Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 5 - #4

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I go over some scheduling difficulties due to a school trip me and Sofia are on. We are both apart of the Televison class at our school called CBTV. Sofia planned the entire competition for our club. I am so grateful to go but it created difficulties with our project. Both of our teammates Lee and Makenna are back in Weston waiting for our return. Without us and our equipment they are unable to film. Like I said in my last post we were able to get some filming done before we left. 

We competed in a competition called crazy 8 news magazine. Unfortunately, my news segment didn't make it into the show, but my school did an amazing job. I'm IMPATIONTLY awaiting to see if we placed. Considering this is my senior year I'm extremely anxious for the outcome. When we return, we will be able to film the rest of our opening. I'm very excited to finally film. I know it will be very fun to act and be behind the camera. In my next blog post I will update you on the production process. I'll meet you in the future! 

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 5 - #3

Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will show some behind the scenes from filming. Both me and my teammate Sofia took some time to get close ups for our opening. We knew our schedules we going to be very busy (which I'll go over in my next post). So, we figured it was best to get some shots done now while we can. All of these clips were for my character. The close up will not only be visually pleasing but will help establish my personality. 

My car is my pride and joy. Not only in the film but in real life. I'm very grateful to be able to have access to it for filming. All of the close ups are before my face is even show. It will leave the audience waiting for more. The shots are things like me turning up the music. This one specifically is crucial and connects to Atticus's character as he also turns up the volume on the same song. The music establishes both characters and shows how their lives are different, but their background is similar. In my next blog post I will go over scheduling difficulties. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 5 - #2

Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I show the process for the prop creation of our fantasy comic. My lovely teammate Lee did the art for our comic. She even did a time lapse of the process. 

Time Lapse

In the opening our artist is Atticus. He is obsessed with magic and art. His dream is to become a world-famous artist one day. For that to happen he will need to break out of his shell. Thanks to Aroura he gets the opportunity to become himself. His art is all based around his fascination with magic. The comic title is "The Official Guide to Saving a Princess". This is also the title of the film. When the comic is revealed, the title will pop up. 

This is the second page of the comic. On this page we see Arouras charter. The story revolves around wizard Atticus saving her from the evil king Kai. Atticus is consumed by his love for Aroura. He prays for the day he can rescue her from her toxic relationship. In my next blog I'll show some behind the scenes from filming. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 5 - #1

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will talk about our casting for each character. We made casting choices early so we could mold the characters around the actors. Both Lee and I wanted to act in the piece so we got to make choices about the characters which was super fun. Now for the big reveal here are the 3 characters!!!

                                                                    Kai played my Me

                                                                Aroura played by Lee

Atticus played by Sam

My character was originally the main character but after changing our idea it evolved slightly. My character is dating lees character in the opening. Lee already has a sort of grunge look with her red hair, so it was easy to make the character revolve around that. For our silly artist me and Sofia thought it was a good idea to use our friend Sam. He’s a very talented actor so the casting choice was easy. In my next blog post I will go over prop creation. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 4 - #5

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will show my script!!! I haven't revealed the name of our film yet, so this is the grand reveal. The title is "The Official Guide to Saving a Princess"

This is the beginning of the opening. As it progresses the characters are slowly developed through close ups. When they are finally revealed their title will appear. The use of Nat pops will grab the viewers' attention. The sounds will also convey the characters. Their appearance will also tell you a lot about them. 

At the end of the opening all the character will be established. When they finally meet their words will be more impactful. As they haven't talked through the beginning. Kai's part of the interaction will show tension. There is already a preexisting relationship between the characters. Aroura shows kindness in the interaction and Atticus is grateful. He is hurt as they drive away. The last thing we see is the car speeding off into the distance. 

In my next blog post I talk about planning for my opening. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 4 - #4

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will explain the audio element for my opening. Audio is crucial for any film. What your hearing can be more important than what you're seeing. 

The first thing the audience will hear is a Nat pop of the car engine revving. This quickly grabs the viewer's attention and brings them in. Another important car audio will be me hitting the steering wheel while driving. I'll be vibing to the music and me hitting the wheel will show intensity of my character. After the shots change to Atticus charter there will be audio of him drawing. This coupled with close ups will not only be visually pleasing but again grab attention. As he finished the comic, he will slam it closed and the title will appear. The audio of the slam signals the movie really starting. 

As Atticus moves outside, we hear the mailbox opening. He will be starting at Aroura and the very next thing we hear is as Kai almost runs into him. Kai honks loudly and shouts at him. When the focus changes to Aroura we hear the sounds of her getting ready. Things like makeup palates closing and her hairbrush. This is audibly pleasing and fits the moment compared to the loudness going on outside. 

Throughout the beginning of the opening there is music playing. This is the song used! Opening song! (This song is sourced from Bullet Proof Bear) This song is diegetic audio as both Kai and Atticus are listening to it. The song fits them in different way. It is an alternative song. It also feels very coming of age to me. This song will help establish how the characters are similar even if they may not realize it. 

In my next blog post I will with show my script for my opening. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 4 - #3

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will go over the props and setting mise-en-scene elements in my film opening. Setting and props set the stage for the opening. These elements are essential to a successful film. 

 Atticus's main setting is his bedroom. Its filled with lots of magic posters. He is obsessed with magic and uses it as a way to escape the real world. He fell in love with magic as a child and has been hooked ever since. The magic element in his room shows his personality.  His uses his magic powers to defeat enemies in his comic. He is very artist and will have a lot of drawings and artwork. His dream is to become a world renound artist. 

He's a huge nerd and will have lots of books and homework in his room. His main props will be his drawings and his cloak. He calls his cloak his shield that protects him from the world and the bullies. As he goes outside, he is still wearing it and has a confrontation with Kai. 

Kai's main and only setting is their car. Their car is a setting and prop. It is a 2020 ford mustang and it not only their dream car but mine. They used their dad's money to buy the car. They don't have the best relationship with their family. They use their car as a getaway to be free from everything. Their favorite activity is to drive around endlessly. Throughout the opening Kai doesn't leave the car. They are alone in the car until the end when Aroura joins them. 

Aroura's setting is her bedroom and Kai's car. She is first introduced in her bedroom after Kai and Aticus are already established. She appears on screen as she is finishing up her makeup. Her room is very bland contrast to her clothing choices. This displays that she hasn't found herself. Rooms are a reflection of a person's inner self. Hers is mostly empty because she hasn't found the personality and interests to fill it. She has lots of books and makeup in her room. As she leaves her house, she and all the characters meet for the first time. This interaction is outside in the street of Atticus and Aroura's houses. Thier houses are across the street from each other. 

In my next blog post I will discuss the audio element in my opening. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 4 - #2

Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will go over the lighting and costume mise-en-scene elements in my film opening. These elements are crucial to properly conveying the characters. 

The lighting in the opening is mostly natural light with certain character exceptions. In the opening both Kai and Aroura are always in natural light. This is to shows they are living in the real world. Contrast to Atticus who is in bright lighting with a sort of fantasy vibe. This is intentional to convey his room as a hideaway that is his personal Fantasy world. When he goes outside in natural light, the lighting change is all to represent how he closes himself off to the outside world. In the real world he is rudely awakened by the natural light. He has nowhere to hide in his drawing outside of his room. This lighting difference would continue throughout the movie. It would change as he gains control of his own life, and his room would eventually change to natural light meaning he's live in the natural world. 

The costumes for each character will also represent how they are in the opening. As the film would progress both Aroura and Atticus's wardrobe would change. Here is a mood board for each character that my wonderful teammate Makenna made!

Atticus

As you can see Atticus's character is very into magic and his style will be based off of this. He doesn't know how to dress himself properly, so he dresses with lots of magical shirts, and he LOVES his cloak. He also has paint, markers, or led dust on his hands from his art. As the movie progresses his breaks out of his shell and learns how to dress nice. His style evolves but still has a little magic like a cool necklace. His costumes will revolve around his character development.  

Kai

Not to be biased but this is my favorite mood board. It clearly conveys Kai's character and how they represent themselves. They wear a lot of dark colors and have a grungy vibe. They also have a tattoo sleeve that adds to their style. As previously stated, they dress themselves for a certain appearance. Their appearance will make them see formidable. This lines up the character in a deeper way and exemplifies their backstory. The way Kai is dressed in the film opening will quickly represent them. 

Aroura 

Aroura's mood board is a great example of how she dresses a little grunge like Kai. This mood board displays her character in a great way and also shows progression. Later in the film she dives into brighter colors showing her true self.  When she becomes close with Atticus the brighter colors will display how she is happier. Her clothing change represents her changing character development.   

I love using visuals to help character representation. In my next blog I will discuss the other mise-en-scene elements of props and setting. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 4 - #1

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will continue to dive into character development for my film opening. This post will talk more about who the characters really are and how they change throughout the film.

Our main character Atticus is obviously a huge nerd as I've previously stated. He relies on the fantasy world to feel powerful. In the real world he isn't able to stand up to bullies. He also doesn't have many friends, so his isolation deepens as hides away in his room drawing. He is a very talented artist but he's afraid to share it with the world out of embarrassment. 

He takes the easy way out in every interaction. If a bully were to ask for his lunch money, he'd give it up without even saying a word. This shows how unconfrontational he is in the real world. In his comics he uses his wizard powers to take them out with a string of spells. He doesn't realize that magic powers are necessary standing up for himself. Throughout the film he finds confidence through spending time with Aroura. She shows him that being walked all over is unacceptable. Just as she makes him realize she takes her own advice. 

Aroura is very kind and looks for that in a partner. When her relationship with Kai started, she thought they were kind but as it grew, they changed. In the opening we see her in a similar style as Kai with displays the control they have. This is something she just goes along with and can't realize the damage it is doing to her. In the comic she's dressed in pink and is bright and bubbly. This is how Atticus sees her but as the film progresses, she dresses in whites showing she is good and pure.

 Both Atticus and Aroura let their guard down and are able to become their true self's. This isn't because they are changing for one another. It's the fact that with each other than can become who they want to be without judgement from each other. 

Kai is an established "bad boy" and bully. In the opening we see how mean they are. This is all because they used to be the victim of bullying themselves. Now they take the bully role to feel power in themselves. Kai and Atticus are quite similar, but they take different paths. Kai choses to become the bully so they aren't the victim. Atticus takes the high road and stands up for himself, but he'd never choose to continue the cycle. Kai was kind in the beginning of their relationship. As the pressure got to them, they spiraled and became mean. The way they dress, and the sleeve of tattoos helps build a barrier from the world and shows they are not to be messed with. 

Their role is the movie changes as Aroura breaks up with them. Kai starts to realize how badly they acted and how much they want her back. They try to be a better person for Aroura but it's too late. Although not shown in the film opening their story not only effects them but everyone around them. 

It is so amazing to dive in these characters and get to know all of them more. This definitely helps me as filming is coming up so fast.  I'll use the character development in my portrayal of Kai.  In my next blog post I will dive into the mise-en-scene elements of costumes and lighting. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 3 - #4

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will share my story board and talk about the shots in detail. Now that we know the exact storyline we can finally develop the shots needed for the opening to come together. My wonderful teammate lee did the drawing for our storyboard. 

The first page is mostly close up that will help establish both Kai and Atticus characters. The very first thing we see is black and we hear Kai's engine revving. This is similar to whiplash's opening as you hear the drums before you see them. After seeing the exhaust, the shots transition into the car and there are close ups of the engine dial moving back and forth. This establishes Kai's reckless character. They both turn up their music and it's the same song that starts playing. They are very different, yet the song fits them both. The music will be alternative with a playful yet rock feel. As he is drawing the comic we see the title of the movie. This is not only the comic title but the movie title as well. 

The next shots finally introduce the characters as we see their faces for the first time. We see Kai driving and singing along to the song. Then it cuts to Atticus who is drawing and singing. As shots flash of the car and desk more and more credits pop up. When Atticus looks out the window, he sees Aroura across the street getting ready. This introduces his infatuation with her. When she is shown on screen she is credited. At this point all of the characters have been introduced but none of them have meet on screen yet. 

Atticus mom asks him to go get the mail. He is annoyed but gets a closer look at Aroura. Just as he is getting the mail and sneaking a peak at her, Kai comes barreling down the road and almost hits him. Kai doesn't even apologies they just use it as an excuse to degrade him. Seconds later Aroura comes outside and apologizes for Kai's behavior. This only makes Kai madder but now her. This part shows how ruthless Kai is and that they aren't careful with words or actions. It also shows the kindness from Aroura to Atticus. Giving him hope of one day rescuing her.  

The ending is Atticus watching as they speed away. He is left alone and sad. The music continues and the film stops. The use of dynamic close ups and titles will really elevate this story. I'm so excited to film this, but I still have a lot of details to work on until then. In my next blog I will talk more about character development in my opening.  I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 3 - #3

Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will summarize our project idea. I know it been a little crazy during the planning process, but this blog will hopefully clear any questions you may have. To start I'll give a simple run through of the film opening itself and the characters in it. My next blog will dive into the visual aspect through a story board. 

The opening starts with lots of clips of both Kai and Atticus. Kai is driving the ford mustang and is blasting music on the way to Arouras house.  Atticus is drawing his comic and playing music as well. The overall credits appear in non-character shots and as both of these characters show on screen their credits introduce them. As Atticus finishes his comic the title of the film opening will be the same as the comic. The credits will have the same look as the text titles. Atticus gets told to grab the mail by his mom. As he is standing at the mailbox and looking at Aroura, Kai arrives and almost hits him. Kai yells at him and Aroura apologizes. Kai asserts her need to stay away from Atticus. As they drive away the music continues and the opening ends.  

This is the basis for the opening and the magical element will be shown though out the comic. I forgot to mention that in the entire opening Aticus is wearing a wizard's cloak.... 

The film to comic adaptations will look a little like this. 

                        Comic                                                                                Film

 ------>>>

                 --------->>>>  

--------->>>>>   

----------->>>> 

With these images in mind my next blog with include my story board for my film opening. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 3 - #2

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will go deeper on the dynamics of the characters and the media theory we are integrating in our project. After my group meetings my team and I decided to make some changes and add another charter so let me introduce our newest character ... Atticus!!!

You might be a little confused with this image but let me explain. Our lovely new character is actually a HUGE nerd. He is an artsy guy loves magic and pretends he is a wizard. His real name isn't even Atticus it's just his wizard's name that he insists everyone calls him. He lives across from Aroura his "true love". He is a LITTLE obsessed with her and draws a fantasy book where his wizard character saves the distressed princes Aroura. He steals her away from the evil king Kai (who's my character). 

After developing this new character and dynamic we knew exactly what media theory to implement. We are implementing the character theory. This theory was basically served on a silver platter considering the magical undertones from Atticus. 

The Hero is Atticus as he not only saves Aroura from Kai in the book but in the film as well. He feels a sort of moral and emotion responsibility to take her away from the bad guy. He is shy and doesn't have many friends. Aroura is sweet to him but doesn't go out of her way to talk to him. His wizard alter ego is his way of being a hero. He gets bullied in real life and isn't strong enough to stand up to them. He uses his magic in the comics to finally be able to stand up to his enemies. The film follows him as he breaks out of his shell and goes after the girl of his dreams. 

The Villian is Kai who is an evil king with a huge dragon in the comic. In the film Kai is just an edgy teen with a mustang. They are the current love interest to Aroura. Kai is rude and is harsh with her. They can be controlling and don't want her to talk to Atticus. Kai has all the power and despises the silly wizard. The villain character will be established in the comic Atticus is working on in the opening. Once they first interact in a heated encounter the dynamic is clear.  

The Princess is Aroura who is a real princess in the comic. In the film she is a sweet girl mixed up in a bad relationship. She shows kindness to Atticus but is with Kai. She may not realize the full control Kai has on her but in comic it is evident. The king keeps her locked in a tower hidden away from the wizard. The tower is protected by Kai's dragon just like the mustang is protecting her. She is seen a damsel in distress, but the girl can defiantly protect herself. 

I know this story might be a little confusing but as I explain more and show our script and story board, you'll love this idea just as much as I do. In my next blog I will summarize our project idea. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 3 - #1

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will give a reflection on how my group meeting went. We were all split up into groups each from different teams. Here is a picture of my amazing group! 

I took some small notes of each of my group members projects and helped them develop their ideas further. It was great to hear and see the work others have been putting in their pieces. 

Dani- https://danimediablog14.blogspot.com/ - Her genre was horror and featured a female serial killer who kills her boyfriends. She explained she had to change the ending to make it more open ended. I really liked this idea and thought it was very intriguing. I agreed she needed to establish her storyline early but still leave the viewers wanting more. 

Ayden- https://justayden111.blogspot.com/ - Her genre was coming of age with fantasy elements. Her idea was inspired by hades town as she is currently working in a production of that show. The movie would follow the fates as they turn into teenagers and are put in high school to get more in touch with current day. I was shocked by her sheer creativity and thought it was awesome. She is aiming high for this project, and I love it. The only thing I was concerned about was the magical elements and how they were being shown. She is utilizing special effects and had a set plan. 

Charlee-https://blogbycharlee.blogspot.com/ - Her genre was mystery/crime. The main character is serial killer. Her idea wasn't fully developed so I gave some tips on how to make the story come to life and feel more realistic to the viewer. A big thing is having actors who can truly embody an evil character. I hope she used this tip well and it helps her develop her opening. 

Milver- no blog link provided - His genre was suspense/horror. The plot revolved around a stalker with connection board like cops. This was the main plot point of his opening. I suggested the use of close ups and dark lighting to help develop the horror tone. For him to be successful he needs to plan a lot more and know what shots he wants of the board. The planning of what is on the board will be crucial to the piece. 

Overall, I really liked seeing their pieces and getting feedback on mine. They advised me to add more content to my opening and asked about the clothing of the characters. I told them I was going for a sort of edgy grunge vibe. I used this information in my next meeting with my own team. We developed and slightly changed our opening. In my next blog post I'll go deeper on the dynamics of the characters and the media theory we are integrating in our project. I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 2 - #4

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will illustrating the schedule for my film opening production. The first phase of production is pre-production. This is current phase my team is in. Weeks 1 through 4 are about planning every little detail of our project. 

In this phase we will brainstorm everything from the storyline to the individual shots. This is crucial to a successful production. If one piece falls through the final product may not turn out how we wanted. Lucky for me I have an amazing team that is very detail oriented. We will strive for greatness strategizing every small element to ensure our success. The type of planning needed has to very organized and relies on communication. 

One of my favorite aspects of storytelling is developing the characters. As I talked about in my last blog post we have already established the main characters. We have created a specific vision that will easily convey the image the actors need to portray. The grunge look will classify us as tough and edgy. This will encompass the characters and help explain their relationship. 

Another important aspect is the mise-en-scene element which includes costume, set, props, lighting, etc. As we've covered most of this already, we will continue to formulate the other visual aspects. A great way of adding a certain feel to a film is through lighting and color connections. Lighting helps tell the story without even noticing. It asserts tone to a piece and helps adds an edge. 

In the next phase is filming! During week 5 & 6 we will film and document the production process on our blogs. This will include some fun photos of the team and maybe even some clips from filming. Each post during this time will show different aspects of production. 

How we develop the set will be very important. As we know the main setting will be in my car. This is a small space but with the use of dynamic shots and lighting the space can be expanded with the lighting and actors. 

The posts will also document the Postproduction process of editing. How we cut the scenes up will determine the timing and impact of the film. An extra few seconds of a shot makes a larger difference than one might think. It's all about the arrangement of the clips and shots. We will use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit our film. This process will be very meticulous, but will all be worth it in the end. 

In the very last phase, there is a critical reflection done by each member. This is during week 7 & 8. We will go into every aspect of the production and shared what are feeling are. This is based on if we feel we did well or not. Also, how we did everything and how we learned for the experience. I hope to be saying all good things about my production as I am very excited about it. (I feel like I've said that before...) 

In my next blog post I'll tell you how my group meeting goes so, I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 2 - #3

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will discuss how my team will establish the setting and characters for our film opening. Without giving to much away I'll tell you some of the key factors we will use. 

Before we see any footage, the film will open with diegetic audio of an engine revving. It's a loud sports car type of roar that will quickly grab the audience's attention. This first shot seen will be a close up of the exhaust pipe and will look something like this. 

This is the beautiful car being used. My 2020 Ford Mustang (my literal BABYYYY) 

Other than it looking super cool it will also establish the main character in the car as a pan from the rear of the car to the driver's window. The driver will be ME! I will be dressed in black and have a sort of grunge look with fake arm tattoos. 

The shots will transition to me in the car and I'll be on the phone talking to someone. I can't tell you who I will be talking to or what about yet. You'll just have to wait and see!!! One of my group mates will be the secondary character and get in passenger seat of the car. She will have a similar aesthetic to me and have red hair. 

We will be the main characters and have an established dynamic within the first minute of the opening. As the opening progress we are in the car and the credits for the film with appear on screen. When the characters are first introduced our names will pop up in sync with the shots.  The rest of the credits will fall in progression. 

I'm so excited to continue developing my opening. I hope you've enjoyed this sneak peek. There is much more to come so, I'll meet you in the future!

Cambridge Portfolio Project Week 2 - #2

 Welcome back to my blog! In this blog I will discuss 3 different opening credits from the coming-of-age genre. I will use this research to help develop my film opening. Credits are on screen texts that inform the viewers who is not only in the movie as an actor but who was the director, producer, editor, and more.  

The first credits scene I'm analyzing is The Breakfast Club [1985] -- OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE This credit sequence starts with the studio which is Universal. We also see the title " A John Hughes Film" this is crediting the director. It starts with the most important credits then displays the title of the movie. After this the actors start to be credited. This is very import to note we having see any of the actual movie yet. When the actors are done being credited there is a rebellious David Bowe quote. This establishes the tone that teens aware of their actions. From this quote the screen shatters like glass revealing the setting of the school. This is a great example of opening credits that is very creative. Although its mostly just the names it ends in a bold way leaving the audience with the tone before the film even starts. 

The next credits scene is Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1985 --- OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE . This opening starts with a black screen and blue titles starting with Paramount pictures, a John Huges film, and the title of the movie. The audio underlaying the first three credits is a radio voice stating the weather. This starts the setting and the first shot we see is an establishing of the Bueller house. We can hear the mother as she is checking in on Ferris. As the scene continues, we can see he is very sick. The titles continue throughout the scene and the family dynamic is established. The parents are very worried and won't let him go to school. His sister is fed up with Ferris antics. The opening sequence helps establish the tone for the movie while crediting those involved with the film. 

The last credits scene is Almost Famous Opening Titles . This opening starts with the regular black screen with the studio names Columbia and DreamWorks pictures. Then it cuts to someone writing "A vinyl films production" on a piece of lined paper. This style continues between cuts of credits and close ups of objects in someone's room. This fits the armature style the film is portraying. It feels very raw to see the person writing in real time and them even erasing their mistakes. This is a very different take on the opening credits and is very intriguing to me.  It feels effortless to start the film this way and seems very intentional. Other than the credits the shots of the "random objects" don't feel so random. Everything in this opening is very intentional from the concert tickets to the key at the end with the text "the Plaqa". Each frame is calculated and is a great learning tool. 

In my next blog post I will discuss how my team will establish the setting and characters of our opening scene. So, I'll meet you in the future!