I just finished editing the film, and I am really tired now, and I am writing this blog. Making a film is much more difficult than I thought. It requires lots of energy, whether it’s for actors or producers. I finally understand why my mother prohibits me from entering the art field. It is indeed beyond my ability to work in the art field. I cannot say I really like this filming experience, but I truly enjoy it because I have learned a lot from it.
As the cinematographer, my favorite part of the process is going out to the Lower East Side to film the tenement houses. It was amazing that there are many fancy stores on the first floor of the old tenement houses. It was also interesting that the block where I filmed the opening scene was once the most populated block in New York City during the 1930s. But now, there are very few people in there even on the street, and most them are visitors. The Lower East Side becomes a symbol in New York City history. It witnesses generations of immigrants who came to New York City with their dreams and hopes. It also witnessed immigrants’ obstacles and struggles. It is the place where every culture “melts” together. We don’t know how many stories have happened in the Lower East Side; yet, we know these stories contain tears and laughers, sadness and happiness. No matter how Lower East Side has changed, it has already left a vestige in generations of people’s memories. This is what “inhabited” conveys. No matter who moves into the apartment, people still treat it as home.
My other favorite part of the process was to capture different angles. Because the place where we filmed was limited, I could hardly capture interesting angles. However, we managed to film different scenes from different angles. This was important because we can see how the actors interact from different points of view.
My least favorite part of the process is to edit the film. This process is so long, annoying, and tiring. I have extracted a seventeen-minute movie from two and a half hours of video clips. Although it doesn’t seem a lot of work, it took plenty of time to trim the clips. In addition, it was difficult to add special effects; therefore, I didn’t put any into the film. I have a reason to justify myself. I think this play is very down-to-earth. Special effects may be inappropriate. The most natural method may better carry out the beauty of simplicity of the play. For the last scene, I do not think it is as strong as it should be according to the play, but that was the best we can do. Making a film is really challenging, especially for a boring person like me.
The most difficult part of the filming process was to have the energy needed. I was always very tired after each filming session. There are often time that we only filmed several minutes of the actual movie in several hours. It was tired to hold the camera for a long time while keeping my hands stable. I always make fun of myself that after filming this movie, my arms become stronger. The entire filming process went rather smoothly. But again, it was really tiring.
To me, “inhabited” is a very perceptual play. It speaks to the generations of immigrants that once lived in there. I especially like the last scene because it has a very strong voice. It tells people that generations of New Yorkers, not just immigrants, will continue to live in there. It expresses the theme of home very well. I like how blu said that the apartment is his home, and he cannot leave it, as well as cris and kel’s perception of the place. People can escape any place except for their home. “inhabited” has a very strong voice in conveying the concept of home.
One interesting thing I learned from this project was the difference between an artist and an ordinary person. As a person with no “art cells,” I found it very challenging to create this movie. Because of that, my film is very mundane. Perhaps for an artist, making this twenty-minute movie will be very easy, and he or she may come up with very creative ideas. But to me, I was struggling to finish this movie.
Although making a movie may be a once-in-a-life-time experience, I still enjoy this process. But I won’t do it again.
