CCR Q4: TIER LIST

 CCR Q4

HOW DID YOU INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGIES - SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, AND ONLINE  IN THIS PROJECT?

Method Used: 

I recorded my screen while ranking the technologies I used in a tier list. My face cam was in the corner, providing commentary throughout the video.

 Script:

INTRODUCTION:

Filmmaking is more than just creativity—it’s about using the right tools to bring your vision to life. Every decision I made, from the equipment I chose to the software I edited on, directly shaped how Shaam turned out. In this video, I’ll be breaking down the technologies I used throughout this project and ranking them in a tier list, from the absolute essentials to the ones that were helpful but not game-changers.

We’ll go through cameras, editing software, lighting, and even the AI tools I experimented with. Some of these were complete lifesavers, while others… well, I could have managed without them. Let’s get started.

S-TIER: THE ESSENTIALS 

Camera & Lens  First up, the most obvious tool—the camera and lens. Without these, there is no film, but for Shaam, the way I used the camera was just as important as the story itself. My film is driven by visual storytelling, and a huge part of that came down to how I framed, lit, and moved the camera.

The camera’s low-light performance was essential for the eerie, psychological tone of my film. A lot of Shaam takes place in dimly lit environments, so I needed a camera that could capture details without too much noise or grain. The lens also helped create a strong depth of field, isolating Ali in the frame and making certain visuals feel more surreal. One example is the way I framed Ali alone on the sofa—it visually reinforces his isolation, and the slight blur in the background creates this dreamlike effect that works perfectly for a psychological drama.

That being said, using the camera wasn’t always easy. Exposure was one of the biggest challenges I faced. Some shots ended up being too dark or underexposed, which forced me to adjust my approach in post-production. Another issue was focusing manually—since I used a lot of slow, deliberate movements, I had to make sure the focus was always locked on Ali while keeping the background slightly out of focus. These challenges definitely made the filming process more difficult, but they also helped me develop a stronger understanding of cinematography.

Overall, the camera and lens weren’t just tools—they were a major part of the storytelling itself, which is why they belong in S-tier.

Adobe Premiere Pro  Next up in S-tier is Adobe Premiere Pro—the backbone of my entire editing process. No matter how good my footage was, without strong editing, Shaam wouldn’t have the same impact. Every moment in my film, from the way the shots are structured to how the flashbacks are integrated, came together in Premiere.

One of the biggest things Premiere allowed me to do was refine the pacing of my film. Shaam has a very deliberate, psychological build-up, so I had to make sure that certain shots lingered just long enough to create tension without feeling slow. I also used match cuts and flashbacks to make the film’s nonlinear storytelling feel seamless. A good example is the way I transitioned between Ali’s present-day isolation and his past memories—it was all about making sure those transitions felt natural and immersive.

Of course, learning how to use Premiere efficiently took time. One challenge I faced was balancing color grading—since Shaam has a dark and moody aesthetic, I had to make sure it looked cinematic without being too dark to see details. I also experimented with layering sound design, making subtle adjustments to amplify tension in key moments. All of this would have been a nightmare without a professional editing software, which is why Premiere Pro is definitely S-tier.

A-TIER: VERY USEFUL 

Lighting : Lighting is one of those things you don’t realize is so important until you start shooting. It might seem like a small detail, but it completely changes the mood of a scene. For Shaam, lighting played a huge role in defining the visual style of the film. Shadows and contrast were essential in creating a sense of unease and psychological tension.

One of the best examples of this was in the scene where Ali sits alone in the dimly lit room. I used a single light source to cast harsh shadows, which not only made the shot more visually striking but also reinforced his internal conflict. However, working with lighting wasn’t always easy. The biggest challenge was mixing natural and artificial light—sometimes, the artificial lighting I used didn’t match the natural light coming through the windows, which made color correction in post more complicated. Despite this, lighting was an essential part of setting the tone for Shaam, and that’s why I’m placing it in A-tier.

Gimbal & Tripod: Next in A-tier, we have the gimbal and tripod. Filmmaking is all about movement and composition, and these tools made my shots feel much more controlled and professional. The tripod was perfect for the static, composed shots where I wanted a sense of stillness—like Ali sitting in isolation. Meanwhile, the gimbal allowed me to create smooth, dynamic shots where movement was necessary.

One of my favorite shots was a slow pan following Ali’s movements. Without a gimbal, this could have ended up looking shaky or amateurish. However, the gimbal did have a bit of a learning curve—I had to balance it properly to avoid sudden jerky movements, which took some time to get right.

In the end, both the tripod and gimbal were extremely useful, but I wouldn’t call them absolutely essential, which is why they belong in A-tier.

CapCut:  Even though Premiere Pro was my main editing tool, I actually used CapCut for a few specific things—mainly for adding certain sound effects I couldn’t find in Premiere and also for editing the reflection shot. While it wasn’t as powerful as Premiere, it was surprisingly useful for quick edits, so I’m placing it in A-tier.

B-TIER: MODERATELY USEFUL 

Google Drive & WeTransfer:  Google Drive and WeTransfer were useful for collaboration, especially when I needed to send files to a friend who helped me with editing. However, they didn’t directly impact the creative process of the film itself. Upload speeds were sometimes frustrating, especially for large video files, but overall, they were helpful for convenience, so I’m placing them in B-tier.

C-TIER: NOT CRUCIAL 

ChatGPT: Finally, at the bottom of the list, we have ChatGPT. This tool was somewhat helpful when I was brainstorming ideas for the storyline and refining certain shots. At one point, I was stuck on how to make a scene more visually impactful, and ChatGPT helped me explore different framing techniques and ways to enhance the psychological tone of the film. However, its role was limited—I still had to make all the creative decisions myself, and it didn’t directly contribute to the filming or editing process. Because of that, I’m placing it in C-tier.

CONCLUSION 

So that’s my Tech Tier List for Shaam! Some tools were absolutely essential, while others were just nice to have. If I had to pick my top three, they would be: the camera, Premiere Pro, and the tripod/gimbal setup.

This project taught me that technology alone doesn’t make a great film it’s how you use it to enhance storytelling.

Credits:

Director/Editor: Hiba Rashid

Filmed & Edited using: Loom