part 18

part 18 of many...


Today I shot a couple more key shots but I mainly focused on the development of the script.
Heres a copy of the updated script. There are still some small details I need to work on, such as transitions of scenes but here is my idea, written down ...

I am not going to lie, I've sort of been in a creative rut with all this stuff going on. I've found it hard to find the motivation to get each part of this project done, because the reality of what we are currently living through has started to really set in. I feel really behind with this project, but in all honesty I was really set back due to the events that have happened. Anyways enough of that.. I plan to fully finish filming and editing the project this week and then dedicate all next week to my CCR. I have already started thinking of the questions and how I am going to present them, and will update on that as I continue throughout the week.
see ya in a little blog :)

part 17

part 17 of many...

editing day #2

Today was mainly for editing the parts that I had filmed yesterday. I put together more of the shots that I took yesterday and finalized the sound of the intro. Now I am faced with the dilemma of deciding what I should use as a visual for the first part. I don't know if I should leave the screen black or if I should add writing. I mean I might add a school shooting violence fact so that there is more context provided from the beginning.
As for the shots, I know that I want to shoot more for the beginning so I will do so tomorrow.

this was a short little update on where I am in the process! still in quarantine and doing pretty okay although I do miss my friends and school.

part 16

part 16 of many...

started filming and putting it together!

So today was the day where I really started filming and putting the clips together. Today i focused mainly on the beginning sequence of new recordings that I am mashing together. I took specific cuts of sentences belonging to different news reports and overlapped the sound so that it would create a chaotic effect. I played around with the volume of each clip so that they all overlapped nicely together.
heres a picture of what the sound patterns look like:

I also began filming some of the shots, making sure i filmed the different angles so I would have ~variety~. I filmed the main shots that I had planned out in my general outline of shots in my previous posts, so now it important to detail the script enough so that I can have a flowing and clear storyline. 

Here is one of the shots that I took today, photographed.

part 15

part 15 of many...

 a little road block..but we're moving through it!

I am not going to lie, this whole blog thing has been difficult for me. having to explain my reasoning behind my creative process has been hard because I'm not used to it. I am sitting here trying to figure out what to write and try and make it substantial enough, and I'm struggling a little bit. I'll just make a little progress report for now then.
I plan to start filming next week so throughout the week I will be posting videos and pictures of shots that I am taking and how my process for filming is, as for now I will be working on my script since I have to change it from my original idea.
It's been a crazy time lately but we're moving through it.
more things are coming soon and here's to hoping that I have a creative boost to carry me through this project! :)

part 14

part 14 of many...

Since I can only film in one setting, I am going to have to get creative with the way that I am going to   film my project so that it remains visually engaging for the entirety of the film. I want to display a variety of shots and angles, and make each shot meaningful in the project.
Below is a rough draft of some of the shots that I want to feature
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I want to do a couple of close-ups to capture the intensity that the character could be feeling. I also thought of adding a low angle shot during one of the parts where the character has a trigger to show their reaction from a different angle.

part 13

part 13 of many...

a change in sound? yes.

So my original idea was going to use very little sound in order to emphasize the content that I was showing, but since my original plan has changed, I have to change the way that I am going to use sound in my project. I decided that I wanted to use a news recording in the beginning of the opening in order to establish context of the situation. Now as far as using that recorded audio, I am not sure if I will have to make it or if I can use actual news recordings because of the copyright, so I will have to get clarification on whether or not I can use real recordings.

I also wanted to use a lot of diagetic sounds such as footsteps or rustling of objects that the character moves, in order to get a more raw portrayal of an anxious mind, hyperaware of the sounds and things that are around him. I will probably do some folley for some of these sounds in order to make sure that they are clear. As of right now that's what I am certain on about my sound situation.

post 12

part 12 of many...
character analysis!

I am going to use my younger brother who is currently a freshman in high school as my center and sole character for my opening. He has been exposed to all of the news of shootings in schools and gun control over the past years just like all other American teenagers, so he has some background knowledge of living in a world where this is a real problem.
this is my brother
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I want to dress him in clothes that are darker, such as gray or black, in order to to enforce the idea that he is a character that is emotionally dark. a simple black shirt or jacket will do, just working and see with what we've got with us currently.

 I want to portray this character as someone who is generally anxious, and made more so with the circumstances that he has lived through, so it will be important for me to tell my brother how to act so that the audience can pick up on his attitude and understand that he has anxiety and PTSD.

here's the general idea what I want my character to be like:
Antonio- 17 years old. A junior in high school who has just been part of a school shooting a couple of months. back. He had been on track academically and was getting excellent grades and SAT scores that would award him many college acceptances. After this shooting happened, which he was in close proximity with the shooter, he was never the same. He developed PTSD and general anxiety disorder after the shooting and this film opening is a reflection of how this affects day to day tasks.
As I film, I will more of his character will shine through but this is just the shining points that I wanted to display.

part 11

part 11 of many...

Woah. A lot has happened in the past couple of days. We are in the midst of a global pandemic and we are currently out of school. I don't know if I will even have a graduation. I've been in a kind of surreal state of mind because to me its crazy that I am living in this situation. As for this project... many crucial aspects of the project are now going to be altered, such as the fact since I am no longer allowed to go to school, and the subject of my film opening is a school shooting. I am still sticking to my original idea of portraying a character who is suffering from PTSD after a school shooting, but now I will just have to alter the way that I choose to convey the idea through film.
 I feel that instead of doing a dream sequence, I could convey how the character's day to day activates are altered due to triggers from the shooting experience.
I will have to do all my filming indoors because I am not allowed to go outside, due to me being especially susceptible to the virus ( sucks to be diabetic ), so I will have to focus all of my shots on indoor activities. I will also have to use my brother as my character, since he is the only person outside of my parents that I am currently in contact with.
 This is a situation that I honestly never thought I would be in, but here we are. The problems that I face will force me to be creative and look at things in a different light. here's to a new perspective!

part 10

part 10 of many...

filming issues and feelings...

Ive run into some timing issues for filming, I meant to start filming on Monday and film as much as I could but I have a long dress rehearsal that day which will make it impossible for me to film. Plus the people that I asked to help me film, weren't able to because of the time crunch that we are all in right now. So now I have to see if my other friend will help me, and then start filming on Tuesday. This might not seem like a big inconvenience, but right now is probably the most stressed I've ever been because It is show week for me, so that means I have rehearsals and shows every day this week, I am preparing for my state competition which is in two weeks, and since I am a senior, I have school decisions coming out throughout this month. I feel bad because I want to dedicate as much time to this project as possible and create the best product I can, but it has been hard juggling all of the things on my mind during this month. This is not a post to make up excuses, but Mrs. Stoklosa said that I should document all of the things that contribute to the development of this project, and I feel like its important to document the feelings of frustration that come along with having a creative project on my hands.
new plan is that I am going to start filming on Tuesday and try and see if I can film throughout the week, seeing what shots I can assign to specific days so that I don't waste any time filming things that I know I won't use. I know that I can do this, I just need to focus on distributing my time correctly.

part 9

part 9 of many...

script..

Alrighty, script time. The piece of the film that gives context to the situation. Since I am doing a dream, and I plan on focusing only on the main character for the majority of the opening, I don't think that there will be dialogue or many lines. Instead, my script will focus more on character movement and blocking. some ideas that I have for the script are to have a voice over during the part of the opening where the character is at their most afraid. The voice over would contain lines such as "calm down", "you're okay" or "he won't shoot you". I feel that if I add minimal dialogue, It will create more impact.
below is a rough draft of my script. it is made up of mostly actions. As I film I might add more movement or dialogue but for now this is what my plan is.

part 8

part 8 of many...

sound!

For this project I decided that in order to build more tension for the audience, I would refrain from using song in the background. Instead I want to use diegetic sound such as running sounds and heavy breathing so that the audience can be completely immersed in the situation without the distraction of music. The sound design for my project will revolve around the characters movement. I will have to create foley for some of the sounds such as the breathing and running so that I can manipulate and layer them in order to create an impact. I also thought to add a voice over of the character repeating phrases such as "I'm okay" or "he won't shoot" so that the audience can grasp the level of madness and anxiety that the character feels. I feel that without sound, The intensity of the situation will be elevated. A movie that successfully creates tension with no music and minimal sound is The Quiet Place (2018). They use silence to their advantage, and the sound that they do use is diegetic sound that helps build tension, which is what I want to achieve with my opening.  Once I begin filming I will record the sounds and see how well the incorporate with the video aspect of the video. Depending on the shot and and what is going on, I will choose the sound that is most appropriate with the moment.

part 7

part 7 of many...

Now to start on the storyline! I have about two minutes to hook an audience and make my opening as visually appealing as possible

I will have to structure my climax in a way that will hook the audience for the rest of the movie and be invested in the characters feelings. my general idea at the moment is to create a type of dream sequence of someone going through the motions of saving themselves from a shooting such as running and hiding. I would incorporate many filming techniques such as insert and jump shots in order to enhance the feeling of panic that the character could be feeling. As for lighting, I want to stick to low key lightning so that it adds a feeling of darkness to the overall product. My idea is to show the character going through a nightmare and at the end of the opening, she is awakened and she is out of breath after the triggering dream.

below is a idea/storyboard page of my notebook where I just wrote down some shot or ideas types that I would like to incorporate in my opening. I want the audience to pick up on the fact that she is in  a dream so I will have to add some shot types that will help create a fantasy feel.