Creative Critical Reflection

Click here and enjoy!

Audio is included in reflection, along with the visual aid.

Final Project

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwwXXzWCOGczOGJBd05JOHBrcDQ/view?usp=sharing

Music Permission

For the music we used a free music website. After reading the certain conditions, which is attached below we were allowed to use it in our production if credit was given. I included the same in my opening and am also posting it here as insurance.

 

"Through the Haunted Woods by Harsanyi Laszlo." Free Music Archive: Harsanyi Laszlo. Web. 7 Apr. 2016. 

The Final Stretch!

I have completed the editing for the film opening and I started/finished the credits for it. I am including some examples to explain the reasons for my choices.

When creating captions I looked at Perks of Being a Wallflower as help through it. I had watched it when reviewed another student's blog and returned for guidance. I tried to keep each one on for the same amount of time, except in many specific cases. For instance, important parts in the film production. I tried to make it seem as much as a real film opening as possible which is why I made up names and followed to pattern from Perks of Being a Wallflower.

I kept the lettering very simple. I wanted a bit of a contrast to what is actually being shown but I didn't want it to be too much of a distraction. Each one is in white and is usually placed in the corner or a spot where not much is happening. This is done to maintain focus on what is being shown rather than just names. This is a constant concept throughout the piece. The color of the lettering is also a direct contrast to the dark lighting (from being in the dark forest at night). It also brings out the idea/brightness of the flashlight.

At first I had only one credit in the yellow lighting shown above. This was the only coloring that differed in the credits. I put yellow because it brought out the yellow stitching in the shoes and since they were a big part in the production it showed that through the color font. But after much thought and watching it over again and again (and again and again and again) I decided not to include this. I decided it was better to have a constant size, font, and color for every credit line. Overall, it looks much better and is easier to read when watching it. 

I am thrilled to be finished with editing but am stressed out over what music is going to be paired with it. As I was editing, Dylan and Brett were supposed to find a song to use but there was no such luck. We emailed Warner Brothers Music to hopefully receive permission to use "Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra but we never got a response. I also called multiple time on different days and got no answer, just a prerecorded message saying that the receptionist wasn't there. I now must take actions into my own hands and find music to use. I have found a few websites that allow us to use music with the proper credits given so I will be looking into those tonight.

Editing

As the process continues, here is a video of me editing the clips together and the different tools I am using to give it the look I want....

Click here to watch!

Make-up Time!

We finally filmed! But before I show with you our awesome makeup, I first must share our location problems....but what else is new? We had plans to film our opening at Markham park tonight, but when Brett showed up (earlier than Dylan and I) he saw that the park was closed due to a rock concert. He tried to still get in the area where we were supposed to film but cops were blocking it off and they were towing unauthorized cars. So, of course, it was a bust. Due to all of our prep and the time frame we needed to film tonight so we went to our other location. This is where all the tires and pink walls were. Honestly, we were all scared... even my mom. The street lights ended way before the location. But we stuck through it and finally filmed!

With Dylan, he would be acting as the character being held captive, I put a dark purple and red under his eyes to make it look very tired and baggy. I put more purple to accentuate his cheek boned and in his nose to make him look thinner. On the lips I put the same foundation as is on the rest of his face. I then used lip liner to make it seem like his lips are very chapped. I also added, with red lip liner, what looks to be a bloody cut on his left upper lip. I put hairspray and gel in his hair to make it look all crazy.
 
My mom was playing the main character in the opening. So I tried to make her look older. I followed a lot of slight wrinkles on her face (Mom if you're reading this I'm only kidding you don't look a day over 39) and lined them with brown. I whitened the other smoother parts to make those darker areas stand out more. I did the same with the neck as well to make it look very loose and wrinkly. The hair is a mix between crazy and normal because honestly what woman wears two pigtails? (Answer: Crazy ones) They were short and had a lot of extra hair on the ends and I pulled more out from the actual braids to make it look not as neat. As well as left her two front pieces sticking out. At her roots was baby powder to again add the effect of old age. She was wearing a big long sleeve shirt with jean knee high shorts and boots. This was all purposely done and is meant to go with the character. More on the actual filming process in my next post... Until then!!

Filming Updates

Prep for the filming process has begun. We plan to film tomorrow night, which we had to do because of our work schedules. It feels like a relief to finally have a place to film. The only thing now is deciding who is going to be the main character (all the close up shots) and who is going to be the person held captive. I want to be the one to film the opening because I'm the better one at doing it and I have a clear vision of what I want it to look like. But, if we can't get another person willing to do it then I am going to have to. Excited for the filming to finally get done so I can edit and make a final product. More updates tomorrow when filming!

Found a location

After much thought and a lot of searching, we decided on filming at Markham park. This causes us to change our story a bit. Instead of having a person locked up in a room they are going to be tied up in the woods. Here are a few pictures of the area we chose.

      

Pink Walls

So, my group members and I took a trip to Ft. Lauderdale in hopes to find an abandoned trailer home, but ended up find nothing there. It quickly was a bust but luckily we had another place in mind. It is closer to our school and very easily accessible. We had found both places from researching online. When going to the second place we actually found something!! Well... Only part of it.. We found only the pink wall from the pictures online.
 

This is what we found online (the above images) and this is what we actually found while we were there (the images below)...

As you can see we found the pink wall and other objects I want to include in the film opening. This was in between the two walls and I am thinking about including them in the opening. As we were driving away we stumbled on what looked to be an abandoned mailbox, so I pulled over and examined the area. I couldn't find anything around the surrounding area. 

Above is the mailbox and behind it, in the bushes was a yellow rusted gate and a lake. I plan to use this exact area as the first shot in the film.

 "ShotHotspot - Find the Top Places in the World to Photograph." ShotHotspot. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. 

Movie time

        Thrillers aren't something I usually watch, which makes it hard to reference a certain movie. But I did watch the movie "Room" directed by Lenny Abrahamson. I would consider this movie a thriller due the constant state of wonder I was in. I enjoyed the voice over, which could be something to consider with my opening. Maybe a voice over of the main character talking? But with this I would need good dialogue and I am not the best writer. Yet, it is a very good way to hook on to people's attention and give an inside look into the main characters point of view and demented mind. In this movie the voice over began with the little boy speaking and glimpses of the room around them. This, both the cinematography and audio techniques, helped to establish the idea that they are locked up in a room from the first minute. That is also what I hope to create in my film opening. Many of  the techniques used in this film may be useful for me to use in my own production, this includes many of the lighting techniques. They had a single sky light on the roof that allowed light to shine through (this was important when the power went out) and was useful to watch for me to use some of their ideas.
       With this information I feel as if setting may not be as important if I add another element such as sound (aka a voice over or something of that sort). And because of problems with the shooting site this was useful information to discover.

 "Room Movie Review & Film Summary (2015) | Roger Ebert." All Content. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. 

A bit of a delay..

Today was supposed to be the day that I went with my partners to the abandoned prison to take pictures in order to make a realistic storyboard. But with us finding out we could be arrested changes the entire schedule and honestly just freaks me out... So much to do, so little time!!! I am now going to research other abandoned places near me that could also work with what we need to film. This puts us very much behind schedule, but setting is the most important part of our opening and needs to be perfect. More updates to come!

Updates

Setting, especially when an opening is meant to establish it, is an important element in whatever film being produced. I found, especially in the horror/thriller genre, that the setting is always perfectly fitting for the storyline.


For instance, Clue although a mystery/crime film relies heavily on the castle that is takes place in. Without the many elements involved the story wouldn't flow in the proper way for audience members to be drawn in. In clue, they also use their opening to establish the creepy mansion setting and the characters that play an important role throughout. Although not in the same genre, it has the same emotion and look to it.

With this in mind, the idea of filming in the abandoned women's prison would of been perfect. But after being informed that it is private property and we could be arrested if we trespass, a new plan must be made. But, Dylan's (one of the members of my groups) dad is a police officer and may be able to get us permission to film there..... by next week.. Stressful right? With this new information, I must now try to find a new setting as a backup in case we aren't allowed. We'll see how this turns out.. Peace out friends...Until tomorrow!

Digital image. Web. <https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/movieposters/8906/p8906_p_v8_aa.jpg&imgrefurl=http://google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=Clue&h=1440&w=960&tbnid=hoPbK1kz0ZrUAM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=124&docid=EgtmyJOXfwWZUM&itg=1&usg=__6BlKGdk-j4lT-igxozUoQgapdyg=>. 

Don't ever type in "Creepy Old Women" on Google...

So now that we have a story, I now need to figure out how I want my main character to look as well as my setting. These are two very important elements to the success of my production. During class we got into groups and I was able to share my story ideas with the other group members. I was asked to provide two images that would help to explain my idea and show the direction I want to go.

The first image I chose to display was this Character from Shutter Island. I explained that for the main character I want to go for an older, more rundown look. This movie also plays into the type of feeling and look I want for my opening. Her skinny, white looking face paired with the pink under her eyes go to help display this character in that way. Her color clothing, baggier style and older looking also play a key role in establishing who this character is. I would want more hair on my characters head so she looks more normal than crazy (at least through costume and makeup design. )

The second image I chose to display was this. Here we see a clearly abandoned, old and run down place. I want this same look and feel for my location. Dark rooms, graffiti and creepy objects placed all around. I want to use these pieces as elements in the opening to establish the setting as an abandoned prison. Locks would be an important element in this as well as different lighting techniques.

Lighting is a key element we hope to utilize since we want a darker setting. This image of the light shinning through the window to hit a single spot on the floor is exactly the idea I want to go for in the final part of the opening. Only, at a smaller scale. I rather have a darker room and smaller windows that allow for light to come through. This will add to the idea of deprivation and establish the minimal amount of care that the person who is in that room is getting. With all of this I hope to establish a certain feel for audience members and capture their attentions in finding out what is going on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Horror Movies Based On Literature- Pt.2." Horror Movies Based On Literature- Pt.2. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.

We have a story!

After a long discussion with my two partners, Dylan and Brett, we finally decided on a storyline that we think best suits the genre, opening and project. So, in this post, I explain to you our amazing (at least I think so) idea. We are continuing on with our thriller theme and want to show techniques through different areas of the opening. For instance, camera shots, composition, costumes, makeup design, lighting and music. But mostly we would be starting with establishing a setting combined with establishing the main character. We hope to film this in an abandoned women's prison about 20 minutes from where we live. There is graffiti, broken doors, windows, and other things that could be used in shooting. We plan to open the scene with establishing shots of the correctional facility itself and the broken down, disgusting items inside (After visiting the site I will know more as to what specific shots I want to include). But I want to establish that this is an empty and mysterious place. With these shots I want to combine close ups of different parts of the main character. I believe that we are going to go with a woman as the main character. This is where costume and makeup design would be crucial. We want to make her look very run down and old. She would be walking through the prison as if it is normal and Strangers of the night by Frank Sinatra would be playing in the background as this happens. This contrast of images and diagetic sound would aid in establishing her normality in the situation and setting. We plan to slowly build up this music as the images continue. This all will lead up to a locked up door where you see her unlock it. She throws a piece of food into the locked up room that only has a single light coming in through a small window that hits the middle of the floor. This is where lighting would become very important and at this point shows audience members that something is going on. At this point the music would of come to a stop when she opens the door, maybe we will include a sound at this time but we are not completely sure! When she throws the food inside it will hit the middle of the lit up area and a skinny bare boned arm quickly reaches into it and grabs the bread. This may be difficult due to the fact I want to make it very obvious that this character is being locked up and is being deprived. This is where we must play with lighting and makeup (As the door is closing, obviously I am not exactly sure with the specific timing, the music will start up again even louder). The door will begin to slowly close as the camera zooms out and we see the woman lock up everything again. Then the woman turns around and starts walking to the camera. This would be the first time that the audience sees the main characters face completely and then it suddenly will go black and the title would appear. The music will still be playing through all of this. And thats it! Amazing right?

I know it may seem like a confusing scramble of all my thoughts it describes what I want to establish and how. It also gives me a base to start story boarding and to think of methods for expressing my story. I believe in this story/idea and it is a great way to grab audience members attention for the entire movie. What's a good movie without people to watch them?

Until next time friends!

 YouTube. Frank Sinatra- Strangers of the Night. Web. 12 Mar. 2016. 

Planning

With working every day and the insane amount of homework I had left me no time to think about the project. But I was able to sit down and plan out what needs to be done for this project to get done in time. With work almost every day and AP exams this is a crucial part in being successful.

AICE Media Studies Schedule

WEEK 1 (3/7-3/12)

Ø  3 postings

Ø  Conduct research and think of idea

WEEK 2 (3/14-3/19)

Ø  3 postings

Ø  create a storyboard, script, find location for filming, find actors(depends on genre selection and amount of cast needed)

WEEK 3 (3/21-3/26)

Ø  3 postings

Ø  Continue research

Ø  Finish final prep for filming

Ø  Start filming

WEEK 4 (3/28-4/2)

Ø  3 postings

Ø  Continue research

Ø  Finish filming

Ø  Start editing and working on sound elements

WEEK 5 (4/4-4/7)

Ø  3 postings

Ø  Work on and finish editing and sound elements

Ø  Make any final changes and corrections to the project

Ø  Start creative critical reflection

WEEK 6 (4/8-4/10)

Ø  Continue on blogs & research

Ø  Finish reflection

Some of the weeks only include a few days, so it is crucial to be organized.

Oh, this is thriller!

Hey, again! So I'm just going to delve deep into the topic of this post right away, genres (Yes, again.. but this time I have a clear idea of where my opening may go). While further looking into the specific genres, I of course had to look into what most people like to see. What would we be without an audience watching our film? 

With this it is quite obvious that Comedy is the fan favorite while adventure takes a close second place. Comedy is my favorite genre, so I thought about the idea of doing an opening with it. About two seconds into that thought I decided against it due to the fact that I am not at all prepared for the great deal of dialogue that would be needed in order to complete this successfully. Due to my lack of confidence in that area I thought it would be best to not go through that avenue. What I did know was my ability to play with lighting and different camera techniques. Looking at the next few genres nothing seemed to catch my interest except for horror films and thrillers. I personally hate horror films due to their inability to scare me. But I feel as if it is an area that would allow me to use these techniques, making a quality film rather than subpar. Plus, it finally challenges me to make a film idea that even I would be interested in going to see. I first looked into the top horror films, the list includes..

Looking at this list made me realize my unfamiliarity with this genre. It also sprouted a question, what is the difference between thriller and horror? I decided to look further into this question. Horror is intended to invoke fear. But many horror films when taking out specific elements that aren't very realistic may make them a thriller in many cases. A thriller is intended as more of a suspenseful nature.

In this article written by David Hohl he states, "If you intended to cause fear and dread but in a realistic world, call it what you want: Horror/Thriller, Horror, what have you. If you intended primarily to have suspense and intrigue vs. fear/dread, and a realistic world, you have a thriller. While both use tension and anticipation, and in fact any good story does so, the ultimate goal is different: THRILLS vs. FEAR."

This provided a clear explanation for me and pushed me toward the direction of a thriller. I love the idea of coming up with a weird story to capture people's attention and hold them at the edge of their seats, but I don't want to invoke fear in them (at least for only a film opening).

So I'm deciding to go with a thriller genre. Although I'm not sure yet what specific idea. I do need to be careful in not crossing the line over into horror, unless I decide to intentionally switch over. I feel as if this line may be hard at some points but something that can be avoided with proper preparation.

"Movie Genres by Box Office Revenue in North America 2016 | Statistic." Statista. Web. 10 Mar. 2016. 

"Genre: Horror." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

Hohl, David. "The Write Way." The Write Way. Web. 10 Mar. 2016. 

Hey there, I'm Amanda!

Today was the start of what seems to be an overwhelming, long and meticulously thought out project. Yet, we only started with the project explanation. This overwhelming idea of creating something from scratch has my brain running wild. When it came back from its frantic adventure it brought back many questions that needed to be answered. What type of story do I want to create and in what ways do I want to display it? Although it seems to be a simple two-part question, how the heck do I narrow it down to just one idea? So, I decided to start with the basic idea of different genre types. Seems fairly simple right? Well.. not really. Action, adventure, comedy, romance, mystery, drama, fantasy, historical, horror and the list continues on for what seems like forever. Requiring me to step back and think about which genres I like and which ones I don't. Working on a project for so long and being so in depth requires me to enjoy what I am creating. So this is where I say hello for the first time and goodbye as I reflect on my many puzzling questions. I welcome you to my wild thoughts, future project successes, failures, as well as my hopeful growth in knowledge and product quality.

 "Genre Descriptions (Fiction Only)." AgentQuery. Web. 07 Mar. 2016. 

 Grosvenor, Carrie. "Description of Film Genres." LoveToKnow. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.