Filming Blog: No Filming Again

Although I have already begun filming some of the scenes for my music video, I still need a lot more to be done. I would need at least 90 more seconds of film to make my film 2 minutes as of right now. The scenes that I have filmed so far include me being inside my bathroom. More in detail, during these scenes I am seen washing my hands and my face. I filmed these scenes with my friend Cristy last Friday. Though I expected to get more done on this day, this was all that we could have gotten done with the time frame that we had. It is currently the following Thursday now and sadly I have not made new progress yet with my filming. I was hoping I would be able to film the scenes in Cristy's house this week. However, this was a difficult task to accomplish as my schedule was been quite busy lately. Along with me not having a proper ride to Cristy's house, scheduling is hard to accomplish between the both of us. I initially planned with Cristy to film this Tuesday or Wednesday, yet these plans were halted as I had to babysit. This weekend, I still will not be able to film because I will be going to Key West for a school field trip. Though these days would have been beneficial for me to get more filming done, it will again have to be rescheduled again. Instead of filming, I have been busy doing homework and preparing for my field trip to Key West. I have also been watching lots of YouTube during my spare time as well. Though I am sad I could not film what I wanted to film this week, I hope next week will be much more productive. Next week, I plan on filming the day I get back, which would be Sunday night. However, if I have no time to film on Sunday, I will have to film on Monday afternoon instead. During this day, I hope to get the majority of my scenes done.

Filming Blog: First Day Filming

On Friday after school is when I decided I wanted to film. After not being able to film last weekend, it was finally time to begin the filming process this weekend. Thursday was the day in which I ultimately checked out a camera. The following day, I went home with my friend Cristy and we went to the first location of filming, which was my house. Due to my scenes taking place at night, we had to wait until at least 7PM to start filming. However, when it became 7PM, we were suddenly paused. This was because after opening the camera, I had realized that it was not charged. In order to film the expected scenes, I would have to leave the camera charging for at least 30 minutes. After the camera was up to charge, we could finally begin filming. The first scene that we filmed was where I was washing my face in the bathroom. To prepare the "set", I had to clear the sink of all its products. This included mouthwash, hairspray, and toothbrushes so that hand soap would be the only prop that the camera would see. Next, I had to fix my costume and makeup. This consisted of my taking off my watch and bracelets, along with putting my hair in a messy bun and wiping off all of my previous makeup. Due to my bathroom being quite small, the filming set up was quite cramped with the tripod. However, luckily we were still able to fit it in. Filming with Cristy was actually difficult at times because we often laughed a lot. This caused some of the shots that I filmed to be disturbed throughout filming. Although I intended to complete all of my individual scenes on Friday, due to the many interruptions that were caused, I will have to refilm a couple of these scenes on my own. This will be a challenge to do on my own; however, it must be done in order to get closer to completing my film.

Filming Blog: No Filming Today

After completing the entirety of the planning process for my final task, it was time to start filming. However, this next step was met with some roadblocks. Due to me not finishing my storyboard on Thursday in class, I was not able to check out a camera on this day. With this in mind, I had a new plan in order to check out the camera. This would involve me finishing my blog on the night of Thursday and checking out my camera on Friday morning. Yet, I could not do this either as I did not come to school on Friday due to me being sick. This was unfortunate as I had actually made plans with my friend, Cristy, to begin filming on this day. However of course, due to me not having a camera, these plans would have to be moved to next week. This left me with an entire 4-day weekend of not being able to film. During this time, I decided to reschedule carefully the days in which I would be filming in order to avoid confusion with the previous dates that I had set up. Though I was unable to film during this whole extended weekend, I still wanted to make good use of my time. Instead of filming, I spent this time doing homework for other classes, such as my math and marine science homework. I also spent this time watching mystery movies on Hulu as I thought it would be a good way to study for the upcoming AICE exam that I would have to take for this class. This journey eventually came to a conclusion on Thursday as this was the day in which I finally was able to check out a camera. Thus, the filming process would begin on Friday for my final task. This hopefully will still leave me with enough time to record all the scenes I want within the time frame that I had already planned out.

Planning Blog: Storyboard

Continuing on with the planning process of the final task, the next step was to create a storyboard to simulate a brief summary of the scenes that would be like for my film. The first thing I did was draw the establishing shot of my film. An important thing to keep in mind when drawing a storyboard for a movie is to make sure the box is completely filled. Leaving boxes with a bunch of negative space will make your storyboard look like no effort was put into it. Which is why I made sure to do this with every box that I drew. Another thing that I drew in my boxes was an example of what the titles would look like in two of the scenes. This is important as it could be used as a reference for future placement of the titles of my film. Additionally, for the lines under the boxes, I also made sure to describe the scenes in detail. This included the specific type of camera angle, shot, or movement. I also made sure to include the editing or sound aspects of the scenes as well. The last thing I did to complete my storyboard was uploading the pictures that I took onto a PowerPoint.

Planning Blog: Title Design

For the next part of the planning process, I had to come up with title designs. For this aspect of the planning process, I again had to create a PowerPoint to show these steps. The first thing that I had to think of was the font of the titles. This was an easy step as I had already pictured in my head exactly how I wanted the font to be. Next, I decided to think about the color of the titles. This one took me some time to figure out as it is very important to make sure your titles do not blend in with the surroundings. However, I eventually decided on a white or off-white color as it will contrast with the dark and eerie mood that the rest of my film will give off. Additionally, I also had to figure out how the titles would appear and reappear on the screen. I wanted this to relate to my movie so I decided to make the titles fade in and then disappear/ fade out from my movie as the main character, Cristy would be disappearing from my movie. Overall, this part of the planning process was fairly easy as I did not need to consult with anyone or make any compromises to decide on the titles that I liked best for my film.

Planning Blog: Location, Participants, Health, Schedule

For the next part of the planning process, I had to write about the location, participants, health, and schedule of which I would be filming. For these aspects of the planning process, I again had to create another PowerPoint for them. The first thing that I discussed was the schedule. Though my schedule has not been approved by all parties yet, I tried to choose dates in which I would assume most of the participants of my film would be available. I also created room for reshoots if this is necessary. Next, I began to talk about the locations that would be seen in my movie. Here I mentioned four locations in which I would be filming. However, depending on the circumstances, these locations may be subject to change. Additionally, I also talked about all the participants that would be featured in my movie, along with who will be assisting the filming process as well. Lastly, I decided to talk about the health and safety of shooting my opening sequence. This is the most important part of the planning process as the health of the participants should be the top priority when it comes to filming.
 

Planning Blog: Shooting Scripts

For the next step in starting my final task, I had to make two planning blogs. One for the sound script and the other for the shooting script. For the shooting script, I had to talk about every scene of my opening sequence in more detail. Not only did I have to describe each scene that was taking place, but I also had to describe the camera angles, movements, and shots taking place during each scene. My opening sequence starts off showing the cars at the back of my house. So for this scene, I envision a wide shot and a tilt camera movement as being ideal for making this scene more vivid. Because I am working alone for this project, it is easy to have an idea in my head and picture out exactly how I want it to be planned. However, during times of filming this may become difficult. Because I am also going to be acting in my film, getting a good cameraman to film these shots the way I want them to be filmed may become a challenge. I will try to film a couple shots myself, yet for some shots, such as the two-shots, this is not exactly possible to achieve. However, I hope that through making this PowerPoint, the cameraman that I chose will be able to recreate my vision according to what I had in mind.   

Planning Blog: Sound Scripts

For the next step of my final task, I have to create two separate scripts. The first script is about the sound that will be heard in my movie while the second script will be about shooting the actual scenes for my film. In this first blog, for the sound script, I will have to describe every sound that can be heard throughout my film. Although some scenes may have no dialogue, it is still important to note that fact throughout the process of writing the script by saying 'no dialogue'. Additionally, it is also important to note what type of sound us being made. For example, if someone says something, their statement would be quoted and written down onto the PowerPoint followed a bulleted list format. Furthermore, for this script, I also had to mention who exactly in the film is saying the dialogue. Along with what action was taking place while the dialogue was being said if necessary. This also includes their tone of voice while saying the dialogue, if applicable. However, for a sound that is not dialogue, it is still important to include them in our script as well. Every bit of sound that will be heard in the film must be included with a description of what the sound is like. This is so that people can have an idea of what the film's intentions are when including this sound in the filming or editing process.

Title Research: Get Out

The fourth movie title sequence that I have decided to research is called Get Out. This opening sequence comes from the website www.artofthetitle.com
1)How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
There were 27 titles displayed throughout this opening sequence. Each title was in a simple and plain font which was a teal blue color.
2)What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The opening sequence begins by showing a man putting something in a car's trunk. After, images of a forest are prioritized in the opening sequence, along with pictures of a dog and a pregnant woman. However, these images are later followed by the introduction of two characters shown doing their daily activities.
3)What connotations do the images carry?
The first scene of the forest carries a connotation of mystery and the unknown as the audience is unaware of what they will find in the forest. The appearance of the two characters doing daily activities also connotates the relatability of these characters and how they may connect with the audience as well, which may help them feel more engaged in the movie.
4)How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The genre of mystery is well-established in this opening symbolically through the forest. in many cases, the forest represents something hidden or unknown, leaving the audience to believe that this connects with the plot of the movie.
5)How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
This film establishing the enigma of mystery again through the forest, but also through the first scene, The man putting something in the trunk is never explored, later on in this opening, leaving the audience to wonder what may happen to this scene.
6)What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The usage of everyday adults allows this film to appeal to its target of adults. It connects the life of everyday adults who may be watching the movie into the relatability of the characters in the plot.
7)How has technology been used effectively? (You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques)
Technology has been effectively used in this opening sequence through cameras. Because the titles do not stand out too much in this opening, it is important to pay attention to the camera movements as they serve a strong purpose to the effect of the viewer's perspective on the movie.

Title Research: Atomic Blonde

The third movie title sequence that I have decided to research is called Atomic Blonde. This movie came from the website www.artofthetitle.com
1)How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
In this title sequence, there were 31 titles displayed. Each title had a spray can detail to it either already on the title, or an effect was used to represent it being placed on the title.
2)What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
Images of the main character, possibly the protagonist of the movie, are prioritized in the opening sequence. In these first couple of scenes, the woman is seen walking across the streets on Great Britain, the flags were shown at the side of the building help the audience infer that this is the location that she is currently at.
3)What connotations do the images carry?
These images carry the connotation of a confident and possibly rebellious woman. She is seen wearing heal high and walks with a stride in her step. This quickly allows the reader to infer that this character is someone who may play a large part in the movie, whether it is as a villain or a hero in the story.
4)How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The genre of mystery is reinforced through the woman's character. Though we see her walking with confidence, we as an audience still do not know much about this character. Her use of sunglasses also connotates a mysterious character.
5)How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
This film establishes an enigma from the outset through the woman in the opening scenes. No information is given about her or who she is so the audience is left full of questions as to how she may relate to the movie itself.
6)What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The edgy and dramatic editing and lighting establish the fact that this a movie that was not made for younger audiences. The mysterious main character also ensures that this film appeals to its target audience.
7)How has technology been used effectively? (You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques)
Technology has been used effectively in terms of editing techniques. The spray can paint was an interesting effect that was added to the titles which make each name stand out to the audience.