Group meeting #9

Assembled into groups, today’s class consisted of collaborative reflection, pausing, listening and providing constructive criticism and feedback. Joining into groups of 5, each student shared their progress thus far into the project. Although some more advanced than others, there remained a general competition of a storyboarding and thorough analysis and research on selected genre and additional film opening. Each member discussing their 2 minute film opening plot, our group maintained super engaged and attracted to the stories being shared. 

One of the group members decided to create their plot based on a serial killer stalking friends leaving a party. The rest of the group recommended to redirect and re-navigate the plot towards avoiding the act of stalking and murdering to only highlight elements and details of such a psychotic persona. Additionally, creating a party environment is challenging due to gathering an excessive quantity of people and precise scheduling, therefore we encouraged a minimal and simpler route where three friends are presented leaving a party shot exterior from the house. Another students requested ideas and topics to discuss on his updating blogs. The group advised blog post researching additional film openings, themes, colors, fonts for titles, and a deep analysis on proceeding through storyboarding and screenplay writing. We encouraged to write both the successes and failures encountered. 

Outlining the plot of my personal 2 minute film opening, the group collaboratively encouraged and recommended to shorten or eliminate certain scenes and details of the story. Possibly removing the escaping car scene and reducing the female character entering her car, or simply throwing away the heart necklace into the trash bin, such a complex plot would successfully be narrowed down. Arriving to an agreement that we had many ideas and directions for creating a plot, however, emphasising the importance organized our ambitions within structured and realistic boundaries. I shared my concerns about editing and the group agreed and approved I begin filming this weekend to established and set enough time and energy to carefully completing the editing. Sharing my screenplay writing, they enjoyed reading the voiceover dialogue. 

Screenplay #8

Putting our thoughts into words, we create the written screenplay with a quick description of the actions conceding with the verbal narration. The 2 minute film opening doesn’t involve any interaction between characters, therefore the signal screenplay writing involved is dialogue from a voice over narrated from the perspective of the main female character. 

This is a draft of the dialogue. The characters name must be written in all capital letters and the dialogue or monologue recited by the character remain in the middle aligned structure of the page. The actions presented are located and organised on the left margin of the page. I am aware the actions aren’t clearly presented throughout the plot of the dialogue, however my partner and I are unfamiliar and uncertain how the outline and timing with correlate between the speech and follow through of physical actions. 

My partner and I designed a dialogue that drive deep the characters mind and indulges its profound and appalling thoughts. The character rejects her own self visually meanwhile rejecting the bullying comments later realized shared by friends and family she once believe truely loved her. Sharing the true thoughts and verbal passive aggression of others, the character shines light on her possible honest self, for once! 

Storyboarding #7

My partner and I designed the main storyline of our narrative. Throughout the last few previous brainstorming classes, today we outlined a more precise course of action utilizing a storyboard. My partner and I divided our planning outline into various scenes with a visual and descriptive approach. (Although we created a direct sequence, my partner and I will most likely organize and change our path during the filming process. For example, this includes scenes from how to shoot the funeral, types of shots capturing the getting ready scene, etc. We are mapping these sequences to determine which shots would work best together and which would work best together and which would best advance the plot.

We are arranging out shots in a manner that is effective and visually appealing, and the planning is simply assisting us in thinking through the specifics that will go into creating a slightly more focused opening. My partner and I noticed the possibility of running into a slight problem durning the “changing identity scene”. We understood we couldn’t reasonably dye our actors hair, so we figure a practical solution. To provide the effect of a bleach dye, we will mix conditioner with either flour or starch to create a paint like consistency. Additionally, capturing a realistic setting of a funeral is not easy task. Therefore, we will arrange a collection of close up shots to enhance the elements of a funeral. For example, instead of utilizing a casket, we will positions an urn surrounded by flowers and a picture frame to signify and represent the occasion. 

In order to create the illusion of dyed hair, my partner and I will purchase a blonde wig and capture a transition from previous hair to results of bleaching. Durning the identity transformation, we are still considering whether to record a voice over accompanying the theme and content of the plot, triggering curiosity through a poetic monologue. 

STORYBOARDING:

Titles, Fonts, and Colors #6

Brains to work because today we brainstormed several title ideas for the film opening. Receiving the first impression, the movie title must pique interest, set the tone, and hint at the genre. A memorable title becomes a part of the film industry, standing out in a crowded market. For example, "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings" remain instantly recognizable and have immersed cultural weight. Additionally,  titles serve artistic expressions, whether witty, metaphorical, cryptic, etc., thus reflecting the themes and creative vision.  Nevertheless, quite the challenge. Taking details, symbols, and elements from the mi-se-scene, character identity, and context of the plot, my partner and I formulated several examples:

- heart-fled ("Heart" from the necklace the female character carries around the neck and "fled" due to plot description of parting from her home and town. Leaving her past, her heart flees in search of something new to fulfill the vacancy)

- Golden escape ("Golden" references the color of the necklace worn by the actress and thrown away at the end and "escape" correlates to the act of vanishing her home, breaking free to the world beyond.)

- cut and run (Cutting her past to run for a better place)

Poster Grind Article, "Top 7 Fonts Used in Drama Movie Posters" mentions how drama is a form of fiction that prioritizes and revolves a serious tone to portray difficult and controversial subjects. Dramatic stories rather than science fiction or action movies tend to be more unique and complex. Depending on the context of the film, whether a drama about seeking oneself an earning a happy ending or doom to sad conclusions, understanding the messages of the film is essential to selecting the perfect font. Fonts with bold and thick shapes is commonly utilized. Angles and structures, whether straight or curved mirror the context of the movie. For example, "Daisy Jones and the Six" is illustrated in bolded, curved, and spiraled font referring to the 70s aesthetic and hippy atmosphere presented in the series. In contrast, the film "Pulp Fiction" remains bolded however with straight lines, resembling to a comic or cartoon font style. Going on Canva, my partner and I began testing out several font options resonating with both the plot description and thorough research conducted. 

   

Colors:

No Film School published an article, “The Psychology of Color in Film”. - The deliberate use of color to elicit particular emotional and psychological reactions from viewers is known as “color psychology” in films and television shows. Color selection improves narrative, fleshes out the character, and creates engrossing environments. Every hue has unique meanings and associations that affect how the observer perceives and feels. Color evokes strong feelings and tales in the audiences by appealing to their subconscious. 

RED - anger, passion, rage, desire, excitement, energy, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence

PINK - love, innocence, healthy, happy, content, romantic, charming, playfulness, soft, delicate, feminine

YELLOW - wisdom, knowledge, relaxation, joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard

ORANGE - humor, energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant

GREEN - healing, soothing, perseverance, tenacity, self-awareness, proud, unchanging nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy

BLUE - faith, spirituality, contentment, loyalty, fulfillment peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, sky, water, cold, technology, depression

PURPLE/VIOLET - erotic, royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning, power, sensitive, intimacy

BROWN - materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity

BLACK - No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger

BROWN - materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity

BLACK - No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger

WHITE - Yes, protection, love, reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile

SILVER - riches, glamorous, distinguished, earthy, natural, sleek, elegant, high-tech

GOLD - precious, riches, extravagance warm, wealth, prosperity, grandeur

Examples:

- Great Gatsby: Vibrant and rich colors are used to convey the grandeur of the Roaring Twenties. Lively greens and golds accentuate the opulence of the time, while darker blues and grays reflect the overarching themes of excess and disillusionment.

- Shindlers List: The red coat worn by the young girl stands out dramatically, even though the majority of the film is in black and white. This draws attention to the suffering amid the gloom and acts as a potent visual device.

Researching Drama Thriller Film Openings #5

American Beauty starts with a grainy and vintage capture camera recording of a young girl lying in bed. Conversing and dialogue between the young girl and the unidentified individual, the audience understands the female character is video calling a man. The young girl complains of her father and the man states: "Do you want me to kill him?" Replying, the young girl pauses as an element of suspense and replies, "Yeah. Would you?" The dialogue between the character and the undisclosed identity of the male figure provides the opening scene with an eerie, unsettling curiosity that engages further viewing. Following, in simple red straight-colored font, with a black screen behind, titles; "American Beauty". Introduced to a landscape-long shot of the setting from above addition to the monotone voice-over, the audience acknowledges the plainness and simplicity of the town. The meticulously manicured lawns and cookie-cutter houses paint a picture-perfect American life. However, the camera lingers on the cracks in the facade hinting at the dysfunction and unhappiness beneath the surface. "In less than a year, I'll be dead." The narrator mentions such a statement possibly correlating to the previous scene of intending to commit a murder. 

Girl Interrupted - The fogged window, architected in a jail-like structure, introduces the primary visual of the film's opening. The soft and somber music in the background reflects the sad expressions on the close-up shots of the young girl's faces. Shattered glass on the floor and almost updated sering are both symbolic features and details elevating the location's setting and environment. The voiceover of a young female during the film opening, questioning the audience, all announced in a meloncoly enunciation. Her dialogue is fragmented and cryptic, hinting at underlying mental struggles and a desire to resist authority. At the end of the voiceover, the female character refers to herself as a "Girl Interpreted". This scene is cold and sterile, dominated by its dim lighting. The grim environment emphasizes the clinical nature of the young girl's confinement and creates a sense of detachment from the outside world.

Brainstorming Ideas #3

My partner and I finally concluded a story plot! Inspired by the movie Gone Girl, we decided to develop a new character or identity as our main approach. Originally, we had planned to involve a psychological thriller pull to the storyline.

The film's opening stages a collective montage of a female character walking into a gas station towards the bathroom. (Tracking shot following her from behind along the shopping isles) Completely changing her identity, (utilizing a stabilizing camera) the character cuts and dyes her hair, darkens her makeup, and changes her outfit and accessories. Throwing the old garments and products into the trash, this scene represents a dramatic switch in her life. Meanwhile, a combination of flashback shots of a funeral triggers curiosity. "Who passed away?" "How does this funeral correlate with the female character?" Close-up shots of an urn, a pastor's mi-se-scene, a single attending guest, and a rose placed beside the urn are all captured in a grim and dark tone. Following, the audience is introduced to a framed picture of a young girl wearing a heart-shaped necklace. Viewers understand it’s the same girl changing her identity. "She’s not dead!?" Zooming into the heart necklace in the photo, the film transitions to a zoom-out of the same necklace worn by the female character in her new identity. Holding the necklace and yanking it off, she throws the necklace out of the window mirroring the idea of throwing her old life away. 

The scene in Gone Girl includes a voice over of the female character narrating “Cool Girl” who never gets angry, always in perfect character smiling, of a main goal to satisfy her husband’s happiness. This transformation of identity is a transformation in life, a switch to search something better and lose all the heaviness on the presence. 

Planning Scheduling Blog Post #4

Finalizing the genre and generating ideas for a basic movie plot for the 2 minute film opening, I planned an organized and well structured schedule to shape a path towards an aim. Defining goals and prioritizing a time frame with achievable and attainable tasks and activities within the deadline is the route to success. Thus far, the project is flowing in the right direction and ideas are aligning between my partner and I. Such a magnitude of a project has to include an arrangement to control a planters ideas, where breaking down the extensive project into smaller sections can identify the activities more approachable and definitive. 

The first month, February, involves the general initial steps. Researching genre, title font, color schemes, story blot, story boarding, establishing a script, allocating filming locations and gathering elements for mi-se-scene, etc. Following, the month of March consists of securing the collection of mi-se-scene features to commence the filming and recording process. By the 6th or 7th week, all recording should be finalized and ready for editing in order to develop responses for the Creative Critical Reflection questions. The last 2 weeks revolve around receiving feedback and reflecting.

• 1st week: Brainstorming and gathering knowledgeable resources on recommended blogging topics. Additionally, the first week includes researching and selecting film genres, developing a schedule and innovating a plot 
• 2nd Week: further analysis and developing a detailed story line to start creating the script, a story board, and possibly a mood board to understand location, colors, and tone elements.
• 3rd Week: primary focuses on writing the script and designating filming locations
• 4th Week: continuous research and developing elements of mi-se-scene. We will start recording the film opening (during weekend hours as well) 
• 5th Week: prioritizes continuing filming production and developing responses to CCR questions.
• 6th Week: Objective is to finalize the recording to begin editing. 
• 7th Week: Finish editing the 2 minute film opening and researching information relating to creative critical reflection
• 8th Week: creating Creative Critical Reflection with at least 2 approaches
• 9th Week: Completing the project on any final touches. This includes submitting and analyzing an overall reflection. 

Throughout the following 9 weeks in the project, I will update my blogs with 3 posts per week.

Research Film Opening Post #2

Today's class consisted of informational note-taking on Blogging foundation, including necessary elements of text and various media. Blog posts are forums that blend the transmittal of important information and personal reflection. Blogs are platforms to share and invite comments and critiques and design a space of unity amongst community. Learning how to appropriately and successfully divide a blog post, ideally, it should thoroughly include "Describe, Analyze, and Discuss." During the time outline of the project schedule, there should present a variety of blogging posts including a Planning Post (incorporate a storyboard with a detailed explanation of shots, angles, locations, and mi-se-scene for each image), Production Post (researching fonts and their purpose), and Revision Posts (discussing a problem and stating a fix or solution).

Research:

Psychological thrillers/thrillers (Shutter Island) 

- The film opens with a dark screen titling ""Shutter Island in bolded font and fading in and out. The diegetic music accompanying the opening is deep and scary providing an uneasy introduction. Following, the back screen lists the location and date to establish and develop the setting and background. 

- Introduced to a massive fog and loud diegetic horn sounds, the audience becomes aware of the powerful ship emerging in the cloudy and suspenseful environment. The main character is seasick and vomiting in the bathroom of the ship. Sweating and struggling, the clip is captured utilizing close-up shots to intensify the heavy emotions of the character. The continuous sounds of waves splashing, horns wailing, heavy breathing, and enthralling sting music enhance the disturbed yet gripping atmosphere. 

- Succeeding, viewers are presented with a new character conversing through diegetic dialogue. This interaction is a possibility of conflict or relationship between character vs. character. The conversation triggers a joyful memory of the main character's former marriage. The contrast of dull to vibrant colors represents the divergence between the grim present and the lively past.

Mystery/Thriller (Gone Girl)

- The film initiates displaying the official productions studio combined with a voice over of a deep male voice narrating about his wife head with disturbing comments provoking an unsettling and apprehensive attention. Visually, the audience is introduced with a fade in fade out of a woman's face while the voice over continues, asking profound and controversial questions about relationships.

- Following the actors, producer, movie title, etc. are listed in the certain of the scene, transitioning to various dull and grim locations of the town or city's landscape, including the beach, building, rundown billboards, empty streets and parks. Meanwhile the diegetic background noise consists of loud suspenseful music and nature sounds such as bird chipping to evoke an vacancy to the discomfort of the setting. Suddenly, a male appears in the center of the screen, standing on a street, in front of a house. 

Analyzing:

The fusion and union of sounds, visual colors, angles to express emotions or body language, and narration or character speech tone is key to creating and establishing the selected genre and introducing the mood or style. For my mystery media film opening, I will incorporate the elements of rusty, dark and dull colors and powerful agitating and appalling sounds to highlight the atmosphere of the movie. The opening scene is the first impression. It is crucial to spark curiosity and provide context or build the foundation of the narrative or setting. Whether suspenseful, humorous, or melancholic, the opening scene sets the emotional register for the outline of the film. I will add subtle hints of foreshadowing, rewarding attentive viewers.

Transition Portfolio Project Blog Post #1

 Today was day one of the 9 week portfolio project for my AICE Media Studies class. Normally, such an assignment would drive me into a spiral of nerves and apprehension. However, the reality is I’m truly looking forward to creating something of my own. This project is an opportunity to challenge my comfort zone and utilise the materials, resources, and tools I have learned thus far in the year and design a film opening that goes beyond my limits while representing me is certain aspects. Documenting about the planning, producing, executing, and scheduling process, blogging throughout the project timeline is an additional task to test my knowledge and an effective method to keep myself on track and maintain focus on achieving goals. 

My primary approach for the 2 minute film opening is developing character while embracing conflicts of character vs. character or character vs. self. I aspire to produce a film where the audience is introduced further in the storyline, triggering questions such as “how did we get here?” The story line would travel back and forth in time. Involving genres or themes of mystery or crime, where a character is wrongfully convicted or the betrayal between characters, the character builds a dark and twisted shell or personality. 

My second idea for a flim opening approach is either developing character or setting exposing a psychological thriller where the protagonist is divergent from the norm and continues to fight for themselves. Dealing with mental disabilities such as bipolar or schizophrenia, this heaviness and weight of confusion and self loathing from the character personally creates a certain deep empathy for the divergent figure.

Music Marketing Blog Post #2

Throughout the Media Music Project, our team continuously reflected amongst the same few questions. "What do we what to achieve?" "Are we on track of completing our goal and ambitious aim?" These questions were crucial to ensuring everyone was following through and collaboration with an even balanced of effort. 

Creating and launching a successful music band campaign involves a variety of strategic elements and factors including the teams goals to amplifying the reach. Developing a brand identity and image, we reflected the mood of the song, So Caught Up, and the music genre, blues rock, and incorporated such features in the recognition, personality of the band. Our group evaluated different ideas and congruently decided on creating a band embodying the aesthetic and aura of the 70's and additional older bands. Some examples include Fleetwood Mac and Rolling Stones. Designing the title of the band, "Lemon Drops" and designating the faces of each band member, this process highlight the roles and responsibility of each person in the team. We decided our band was a new independent Australian band from Australian. Camila and myself were actors in the band with 3 additional students. Veronica was responsible for majority of the filming, and Daniela's editing skill combined the short clips together on premiere. 

Initially, we divided the campaign within different sections. For the bands social media presence, Camila Sanchez's responsibility was to analysis the different platforms the Lemon Drops were connecting with the band through an online media platform. Designating Instagram, Facebook, X, and Tik Tok, we provided examples of the different band members tags on Instagram as a method for the audience and fans to connect and engage with the band on a personal level. Following, our team designed and allocated social media post examples such as the main female singer on a private trip, a promotional photo-shoot creating dating rumors between two band members, and a behind the scenes concert shot to generate an exclusive and more intimate relationship between fans and the Lemon Drops. For fan interactions, our team featured a post example of a band member liking a Lemon Drops fan accounts post. Furthermore, Veronica focused on an distribution method from the public to listen to the depute single. Creating a website with additionally direct access to the Bands socials, music link on different streaming platforms such as apple music and YouTube, and their online store to purchase the albums and vinyl's with pricing. Additional distribution plans included Spotify, Amazon music, radio, etc. Tracking the bands song views since the release data, a clear graph highlights the successful growth and increase. Daniela was responsible for selecting touring, performances and festivals the band will potentially partake in. For additionally marketing methods, I focused on Merchandising, posters, magazine and article publishing. Lastly, each team members had to voice record their individual slides.

This research and informational campaigning organization was key and beneficial to following through with the approaching the next step of the assignment. We appointed two locations, a backyard garden area to shoot a montage photoshoot scene and a garage to film a the band members playing the instruments. This is a combination of an artistic and promotional video. The purple lights and dark lit room with contrast of the vibrant light scenic locations provides a variation of contrasting elements: romantic and grungy, yet light and full. 

Our team had a good outline and organization of time. Dedicating two days for filming with enough to edit and reevaluate. Our project as a whole had its challenges yet the group was able to find collaborative solutions (common agreeance). I learn that with little products, our team was able to create props and creative elements with items we could find inside the house. For example, we didn't have a drum set or drum sticks, so we use boxes and covered it in black, and utilized wooden spoons as the playing sticks. This project will help when completing the Cambridge Portfolio because it was a training of fostering ideas and conducting trail and error.