Little did I know about

Post-production was honestly my first real experience working as an editor, and I didn’t expect it to be this confusing and exciting at the same time. I used Adobe Premiere Pro for the entire process, and in the beginning, I felt completely lost. The interface looked like a lot so many panels, buttons, and timelines that didn’t make sense immediately. It definitely took me some time (and patience) to even feel a little comfortable navigating it.

One thing I realised very quickly is that editing isn’t just about cutting clips it’s about being organised. At first, I underestimated this and just wanted to jump straight into editing, but once I started arranging my footage properly into bins and labelling things, everything became so much easier. It sounds basic, but that step genuinely changed my workflow.

Before I even started editing, I had around 45 minutes of raw footage from multiple takes, which was honestly overwhelming. Instead of organising everything directly inside Premiere Pro (which I didn’t feel confident doing yet), I came up with my own system.

I watched all my footage and made notes on my phone, just a simple list of clips I liked. I wrote down the file names, what was happening in each clip, and whether I thought it was usable. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it worked for me.

This process helped me filter out the bad shots, like ones with weird lighting or accidental camera shakes and focus only on what I actually needed. So when I finally opened Premiere Pro, I only imported the clips from my list. This saved me from endlessly scrolling through unnecessary footage, which I know would have slowed me down a lot.

That being said, I did mess up at one point. I forgot to rename my clips inside Premiere Pro to match the names in my notes. So I kept going back and forth between my phone and laptop trying to figure out which clip was which. It got frustrating really fast. Halfway through, I went back and fixed it by renaming everything properly. If I do this again, that’s definitely something I’ll do right at the start.

Once I got more comfortable, I started putting my clips together to build the story. This was probably my favourite part because it finally felt like everything was coming together.

I experimented a bit with pacing and tried to make sure the story flowed smoothly. I used simple techniques like match-on-action and shot-reverse-shot to keep things continuous and not confusing for the viewer.

I also made a conscious decision to keep my editing simple. I didn’t want to overdo transitions or effects just for the sake of it. I stuck mostly to clean cuts and very subtle transitions because I wanted the focus to stay on the story itself. It felt more natural and less distracting.

Before fully getting into editing, I did some of my own research, especially since my project was in the horror genre. I watched a lot of breakdown videos and read about how horror films build tension -especially through sound.

One concept I found really interesting was audio layering, basically combining background sounds, small effects, and music to create tension without it being too obvious. I tried to apply that idea in my own project.

For sound, I explored platforms like Pixabay and Freesound, which had a good range of free audio I could experiment with.

For my title sequence, I looked at Art of the Title and noticed how horror films often use rough, slightly distorted fonts with slow fade-ins. I tried to recreate that style in my own way.

I also watched a few tutorials on colour grading and learned how desaturating colours and making shadows darker can completely change the mood of a scene. I experimented with this to give my film a darker, more unsettling tone.

For my four Creative Critical Reflections, I used Canva, Prezi, Visme, and Adobe Express. Each platform was a bit different. Canva was the easiest to use, Prezi felt more creative with its zooming format, Visme worked well for data-style layouts, and Adobe Express was the trickiest but let me experiment with short video content. Using different platforms actually helped me see my project from different angles, which was useful.

DAY 1 - LOCATION & RUN-THROUGH

MEDIA ROOM

Hii everyone !!!

Today was about getting everyone into character before we started recording anything serious. I explained how I wanted them to act like real friends hanging out - distracted, on their phones, laughing, not even thinking about the camera.

In the initial scenes, the actors were a bit awkward with each other, which I found challenging because their comfort level affects how natural the scene looks. I blocked where each person should sit, not to make it look perfect, but to make it look natural, so they could slowly ease into their characters. This scene needs to feel totally normal before anything strange happens later.

Once the lighting, posters and props were in place, I finally stepped back to look at the room as a complete set. It gives the calm, cosy vibe I wanted, especially the posters that represent Harish’s personality. Seeing the cast settle into the space made everything feel real - the work officially started here.

On the first day, after completing my practice sessions and acting run-throughs, I identified several errors and potential challenges that could arise on the final filming day. One of my main concerns was the rain scene effect. While I managed to simulate this by drenching the actors’ costumes and arranging suitable wardrobe changes, I noticed that the external lighting differed from the atmosphere I originally intended to create.I also realised that some of the costumes I had selected appeared dull under the lighting setup. In addition, the overall room lighting was darker than required, which affected the visual quality of the scene. Although I made adjustments to improve these issues, I was not able to fully resolve the problem of external light entering the room whenever the door was opened.

DAY 2 - FILMING DAY

The second day focused on completing the filming process and bringing the planned scenes together into a cohesive visual outcome. Compared to the initial run-throughs, this stage required greater control over both performance and technical elements, as each shot needed to align with the intended tone of the film.

During filming, I paid close attention to framing and composition to ensure that each scene appeared visually balanced and structured. I used a range of shot types, including close-up and medium shots, to capture both individual reactions and group interactions. This helped create a more engaging visual flow and allowed the scene to feel more natural rather than staged.

Lighting was managed more carefully to maintain consistency throughout the shoot. Based on earlier observations, I adjusted the setup to achieve a clearer and more controlled look. I also worked on enhancing the atmosphere through lighting, ensuring that it supported the overall tone of the film. Maintaining this consistency required constant monitoring, as even small changes in light could affect the continuity of the scene.

Coordinating the actors within the frame was another important aspect of the filming process. With multiple characters present, I ensured that their positioning supported both clarity and composition. Adjustments were made where necessary to avoid visual imbalance, while still maintaining a natural interaction between the characters.

Managing and planning the production on my own was challenging, especially when it came to coordinating the cast and organising the set effectively. To address this, I sought support from an A-Level director, who helped me specifically with handling the cast and managing the setup. This allowed me to maintain better control over the production while ensuring that the actors were guided properly and the environment remained organised. It also made the overall workflow more structured and manageable for me.

As this was the final day of filming, I reviewed each take carefully to ensure that all required footage had been captured effectively. In some cases, additional takes were recorded to improve the overall quality of the scene. This process emphasised the importance of attention to detail, as even minor adjustments had a noticeable impact on the final result.

Casting

Nakul.K as Harish

Harish is the sceptical centre of the story - calm, logical and rarely shaken. His boredom in the beginning shows his need for stimulation, but when he quits the game, his confidence collapses, revealing deep vulnerability. His character arc shifts from casual disbelief to psychological fear as he becomes the only one aware of the truth.

Nakul delivered a strong audition with natural scepticism and expressive micro-reactions. He trained specifically on subtle eye shifts and controlled breathing to portray Harish’s transition from confidence to fear without exaggerated acting.

Sathya Saravanan as Vishwa

Vishwa brings energy, humour and lightness to the group. He hides his fear behind jokes, making the moment he panics (“RUN!”) more powerful. His development reveals that humour is his coping mechanism, and when the horror breaks through it, his vulnerability shows.

Sathya’s audition stood out for his timing and natural comedic presence. He practiced switching from humour to fear instantly, helping maintain the tonal contrast essential for building tension in the scene.

Harshitha as Aara

Aara is the story’s unsettling presence - calm, soft-spoken, yet strangely disconnected when she arrives. Her evolution from quietly mysterious to chillingly sinister drives the horror shift. Her wide, unnatural smile in the final scene reveals her transformation into the game’s embodiment.

Harshitha impressed during auditions with her ability to maintain a still, controlled expression. She worked on posture, slow movements and tension in her facial muscles to create an uncanny presence without relying on heavy dialogue.

Smriti G Nair as Tanishka

Tanishka appears sensitive and easily affected, becoming the first “victim” of the game. Her coughing scene and flickering mic icon position her as the emotional weak point in the group. When she returns acting “normal,” the contrast adds to the horror’s confusion.

Smriti G Nair responded well to emotional direction during auditions, showing strong control over distress acting. She rehearsed physical reactions like coughing, shaking and fear expressions to perform these scenes convincingly.

Sivadhanvanth as Kushal

Kushal is quiet, observant and rational. He tries to stay calm by explaining the situation logically (“Maybe it’s part of the game?”), which makes his later unnatural calmness more disturbing. His shift from grounded friend to eerie presence supports the supernatural tone.

Sivadhanavanth demonstrated a controlled and realistic performance style in auditions. He worked on maintaining a blank, emotionless stare for the “reset” scene, giving his character an unsettling duality.

Sarvik Prabhu as Sachin

Sachin is a subtle character whose minimal dialogue makes his transformation more impactful. At first, he blends into the group naturally, but after the “reset,” he becomes part of the unnatural cheerfulness that surrounds Harish, contributing to the unsettling atmosphere.

Concept Development

You know that 3 AM internet feeling? When you’re so deep in a digital rabbit hole that the real world feels like the simulation? I was chasing that exact vibe, sitting in my own glow-in-the-dark cave of monitors, when the concept for Quiet.exe first flickered to life. I didn't just want to make a scary movie; I wanted to capture the specific dread of a system corrupting, and the terrifying thought that the glitch isn't in the machine, but in you.

The core idea was simple: what if I found a game I couldn't quit? Not just a difficult game, but one that literally refused to be unplayed. That was the seed of the concept of no digital escape, turning to a post-modernised reality. 

In the process of developing Quiet.exe, my intention was to build suspense throughout the entire film by designing each scene's pacing carefully for maximum tension throughout the film yet a comic sense and chaos. The trailer features three distinct sections: the fun, the fear, and the fleeing.

Visual and audio techniques used to create the sense of horror are: flickering lights, distorted sounds, rapid editing pace, the html app development that I learnt in my DMD course and text message alerts system within it. All of these techniques combined I aimed to create a unique immersive experience while presenting a horror effect. Additionally, I designed how light, camera placement, and props and overall set design would interact with the actor(s) during the filming of Quiet.exe to support the intent of fear and suspense.

For my horror genre, I came up with these costumes, as this was not about picking cool outfits, but attempting to implement codes and conventions in their personalities. Each costume was a deliberate choice to build a character type that the audience would instantly relate to, your cliché teenagers hanging out, snacking, gossiping, playing games and the occasional obsession with their phones.

For my horror sequence, I chose a colour palette that blends calm, warm tones with deep, unsettling shades to create a mix of comfort and hidden tension. The softer beiges, greens and warm oranges help me portray a friendly, relaxed atmosphere at the start of the scene, while the richer blacks, blues and muted purples slowly introduce a sense of unease.

This contrast allows the sequence to feel welcoming on the surface, but visually hints that something is “off” beneath the calm. I’m using these palettes to guide my set design, such as choosing cosy, warm lighting and natural textures, while also planning darker shadows, minimal light spill and colder highlights to shift the mood as the horror element grows.

Overall, this colour plan supports my concept of a scene that begins as a friendly, comforting gathering but subtly transforms into an eerie, tense moment without breaking visual consistency.

I selected each prop very intentionally to support the mix of comfort and tension in my sequence. Most of the items, like blankets, bean bags, fairy lights, popcorn, Coke, books, and board games, help me build a casual, friendly “hangout” atmosphere where the characters feel completely safe.

These props make the living room space look lived-in, warm and believable, matching my chosen colour palette. In contrast, elements like fake blood, umbrellas, raincoats, candles and multiple phones are meant to subtly hint at the shift towards horror. They would allow me to transition from a cosy environment to a chaotic, unsettling one once the game begins.

Overall, this prop selection helps me balance realism with tension, using everyday comfort items to lull the audience before the horror elements break the calm.

For the set design, I transformed my media room to match the mood and the characters, especially Harish. I began by blocking out the windows using black charts to create full control over the lighting and give the room a darker, enclosed feel. Then, to make the space look like a realistic teenager’s room, I designed and printed a wall of posters that reflect Harish’s personality-his love for games, mystery, and slightly edgy aesthetics.

Using my Art & Design skills, I planned the poster layout carefully so it feels messy, expressive and authentic to him. I also created handmade leaf veins to add an unusual decorative element, hinting at something unsettling beneath the normal environment.

Every step, from placing the posters to shaping the room’s darkness, helped me build a space that feels lived-in, personal and perfect for the horror shift later in the story.