For our second big project in my media class, we were given a specific word and told to make a 60-90 second video with no dialogue that would be able to develop a story that clearly illustrates our assigned word in pairs. It was an exercise that pushed our limits in visual storytelling, using only actions, expressions, and editing techniques to convey a dramatic theme.
My approach to this project was simple yet intense. I aimed to portray cruelty in a way that is both relatable and deeply emotional. For this, I chose to depict the story of a girl and her dog. The plot revolves around a young girl happily walking her pet until a black car pulls up, snatching the dog away in an instant. From there, the video transitions to a dark depiction of the robber mistreating the dog, showing true cruelty through actions like kicking, injecting, and hitting.
During brainstorming, I wanted to explore various aspects of cruelty before narrowing it down to the concept of pet abuse. I worked with a brainstorming sheet, where I outlined potential story ideas, characters, and visual elements that could represent "cruelty" without the use of words. A visual representation of my brainstorming helped me think through different possibilities and ultimately settle on the story I felt would be most
The storyboard played an essential role in pre-visualizing my project. Each panel represented a key moment, from the girl’s peaceful walk with her dog to the shocking abduction, the mistreatment of the dog, and finally, the girl's determination to find her pet. The storyboard gave me a concrete idea of how to shoot each scene, the progression of the story, and how I wanted the camera angles and cuts to convey the mood of each moment. It served as a clear guide during the filming process, ensuring that each frame contributed effectively to the overall narrative.
In post-production, I utilized crosscutting to build tension between the girl searching for her dog and the scenes of the robber's cruelty. This editing technique made the two timelines converge in a way that highlighted the contrasting emotions: hope and helplessness versus cruelty and violence. I used a mix of quick cuts to keep the viewer on edge and longer shots to emphasize the girl’s desperate search.
One aspect I believe went well was the emotional impact of the story. Despite the short duration, the visual storytelling successfully conveyed the theme of cruelty in a way that was relatable and moving. The use of crosscutting was a key part of this success, as it allowed viewers to experience both the girl's desperation and the dog's suffering at the same time, enhancing the emotional effect. However, there are some areas I’d like to improve next time. The lighting during some of the indoor scenes was not as effective as I had hoped. It could have been better managed to reflect the intensity of the situation, adding more visual depth.
Overall, working on this project was a great way to learn about the expressive power of images and the range of emotions that can be expressed without using words.
