Final Project Blog Post #46

 Final Blog Post for the Film Opener Ever!

Hi guys, welcome back to the last blog ever. Today, I will be talking about my final thoughts on everything we went through to create this project. Ok lets get started!

Honestly, this project flew by so quickly. It felt like a few days ago we were beginning to plan out the film and everything that came with it. Next thing I know, we are filming and editing it all. Now, we are about to submit everything to Cambridge. It really hit how fast everything moved once we finally reached the end. 

Throughout the filming, editing, and blogging stages, I learned so many things that are actually very useful. Before enrolling in this class, I only watched movies for entertainment. I never analyzed the camera shots, angles, and other things that go into filming a movie. My editing skills improved a lot from when I began, and now I feel confident about future projects I may have to edit. I finally realized that every shot is intentional, every angle has a reason, and lighting has a purpose. Choosing props is very tedious, but they add so much to the film and its characters.

Working with Amaar was a great experience. We knew each other from chemistry class last year. We randomly found that we had the same period and class for Media Studies this year, so seeing each other was kinda unexpected. But when we finally had to choose partners for the final project, there was no doubt that we would be working together. This turned out to be a great choice, and it allowed us to grow and bond closer together. Hopefully, our film opener, Someone Follows, receives a good grade so we can celebrate this success as a team!

Last Minute Changes Blog Post #41

 Last Minute Changes after the Screening!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be discussing last-minute changes we could have made but ultimately did not, due to our choice. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, after the test screening, we did not make any changes to our film opener. We received constructive feedback from our audience, but most of the comments were confirming rather than corrective. Our audience agreed that the pacing, acting, and mood of the film opener were good, which suggests that the film opener achieved its intended purpose. The audience mentioned minor issues, like some shots being very dark or the editing not being smooth in some scenes. However, we chose not to make these changes because they were creative decisions that we made. The darkness made visibility limited and was part of our natural and low-key lighting. It added a sense of realism and fear. Additionally, we had a lot of limitations on equipment and resources. So, making further changes risked altering the film's style. We felt that changing the lighting would move the project away from our original vision rather than improve it. Also, since CapCut Pro became too expensive, I had to cancel it. This made editing a little more difficult since I did not have the same tools as I did before the screening. Again, we chose not to change any of the editing since it could have negatively affected the opener.

To conclude, we felt the test screening confirmed to us that the opener was effective, so we made the choice not to make any last-minute changes!

Amaar sighing of relief.

Initially Screening Blog Post #40

 Initial Screening of the Film Opener to my Family!!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about my family's overall impressions. This will include how they felt after it, what worked, and what didn't. Ok lets get started! 

                                                     Ivan (Dad), Sofi (Sister)  , Ligia (Mom

First of all, I am going to start with their overall impressions and how they felt after watching the film opener. My dad said that the film was good since it felt "creepy in a realistic way". He also said that the acting was decent! My mom said the silence and darkness in many scenes made her feel like something bad could happen at any moment (this is actually very good since it is what we were aiming for). My sister said it made her feel tense and nervous, especially during the stalking scenes, since they seem "pretty realistic." 

Now, I will be talking about what they thought worked well! My dad said he enjoyed the cinematography, specifically the use of darkness and shadows. He said it made the Killer seem hidden and unpredictable. My mom said she liked the use of sound. I think she meant diegetic sound specifically because she said the footsteps and twig snapping made it feel real. My sister said she liked the acting, specifically Amaar. She said the scene where Kyle gets the notification was acted out very well.

Additionally, I asked them about what aspects they thought did not work as well. My dad said certain shots were a little too dark, making it hard to see at times. My mom and sister both said there could have been smoother editing in some scenes to make it look better on screen.

Lastly, I asked them if the film opener met or subverted their expectations. My dad said he expected the typical slasher opening, but was surprised by how quiet and restrained it was. My mom said the lack of dialogue subverted her expectations. My sister said the reveal of Kyle's body was effective and met her expectations.

Casting Blog Post #39

 Casting Choices for the Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the cast and why we specifically chose them for each role. Ok lets get started!

Amaar was cast as Kyle because, out of us two, he convincingly portrayed a more casual teenager. Amaar is very relazed and he looked more natural on camera. He also made the character feel more relatable and believable, something I believe I could not have done. Also, as the scene progresses, Amaar shifts from calm to anxious without speaking too much. This is due to his body language and expressions, which is why he was chosen for this role.

My little cousin Emmanuel was cast as Sebastian because of his age and natural innocence. Since he is small and pretty quiet, his personality contrasts with the events that took place, which makes it more disturbing. He took acting classes when he was back home in Colombia, so he already had experience. His reactions and emotions made him suit the role really well, so we were very lucky to have him.

I was chosen to play The Killer because I have more controlled and intimidating mannerisms, which were necessary to portray this character as menacing and scary. This role required someone who could appear threatening without talking, which I believe I did well by using posture and slow pacing. Since I was in a big jumpsuit, I had to let body language define my character. This is why I feel like I suited this character the best.

Wishlist Blog Post #38

 Wishlist for our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about my wishlist and things I would have done differently if I had a major production budget! Ok lets get started.

To begin with, if we had a major production budget, I would most definitely change the actors. For the role of Kyle, I would cast Jaedan Martell (he acted as Bill in It) because of his ability to portray fear and vulnerability naturally. In the movies I've seen with him in them, he has acted very well, and he would make a great addition to our film.

 For The Killer, I would cast another actor from It, Bill Skarsgard. He is a master of using body language to create fear and suspense. His height, posture, and slow movements would make The Killer very unsettling without even using dialogue. 

For Sebastian, I would cast Roman Griffin Davis (the main character of Jojo Rabbit) due to his ability to convey emotion perfectly. He would strengthen the final reveal massively.

In terms of costumes, I would keep The Killer's jumpsuit similar, but I would get it professionally designed to look worn and functional, making it look like it had been used many times to go through with his crimes. Kyle's clothing would remain very similar since that is what a teenage boy would wear normally, and it already looks good. Same thing with Sebastian, his costume fits the tone of the movie, so I wouldn't change it even with a bigger film budget.

For setting and location, I would continue to use a suburban environment, specifically a neighborhood, but I would want one with more control over location and backgrounds. Access to more private areas would allow us to manage background noises and lighting.

Lastly, for lighting, sound, and editing, the lighting would remain low-key, but I would have more control over placement and angling. This would allow for shadows and silhouettes to be shaped intentionally. Sound design would be changed a lot to be clearer and smoother. There would be more separation between ambient noise and sound effects. For editing, I would massively improve transitions and color grading to make the film look better visually.

Overall, a major film budget would allow us to enhance our execution of the film, but it would not change the main idea of the film.

Camera Shots/ Angles and their meaning Blog Post #37

 Camera Angles and Shots in our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the camera angles and shots found in our film opener and what they mean. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, we used a POV shot from The Killer's perspective, framed through the branches of a tree. This shot makes the audience view from the stalker's point of view, making them feel part of the act of watching the victim. The branches blocking parts of the frame create a feeling of secrecy and concealment. By limiting what the audience can see, we heighten suspense and make the audience think The Killer is nearby, but hidden somewhere. This shot was meant to make the audience aware that someone is always watching the victim (Kyle), even though they think they are totally alone.

Another shot we used was an Over-the-shoulder shot of Kyle receiving the text message from an unknown number. This angle lets the audience see and read the message while still seeing Kyle physically. Instead of us cutting to a close-up shot of only the phone, we decided the over-the-shoulder shot keeps Kyle grounded in the scene and emphasizes the fact that the message intrudes on his personal space. The text "I see you" becomes way more threatening because it exists in the same shot as Kyle himself. This links the message to his vulnerability and realization. The shot was mostly used to communicate psychological tension.

Lastly, we used a medium shot of Amaar walking down the sidewalk at night. This shot frames him from the waist up, allowing the audience to see his body language and facial expressions. We chose this shot because there is a balance between his emotions and the environmental context in it. The audience can see what is happening around Kyle, but they are mostly focused on his reaction. This shot works well in moments where Kyle realizes he is in grave danger. You can see his posture and facial expressions that show fear and uncertainty.

Updated Storyboard Blog Post #36

 Updated Storyboard for our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the changes our new storyboard includes and describing things such as sounds and camera effects. Ok lets get started!

The updated storyboard for our film opener is pretty different. Initially, the original storyboard focused on a killer stalking the victim inside a house, and once they commit the crime, they leave a doll as their signature. While that idea wasn't bad for the film, we decided to change the setting because neither of our homes looked like the vibe we wanted the house to have. The new storyboard takes place outside in a nighttime environment. It focuses on suspense and stalking, kind of like the original one, but it is different in terms of how suspense is built. The new setting has dark streets, large bushes, and sidewalks. The main character, Kyle, is all alone in a public safe, which makes him more vulnerable to danger. The new storyboard emphasizes movement, with Kyle walking, running, and being chased, instead of being stuck inside a house. 

Also, the camera work was updated in the new storyboard. The new one uses more medium shots where The Killer cannot fully be seen, instead of wide shots in the original, where only The Killer's silhouette is shown. Also, the original storyboard has a lot of close-ups of things like blood, while the new one contains close-ups of the character's face, allowing the audience to see how they react to things. The new storyboard contains a shot where Kyle is shot from a low-angle, allowing him to be in frame with the phone. The original storyboard does not contain any shots like this, so we added it in the new one because it also shows Kyle's body language and facial expressions. The new storyboard also shows that there are sounds such as an axe swinging and a twig snapping. The old storyboard had sounds like police sirens, but it is different from the sounds present in the new one because it is played after everything has happened, while the ones in the new storyboard happened around the beginning and middle of it.

Set Design Blog Post #35

 Set Design for our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the set design for the scenes in our film opener. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, the set design for our final project was intentionally minimal and very realistic. All of the scenes were filmed in the same neighborhood of Riviera Isles. Primarily on a very long sidewalk lined with many trees and bushes. Instead of changing locations, each scene progressed naturally down the sidewalk. This allowed for the environment to grow with the story. This choice helped maintain continuity while maintaining the feeling that danger is following Kyle rather than him being stuck in a single area. We chose this location because it is a familiar setting to most people. This makes the events more disturbing. A gated neighborhood at night is typically thought of as being safe and private compared to other places. So, making a horror movie opener in this location creates contrast. We chose this location as well because of the many trees, bushes, and sidewalks that were already there. They provide hiding spots for the killer, and the sidewalk acts as a clear visual path for the audience to follow. This specific layout allowed us to control camera movement without needing elaborate set dressing. 

For the dragging scenes, we filmed in the yard of a house on the corner. We asked the owner for permission, and he gave it to us out of the kindness of his heart. This location was chosen since we could stage the scenes without interruptions. The big tree in the yard was also an important visual element that made scenes look more ominous and unsettling. Filming on private property helped us maintain focus during production. 

Our main limitation was access and budget. We did not have the resources to build sets or travel to far locations, so we worked with only what was available. Lighting was also very limited since we could only use the streetlights and ambient lights. However, these limitations added to the film's realistic and low-key aesthetic.

If we had a larger budget, instead of changing locations, we would improve them. We would add more lighting, fog, and more props to increase depth.

Reflection on your filming skills Blog Post #34

 Reflection on my Skills!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about my reflection on my skills throughout this final project. This will include skills such as filming, recording sound and mixing it, lighting use, and editing of film. Ok lets get started!

How are your skills in...	Needs work	Almost there	Ready to move on
Using a film/video camera effectively	✅
Recording and mixing sound as appropriate to your production		✅
use lighting for effect	✅
edit film/ video cohesively, ensuring meaning is clear to the audience		✅

First of all, when it comes to using a film or video camera effectively, I would rank myself in the "Needs Work" category. This year, I learned the basics of framing, camera movement, and composition of shots, but I struggle with the consistency and stability of shots, mostly. I am still learning how to control the camera completely to create visual storytelling instead of just recording what is happening.

For recording and mixing sound, I would rank myself in the 'Almost There" category. The use of a magnetic lavalier microphone and the iPhone sound system allowed me to capture pretty good audio. However, I can improve in mixing the sounds together to balance everything out. While the audio I recorded works, it can be improved and polished to make the project more professional.

For using lighting for effect, I would rank myself in the "Needs Work" category. Since Amaar and I relied almost entirely on natural light and no lighting equipment, we had little control over how scenes were lit. Even though the shadows and darkness fit the film opener's vibe, I need to be able to shape lighting and control it to reflect the mood rather than just using what I already have.

Lastly, for editing film cohesively, I would rank myself in the "Almost There" category. I believe the story is clear and the editing helps to build suspense effectively. However, I could have improved it by using smoother transitions and refined cuts. I think with more practice, I will have way better editing skills overall.

Film Equipment Blog Post #33

 Film Equipment we used for our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the film equipment we used to record our film opener. This will include camera equipment, lighting, and mics. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, I will talk about the camera equipment we used to record and film the scenes. We filmed using the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Osmo Pocket 3 was used primarily for its built-in 3-axis gimbal stabilization, which allows us to capture smooth shots that Amaar was in and some POV scenes. We did not need stabilizing equipment because of this, which was really helpful for tracking shots. The iPhone 17 Pro Max was used due to its high-quality camera and convenience. It allowed us to shoot from different angles and specifically zoom in.

For audio and sound, we used a magnetic lavalier microphone that came with the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. We used it to record some sounds more clearly, like footsteps or movement, without excessive background noise. Since the film relies mostly on diegetic sounds, this helped a lot to get clean audio. 

For lighting equipment, we only used the natural light from street lamps and the flash from the iPhone. This was to give the film a low-key lighting look, but it was also because of budget limitations. We did not use any stabilization equipment beyond the Osmo Pocket 3's gimbal. Similarly, we did not use any professional Foley equipment, and we relied on natural location sounds and sound effects online. Overall, the equipment we used supported both our limitations and our creative vision.

Representation Blog Post #32

 Representation in our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be answering these questions: Who is represented within our film? Is it fair, stereotypical? How are you challenging representation with your film? Do you feel you need to make any edits to improve your characters? Ok lets get started!

 

To begin with, I will start with who is represented in our film. Our film reflects a specific demographic: all boys who are beginning adolescence or going through it currently. This means they are in a stage of life where they begin to form an identity, become stronger, and grow emotionally.

Race and Ethnicity:

In terms of race and ethnicity, the group is pretty diverse and multicultural. I (The Killer) and Emmanuel (Sebastian) are Hispanic, and Amaar is South Asian. I am Colombian-American, Amaar is Pakistani-American, and Sebastian is Colombian. We aimed to have a kind of diverse cast to demonstrate that the events that took place in the opener could happen to anyone and can be caused by anyone.

Gender/Sexuality:

All the characters in the movie opener are straight males. Our movie does not contain anything other than genders or sexualities.

Socioeconomic Status: 

In our movie opener, Kyle and Sebastian are all from middle-class, suburban backgrounds. The Killer is lower-class and is poor, which makes him commit these crimes.

Religion:

The religion of each character is never stated, allowing the audience to interpret what they believe.

Challenging Stereotypes:

We purposefully avoided stereotypical portrayals for each character. Kyle is not defined by cliches about South Asian men. His actions are driven by his own personal motives. Sebastian and The Killer are shown as complex individuals who do not depend on being Hispanic to shape their identity. By focusing more on human experiences like fear and ethical decision-making, our film challenges culturally biased representations.

Potential Improvements:

We could find ways to add depth to the characters by including some of their cultural background visually in the character. Small cultural references could enrich Kyle's or Sebastian's character while maintaining the film's focus on the events that take place.

Overall, I feel like our film opener has a fair amount of representation, and we did this to show that these dangerous and threatening events could happen to anyone and can be caused by anyone.

Editing Day 2 Blog Post #31

Day 2 of Editing our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about how the editing process is going. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, the editing process on Day 2 was more detail-oriented compared to Day 1 because most of the rough editing had been done on the first day. I worked on polishing the film opener to make it higher quality when uploaded onto YouTube. I still used CapCut Pro, but it ran out, so that was kind of annoying. It still worked well, so I did not need to use another software.

Like last time, I was the primary editor and did most of the stuff again. Amaar still helped, though, specifically in helping me decide on transitions. He suggested cuts since they created more suspense and did not look out of place like a wipe or dissolve. I was going to add maybe 1 or 2 of them, but he said they did not match the vibe of the movie, so I removed them, and like he suggested, I used cuts. I also fixed the last small sound mistakes, such as them cutting too early or too late. This made the film opener sound better overall. This was important since clean sounds played a big role in creating suspense for the movie. Additionally, I finally created the title card. I found a way to do it on CapCut on my phone, then uploaded it to my computer, and placed it at the end of the film opener. I think it looks really good and like the ones they show on movie screens.

In conclusion, I made editing decisions on this day based on realism and what was needed. I avoided flashy effects that would not have looked good in the movie, and instead used the basics that actually suited the film opener even more.

Intended Audience Blog Post #30

Intended Audience for our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog! Today, I will be talking about the intended audience for our film if it was full length. This will include age, gender, location, and income/education. Ok lets get started!

First of all, if it were a full-length film, the age of the intended audience would be teenagers and adults aged 15-25. This age group is normally drawn to horror and thriller genres, specifically slasher types. These normally focus on fear and atmosphere rather than large amounts of dialogue. The film is not gender-specific, so it would appeal to all genders who enjoy horror movies. In terms of income and education, the intended audience would be high school students and young adults. Since the film is not that high-budget, it would be more accessible to people of all incomes instead of just a specific demographic. For location, the intended audience would be suburban and urban youth audiences who live or have been in a familiar neighborhood setting. From a psychographic perspective, the intended audience is people who enjoy horror films and psychological tension. They normally are drawn to media that instill fear through realism and mood, rather than excessive gore. From a behavioral perspective, the film's intended audience is frequent media consumers who watch films and content on streaming platforms and social media. These viewers discover low-budget and student-made films online and are more likely to recommend content within their friend groups. Additionally, the film appeals to member sof the horror subculture, like fans of slasher films and indie horror movies. These viewers enjoy genre conventions like unseen killers and suspenseful pacing.

Day 2 of Filming Blog Post #29

 Our 2nd Day of Filming!

Hi guys, welcome back. Today, I will be talking about everything that happened on our 2nd day of filming. This will include what we shot, people present, and some challenges we faced...

First of all, a challenge we faced on the 2nd day was timing. I had played a soccer game at school before filming, so we had limited time at night to record. But forget that. Let's move on to the good stuff. On the 2nd day, we shot the other half of the movie that we couldnt't record on the first day. This time, I was more present in the scenes and acted a lot more than last time. My older sister and little cousin were present along with Amaar and me, since we needed my little cousin to act out the final seconds. Again, we recorded at Riviera Isles, the same spot and everything, since we did not want to change the background. This would have made the film look weird since the scenes would not have taken place in the same area. We also reshot one scene that we recorded vertically instead of horizontally. Another challenge we faced was the drizzle in the area. This got us wet and made us stop for about 10 minutes. Some of the drizzle is found in the scenes, so it is visible in the film opener. My little cousin was very excited to be part of the movie, so we had to calm him down. My sister was monitoring him to make sure he wouldn't make a sound or get in the way of shooting a scene. We used the same props as the first day and costumes. Amaar acted out his final scenes, and once he finished, he filmed the scenes where only I was in them. I enjoyed this filming day more than the first because having everyone there made it funnier and more enjoyable to film. Similar to last time, we wasted time joking around until we finally locked in. Overall, I felt this day was good but could have been better. Now, I will show you some pictures we took on this day.

Groups Dynamics Blog Post #28

 Group Dynamics!

Hello bloggers! Today I will be talking about a very important part about filming, the group dynamics! We have finally finished the filming part, so I will be talking about our dynamics during the filming process. 

Firstly, as a group, we were very slow to get started on filming and we might have waited a while to finally start. We took many days off during the break and procrastinated. This has affected us, especially on doing our blog posts since we have to finish about 30 by the end of January. However, there are a lot of good things between me and my partner. Since we live close, we were able to quickly meet up and go wherever we need to shoot. Amaar owns a car and can drive, so that greatly helped us bond together quickly since he had to pick me up. Also, Amaar and I were very good at brainstorming and making scenes. This helped us massively since we saved time and did not have to spend hours (or even days) creating the script. Also, I filmed most of the movie, acted a little, and edited the entire thing, so I feel like I pulled my part. Amaar was the main actor as he was the victim in the opening. He definitely pulled his part since he made up most of the scenes. Also, he also aided in filming in scenes where it was only me in it. He also gave me ideas for the music, sound effects, and more. I mostly made the final decisions for editing but he helped me greatly. At the moment, we are working on our blogs so we are in touch so we can work together and finish it quickly. I feel like this group had potential and now, we showed it. I believe the group dynamics are good and we did a great job!

A picture from the filming process!!

Lighting Blog Post #27

 Lighting in our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back. Today, I will be talking about the lighting in our film and explaining everything from equipment, budget, and style of lighting. Lighting is a very important part of filming, and we did our best to try to make it good.

To begin with, in our movie, we use and rely on natural lighting a lot. We used streetlights and ambient lighting instead of artificial lighting. Due to this, it resulted in a low-key lighting style since we filmed at night. We were not able to use 3-point lighting since it required professional equipment, and we did not have the resources or budget to do so. The lack of equipment limited us a lot, but using natural lighting was a creative choice tied to our mis-en-scene. The natural and minimal lighting helped make shadows and make the environment look dark. This enhanced the suspense and the scary vibe we wanted. Since The Killer is meant to be mysterious and unseen, the natural and low-key lighting really gave us that effect and showed it on screen. The dark lighting reflects Kyle's lack of awareness and vulnerability. Also, the use of natural lighting added a sense of realism. It made the attack look like it could happen in a familiar setting, such as your own neighborhood, instead of a big set that does not look realistic. This lighting sets the mood and tone rather than just showing the events taking place.

Now, moving on to IF we had a bigger budget. We would still try to keep the overall low-key look, but we would enhance it by using a controlled backlight to give The Killer a silhouette. Also, we would use soft fill light to maintain visibility but still keep the shadows, since they are very important. These additional lights would help the film look cleaner and sleeker. Overall, we think the lighting was good but could have been better.

Editing Blog Post #26

 Editing our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about what video editing software I used, a discussion of the video effects used, a discussion of the video transitions used, problems encountered during editing, solutions to problems encountered during editing, and who is primarily doing the editing work. Ok lets get started!

The editing software I used to edit our film opener was CapCut. I chose this software because of the professional tools it has and the accessibility for small filmmakers. Having the free trial of CapCut Pro allowed me to have precise control over timing, sound, and pacing, which was very important for creating tension throughout the opener. 

I used several video effects to enhance the mood and clarity without doing too much to it. Color correction was applied to make scenes a little darker and reduce saturation. This helps establish a more unsettling tone. I also adjusted the brightness of some shots to ensure that important visual details could still be seen. Also, I adjusted the audio effects, like lowering ambient noise, emphasizing the twigs snapping. They were paired with visuals to increase suspense.

In terms of video transitions, the opener mainly relied on simple cuts to maintain realism and tension. However, I intentionally used cuts to black between scenes to suggest a small jump in time, making the audience imagine what happened in those few seconds. These cuts helped make the pacing smoother and better overall.

Some problems I encountered during editing were lag and audio levels that did not match up across scenes. While I was editing, my computer began to glitch and lag out, which was terrible because I could've lost some clips or progress to this. Also, the audio between scenes would not match up, no matter what I did. Luckily, I fixed the glitching and lagging by disconnecting all other devices around me, allowing my laptop to use the WiFi freely. I solved the audio problem by adjusting it in a special setting manually.

Lastly, all the primary editing work was done by me, but Amaar gave me some very good tips and ideas to fix and enhance the film opener during editing. He helped me during this process by brainstorming new things that could be put into the film opener.

Learning how to make a Title Card Blog Post #44

Learning how to make a Title Card!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about my idea to add a title card and how I am currently learning how to make one. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, as I worked through the filming part of the movie opener, I realized I needed to add a title card at the end to make it look more professional. So, I decided to watch a tutorial on YouTube to learn how to make one. When I have free time, I go on CapCut and experiment with different fonts, text placement, and timing to see how a finished product would look. As I was choosing a font, I realized simpler designs suit horror movies better because they feel more serious and unsettling. I am also testing out what color to make it, since that will also enhance it visually. I am learning how to do this on CapCut on iPhone because the tutorial was done on iPhone. Also, doing it on iPhone seems way easier than on my laptop because I am used to using CapCut on my phone to make edits. Also, to add this title card into the movie opener, I will have to slightly adjust the ending I currently have to make the audio sound smooth as it transitions from the last scene into the title card. This will take me a few more days, maximum, since it is not that hard, so you will definitely see it in the final blog where the project is posted. 

Sound Blog Post #25

 Sounds Featured in our Movie Opener!

Hey guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the sounds featured in our movie opener. Specifically diegetic and non-diegetic sound, and for what reason they are used...

Editing and combining all the clips have been pretty chill. I used CapCut for editing since I have experience in the past using it. I used a free trial for it since it would give me tons of access to different features that would help me a lot. To begin with, diegetic sounds are things the characters can hear. Almost all of the diegetic sounds were recorded with the microphone, but I added 2 later on in editing. The diegetic sounds that were added in are the sound of an axe swinging and making contact, and the sound of twigs snapping. The diegetic sounds recorded by the camera include footsteps, rustling leaves, the wind, the scraping of an axe, phone notifications, and buzzing lamps. Since these sounds were already part of the clips, it made it much easier to edit and work with since I did not have to find a million different sounds online. Also, these diegetic sounds added a lot to the film by making it sound realistic and a little more believable.

Now, to begin with, the diegetic sounds in the movie are mostly just the extra dark ambience I added and scary, ominous music from YouTube. I looked online for free ambience, and I found one that suited the film opener well. The ominous music was free as well and added a very chilling tone to the film. Amaar helped me find the music since he wanted to have one that fit the most. Hopefully, the non-diegetic sounds are free as they stated, so our video can stay up.

Day 1 of Filming Blog Post #24

 First Day of Filming!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about how our first day of filming went! I will include my experience on the first day and how I contributed. Ok lets get started...

First of all, I began testing shots and scenes to see how it would look on camera. I tried to find the best location for the film since we needed it to be dark but still visible. Amaar and I walked around the neighborhood, Riviera Isles, until we finally found the best spot. I took charge of recording since Amaar would be the main actor. I recorded from many spots and angles to see which one would look the best. It took us about an hour to get the first 30 seconds done. I think I did a good job recording these scenes with the equipment we had. 

Later on, we shot some of my scenes, such as me following Kyle in the dark. Also, I shot some more scenes of Kyle (Amaar) getting the unknown message on his phone. I had to send a message from my phone at the same time I was recording, so that was a hard task. After we shot these scenes, we started to waste time and just talk. We tried to think of where the next scene would be shot from, but we couldn't think straight. This was a very unproductive 20 minutes that could have been used for a better purpose. After this, I recorded some final scenes until we called it a day. It was getting very late, and we wanted to go to sleep. I felt like our first day of filming wasn't bad; it was just slow. We spent about 3 hours. We recorded about half the film opener, which was pretty good, but we could have done more.

These are some pictures I took from the first day, as well as the one above. I had a lot of fun on our first day and felt like I contributed a lot. My task was to film and act a little. I contributed by filming the majority of the scenes and acted in about 2 scenes.

Going to Work with my Dad to learn how to Edit Better Blog Post #45

 Going to Work with my Dad to Improve my Editing Skills!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog post. Today, I will be talking about my experience going to work with my dad and learning many new things about editing. Ok lets get started!

Before finally starting the editing phase, I went to work with my dad, and since he is a cameraman and editor for Telemundo, I really learned a lot about what goes into editing and what tools can enhance your videos. I observed him, and he taught things like grouping audio layers and keyframing audio. I believe these are skills that are taught at editing camps or workshops, so to get this for free was a blessing. I also learned more about timeline organization, like labeling tracks clearly, and I learned how to keep sound effects, dialogue, and ambient noise separated. I realized how important organization is when working on projects like this, which will help me when I finally get to editing our film opener.

Additionally, I learned more advanced features like smoothing volume changes and adjusting sound levels gradually instead of making harsh cuts. This will be very useful since, for horror, sound design will help create tension and suspense. Another skill I learned was how editors test pacing. I tried it on my dad's laptop, and I was able to spot moments in the video he was editing that dragged on too long or needed to be cut.

In conclusion, going to work with my dad at Telemundo gave me hands-on experience in editing. It helped me improve my skills and decision-making, which I hope will make the editing process of our film opener easier for me!

Film Trope Blog Post #23

 Film Tropes found in our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about the film tropes our movie opener contains and some movie inspirations we got them from. Ok, let's get started!

First of all, our film opener contains several recognizable horror and slasher film tropes. These help establish the genre and set expectations for audiences. In our film, we used the isolated victim trope. Our opening focuses on a teenager named Kyle walking home alone at night. This makes him vulnerable to something happening. This trope is common in slasher films since it allows for suspense to build because the audience is aware of danger before the character is.

Next, another trope in our film opener is the unseen stalker. For almost the entire opening, The Killer is hidden or only partially shown through POV shots from behind a tree or a shot where only The Killer's legs are shown. The limited visibility creates fear by making the audience visualize The Killer, while also making them witnesses to the crime that just took place.

The film also uses the trope of technology as a source of fear. The text message Kyle receives, which says "I see you," modernizes traditional slasher conventions. This illustrates the anxiety people may have online about being monitored and viewed. Instead of relying on a physical threat, the danger is introduced psychologically, which increases suspense before the violent attack occurs.

Another trope used in the film opener is the sudden aftermath reveal. In the film, we did not show the entire attack in detail. Instead, we cut away to black and later reveal what happened through Kyle's dead body. This allowed us to make it even more disturbing, and it makes the audience envision what happened before it cuts to black.

Lastly, our film opener is inspired by similar films like Halloween, It Follows, and The Strangers. These films all emphasize atmosphere and silence. Also, like these films, our opener uses familiar slasher tropes without using excessive gore, just realism and tension instead.

Rescheduling Conflict Blog Post #42

 Filming Schedule Update!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about a problem we had during scheduled film dates that we had to postpone. Ok lets begin!

To begin with, we initially planned to film on December 26th, but we had to reschedule filming to December 29th due to a random trip my family decided to take to Universal. Since I was out of town, it made it impossible to shoot on that day.

Once I realized I was going on this trip, I contacted Amaar and told him as early as possible that I couldn't go to avoid any confusion. Since this project involved coordinating two people, this scheduling change affected us. Luckily, Amaar and I were able to accomodate to the new date and time, so this problem was resolved. While the change was unplanned, it actually benefited us a little bit. The extra time that we had allowed us to revisit our shot list and think more carefully about each scene. We also reviewed past blog posts during this time to ensure our plans still aligned with the vision. The delay overall gave us a chance to be 10x more prepared when filming finally took place. Finally, filming took place on December 29th, and it went smoothly. The location, which was Riviera Isles, was a fitting spot for our film opener. The natural light made the shots look realistic and we did not need to make any creative changes as a result of the delay. 

In conclusion, though the reschedule was a bit annoying, it did not negatively impact this final project and helped us stay ready and organized.