1. Observation

The course began with a simple yet powerful task: observing light in our everyday surroundings and capturing it through photos and videos.

It could be something small like the shadows of tree leaves dancing on a wall, or the first ray of sunlight slipping through your window in the morning. This practice invited us to become more sensitive to light, to notice how it transforms, and change the atmosphere .

2. Inspiration

We began seeking inspiration from painting, photography, and cinema, exploring the works of both classical and contemporary artists. We closely examined how they used light and shadow to evoke emotion and convey meaning. I was especially drawn to Edward Hopper’s sharp contrasts, where sunlight carves through space. Xavier Dolan’s warm, focused lighting revealed his characters’ isolation and fragility. I also found inspiration in Nan Goldin’s intimate photographs, where natural, ambient light captures raw, unfiltered moments.

3. Ideation

For my final project, Birthday Poem, I wanted to explore emotions like loneliness, through a character-driven visual routine. I was inspired by the opening sequences of films like Taxi Driver, American Psycho, Amélie, and Perfect Days, where we get to know a character and their insecurities through their daily rituals. I aimed to create something similarly intimate, but personal, using my own voice as narration. I kept the visuals minimal and direct, letting the narration carry the emotional weight without making the concept overly complicated.

4. Storyboard

5. Shooting

On the shooting days, I didn’t strictly follow my storyboard, allowing room to visually explore more with my character. We shot each scene with different lighting setups, framings, and perspectives, incorporating improvisation and spontaneous decisions along the way. The filming took place over two days, one dedicated to exterior scenes and the other to indoor shots.

6. Post Production

The color grading of Birthday Poem is charactrized by a warm, saturated palette of oranges, greens, and yellows, evoking a childlike perspective and a sense of fragile dreaminess. The original music was composed in direct response to the emotional rhythm of the narration and visuals, reinforcing the film’s intimate and shifting tone.

Final Project