3/8/24- Piecing Everything Together

Hi Blog! Everything that I have been working on for the past month is finally coming together! I have set the date for filming which will be next weekend on either Saturday or Sunday. One of my best friends, Amanda, has agreed to be my protagonist, Avery. Last year, I was in her AICE Media portfolio project, so it is really cool that I get her to have her act in mine. I also just remembered that she owns a tripod which can definitely be helpful for certain shots that I have in mind such as when she is putting on lipstick and the bike scene. She is not an actress, however, she does very well following directions and is very cooperative when she is given a task. It is also convenient that I will be playing Avery's twin sister since some people say that Amanda and I look alike. Personally, I do not see it but I did not write the twins to be identical so it works out anyway.

My only minor setback is that my laptop that all of my work is being done on has been slow recently so it is being repaired right now. Therefore, I cannot create my screenplay. Just by typing a few sentences on my phone of this blog post is making me lose my patience so hopefully I get my laptop back soon! I am a little nervous for editing this film opening since I have mentioned previously that I do not have that much experience with advanced editing. To solve this, I have been recently texting Amanda and some other friends that are apart of my high school’s television program. I know that when I do actually film this opening that I need to have as much footage as possible since Amanda and I both have hectic schedules. Having to have another day of filming be super inconvenient to the both of us so having more than enough footage is ideal in my situation.  

I am close to finishing my final storyboard draft (which I am super excited about). One idea that I definitely had more of was flashbacks to demonstrate that her sisters passing is the only thing that is on her mind. I wanted it to be chaotic that way Avery gradually becomes more and more overwhelmed throughout the film opening. Therefore, I intended for the flashback shots to be quick cuts. 

I have also took it upon myself to create a list of props in order to make my storyboard a reality

-Framed picture of Amanda and I

-Two bikes

-Lipstick

-Phone

-Flowers

-Candles

-Cards

I cannot believe that I will already be filming this project next weekend! It came so much faster than I thought and I have a feeling that every piece of work that I am putting in right now will all pay off once I have a final product of this project. Until next time!

3/4/24- Screenplay

 Hi Blog! If I am being honest, I have been stalling the screenplay. I typically have a difficult time when it comes to dealing with something that is unfamiliar to me. Sure, it is a bad habit and I should probably correct that. I promise I am working on it! However, I am sticking with something that I am already familiar with which is... RESEARCH! By researching screenplay, I think it will give me a better idea of what I want my own screenplay to look it. 

                                                                       What is Screenplay?

Screenplay is considered a blueprint for the final product of a film or television show. It is your building plan, the layout for how your product will turn out. The screenplay typically consists of the dialogue of your characters, their movements, actions, setting descriptions, and acting style used. Screenplays may also have the filmmakers instructions of where the camera must follow. The main goal behind a screenplay is to provide the most specific details and information as possible while still making sure that is flows and is consistent. Screenplays are meant to be carefully read with the intention of understanding what is occurring in a given setting.                                                  

                                   An Excerpt From Straight Outta Compton (2015)...

 

An Excerpt From Lost In Translation (2003)...

An Excerpt From Whiplash (2014)...

After examining the excerpts from above, I noticed how all of these scenes are extremely specific. Every direction or thought that I want to be intended in my film opening should be included in my screenplay. By viewing other screenplays, it definitely helps me have a vision for what I may want my screenplay to include. 

From somebody who has never wrote a screenplay before, I did not know where to begin. I began to research different websites that are easy to use, do not cost any money, and are designed specifically to guide me through this process. I came across a website called Studio Binder all I had to do was enter my email, create a password, and I was ready to start. I simply just clicked on screenplay and it already had a number 1 to label the first scene. It also included the font that you would typically see in screenplays which was definitely convenient. 

Studio Binder 

The sample screenplay that I have created above was just to give a model for the style I am going for. I do not plan on officially developing my screenplay until my final storyboard is done. Despite this, I found that experimenting with the website was super helpful and can will be useful once I create my screenplay (which will be soon). My main goal with my final screenplay is that it will match my vision and be specific enough to were it does not look like amateur made it. 

I think I am in a good place right now. My idea is established. I created a film opening title. I am about to create my final storyboard. Everything feels set. However, I know that I need to start putting everything together which includes the filming and editing process (which I am slightly nervous about) the most amount of heavy editing that I have done with my life is when I was 9 years old making movie trailers on I-Movie with my cousins. I have established in a previous blog post that I will be using Adobe Creative Cloud, however, this could honestly change if I feel uncomfortable of overwhelmed with the website. I may ask my friend who is familiar with editing and technology to see what he thinks I should do. 

 Over the next few days, I will heavily be considering where my filming location, who will be my actors, and when I will be filming this project. I would also feel more comfortable if I had an idea of how I will be editing this project to be one that I am proud. I know for fact my blog post about choosing a website to edit on was not my best work. Similar to what I did with Studio Binder, I will be experimenting with a multitude of different websites. I am choosing to remain optimistic about the future of my film opening project. I know that there is still so much to do, but the journey is what matters. Until next time!

Sources

https://industrialscripts.com/screenplay-definition/

https://app.studiobinder.com/company/65e7224936199f921103cbdd/currentUser/65e7224936199f921103cbdd/projects/65e72262dc5d7dab8757a1b7/screenplays/All

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/screenplay-vs-script/

https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-screenplays-to-read/

3/1/24- Cinematography Research

 Blog, I am beginning to have some regrets. I should be focusing on my biology lesson in class at the moment, however, I cannot rest when I think about this project. After the group meetings yesterday, I think I have went to fast with my story without doing more research beforehand. Sure, it may be nice to have an official idea set, however, this can only take me so far. Therefore, I will going back to my roots of RESEARCH. The group meeting definitely showed me that I should have more research backed up with my film opening. 

Today, I am choosing to focus on... Cinematography. I may have envisioned what my story will look like, however, I have not had a chance to focus on cinematography components. 

What is Cinematography you may be asking? Simply, it is how images are captured. Cinematography shows the art of photography and a visually appealing story. It is composed of elements such as lighting, framing, composition, camera motion, camera angles, lens choices, zoom, color, etc. Why might we need it? It defines the overall look and mood of a production and narrative. Every mise-en-scene choice can provide a way to enhance a given story. I found it super interesting that filmmakers choose to spend a bulk of their budget on high quality cinematography to ensure that the film while look appealing on a big movie theater screen. 

What do cinematographers do? They're responsible for creating the look, color, lightning, and framing for every single shot in a film. Their choices must ensure that they support the directors vision for the film. 

                                                                       The Godfather (1972)

                                   

Starting off with one of the best drama films the exist, The Godfather, I was inspired by this cinematography because of the use of shadows. The cinematographer for this film is Gordon Willis who stated that he focused on a combination of lighting, camera angles, and framing to create a visual language that fits the directors narrative. The dark and dull tones allows the film to feel more suspenseful and intense. When looking at the shots that ocurred during this production, a good majority of them are typically serious with professional clothing, emotionless faces, and  intimidating personalities. 

This shot below immediately caught my eye. This, this is what I want my final shot to look similar to. The street, the color, the shot, it makes sense. A bright world before the protagonists world flipped around. 

                                                                    Bladerunner 2049 (2017)

                          

Although my genre is drama, unlike this film which is a thriller/sci-fi, I was inspired by the lighting choices. I think the look of the duller tones would fit well with the themes of my film opening. The film is filled with stunning images that stick with the audience even after the film is over. It was shot by one of the most acclaimed cinematographers of all time, Roger Deakins, who also shot films such as No Country for Old Men (2007) and 1917 (2019). Half of this cinematography is composed of mise-en-scene elements. 

The shots are beautiful. I have gained a lot of inspiration from this films choice of shots, color, mise-en-scene, etc. I particularly like the close up on Ryan Goslings face in the first section below. The light on his face, the expression, and the angle choice are all thought out aspects that I could possibly integrate into my shots. 

By doing this research, I believe I have put myself into a comfortable position. The main purpose of this project is not to just get it done by a deadline, it is to become more knowledgable on every aspect of film making. I am able to understand more what look I want to have in the shots I am creating. I believe that more dull tones will capture the mood that the protagonist, Avery, is experiencing with the loss of her sister. This research will help guide me during my next (and hopefully last) storyboard. What now? I will creating a new storyboard, researching and establishing my screenplay/script, and do research on how I would like to do my flashback towards the end of my film opening. I do not have an exact vision of what the flashback may look like, therefore, I want to view some that have been used in past films. Until next time!

                                                                Sources

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/film-101-what-is-cinematography-and-what-does-a-cinematographer-do

https://gridfiti.com/visually-stunning-movies/

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/blade-runner-2049-cinematography-analysis/

2/29/24- Group Meeting #1

 Hi Blog! Happy Leap Day! Yesterday in class we had our first group meeting! Everybody was super sweet and helpful when it came to advice or ideas. I took note of everybody's progress to see how my peers were approaching their project, incorporating research, and ideas that they may have for their story.  

The first person to speak in my group discussed how she would like to create a murder mystery/thriller which I think has the ability to be super engaging for her audience. She took inspiration from True Detectives, Knifes Out, and Joker. One thing that I spotted as she showed us her Blog and notes is that her research is done extremely well inspiring me to do some more myself. Her opening will be set in New York as she told us that she will be traveling there for spring break which when we are scheduled to be shooting these projects. She presented her idea of having a group of three detectives attempting to figure out a case. She also told us she would be using her family and friends to act in her film and talked about how she would like incorporate mise-en-scene elements. She is about to start her storyboard. What she presented was super well done. She has yet to establish her title but her idea is clear and her research will definitely help her in the grand scheme of things. 

I could heavily relate to the next group member who presented as she struggled in the beginning in establishing an idea on what her film opening would be about. She is also attempting to fix her organization skills (relatable) She knew that she was interested in visual appeals, such as mise-en-scene, to use in her opening. She explained the group that her genre research helped her with decision making. She had discussed a wide variety of film genres on her blog. Originally, she was going to choose fantasy but ended up choose sci-fi as her genre. She mentioned that she would like to have chaotic outfits and makeup shown in her characters. After explaining her idea, I got the vibe that she was going for the more artistic side of films. Overall, I think she is progressing great with this project. 

The next person to speak is in the process of developing her story but has picked the coming of age genre. She does not have a start to finish yet but she has an idea of what she is looking for. She mentioned that she would like to focus on aesthetics and she wanted to create a unique and different story. I really related to this as I have mentioned from the beginning of my journey with this project that I wanted my story to stand out. She discussed her coming of age research and the films that she reviewed to grasp a better idea of the genre that she would be focussing on. Her research is going to further understand her genre as well as help with decision making. 

Another group member mentioned how he would like to do a horror opening with a kill scene. I believe this idea can draw in an audience making them entertained while staying engaged with the film opening. The engagement would leave the audience wanting to see the killers identity revealed since the group member mentioned that the film would surround the mystery of finding the killer which reminded me a lot of one of favorite movies of all time, Scream. He did not know which genre he would like to pursue in beginning. To solve this, he did loads of genre research in order to have an idea of what category this film would fall under. He is currently in the process of developing his script but he discussed what elements would be added to his film opening such as the use of his tri-pod and incorporating fake blood. I think his ideas are very appealing and can be very successful in this project. 

The last member that discussed his project is working with a partner and mentioned that they work well together, which I believe will definitely smoothen in the process of this project. They discussed that they would like to do a film opening involving sports and they are planning to film at a local park. He described his protagonist as a poor guy, who is typically bullied by his peers. He discussed the challenges that may be involved with filming the opening because of the soccer shots being put in the goal and matching with the audio. Heat us that, at the end of the film opening the protagonist would be recognized by a famous scouter. I believe the ending the film opening like that is a great way to engage their audience. 

Overall, I enjoyed discussing with my classmates about their progression within their film openings. It was great to hear from other people who are experiencing the same thing as I am. I even got to receive advice on improvements that I can make as well as gain useful information regarding research that I can use. I think that this will help me to consider things that I have not thought about yet. See you next time!

2/28/24- Defining

 Hi Blog! I have big news, my second story board draft is complete! After adding a plot point with the protagonists sister passing away, I added shots to represent that somebody in her life is no longer with her and that she is massively struggling because of it. I did this by the use of props previously mentioned in my blog posts such as candles, pictures, cards, etc. Another component that I added that I thought would be super engaging is ending the film opening with a flashback of the protagonist and her sister living life as normal not long before her passing. I thought this could leave the audience wanting see more of their relationship, how she passed away, etc. The flashback will consist of the girls laughing, living care free, and enjoying each others company. I put in my storyboard them riding bikes to represent the innocence and pureness that is within their relationship. I believe the flashback will leave the audience pondering on how much the protagonists life changed since her sisters passing. After researching past AICE Media portfolio projects, I think that ending with the title looks corny. Therefore, I will place the title before the flashback begins. 

I am proud of how far this storyboard has come. If I have learned anything from this class this past year it is that every shot has a meaning and significance that it contributes to your story. I contributed this idea heavily to my storyboard. So, here it is...

                                                                      Second Storyboard Draft

On top of creating my second storyboard draft, I labeled each shot and its meaning. Everything for my storyboard was picked meticulously in order to ensure that everything in my film opening has a meaning. I not only included why I made that shot I also defined certain choices I made with the display. For instance, I had the protagonist sit on the edge of the counter to capture the idea that she feels "on edge" since the death of her sister. One issue I am having with my storyboard is that the shots feel too basic. Most of my shots are long shots and medium shots which is the most basic lesson that I learned in this class. I would like to incorporate more complex shots and angles to further advance this film opening and challenge myself with a more difficult skill set.

With all of that being said, this is not my final storyboard draft as I would like to create more occasional cuts in order to make this film opening more engaging to viewers. If I am being completely honest, I have been playing it safe. I think I should be making more bold choices in order to make this film opening stand out among other drama films especially considering how broad this genre can be. How can I fix this? I plan on doing more thorough research about aspects such as credits, screenplay, character development, etc. By doing this, it helps me grasp a better understanding of what I would like to see incorporated into my ideas and overall better understand the importance of decision making in the film world.

Shot Meanings

One thing that is starting to bother me is that my main characters do not have names yet. I do not know why I would not name them earlier but I found this to be a great opportunity to make diagrams of their characteristics. Knowing who the main characters are is incredibly important to the development of a story. Providing the characters with a specific and unique personality sets themselves apart from other main characters that you may see on television. 

Character Analysis Diagram

Overall, I believe my planning has gone relatively successful. I have come a long way from a week or two ago despite my setbacks early on. A critic that I am giving myself is to not make decisions so fast without thinking everything through. I am not saying that every decision that I make is final but making rash decisions will not be effective in the grand scheme of things. I cannot wait to see my ideas come to life. So in the mean time, I will be working different aspects that are done behind the scene. Until next time!

2/24/24- But, why?

 Hi Blog! I have officially created a title for my film opening :) 

Derived- "To have or take origin"

This title felt right with my intentions for the film opening due to the fact that the protagonist is experiencing being taken away from a typical teenagers life because of her sister's absence. She is derived from happiness. She is derived from normalcy. She is derived from relaxation. She is derived because of the idea of the having her sister by her side, which is the main plot point that my film would be based on. My protagonist wants to be blended in, but now, she will forever have to live without her twin. Her feelings of being derived are based on the fact that she feels guilty if she moves on with her life without someone who meant so much to her. Her sister is everything she wanted to be, now, she will not have the chance to look up to her anymore.

Apart from naming my film opening I have decided to work with the editing tool Adobe Creative Cloud. As an amateur film creator, I am not super familiar with how the editing process goes. If I've done any sort of editing, it was done on Perfect Video for a small school task. Due to the bulk of the project, this is too simple to handle what I am going for. Another issue with the previous platform is that the website can only produce videos up to 45 seconds. Therefore, I would be unable to produce anything longer than that time frame. After researching websites that I can produce my film opening on, I chose Adobe Creative Cloud with out having to pay any fees. 

The most popular website that I saw for editing was adobe premiere, which I do not have availability to because I am not willing to pay that much money a month for a project that will take me less than two months. As as the quality may seem, I feel as though I can produce this project while still staying in my budget. Look up a few videos on how to edit on the website that I have chose, because I have not been exposed to a professional level of editing. 

The videos I have viewed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQqf_ZSBE40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLlzm4Zlkog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfJ5jUgLEBk

I hope this research that I have gathered for not only help me for this project, but on using a new website for my future endeavors. Research has my primary focus during the process of this project and I will continue to follow this technique as the next month or so proceeds. Until next time! 

2/22/24 - Creativity Strikes!

 Blog, I have a vision! When figuring out more and more details on my protagonist, I really need to understand what her backstory is. I was considering a lot of past trauma stories such as other protagonists in films such as Auggie Pullman from Wonder (2017) who was bullied and tormented his entire life because of the way he looks and Lizzy from Instant Family (2018) who was a foster child in and out of homes for her entire childhood. I decided that my protagonists back story would be the loss of her twin sister which completely flipped her life upside down. This would be the reasoning for the protagonists isolation from others and lack of social skills. I was brainstorming different ideas I could film to establish and represent that her sister is no longer with her. For example, flowers, pictures displayed of her, and cards/ notes expressing their deepest condolences. 

Plot Planning

New Character Diagram

I am super excited that I have more and more ideas to contribute to my film opening. However, I have not established what I will be creating for the end of my film opening. Another note that I should add, I have to recreate my storyboard this weekend in order to include my new storyline into the story. I am going to change the beginning of the film opening to establish the setting and context. To do so, the first few shots will be displays of props to establish her sisters passing. 

                                                                        Examples...

I realized the importance of establishing a setting during my class lecture today where we viewed sample film openings that were successful. By showing shots, such as the ones viewed above, it helps show the context and foreshadow what is to come from this film opening. I plan on writing the shots for my second story board draft. Not only will this defined the context, but will also leave viewers questioning and predicting what is to come from this film allowing loads of audience engagement through the unknowing. Without these minor details to help, it could be rather difficult and confusing for viewers. The small details matter and as I was taught today "less is more" :)

I definitely have some critiques for myself this past week as I have not been as organized as I would've liked to be. My scheduling on Canva does not match blogger, which stresses me out a little bit. However, I am proud of myself for how much I have progressed these past few weeks, as I typically do not do lengthy projects, such as this one. To keep my brain in check, I have created a list of the top things that I would like to complete in these next few days to make sure I am on the right page with this project.

Priorities

-Complete storyboard 

-Introduce film title

-Introduce character names

-Meaning behind certain shots/angles

-Research credits

My idea is set, now the journey officially has begun. I am ready to tackle this by implementing everything I have learned in AICE Media Studies AS this past school year. This is just the start.