Writing the Script for my CCR!

For my CCRs, I am doing a vlog and a podcast.

Today was spent mostly writing my scripts. 

When writing a script for a creative reflection, here are some tips to consider:

1. Determine the Purpose and Tone: Start by identifying the purpose of your creative reflection. Is it meant to be a personal introspection, an analysis of a specific work or experience, or a combination of both? This will help you establish the appropriate tone - whether it should be more introspective, analytical, or a blend of both.
2. Choose a Suitable Format: Creative reflections can take various forms, such as a traditional essay, a monologue, a dialogue between characters, or even a poetic or experimental structure. Select a format that aligns with your creative vision and allows you to effectively communicate your thoughts and insights.
3. Develop a Central Narrative or Theme: While reflections can be introspective, it's essential to have a central narrative or theme that ties your thoughts and experiences together. This could be a specific event, a personal journey, an artistic work, or a broader concept you wish to explore.
4. Incorporate Personal Anecdotes and Experiences: One of the strengths of a creative reflection is the ability to draw upon your personal experiences, memories, and emotions. Weave in specific anecdotes, vivid descriptions, and personal perspectives to make your reflection more authentic and relatable.
5. Use Descriptive Language and Imagery: Utilize descriptive language and imagery to paint a vivid picture for the reader or audience. This can help bring your thoughts and experiences to life and create a more immersive experience.
6. Explore Multiple Perspectives: If appropriate, consider exploring different perspectives or viewpoints related to your central theme or experience. This can add depth and complexity to your reflection, encouraging critical thinking and personal growth.
7. Incorporate Symbolism and Metaphors: Symbolic elements and metaphors can add layers of meaning and emotional resonance to your creative reflection. Use them judiciously to enhance the impact of your work.
8. Include Self-Reflection and Personal Growth: A key aspect of a creative reflection is to demonstrate self-awareness and personal growth. Reflect on how the experiences or concepts you're exploring have shaped your perspectives, challenged your assumptions, or prompted personal transformation.
9. Consider Multimedia Elements: Depending on the format and context of your creative reflection, you may want to incorporate multimedia elements such as photographs, artwork, or even video clips to enhance the visual and sensory experience.
10. Edit and Refine: As with any creative work, revision and refinement are crucial. Read through your script, seek feedback from others, and make necessary edits to ensure clarity, coherence, and emotional impact.

This is what I used to help myself learn

These are the types of videos I am taking inspiration from for my CCRs!

Until Next Time!

Finishing up the filming!

Today was the last day of filming!

It's just me and Alexandra and our filming day lasted from about 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We filmed our main character Chloe doing a pic collage and took more shots of boxes to include in the montage. The rest of the "filming" session was dedicated to editing.

Here are some pictures from our editing session!

We spent most of the time shortening the clips so the montage can stay true to its fast-paced-ness(??). We also found the font and color that our title and credits would be in. 

This project is coming to an end!!

Montage Filming Day!

Today we filmed the bulk of our scenes for the first portion of our film opening!

I filmed today with Alexandra and Katerina, who are my group partners, and Chloe, the volunteer actor for our film.

The montage is supposed to convey Chloe's moving in day, so we took shots of Chloe hanging up paintings on the wall, moving around boxes, putting books and plants on shelves, etc.

Here is a raw clip of some footage - in this Chloe is putting books in her bookshelf.

Numerous of these type clips were filmed. Our filming day ranged from 5 p.m. to around 8 p.m. 

Now that I am home, I have to start thinking about my CCR!

Until next time!

Spring Break Soon...!!

Spring Break is just around the corner. This is a crucial time because this is when we finish our filming, finalize everything, and do our CCRs! 

When you're in the last stages of filming a school-scale film for an opening media portfolio, there are several important things to focus on:

1. Make sure all necessary scenes are completed 
• Review your shot list and script thoroughly to ensure you've captured all the required footage
• Check off each scene and make note of any potential pick-up shots needed.
2. Prioritize production value 
• At this stage, pay extra attention to details that will elevate the production value. 
• This could include lighting setups, camera movements, sound quality, and styling elements like hair, makeup, and wardrobe.
3. Get inserts and cutaways 
• Shoot close-up inserts of objects, props, or details that can be used for cutaways or reaction shots in the edit. These can help with pacing and visual storytelling.
4. Record supplemental footage 
• Capture supplemental footage that can be used for transitions, montages, or establishing shots.
• This could include shots of locations, environmental details, or even abstract visuals.
5. Conduct pick-up shoots 
• If there are any missing shots or do-overs needed, schedule and execute efficient pick-up shoots. Having a clear plan will help maximize your time and resources.

       6. Begin editing process 

                Start assembling a rough cut or editor's assembly as soon as possible. This will help you identify                  any potential gaps or issues early on, allowing you to address them before the deadline.
                 Focus on post-production elements 

        7. Begin planning and executing post-production tasks, such as color grading, sound design, music             scoring, and visual effects (if applicable). These elements can significantly enhance the overall                 quality of your film.

        8. Get feedback and make revisions 

                Share your rough cut with peers, instructors, or mentors, and be open to constructive feedback (I                 know one of my partners, Alexandra, has done this many times already).

                Make necessary revisions to improve the storytelling, pacing, and overall impact of your film.

        9. Finalize and export

                Once you're satisfied with your film, finalize the edit, apply any remaining post-production                         treatments, and export your final deliverables in the required formats and specifications.

I'm just reminding myself that paying attention to detail and a using methodical approach in these last stages can make a significant difference in the quality and impact of your opening media portfolio film.

Maio, Alyssa. “Video: Post-Production - Everything You Should Know.” StudioBinder, 8 Feb. 2024, www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-post-production/. 

Some Sad News😿

I have some sad news :(

This past Sunday my teammates filmed a portion of the project in Miami Beach, but I wasn't able to join them due to a familial matter. However, we won't let these things get to us and we will persevere!! 

The part of the project that still needs to be filmed is the opening montage, which is going to be a collage of the main character moving while the credits play in the background. 

Here is how to create montages that engage the audience:

Montages are a powerful filmmaking technique that allow you to convey a lot of information in a short amount of time. When done well, montages can drive the narrative forward, develop characters, and capture the essence of specific moments or periods. However, montages can also easily fall flat if not executed properly. 

The building blocks of a good montage are short clips that are visually engaging and communicate information through imagery rather than dialog. Shoot lots of random yet thematic footage that can be edited together - close-ups of objects, reversing angles, interesting camera movements, etc. Having a variety of dynamic clips to draw from in the edit will make your montage more cinematic.

While the individual shots may be disparate, a montage needs to be tied together by a common thread - whether it's a repeated visual element, a popular music cue, a character's thought process or journey, or a stylized editing technique like match cuts or rack focuses. Determine this unifying concept before shooting so you can adequately cover it.

One of the strengths of the montage is its ability to intercut between multiple storylines happening concurrently. Shoot coverage of your various plot threads so you can cross-cut back and forth, raising questions and building tension around how the various events will ultimately intersect.

The editing pace and rhythm of your shots is critical for an impactful montage. Vary the shot lengths, with a mix of longer breath-catchers and shorter snapping cuts. Play with the rhythm and flow - you can accelerate with quicker cuts and crash to still moments. Use the pace and juxtapositions of your images to create momentum and meaning.

I must keep all of these techniques in mind when I go to film the montage clips.

A well-executed montage can elevate a film in several ways:

• Efficient Storytelling Montages allow filmmakers to convey a substantial amount of information in a relatively short period of time. They can summarize events that would otherwise require lengthy scenes to depict. This efficient storytelling helps maintain narrative momentum and keeps the plot moving forward in an engaging way.
• Character Development Montages provide an opportunity to reveal different facets of a character's life, personality, struggles, and growth through a rapid succession of visuals. By cross-cutting between different scenarios, a montage can communicate a character's internal journey, daily routines, relationships, and emotional arcs in a concise yet impactful manner.
• The editing techniques used in a montage, such as the pacing, music choices, and visual motifs, can contribute significantly to the overall tone and stylistic flair of a film. A well-crafted montage can set the mood, reinforce themes, and give the film a distinctive aesthetic that elevates it above conventional storytelling.
• Emotional Impact Montages can be highly emotional sequences, particularly when paired with a powerful music score or song. The rapid juxtaposition of images can evoke a range of feelings in the audience, from nostalgia and melancholy to excitement and triumph. A skillfully edited montage can create a profound emotional resonance that lingers long after the sequence has ended.
• By carefully selecting and juxtaposing specific visuals, a montage can reinforce the central themes and messages of a film. The images and their associations can underscore the deeper meanings and ideas that the filmmaker wants to convey, adding layers of subtext and symbolism to the storytelling.

Team, Matrix English. “Film Techniques: Montage: How to Analyse Film.” Matrix Education, 31 Aug. 2023, www.matrix.edu.au/film-techniques-montage/. 

Learning about the CCR!

Last week in class we learned about the Creative Critical Reflection we have to submit along with our Portfolio!

The purpose of the CCR is to reflect on the planning, production, and final product correlative with the portfolio project that we worked on for almost two months! Cambridge has four compulsory questions that we must answer thoroughly. This reflection has to express our personality, which is what I think I'm going to struggle with the most. The CCR in general has to be a creative presentation that showcases the unique approach we took to taking on the portfolio project. 

Apparently, we need to create two media products that respond to the questions. Our options include:

• Presentation with voiceover which we export as a movie
• director commentary - combination of director speaking on camera which includes examples from the production
• talk show - a "host" interviews the director
• enhanced podcast - discuss responses to questions with contextual sounds edited in to ensure engagement.
• other: develop another creative way to respond to prompts and illustrate technique

There are four questions we have to answer:

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

For the first question, we have to start by discussing the genre conventions. I have a whole blog post on this! - I learned that it is very important for us to cite our information. Next, we have to dicuss why we chose to challenge or not challenge typical genre convections. Because we chose romantic comedies and this genre typically never challenges the "rom-com formula," I'll probably say we didn't challenge any norms. We have to end the first question with a discussion on representation. 

For the second question, I have to discuss how we arrived at the chosen target audience. Romantic comedies are enjoyed the most by women of a wide range of age - some information I'll likely incude in my CCR. On the topic of target audience, we have to discuss why our content and production techniques correlate to our intented audience. This project continues to remind me of how much of a newbie I am to media, so my reponse will definetly show our disadvantages when distributing the film to audiences. Realistically, this will likely be uploaded on platforms like YouTube. 

For the third question, I have to reflect on the portfolio process and how I evolved throughout the production. I have to go through the research and planning phase, the filming phase, and the editing phase. I also need to talk about the changes and adaptations that needed to be made. When answering this question, I have to go through the entire process of how the production started and how it ended.

For the last question, we have to discuss all the technology that we used - this includes the hardware (cameras, lighting, microphone, etc.) and software. 

The ending has to include a final statement, what I learned, what I would do differently, and how I could improve.

Some tips for the CCR:

- Write a script

- Made sure the media is creative and engaging

- Incorporate research!!

- Don't just be a talking head

- Provide thorough responses, not general ones

Whew! This is gonna be a lot. I have to start planning this fast. Until next time! 

Learning How to Edit!

 Because our filming process will be finalized soon, we have to learn how to edit fast and efficiently. 

Here is one of many tutorials on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/2cdpBq5EYFI?si=BQgpVfxRigZx3Vll

Here are some basics of editing in Adobe Premiere:

1. Import Media: Start by importing your media files into Premiere Pro. You can do this by selecting the files you want to import and dragging them into the Project panel.
2. Create a Sequence: After importing your media, create a sequence where you will edit your video. This sequence will serve as the timeline for your project.
3. Editing Clips: To edit clips on the timeline, you can trim, cut, copy, and move them without altering the original media. You can add or remove clips by dragging them from the Project panel onto the timeline.
4. Remove Gaps: To close gaps between clips on the timeline, select the gap and press delete. You can also use the Ripple Edit tool to trim a clip and automatically close the gap with the next clip.
5. Keyboard Shortcuts: Utilize keyboard shortcuts to work faster in Premiere Pro. For example, use V to switch to the Selection tool, C for the Razor tool, and B for the Ripple Edit tool.
6. Preview Clips: Double-click on clips to preview them in the Source Monitor. This allows you to view individual clips before adding them to your sequence.
7. Stacking Clips: Position clips on different video tracks to stack them without overwriting clips below. This helps in creating layered effects in your video.
8. Add Music: Place music or audio tracks on an audio track in your sequence to enhance your video with sound.

When editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, several key aspects are important to know for a smooth and efficient editing process. Firstly, understanding the basics of the software, such as importing media, creating sequences, and editing clips non-destructively, is crucial. This involves trimming, cutting, copying, and moving clips on the timeline without altering the original media. Utilizing keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow, allowing you to switch between tools like the Selection tool, Razor tool, and Ripple Edit tool seamlessly. Additionally, mastering techniques like removing gaps between clips by using the Ripple Edit tool and customizing workspaces to suit your editing style can enhance productivity. Previewing clips in the Source Monitor, arranging clips into groups for review, and utilizing advanced controls and automation features can help streamline the editing process. Lastly, being familiar with best practices for editing efficiently in Premiere Pro, such as working with project templates, file formats, and customizing keyboard shortcuts to match your preferences or previous editing software experience, can further optimize your editing workflow.

Creating a personal portfolio using Adobe tools like Adobe Portfolio can be highly beneficial for a this portfolio project. By utilizing Adobe Premiere Pro, my group and I can easily showcase our work in a visually appealing and professional manner that is available to us. 

Filming Soon!

 My group and I are filming in the very soon future, so it's time to start preparing!

Before filming a portfolio project, it is crucial to ensure that all preparations are in place to guarantee a smooth and successful shoot. Here are the key tasks to complete the day before filming:

1. Equipment Check: Verify that all filming equipment, including cameras, tripods, microphones, lighting gear, and any accessories, are in working order and fully charged. Pack all necessary items in an organized manner for easy access on the day of filming.
2. Location Visit: If possible, visit the filming locations to assess lighting conditions, acoustics, and any potential challenges that may arise during the shoot. Make note of any adjustments or additional equipment needed for each location.
3. Finalize Shot List: Review and finalize the shot list or storyboard for the project. Ensure that all necessary shots are included, and any specific camera angles or movements are planned out to capture the desired visuals effectively.
4. Confirm Talent and Crew: Reach out to all talent and crew members involved in the project to confirm their availability and arrival times for the filming day. Ensure that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities during the shoot.
5. Wardrobe and Props: Prepare all wardrobe options for talent and ensure that they align with the desired look for each scene. Organize props or accessories needed for the shoot and have them ready for use.
6. Weather Check: If filming outdoors, check the weather forecast for the filming day to anticipate any potential changes or challenges due to weather conditions. Have contingency plans in place if weather may impact the shoot.
7. Transportation: Arrange transportation for equipment, talent, and crew members to ensure everyone arrives at the filming locations on time. Confirm logistics such as parking availability and loading/unloading areas.
8. Communication Plan: Establish a communication plan with the crew for the filming day, including designated channels for updates, changes in schedule, or emergencies. Ensure everyone has contact information for key team members.

We're getting to the difficult and technical portion of this project, so we must plan well to make everything go as soon as possible. 

Staying organized when filming a portfolio project is essential to ensure a smooth and successful production process. By organizing files, raw footage, and relevant documents related to each project in a consistent and easily accessible manner. By having a well-organized catalog, we can efficiently navigate through their work and locate specific assets when needed. We also need to establish detailed project folders with clear naming conventions efficient organization. By categorizing files into folders such as raw footage, final edits, sound files, and scripts, we can save time and avoid confusion when searching for specific assets. These are more for the future, but this is how we can make things go smoother.

I am so excited for what's to come! See you soon!

Costume Design

 Since we are filming soon, we have to figure out costume design!

When looking at costume design for a film, several key considerations come into play to ensure the success of the project. Firstly, understanding the characters and their roles in the story is crucial. Costume designers work closely with directors, producers, set designers, and makeup artists to create costumes that reflect the characters' identities, personalities, and the overall mood of the film. This involves analyzing factors like time period, geographical location, class identity, age, gender, and personality to tailor costumes that enhance the storytelling and help actors embody their characters effectively. Additionally, considering the budget and available resources is essential. In independent productions with limited funds, creativity and resourcefulness play a significant role in achieving a visually compelling wardrobe within financial constraints. This may involve thrift shopping, borrowing items, or collaborating with local vendors for discounts on specific attire needed for the film. Furthermore, attention to detail in costume fitting and alterations is important to ensure that garments fit well and enhance the actors' performances. Tailoring costumes to suit the actors' movements, body size, and overall aesthetic contributes to a polished and professional look on screen. Overall, a successful costume design process involves a deep understanding of the characters, effective collaboration with the production team, resourcefulness in budget management, and meticulous attention to detail in garment selection and fitting.

Chloe, the female lead, is a typical "good girl," so we have to consider that. When costume designing for a typical "good girl" character in a film, several key considerations come into play to effectively convey the character's identity and personality through wardrobe choices. Firstly, it is essential to reflect the character's innocence and purity through the costume design. This can be achieved by selecting clothing that exudes modesty, simplicity, and softness in colors and textures. For instance, incorporating pastel colors, floral patterns, and flowing fabrics can help create a wholesome and approachable look for the character. Additionally, paying attention to details like accessorizing with delicate jewelry or hair accessories can enhance the overall portrayal of the "good girl" persona on screen. 

Our male lead is a jock. When costume designing for a typical "jock" character in a film, it is essential to consider key elements that capture the essence of this persona effectively. The wardrobe choices should reflect athleticism, confidence, and a sporty aesthetic associated with jock characters. Utilizing clothing items like varsity jackets, athletic wear, team jerseys, and sneakers can help convey the athletic prowess and competitive nature often associated with jocks. Incorporating bold colors, sporty patterns, and accessories like sports equipment or team logos can further enhance the character's portrayal. Additionally, paying attention to fit and silhouette is crucial to ensure that the costumes align with the physicality and body language expected from a jock character.

That's it for now! I'm super excited to start filming!!