The time has finally come...I present you with my CCR!
Enjoy☺
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Monday, April 13, 2020
MY FILM OPENING!
I present to you my production, The Checklist.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Check this out!
I used the app PicsArt and VSCO to edit and create the title covers of my film opening. The first picture I used a picture I took from one of the video clips from my opening that I liked.This is something I wanted to do because I felt it is an important element to the process. Although I am an amatuer film maker and this most likely won't be used for streaming services. When I distribute my film at film festivals and on YouTube these can be used as a thumbnail. These are the final two pictures I chose that represented the film well and would attract the target audience.
In the first picture I felt like she looked confident and powerful as a woman and the close up presented the main character well. I layered another picture and lowered the opacity so that the viewers can see the list, and it signifies that it is an important part of the film. The color of the picture is enhanced to attract the audience and display that it is not a sad film. The main character is focused in the picture, justas she is the main focus of the film. The title is underneath and doesn't take away from the image.
In the second picture I also blurred the background, but I kept the subject and "find true love" from the list in focus. This makes it stand out and show the viewers that it is important to the overall film. I included hearts around the border to represent the genre better and the color is enhanced to display the positive tone the movie is going to have. Overall, this picture shows the main character and main part of the movie, her completing things on the list of things to do before she graduates.
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| #1 |
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| #2 |
UPDATE
I have come up with a small schedule for my CCR to manage my time effectively. I have decided that I will be filming my CCR on Monday and if I need more time I can film on Tuesday as well. This will give me time to edit and have it done before April 17th. I have completed the script and I have timed it and it is roughly 7 minutes worth of audio. My plan is to implement a lot of graphs, logos, behind the scenes, and other visual elements to my video to make it more interesting.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Reflection of the project creation
Planning
During the planning process I learned a lot about genre conventions, target audience, representation, and how media is distributed. I discovered what it is like to be a content creator and I found out about local film festivals in the area. With the coronavirus taking away my initial plans of my setting and cast, I was able to create a plan B and create my film opening. I developed many skills one of which was time management. During the planning process I created schedules and I had to organize myself to make the production process carry out smoothly.
Cast
Being in quarantine I was not able to film with either Julia or Briana from my original cast. Therefore, the lead role had to change, so my step sister Valari Cronin decided to take the part. She is 14 years old but looks older for her age so she fit the role fine and I was able to make it work.
Costume design
My friend Paulina Lopez is the one person I know that loves fashion. At her school she participates in coordinating the annual fashion show, so when I asked for her guidance she was very helpful. I decided to paint a butterfly on the back of a jacket to have a signature look for my main character. Although I did create this piece she inspired me to do so. The other elements of her costume were small accessories that helped add to Skylar's outgoing and sweet personality.
Finding a setting and creating props
Originally I planned to film in Briana Farnsworth's room, she was my first pick for the original lead role. I was planning to bring props such as the record player, art set up, guitar, and whiteboard, however that had to change. The setting switched to my room because of not being allowed out during this pandemic. I implemented all of the props in my room and added a colorful tapestry to my bed, and flowers by the window to add more vibrant colors to the set and build up her personality.
Filming
Filming was a two day process. I decided that this would be a better way for me to organize my time and not overwhelm my sister with having to re shoot most of the footage. A new day gave myself time to plan and gave my sister a break. I filmed the first half of the opening on one day and the other half the next day. I ran in to a few problems with lighting and it was hard to film shots with a mirror without being in the frame. I also desired to use some filming equipment to help with my shots but I was limited because of a lack of resources.
Editing
I spent days editing to finally get it good enough for my liking. I began with using the app VideoShop
to see a quick rough draft example of what my opening was going to look like. I then used WeVideo as my main platform for the final product. I had to learn how to include text so I watched tutorial videos. I had a lot of raw footage to work with so the selection process for what clip to use took a while. I also discovered a new font that I preferred better, I used transitions and included the credits in a unique way. On WeVideo I was able to edit both of my videos with no complications, overall it was an organized and stress free process.
Sound
I wanted to start the opening with diegetic sound so I included a bird chipping track and some other natural sound elements to make the scene more realistic. I balanced the sound effects and original sound of the videos to make the scene sound better. I used Audiolibrary and YouTube copyright free music to add to the opening. I wanted music instead of dialogue or just regular sound because I thought it would make the scene more cheerful and add a positive mood to the overall production.
Although the sound can get repetitive, I believe it does it's job in making the video flow smoothly and it matches the tone of the film. For my CCR I used a small microphone to record the voiceover element of the video.
Technology
I used my iPhone 8 plus to film this production and I edited on my MacBook Air. I used various websites in the research and planning process, I also used my instructor's website for guidance and examples of past projects to help me. I used the app Pinterest for costume design inspiration, I used VideoShop for my rough draft of the opening, and I used WeVideo to edit my final production. I created title covers for my film on PicsArt as an additional unique element of the production process.
During the planning process I learned a lot about genre conventions, target audience, representation, and how media is distributed. I discovered what it is like to be a content creator and I found out about local film festivals in the area. With the coronavirus taking away my initial plans of my setting and cast, I was able to create a plan B and create my film opening. I developed many skills one of which was time management. During the planning process I created schedules and I had to organize myself to make the production process carry out smoothly.
Cast
Being in quarantine I was not able to film with either Julia or Briana from my original cast. Therefore, the lead role had to change, so my step sister Valari Cronin decided to take the part. She is 14 years old but looks older for her age so she fit the role fine and I was able to make it work.
Costume design
My friend Paulina Lopez is the one person I know that loves fashion. At her school she participates in coordinating the annual fashion show, so when I asked for her guidance she was very helpful. I decided to paint a butterfly on the back of a jacket to have a signature look for my main character. Although I did create this piece she inspired me to do so. The other elements of her costume were small accessories that helped add to Skylar's outgoing and sweet personality.
Finding a setting and creating props
Originally I planned to film in Briana Farnsworth's room, she was my first pick for the original lead role. I was planning to bring props such as the record player, art set up, guitar, and whiteboard, however that had to change. The setting switched to my room because of not being allowed out during this pandemic. I implemented all of the props in my room and added a colorful tapestry to my bed, and flowers by the window to add more vibrant colors to the set and build up her personality.
Filming
Filming was a two day process. I decided that this would be a better way for me to organize my time and not overwhelm my sister with having to re shoot most of the footage. A new day gave myself time to plan and gave my sister a break. I filmed the first half of the opening on one day and the other half the next day. I ran in to a few problems with lighting and it was hard to film shots with a mirror without being in the frame. I also desired to use some filming equipment to help with my shots but I was limited because of a lack of resources.
Editing
I spent days editing to finally get it good enough for my liking. I began with using the app VideoShop
to see a quick rough draft example of what my opening was going to look like. I then used WeVideo as my main platform for the final product. I had to learn how to include text so I watched tutorial videos. I had a lot of raw footage to work with so the selection process for what clip to use took a while. I also discovered a new font that I preferred better, I used transitions and included the credits in a unique way. On WeVideo I was able to edit both of my videos with no complications, overall it was an organized and stress free process.
Sound
I wanted to start the opening with diegetic sound so I included a bird chipping track and some other natural sound elements to make the scene more realistic. I balanced the sound effects and original sound of the videos to make the scene sound better. I used Audiolibrary and YouTube copyright free music to add to the opening. I wanted music instead of dialogue or just regular sound because I thought it would make the scene more cheerful and add a positive mood to the overall production.
Although the sound can get repetitive, I believe it does it's job in making the video flow smoothly and it matches the tone of the film. For my CCR I used a small microphone to record the voiceover element of the video.
Technology
I used my iPhone 8 plus to film this production and I edited on my MacBook Air. I used various websites in the research and planning process, I also used my instructor's website for guidance and examples of past projects to help me. I used the app Pinterest for costume design inspiration, I used VideoShop for my rough draft of the opening, and I used WeVideo to edit my final production. I created title covers for my film on PicsArt as an additional unique element of the production process.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Feedback from my classmate
On Monday I had a video call with my classmate Briana Farnsworth. On this call we were able to share our ideas and discuss details about our project and the production process. Originally she was supposed to be the main role of my film opening. We agreed that we were going to work together to help each other with this project, however, with the circumstances we were unable to help physically.
As a compromise we stayed in touch and communicated with each other virtually. This was a way we used media and technology to help with our projects. On our call we both showed our finished edited film opening. I gave her advice to change the font and how she showed the credits to be more presentable and look more like an actual movie opening. She helped me find the right place to implement my credits as well. She said that she liked the sound I chose and agreed with me that the Finally by Loxbeats was the best choice. We discussed what our plans are for the CCR and she said she was going to make a script, in which I am planning to as well.
She told me that some of the transitions between the shots could have been smoother but at that point the only thing I could do would be trimming or adding a transition so I was able to fix it. I left my title at the end and she agreed with that looking better as well. She almost forgot to add a title so that was a good thing to remind her about.
We talked about how being in quarantine affected our project and how we managed to still work on it and get it done. I made her feel better about her project and we both felt more motivated to complete the entire project.
As a compromise we stayed in touch and communicated with each other virtually. This was a way we used media and technology to help with our projects. On our call we both showed our finished edited film opening. I gave her advice to change the font and how she showed the credits to be more presentable and look more like an actual movie opening. She helped me find the right place to implement my credits as well. She said that she liked the sound I chose and agreed with me that the Finally by Loxbeats was the best choice. We discussed what our plans are for the CCR and she said she was going to make a script, in which I am planning to as well.
She told me that some of the transitions between the shots could have been smoother but at that point the only thing I could do would be trimming or adding a transition so I was able to fix it. I left my title at the end and she agreed with that looking better as well. She almost forgot to add a title so that was a good thing to remind her about.
We talked about how being in quarantine affected our project and how we managed to still work on it and get it done. I made her feel better about her project and we both felt more motivated to complete the entire project.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
How the editing process has been going
Quick update on how the final video is looking and what's my next step.
I have been editing on my laptop on WeVideo and I decided to use the audio Finally by Loxbeats from Audio Library. I used a free sound clip of birds chirping to the beginning along with diegetic sound. I have been putting the text for the credits along with the title and I decided to use the font Amatic SC. I almost have have the final film opening complete and I will be beginning to plan for my CCR. I want to develop a script for my CCR and begin that this week starting Monday. I want to come up with a creative way to shoot the video and at the same time have enough time to edit. I also want to keep my CCR video around 8-10 minutes, or shorter if I can cover all the information within that time.
I have answered all of the questions for the CCR in previous blogposts to save me the trouble of having to do it all in one sitting. I want to manage my time as best as I can in order to make sure I have time to edit the video. One of my goals is to give myself more time to plan so that it can be way easier and more efficient way to produce my video. Here is the font I decided to use, I think it has a fun look to it without looking to formal and it brings out the adventurous teenager vibe that the movie focuses on.
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| Amatic SC font |
Friday, April 3, 2020
Integrating technology
Technology helped me film and edit my production, and without technology the outcome of my project would be so different. The camera I used to film was my iPhone 8 plus. I was able to use technology as to film and without having my phone as a source I wouldn't have the footage for my opening. I used the platform WeVideo to film and I used the app VideoShop to create a rough draft on my phone of what it would look like. In the beginning of my opening I focused on diegetic sounds and I used a sound clip clip of birds to make the scene have a more realistic and to avoid going straight into the music. With this I used the microphone on headphones to enhance the sound. I used the volume adjustment to edit and balance the sound in the video. I was able to use my instructor's website www.tstok.net to help me use resources of previous projects as examples and to help me make my production better.
Using technology was a way for me to me solve the problem of having long shots that are boring. I was able to edit my clips to make the video flow more smooth and it made the overall video more appealing to watch and less messy. I was able to use websites and sources to conduct research to help me film better and understand what to expect from the process. I used Pinterest for inspiration for costume design. Audio Library and YouTube copyright free music was an online media platform that provided the sound for my opening and helped me integrate music into my piece. Some obstacles I had with technology was finding music that matched the mood of the film. I had to learn how to edit with text on WeVideo to do the credits for the film, with this I was able to include the opening credits which is important. I used www.tstok.net to get some inspiration for film ideas and how to execute my opening from the projects from previous years. I am using the platform WeVideo to edit.
Using technology was a way for me to me solve the problem of having long shots that are boring. I was able to edit my clips to make the video flow more smooth and it made the overall video more appealing to watch and less messy. I was able to use websites and sources to conduct research to help me film better and understand what to expect from the process. I used Pinterest for inspiration for costume design. Audio Library and YouTube copyright free music was an online media platform that provided the sound for my opening and helped me integrate music into my piece. Some obstacles I had with technology was finding music that matched the mood of the film. I had to learn how to edit with text on WeVideo to do the credits for the film, with this I was able to include the opening credits which is important. I used www.tstok.net to get some inspiration for film ideas and how to execute my opening from the projects from previous years. I am using the platform WeVideo to edit.
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| My project was filmed on my iPhone 8 plus |
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| VideoShop |
| My instructor's website resources |
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| WeVideo (my main editing platform) |
Thursday, April 2, 2020
How did my production skills developed?
This process truly did not go as I planed it to go and it was far more different than I expected. This is something that all directors, cinematographers, and anyone involved in the film process may have to face. During the production process there tends to be obstacles and bumps in the road that have to be taken care of and solved. Truthfully, at times I felt doubtful that this project was going to go well or even come close to being completed. I lost my motivation and thought everything was ruined. The coronavirus took away my plans of executing this piece the way I wanted it to, but I knew I had to learn how to adapt to the unanticipated situation.
When it comes to creating an original piece of media I never expected it to be easy, and because this is something new to me, I didn't expect to be perfect either. When I first learned about this project I knew that I would need to develop skills to help me execute the film opening properly. I didn't want something I could control to stop me from doing the best that I could. From week 1 to now I feel that I have learned so many skills that has helped me continue.
One thing I had to learn was to manage my time better and stay organized. I'm not the worst at time management, but during this process I knew it was really important for me to plan accordingly in order to be able to finish on time. When I started I really wanted to figure out how to produce a simple opening that didn't bore the audience. I had no idea how I can make it interesting and I thought maybe dialogue would help add texture to the film. Now I have learned that diegetic and non-diegetic sound elements are far more important than I thought, and dialogue isn't the only solution. I decided that a way for me to make my piece realistic and interesting is through mis-en-scene elements and costume design. Although the setting changed, I was able to create props and use colors to show personality in order to express the main character based on how her room looked and her style.
From when I first began this process I didn't think outside the box, I didn't think about what different elements of composition and camera angles would help make the piece flow smoothly. I was so focused on the idea rather than how to execute the idea like a filmmaker would. I didn't have nearly as much resources or help behind the camera as I thought I would but I had to be more independent and self reliant. This skill was something that helped me in everyday life. When challenges come my way I know that I can handle them and still make things work out even if it wasn't what I planned. As far as casting goes, my sister played the main role and I had to guide her and make sure the acting was as realistic as possible. I had to motivate her to stay patient with me when we had to reshoot the scene until we got a good enough clip. During the research, planning, and execution of the film opening process I learned a lot of skills that helped me make this a success.
When it comes to creating an original piece of media I never expected it to be easy, and because this is something new to me, I didn't expect to be perfect either. When I first learned about this project I knew that I would need to develop skills to help me execute the film opening properly. I didn't want something I could control to stop me from doing the best that I could. From week 1 to now I feel that I have learned so many skills that has helped me continue.
One thing I had to learn was to manage my time better and stay organized. I'm not the worst at time management, but during this process I knew it was really important for me to plan accordingly in order to be able to finish on time. When I started I really wanted to figure out how to produce a simple opening that didn't bore the audience. I had no idea how I can make it interesting and I thought maybe dialogue would help add texture to the film. Now I have learned that diegetic and non-diegetic sound elements are far more important than I thought, and dialogue isn't the only solution. I decided that a way for me to make my piece realistic and interesting is through mis-en-scene elements and costume design. Although the setting changed, I was able to create props and use colors to show personality in order to express the main character based on how her room looked and her style.
From when I first began this process I didn't think outside the box, I didn't think about what different elements of composition and camera angles would help make the piece flow smoothly. I was so focused on the idea rather than how to execute the idea like a filmmaker would. I didn't have nearly as much resources or help behind the camera as I thought I would but I had to be more independent and self reliant. This skill was something that helped me in everyday life. When challenges come my way I know that I can handle them and still make things work out even if it wasn't what I planned. As far as casting goes, my sister played the main role and I had to guide her and make sure the acting was as realistic as possible. I had to motivate her to stay patient with me when we had to reshoot the scene until we got a good enough clip. During the research, planning, and execution of the film opening process I learned a lot of skills that helped me make this a success.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Media in quarantine
Although this is slightly unrelated to my film production, I feel that this is something that I wanted to talk about. I have never been through a pandemic like this in my lifetime, but I do know my quarantine experience would have been so different if I was born earlier. This is because with the media being not as advanced, it would have been a harder time for me. Media and technology has really been beneficial during this coronavirus situation. I am so grateful to be able to have media platforms that allow me to stay connected with my friends during this. Communicating with them keeps me in check and I don’t feel myself at home all the time. I have been using group FaceTime on my phone to talk to my friends and stay connected with them. Another way I have been connecting with my friends is through Snapchat. On this social media platform I am able to text in group chats as well as see what people are posting about their experience in quarantine.
Other than social media, I have been playing board games online with my friends to keep busy and stay in touch. On this platform called rento fortune, me and my friends connect and play monopoly together. Another website called skribbl.io we connect and play a game like pictionary. Another way I have been staying connected is by listening to the news. Although this is an obvious response, the news has been a very important role in keeping my family and I aware of what is happening with the virus and it has helped me understand what is happening all around the world and the severity of this problem. I have been watching plenty of shows and movies that have helped me stay entertained at home and one movie called “1 Mile to You” has actually motivated me to start running again and staying active.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
FILMING PROCESS COMPLETE!
I am so relieved to say that I have finally completed the filming process for my opening earlier today! The raw footage for my two minute opening is all done, and my next step is just to edit it together. For the sound element of my film I am planning to use the song "Finally," which is one of the three songs that I posted about in one of my blog posts previously. The hardest part of the processes other than the other two difficulties I stated in the last post was getting my sister to write "find true love" on the checklist similarly each time we filmed it from different angles. My sister and I only had small arguments when the shots weren't turning out the way they were supposed to, but we got through it and made everything work. I will begin editing tomorrow on WeVideo and I will keep you updated on how the editing goes. I am also beginning to figure out what to do about my CCR:)
Here is some pictures from today
Friday, March 27, 2020
FILM FRIDAY!
Although I am still sick my parents agreed to let me come to my dads in order for me to be productive this week with my production. I was beginning to worry that I wasn't going to be able to film, but with every problem there is a solution. Today is my first day back home and I successfully prepared the costume for the main character, I made the set look as colorful and as suitable to Skylar's personality in the film, and I was able to film during the day and finally begin. To be honest I am beyond proud of myself for coming this far through all of the tough circumstances and push through to create my opening while being sick. Thank you for being patient with me, we are getting closer to the finish line. I ran into some difficulties with lighting because it was hard to not get backlight in some of the shots. Another difficulty was filming her in the mirror without me being in the frame. We worked it through and got some good shots. My 14 year old step sister Valari Cronin took the role of Skylar Woods. She has been a tremendous help during this process and I couldn't have done it without her.
Here is some picture's of filming today!
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
I had to postpone my filming schedule
Today I was planning to go back to my dad's house where the new set is, my sister who is the main character, and all of my props are. However I woke up not feeling well and my mom decided that it would be best if I stayed for a bit longer to rest and feel better. During this pandemic it is not the best time to be feeling under the weather and my mom wanted to make sure I get healthier before any of my other priorities I have. I am planning to stay here till the end of this week but in the meantime I have been going through all of my research and planning how I will direct my film opening and get my sister to cooperate and not get frustrated with me or laugh during the scenes. I put together an outline and the order I am planning to shoot the shots and keep myself organized. I am hoping to feel better soon and get to my dad's house to start this process. I have done some research on tips for producing a first film and ways I can direct the film more effectively and it has motivated me to make this work despite all the limitations and setbacks.
This website helped me understand how I can make the production process a success.
https://www.indiewire.com/feature/directing-your-first-feature-film-movie-tips-68413/
Here's my personal outline of the production
Medium shot from high angle showing her waking up in bed
Gets out of bed and looks in the mirror
Eyeline match to window in the room- with credits
Artwork - with credits
Record player - with credits
Guitar- with credits
Pictures- with credits
(credits with any other random things in room)
Changes out of pajamas and into a new outfit
This website helped me understand how I can make the production process a success.
https://www.indiewire.com/feature/directing-your-first-feature-film-movie-tips-68413/
Here's my personal outline of the production
Medium shot from high angle showing her waking up in bed
Gets out of bed and looks in the mirror
Eyeline match to window in the room- with credits
Artwork - with credits
Record player - with credits
Guitar- with credits
Pictures- with credits
(credits with any other random things in room)
Changes out of pajamas and into a new outfit
(jeans, black shirt, jacket with a painted blue butterfly on the back)
Does hair with yellow hair piece
[try to include close up shots]
The list of things to do before I graduate on the board
“The Checklist” title at the end
Does hair with yellow hair piece
[try to include close up shots]
The list of things to do before I graduate on the board
“The Checklist” title at the end
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Update on my plan B
Happy Sunday!
As of right now I am self quarantined at my moms house and I have been communicating with my sister through FaceTime. My parents are divorced and my sister is at my dad's house so I haven't been able to film with her yet. My plan is to go to my dad's house some time this week to start the filming process so I don't have to rush to edit and I need some time to do my CCR. I have been putting together an outline and I am trying to make this project as possible to accomplish as I can.
My sister agreed to take the role and I will be filming. My plan is to make some more props with the help of my sister and make my room look more artsy, considering I had to change the setting completely. I also want to spend one day filming and a couple days for editing. I am finishing my shot list and getting it ready for when I go back to my dad's house for a while. As far as my CCR goes I have began answering the questions in my blogposts but I do want to put together a script. My instructor has not informed my classmates and I of any updates about this project yet. I am continuing to try my best to make my final project a success.
My sister took the role so I have a new main character, my room will be the new setting, I still need to make and gather some props for the room, and once I finish the shot list and outline and go back to my dad's house I will begin shooting my film opening! Stay tuned for more progress updates.
As of right now I am self quarantined at my moms house and I have been communicating with my sister through FaceTime. My parents are divorced and my sister is at my dad's house so I haven't been able to film with her yet. My plan is to go to my dad's house some time this week to start the filming process so I don't have to rush to edit and I need some time to do my CCR. I have been putting together an outline and I am trying to make this project as possible to accomplish as I can.
My sister agreed to take the role and I will be filming. My plan is to make some more props with the help of my sister and make my room look more artsy, considering I had to change the setting completely. I also want to spend one day filming and a couple days for editing. I am finishing my shot list and getting it ready for when I go back to my dad's house for a while. As far as my CCR goes I have began answering the questions in my blogposts but I do want to put together a script. My instructor has not informed my classmates and I of any updates about this project yet. I am continuing to try my best to make my final project a success.
My sister took the role so I have a new main character, my room will be the new setting, I still need to make and gather some props for the room, and once I finish the shot list and outline and go back to my dad's house I will begin shooting my film opening! Stay tuned for more progress updates.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
How the Corona Virus is affecting my production process
The situation with the COVID-19 virus is something that is currently affecting my original plan for the film, and I have been brainstorming ways I can make this work. I am waiting for an update from my instructor during this situation to help figure out how this process will carry out. Schools in the state of Florida are all closed until April 15th as of right now and many people are choosing to stay home to stop the virus from spreading.
Originally I was supposed to work with Briana as my main character or Julia as my back up. However, with this situation, I have not been allowed to go out and interact with people for the sake of my personal health. The rules implemented by my parents have strongly effected how I can not film with my cast member. Having to be socially distant and self quarantined have caused me to alter some elements of my film opening.
Last week I wanted to begin the filming process but we had to postpone because of the virus. Now I ca no longer film with Briana, therefore, I have come up with some plan B ideas. I am planning to create a group call with some of my classmates to get their insight and hear how they are handling this situation as well. Even though we are in a crisis I am determined to make this work to the best of my ability and help my peers succeed with this project as well.
Now I will have to film in my house which has changed the setting of my film. This is something beyond my control, but I can still make it work. I was supposed to borrow my friend's camera but I no longer will have access to it. I realized it's ok because I can still produce an equally stylistic film opening with the camera on my iPhone 8.
As far as casting goes, I was thinking that I can either be the main character and have my 14 year old sister help me film. Another option would be that I would film and my sister could be the main character. I am fortunate enough to have a sister that can easily fit the role as a high school teenager, and I am lucky that she would be able to help film if I take the role.
I have weighed out the pros and cons and I realized that I would have to spend some time teaching my sister different camera angles and movement techniques and what composition is. This is something that could take more time than if I was filming with someone with prior knowledge, but it is still manageable. If she were to take the role as the main subject I believe I would have to give her insight on some acting tips and how to fit the role effectively. With Briana, she has more experience with being behind the camera so this would be easier, but my sister can still learn and do it well enough.
Even though there has to be major changes to my film, I have some up with a method to try to make this accomplishable despite the limitations. I am attempting to stay positive about this situation and I will be discussing it virtually with my classmates to get there opinions and meet with my peers. I will keep you updated on my plan B and what my classmates say.
Originally I was supposed to work with Briana as my main character or Julia as my back up. However, with this situation, I have not been allowed to go out and interact with people for the sake of my personal health. The rules implemented by my parents have strongly effected how I can not film with my cast member. Having to be socially distant and self quarantined have caused me to alter some elements of my film opening.
Last week I wanted to begin the filming process but we had to postpone because of the virus. Now I ca no longer film with Briana, therefore, I have come up with some plan B ideas. I am planning to create a group call with some of my classmates to get their insight and hear how they are handling this situation as well. Even though we are in a crisis I am determined to make this work to the best of my ability and help my peers succeed with this project as well.
Now I will have to film in my house which has changed the setting of my film. This is something beyond my control, but I can still make it work. I was supposed to borrow my friend's camera but I no longer will have access to it. I realized it's ok because I can still produce an equally stylistic film opening with the camera on my iPhone 8.
As far as casting goes, I was thinking that I can either be the main character and have my 14 year old sister help me film. Another option would be that I would film and my sister could be the main character. I am fortunate enough to have a sister that can easily fit the role as a high school teenager, and I am lucky that she would be able to help film if I take the role.
I have weighed out the pros and cons and I realized that I would have to spend some time teaching my sister different camera angles and movement techniques and what composition is. This is something that could take more time than if I was filming with someone with prior knowledge, but it is still manageable. If she were to take the role as the main subject I believe I would have to give her insight on some acting tips and how to fit the role effectively. With Briana, she has more experience with being behind the camera so this would be easier, but my sister can still learn and do it well enough.
Even though there has to be major changes to my film, I have some up with a method to try to make this accomplishable despite the limitations. I am attempting to stay positive about this situation and I will be discussing it virtually with my classmates to get there opinions and meet with my peers. I will keep you updated on my plan B and what my classmates say.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Distribution
During the process of producing my film it is very important that I know how to properly distribute my film. As a new filmmaker it is important for me to find the best ways for my film to be accessible to my target audience and gain exposure. However, being a new filmmaker will bring more limitations to distributing my film on bigger streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.
I conducted some research to help me find the best way to distribute my new film. One method I believe will be really beneficial is by displaying my film at local film festivals. I found that there is a Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, Miami International Film Festival, and Naples International Film Festival. All of these film festivals are local and I would be able to distribute my new film at these events. While doing research I discovered that there are various film festivals around the United States that are specifically for teen produced film which I would be able to enter in. This is beneficial because my target audience is teenagers so these events will help me distribute my film to my target audience and help me gain exposure for my film, and myself as an amateur film producer. I found this website that has links to the websites of film festivals in Florida and I also found a website that gives information about teen film festivals.
I want to use YouTube as a platform as another way to distribute my film. Even though it is not a streaming service, it is available to the public and it is a great way for me to post my video at no cost. Based on some research I gathered I learned that YouTube has 1.8 billion users and it is the #2 search engine after its partner company Google. 81% of the 126 million monthly viewers are from ages 15-25. This is an advantage because the 81% falls under my film's target audience.
Here are the links to the sources I used:
https://filminflorida.com/florida-film-festivals/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/296227/us-youtube-reach-age-gender/
https://www.rev.com/blog/indie-film-distribution
https://miamifilmfestival.com/
https://nofilmschool.com/2018/07/18-film-festivals-filmmakers-18-under-submissions
https://www.news.tobeagency.co/learn/choosing-a-video-distribution-platform
I conducted some research to help me find the best way to distribute my new film. One method I believe will be really beneficial is by displaying my film at local film festivals. I found that there is a Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, Miami International Film Festival, and Naples International Film Festival. All of these film festivals are local and I would be able to distribute my new film at these events. While doing research I discovered that there are various film festivals around the United States that are specifically for teen produced film which I would be able to enter in. This is beneficial because my target audience is teenagers so these events will help me distribute my film to my target audience and help me gain exposure for my film, and myself as an amateur film producer. I found this website that has links to the websites of film festivals in Florida and I also found a website that gives information about teen film festivals.
I want to use YouTube as a platform as another way to distribute my film. Even though it is not a streaming service, it is available to the public and it is a great way for me to post my video at no cost. Based on some research I gathered I learned that YouTube has 1.8 billion users and it is the #2 search engine after its partner company Google. 81% of the 126 million monthly viewers are from ages 15-25. This is an advantage because the 81% falls under my film's target audience.
Here are the links to the sources I used:
https://filminflorida.com/florida-film-festivals/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/296227/us-youtube-reach-age-gender/
https://www.rev.com/blog/indie-film-distribution
https://miamifilmfestival.com/
https://nofilmschool.com/2018/07/18-film-festivals-filmmakers-18-under-submissions
https://www.news.tobeagency.co/learn/choosing-a-video-distribution-platform
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| Source: Audience Project- Statista 2019 |
Sunday, March 15, 2020
My production process update
Since we have been on break I have had plenty of time to come up with some ideas to make my film opening special. I am currently coming up with what I want to put on the list of things she wants to do before she graduates and I will be making that prop soon. I want to write “get a boyfriend” or “go on a date” on the list to foreshadow the romance that will be present later on in the movie. For the film opening I felt that introducing a love interest in the first two minutes was too soon, this is because I want to develop the main character first and allow for the viewers to understand her personality, interests, and get a better understanding on who’s point of view the story is told in.
With the corona virus situation we are on break however it has been difficult for me to go out, because my parents believe it is not the best time to be going out. I have been staying in contact with Briana and we are planning to film sometime this week but hopefully we still will be able to. As far as costume design goes I’ve been working on painting a butterfly on the denim jacket as one the most important costume/props. I finally finished so here is a picture of the jacket before and the final product.
With the corona virus situation we are on break however it has been difficult for me to go out, because my parents believe it is not the best time to be going out. I have been staying in contact with Briana and we are planning to film sometime this week but hopefully we still will be able to. As far as costume design goes I’ve been working on painting a butterfly on the denim jacket as one the most important costume/props. I finally finished so here is a picture of the jacket before and the final product.
Saturday, March 14, 2020
audiolibrary helped me find some music!
For the sound element of my film I wanted to incorporate upbeat music to represent Skylar's positive and outgoing personality. The source I used to get the copyright free music from audiolibrary.com.co, this was a platform that had a copious amount of unique beats to choose from. The music will begin during the credit scene as non-diegetic sound and then when the actual scene begins it will change to diegetic sound as she is listening to music either through a record player, cd player, or in her headphones as she gets ready in her room.
Here's some copyright free music that I liked:)
Midnight Stroll [Relaxing Study Music] by Ghostrifter Official
https://soundcloud.com/ghostrifter-official
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/2CFc6KR
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/DHo1pPMvXdM
Morning Routine by Ghostrifter Official
https://soundcloud.com/ghostrifter-official
Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/_morning-routine
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/lsbbGAKhxLI
Finally by Loxbeats https://soundcloud.com/loxbeats
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download: http://bit.ly/FinallyLoxbeats
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/fGquX0Te1Yo
Friday, March 13, 2020
Target Audience
Typically this film genre is aimed at women ages 13-18 and sometimes older. In my film, the reason I chose to focus on a female character is to target the female target audience. Based on the data from the graph below females make up 77% of the share of respondents within this genre. Not only will it target females but Skylar Wood is 16 which will target the adolescent audience as well because they can relate to her life being in the same age group. In my film my target audience would be for both male and female’s around the ages of 16-20. In my film I want to stray away from heavy stereotypes and I want my piece to be realistic to the main character’s life to give the film a authentic representation of her life. The socioeconomic side of my target audience for my romance film will be directed at all people of all different classes on the hierarchy.
As a way for me to make my film more appealing to the target audience I surveyed everyone in my class to find the best title for my film. All my classmates are from 16-18 so they meet the age criteria. My target audience is directed at both genders, and luckily I was able to get a balanced sample of students. This is because out of the 18 students half were male and half were female, this 8:8 ratio removed bias from the sample. Another good element of this survey was that the students in my class are also studying media studies like me, therefore it can be assumed that they have more knowledge of what makes a good title for a film. Overall this was a specific way for me to make sure I attract my target audience. The results from the survey showed that 72.2% liked the title "The Checklist" better and 27.8% preferred the title"A Teenage Dream." From this data I decided to chose the title that has the most interest. My film is officially called "The Checklist!"
As a way for me to make my film more appealing to the target audience I surveyed everyone in my class to find the best title for my film. All my classmates are from 16-18 so they meet the age criteria. My target audience is directed at both genders, and luckily I was able to get a balanced sample of students. This is because out of the 18 students half were male and half were female, this 8:8 ratio removed bias from the sample. Another good element of this survey was that the students in my class are also studying media studies like me, therefore it can be assumed that they have more knowledge of what makes a good title for a film. Overall this was a specific way for me to make sure I attract my target audience. The results from the survey showed that 72.2% liked the title "The Checklist" better and 27.8% preferred the title"A Teenage Dream." From this data I decided to chose the title that has the most interest. My film is officially called "The Checklist!"
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| Survey was conducted on 3/13/20 |
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| Female and male percentages share of respondents |
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Genre Conventions & Representation
Some characteristics or conventions of the romance genre is, that Romance films typically involve an emotional element or problem such as, the characters going through a loss of a family member, heartbreak, mental instability, financial problems, or any other hardship. Another aspect of romance films are that they are filmed in a popular location that most viewers could recognize. Some examples of where romance films can be set in is a well known city, on the beach, or at school. The main characters tend to be two young adults, which is mainly to target the adolescent audience. Romance films are typically revolved around the girl, so it magnetizes a female audience. This is important to the success of the film because the viewers will enjoy watching a s story which will be more relatable for the for the viewers. A genre convention that I am challenging is having an emotional element from the beginning. I want my plot to revolve around a young girl that is happy and seeking adventure in her life.
The reason I chose not to start off with heartbreak, mental instability, or any other hardship is because I want to show the target audience that not all teens are going through problems or emotional distress. I want people to know that there can be a romance film that doesn't derive from something bad happening to the main character and love can come from the happiness that a person has. As far as representation goes I am representing a young female character as my lead due to females being underrepresented in the film industry. She will have a unique sense of artistic style and she won't depict of any nudity throughout the film. Statistics show that there was a 32.5% increase of nudity in teenage females in films. The male to female ratio of actors in films are
2.25:1. Therefore, my film will do a good job in representing females because she will even be the main role.
Research sources
https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/gender-inequality-in-film/
https://prezi.com/2tx2j21lib1a/generic-conventions-of-romance/
The reason I chose not to start off with heartbreak, mental instability, or any other hardship is because I want to show the target audience that not all teens are going through problems or emotional distress. I want people to know that there can be a romance film that doesn't derive from something bad happening to the main character and love can come from the happiness that a person has. As far as representation goes I am representing a young female character as my lead due to females being underrepresented in the film industry. She will have a unique sense of artistic style and she won't depict of any nudity throughout the film. Statistics show that there was a 32.5% increase of nudity in teenage females in films. The male to female ratio of actors in films are
2.25:1. Therefore, my film will do a good job in representing females because she will even be the main role.
Research sources
https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/gender-inequality-in-film/
https://prezi.com/2tx2j21lib1a/generic-conventions-of-romance/
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Scheduling
One thing I learned during the process of creating my opening is that I need to manage my time well and work efficiently for this project to turn out the way I want it to. So I am writing this blogpost to help me plan better for what I should do for the following week. Some things I want to do before starting the project is make sure my actress is available to film preferably on the weekends that I am free and if not, then during the week after school. This communication is important so I can plan my shooting schedule accordingly and manage my time well so I don't rush to do this last minute. In my planner I wrote down the specific things I want to cover in my blogpost's for next week. Time is flying by fast and I believe I need to start the filming process soon, however I need to make sure to have everything ready by this week so I can begin!
My goals for next week are:
My goals for next week are:
-confirm with Briana that she can take the part
-create an outline
-possibly create a storyboard
-pick out the music I want to use (from Purple Planet or the copyright free music from YouTube)
-start getting supplies together and create and buy some props/costumes
-start filming this weekend:)
-create an outline
-possibly create a storyboard
-pick out the music I want to use (from Purple Planet or the copyright free music from YouTube)
-start getting supplies together and create and buy some props/costumes
-start filming this weekend:)
Friday, March 6, 2020
Casting
In my film opening my goal is to introduce the main character Skylar Woods as she is getting ready in her room. I want her to be artsy and full of energy and I wanted to express this through mis-en-scene elements, sound (the music she is listening to), and most importantly casting someone that is fit for the role. After communicating with some of my friends I believe I found two candidates that I believe will be an awesome fit as Skylar Woods. My classmate Briana Farnsworth is the person I selected as my first pick for the role. She has experience on camera and she also is taking media studies so we will be able to help each other create our productions. My friend Julia Eberhardt said she is willing to be casted as Skylar as well. As a back up plan if Briana carry through with her role, I can still create my production because Julia will be available to film with me.
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| Briana Farnsworth, Age 16 |
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| Julia Eberhardt, Age 17 |
Thursday, March 5, 2020
What will the title of my production be?
In regards to the title, I want to make sure it is not too complicated to the point where it would make the audience confused or uninterested but also not to simple or close to another major film name. This is important when selecting a good title because it is the starting point in intriguing the viewers to continue to watch the film. Some ideas I have so far are:
Titles
-The Checklist
-Countdown
- A Teenage Dream
- Youthful Fantasy
-The Golden Years
- A List That Never Ends
- Never Ending Possibilities
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