be disinterested due to misunderstanding because of their error of the storyline. The sound all through the entire of this short film is basic as it blends a pleasant adjust of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The fundamental sound inside the film is encompassing and dialogue meaning much wasn’t needed to be included in after post-production, however, non-diegetic sound is highlighted over Joseph's memories to underscore a specific feeling. The altering works close by the sound to give a restless consistency to the film. The film is basically consisted of close-ups and medium shots as the film concentrates on discourse and feeling more than picturesque, enriching shots. There is additionally a much measure of pulling focus starting with one character then onto the next amid dialogue to catch diverse characters and their feelings and identities.
The New Boy is a nice short story. I noticed a pattern in the directing, I think that, thru most of the beginning shots the director uses rack focus to draw audience’s attention. However, Towards the end he is not using it as much. In the beginning, he wants audience to pay attention to specific spots in the frame and that’s why he uses rack focus as a tool. But, towards the end he doesn’t need it because the characters are already made. I also think that the shots in the class of Africa are shot in natural light intentionally to show the happiness and the frankness of the environment. In the school in Ireland, it is shot under total artificial lightings. That seems innovative to me. Overall, I think it is interesting story of a new boy.
The Boy I enjoyed this short narrative of an outside becoming part of the inside group. The first thing I looked for in this film was how they shot, specifically did they stay within the 180 line and how they were able to re-establish the line through changing locations. There were a number of over the shoulder shots (or side arm) that switched focus from Joseph to Christian behind him. There were a limited amount of wide shots, most of them being medium shot and a couple close ups of insert shots: the hands, writing on the chalkboard, etc...I enjoyed the use of tribal sounding tunes to highlight when Joseph was reflecting back to his past - making it easy to track with the timeline. The narrative had a good rhythm and was easily to keep track of what time period we were in through the use of music and scenery changes. For both the UK classroom scene and the African one, the camera was placed looking at Joseph from the right side and curved along that 180 line.
Gretchen Franz: New Boy There are so many pieces of this film I enjoy. Though the reason behind his transfer to the Irish school is not exactly clear, his backstory is shown through various flashbacks that tie perfectly into the current timeline. The juxtaposition of his two schooling experiences is obvious through the music and different lighting. Joseph’s thoughts are exposed after each event in the new school by a close-up on his face. It is clear that he is contemplative and uneasy in this new setting, trying to understand the new social setting. The close-ups on other Irish student’s faces exhibit their feeling towards school as well. They seem to have very different attitudes about school than Joseph’s classmates in in Africa. One shot in particular that I enjoy is one where Joseph is standing by the brick corner observing the playground. Towards the end, after the boy’s bonding experience outside the bathroom, the music plays as the film cuts between Joseph laughing with his new classmates and his father, implying that he is starting to feel more comfortable at his new school and may, in time, develop similar bonds like those he felt at his old school. Finally, in terms of content, I thought it was interesting how the comparison of the two schooling experiences showed how different they are. The school in Africa has far less resources than the school in Ireland, but the students are much more passionate about their schooling, as they appreciate that education is a privilege that not everyone gets. It appears that the Irish students may take the schooling for granted, save for the little girl Hazel.
Anthony Reed: New Boy by Steph Green Steph Green did a great job with showing the viewer what he wanted you to see. This film was heavy on the use of shallow depth of field and rack focusing to isolate characters when they were important for the shot. all of the close up compositions shots also served there purpose capturing the emotions of what everyone was going though. I especially like the intensity of the lead characters eyes while he held on to the other kids finger who was trying to fight him. One thing that really stood out to me was the creative use of audio to transition from the gun shots into the milk carton exploding on the wall. The music and the lighting were very light considering the intensity of Joseph's situation. It made sense in the end though because Joseph and his antagonizers came to a friendly resolution and Joseph overcame the rough period of being the new kid.
Braedan Snow: New Boy by Steph Green I thought this short film was exceptionally well done. Every aspect of filmmaking was nearly perfected in this short film by Steph Green. The lighting is always consistent and seemingly natural, the shot was always very well composed and framed, the quality of every shot is also very vivid, the audio not only was spot on, but it also enhanced the story, and lastly the story aspect was extremely powerful and moving. One sequence of shots stood out to me in particular; Joseph was having flashbacks of watching his father get shot right in front of his eyes, and Green transitioned the viewer back into present time by showing a thrown milk at the wall, simulating the gun shot and blood that was presumably scattered. To me, that sequence was extremely powerful and was just as effective if not more than if Green were to show the father actually getting shot. I believe this video stands out from others like it due to the extensive use of a very shallow depth of field, that gives it a cinematic quality that you usually do not see in short films.
Ella Oprandy: Newboy by Steph Greene The transitions from Joseph’s past to present were really well done and due to the sound quality of the music used to transition. It was almost like I could feel the transition as the higher twang of the guitar sliced through the din of the classroom. In addition, the concept edit between Joseph’s father’s death and Christian’s liquid assault on Joseph was really smart. It gave the viewer into Joseph’s tragic past and presumed reason for moving to Ireland as well as a seamless transition into the tension-filled confrontation that ensued between the two boys, involving the whole school yard. That being said, I think this piece went on for a bit longer than it should have in the beginning, spending a little too much establishing how flawed the dynamic of the classroom was and the fact that the boy named Christian was in fact a bully. I also liked how the class and the boys came together at the end around Hazel’s biting commentary, even though it was at the expense of the teacher.
This short film was extremely well shot. The frames in the beginning were put together well. Focusing on the person’s expression while having everything surrounded blurred. Seeing the differences in the picture quality between the boy back in Africa and the boy in school in Ireland shows what it is like in each environment without actually saying. The part where Josephs father got shot really stood out to me. Seeing the way Greene used the milk hitting the wall and Joseph and his father getting shot put emphasis on how it has affected Joseph. While the film has a happy ending, there were parts that I found really sad and upsetting when it came to Joseph being bullied. Greene did a good job adding a little use of humor to make light of a bad situation using the little girl in the film. Overall I think this was a really good piece, it makes you feel a couple different emotions in the short 10 minutes which is not easily done.
Alex Hubbard: New Boy by Steph Green The strongest element in the film was the distinction between the African classroom and the Irish classroom. The transitions were smooth between each space and were complemented by the African music fading in typically before each transition to Africa. The use of color also helped distinct the two spaces. The Irish classroom stayed cold with no bright colors. The African classroom, in comparison, had a high contrast and high vibrancy. The visuals in the African classroom were a bit overdone in their vibrancy, making it look more like a colorful memory versus something actually happening in the present. The warmth and joy of learning is evident in the script in the African classroom, all of the students speak in unison, versus the script of the Irish classroom where all of the students are separated while speaking individually and out of turn. This film did a beautiful job in creating two completely different environments with the use of color, clever script writing, and varying music.
Kristin Whitely: New Boy by Steph Green New Boy by Steph Green is an amazing short narrative. The overall quality of the film was good. There were various camera angles throughout the entire narritive that served a purpose, such as the closeup angle of the boys facial emotions when being bullied.The storyline is quite touching, being that it focuses on a topic that's relatable to some. By far, the most humorous part to me in the narrative was when the little girl called the teacher the "B word", which totally caught me off guard, but was very amusing, which lightened the entire storyline.
Peyton Wilkins: New Buy by Steph Green I really like how this short film transitions from classroom to classroom. The flashbacks to Africa are in high contrast and have different music to further set the scene apart from the classroom in Ireland. This shows just how different Joseph's life was before he moved to Ireland. This film has a great story about a little boy with a tragic past who is trying to find his place in a new environment. You can tell when he begins to fit in as the flashback of his father laughing appears as he laughs with the other boys. These flashbacks put us inside Joseph's head and without them, we couldn't be certain about how he feels.
Karenya Garrett: New Boy by Steph Green Overall, it was a great short narrative piece. The use of jump cuts for the flashbacks to his schooling days in Africa were great as well. Comparing the classroom setting in Africa and in Ireland really stood out. The contrast in colors, bright and vibrant in Africa and dull, deary, grey undertone in Ireland. The lighting seemed helped balance out the undertones within the two different places.Josephs's facial expressions really aid with storytelling, his expressions told his story and how what happened in the process. The message is clear, the tragedy of a boy losing his father, showing signs of having not been able to grief with it, and then moving away from his home all the way to Ireland would be hard on any child. This narrative is a great job of really capturing the essence of what is it was trying to do.
Cody Quinn: New Boy by Steph Green In this short narrative piece, the thing that really stuck out to me was the way it went back and forth from flashbacks of his school days in Africa to where he is now. The jump cuts were used very well. You can also tell they are flashbacks with the small blurriness. Also, Joseph is great at depicting the "new kid." We always see him being bullied and isolated through the camera angles. We then see why he is how he is once we find out that his teacher was shot and killed. The flashback shows us the struggles Joseph went through. The close-ups of Joseph's face really show his emotions. We see him go from nervous, to angry, to eventually happy. He starts to have some of the same happiness he had before in his flashbacks. This was a great, short narrative.
New Boy showcases a lovely use of shallow focus in the present while using deep focus in the past. This aesthetic shift not only accentuates the change in setting, but also has thematic significance. In the present, the viewer is meant to focus on Joseph as an individual: the story is about his struggle as a new boy in an environment foreign to him. This emphasis on his personhood and individuality is aided by the blurred background, as if Joseph is trapped in an amorphous and ethereal world with which he is unfamiliar and doesn't belong. Meanwhile, when Joseph is in the classroom with his father, shots are longer and lenses are shorter, allowing for a sharper focus on the background, signifying that the story is not about Joseph as an individual in a blurry and confusing world anymore, but rather Joseph as a piece of a crystal clear, simple, beautiful world in which Joseph comfortably lives.
This film has very smooth and even transitions. The jumps between classroom happen naturally, as we see them in Joseph's mind. The color choices make this more noticable- Joseph's childhood school with his father is a vibrant world of blues and yellows. His new school is pinks and pale, washed-out colors. There is a sound difference too, between the happiness and smack of the slates in Joseph's other classroom and the teacher's strict manner and shouting at the children. The story is a little bit muddled. I expected more length to the piece to really know what was going on. While we know Jospeh's father was murdered, we don't know why or by who, or how Joseph ends up in his current school. There are pieces missing from the puzzle. On that note, I really like the explosion of the milk crates against the wall timed to the sound of gunshots. You feel the explosion both inside and outside Joseph's mind. The framing employed some good low-angles of the teacher, adding to how menacing she was. In contrast the 3/4 of Joseph and his father put them on the same level with each other, presenting them as equals. Overall I enjoyed it, but I would have like a little more story coherence.
Virginia Nobles: Okay another sad video. It had me in tears but it least it had a happy ending. I thought the shot composition was lovely and depicted Joseph's story very well with all of the flashbacks. I especially liked how it was edited with the milk splatter coinciding with the gunshot. The film also consisted of nice lighting and music that went well with both his hardships and when things got better. It really depicted the hardships of losing someone dear and then being put into a new environment with new people who don't know you or your story. It definitely hit a wide range of emotions. Overall, I liked it.
Kyle Heinze: New Boy by Steph Green I enjoyed this film for a number of reason's, but primarily its heartwarming story and unique way of telling it. Green uses flashbacks to direct the narrative, slowly letting the audience in on more details of Joseph's previous school life. The lighting was very bright and contained a lot of colorful scenes, which helped establish the film's tone. This film is a great example of a short narrative, using great coverage to give a multitude of angles and perspectives. The constant transition between the two schools was well-executed and achieved its unique form of storytelling. The extensive use of close-ups, combined with the great acting really allows the audience to feel the emotions coming from the characters. All in all, I feel that Green did a great job of telling his story while keeping his audience engaged.
Katy Hale: New Boy by Steph Green This short film had a lot to do with reflections and time that was featured in the past and present. I noticed that there were mostly all close up shots of the characters, specifically the students. What was so interesting to me was how the story played out. Typically, bullies stay bullies, but I loved how the students came together in the end and proved the teacher wrong. It was heartwarming to see the little kids giggle when they were in trouble. I also enjoyed the reflections of the students past school in Africa and how that was incorporated in the preset school he attends. This film told a very amazing story and everything was very organized as far as the shot list and B-Roll. Nice piece.
Rolf Konrad: New Boy What really worked well about this short film was the different lighting between the classroom in Ireland and the one in Africa. The classroom in Ireland seemed rather stale with no popping or exciting colors in the room. The classroom in Africa seemed to have this bright vivid color. It gave the feeling of happiness while also showing a kind of fuzziness that helped to portray that is was a memory from the past. One transition within this piece that worked extremely well was the one with the gun firing and the milk splattering against the wall. It helped to show a dark time within the main character’s life and help bring us to the current story. Overall, I nicely done piece that helps define two different moods and locations.
This was my favorite film we watched so far for several reasons! Technologically, the shots and lighting were very aesthetically pleasing. For this film in particular, shot composition and clean cuts were essential to the storytelling, and it flowed seamlessly. The filmmaker relied on the use of shallow depth of field to convey the true emotions of the characters when they were important for the shot, which I admired a lot. From a storytelling point of view, I loved how the filmmaker was able to switch back and forth between timelines without having to explain himself; the audience instantly understood what was happening. I also enjoyed how there were parallels drawn between the two times, and the audience is invested and happy when Joseph begins to make friends and settle into his new life. It was very clear why this was an award-winning short film, and I thought it was exceptional.
Wow, this film was so well shot! Maybe all we've learned about shot composition is finally sinking in for me, but the clean, dynamic and fluid framing and editing of this film really impressed me. The colors were vibrant and the focus was precise and overall something I rarely notice without making an effort to really stood out to me. The cutting between the present and past in this movie was also brilliantly done. The sound design really enhanced this, as the minimalist but evocative music really sold the poor kid's feelings. Additionally, the way the sound would focus on the kids speaking so clearly without getting overwhelmed by background noise was perfect. The most powerful scene in the whole film, I thought, was the scene right before the "fight," when the new boy's flashback of his old teacher coincided with the thrown milk bottle. A brilliant idea, perfectly executed. Overall a great film.
Sam Sheriff: New Boy by Steph Green was a nice short about a boy from Africa moving to Ireland. I liked how the flash backs to his father's classroom had smooth instead of jarring transitions. Personally, I did not care for the music as I thought that it was a bit overstated and too happy sounding for the majority of the film. Even when the father was being taken away, the song stayed major and happy in the foreground for far too long. Yes, they added a distorted drone in the background and faded out all but the harshest notes, but it happened way too slowly and was not kept at that intense and anxious level for long enough. It was also difficult for me to watch because the Irish teacher was so inept. It would be hard to tell this story without her being that bad at controlling her kids, but the extent of her inability made me lose my suspension of disbelief. They could've even had her not notice more of the abuse and should've cut the fact that Christian looked up her skirt. That completely took me out of the film as that is not a simple offense that only warrants a slightly stern word or two. After all of this, I'm glad that Joseph made friends, but I'm a bit mad that they are such awful trouble makers. I really think that the script, especially in Ireland, should have been refined.
Nick Stellon: New Boy by Steph Green New boy is a film about children, which makes it a challenge. Working with actors who haven't been fully trained, and can't always understand the entire scope of what is needed of them makes the whole process much more difficult. The director of the film knows how to work with these actors perfectly. They show just the right emotions at the perfect time, especially the lead actor. The use of flashback in the film tells the audience a story in a non-linear way which helps develop the character in a full way. Overall, this short film tells a child's story in a realistic manner, commenting on what it is like to be different in a school system as a child.
The Boy This might have been my favorite film so far from this class. I think that this film was way more than just about race, but also the innocence of children. The characters in this film showed that becoming friends with one another is much easier when you are younger no matter what kind of rough start you may go through. I also enjoyed the story of the main protagonist. This new home was not very good to him because of the tragedy that he went through in Africa. Once his classmates were nice to him, it felt like a happy ending not just for the film but for that character in general.
John Anderson: New Boy by Steph Green I think what this short film did very well was differentiating the settings between Joseph in Ireland and Joseph in Africa. The flashbacks were well executed due to the dreamy effect the lighting gave those scenes. The colors are much more vibrant in the African classroom compared to the Irish classroom, making it easier for the audience to understand these flashbacks as Joseph's memories. In the flashbacks, Joseph seems happier because he is home and with his friends, which we don't see throughout the scenes of him in Ireland up until the very end when he befriends Christian and Seth. In the end, I think this film tied everything together nicely through the theme of kids being kids and becoming friends by sharing jokes about their teacher.
I enjoyed this story as a beautiful coming of age story. I enjoyed the ability to overcome diversity and the script / shot list was beautifully executed. For me, one of my favorite films is "The Way, Way Back", a coming of age story overcoming a different type of diversity, social anxiety, so it is beautiful to see people overcome different obstacles. Execution wise, the depth of field help bring importance to what the audience needs to be paying attention to. The use of flashbacks and interaction with the "New Boy" and the other classmates helped the audience feel emotionally attached to the protagonist. The sound engineering was perfectly executed helping create a fluid structure of movement between the different shots.
Dylan Milinkovich: Newboy by Steph Greene The short film was very emotional in different ways. It makes you feel for the main protagonist as the kids are picking on him and through the utilization of flashbacks of his dad's death. I loved the variety of shots as the foreground and background blurs based on the perspective of where the kids are at the time. The lighting was very nice as it was well lit for the classroom setting. The music also fit the tone of the video at the time. The music was more slow and depressing in the flashback of his dad but it was a little more cheery when the kids bonded at the end of the short film. Overall, I enjoyed the film and it got to me emotionally the most thus far.
Alex Harris: New Boy by Steph Green The differences in time and location. It's one of the more interesting subjects to show. With different transitions an editor can give the feeling of shifts in time and place, but this film did well with changing the color and feeling of the shots between the different classrooms and time periods. The flashbacks to the African classroom have higher contrast, more vibrant colors; the scenes in the Irish school have lower contrast, less emphasis on color and vibrance. The Irish school shots looked a bit, whitewashed (pun intended). While transitions can show a change, these sorts of effects can hold your attention, reminding you of this change in time and place.
Keri Drake: New Boy by Steph Green Starting off, I feel like I ca relate to this shot film because I was once that new student in school so I knew how he felt being around new people. The lighting in this production was great and so were the shot compositions. The over the shoulder focus right on and the close up shots of the children was essential to the short film. The film was quite emotional knowing how Joseph was treated as the new kid in school so he felt like he didn't have anyone, all he had was himself. He was from the outside looking in on so many friendships. The scene were he thought the man was shot, but it ended up being him getting hit with water balloons by the "bullies" in his class was so great. I loved how you thought it was one thing, but turned out to be something else. Hazel was a good friend trying to take up for Joseph, in the end he ended up branching out with the other kids and that's all they wanted along with the teacher. I love how the film basically told the story of his father and how much he meant to him.
Chris O'Connor: New Boy by Steph Green I thoroughly enjoyed this short film. The use of sound and the types of shots used helped convey the idea of being the the new kid in class. Tight camera shots, loud jolting sounds, and depth of field helps show the unease of the boy. I liked it because I could relate to the story, with most people knowing the feeling of being the new kid in class. The flashbacks added a lot of contrast, not only in the Mise-en-Scene but the color as well. The film was able to evoke an emotion from the viewer, adding to the list of short films I enjoy.
Tyler Mcilwain: New Boy by Steph Green This film was great storytelling of a young boy and a very life changing occurrence. The flashbacks of his past are more saturated with color and reflect a much happier time. Shots of his new school are much more grey scale and shows his struggle to be accepted. The peak of his flashbacks when he recalls his father’s death, serves a very dramatic purpose to the story. The shot of him being attacked on the playground was an excellent transition to portray the emotion. It had many levels of relevance to todays society and current events though it was made about 10 years prior. I enjoyed the narrative and it was incredibly warming to see the outcome.
This narrative had very strong emotions to it. The use of flashbacks throughout the narrative told a story of Joseph's past and the events that had occurred to change his life. I noticed that the colors of the flashbacks were a warmer tone which could have represented a fonder moment in Joseph's life, whereas the moder day tone of the new classroom were more of a bluish grey hue. This could have be representative of a colder/more solitary kind of feel to the story. Plus the use of music also helped drive these emotions further throughout the narrative. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this short film and found myself immersed into the story.
This short film was very well put together. Each cut to the flashbacks of the boy with his dad related perfectly to the scenes of the boy at his new school. The music and audio added intense emotion to each scene. I like how rack focus to identify each character clearly and guide the audience to what is important in that particular scene. Overall I really enjoyed this film and teared up a few times while watching it. This film has a strong message about judgment and acceptance that is shown as the new boy and his bully become friends by one common interest.
Even though the film starts with struggles, towards the end a portion of the heaviness of this struggle appears to have been lifted from Joseph and the film completes on a more playful note. The storyline has a reasonable starting, center and end thus it keeps running in a request that viewers will expect and can comprehend, implying that the story is clear and familiar and the audience won't be disinterested due to misunderstanding because of their error of the storyline. The sound all through the entire of this short film is basic as it blends a pleasant adjust of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The fundamental sound inside the film is encompassing and dialogue meaning much wasn’t needed to be included in after post-production, however, non-diegetic sound is highlighted over Joseph's memories to underscore a specific feeling. The altering works close by the sound to give a restless consistency to the film. The film is basically consisted of close-ups and medium shots as the film concentrates on discourse and feeling more than picturesque, enriching shots. There is additionally a much measure of pulling focus starting with one character then onto the next amid dialogue to catch diverse characters and their feelings and identities.
ReplyDeleteThe New Boy is a nice short story. I noticed a pattern in the directing, I think that, thru most of the beginning shots the director uses rack focus to draw audience’s attention. However, Towards the end he is not using it as much. In the beginning, he wants audience to pay attention to specific spots in the frame and that’s why he uses rack focus as a tool. But, towards the end he doesn’t need it because the characters are already made.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the shots in the class of Africa are shot in natural light intentionally to show the happiness and the frankness of the environment. In the school in Ireland, it is shot under total artificial lightings. That seems innovative to me. Overall, I think it is interesting story of a new boy.
The Boy
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this short narrative of an outside becoming part of the inside group. The first thing I looked for in this film was how they shot, specifically did they stay within the 180 line and how they were able to re-establish the line through changing locations. There were a number of over the shoulder shots (or side arm) that switched focus from Joseph to Christian behind him. There were a limited amount of wide shots, most of them being medium shot and a couple close ups of insert shots: the hands, writing on the chalkboard, etc...I enjoyed the use of tribal sounding tunes to highlight when Joseph was reflecting back to his past - making it easy to track with the timeline. The narrative had a good rhythm and was easily to keep track of what time period we were in through the use of music and scenery changes. For both the UK classroom scene and the African one, the camera was placed looking at Joseph from the right side and curved along that 180 line.
Gretchen Franz: New Boy
ReplyDeleteThere are so many pieces of this film I enjoy. Though the reason behind his transfer to the Irish school is not exactly clear, his backstory is shown through various flashbacks that tie perfectly into the current timeline. The juxtaposition of his two schooling experiences is obvious through the music and different lighting. Joseph’s thoughts are exposed after each event in the new school by a close-up on his face. It is clear that he is contemplative and uneasy in this new setting, trying to understand the new social setting. The close-ups on other Irish student’s faces exhibit their feeling towards school as well. They seem to have very different attitudes about school than Joseph’s classmates in in Africa. One shot in particular that I enjoy is one where Joseph is standing by the brick corner observing the playground. Towards the end, after the boy’s bonding experience outside the bathroom, the music plays as the film cuts between Joseph laughing with his new classmates and his father, implying that he is starting to feel more comfortable at his new school and may, in time, develop similar bonds like those he felt at his old school. Finally, in terms of content, I thought it was interesting how the comparison of the two schooling experiences showed how different they are. The school in Africa has far less resources than the school in Ireland, but the students are much more passionate about their schooling, as they appreciate that education is a privilege that not everyone gets. It appears that the Irish students may take the schooling for granted, save for the little girl Hazel.
Anthony Reed: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteSteph Green did a great job with showing the viewer what he wanted you to see. This film was heavy on the use of shallow depth of field and rack focusing to isolate characters when they were important for the shot. all of the close up compositions shots also served there purpose capturing the emotions of what everyone was going though. I especially like the intensity of the lead characters eyes while he held on to the other kids finger who was trying to fight him. One thing that really stood out to me was the creative use of audio to transition from the gun shots into the milk carton exploding on the wall. The music and the lighting were very light considering the intensity of Joseph's situation. It made sense in the end though because Joseph and his antagonizers came to a friendly resolution and Joseph overcame the rough period of being the new kid.
Braedan Snow: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteI thought this short film was exceptionally well done. Every aspect of filmmaking was nearly perfected in this short film by Steph Green. The lighting is always consistent and seemingly natural, the shot was always very well composed and framed, the quality of every shot is also very vivid, the audio not only was spot on, but it also enhanced the story, and lastly the story aspect was extremely powerful and moving. One sequence of shots stood out to me in particular; Joseph was having flashbacks of watching his father get shot right in front of his eyes, and Green transitioned the viewer back into present time by showing a thrown milk at the wall, simulating the gun shot and blood that was presumably scattered. To me, that sequence was extremely powerful and was just as effective if not more than if Green were to show the father actually getting shot. I believe this video stands out from others like it due to the extensive use of a very shallow depth of field, that gives it a cinematic quality that you usually do not see in short films.
Ella Oprandy: Newboy by Steph Greene
ReplyDeleteThe transitions from Joseph’s past to present were really well done and due to the sound quality of the music used to transition. It was almost like I could feel the transition as the higher twang of the guitar sliced through the din of the classroom. In addition, the concept edit between Joseph’s father’s death and Christian’s liquid assault on Joseph was really smart. It gave the viewer into Joseph’s tragic past and presumed reason for moving to Ireland as well as a seamless transition into the tension-filled confrontation that ensued between the two boys, involving the whole school yard. That being said, I think this piece went on for a bit longer than it should have in the beginning, spending a little too much establishing how flawed the dynamic of the classroom was and the fact that the boy named Christian was in fact a bully. I also liked how the class and the boys came together at the end around Hazel’s biting commentary, even though it was at the expense of the teacher.
Kelsey Peterson: Newboy by Steph Greene
ReplyDeleteThis short film was extremely well shot. The frames in the beginning were put together well. Focusing on the person’s expression while having everything surrounded blurred. Seeing the differences in the picture quality between the boy back in Africa and the boy in school in Ireland shows what it is like in each environment without actually saying. The part where Josephs father got shot really stood out to me. Seeing the way Greene used the milk hitting the wall and Joseph and his father getting shot put emphasis on how it has affected Joseph. While the film has a happy ending, there were parts that I found really sad and upsetting when it came to Joseph being bullied. Greene did a good job adding a little use of humor to make light of a bad situation using the little girl in the film. Overall I think this was a really good piece, it makes you feel a couple different emotions in the short 10 minutes which is not easily done.
Alex Hubbard: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteThe strongest element in the film was the distinction between the African classroom and the Irish classroom. The transitions were smooth between each space and were complemented by the African music fading in typically before each transition to Africa. The use of color also helped distinct the two spaces. The Irish classroom stayed cold with no bright colors. The African classroom, in comparison, had a high contrast and high vibrancy. The visuals in the African classroom were a bit overdone in their vibrancy, making it look more like a colorful memory versus something actually happening in the present. The warmth and joy of learning is evident in the script in the African classroom, all of the students speak in unison, versus the script of the Irish classroom where all of the students are separated while speaking individually and out of turn.
This film did a beautiful job in creating two completely different environments with the use of color, clever script writing, and varying music.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKristin Whitely: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteNew Boy by Steph Green is an amazing short narrative. The overall quality of the film was good. There were various camera angles throughout the entire narritive that served a purpose, such as the closeup angle of the boys facial emotions when being bullied.The storyline is quite touching, being that it focuses on a topic that's relatable to some. By far, the most humorous part to me in the narrative was when the little girl called the teacher the "B word", which totally caught me off guard, but was very amusing, which lightened the entire storyline.
Peyton Wilkins: New Buy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteI really like how this short film transitions from classroom to classroom. The flashbacks to Africa are in high contrast and have different music to further set the scene apart from the classroom in Ireland. This shows just how different Joseph's life was before he moved to Ireland. This film has a great story about a little boy with a tragic past who is trying to find his place in a new environment. You can tell when he begins to fit in as the flashback of his father laughing appears as he laughs with the other boys. These flashbacks put us inside Joseph's head and without them, we couldn't be certain about how he feels.
Karenya Garrett: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteOverall, it was a great short narrative piece. The use of jump cuts for the flashbacks to his schooling days in Africa were great as well. Comparing the classroom setting in Africa and in Ireland really stood out. The contrast in colors, bright and vibrant in Africa and dull, deary, grey undertone in Ireland. The lighting seemed helped balance out the undertones within the two different places.Josephs's facial expressions really aid with storytelling, his expressions told his story and how what happened in the process. The message is clear, the tragedy of a boy losing his father, showing signs of having not been able to grief with it, and then moving away from his home all the way to Ireland would be hard on any child. This narrative is a great job of really capturing the essence of what is it was trying to do.
Cody Quinn: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteIn this short narrative piece, the thing that really stuck out to me was the way it went back and forth from flashbacks of his school days in Africa to where he is now. The jump cuts were used very well. You can also tell they are flashbacks with the small blurriness. Also, Joseph is great at depicting the "new kid." We always see him being bullied and isolated through the camera angles. We then see why he is how he is once we find out that his teacher was shot and killed. The flashback shows us the struggles Joseph went through. The close-ups of Joseph's face really show his emotions. We see him go from nervous, to angry, to eventually happy. He starts to have some of the same happiness he had before in his flashbacks. This was a great, short narrative.
New Boy showcases a lovely use of shallow focus in the present while using deep focus in the past. This aesthetic shift not only accentuates the change in setting, but also has thematic significance. In the present, the viewer is meant to focus on Joseph as an individual: the story is about his struggle as a new boy in an environment foreign to him. This emphasis on his personhood and individuality is aided by the blurred background, as if Joseph is trapped in an amorphous and ethereal world with which he is unfamiliar and doesn't belong. Meanwhile, when Joseph is in the classroom with his father, shots are longer and lenses are shorter, allowing for a sharper focus on the background, signifying that the story is not about Joseph as an individual in a blurry and confusing world anymore, but rather Joseph as a piece of a crystal clear, simple, beautiful world in which Joseph comfortably lives.
ReplyDeleteThis film has very smooth and even transitions. The jumps between classroom happen naturally, as we see them in Joseph's mind. The color choices make this more noticable- Joseph's childhood school with his father is a vibrant world of blues and yellows. His new school is pinks and pale, washed-out colors. There is a sound difference too, between the happiness and smack of the slates in Joseph's other classroom and the teacher's strict manner and shouting at the children.
ReplyDeleteThe story is a little bit muddled. I expected more length to the piece to really know what was going on. While we know Jospeh's father was murdered, we don't know why or by who, or how Joseph ends up in his current school. There are pieces missing from the puzzle. On that note, I really like the explosion of the milk crates against the wall timed to the sound of gunshots. You feel the explosion both inside and outside Joseph's mind.
The framing employed some good low-angles of the teacher, adding to how menacing she was. In contrast the 3/4 of Joseph and his father put them on the same level with each other, presenting them as equals. Overall I enjoyed it, but I would have like a little more story coherence.
Virginia Nobles: Okay another sad video. It had me in tears but it least it had a happy ending. I thought the shot composition was lovely and depicted Joseph's story very well with all of the flashbacks. I especially liked how it was edited with the milk splatter coinciding with the gunshot. The film also consisted of nice lighting and music that went well with both his hardships and when things got better. It really depicted the hardships of losing someone dear and then being put into a new environment with new people who don't know you or your story. It definitely hit a wide range of emotions. Overall, I liked it.
ReplyDeleteKyle Heinze: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this film for a number of reason's, but primarily its heartwarming story and unique way of telling it. Green uses flashbacks to direct the narrative, slowly letting the audience in on more details of Joseph's previous school life. The lighting was very bright and contained a lot of colorful scenes, which helped establish the film's tone. This film is a great example of a short narrative, using great coverage to give a multitude of angles and perspectives. The constant transition between the two schools was well-executed and achieved its unique form of storytelling. The extensive use of close-ups, combined with the great acting really allows the audience to feel the emotions coming from the characters. All in all, I feel that Green did a great job of telling his story while keeping his audience engaged.
Katy Hale: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteThis short film had a lot to do with reflections and time that was featured in the past and present. I noticed that there were mostly all close up shots of the characters, specifically the students. What was so interesting to me was how the story played out. Typically, bullies stay bullies, but I loved how the students came together in the end and proved the teacher wrong. It was heartwarming to see the little kids giggle when they were in trouble. I also enjoyed the reflections of the students past school in Africa and how that was incorporated in the preset school he attends. This film told a very amazing story and everything was very organized as far as the shot list and B-Roll. Nice piece.
Rolf Konrad: New Boy
ReplyDeleteWhat really worked well about this short film was the different lighting between the classroom in Ireland and the one in Africa. The classroom in Ireland seemed rather stale with no popping or exciting colors in the room. The classroom in Africa seemed to have this bright vivid color. It gave the feeling of happiness while also showing a kind of fuzziness that helped to portray that is was a memory from the past. One transition within this piece that worked extremely well was the one with the gun firing and the milk splattering against the wall. It helped to show a dark time within the main character’s life and help bring us to the current story. Overall, I nicely done piece that helps define two different moods and locations.
This was my favorite film we watched so far for several reasons! Technologically, the shots and lighting were very aesthetically pleasing. For this film in particular, shot composition and clean cuts were essential to the storytelling, and it flowed seamlessly. The filmmaker relied on the use of shallow depth of field to convey the true emotions of the characters when they were important for the shot, which I admired a lot. From a storytelling point of view, I loved how the filmmaker was able to switch back and forth between timelines without having to explain himself; the audience instantly understood what was happening. I also enjoyed how there were parallels drawn between the two times, and the audience is invested and happy when Joseph begins to make friends and settle into his new life. It was very clear why this was an award-winning short film, and I thought it was exceptional.
ReplyDeleteWow, this film was so well shot! Maybe all we've learned about shot composition is finally sinking in for me, but the clean, dynamic and fluid framing and editing of this film really impressed me. The colors were vibrant and the focus was precise and overall something I rarely notice without making an effort to really stood out to me.
ReplyDeleteThe cutting between the present and past in this movie was also brilliantly done. The sound design really enhanced this, as the minimalist but evocative music really sold the poor kid's feelings. Additionally, the way the sound would focus on the kids speaking so clearly without getting overwhelmed by background noise was perfect.
The most powerful scene in the whole film, I thought, was the scene right before the "fight," when the new boy's flashback of his old teacher coincided with the thrown milk bottle. A brilliant idea, perfectly executed. Overall a great film.
Sam Sheriff: New Boy by Steph Green was a nice short about a boy from Africa moving to Ireland. I liked how the flash backs to his father's classroom had smooth instead of jarring transitions. Personally, I did not care for the music as I thought that it was a bit overstated and too happy sounding for the majority of the film. Even when the father was being taken away, the song stayed major and happy in the foreground for far too long. Yes, they added a distorted drone in the background and faded out all but the harshest notes, but it happened way too slowly and was not kept at that intense and anxious level for long enough. It was also difficult for me to watch because the Irish teacher was so inept. It would be hard to tell this story without her being that bad at controlling her kids, but the extent of her inability made me lose my suspension of disbelief. They could've even had her not notice more of the abuse and should've cut the fact that Christian looked up her skirt. That completely took me out of the film as that is not a simple offense that only warrants a slightly stern word or two. After all of this, I'm glad that Joseph made friends, but I'm a bit mad that they are such awful trouble makers. I really think that the script, especially in Ireland, should have been refined.
ReplyDeleteNick Stellon: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteNew boy is a film about children, which makes it a challenge. Working with actors who haven't been fully trained, and can't always understand the entire scope of what is needed of them makes the whole process much more difficult. The director of the film knows how to work with these actors perfectly. They show just the right emotions at the perfect time, especially the lead actor. The use of flashback in the film tells the audience a story in a non-linear way which helps develop the character in a full way. Overall, this short film tells a child's story in a realistic manner, commenting on what it is like to be different in a school system as a child.
The Boy
ReplyDeleteThis might have been my favorite film so far from this class. I think that this film was way more than just about race, but also the innocence of children. The characters in this film showed that becoming friends with one another is much easier when you are younger no matter what kind of rough start you may go through. I also enjoyed the story of the main protagonist. This new home was not very good to him because of the tragedy that he went through in Africa. Once his classmates were nice to him, it felt like a happy ending not just for the film but for that character in general.
John Anderson: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteI think what this short film did very well was differentiating the settings between Joseph in Ireland and Joseph in Africa. The flashbacks were well executed due to the dreamy effect the lighting gave those scenes. The colors are much more vibrant in the African classroom compared to the Irish classroom, making it easier for the audience to understand these flashbacks as Joseph's memories. In the flashbacks, Joseph seems happier because he is home and with his friends, which we don't see throughout the scenes of him in Ireland up until the very end when he befriends Christian and Seth. In the end, I think this film tied everything together nicely through the theme of kids being kids and becoming friends by sharing jokes about their teacher.
I enjoyed this story as a beautiful coming of age story. I enjoyed the ability to overcome diversity and the script / shot list was beautifully executed. For me, one of my favorite films is "The Way, Way Back", a coming of age story overcoming a different type of diversity, social anxiety, so it is beautiful to see people overcome different obstacles. Execution wise, the depth of field help bring importance to what the audience needs to be paying attention to. The use of flashbacks and interaction with the "New Boy" and the other classmates helped the audience feel emotionally attached to the protagonist. The sound engineering was perfectly executed helping create a fluid structure of movement between the different shots.
ReplyDeleteDylan Milinkovich: Newboy by Steph Greene
ReplyDeleteThe short film was very emotional in different ways. It makes you feel for the main protagonist as the kids are picking on him and through the utilization of flashbacks of his dad's death. I loved the variety of shots as the foreground and background blurs based on the perspective of where the kids are at the time. The lighting was very nice as it was well lit for the classroom setting. The music also fit the tone of the video at the time. The music was more slow and depressing in the flashback of his dad but it was a little more cheery when the kids bonded at the end of the short film. Overall, I enjoyed the film and it got to me emotionally the most thus far.
Alex Harris: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteThe differences in time and location. It's one of the more interesting subjects to show. With different transitions an editor can give the feeling of shifts in time and place, but this film did well with changing the color and feeling of the shots between the different classrooms and time periods. The flashbacks to the African classroom have higher contrast, more vibrant colors; the scenes in the Irish school have lower contrast, less emphasis on color and vibrance. The Irish school shots looked a bit, whitewashed (pun intended). While transitions can show a change, these sorts of effects can hold your attention, reminding you of this change in time and place.
Keri Drake: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteStarting off, I feel like I ca relate to this shot film because I was once that new student in school so I knew how he felt being around new people. The lighting in this production was great and so were the shot compositions. The over the shoulder focus right on and the close up shots of the children was essential to the short film. The film was quite emotional knowing how Joseph was treated as the new kid in school so he felt like he didn't have anyone, all he had was himself. He was from the outside looking in on so many friendships. The scene were he thought the man was shot, but it ended up being him getting hit with water balloons by the "bullies" in his class was so great. I loved how you thought it was one thing, but turned out to be something else. Hazel was a good friend trying to take up for Joseph, in the end he ended up branching out with the other kids and that's all they wanted along with the teacher. I love how the film basically told the story of his father and how much he meant to him.
Chris O'Connor: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this short film. The use of sound and the types of shots used helped convey the idea of being the the new kid in class. Tight camera shots, loud jolting sounds, and depth of field helps show the unease of the boy. I liked it because I could relate to the story, with most people knowing the feeling of being the new kid in class. The flashbacks added a lot of contrast, not only in the Mise-en-Scene but the color as well. The film was able to evoke an emotion from the viewer, adding to the list of short films I enjoy.
Tyler Mcilwain: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteThis film was great storytelling of a young boy and a very life changing occurrence. The flashbacks of his past are more saturated with color and reflect a much happier time. Shots of his new school are much more grey scale and shows his struggle to be accepted. The peak of his flashbacks when he recalls his father’s death, serves a very dramatic purpose to the story. The shot of him being attacked on the playground was an excellent transition to portray the emotion. It had many levels of relevance to todays society and current events though it was made about 10 years prior. I enjoyed the narrative and it was incredibly warming to see the outcome.
Justin LaSor: New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteThis narrative had very strong emotions to it. The use of flashbacks throughout the narrative told a story of Joseph's past and the events that had occurred to change his life. I noticed that the colors of the flashbacks were a warmer tone which could have represented a fonder moment in Joseph's life, whereas the moder day tone of the new classroom were more of a bluish grey hue. This could have be representative of a colder/more solitary kind of feel to the story. Plus the use of music also helped drive these emotions further throughout the narrative. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this short film and found myself immersed into the story.
Nicole Nelson:New Boy by Steph Green
ReplyDeleteThis short film was very well put together. Each cut to the flashbacks of the boy with his dad related perfectly to the scenes of the boy at his new school. The music and audio added intense emotion to each scene. I like how rack focus to identify each character clearly and guide the audience to what is important in that particular scene. Overall I really enjoyed this film and teared up a few times while watching it. This film has a strong message about judgment and acceptance that is shown as the new boy and his bully become friends by one common interest.