Film Producing- Discussing Filming Date

 PROCESS

Even though filming has not begun, I want to focus on organizing my production schedule to make sure filming runs smoothy. Planning ahead allows me to avoids problems with my actors availability. So today, I will be contacting Ariana, my actress and Alina, who agreed to letting her us use her house to film and will be trying to create a date.

Tomorrow, I will be going to a TV production competition in Tampa for 5 days which will also help me practice for my cinematography and editing for my brief.  My first day of competition I am an actor but my second day if competition I am directing and co-editing a short film so this will be very helpful for training to direct and edit for my film opening. 

I wont get back until Tuesday so I want to film that week because I cant film during spring break, Alina said she doesn't have practice on Thursday or Sunday so I will be planning on filming on Thursday. I will check out camera equipment on Wednesday after school and will be filmingThursday after school. 

I will be using the equipment list I made during the beginning of my planning to check it out on Wednesday. For ariana, she agreed to the date and will be available to act so I am all set. Since I am filming only a 2 minute film opening, it shouldn't take long to film about 1.5- 2.5 hours.

REFLECTION

In this blog, I discusses the conversation that went on between me and my actor to schedule a date for filming. It is crucial to be prepared for such a day so close away. For the next step in my production, I will be talking about the challenges I am worried about for my film.

Film Production- Buying Materials

 PROCESS

In this blog post I trying to figure out how to make my filming set look more modern. Because I can't really physically say that she's from the 80s and now she's in the this generation, I have to visually show it by using props. While writing my storyboard, I wanted to include a very modern looking alarm clock so in this post, I'll be trying to find that.

FIVE BELOW

So the first place I tried looking for this alarm clock was five below. I looked at their decor section and technology section, but they didn't have what I was looking for. They only had light lamps or like colorful signs in decor, and on the technology section they only had portable chargers, chargers, headphones, and stuff like that so I couldn't find anything here.

TARGET

So as soon as I couldn't find anything at five below, I decided to go to target since they have a lot of stuff there. I make my way to both of the same section but I went to the decor section first. They had some alarm clocks (not a lot), but they weren't really that modern looking like they didn't have the numbers on a screen. After failing in that aisle, I decided to go to technology and I found it. This clock below is similar to the one item I decided to go.

REFLECTION

Writing my journey about finding this clock was really important for my film. And this post helped me a lot, and it is really important to keep on writing about my steps coming really close to my filming dates. My next step is probably to find more props or start preparing for the day. 

Film Production- Finding Music

 PROCESS

In this blog post, I will be choosing what music I want to use towards the end of my film opening. It's really important that I find a song I really like because it sets the tone of the film opening and with the film would be if it were to continue. I really want an 80s funky upbeat song. That's really fun to dance to and get ready.

So the copyright free music I'll be using, is from a website called epidemicsounds.com. I learned about it from my TV production class and is really helpful for sound effects, background music for broadcast, commercials, short films,  really anything including music. I will just be putting 80s music in the search bar and picking from what they provide.

Maniamaster- Lupus Nocte

The vibes that the song gives off is like sci-fi 80s, which is kind of what I'm going for with like time travel but I don't really like the start of the song I feel like it starts to abruptly and it's too intense for like acute getting ready scene. Next to the song that gives me genres that can describe it, which are Pop, Synthwave, and moods of Epic and Happy.

Here is the link to the song:

https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/2ac8c442-5472-4917-9852-6a776f575d61/

Born in the 80's- Falcon Dives

I really like the sort of this song. It's really upbeat and it was exactly what I was thinking. The name of this song alone is really funny because it relates to the plot of my story!  I really like the fun atmosphere it gives off and it was the exact type of song I was looking for. The genres it gave to describe this song are Pop, 1980's, and moods of Happy and Glamerous.

Here is the link to the song:

https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/e66f03e0-0b5d-3c37-a927-f1789b6daf6a/

The Squad- Flickering 

The beginning of this song really reminds me Take On Me which is one of my favorite 80s songs I love the vibes. This song feels very energetic and I could see myself using it for this film. The genre used to  describe this song are Pop, and moods of Happy and Restless.

Here is the link to the song:

https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/9d0e6999-c867-4af5-a80d-b5b8396f29f4/

The Eighties- Andreas Dahlbäck, David Nyström

This is another song I really like. This music also captures the exact vibe I see for the scene.  It is funky, upbeat, and energetic which I really like and would be fun to work with. The genre used to describe this film is Synth Funk, Synth-pop, 1980s with moods of Happy, Quirky.

Here is the link to the song:

https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/cd424c95-6d36-46b3-a93d-1ff7911db7a5/

REFLECTION

After going through all these songs, it was really hard to choose one that I want to use because a lot of them I would have fun with using and match with the vibe a lot, but after a lot of thinking, I've decided I want to use The Eighties- Andreas Dahlbäck, David Nyström. I can really envision how I want this song to play out through the scene and it is really important that I picked it before I filmed the scene so I can use it as inspiration while filming by playing in the back to have a general feel of how it would look when I'm editing. I am almost near the filming process, which will take place next week.

Film Planning- Storyboard

 PROCESS

In this post, I will be storyboarding what I want each shot and the general sequence of my opening to look like. It's really important to do this before you start your production so you're really prepared and have a strong grip of what you wanna execute when you are filming. I had my teacher print me out two of empty storyboard planning sheets so it's easier for me to organize

There is no saying that this will 100% be accurate when I am actually filming, but I have a general idea and I have around what number of shots I want in total. So because it's only film opening I only have around two different scenes and around 40 to 50 different shots I want.

REFLECTION

Due to what I have written and based on my general idea, I don't think there is going to be a dialogue in my film opening and if they is, there wouldn't be full sentences because there's only one character, but my next blog post will be picking out the copyright free music I want to use . Storyboarding was really helpful and I am on the right track to finishing my brief.

Film Planning- Setting

 PROCESS

For the setting of my film, it needs to be a bedroom. Whether or not I use my bedroom, it is what we will be discussing in this blog post. I am almost at the point where I need to start making a script and a shot list, so I need to have a setting in mind so while writing the script makes sense and it could easily be applied to when I'm actually filming it.

So the idea of the plot is for a girl from the 80s to wake up in a modern bedroom so I have to evaluate possible rooms. I could use by how they appear to the audience. I have a queen bed, and a TV, but the rest of my room is pretty vintage. I have record players, but I do have new vinyls on the wall. I like how my bathroom wanna look for the shop possibly but there's not a lot of space to move in there so it might be difficult.

Another possible bedroom I could use is Ariana's my actor's. She has a twin size bed, but doesn't have any modern features really she doesn't have a TV in her room or anything that looks significantly that modern. Her bathroom is spacious and would be beneficial with filming, but I can't really see myself filming the scene there.

But although I didn't use Alina for acting, maybe I could use her room as a possible set. She has a pretty modern looking bedroom. She has LED lights, a TV, and very trendy bedsheets, so it would look very different for my character to wake up too. Her bathroom is pretty bland but isn't the biggest but it could work well and be filled easily.

REFLECTION

After contacting with Alina, she agreed to let me use her room for filming. I'm on the right direction and there's much more to come. The next part of my process is to finally start script writing, making story boards, and shot lists.

Film Planning- Costumes

 

PROCESS 

In this post, I will be planning to see what costumes I want Ariana to wear for my film opening. Costume designs is a big factor that plays out in films because it helps suspect the timeline intended for the film and the vibes and aesthetic yet to come. To start off, I want to quickly look into what pajamas people in the 80's used to wear. 

A lot of people wore polyester sets, nightgowns, and long t-shirts with cartoons on them. When it comes for what I have, I have a lot of silk pajamas, but it seems like all what people would wear in the 80s were polyester sets. I have a polyester pajama top but no matching bottom so that could be used possible option. I could also probably find a vintage 80s baggy T-shirt from one of my parents that I could use paired with comfortable shorts.

For what I want her to wear while she's getting ready, I want something very bright, vibrant and exotic looking. All the outfits below include a jacket of some sort. I have a brown and black leather jacket and I could get a flannel if needed. I can buy colorful leggings or shorts and I will be sure to wear high shorts with sneakers popular in the 80s like Converse. I am also going to add big jewelry pieces like earrings, necklaces, and bracelets and maybe even a waist chain.

REFLECTION

This post told me exactly what I need to get to start setting up for my scenes when I'm going to start to make them. I'm on the right track and hopefully because of my good pacing on planning my filming process will go smoothly. For my next blog post, I will be figuring out what setting I am going to use during filming.

Film Planning- Casting Characters

 PROCESS

Hey everyone, in this post I will be choosing who I want to be my main character in my film opening. My two best friends are both incredibly good actors so I will be analyzing them and deciding which I want to use. They both have very different features so I'm excited to really pick out why I want one of them.

#1 Alina

Alina is a light skin, curly haired, 5 foot four girl. When it comes to the type of character I wanted in my past blog post, I don't think she would really fit with the type of character she is. And along with that, I don't think her aesthetic gives off 80s vibe.

#2 Ariana

Ariana is a white, curly haired, 5 foot four girl as well. I feel like she could easily morph into the character that I want ideally. I feel like depending on what I dress her in, she could look very 80s and looks really good with the idea of the film.

The two  have really good experience in filming, both have competed in film festivals in New York just for short films and have gone to a lot of other competitions for broadcasting as well. They are both very comfortable in front of the camera so I don't doubt either of them would have a problem in the acting aspect.

Based on what I have have looked into, I am going to choose Ariana for the main character of my film. She is a great actress with good features that better match what I want for my brief. After asking her to be the main actor in my film, she agreed and is available to film with me so we are looking to find a good date.

REFLECTION

 In today's post, I finally picked who I want my main actor to be for my film opening. Every post I'm getting closer and closer into submitting my portfolio and I'm in the right direction. In my next post, I will be planning what costumes I want her to wear for the duration of the opening.

Project Proposal

PROCESS

 Hey everyone, so for this blog post, I will be explaining my project proposal and what exactly I'm going to be doing for my brief. So for my portfolio, I will be working alone and I chose the two minute film opening. My film will be coming of age drama, and I chose it because I think it's perfect since my available actors are teenagers which is a good age for coming to age dramas and I didn't wanna do choose a genre that includes a lot of a backstory like horror or mystery.

My film can bring in a lot of target audiences, because of my plot. It could bring in younger audiences because of the modern look and actors in my brief. Millennial because it includes time travel which was really popular in the 80s, and older audience for nostalgia about the 80s since those themes are all included in my opening. The main gender, that will probably be the target audience for the film is females, because it includes getting ready scenes with makeup and girly 80's outfits. 

in my film opening, I don't think I'll be able to reach to the point of representation or social issues that could be addressed, but the plot is supposed to lead to bullying in this generation after the opening. Her confidence and carelessness to get ready, even though she's in an unfamiliar setting will lead to her being bullied out of it, and will try to escape the timeline.

When it comes to post production, I am planning on using premier pro as my editing source. I have had practice in it multiple times` in preparation for when I need to edit my opening. I also might use in-design after completing my brief to answer a few questions for my CCR. I would in-design it to make a newspaper with magazine cover to respond to the question in a creative way.

Some additional planning that I will be doing for my film is making a story board, shot list, costume preparation and searching for good copyright free music. These might be considered “addition” steps, but planning these things ahead is crucial to making a great brief in an efficient manner. 

REFLECTION

In this blog post, I presented my entire project proposal, including my target audience, my films representation, the software I’ll be using for post production, and the extra steps I will be taking to make my projects better. After that all completed, I believe I am in the right direction to making a really good film opening.

Film Planning- Filming Equipment

 PROCESS

For today's blog post, I will be planning on what exact equipment I'm going to need for my film, and what will make it look the best. Since I am in TV production, I have access to a lot of equipment so it would be easy for me to obtain such materials.

PLANNING

To start off, I think the most important thing when it comes to equipment, is to have is a good camera. As someone who has filmed a lot with different cameras, by far the best one I have used and have access to is the Sony FX-30. This camera offers professional, cinema-quality features and can record in 4K quality and goes up to 120fps for high quality, slow motion.

When it comes to the other basic necessities, I need good equipment like a tripod to make sure all the shots are stable, still and leveled. I have access to multiple of these nice tripods with long legs, that can help make shots really high and low. Leg locks, that makes the legs adjustable in length. And a pan and tilt control handle that can help take smooth shots of movement without physically moving the camera. And last, a level like the one shown below.

Good audio is a really important part of a film to have. Getting mics for the best possible audio, will probably consist of getting a shotgun mic and a boom mic. Shotgun mics, help pick up the sounds of the area/environment but a boom mic can help pick up certain sounds like dialogue or sound pops like hitting an object. Along with these necessary equipment, I also need to grab additional equipment that will help me for post production like headphones.

REFLECTION

In this blog post, I planned of exactly what I need for my brief. Now that I have an idea/list of what equipment I need, I am more prepared for the production process. I'm in the right direction in the same track to filming, and my next blog post will be my final project proposal.

Film Research- Color Theory

PROCESS

In todays blog post I'll be researching about color theory in coming-of-age films. The colors in a film are really important to make something visually aesthetic to the audience and can also tell a story.

RESEARCH

In media, color theory can be used to display different emotions and representation. This is very common in fiction movies like twilight, but within my genre, different colors can still be used for different reasons.

Orange is very common in coming of age films because it represents youth, warmth, happiness and energy. Some coming-of-age films that utilized orange coloring are: Aftersun and Rye Lane.

Pink is used in films to display emotions like beauty, love, feminine, and innocence.  Some coming-of-age films that utilized pink coloring are: Mean Girls and Barbie.

Yellow is used in films to display emotions like optimism, insecurity, and sickness.  Some coming-of-age films that utilized yellow coloring are: Lady Bird and Moonrise Kingdom.

White is used in films to display emotions like cleanliness, purity and goodness.  Some coming-of-age films that utilized white coloring are:Alice in Wonderland and Moonlight.

Red is used in films to display emotions like love, passion, and rage.  Some coming-of-age films that utilized red coloring are: Turning Red and Carrie.

For my film opening, i will be mostly using the following colors :

Pink- I will be using pink to represent her beauty. Using it while she's getting ready, looking very feminine, the coloring will be very colorful.

Orange- I will be using orange to embrace her youth and energy throughout the film.

Yellow- I will be using yellow to display my characters optimism in the opening.

REFLECTION

After today's research, I got a general idea of what color palette I want to use for my film and I'm in the right direction to completing my research phase. For my next post, I will be researching/planning on the exact equipment i'm going to need for my film.

SOURCES

https://gwufilmcritic.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/color-theory/#:~:text=Yellow:%20Na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9%2C%20madness%2C%20sickness,%2C%20death%20(Eastern%20cultures). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmow0Oay-Tk