Posts

Critical Reflection

  How do your products represent social groups or issues? With Burnt Out, I wanted to tell a story that felt personal, not just to me but to so many students who are constantly overwhelmed by schoolwork and responsibilities. The film follows a young Black student who is completely exhausted—every day feels like an endless cycle of assignments, studying, and stress. No matter how much work she finishes, there’s always more waiting for her. She can’t catch a break, and the weight of it all is taking a toll on her. I chose to focus on burnout because it’s something so many students experience but don’t always talk about. The pressure to keep going, to push through exhaustion and pretend everything is fine, is especially common among young Black women. There’s this unspoken expectation to be strong no matter what, to never let up, and that mindset can make it even harder to recognize when enough is enough. Throughout the film, the protagonist’s exhaustion is shown in the smallest...
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My Short Film: Burnt Out

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  https://youtu.be/AqGwxevf87I?si=UURjpw8lZ0I-oCRi
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Short Film Website

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  Website for my short film Burnt Out: https://leeamiya026.wixsite.com/burnt-out
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Short film Postcard

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 My post card for my short film Burnt Out:
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Production Blog: Adjusting Lighting for Emotional Contrast

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  Blog 11: February 28th – Adjusting the Lighting for Emotional Contrast           As I dive deeper into the final stages of editing, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the lighting can amplify the emotional journey of my character in Burnt Out . A major shift I’ve made in the post-production process is changing the overall color grading to reflect the character’s inner turmoil. At the beginning of the film, I wanted to convey a sense of warmth and optimism to mirror the character’s happier moments before the weight of her burnout starts to take over. For the opening scenes, I kept the lighting warm and golden, with a soft yellow hue that feels comforting and energetic. These initial shots are meant to showcase the character’s enthusiasm and ambition, when everything feels achievable, and life still feels full of potential. It’s a simple visual cue to indicate that she is starting from a place of hope and determination. But as the story progresses, ...
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Production Blog: Editing the Final Cut

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               With all the filming wrapped up, the editing process is in full swing, and I’m officially working on the final cut of Burnt Out. It’s been a long road to get to this point, and now I’m focused on stitching everything together to create a seamless story. The first step in this stage was organizing all the footage, which was a bit overwhelming considering the amount of takes I have to sift through. I’ve been watching each scene closely, making decisions about pacing, performance, and timing. Since the film is so intimate and reflective, I’m focusing a lot on the emotional beats and making sure they land correctly. Editing has really allowed me to fine-tune the pacing of the film, adjusting how long I hold on certain moments to build tension or give the audience space to process the character’s emotions. The hardest part has been trimming some of the footage that I really liked but ultimately doesn’t serve the story. It’s been tou...
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Production Blog: Wrapping up

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Today marks the end of my filming process for Burnt Out. It’s surreal to think about how much has been accomplished over the past few weeks. I spent the last few days filming the final scenes, and it’s been a mix of excitement and relief. These last shots are crucial to tie the story together, so I want to make sure everything feels authentic and impactful. The final scene takes place in my character’s bedroom, reflecting her internal struggle and exhaustion. I wanted to make sure that the lighting was just right to convey the overwhelming feelings she’s experiencing. I used a combination of low-key lighting and some harsh overhead lamps to create shadows that symbolize her mental fatigue. The bedroom setting allowed me to show a more intimate side of the character as she reflects on her situation. I had to adjust the camera angles a bit to make sure everything was framed correctly for the emotional moments I want to highlight. Since I’m shooting alone, getting the timing and performan...
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