Film Opening

With 6 weeks of work, I finally present my film opening,

Stalker.

CCR

Finally completed here is my Creative Critical Reflection linked below!!

CCR

Final Takes!

It is long overdue, but I have finished filming my project. I have begun editing, it has been a breeze because I am using iMovie. The platform makes it very easy to cut clips and add audio. It is very simple which can be a downside at times, with not having much variety on where I would like my text to be and what font I want it to be. I can only currently edit with iMovie on my phone, because my computer has been having some technical difficulties with my attempts to download the app. And it keeps failing. Every. Single. Time.

On a brighter note, I would like to reflect on what my favorite part of my film is so far. It would have to be the close up shot I used after the main character stops brushing her hair. I think it displays the characters confusion perfectly. As the audience has a closer look at her eyes squint in and her eyebrow flare up in confusion. This is a real turning point in the film, setting up the climax of the movie. It introduces the thriller genre that was not my first idea, but after changes detailed in earlier posts, I wanted to incorporate it into the film. My second favorite shot, is the high angle I used as the character packs her school materials. I chose this to demostrate the feeling of the viewer is watching her from above, and to also demonstrate she feels weaker than the other characters that are revealed later in the film.
I plan on finishing editing tonight, start my CCR tomorrow and alternate between completing my CCR, and going back to my film and putting final touches.

Crunch Time!

It is all dwindling down, and the walls that surround me keep inching in closer as we arrive to this due date. These past six weeks taught me some serious lessons about time management more than anything. As I can confidently say time management has evidently been my biggest struggle with this project. At the beggining of the year when I took on the challange of this course, hearing when this project was due and knowing it would be during my lacrosse season, it did not even pass my mind of how much of a struggle it was going to be. Having to juggle a varsity sport with practice six days a week, every week. More importantly, having three games on the week this project is due is complete overkill.
But we all have to get through the stressful times don’t we? I know through all of my research I have gathered this year, my end result will be something I am truly proud of.

Filming Day Part 2!

Yesterday I begun what is the biggest challenge for me as I go through this project. I begun filming from the beginning scenes then following through till the end because that is the easiest way to attack this massive beast. Things started pretty rough as my actress for the film was timid and did not express emotions as much as I desired. I also had some difficulty filming the clip where the camera looks into the room, as the room I was filming in was on the second floor. Following this, the camera shot that would look best was an over the shoulder shot of the stalker looking into the room. The problem with this was I had no clue how I was going to get the shot into the room because I had no way to get up to reach the second story window.  The solution to my problems were solved when I found a ladder to get me and my subject up there. I used a selfie stick to position the camera in the needed angle. After the hiccup, everything went smoothly as the rest of the scenes taken at home were easy to film. I have to film the second half that takes at school tomorrow.

Filming Recap!

Today I filmed about half of my piece, and boy does it feel good. To finally get some content I can work with and truly like. As I was filming I really struggled with filming one clip as no matter what I did the lighting was overexposed or too dim.

I found the perfect sweet spot to focus on. I did this by tapping it on my phone and using the brightness level, to gauge the perfect lighting.

Last Minute Change.

Today I meet with my peers amd had a discussion about our projects. As a group we went into detail about all of our ideas. When it came my turn, I received some very interesting insight. It seemed daring at first because it involves changing my whole idea. But I’m siding with my feedback I received and changing my whole project. My new idea falls more into the thriller genre but it still keeps the aspects of romance genre and mystery genre. So luckily, the research I recorded will not go to waste.
My new plan involves a girl who is going through what seems like a normal day at first, but then takes a serious turn. The first scene will start with the girl waking up in bed and getting ready for school. There will be a cut to her stalker out the window, she hears something and turns to the window to see nothing. Shaking it off, she goes to school and after arrival and in her class she finds a note that startles her. Following the note, will be a picture of her in her room which she did not take. This experience completely freaks her out and she rushes home from school. She’s arrives to her car and finds another note. To conclude the scene, she starts the car and the stalker appears from the backseat behind her.
Throughout the film I will also include a climactic song to entice the fear coming from the main character I also am going to use a series of stings.

This is going to be a serious challenge. I am praying I will be able to pull it off!

Debate

I have conjured up some ideas for the title of my film. In the title of my film I want to include the romance and mystery aspects. Also I want it to include what will be written in the first note presented in the film.

Love Story,
My Admirer,
My First Love,
and Secretly.

Severe Setback

Spring break is fun and all, but it has been very hard for me to find adequate time to film. In addition, a major part of my film takes place at school. Which unfortunately is closed due to spring break. This devestating setback has led me to filming the part of my film where the main character is at home prior to the scenes taken at a school setting.

Script

An idea popped in my head so to just record my ideas down on a stable medium, here is a very very rough draft of my script. There is more I should include throughout, but this is just a skeleton. I have yet to find the music and stings that will introduce the mystery and climax. Also I am debating whether or not I will include a background music throughout the piece.

Storyboard

I present a more final beginning to my storyboard. This is just the first half, and I am in the workings of the second half, as I take some extra time to walk around my school and plan where I would like to film on campus.
It begins with the character sleeping, then following her through her daily routine of going to school. I want to portray how she hates her everyday routine. I will be able to accomplish this through close-ups of the main character to show her emotion. Another component that will help portray my idea will be the voice over from the main character saying dialogue that exposes her boredom with life. The second half will entail the events that occur at school.

Casting Call!

I have found my actress for my film after asking a couple of my friends, I decided my best option would be to use my sibling for this project. So here she is! Her name is Cassandra and she is a Freshman at Cypress Bay High School.

As I mope through the the gloomy week, I still bear the hefty weight of this project. On a more positive note, I have begun a rough draft of my story board.

Some key points that I would like to further describe that are present in my story board are, the use of close-ups. The close-ups add the heightened emotion portrayed by the character.
To reiterate this is a very rough draft for the beginning of my film opening.

Under the Weather

A halt has been placed on my studies. I have come up with a severe cold. It has been very hard to begin my storyboard and continue to push in the direction I need to for this assignment. I am crushed because of my current state I had to miss a very crucial group meeting with my fellow peers to get some insight on my ideas, which no doubt would have been very beneficial. I can only hope that this event will reoccur, because I am in desperate need of some insight on my ideas.

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

To finally start storyboarding and planning film production, I need to have a final idea. This has led me to two ideas I am considering.
It has really been a challenge to just pick one. Ugh!!
So, I have written all my rough planning down for both to help me clearly choose one.


Creepy Stalker Approach:
-Boy is obsessed with the Girl
-Girl has a boyfriend
-Boyfriend notices of someone following them but does not know who they are
-Follows him/her around the school, car etc.
-Sends creepy love letters
-Can end on a cliffhanger of boyfriend going missing at the end to entice mystery

Setting: School (Can film at Cypress Bay High)

Cute Secret Admirier Approach
- Begins with girl oblivious to her secret admirer
- Girl recieves little notes with gifts, pieces of chocolates, etc.
- Secret admirier asks girl to meet her at the park
- Girl goes to park and can either go one of two ways
 - One :
           She arrives and finds a note that says “try again” or “not so fast”
   Two :
           She gets there and a trail of what is left with previous notes, leads her to an adventure.

As of now I feel that I am leaning more to the Creepy Stalker idea that it would be more exciting to create. But I know either route I choose, I shall put 110% of effort into it. 

Time Management

Throughout a busy week due to lacrosse season being in full swing, I have miraculously found time to continue to push on this project. To keep myself on the ball, I have created a schedule. Including after school activities, sports, and of course this monster project.

This of course is all subject to change, but I would really like to stay on task and complete the project in a timely manner. To stay on board with this schedule is my goal.

Romance & Mystery

To further dive in, there are many characteristics of romance and mystery films. I want to combine the two, so it is key that I know all the characteristics. So that I can effectively mash them together without the two clashing.

Romance:
- There needs to be something keeping them apart.
- Love-Hate relationships.
- If they don’t get together at the end, they have to be happy or have learned something from the whole thing.
- Conflicts
- Heartbreaks

Some other romance characteristics that I did not mention can be found here.
Additionally, I found some more examples of Romance films that I would like to include here.


Mystery:
- Crime or puzzle that needs to be solved.
- The main character, which tend to be the detective is the one who sets out to solve the mystery.
- Overt clues in the crime are presented.
- Hidden evidence, and foreshadowing is present.
- Red Herring, a technique to falsely foreshadow, to throw the audience off.


Not to list them all here, there’s more characteristics of a mystery here, and a really helpful chart that helped me is linked here.

A New Path

With still feeling lost on what I should produce, today in class I consulted with my teacher to help me get back on the right track.

The discussion first begun with what my favorite films are. I have never fully answered this question before, so it was quite difficult to answer.

FinanceTrainingCourse.com

The first film that came to my mind was the Arrival. This is one of my favorite films because of the elements it holds. I have always been very interested in mysteries, and even more interested in sci-fi. So for a film to combine the two, hit the jackpot for me. I also really enjoyed the special effects in the movie as well as the mise-en-scene.

JB Hi-Fi 

Following that, I thought for what seemed like a century, flipping through the mass amount of films I have seen in my lifetime. But finally it hit me, 10 Things I Hate About You. This holds its place because it is my favorite romance film. I enjoy the story it tells, I feel that I can relate myself to the main character. What she experiences is similar to what I am going through,  as the movie dives into everything high school throws at you. 

FTSA

Lastly contrasting from the rest, my final choice was the television series Parks and Recreation. It’s different as it is not a film, but a television series including seven seasons. It is significant to me because of how the comedy is presented in the show. The comedy stands apart due to more separation shots as they use close-ups quick zooms into the character’s face to show their reaction, creating the relaxed comedy feel.

After discussing my liking's about these three pieces, a new idea sprouted in my head. Taking the mystery component from the film Arrival, and the romance in 10 Things I Hate About You. I have decided to produce a romance mystery film opening. I am very excited about this because I now have many examples to help me get a base for what I want to create. 

Research, Research, Research

Before I can start storyboarding, and brainstorming I have first gathered solid research behind me.
An important piece I would like to note is a list of all of the subgenres of a drama, the list as a whole highlights the diversity there is in the drama genre. This is extremely helpful for the director, which in this case is me as it allows me to have a range of ideas as I can comfortably stay in one genre.

imdb.com

Two case studies I have selected are Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Great Gatsby.


Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961):
Breakfast at Tiffany's is an absolute classic as the film holds a place in the National Film Registry. The piece is deemed as a romantic drama because it tells the tale of a high class extrovert girl, Holly Golightly. It is a romance when the main character Holly Golightly, meets Paul Varjak. The two become friends then fall into a spiral of if he can fill in Holly's aspirations in life

USA Today

The Great Gatsby (2013)
Based on the 1920's novel. Following that there has been many adaptations, especially in film. So for this case study I have chosen to research the most recent film production. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the tragedy drama highlights the murder of Myrtle, George, and the main character Jay Gatsby. This film could also be considered as a romantic drama as a love triangle evolves.



The spectrum the drama genre bears throughout all of its subgenres is why I am selecting it for my film opening.

Clarity

As we meet again, I have came to a conclusion.

I have decided after talking to my peers and after doing some research, that the genre of my film is going to be a drama. Choosing this genre will allow me to create something I am more confident in, as well as a drama bears more variety, through which I can design a more unique piece and still be able to stay in my genre.
The road seems never ending at this point in time, but I am very excited to begin my journey. Because I know it will be an exciting one.

A Conflicting Begging

Hello!
As I set to begin this journey, I am at a fork in the road. Choosing the genre of my film opening, thus far is the biggest task I have set infront of me. I am deliberating between going for a horror psychological thriller film or a completely different route and producing a heartfelt drama. The genres I have placed in front of me are both very contrasting where as the one I choose, there is no going back. As I continue my research about both of these genres, I have gathered ideas about what I would like to produce going down either of these paths. I hope I will conclude my setback so I can put all of my effort into one idea that I am confident in.