group meeting with classmates + happy leap day!

  HI GUYS! FIRST OF ALL, ITS LEAP DAYYYY, TODAY IS FEBRUARY 29TH !!

its crazy to think that for my next leap day i'm going to be 21!!!

Anyways...

Today in my class, my teacher made us get into groups of around 5 to 6 people and talk about our projects, what we have done so far, what we are planning to do, the plot, background characters and ask for constructive criticism or recommendations! Sadly, no one in my class could spend too much time talking about their project because we also had a fire drill! :/

When It was my time to talk, I started by telling them my main character's "Jillian" background. I told them how she came from a very bad and poor environment which later motivated her to study and work to get a better life for her future. That determination led her to becoming a workaholic, having problems of loneliness and not realizing whats happening around her.

Idea my classmates gave me for credits

After telling them about Jillian's background to set some context, I explained the plot of my film. It shows her working constantly in a dark room (since the scene it's going to be taken at night) and how the only environmental sounds we hear are the keyboard tapping sounds, the tv, and maybe some noise a normal room would do. I also told them about what the setting is, which is my house living room, but even though she lives in a nice neighborhood now, the state of her house is completely miserable because she barely takes time taking care of it. I finished explaining the plot by telling them that the last few scenes are when the mysterious shadow knocks on the door multiply times, and Jillian tries to see through the peephole but fails ending with her opening the door and the shadow getting in.  

(this font is not necessarily going to
be used for project)

Since we didn't have much time I couldn't get into too much detail, but that's okay because I can always ask my classmates for advice and we are going to have more group meetings. They recommended me a few things,  I asked advice about the credits and title because I genuinely didn't have any idea where to put them before class. They recommended to show some shots of the cluttered room and the pizzas or garbage while we introduce the main character to not only shot some context of the setting but also because it's a great opportunity to show the credits. They also gave me the idea to put the title on the TV with editing, we talked about how I can use the TV reflections on the window as an opportunity to also reflect the title and then show it correctly on the TV. After that I told them about how every media that is shown has to be mine and I how I didn't know what to put on the TV, but they recommended to maybe use one of my past projects. 

character background!

 Hi guys!

I was thinking, if my film doesn't have dialogue, do I still need to name my main character???? Turns out its up to me if I name my character or not, but I decided I was going to name my main character so that when I do the dialogue, it's easier for me. As I said on my last blog, my main character is a woman, I picked some names that I think could fit her personality but I ended up choosing the name: Jillian. 

Jillian's hometown

The background, motivations and experiences of a character shape the trajectory of the plot and provide insight into what they do. Jillian was born on a fractured and dysfunctional family, her childhood was marked by her uncertainty. She was raised in a small town with economical issues. As Jillian grew older, she became disappointed with the limitations of living in a small town and wished for escape. This fierce determination to get away from her hometown and poverty, she visualized her future brighter beyond her hometown. When she moved out of town, her determination to work and stay in that environment got out of hand becoming a workaholic and lonely. Jillian struggles to create new relationships.

Color scheme:
As I had said on a previous blog, the strategic use of color plays a crucial role in shaping the whole film. This film color scheme is dark, the deep shadows creates the scene of claustrophobia and it mirrors the landscape of Jillian. Light and shadow serves as a visual for the isolation. The dark makes the atmosphere show loneliness and the artificial light with blue tones evokes melancholy and since all of the light comes from the tv and the computer it shows how much Jillian is inside the house using technology instead of going outside.

title ideas??!! and mood board!

 I realized that it's been three weeks so far that I have been working on this project and it still doesn't have a title. The title is more than just a a label, it portrays the essence of the film and captures the mood, atmosphere and theme of the story.  

For starters, the title should be evocative and intriguing, for my film it should bring a hint of mystery and tension to connect with the narrative. Brainstorming I was thinking words such as "Whispers" or "Shadows" evoke this sense of mystery and intrigue that i'm looking for, but it also may be too predictable. 

I decided to go on Pinterest and create a mood board to maybe help me find the perfect and memorable title. My goal of creating this Pinterest board is not only to find or get inspired to create a title but also establish the tone of what the film will look like. The first images consist of what I want the environment to look or feel like. The lightning of the inside of the house I want it to be dark and have some blue and white lights from the computer and TV. It creates an evocative atmosphere adding more depth to the visual storytelling of the film.

The use of this lightning will evoke a sense of isolation and loneliness, which is what we are going for and the fact that the lightning will only come from the TV and computer creates this claustrophobic atmosphere and disconnectedness from the outside in the film.  Adding to that the artificial colors of the screen can mirror the protagonist's deteriorating mental state. The last two images show what the protagonist will look like ( a blonde woman with messy hair and it really bad hygiene state) and the idea of the shadow for the end. In the final moments of the film, we hear the shadow's knock on the door, the viewers cant see exactly what or who is knocking the door, leaving the viewers into a state of uncertainty and anticipation open to interpretation.

foley sounds in filmmaking

 In a film,  every aspect of the audiovisual experience is crafted to make the audience feel like they are part of the story and bring the film to life. Foley sounds refers to the reproduction of everyday sound effects added post-production to perfect the audio quality. Some examples of foley sounds are footsteps or rustling fabric. 

The foley sounds have to be made in advance because it sounds easy to do, but believe me, it's not. A couple weeks ago, at school, I had a foley sound project in where we had to create a 2 minute scene using our own sounds. Recording this sounds and making them actually sound accurate or real is soooooooo hard. I didn't do too well on my foley sound project, that's why for my film I better start practicing now. 

In the psychological thriller i'm creating the atmospheric environment is very quiet. I need to create or find the best foley/effect sounds to create suspense, tension and punctuate key moments in the film to evoke reactions from the viewers. The absence of sound can be just as powerful as its presence and in this film one of the best sound effects is the manipulation of silence. 

Here are some sounds I need for now to create or find for my project: 

(the sounds in cursive are the foley ones)

-Heartbeats

-TV sounds

-Phone ringing/vibrations

-Footsteps

-Tension sounds such as piano

-Door sounds

-Knocking 

-Background white noise for silence

-Computer Keyboard sound

-Paper

STORY BOARD!

 HI GUYS.

TODAY I DID MY STORYBOARD. Well its not finished but i did most of it.

In the world of film making creating a storyboard is a CRUCIAL step to make a good film. Every shot, angle, frame serves a purpose in advancing the narrative and storyboards help you visualize and plan your story. 

I created a sequence of drawings that outlined the key moments and visual elements of my film. I personally really enjoy making storyboards because I am good at art and also because they are really helpful once you start filming. For my main character, which for now still doesn't have a name, Im planning each shot and sequence in advance and drawing it on the storyboard, which is also why i haven't finished it. 

My protagonist is hunched over a laptop in a dark messy living room, each shot is carefully framed to convey the character's isolation. As the story unfolds, the storyboard guides the mapping of the progression of events. On the bottom of each drawing I wrote a small note to remember what I want to do. I have to continue working on it, maybe in a few days I will change something and re do it.

As I was planning this storyboard I  noticed how crucial sound is, I was thinking how I was going to use sound to tell my story. I need to start investigating more about

Foley sounds. I know that when the character is working I want the scene to have little to no sound, but I still have to incorporate some sort of sound so that you cant hear me, right? I don't know! tomorrow i'm going to dedicate my day on investigating that.

learning lighting techniques!!

 When I told my idea to my teacher, the first thing she said to me was how are you going to create the shadow?, I honestly had no idea how to, so today I decided to spend my day investigating about lightning.

I watched a total of 7 youtube videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9mPQBZe06s 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxpck1IvyKs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjS87g-v2JU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIJZJnhC8Ls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhd914N1WJg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUQx9x-d7SA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t553JpX_Y3Y

Lighting is an essential tool use to convey atmosphere,mood and emotion, for my film I need to learn more about dark lighting and shadows since the strategic use of dark lighting can create more tension and suspense. The manipulation of the shadows is what I consider the hardest part because you have to selectively illuminate certain parts of the scene while leaving others in darkness.  In my case, at the end, when the main character opens the door, there's a dark silhouette, this will be used to reveal information later, heightening the viewer's engagement with the story.

Some notes I took from the Youtube videos were:

-Lighting is one of the most important elements of filmmaking because it plays a role in storytelling.

-Interior at night relies on artificial light.

-Ambient light: any uncontrolled light that already exists within a scene

Examples: sky fall, la la land, the book of Eli 

Background:

how to create silhouette:

- bi-color p7 light putting it behind the subject creating the radial gradient on the background, u can create the same result by having a small spotted fixture with a reflector dish down the ground.

-Backlight: creates a separation. Making subject to pop

since I don't have a bi-color p7 light, I investigated what can I use to replace that light, turns out, you can use any light you have at home, but you have to be careful where to place it. I'm going to continue investigating about lighting and silhouettes and most importantly practicing in my free time at night so for when we start recording I already know how to do it.  

PLANNING

 I'm a procrastinator and even though i'm excited to do this project, if I don't organize when I should do the blogs, the recording, the buying or creating props, etc, I know i'm not going to finish it before the due date.

That's why I created on my notebook a calendar: 

With each day passing, I am filled with different emotions such as excitement and anticipation to bring all of my ideas into life. The first step is to establish a foundation for the story i'm creating. Tomorrow i'm going to create a storyboard for a visual representation of what I want to do. The storyline and outline help me ensure that the story unfolds in a logical and engaging manner, so that every scene, shot or prop has a specific purpose in the plot or character development.

FOR NOW, this is what i'm thinking the film is going to be about:

In a cluttered home, the main character is seen working diligently on their laptop. Ignoring a call from their mom, the character is interrupted by a mysterious figure knocking at the door. The main character opens the door to find the figure pushing their way inside. The scene ends with the character's fear as an unknown figure enters their house. 

The viewers is left wondering about the identity and intentions of this unknown shadow that interrupts the character. 

I really want to start studying more about lighting, editing and directing so that my film opening turns out good. I'm asking my mom soon if she wants to help me and be my actress!! pray for meeeee, as I continue to develop the plot and the characters, I'm also trying to remind myself the importance of staying true to my vision but also remaining open to new ideas. 

WHAT AM I GOING TO DOOOO??????

OKAY,  I started brainstorming ideas for this project as soon as the teacher told us about it because I am a littleeeeeee indecisive. At the beginning of the year I researched the genre romantic comedies but throughout the year I realized im more into dystopian thrillers. I don't know why, but the idea of creating a narrative that explores more society and the consequences of our actions catches my eye.  

Dystopian Thrillers have a dark and foreboding atmosphere and they always offer a unique storytelling. Most dystopian movies represent a reflection of our own reality. This type of movies are fun to watch, but at the end of the day, I believe the writers are trying to send us a message that if we don't change, that's how our world it's going to look like in a couple of years. Dystopians can explore endless possibilities of themes such as power, control, freedom and more

As I was brainstorming ideas for my project, I was drawn into films like ''The Hunger Games'', ''Dont Worry Darling', and ''Love and Monsters'', these three films that I analyzed while watching, challenge the boundaries of storytelling and push the limits of imagination.

Although, the three films I watched are amazing, their opening scenes are nothing alike to the idea that I have for mine! and I love that! I was still very inspired by this movie on what the plot of my film was. ANYWAYS, I can't wait to get more and more ideas everyday for my project! If there's one thing my teacher has taught me is that filmmakers pay attention to the smallest details to create a story. 

isn't kinda funny that I went from romantic comedies to dystopian thrillers?! haha.

I'LL UPDATE YOU

my own film opening!

February 8th , 2024

 Hi guys,

It's finally time to start the film opening project!

Last year I made a friend in my english class, we used to talk all day, since I was a new student and got into the school late that year I couldn't really decided what classes I wanted to take. I was really excited for my junior year because I could finally chose classes I actually wanted, it wasn't until january that the form came out and I realized I had no idea what I wanted to take. My friend was in AS media class that year, and she would always tell me what they were doing, having her tell me all about her portfolio project made me really excited for this class. It's the main reason I got in and now I can't wait to see the result of my project and see all the progress I have made throughout this year. 

Even though in the media industry you never really work alone, this time I decided to work by myself so I can have full control and put all my heart into this project. I'm still going to ask my friends/classmates/teacher for support and constructive criticism to make this project work out. 

This week i'm going to focus on research of multiple genres to help me understand better and help me brainstorm what I want to do, find my actors and the right free copyright music/sounds effects. I can't wait to see where this project takes me, stay tuned!

MUSIC MARKETING PROJECT

 We started our project by researching and creating a case study chart about music marketing companies, my group and I researched the companies Republic Records and Interscope Records. We analyzed two artists from each company (Taylor Swift, The Weeknd - Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo) to understand better how big artists used marketing to promote themselves and become pop stars. We came to the conclusion that digital distribution platforms such as Spotify, Youtube. Soundcloud, and social media apps like Instagram, Tiktok and X, helps the most to gain attention and to distribute the music. 

After having more knowledge of what marketing strategies and distribution methods artists use, we started brainstorming and planning. The first class we picked one out of four songs for it to represent our artist, after hearing every song closely and thinking how would the song help us create the person we want to present to the world, we chose the song ''Royals'. We created outlines and brainstormed all of the ideas we had for the music video or the campaign on our notebooks. The challenge was not conceptualizing the campaign but ensuring a seamless integration of elements (from the website design to the music video storyline). We decided how old our artist was (18 years-old), what the target audience was (18-25y women), and what our artists style was (grunge).

One example that emerged from our brainstorming sessions was the decision to incorporate a ballet class scene in the music video to add depth to ADELINE X's narrative and symbolize the societal expectations and her authenticity. Another example is that we decided to incorporate a behind-the-scenes video of our music video as a marketing strategy to maintain her followers entertained.

When we were done brainstorming, we transitioned the planning into production. One of my group members volunteered to represent our artist, we did a photoshoot session of her in character to have some content to incorporate in the album, posters, website and more. After the photoshoot, we created the Album Cover, branded products, the website and more.

Before creating the website, we analyzed other popular artists websites such as Olivia Rodrigo's and Taylor swift's. The websites have to be interactive, simple but fun for it to catch the attention of fans. We really wanted to represent the artist in their website but make it fun at the same time. In the website we included a link to the music video, a link to the behind-the-scenes, a link to the teaser, link to the merch shop, her social medias and we also decided to add a page where we explained who is ADELINE X. My group and I created all of her social medias, asked our friends to follow it and just had fun with it, posting the photoshoot images, the behind-the-scenes, music video teaser and more.

It took us more than one day to record the music video, we played with lighting and different sets. Our first set was one of my group members house, we hanged a grey blanket in her wall for the background and started recording scenes. For the second set we went to a butterfly park and for most of our scenes we recorded in our the third set, a ballet studio. In the ballet studio, we wanted to continue the story of how ADELINE X does not set for the expectations people have of her. The fourth and last set was in a parking lot, to symbolize more ADELINE'S freedom and also to have a change of sceneries. 

The editing process was definitely one of the harder ones, we had to ensured that each scene is seamlessly blended into the next and onbeat. The Forest-garden scenes, required a lot of attention to detail to capture the scenes right and be on beat when we couldn't hear the music properly.

For the presentation we were very organized, we made the presentation on one day, dividing the slides for all the members. We posted the website, music video, behind-the-scenes and lastly finished social media.

This project wasn't just about marketing; it was an exploration of responsibility, authenticity and creativity. One of the main things that was hard for us was the organization of the project and to not procrastinate the project. Now I have a deep understanding of how target audience affects the distribution of an artist.  This experience will be a keystone in developing my portfolio and knowledge of this class. The ability to translate creative visions into real outcome has definitely fortified my capabilities as a media studies student.