Journey of Filming has Begun!

  Today my partner and I started to film the beginning scenes if our final task. We did not finish filming all of the scenes but we made some headway into finishing our final task. The rest of the scenes will be filmed Saturday at our second location. Even though my partner and I did not finish filming today was productivity in terms of figuring out how the final project will look like. Filming today I was very simple and straight forward. The reason why it was so easy to film those shots is that everything was mapped out. As well as all the other aspects of our final project were already prepared. Examples of this are the costumes and the lighting as well as the angles of the camera. Due to everything being planned in advance it allowed there to be less time needed for reshoots. All in All, today was a good filming day.

In the filming process, I acted as the director. My partner was the actor in the film and played in all the scenes. In the filming process, as the director, I directed the way in which the actor moved as well as other variables. I ensured that we followed all the camera angles that were written in our script. I also made sure that we followed the storyboard to the exact detail. There was some variation in the storyboard. Some of the variations were how the actor would dress up as well as her make up. We did have some trouble getting the actor into character since she has to play a businesswoman. Even though there were some issues each scene was executed perfectly. I really believed as a director I captured the essence of what the movie that we're trying to make is about. It really intrigued me about the process of directing. Even though I have done this multiple times in the past for other projects this time, directing feels like a possible career path. I loved filming today because we followed are storyboard precisely we finished in 3 hours and had time to go over it and reshoot. As previously mentioned today was a good filming day.

Filming Blog: Filming has not taken place yet.

During the past weekend, my partner and I failed to film again. There is a variety of reasons why we didn't film. The reasons why my partner and I didn't film are very synonymous with the reasons for last week. Even though my partner and I haven't filmed we are still committed to producing the best capable final project. With that being said my partner and I have now prepared the necessities needed to film this weekend. So the result of this weekend is going to be that I will have a rough draft of my final task. This rough draft will also be edited just so I can see which editing method would provide the best results. These past weekends even though I haven't filmed I have been preparing. To further explain I have been preparing mentally. I am both the director and editor so I have to be in the right mindset to produce the best product.

During the past weekend even though I haven't filmed I have prepared to do the project besides mentally preparing. During the past weekend, I have mapped out the entire day of filming. To further explain even though I have already a planned schedule I enhanced it. To enhance the schedule of the filming day I broke down every part of the day. Since I'm the director and I'm in control of what takes place I prefer that everything is organized. The reason why I prefer everything to be organized is that it would allow the filming process to run smoothly. The reason why I decided to break down the schedule of filming is so that the actual filming process is shorter. When I breakdown the schedule we don't have to take time during filming to figure out things. Due to the breakdown of the filming schedule filming will go faster. All in all, even though  I didn't film this weekend, I was very productive in relation to my final project.

Filming Blog: I Didn't film

  Over the weekend my partner and I did not film our final task. There are various reasons why we didn't film. However, we plan on filming and editing in the upcoming weeks and deliver the best video we could under the conditions given. The first reason why we didn't film is because of timing and availability. To further explain last weekend was Valentine's and so that was one of the reasons that resulted in us not filming. The other reason why I didn't film is lack of ability. To further explain both my partner and I were not available to film due to the lack of communication. As well as the fact that it wouldn't be the best idea to film because the weather wasn't as we would like it. One of the most prominent reasons was the fact that we wouldn't be able to get to every place that we needed to film. Another reason why we didn't film is that the main place were our scene would have taken (ally)  place was too crowded. The reason I say that is because like previously mentioned it was Valentine's day weekend.

However, the main reason why my partner and I didn't film is that we were not prepared to film. To further explain while shooting a project everything has to be in order for it to be a good project. Even though my partner and I wrote our script, and decided on location and actors we didn't have all we needed. To further explain we didn't have the camera to film or other software. We also didn't have all the props needed for the project to be at its best. Some of these included clothing such as the suit the main character has to wear. We also didn't have the phone that is going to be used during the project. Most importantly we didn't have the blood or the knife needed for the movie. Those items are very vital to our film process. However, my partner and I did take steps to ensure we're more prepared for the upcoming weekend. I have secured my part and got the costumes needed for the final task. All in all that is why my partner and I didn't film last weekend.

Planning Blog: Storyboard

My partner and I were able to story-board the scenes and ideas that came to us during the planning process shown below in the presentation. I was able to convey the main story from the shooting script onto paper through drawings. I wanted our storyboard to be detailed yet still simple enough so we don't over complicate ourselves when filming our movie. I was able to stretch our all the scenes we created in the shooting script onto the storyboard paper however, honestly we did not have 10 pages of story-boarding done. I did not want to add to the story-line that I knew wasn't true and because I did not have the chance to talk it over with my group member so I story-boarded all the vital scenes that is crucial for our first two minutes of the movie. We wanted to keep the opening of the movie suspenseful and not give away the main plot of the movie which is summarized through our pitch. The opening scenes of the two minute film will allow the audience to get to know and see the memories and personality of the characters before actually finding out more as they watch deeper into the movie. This is why we gave no names to our characters or actors because the opening allows you to make a judgement based on looks and dialogue said but we wanted to keep the name disclosed until later in the movie just like some movies do today. Although it is not our best drawings we still wanted to put effort into our storyboard so when it comes to filming we already have a visual of how the movie will turn out but in better quality and color. Presented below is our storyboard we hope that the drawings allow you to visualize our two minute opening but just to keep in mind this is is our planning and will be better on camera and once it is completely done.

Planning Blog: Title Design

When my partner and I first started discussing our Title design, we were completely stumped on how we wanted our titles to look like in the first two minutes of our movie. Since the genre of our movie is Action and Thriller we wanted to include the colors, fonts, and sizes that is typically seen in that specific movie genre. After our title research blogs we have done in the past we had somewhat of an idea. In the end we were finally able to agree on the Title design that best suited our movie. In the presentation below you will see examples and the design we decided on for our title which honestly with the lighting and theme behind our film will draw the audience to feel the action and thriller feel by looking at the titles. By adding the red colors in our titles along with the black we can create a suspenseful feeling toward the murder that will come in the first two minutes. The red mimics the blood of the victim in our movie which adds to the thriller part of our genre. The lowercase and uppercase spelling reminds us of the writings seen in most murder movies such as that on a type-writer or on TV and newspaper. The red color in our title also represents the revenge the main lead actor feels towards his mother murderer in the movie. In the presentation below you will have a closer look at our Title design that we agreed on but can change if needed.

Planning Blog: Location, Health, Participants, and Scheduling

In today's planning I was able to breakdown all the details that will effect our movie but also guide us on how we should run our filming process by narrowing down our location, participants, scheduling and safety crew. I was able to do this blog mainly because I knew the location and knew that I could get a picture or video to show in the presentation below. The rest of the presentation was easy to assemble together because my partner and I already discussed all the details way back in the beginning when we were creating the pitches for the different movie ideas. We wanted to keep our cast simple mainly because we felt like if we had a lot of cast members we would not be able to focus on filming and because the film doesn't call for more than three actors. In our movie we have one male lead role which is an important character in our movie because the story-line revolves around him. But my partner and I decided that I can play both roles even though I am a female and will be playing the lead role of the wealthy woman. Because our movie revolves around a murder we had to ensure that we discussed about the safety measures that will be implemented during our filming time outside of school.In the presentation below we go into further details on what our safety crew will be doing to ensure the safety of our cast and director/editor. For scheduling I narrowed down our goal of hopefully finishing filming and editing before spring break starts. Although it is a far stretch we want to try and reach this goal so we can have time to look back and re-edit if necessary. All of the location, participants, health, and schedule is presented below.

Planning Blog: Sound and Dialogue Script

 In this set of Google Slides, we incorporated all of the sounds whether it is any dialogue and any music that will be used in the first two minute beginning of the movie. We put in details so that when I start story-boarding I can include all the camera angles, movements, and shots and all the sound that will be used for each scene and every six seconds if any. In our Google Slide presented below, we go in specific detail about what to add in our scenes. We have to make sure that any of the music we incorporate in our final movie is not copyrighted or else we have to send an email to get the song approved to be in our movie. This is honestly a lot of work and the majority of the time we will most likely not get a response back. I and my partner made sure to start thinking about free non-copyrighted music to add to our different scenes. My partner and I are researching different websites that will give us free music that will be useful in the two minutes of the movie to build the Thriller/Action genre which will be carried out. We did not include any of the camera angles, movements, and shots because this presentation will solely focus on sound and dialogue. Sound and Dialogue script will help us see any of our mistakes which we can easily change and fix and will also help benefit us when we need to film so we know which specific scenes will have any sound or music. The Google Slide presented below is the script for all the sound and dialogue for our final task. 

Planning Blog : Shooting Script

Today me and my partner discussed and broke down each of the scenes that will be used in the final task of the movie which will include all our actors, camera angles, movement, and shots. It will also include specific actions that will be done in the first two minutes of the movie that will make it into the Thriller/Action movie we envisioned it to be. My partner and I made sure to include parts into the movie that left the ending suspenseful making you want to watch it more and more of it and to make sure our movie had an interesting story-line. In our shooting script of the movie we had to include every detail since I am going to be story-boarding the scenes we wrote down on the Google Slides. Even though we were not supposed to include any sound we added the type of music we wanted in the that specific scene so we could be prepared when editing our final movie which you will see in the presentation. The shooting script we discussed and will soon be brought to life which will help us during the filming process and get done filming quickly and efficiently so we could start editing and adding in all our titles and music for each scene. Overall our movie is on the right track and we are super excited to officially start filming the movie since we are both proud of our story we created when coming up with our pitches. We wanted to keep our movie simple and not too over complicated with lots of props and actors which we will stick with during this planning process. Honestly my partner and I all week in school and in class focused on finishing our Google Slides in which accomplished. The Shooting Script is presented below and hopefully you enjoy reading about the different scenes (plus extra) that will be played out in our final movie.