Final Post - Film Opening & CCRs

 This is my final post. I hope you guys enjoyed my journey so far and please enjoy my film openning and CCRs!

Film Opening - The Sound in Between

CCR 1

CCR 2

CCR Editing

 Although I have only just started editing, I got a lot done. I almost am finished with my first CCR which is really good and I have all the clips already for my second so all I need to do is piece them together. Anyhow, this is the process I went through while editing my CCR's.

 

The reason it might take a little while is because I filmed each line individually so we didn't have to switch the camera after every scene which definitely would've took more time.

Another thing difficult is the fact I'm going to have to include parts of my actual film which will be time consuming but worth it.

CCRs Production

I filmed my CCRs yesterday. It was pretty stressful since I forgot to show my dad (who was the 'host' in my 'talk show') the script. Therefore, him AND me didn't know what to say and we had such a limited time to memorize our lines. However, everything worked out fine.

Since I did a talk show, I had to use some of the conventions of a talk show such as a desk white a mug on it, a guest coming in and sitting down in a chair beside the host, and the host engaging the audience in their show. I used all that as you can see in this video:

 

Although it doesn't show me sitting down, it shows the other conventions of a talk show that I used.

Honestly, this whole filming process was really funny becuase my dad is a very comedic person, as you could probably tell. Plus, I had someone conmtributing ideas to me instead of having to decide everything for myself.

The outfits were also pretty good as he wore a button down and a tie. It was too hot in our house for him to wear a blazer over that so he didn't. For me, I just wore something that gave 'teen vibes' to really show that I'm young both in my film and in this 'talk show'.

Reflection on Project

 So, I've officially finished. Thank GOD.

(This is my film opening!!)

I have to say, this project was definitely something. From the constant blog posts, the planning, the filming, and all the editing I had to do, I am so grateful to say I've finished.

In the very beginning of taking this class, I was so excited having heard that I'd be making my own film opening. But now that I've experienced it, I can't say I'd be excited if I had to do it again. The whole process so far has been very educational and I've learned so much just from experiencing filmaking on my own. However, it takes so much work and planning and I now understand why films take so long to release. 

The filming for my project was actually not horrible though. For many parts it was fun. What made me exhausted was having to film all by myself as I am a major procrastinator and anytime I planned to do anything, I waited until the last moment when I was majorly stressed out. Other than that, I don't think I did that horrible of a job with my film opening and even with my CCRs. Though, I know I could always do better.

I was also really worried about my film. My idea was so vague and literally the day before I planned to film, I started to do my storyboard. That was really stressful but I did get it done (the day of filming). Yet, I don't want to beat myself up that much because I think I did a pretty okay job for someone who, again, is a MAJOR procrastinator and is horrible at being motivated by just themselves.

That being said, I am very grateful to have experienced this. It was very humbling, but hey, I got to learn a whole lot from it that I wouldn't have learned anywhere else. I'm just praying my grade represents the amount of work I put into this. 

CCR #4

 The very last question we are asked to answer is:

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

To answer this question, I have to include my own personal experience with my film along with all the production processes. 

So, in the very beginning I had NO IDEA what I was doing. I was completely oblivious to how to make any sort of creative footage, let alone a film. But, I needed to start somewhere and this is exactly what I did. First off, I made sure to pay attention in class and memorize the different shots, angles, and movementand what they're used for. Then, I watched movies under the genre of coming-of-age to get an idea of what shots were normally utilized and which ones I should incorporate for my project. 

At first, I was not very good with time management. I had always just winged it and I realized that for these things, I couldn't do that anymore. So I did what I hated most: I planned. As a major procrastinator, this was pretty difficult for me along with sorting out how much time I need for each step of my project. 

I adapted pretty quickly though and I became less of a procrastinator, however, I still am one. One thing I definitely miscalculated was the amount of time needed to actually film and edit. Not only did editing take forever, but my clips were very long and I almost had 30 minutes of footage to go through. In the end, I finished a little later than I should've but I wasn't late at all as I first started with pushing all my planning back to the last week before filming.

The script following the previous CCR:

Alfonso: You know, it's interesting that you produced a whole film all by yourself while barely knowing anything about film itself.

Maia: Yeah, now that I think about it, it's pretty crazy.

Alfonso: So, how did your production skills develop throughout your project then if you originally started out as an amateur?

Maia: That's a really great question. In the beginning, as always, I had NO IDEA what I was doing. I mean, I had only an idea of what I wanted to create but that idea was very abstract and I kept changing it. Plus, I had no way of creating it without knowing how to first. So I did what most would do. I binged-watched all my favorite coming-of-age movies. But this helped as I took note of all the shots, angles, and movements they used.

Alfonso: Hey but it worked out!

Maia: It did indeed. But, if you know me, I'm a HUGE procrastinator, so time management was one of my biggest challenges when filming and editing. However, I (kind of) overcame that by adapting to the planning prcocesses. 

Alfonso: Time management, huh? So was it difficult for filming or editing? Or was it difficult for both?

Maia: Both actually. I didn't know how much film I needed until I filmed too much and that's why editing was such a hassle becuase I had to go through minutes of the same shot filmed over and over again.

Alfonso: Dang. I would have no patience for that.

Maia: I thought I wouldn't, but here we are.

Alfonso: Thank god you weren't procrastinating coming to this show, am I right?

Maia (widens eyes and nervously smiles): Oh. No yeah. I would never... 

[Looks to audience with widened eyes]

Alfonso: Alright well, I think that's all the time we have for today. Please give it up for our guest Maia Quijano!

[Audience applauses]

Maia: Thank you, thank you.

Alfonso: Please join us next Saturday evening, for those who enjoyed what they heard today. I'm your host Alfonso, and this is The All Nighter show.

CCR #3

This is our question for our third film: 

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

The entirety of my project was filmed on my iPhone and I used a tripod to keep it steady/leveled. Some of my scenes though weren't exactly leveled and thats because I didn't have the attatchment for phones so I had to attach a ring light and it was just wobbly the whole time. Anyways, this was the only other item I used to help my phone in filming.

I didn't use the ring light in filming however, I did use a lamp inside my room to make the vibe more warm & dark than bright & monotone. The sounds were all just recorded directly from my phone as I had no extra microphone but I did use some foley sounds that were later added. 

For software, I used Canva to find my logo clip and to edit it for my production logo. While as for my project, I edited it with Clipchamp. There was a non-copyright song that I found online and I used withing my film and of course, I have been documenting everything through this blog. 

This is my script following the last one for CCR #2:

[Talking to audience]

Alfonso: Welcome back everyone. I hope no one fell asleep just yet. Right Maia? 

Alfonso (looks over at Maia): Maia..?

Maia (asleep then wakes up): Huh? Oh yes. Of course.

[Audience laughs]

Alfonoso (skeptical): Right.. Well onto the question the viewers have been waiting for.. How did you manage to film your movie and what did you use to do so?

Maia: As you already know, I'm an amateur filmaker. That being said, I am NOT rich at all. In fact, I'm pretty broke.

Alfonso (shocked): Wow! Wouldn't have expected that one..

Maia: Yeah I wouldn't have either. But anyways, I filmed everything right on my iPhone. Everything down to the sounds too. However, I did add foley sounds later.

Alfonso: Was it all the works of someone holding the phone? 

Maia: No no. Unfortunately, I was working by myself so I had to get a tripod to stabilize my phone. As for the lighting, I didn't use anything extra other than a lamp that was seen in the bedroom scene during the opening of my film.

Alfonso: That must've been very convenient though. You never had to carry around a huge expensive camera. 

Maia: Yeah, it was. The lamp that was in that room was also very convenient because it gave that warm but still pretty dark vibe that I was going for. 

Alfonso: So did you use any other softwares to edit your film lighting? 

Maia: I did yeah. I actually used Clipchamp to edit my film and I used it to create the film-worthy filter that you see. Anyone can actually read about this on my blog.

Alfonso (surprised): You have a blog?

Maia: Yes, and on it is a whole bunch of posts documenting my production processes. 

Alfonso: Oh wow, I'll for sure check that out then.

Maia: You definitely should.

CCR #2

 The second question we are asked to answer is: 

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

The target audience of my film are teenagers and young adults. This is seen by the young character and the multiple scenes within my film of school related elements and young asult/teen behavior. As for distributing my film, social media advertising seems best as I am just an amateur filmkaer and actor and I am trying to target a younger audience.

I will answer this, following the first part of my script of my dad interviewing me: 

Alfonso: And how do you think this engages with the audience? 

Maia: Well, as you know, my character is a teenager, so I really wanted to target the young adult audience. I decided this because this specific type of representation isn't always completely focused on in coming-of-age films, and I really wanted my film to center around that.                                                                   

Alfonso: I realized that during your opening but I never quite understood how you did that.

Maia: I think that the school, bus, and coming home scenes engaged my target audience as these are all things that these individuals can relate to. 

Alfonso: I see I see. How do you plan on distributing your film to your targeted audience though? 

Maia: Since I am only an amateur filmaker and I want to distribute to younger audiences, I've been promoting my film on social media platforms.

Alfonso: Yeah, I've seen your posts, they actually got me to watch your film, and let me say, it was beautiful. You should also get your celebrity friends to promote your movie too.

Maia (smiling): You read my mind. I was actually planning on doing that. 

[Turning to audience]

Maia: And everyone who's watching this show right now should definitely go check my film out too, if you haven't already. 

[Turning to audience too]

Alfonso: I agree. It won't disappoint.

[Maia nods]

[Alfonso, still talking to audience]

Alfonso: Anyhow, we will be taking a quick break and we will be back in five! When we come back, Ms. Quijano will be revealing the secret to how she filmed her movie.