PENGAPLIKASIAN KOMPOSISI CENTER FRAMING DALAM FILM “ABSENCE”

This final project examines the role of the Director of Photography (DOP) in designing and implementing the cinematographic technique of center framing as the primary visual strategy in the short film titled ABSENCE. This film addresses the issue of emotional alienation between father and child as a consequence of the fatherless phenomenon in Indonesia, where the father's presence is often physical but emotionally absent in the family life. ABSENCE targets an audience ranging from young adults to older generations, particularly those interested in psychological issues and family dynamics. The methodology for this final project includes production observation, intensive discussions with the director, visual mood board creation, location surveys, and the distribution of questionnaires to respondents who are single-child families, aimed at measuring the effectiveness of the visual message being conveyed.

The production of ABSENCE is designed with a psychological drama approach to showcase the psychological impact of a strained father-child relationship. The production stages involve strict pre-production processes, such as script reading and analysis, visual discussions with the director, mood board creation, location surveys, as well as the preparation of storyboards and shot lists. The production process incorporates center framing as the main visual element, emphasizing negative space and creating a sense of alienation in the characters. Post-production includes editing, color grading, and visual evaluation to ensure the film's message is conveyed effectively.

The results of the ABSENCE film production show that the use of center framing is effective in establishing the desired atmosphere of alienation. The film was successfully selected as a finalist at international film festivals such as the Sweden Film Awards and received an official selection at the First Time Filmmaker Sessions Volunteer Volume 4, which is part of the Lift-Off Global Network. ABSENCE received positive feedback from both the jury and audience, particularly highlighting the cinematographic and artistic achievements, which serve as key performance indicators (KPI) for this final project.