Film Opening & CCR Links

Well thats it... Thanks for everything. Goodbye!

Stay Inside Film Opening: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AeQsSIZODDrxVm5-Yr22YhK5KpXEH07q/view?usp=sharing

CCR Questions 1 & 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EF-9YwzTxxGOmXAEEv_naOQInC3iYlkk/view?usp=sharing

CCR Questions 3 & 4: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xo_tBO2RtT0ctv8vTAiU3SK4tqQEHw8/view?usp=sharing

Is It Really Over?

 Goodbye!

Well... It looks like our time has come. Its been quite the run the last 8 weeks. I'd like to say that I'm glad to be done, but I'm afraid I'm going to miss this. Although it has caused A LOT and I mean A LOT of stress, I began to enjoy some of these moments. The filming, editing, and writing were way more fun than I could have ever expected. This project has really opened my eyes to just how hard it really is to create a film. My opening was only two minutes, with honestly not that much editing, and it took 2 whole months, right to the very last days to create. That's just crazy. But I am glad to finally get this huge weight off my back, although I will miss it.

 CCR Editing

Hi blog! The final editing post is finally here... Throughout the entire project, I feel like I have improved my editing skills a lot. But anyways lets talk about the editing for both of the videos I made to answer the 4 CCR questions.

My first video for the CCRS overall took up most of the editing, if any. I only really added a couple of sounds in the beginning and the end of the video. The sounds I used were some audios that I found on Pixabay of talk show music, and audience laughing and clapping. I also added a title at the beginning of the video showing what the name of the talk show is.

For the second CCR video, very minimal editing was done. The main editing that I did was putting the clips together and trimming them if needed. I really wanted this video to feel raw, and I didn't see any sounds that weren't already there to be necessary for the CCR.

 CCR Production

And that's a wrap! All the filming needed for this portfolio project has officially come to an end, with both the videos for my CCRS. This production process was quite smooth sailing, as there was pretty minimal setup for both of them. Although originally the first video talking about CCRS 1 and 2, I had planned to make a podcast, but when setting up, I ended up just making it a talk show. I did this because the setup for the podcast was going to take a while, and I figured that a talk show would be just as good or even better.

For the second video, I ended up sticking to the original plan. I had my friend record me acting as a fan. And he interviewed me outside and then eventually inside my car. It was quite fun filming this one, as it all went in one try. Although the idea was pretty crazy, it definitely reached the goal of the video, answering the last two questions in a unique manner. 

 CCR Production Ideas

Hi blog!! Now that we have finally finished the research for all 4 creative critical reflection questions, it's time to brainstorm how I'm going to film my videos. First, I know I want to split the 4 questions into two videos. The first video answering questions #1 and #2. And the second video answering questions #3 and #4.

For my first video, I want to create a podcast. I am going to film it with my dad inside our house. I plan on using our living room for the scene while moving some furniture around to fit the setting for the podcast. Both my dad and I will be dressed nicely while he interviews me.

For the second video, I want to create a street-type interview. On Tiktok Ive seen this guy who interviews people while they are in their car. I would have my friend help me with this, where he doesn't need to be seen. And to resolve the issue of a talking head, I plan to have the car move for the 3rd question, and once the interviewer asks the 4th question, I will get out of the car.

 

CCR Question #4

 CCR #4

Hi blog. We are about to close the research section for the creative critical reflection portion of the project. Here's the fourth and final question:

How did you integrate technologies - software, hardware, and online in this project?

Research:

Technology plays a huge role when creating media in the modern world. It allows filmmakers to film and edit content in a more efficient manner. The British Film Institute explains how digital technologies (ex. Smartphones and editing software) have allowed people to create higher quality content with fewer resources needed.

Script:

When creating my thriller film opening, I utilized a variety of technology, which assisted me in shooting and editing the movie. To start with, I recorded everything on my iPhone. The iPhone camera allowed me to take high-quality shots that were easy to capture due to the camera being portable, making the shots and angles easier to shoot. 

For the editing, I used Clipchamp. At first I was bummed that I could not use Adobe Premiere, but I realized Clipchamp is just as good. It allowed me to put all my clips together, add sound, and transitions. Overall helping me create suspense and tension in the opening, which helped me control the emotions the audience would experience throughout the opening.

Lastly, the biggest lifesaver was Pixabay, which gave me all the copyright-free sounds I needed. The sounds provided made the environment look more real and presented additional suspense. Overall, these tools allowed me to improve the quality of my opening of the thriller and allowed me to use professional filmmaking techniques.

CCR Question #3

 CCR #3

   Hi blog!!! We have finally finished half of the research required for the creative critical reflection portion of the project. Here's the third question:

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Research:

The creation of this film's opening has been a real experience. Ive had many ups and downs. But one of the greatest things I have gained while creating my project has been production. I went from having zero editing, mice-en-scene, and film experience to becoming somewhat experienced with these aspects.

Script:

The other large skill that I developed was my understanding of mice-en-scene by learning how lighting, setting, and costumes create the mood. The darker lighting and realistic background of the house allowed me to make my film opening more suspenseful, fitting the conventions of the thriller genre

Throughout the creation of my film opening, I got to know how to make various camera shots, such as close-ups, medium shots, and so on, to introduce tension and make the reactions of the friends more pronounced. It allowed me to make the scene more suspenseful for the audience.

Another thing I improved greatly was editing as I created the opening sequence. A few changes in the speed of the shots and the use of sound effects would help me to make the process more suspenseful and ensure that everybody watching is hooked. Editing helped me work with the rhythm of the scene and create tension progressively.

CCR Question #2

CCR #2

Hi blog!!! Since we fully researched our first creative critical reflection question its time to answer the second one.

How does your product engage with audiences, and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

Research:

The thriller genre entertains the audience because it brings suspense, tension, and mystery using different methods which include low-key lighting, suspenseful sound, and quick cuts. The Film Experience indicates that thrillers tend to keep the viewers entertained as they reveal more and more information and make the viewer wonder what is in store next. Most movies fitting in the genre, including Taken and Gone Girl, also develop suspense by putting the characters that audiences feel connected with into dangerous or unknown circumstances. Regarding distribution, thriller movies are mostly advertised by the use of trailers, posters, and social media marketing and then premiered in theaters or on the internet on streaming websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, whereas smaller films can be discussed as seen on the internet via video platforms like YouTube.

Script:

    In the beginning of my thriller film opening, I tried to address the audience with suspense, mystery and sound. The story puts two friends (Jay and Marcus) in a house, when they start hearing some strange sounds, this generates tension, and the audience is interested to know what has happened. The restriction of information and attention to the audience reaction makes them curious and interested in the situation. 

    Other typical features of thriller used within my film opening to create tension and keep the audience fascinated included low-key lighting, suspenseful sound effects (ex. heartbeat), and close-up shots. All these techniques are common within the Thriller genre because they create doubt and suspense

    Hoping that my product will be distributed as a physical media text, it would be promoted with the help of social media and trailers to reach an audience that is interested in the thriller genre. The movie can be released online on websites like YouTube, where independent artists can reach a large audience and spread their content worldwide.

CCR Question #1

 CCR Question #1

Hi blog! As we come towards the end of our portfolio project its time to begin the research for the 1st CCR question.

How does your product use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Our film opening has some of the large thriller vibes slightly tweaked. Similar to A Quiet Place and Se7en, the opening is all about the tension rather than talking, the viewer must pay attention to the details and the sound to keep the impression. I also make everything go very slowly and keep everybody in a small space to make it feel very isolated, like a normal thriller.

I break the standard thriller conventions by not introducing an enormous, outright villain or insane battle in the first scenes. I do not make the quick cuts or immediate confrontations, I do it slowly as it is in real life, and have the suspense build up scarily. To the audience, I am showing teenagers people who are like us, rather than the scary villain. They are simply hanging out in a normal environment, and then the tension begins, and the threat becomes personal and real. 

https://www.sterkinekor.com/article/the-art-of-creating-tension-in-thriller-films