DV Info Net - And the winners of UWOL 20 are...

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And the winners of UWOL 20 are...

Thank you so much for sharing your films and for allowing me to be part of this very cool competition. Wow, it is fascinating to see how each of you chose to interpret the theme of ‘light’ in a wildlife film, and I enjoyed each of them, though each for different reasons. Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment- getting your film done!

Here are my selections, based on the judging criteria given…

1st Place:
Steve Siegel - "Playmate"

2nd Place:
Dale Guthormson - "Equinox"

3rd Place:
Mike Sims - "Total Darkness"

Cat granted me permission to comment on each individual film, which I am so happy to do; because each of you has spent your time and talents creating something unique to you, and we can all learn from other people’s feedback whether we accept it or not, just as I am excited to be learning from watching what each of you has created.

TOTAL DARKNESS…
I really like that you went for the contrast in darkness and that you have a specific world you wanted to share and a story to tell. Some of the images were so interesting and unique. The transitions could be a bit smoother. The voiceover lacked energy and personality. When doing narration, keep in mind, the voice and tone need to be engaging to bring your audience in to what you are describing. It cannot just be what you say, but the tone with which you say it. In some ways the audio is more important than the picture. I would love to see this with just a little music in some places, which could really enhance your theme and support your light switch sound effects.

VERNAL LIGHT…
Beautiful, clear images with good examples of light. The music was very nice and airy. It is well shot, and some of it is absolutely spectacular. However, I would like to have seen more of a story. The close-ups and medium shots are nicely done, but perhaps add a few shots to show the ‘big picture’ of where these animals and flora exist together, or if they don’t. Show us what you like, what is appealing to you, and then find a way to tell us just why you like it or appreciate it. This doesn’t have to necessarily be done with dialogue.

SUNLIGHT ON BRAZOS BEND…
Great energy in your music and transitions, and you captured some beautiful moments of light in the wildlife. Similar to the suggestion above, perhaps providing just a few wider shots that give a little insight into the overall scene, the surroundings, so we are brought into that world, not just shown pieces of it.

EQUINOX…
Good sense of atmosphere and environment. I appreciate the contrast of light and dark in ice and snow on the darker terrain. Has a really good flow and nice build in specific places with image and music synchronized. Perhaps find a few additional shots and angles to tell your story whereas some of the ones used felt repetitive.

PLAYMATE…
The owl in the tree is one of my favorite shots. Nice storytelling and good job of showing the challenges of natural lighting. Be sure to keep in mind what the story is you want to tell and how you want to tell it. It felt inviting how personable and casual you were in the beginning, it was about you. Then you changed tone and made it about ‘her’ (the light) and became more poetic. Of course you can mix tones, but perhaps find a way to transition a little more smoothly. The more personal we make our films, whether directly or indirectly, the more an audience is likely to respond to the story. You were clever in finding ways natural light is ‘bounced’ in nature.

SEARCHING THE LIGHT…
Great storytelling…you have a beginning, middle, and an end, and wrapped it up nicely. The pace and flow of your film was really nice. You had moments of sharing your experience, and at other times you allowed us to just watch what was taking place in front of us. I felt as though we spent the day with you on your journey.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD…
Gorgeous imagery and music were pieced very well together. Would like to have felt a little more specific sense of story, though works without it too. Very nice transitions and flow.

Congratulations, thank you again, and I look forward to seeing more of your films!