The SSBSTV Station was abuzz with energy on March 26th as senior students Emily Yang (Class 12-1) and Kenneth Wang (Class 12-4) hosted a film forum to share their experience on film creation. The event helped aspiring student filmmakers understand the entire process of filmmaking from finding the first spark of an idea to the final export of a video.   

The presenters started with the one most prevalent obstacle in making films: inspiration. Emily and Kenneth encouraged students to mine their own lives, urging them to capture fleeting moments, random ideas, and personal experiences whenever and wherever they can. According to them, inspiration could come from anywhere and is not necessarily linked to particular plots; it could be a snippet of conversation, a color palette, or a piece of music.   

Once an idea is in hand, students can proceed to the next step: the script. The duo presented a range of tools to help develop the idea, ranging from free software like Scenarist and WriterDuet to industry-standard options like Final Draft. They also discussed methods for structuring a narrative, whether by following a traditional beat sheet or taking a more unconventional, moment-driven approach.

From there, the presentation then moved into the critical phase of pre-production. Meticulous preparation, the speakers stressed, is what creates a successful and worthwhile shoot: drawing detailed storyboards and shot lists, assembling a crew, scouting locations, and sourcing equipment. A key takeaway was the importance of communication and organization especially in confirming logistical details, like equipment functionality and actor availability, multiple times before the camera ever rolls.   

Afterwards, the two presenters explained the details of production: how camera movements, shot angles, and focus technique shape a viewer's experience. They also explained differing roles within the film crew, like the Director of Photography, Gaffers, Sound Mixers, and more, emphasizing that every position matters in the collaborative effort of filmmaking.   

Transitioning from production to post-production, the forum detailed the final journey of a film. Emily and Kenneth walked the audience through the process of organizing footage, non-destructive editing, and color correction before moving on to sound mixing, adding subtitles and credits. They stressed the importance of a strong logline, a clear director's statement, and correctly formatted files, details that were often ignored in the post-production of a film.   

Adding another dimension to the discussion, Bruce Zhang (Class 11-6) shared his own experimental film Blind, offering insights into how performance art can merge with cinema. He introduced a framework for developing metaphorical narratives: starting a film from an abstract concept to a literal story and then back to an abstract story. Both sessions reminded aspiring filmmakers that there is no single path to telling a story through film, though tools and techniques may vary.

This film session has provided a valuable platform for students to exchange ideas and improve together, effectively helping students overcome practical challenges in scriptwriting, filming, editing and creative expression. May all members take this event as a new starting point to continuously enhance their professional qualities and creative abilities. Indeed, let us devote ourselves to campus communication work, produce more innovative videos, and advance the cause of campus media steadily forward with a professional and enthusiastic attitude.