Critical Reflection

 During the filming process, I encountered several challenges that required problem-solving and adaptability. One of the main challenges was lighting, as some scenes initially appeared too dark or unclear, particularly when attempting to follow the low-key lighting conventions of a psychological thriller. While darkness is essential in creating tension and atmosphere, it also risked reducing visibility and limiting the audience’s ability to clearly interpret key elements such as facial expressions and narrative details.

To overcome this, I experimented with different lighting techniques, including repositioning light sources and using practical lighting such as lamps and phone screens. This allowed me to maintain a sense of realism while still ensuring that the character remained visible. I also adjusted my filming schedule, choosing to shoot certain scenes during early evening rather than complete darkness. This created a balance between maintaining the genre’s dark aesthetic and ensuring visual clarity for the audience.

This decision was important in relation to audience engagement, as overly dark visuals could confuse viewers and reduce their ability to follow the narrative. By improving visibility while retaining shadows and contrast, I was able to create a more effective viewing experience that aligns with audience expectations of the thriller genre.

Another challenge I faced was maintaining continuity between shots. As filming took place across different days, there were risks of inconsistencies in lighting, costume and character positioning. To address this, I frequently reviewed footage during filming and paid close attention to details such as shot composition and prop placement. This ensured that the final sequence appeared smooth and realistic, which is essential for maintaining audience immersion.

In addition, directing performance presented some difficulty, as I needed the actor to convey subtle emotions such as confusion and fear without appearing exaggerated. This links to Stuart Hall’s theory of representation, as the way the character is portrayed influences how the audience interprets the narrative. By encouraging more natural performances and filming multiple takes, I was able to select the most effective shots that communicated emotion clearly.

Furthermore, my use of lighting and restricted narrative information links to Roland Barthes’ concept of enigma codes, as certain elements are deliberately obscured to create mystery and encourage the audience to actively engage with the trailer. This helps build suspense, which is a key convention of the psychological thriller genre.

Despite these challenges, the filming process was ultimately successful and allowed me to capture a range of effective shots, including close-ups, point-of-view shots and tracking shots. However, if I were to improve my work further, I would ensure more consistent lighting across all scenes and plan filming conditions more carefully in advance. Overall, overcoming these challenges significantly improved both my technical skills and the overall quality of my final product.