Creative Critical Reflection

 Hi blog! After months of dedication and hard work, I am so excited to finally be able to show you guys my CCR! Hope you enjoy!

CCR Part 1- Director's Commentary 

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

To provide viewers with an insight into my creative decisions and show how I prepared and carried out my film opening, I produced a Director's Commentary. It enables me to justify the use of specific lighting, sound, and camera angles to express meaning. I decided to make one since it shows my growth as a filmmaker and helps others understand how I think. Overall, it improves the audience's understanding of my work. 

CCR Part 2- Presentation

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

For my 2nd CCR, I chose to do a presentation because it was easier for me to express my thoughts in a structured and understandable way. I was able to break down important topics and add images by using slides, which made it more interesting than just talking. I was also able to provide examples from my film opening to support my explanations. Overall, my response was more creative and simpler for the audience to comprehend, thanks to this idea. 

CCR Part 3- Podcast 

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

For my 3rd CCR, I decided to do a Podcast since it gave me a more original and conversational way to express my thoughts. This structure kept the audience interested while making it simpler to go into detail and reflect on my work. Additionally, it allowed me to improve my explanation by concentrating on my tone and sound. Overall, the podcast format gave my response a more engaging and personal feel. 

CCR Part 4- Get Unready With Me

How did your production skills develop throughout this project? 

For my last CCR, I decided to do a Get Unready With Me because it made my response more creative and relatable to my target audience. This approach made it possible for me to design something that looks visually good while also providing a casual explanation for my viewers. It made the reflection seem less formal and helped my audience stay interested. Overall, it improved the entertainment level of my CCR without losing the understanding of my claims. 

I can't believe this project has come to an end! Enjoy! 

Final Brief

 We have finally come to the end of our project! I am so excited for you guys to watch all of our hard work. Although the process of being successful was so hard and stressful, it was all worth it in the end. 

We hope you enjoy it as much as us! 

Title: The Secret

Members: Antonella Escorza, Melanie Arango, and Maheen Haroon.

Production: Editing day 3

 Hello blog! Today is our 3rd and final day of editing! Today, I will be telling you guys about our 3rd day of editing. 

We did a lot of work on our opening film today, the third day of editing. Our primary focus was on crafting text boxes that were simple and easy to understand. Additionally, we utilized these text boxes to acknowledge the actors (Melanie and Noel), the director (Maheen), and the producer (me) for their help with the project. Our film felt cleaner and finished as a result.

In order to create a more effective and scary effect, we put the title of our film in the final scene and chose to make it red. This minor change really helped in setting the mood and increasing the emotional effect of the finale.

To change the text boxes' appearance and ensure that they matched the overall style of our movie, we used the fill tool. Additionally, we added a blurring effect to really improve the last scene. We found "Gaussian Blur" in the effects panel and dragged it onto the scene to do this. This helped bring the opening to an effective end and gave the closing a deformed, unsettling look that worked extremely well for a horror mood.

In order to make things appear more consistent and natural, we also took some time to change the lighting in a few clips. We had some internet problems, though, which often slowed us down and made editing more difficult. We realized that we were not going to be able to follow the script strictly due to editing difficulties. So, we had to take out when Luna said, "I need some advice." In spite of everything, we managed to achieve a lot and are getting close to the end of our project. Through the effects panel, we changed the exposure, contrast,  highlights, shadows, and the black and whites. We made all the beginning clips the same ones as shown below. 

Reflection:

After giving our editing process some thought, we discovered that Premiere Pro was more difficult to use than we thought. We began by simply playing with multiple functions to figure things out because we didn't really know how to use many of their features at first. Overall, given the first difficulties, we are very happy with the outcome of our video and proud of the achievements we have made.

Production: Editing day 2

 Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog! Today, I will be sharing what we accomplished during our second day of editing.

We included all of the video from our second day of recording into our project on the second editing day. We carefully reviewed the new footage and arranged it in the right order to fit the scene's flow. This made the project feel more finished overall and allowed us to expand on the work we finished on the first day.

Music

We also started adding music to our movie, which was an important step. Since our goal is to create a scary horror setting, we made sure the music matched each scene and contributed to the appropriate mood. Finding the ideal timing and sound took considerable time, but it significantly changed how the scenes felt.

Issues:

However, the Wi-Fi did cause us to have some issues. We had to restart the editing program multiple times, which slowed us down, and our progress stopped a few times. As a result, we didn't have enough time to correct the lighting or add the credits. We used YouTube as a guide to help us figure out how to edit particular parts of the project when we were unsure of how to do so. The editing process was made easier by watching tutorials, which taught us new skills and helped us overcome issues.

In order to finish our project, we are going to focus on adjusting the lighting and adding the finishing touches, such as the credits, on day three.

Reflection:

This taught me that editing requires a lot of problem-solving and learning new skills. I came to see that when you don't know how to do anything, accessing tools like YouTube may be incredibly beneficial. Overall, I discovered that you can still advance and improve your idea even in the face of technical difficulties.

Production: Editing day 1

 Hello blog! Welcome back to my blog! Today, I will be explaining how we edited the first scene of our film.

We mostly concentrated on organizing all of our videos and going over each clip we shot on the first day of editing. We carefully considered each shot, making adjustments and selecting the ones that fit the situation. Because we wanted to ensure that the clips matched our intended idea and flowed nicely together, this process required time. Selecting the right clips is important since it establishes the structure for the entire scene and contributes to the flow of the story, despite the fact that it could appear like an easy step.

In order for the scene to play smoothly and naturally, we also made sure to arrange the clips in the right order. By doing this, we were able to gain a better understanding of how the finished scene will appear after everything has been edited.

We plan to focus more on lighting editing and enhancing the scene's overall visual appeal the next time. Since our movie is in the horror category, changing the lighting will help us create the vibe we want. This will give the scene a more realistic and intense sense while also giving it an improved look.

Reflection

This taught me that editing involves more than just adding effects it also involves carefully choosing and organizing footage to create an entire scene. I came to understand that even the initial stage of choosing goods is important since it establishes the structure for the entire film. Overall, I discovered that preparing ahead of time and spending time on the basics can greatly improve the final edit.

Production: Analyzing day 2

 Hello blog! In today's blog, I will be analyzing our second day of filming. We already introduced Luna, so we felt like it was unnecessary to bring her up again. However, we are introducing our new character, Thomas! 

Scene 2

Luna's home was the location for our second scene. This is when the dialogue will start and the questionable elements will start to be included. However, we want this scenario to seem fairly "normal" before things start to change in Luna's life.

Location:

This scene will be set at Luna's home's entrance. We would like to represent Luna receiving the item she has been waiting for, but it is not what it looks like. She was clearly upset by the message she received as she entered the house. The scene will be brief and immediately followed by the next one.

Props:

Two important props will influence Luna's choices as the film goes on. The package she has been waiting for is one of the ones that will be briefly mentioned in the opening and initially show up in the second scene. The message attached to the package will be the second and the reason for a change in situations. These two will be the movie's initial moments of tension and terror. We hope that this surprises the audience and makes them consider the possibility that Luna's life isn't as "normal" as it first appears.

Scene 3:

Our goal in this sequence is to make the viewers feel as suspenseful as possible before leaving them on a cliffhanger. In addition to introducing a new character, Thomas, who will redirect and paint a different picture of the film for the audience, we are going to use a number of techniques to build suspense.

Location: 

Since Luna and Thomas will be speaking on the phone in this scene, the location is important. The issue is that, despite the fact that Thomas is shown inside a car and Luna is seen at her neighborhood bar, they are actually at the same location at the same time. The viewers will be able to figure out that Thomas's car is parked at the drink spot by considering context clues. Our goal is to make the audience anxious and then curious about what will happen next.

Costume:

Thomas, a fresh and important character, will be introduced in the third scene. We wanted him to appear like a typical teenage male that the audience could identify with, just like we did with Luna. The audience will quickly come to the conclusion that, regardless of how "ordinary" he appears, appearances shouldn't be all that people show.

Thomas appears to be just another popular, athletic teenager kid because he is wearing a baseball shirt and golf cap. We took this action so that he would be portrayed throughout the movie as the "popular" guy who never seemed to be who he truly was. These clothing selections are made statistically, even though this wouldn't be made public in the start. Until it becomes clear that something is wrong with him, we don't want him to appear suspicious. The purpose of these costume pieces is to show that not everyone is who they appear to be.

Production: Filming Day 2

 Hi blog! Today I will be telling you about our second production day.

Today, my group and I met up at Cali Coffee to start filming. We shot the scenes where Luna called Tomas to talk about the note. We did some tracking shots, close-up shots, and over-the-shoulder shots. We were unable to get mics, so we used our phones to record the audio. Overall, filming in Cali was a great experience, and we made sure to go when the sun was at its brightest. 

Planning our production day

We sent the final draft to the actors this week so they could see the storyboards and commit it to memory. We made sure everyone was aware of the time, place, and schedule we had to stick to before we started filming. We had to change the camera we had initially intended to use for filming, which caused a minor issue. We had to ask our teacher at the last minute if we could check out a camera so we could record. Fortunately, we were able to check out her camera, and it completed the task. We changed to a Canon EOS Rebel T7 camera. We also couldn't get to the microphones that would function with it because we had to swap cameras. We were forced to use a recording device, which we will need to import during editing. We managed to complete our production in spite of these circumstances, and we are usually happy with the outcome.

The outcome

While filming, I struggled a little bit with keeping the camera still. This was because I did not have a tripod. However, I still made it work, and I made sure to retake shots as necessary. 

After Cali, we went to Melanie's house to film the first few scenes. We filmed her getting the package with the note, and also filmed some shots of her walking into her house. We made sure to follow the script exactly as it is and do some close-up and tracking shots.

Here are some pictures of some of the scenes we shot.

Reflection

We are super happy that we are done with filming because now it's time to edit! We are grateful that all of our issues got solved, and we were still able to be successful in filming. We can't wait to see what the final product looks like!

Production: Analyzing Day 1

 Hello blog! Today I will tell you, guys, about all the elements we used for this film. We felt it would be crucial to set up all of our components, including setup, sets, and costumes, since we would be starting filming this week. Letters and forests were among the topics I discussed in earlier blogs. As we started preparing for the movie's premiere, we made the decision to use some of the ideas we came up with along the process while also keeping some of the original elements.

Scene 1: 

We made the decision that the first scene should only show the girl (Luna) arriving home before her day takes an unexpected turn, without any speech. We wanted this setting to appear relaxed, almost as if nothing was unusual.

Location:

This scenario, which takes place at Luna's high school, will show how she is casually dismissed. We included this sequence to give viewers the impression that she is simply a regular girl, which will later show that something "off" is happening in her life as time goes on. In order for the young adult/teen audience to become interested in the film, we are attempting to make this moment realistic.

Props:

We are trying to make Luna seem like just a regular girl, so we decided to give her some basic school items. These are the items we chose. 

 

Just before her class ends. Luna is seen using her notes in the opening shot. Luna is clearly focused but also bored, giving the impression that she is ready to get home after a difficult school day. She can also be seen looking at her watch, and then the scene shifts to her packing her belongings in the black backpack. These important factors set the tone and attract the audience, but they don't play a significant part in the overall plot. In this scene, we want the audience to be able to relate to Luna's life.

Costume

We wanted to make Luna seem like a normal teenage girl, so we gave her a basic style and outfit to wear for this film. 

Luna is dressed normally in this opening scene to symbolize how any typical day might take an unexpected turn. Together, these clothing pieces give the impression that she is a typical girl, but there is a deep secret going on in her life that will be partly revealed later.

Production: Finishing filming day 1

 Hello, blog! As I previously stated, due to the camera dying, we were forced to add an additional short filming day. Although adding an extra day at the last minute was challenging, we all understood how important it would be to complete it as quickly as possible in the long run. This one will be brief but still clear because everything we did was essentially the same as on the first day of production.

Lighing

 Fortunately, we were all able to use some class time to record the final few scenes. We wanted to make sure we filmed this around the same time of day as our first shots. We will need to color it to make it reflect the previous day because the weather was gloomier on the day we concluded filming scene 1. Here are a few clips that we captured that will require coloring to achieve our bright lighting goal:

Overall, these last few scenes were pretty successful. Although it was a little annoying that my camera ended up dying, we still made it work.

Production- Filming day 1

 Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog! Today I will be telling you guys how filming went!

Filming officially began, and it was thrilling to see our storyboard come to life! Before the mystery begins, we filmed Luna at school for our opening scenes, showing her typical, everyday routine. We took pictures of Luna packing up all of her supplies, sitting in class, and the bell ringing. Because it adds realism to the scene and specifies the timing of her leave, we took care to film the bell in particular. Additionally, we saw glimpses of her leaving class, helping set up the next section of the narrative. We were able to concentrate on minor aspects, such as camera angles and smooth transitions, by filming these moments. We used a lot of wide shots and close-up shots for these scenes. The project felt more real when we watched everything come together on camera, and we are even more excited to continue filming the remaining scenes!

Planning our production day

In order to fully execute the scene as we start the first day of production, we needed to think back on our first storyboard. We decided it would be the ideal day to film our first scene because my group and I all have the same class's fourth period. I offered to use my Sony Alpha A3000 camera for filming, and since the opening scene won't have any speaking, microphones weren't required today. Before filming, we set aside thirty minutes in class to thoroughly set up the camera angles and movements we wanted in each location.

Lighting choices

Because we wanted the time to be constant, we wanted to record this entire scene in order rather than skipping across footage. In order for the film to flow and have a natural opening, we want to make sure that every scene is filmed in the same order throughout the following few days of shooting. We decided it was a good idea to start in the middle of the day so we could take use of the sun's natural brilliant lighting because we had a lot of different footage to film in a short amount of time. We have more time to shoot more scenes because we began filming at noon.

Reflection

Our day of filming went well overall. Near the end of the day, the camera died. This week, we intend to remain after school to complete the three photographs we had intended to take. Our initial timeline is going to be affected by this, but in order to make a good movie, we must complete these final few clips. After this, we want to use editing tools to make changes to the movie. In order to correctly organize the scenes and avoid being in a rush to finish them, we also intend to edit as we are filming.

Here is a picture of a close-up shot we filmed of Luna.

Production- Making the note

 Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog! Today, I will be telling you the process of how we made the secret note! 

We focused on creating the film's secret note this week. The message was brief but impactful: "Dear Luna, I'm always watching." We wanted it to feel mysterious and slightly frightening. Its simplicity increases the drama and raises questions in the audience's mind. Instead of making it neat, we used sloppy handwriting and crumpled the paper to make it appear real. To make it even more spooky and memorable on camera, we also included a hand-drawn logo at the bottom. Despite being a minor prop, it greatly heightens the tension in our plot, and we can't wait to film the moment in which it is found!

Reflection:

This taught me that even seemingly minor props, like a letter, may significantly increase tension and add interest to a narrative. I came to see that things like crumpled paper and sloppy handwriting can add a realistic and eerie quality. In general, I discovered that mystery and suspense can be effectively created with simplicity.