https://youtu.be/uUQLXtrIQIs?si=GMLCnwjgSoS0ApnQ

Synopsis: This film tells the story of Lin Xia, who became overly addicted to social media, which caused a rift in her relationship with Xu Jiashu. However, they eventually reconciled and grew together into better people.

This is my script. I spent about two weeks creating this script.

This is my storyboard which could help me make reverse shot.

My video making process of The Summer We Lost Focus

Almost all the work was done by me alone and my friends played the roles of two main characters. Before creating video, the theme was first determined. Then original script has been drafted based on the theme. At first, many different versions of argument scene were devised, but after discussing with my parents, teachers, and friends, the most suitable and reasonable way to present this scene was confirmed. In the end, my whole script was completed. After finishing the script, the storyboard needed to be done.

In terms of equipment, I chose Canon R6 Mark II, Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90. The Canon R6 Mark II was released in 2022, so it is new enough with many useful functions. Firstly, The Canon R6 II offers 1,053 AF areas, covering 90% of the 100% focus area, making it easy to capture both expansive landscapes and detail-rich close-ups. It also adds detection of horses, trains, aeroplanes and helicopters, further expanding the range of applications. Secondly, it adds a short film pre-recording feature that allows photographers to pre-record 3-, 5- or 10-second videos before shooting, providing great convenience for documentary photography. In terms of Canon 5D Mark II, it’s got a nice original colour palette with better noise control in low light, natural colour reproduction and large dynamic range. As for Nikon D90, with excellent brightness, contrast and colours, its LCD display shows what you are seeing on the shot in real time, allowing you to accurately assess the image.

After the shooting was completed, the video was edited. The whole editing process was completely done by me. First, all my footages were combined. Then, some filters, background music and sound effect (like beep) were added to my short film, enabling it look and feel better.

Communicating Effect

The short film was submitted on the social media like YouTube, Douyin and WeChat Channel and sent to an expert in media field for feedback. After watching this short film, one student who study journalism in the University of Sydney said: “A touching microfilm that beautifully captures the power of love and personal growth in the digital age. The storytelling is heartfelt, making the reconciliation between Lin Xia and Xu Jiashu (two characters in my short video) deeply moving. A warm reminder that genuine connection can overcome the noise of social media.”

In addition, a wide range of audience feedback was collected from social media comments. One of the comments said: “The director, through the different understandings and applications of social media by two students, expressed two viewpoints. When differences led to intense conflicts, both sides would reflect and analyze. The overall idea of the film was clear, and the levels progressed smoothly, which was very good.”