Filming Blog, first try

Whenever my group members and I tried to film something would always come. Either I had practice or other obligations so my schedule was never really clear. We were running out of filming time so I had to film, no exceptions. I only had one of the most parts in the whole film, I was the kidnapper, so without me the concept wouldn't be properly executed. Luckily, there was one day out of the week that my other group members were available and I had time to spear. I drove to school so it would be easier for me to just drive to the filming location and then head back to school because I had to tutor someone. I told them where to meet me after school and that they had to be quick because we had to film all of my parts in one hour and thirty minutes. I wouldn't be able to stay any longer so it had to get done. Anyways, after school we tried to leave as early as we could, but we were scattered over the place, and we couldn't find one another. We ended up leaving later than expected, so I had to take the fasted route. During the car ride we discussed everything that needed to be done. One of my group members reread the script to me while I was driving. When we got there we set up all the cameras. That part is always difficult, because we always forget how to attach the camera to the tripod. After watching a few YouTube videos, we finally got it and started filming. At first I was filming with one member of my group but the kidnapping scene wasn't coming out right with her so we ended up having to switch characters out. Doing that was one of the best decisions we made yet,. Everything ran more smoothly we only have to do about four retakes. I ended up kidnapping the girl while she was looking through the car then I had to pretend like I stole the car and drove away. After filming it we re-watched it on the camera and I thought it was executed pretty nicely.

Filming Blog: Practice

      Today we were supposed to be filming after school. The place we were planning to film at was Walmart Super-Center. This Walmart was located in Oakland Park. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend due to me having track practice. I couldn't miss practice today because I have a meet Wednesday. I wanted to make sure I was in tip top shape and ready to go. However, my group mates said that they were planning to go to Walmart anyways. They planned to go and shoot the first couple of scenes that didn't involve me. This would ultimately give us more time to edit and gather our scenes faster. This would also help us finish much sooner.
       My group mates sent photos in our group chat of them working on the scene. They were at Walmart shooting in the parking lot. Being that it was night time, they had to use lights to brighten up the footage. They were able to capture a good amount of footage. They sent me the footage so I can analyze it and see what needed to be added. In addition, they adjusted the storyboard due to what they ended up recording for one scene. This however was an improvement from the last idea. It allowed for us to have a smoother transition to the following scenes. I believe they were shooting until about 9:00. This gave them a lot of time to shoot so it could be perfect.
      We plan to got to the Walmart together on Thursday to film all the scenes. We hope to finish it on Thursday so we can edit our scenes faster. I believe we will be able to make the movie a success due to our previous encounters with filming. We are more experienced now and have improved on various aspects of filming. This includes camera angles, editing, music, and etc. This will allow us to make our movie the best it can be. My group mates have gotten better at acting and so have I. Our movie will reap the benefits from that improvement across the board.

Storyboard Blog

 

Planning Blog; locations, participants, health, schedule

For this part of planning we had to think about all the tiny details that go into filming. This was one of the easier parts of planning because you just have to state who the actors were and what the location of our film was. The hardest part was thinking of all the health and safety precautions. While we are trying to think of everything that might cause injury. We realized that we were doing a kidnapping scene in broad daylight with people around. We thought that people seeing the camera might realize it’s not real, but with today's society you never. Our plan is to show that it is a school project by showing the instructions for the project and our school IDs and hopefully that will solve the problem. This is one of the final steps we are taking before we can start filming and it’s so Exciting 

Planning Blog; Title Design Blog

One of our biggest concerns was finding out our title design. No film is complete without the perfect opening sequence, so we wanted to do something that fit the originality of our film perfectly. We decided to do a simple theme, all black. We didn't want our sequence to be too dramatic, we just wanted it to be calm and mysterious. Important words will be Bold and In ALL CAPS, the Bree Serif font was perfect for this. We wanted to do this so that the audience would be able to identify all the important people that contributed to the film. We decided to give our film the name "Vanished"; the titles are going to appear on the screen as if they are being typed out, then they'll vanish with a quickness.

Planning Blog; Opening Sequence Script Sounds & Dialogue By Scenes

This past couple of days we’ve been working on our shooting script. This has not been an easy process. The same day it was assigned I started working on it because I did not want to rush it. Well that plan kind of a success cause we were able to get all the scenes that we wanted down. However I did not start making it into a google PowerPoint until the following class. This is where I started to regret not choosing to do the sound script. Making a script without sound is hard by the way. We were trying to figure out how to play out the scenes without saying what the characters were going to say. In all honesty trying to get all the details into words was the hardest part. However with the trouble we had coming up with the script we are going to be able to film based almost solely on it. 

Planning Blog; Shooting Script

This power point is based on the sounds that are going to be put in our opening scene. We incorporated dialogue, incidental music, diegetic sounds and much more. Our Sound script consists of the things that led up to the kidnapping. The talking in the store and in the check out line. We used incidental music to build up the suspense and make the audience want to see more. We used the dialogue to draw out the scenes that’s led up to the kidnapping. This powerpoint simply outlines the big picture we’re trying to paint. This is just a small piece of our film. It’s an important part of the opening film, and hopefully it makes the viewers want to continue watching. Now as we go through the process of filming our script will be ready.

Title Research : Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

During the opening sequence of this film “kiss kiss bang bang” there was 23 titles displayed throughout the outset. In the opening, pictures of guns blood dripping, an animated person running around. animated buildings was prioritized. I think these images carry the connotation  of someone escaping from the city, maybe, or a solicited place and the affect of the person escaping is killing, bloodshed or maybe violence. The genre is reinforced to this title opening sequence because it creates a suspenseful atmosphere, A technical coda that most thriller films outset’s have. This outset created a sense of enigma differently from the other title sequences I watched. In the previous opening sequences I’ve watched enigma is usually create it was the end of the opening, in this film opening the enigma was created in the beginning, with the animated man running around. We wanted to know why he was running ? who he was running from and was he safe ? The opening sequence uses suspense to draw in its audience. The audience of thriller movies love suspense, they find joy in not knowing what’s going to happen next and that’s exactly what this opening sequence displayed. Thr use of technology this title opening sequence was mostly editing. The editing told a story itself the animated man that was running around with the animated building, The director edit it to where the audience, would perceive that the man was running from someone.  but, in doing so the director made a suspenseful. The audience wants to know why is the man running and  who is he running from.

Title Research Get Out

There are 21 titles that are displayed into the 2 minute opening sequence. In the opening there are a lot of trees and wind. Towards the end of the 2 minutes you start to see things like people, animals, and cars. From the images the audience is able to infer that something is going to happen. The images give off an eerie feeling. The beginning made us feel like on we were going on a road trip and looking out the window. The genre is reinforced through the uneasiness; the movie is foreshadowed by the opening sequence. The uses the lack of music in the beginning of the opening sequence to entice viewers to continue watching. The missing music makes viewers wonder why there isn't any music. The technology in the opening sequence is fairly simple they use simple transition. How simple they may be the add an extra emphasis on the opening sequence

Title Research (Twisted)

Our group chose to research the movie "Twister," because it fit our genre so perfectly. Only 4 titles were displayed in the movies opening sequence. In the opening sequence you can see images of leafs, wind,  and pieces of metal and wood spinning around. The beginning made us feel like we were in an actual tornado. The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset by introducing a feeling of uneasiness; the sequence kind of foreshadowed what was about to occur. From the beginning we know that it’s going to be a massive tornado, which creates some anxiousness in the viewers. The opening places the audience in the characters position; then after the tornado stops it goes off to show an oil drill, and in the distance there's a sunset. The director appeals to the target audience by doing somewhat of a point-of-view- shot, they made the audience feel like they were  experiencing something, then they completely switch scenes, so it'll keep you wanting more. Technology was definitely used perfectly, the titles flew onto the screen as if they were being tossed by an actual tornado. The editing made you feel like you were spiraling inside of a tornado, it made you feel scared, and it made the movie feel real.

Title Research (Hostage)

Today to start our title researching we watched the opening of the film “Hostage” . There was 30 titles displayed thought the 2 minutes of the opening sequence. There where a lot of images prioritized in this opening scene, such as guns, buildings, and soldier like characters. All these images tied in together to create a pretty cool looking opening. All these pictures led me to presume that there would be fighting, blood, and the use of guns in this movie, These images have off a savage vibe. The genre is reinforced through the symbolic and technical codes from the outset, because like all other thrillers, the outset of this film creates tension, anxiety, and a high level of anticipation. This outset established enigma, by the use of there male actress at the end of the outset. When the titles finished appearing, the scenes changed to a man sitting down, screaming, and the scene was cut in the middle of his sentence. Which of course makes the audience want to see more, since it was difficult for us to know what was going on. The director leaves the audience wanting to see the continuation of the scene which is how he appeals to his target audience. He makes sure there is enough suspense, so that the audience will be interested and want to watch the movie. I think technology was used effectively with how the whole outset was edited. The transitions where smooth, they weren’t going to fast or too slow with the alteration of the areas they were placed at. They were easy to point out, but did not take away from the camera angles used to display the titles. All in all, the outset of the film “Hostage” was really interesting to me, I can honestly say now I want to watch the movie.

Today we started our title research process. The title sequence of a movie is one of the most important parts. It helps the watchers engage with the movie, it hints what you're about to watch. Its also used as a way to give credit to people who helped make the movie. This website helps viewers identify what title sequences are. The website also shines light on the creative minds that create these title sequences and the process behind them. This website is good if you want background on why people create title sequences and what goes into creating one. For a young film maker this is a very exciting website. They get to see all the dynamics and that goes into creating their very own sequence. Whenever I look back at all the movies I've watched, I realize that the title sequence does make a different. If the beginning of the movie is upbeat or reflects the scenes to come then I get really excited and I'm more engaged in the movie. My group and I are really excited to do this part of the movie because it allows everything to come together. It'll be a way for us to express our creative side, and it'll allow us to attract people to out movie project. That's why we're grateful for this website, it gives us a bit more knowledge, so that we'll be able to create the best film we possible can. I can't wait to see what we have created, I know its going to be great, thanks to the website.  

Title Research Blog (ArtoftheTitle)

This is one of the sites I used to learn about the special art of titles in a movie. A job I thought had no significant meaning. I’ve always seen titles as words taking us space on the screen. Now I can  say that’s not the case at all. Today we start researching titles. We used this website because the have everything from animations, documentaries, etc. A wide range of films to watch and learn from. This site looks like it would be a good way to gain knowledge of what order the titles should go in. Also, how they’re supposed to tie into the film. I look forward to applying effective titles to my film. Titles that convey a tone or theme, one that grabs the audience attention. Titles can be very effective towards a film, so I think it’s important we know how to do them correctly. With the findings from this website I believe, we’ll be doing just that. I’ve been scoping through the film’s title sequence to see which one i’m going to watch first. Wish us luck on this title research.

Research Blog: John Wick

Most people enjoy watching action-thriller for the adrenaline that it provides, Nothing is more exciting than watching the characters get in trouble and try and make their way out of all the explosions, plot twists, and struggles. The real fanatics are able to recognize things like camera angles, camera movements, editing, etc. In “John Wick” they use many different camera angles. They used low angles,high angles, dutch angles, establishing shot, over the shoulder, wide shots, aerial and tilt angles. By using these shots and angles it felt like the audience was there, giving them the adrenaline rush they are looking for. 

The costumes used in this film are pretty simple the characters wear suits and casual clothes like jeans and t-shirts. At the beginning his wife is in a hospital gown. For most of the movie they use low key nad hard lighting because it creates a dark and ominous mood. They are able to keep the audience at the end of their seat by not revealing who the characters are right away. They also use natural lighting like in the funeral scene. They use prosthetic sculpting to make the injuries look real. For the props they use guns, cars, dead bodies, and computers. The John Wick was filmed in Manhattan, New York you can tell by the establishing shot they use. The sound used in the film are non diegetic and diegetic sounds and also foley sounds. These sounds are heard throughout, especially the fighting scenes. 

Research Blog (Taken)

The other action thriller we chose to look at was the movie Taken. This motion picture featured a variety of camera angles and shots. This included closeups, low angles, high angles, over-the-shoulder shots, candid, medium shots, and long shots. These shots and angles help the audience be able to ultimately view the film in a unique way and see it much more vividly. The lighting that was used in this thriller included cinematic lighting, key light, and fill light. This allows makes the audience see the movie in different points of view. The various costumes that this movie encompasses includes a leather jacket, a tuxedo, a sweater, and among many others. The locations were back and forth, however the main point of interest was Paris. The actors that were in the movie included sex trafficking workers, spys, etc. The makeup that was used in this movie was various techniques to make injuries from fighting and abuse look real. The props that were used included guns, planes, suitcases, money, telephones, and etc. The various sounds that were used in this movie included diegetic sound, ambient sound, non-ambient sound, and etc. The elements of this film allow it to be a successful thriller. It is filled with suspense, which ultimately pulls the audience in great anticipation for what’s next. 

Research Blog (London Has Fallen)

Most people enjoy watching action thrillers because they’re able to experience being in danger without actually being in danger. I felt like the perfect movie to look into was “London Has Fallen,” 2016. It has the perfect amount of danger and thriller. Throughout the entire movie the audience is faced with continuous plot twist. 

The camera angles, shots, and movement shots used in this film were high angle, low angle, eye-level, oblique, establishing shots, wide shots, long shots, medium shots, medium close ups, close ups, two shots, three shots, an aerial shot, a point of view shot, zoom, flash shot, tilt, and crane. 

The costumes in this film were suit and ties, bullet proof vests, nike sweatsuits, casual everyday attire, military attire, police uniform, red tunics and bearskins, and trench coats. The types of lighting seen in the film is mainly key lighting which to highlight the characters or a specific subject, but they also use natural light, fill light, practical light, hard light, ambient light, and low-key light.The actors used in the film are mainly men, soldiers, secret service guards, common people, and Japanese terrorist.The makeup used in the film are prosthetic sculpting, molding and casting techniques, to make the wombs and injuries look real. The props used are guns, helicopters, masks, cars, flags, computers, monitors, walkie talkies, statues, etc. London has Fallen film locations were London of course, Cutty Sark, Somerset House, Dunsfold Aerodrome, and Big Ben. Sound included in this movie are diegetic sound, sound bridge, dialogue, soundtrack, score, indental music, and pholey.

This film has multiple elements that we can all enjoy. It keeps views on their toes because they never know what is going to happen next. It has a  complex story line and it causes your heart to quicken and you become more alert. The film has a lot of high energy, surprises, physical stunts and activity, fighting scenes, rescues, battles, gunshots, explosions, and big crashes. There wasn’t any elements about the film that I disliked, I loved everything about it. It kept me interested the whole time, and I felt a sense of victory at the end.

Research Blog (Iron Man 3)

     We decided to look more into the thriller film genre, by watching movies and listing the comments element that associate with the thriller genre found in these movies. The first movie we decided to research was Iron Man 3 it’s a thriller film from 2013. Common Camera angels we noticed in the film Iron man 3 were wide shots, low angle shots,close-ups, chase shots, and zoom ins and outs. Lighting we seen used in this film was Key lighting to highlight the form of the actors.  costumes found in this movie consist of Iron Mans metal suit, men wearing casual black suits, a lot of regular clothing were in there, but Metal-like costumes for the heroes and villains. Common locations found in this movie were in the sky, on earth etc. it was like in between back-and-forth different locations. Set design found in this movie, throughout the movie I will see different sets, for example interior stark mansion, interior stank industries, the bed room, garage, and much more. The common elements of course found in this thriller film were story, plot, character, and setting of course action being included. South included in this film consist of soundtracks, diegetic and non diegetic sounds, incidental music, and scores. We like this movie because it was suspenseful but not too suspenseful, it was interesting and intriguing and it kept me at the end of my seat I wanted to see more. What we did not like about this movie was all the tension. Throughout  the movie it created for me personally, knots in my stomach.

Research Blog 2.5

So far we've researched the 3 genres of musicals, action, and thrillers. Three very contrasting genres of film, all having different effects on their audience. The musical genre being the more family-friendly genre. Appealing to a wider range of people. The thriller, and action genre which have a few similar characteristics, attract viewers with their suspenseful plots. We decided to go with thriller genre. We feel like this genre's characteristics fit with the pitch of our film.

Research Blog

 The first genre we're going to explore is the Musical genre. A musical is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dancing. It uses humor, love, and anger. Common types of lighting you would see in a musical consist of spotlights, PAR lights, strip lights, scoop lights, LED stage lights, and Fresnel lanterns. Common camera angles found in musicals are tracking shots, overhead shots, longe sequence shots, close up shots that keep only the full face in frame, and wide angles that let the audience see big group dances. Movement found in musicals, sonata form which is really simple and enhances the appreciation of classical music. Slow and lyrical with a lilting song like them, and dance like movement. Common Mise En Scene in musicals are bright stage light on individuals, dancing and singing.Elements of u musical consist of timbre, pitch, texture, tempo, duration, structure, dynamics, and silence. Examples of musicals are Manna Mia, Grease, and Hamilton. Musicals are appealing because the represent an escape from everyday life, they are able to heighten passion and emotion through the display of songs and dance.

The second genre we’re going to explore is the thriller genre. A thriller is a suspense film the evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. Lightings used in thriller movies are key lighting, under lighting, and filler light. Common camera angles and shots in thrillers are high angle shots, low angle shots, canted angles, wide shots, and panning shots.Common Mise En Scene in thriller, weapons art the common props in fight scenes, which are commonly used to create tension. The thriller genre uses the elements of story(action), plot, character and setting. The story in thrillers uses tension and excitement to stimulate the viewer's moods. Examples of this genre consists of Get Out, Taken, Seven, and Unknown. Thriller films are enjoyed because it keeps the audience at the end of their seats and build suspense and tension, it entertains the audience and engages them through the film.

Genre Research

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This is a power point, created by my group mates and I explained the action genre. Including, what components an action movie consists of, example films, and etc. This powerpoint gives a general explanation of the action genre, so that a person learning would be able to understand. After reading our power point you'll be able to spot an action film from a mile away. This sets up the platform of how we will research the other genres. We have decided to research thrillers, and musicals. Two very contrasting genres of movies. 

Pitches

After long thought, my group and I decided to narrow our pitches down to two. The first pitch we kept was the one with the girl getting kidnapped in Walmart. The second pitch we kept was the mafia film. I believe the first pitch is a great pitch for the assignment. We are able to use all our group mates and create a great film. We are also able to be creative in this environment as well. I believe it will be less complex then the second pitch. I believe the second pitch won't be as good as the first one. The second pitch would be too complex to accomplish in such little time. The pitch my group and I will be doing is the first one. We believe it's most simplest and can be completed effectively.

Starting the Final Task

Hello my name is Jahleel. I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. Growing up, I've been able to acquire a variety of interests. These interests include playing basketball, running track, and etc. Being able to experience various things has allowed me to meet new people and learn new things. I am a smart, enthusiastic individual who loves to take on a challenge. This has made me become extremely successful in all my endeavors. This includes sports, school, and life as a whole. I believe Im a leader and someone of great influence. This will ultimately propel me and allow me to have various opportunities.

I have learned a variety of things in my AICE Media Studies Class. For my first assignment, we had to create a commercial. I was able to experiment with Pinnacle Studios to develop it. After using it, I learned how to add music, transition into videos, and etc. I was able to also use this for my music video assignment as well. In addition, I learned how to properly capture footage for my assignments. Being able to study the various camera angles allowed me to learn how to set up the camera. I'm also very good at editing. My videos came out extremely professional. I also learned how to work better with group members. This allowed us to make great films.

A pitch is known as an idea for a film or product. It introduces the story line, the actors, and etc. My group and I were able to come up with 3 pitches for our film. The first one is a girl walking in Walmart with her sister while someone follows --- which follows her being kidnapped. The second pitch is a mafia scene with people stealing goods from someone. The third pitch is a flash-forward scene with two girls fighting.