TEA Essay

In the extract of the tv series “24” that showcases the exchange between a detective and a prisoner, one can infer the most prevalent theme. The theme of the “24” extract is that to overcome evil and injustice sometime people must do whatever it takes, even going against who they are and their norms. Through this extract the director uses various techniques to convey this theme. He also uses certain techniques to convey ideas such as suspense, and mystery that will reveal his/her true purpose.

The primary scene is that of a woman in an interrogation room. Since the setting is in an interrogation room it leads to viewers questioning why the woman is there. It also allows the viewers to infer that the woman is important and hold some vital information that will cause her to be in an interrogation room. All these aspects intensify the scenes and ultimately starts to create a mood of mystery that would be present all throughout this excerpt. Another tool that the director uses is zooming in on a camera that is in the corner of the room when the detective walks in and looks at it. This leads watchers to question why there is a camera and why is the detective looking at it. This also brings up the question on whether or not the detective plans on doing something wrong. The director also uses a close-up of the detective and the prisoners’ faces to show the detective's belief on the severity of the situation. However, the director uses a close-up and zoom on the woman’s face to show her calmness and to also hint that she has a level of power to her that causes her to be calm and confident. Which unconsciously suggest to the viewers that the woman prisoner has something the detective wants.   Another vital part in the first scene is the director uses to showcase his/her message is the lighting, the lighting is dark and dim to further tell the spectator the atmosphere is serious and something unpleasant Is going to take place. The director does this to play on the knowledge that darkness is often associated with evil or unpleasantries which would, in turn, make spectators view the situation in a negative light, which ultimately plays into the agenda of the director.  In the first scene, there is no dialogue, however, the score begins to play hinting to observers’ action is going to take place in the nearby future. The mood of the first scene is mysterious and forces the spectator to ask questions on the situation and ultimately encourage said viewer to continue watching.  However, the main purpose of the scene is to set up the action that will be taken place in the next scenes.

In the next scene, the most prevalent thing is the dialogue between the prisoner and the detective. The dialogue is used to emphasize the seriousness of the situation and later justify what is going to take place as well as give insight to the viewer on why the situation is occurring. The dialogue also creates a noticeable tension in the room between the detective and the prisoner. The shot-reverse-shot that also takes place in the scene signals to the viewers that something bad is about taking place. Since the detectives on the outside look worried and anxious about what is to come. The zooming in on the clock also further escalates the severity of the issue by implying there is not much time left.  These aspects ultimately create a mystic that the director will use to further intrigue the watcher into watching what's going to unfold.

The third and final scene contains the most action and gives some insight to the viewers on what the purpose of the extract is. The action match scene of the detective running toward the prisoner and pushing her to the wall and choking her finally tells the audience the theme of the extract.  This sole event shows the viewers the detective is willing to do anything to stop the bomb even threatening to kill the prisoner which goes against his oath as a policeman. The split-screen further reinforces the point because the detective doesn’t stop even though he knows other policemen are coming which in turn shows how desperate the detective is to stop the evil that is trying to take place.

The director’s vision was to create something enticing and make viewers want to watch it. His/her purpose was to demonstrate to the spectators that we as people may go to great lengths to stop an evil injustice and crime.

CCR

The CCR was the last project I filmed for this class. The CCR was the most reflective. The reason why I say this is because that's when I really looked back on my movie and see how it challenges conventions and social issues. Filming my CCR was by far the easiest. However, the video does have its problems. The first problem that I encountered was I had to film using my phone. To further explain due to the pandemic currently taking place I did not have the ability to check out a camera. Also due to this pandemic, I did not have the ability to check out a tripod as well. The result of not being able to get those necessary things led me to have to use my sister as the director and her trying her hardest to get a perfect shot. All in all, I really enjoyed filming this CCR.

Even though it was a fun process I learned a few things as well. One of the important things that I learned was to make the best with what you have. To further explain even though I didn't have all my necessary tools needed to film I still tried to make the best with what I had. I believe that lesson is an important lesson to have throughout life. The reason why I say this is because life is not fair. Due to the fact that life is not fair and as humans we won't always get what we want it is important to be able to make do with what you have or you will lead an unhappy life. Another message that I got while filming my CCR is that every film has an underlying message. Before I reflected on my movie I thought it was just some cool film. After doing my CCR I realize my film has its own message. All in doing the CCR was an experience.

Final Movie

The final movie was the last video that I filmed. This video was one of the best projects I filmed. The final movie all though it was the best it was the most difficult video to film. While filming this video I was the director which is what I truly enjoy doing while filming. Another positive thing about filming this video was that I got to create a script which is something I enjoyed. To further explain the reason why I enjoyed creating this script is that I got to unleash my creative side. All my other classes require me to use my more analytical side, but this class allows me to use my creative side. While filming this video I go to work with a group this time. Filming with a group made directing and shooting this film easier. All filming this movie was mostly fun.

However, like all things, there were negatives to shooting this film. The first negative to filming was my partner and I was unprepared. The day we were filming this video we did not come prepared, we didn't have the props needed. The props we didn't have were the scissors and the blood. Due to the fact that we didn't have the items we needed we had to go to a nearby store to get the supplies. Another issue we had filming was the camera that we were using was dead. Due to the fact that it was dead, we had to rush and film all the important scenes. However, the main issue that occurred was the current pandemic taking place COVID-19. The pandemic made it hard for me and my partner to reshoot. The pandemic also made it hard for me to be able to edit the video with my partner, All in all, even though filming this project had its issues it was still a great project to film.

Music Video

The music video was the second-ever video I filmed. Filming this video was a good experience. I learned a lot of things while filming this video such as how to work on your own. For the music video, I worked alone because I wanted to try and see if I am capable of doing certain things on my own. For this video, I did the song "Hostage" by Billie Eilish. The reason why I chose to do this video is that it really spoke to me. The message that I got from the video was that sometimes things that we love hold us from doing what we're meant to do. That message really mirrored my own personal life at the time. That is why I chose to do that video. All in all, it was a good and fun video to shoot it was quite simple to edit as well.

The main thing that I can say that I learned while filming the video was time management and securing your actor. While filming the music video there was poor time management on my part. I did the music video at the last minute. The reason why I did the music video at the last minute was because I decided to procrastinate. So after almost not turning in the video on time, I decided from that day forward to always do my filming on time. Another valuable lesson that I learned was to secure your actor. For my video, I originally had planned for my brother and his girlfriend to play as the actors. However, they decided to cancel at the last minute. This left me being stuck with me as the actor and my sister being the director. Though the process went smooth this was not my favorite video to film.

Commercial

Due to the troubling time of the Coronavirus I want to look back on my progress to reflect. Down below is the first-ever video I did for this class. The first video I ever did was a commercial about Dunkin Donuts. Since the commercial was the first-ever video I did it was not my best work. However, I did learn a lot while doing this video. One thing that I learned was my love of directing. In the commercial that I and my group filmed, I was the director. After that video, I realize my passion for directing. The reason why I love directing so much is that it allowed me to be in control of things. As a perfectionist it allowed me to feed me innate desires of having everything perfect.

One of the many things that I also learned while filming this video was working with a group and how to deal with the consequences of a group.  Before I was in this class I tended not to work with groups do to the sole fact that I did not want to have to do all the work. However, during this project, I decided to work with a group and the result was not the best. One of my group members decided not to participate. This left me and my other partner completing all the work for the project. I tried to go to the teacher to complain but there was nothing to do about it since the video was due the next day. However, after that, I learned to pick your group members wisely. Another thing that I learned about was how to use a camera. Also, I learned how to use a tripod which is very important. Most importantly I learned how to use editing software. All in all the commercial was a good experience.

RE-EDITING

This journey has been a long process and has been extremely eye-opening in general. The reason why I say this is because I have learned so many things that I did not know before. As I enter my re-editing process I realize the things I didn't know before. What I know and find to be self-evident is that editing is the only chance people get to fix their mistakes. More importantly to present themself, projects and other things as perfect. I think that it is people innate need to be perfect and editing allows a person to dip into their desire. As I express this I realize my need to edit, to edit myself, edit my past and my unforeseeable future. I love editing as much as I love directing. I have come to appreciate this new found love interest. I have also come to understand and appreciate this class for showing me these new talents. At the end of this project, I am very happy with the growth that I have experience.

Now to the re-editing process, I am not the one who re-edited my partner did. The reason why I didn't re-edit was because  my partner decided to do it. Another reason why I didn't re-edit was because I did not have the capability or the availability to edit. Even though I didn't edit I did contribute. I called my partner and we talked over the phone. The reason why we talked over the phone was because of the Coronavirus. I wasn't allowed to leave my house and she wasn't allowed to leave her house. The things that were re-edited was ally scenes. My partner took the re-shot scenes and added them to the final project. I can finally say that I finished the final project. All in all, I am really happy I took this class.

Reshoot

On a Saturday morning, my partner and I met up to reshoot the final project, the movie. The reshoot day was filmed before there was a strict stay at home order due to Coronavirus.  My partner and I reshot the ending scenes. The reason why we didn't reshoot the beginning scenes was that there were already perfect and there was no need to reshoot them.  There were no issues in terms of the atmosphere such as the weather it wasn't raining. This time around it was a better filming process than the first time that we film. Like I had mentioned in my first filming blog my partner and I was a mess. To further explain we were unprepared. My partner and I didn't have the props that were needed we had used to scissors and we had to buy paint from the store next door. This time around we were beyond prepare we had all the props and the camera was charged. All in all the reshot day was a good day.

I was the director again just like previously. I enjoyed directing I think it was a great experience being in charge of the process. Directing, in general, allows me to be able to be a perfectionist. Although the reshoot was an easy process but like all things we ran into some issues. There were no major issues except for trying to get back on track. To further explain my partner and I are friends so it was very easy to get off track and discuss other things. I was the one who got every one track. Filming was easy I made sure everyone dressed the same way as the did the original filming day and we followed the same script. The reshooting process took two hours just because we wanted to make sure we had really good shots. All in all, as previously mentioned the shooting process was a success.

Quarantine Day 100,000!

Since I have last posted on this blog things haven't changed they only have gotten worse not better as what was predicted. The USA is still on lockdown, people are required to self quartine. My home state government has issued a Safer at Home Order". Safer at home means "it limits movement outside homes to providing or getting essential services or carrying out essential activities. That also applies to interaction with other people outside of residents' homes. The order is in effect until April 30." The Safer at Home order was implemented on April 3. I have personally been quarantined at home since March 14. The reason why I was quarantined at home was that the government shut down schools at that time. I have not left my house to not spread germs etc. My school work has been conducted online for the past week. The shift from being at school to home is slightly problematic. 

In regards to my final project, things have not really shifted. To further explain since this is a project-based class nothing has drastically changed for me. Like I previously mentioned my final project was already shot before the quarantine. There is still some editing that has to be done. All in all, I am not really worried about turning in my final project. In relation to editing, I also have been working on my CCR. That process has been going smoothly as well. I first decided to write down a script on what I plan on saying. Then after I finish completing the draft I will film my CCR on Wednesday. Ultimately even though I am not directly affected by the pandemic I still hope for everything to run smoothly and for people to get better.