CCR

 

Final Blog Post, THE VIDEO!

 

How many times the idea was changed for this once scene (missing pictures)

 Felt like two million but it was only about, like three times we had changed our idea for this ONE SCENE. It was honestly insane, so initially, we had thought this scene to only be in a bathroom at school. So we would film at Everglades High School, which sounded very convenient for us since we could just film after school! Although here were the complications with that...so we had no way for someone to willingly watch us in the bathroom. So we were like, let's talk to Coach B! He is definitely someone to help us since Abby used to be in the swim team. Disclaimer: Abby never spoke to Coach B, she forgot. Which was completely okay since we eventually did figure it out. It was complicated but eventually we figured out. We kept persisting to stay in the school bathroom, and since we needed multiple people for this that were not in the group we kept telling them, "Go to bathroom after school, with X amount of supplies and these certain supplies!" To no ones surprise they were either busy or only some were available.

SOOOOOO, we changed the plan! We had told each other that the plan wasn't working and that it was useless to still go through with it due to complications with how much people couldn't meet up and how we could possibly get in trouble by the school for filming in a bathroom without adult supervision for a scene of a beat up. So we then had to move to the park, which we had thought was a pretty good idea. It was off school campus; the bathroom at the school looks like a school. So we then had informed the people we needed that it would be at the park in the bathroom, but then we realized the scene we planned with all this dialogue wouldn't even fit since we had such a short time limit. So we also needed one helper at that point. Once we all met at the park, after many attempts to try and plan this, we then encountered another obstacle. THE BATHROOM WAS LOCKED. The way I almost pulled my hair out when we got there, we were running out of time to film, and it was so complicated to meet up again. So we then chose a little corner in the park to film at and it honestly looked like a bathroom! So we collectively decided right then and there we couldn't wait for it to open and we had to film right there, and since the scenes were so short location wasn't out most prioritized issue.

The importance of foley noise

 No one really recognizes the importance that Foley plays in films. Especially when you are putting music over a film. For instance, in my film opening, the videos recorded did not match up in terms of sound so we had to put music over. Once that audio was moved we also had some dialogue so I had to foley over the voices of the girls talking. I had to make two different voices, record them over a proper mic, and then sync the audio. It was difficult, but since our backs were turned, it looked realistic, and to some, probably just the right amount of realistic. We have some more foley to do before out time is up but that is when we completely finish up timing the whole film as we have an extra 9 seconds to be dealt with.

The future foley to include are heel sounds, possibly walking in grass, and a girl whispering the words Irene over and over. For the heels, we need to include them when Irene is getting out of her bed because she is supposed to have them on already in the bed (since she cannot take off any of her clothes after the death). So I will just take a microphone, record heels on my own floor to then match up that audio with how her walking pace is. For walking in the grass, the two best friends are seen walking on the grass so it would make sense to hear them walking as we have birds chirping, and we can hear them. So, we should also be able to hear the girls' movements in their connection to nature at the moment. Lastly, at the end of the scene, we have to create a sound that doesn't match an action but more so what Irene is hearing. We won't be able to see what's happening that matches with the sound but it will make sense in terms of how the camera will be zooming in, indicating the sound getting intenser. Overall, this will sound very good once all is done, and it is much better with F
oley than without. It is almost in possible to make a live movie with no foley, or else the movie would be kinda bad.

What people thought our film was like

Most people had thought our film was inspired by something called school spirits. School spirits is a show on Netflix that I and my group have never heard of. Well, I have seen it on youtube shorts once, but most definitely have I not heard it besides that. Apparently, the whole entire plot is about a girl who dies or a group of people who dies and then they need to figure out who killed them. Now, even though it is not clearly said that the girl is looking for her killer it is implied. That is also what the plot is, but since this is only a film opener we don't really need to tell the audience that much. 

This happened too many times when I brought up the plot to my friends. It is also surprising that I didn't know this show as it has very famous actors staring in Jessie and Cobra Kai, PEYTON LIST. She is one of the most renowned childhood actors for being on Disney channel and a famous Netflix tv show. This is also why I remembered the YouTube short so well, because it contained an actor that I could remember so easily. Overall, the idea that we had used for pout film was very similar to this one on Netflix. So, I am very shocked that the plot was very aligned to what we had thought in mind. I am glad though, that our idea wasn't too uncommon but, it kinda sucks that our idea is taken and seems like we are copying another film when we aren't. 

Butterfly effect (pictures missing)

 I learned the term the butterfly effect through TikTok. I also learned a lot of other things through TikTok, such as the software that we used to edit. We used, Capcut. I learned about Capcut when I knew that I wanted to attempt and edit YouTube videos or potentially even edits for characters. I found them very fascinating when I saw them on Capcut it when I saw other people on YouTube using Capcut for their YouTube videos. So I decided to give it a chance. This was around early sixth grade when I got the app, so I had time to familiarize myself with it and try to learn more about it. By the time we had the project assigned I already knew the easiest software to use, so it helped a lot. 

Now, you may be wondering why I titled this blog "Butterfly Effect." The butterfly effect is when something such as a small butterfly can affect your life so much but you don't even realize it. If I never got TikTok I would be lost at what editing software to use. So since I got tiktok, watched some videos, started watching edits, was interested in the edits, wanted to know how to edit, and then downloaded capcut. Without tiktok I would not know what editing software to use for my very important Cambridge component. So I am very thankful sometime in 2020 I decided to download tiktok.

How this made me closer to my friends (no pic)

 Hello! Today I will discussing how this porject, even though it wwas very stressful. It brought me closer to my friends. Which I am very grateful for!

Abby AKA Ate Abby- 

Abby and I are already pretty close as it is. She is close to me because of our families being close and we share something similar such as our ethnicity, filipino! Im only half but like its helpful to have some familiar filipino faces since all my mom's family is on the other side of the world. Although before this, even though our families were close, we weren't that close. I was closer with her big sister, Judith or little brother, JB even her little sister Kaye! Yet, with this experience, I grew fonder of her as she did with me. It's silly to think that just an assignment can make you closer, but I was basically FORCED to talk to them about FORCED conversation and bonding time. So now, when I see Abby I feel more like I have a sister around. Especially since she is the oldest out of all of us it feels cool to have someone who listens, jokes, is honest, and helps me!

Haaniya AKA my jokester-

Haaniya and I have been friends for the longest out of the three members. We have a trio that we all share, but our other friend is at another school. I am already pretty close to Haaniya, but seeing her more is always fun, even if we're just working. She got to go to my house, though, and I was so happy for her to come because she usually doesn't go to my house. Little things like those would have never happened in the project didn't. I guess it just added to my friendship with Haaniya, and I am very thankful it did. I actually get to see her tomorrow for a hangout! Haaniya never fails to make me laugh, but she also knows how to be serious when she has to, she never makes me overstimulated, and that's why it was so great to work with her. The more time I spent working with her on this project, the more I realized I sincerely appreciate our friendship. 

Jadelyn AKA partner in crime-

Jadelyn and I have never failed to understand each other and make each other laugh. Last year, everyone knew how close we were, and it was because we understood one another so well. Doing this project kinda rejuvenated me since we aren't in the debate anymore it felt like we have gotten more distant which is sad because Jadelyn and I were like TIGHTT last yeat but this year it just weakened. This doesn't mean we aren't frineds it just means we got more distant, which I was okay with. But by working with her I got to spend time with her like I used too! So this project basically rejuvenated our friendship and brought it back to life I guess. 

In the end all my friends have grew closer to me by a lot becuase of this project, so besides it being stressful it was overall super fun.

Wishlist

Actors

If I had access to a major movie production I would take advantage of how many famous actors I could pay for. I would be able to obtain people such an winona ryder, jenna ortega, millie bobby brown, tom holland and maybe even mckenna grace. These famous individuals are awesome people, and I am guaranteed that they know how to act from the examples of their old movies that they have presented to audiences. I do not have to worry about not needing to teach actors how to act, especially in actual scenes that involve a lot of emotions.  I would also be able to hype up audiences to come and see the movies from the popular and well-known actors being available. I may also be able to invite new actors, to make them famous. This helps new actors for new opportunities in the future.

Costumes

For most of the costumes, they wouldn't be too much money. This is because this film circles around teenagers in high school, which will be average priced outfits from a place simple as the mall or Walmart/Target. A costume that would most definitely require more money is the villain's outfit. The outfit is introduced as a teenager's dress outfit. However, throughout the movie, it is planned that we have her look like a monster so she will look inhumane. She will be in a monster form. Besides that, the budget will not change that much, and it will remain pretty low for the clothing.

Setting/Location

The setting and location of the film would change drastically. If I had the chance to rent out a actual school, that would be a dream come true! I would rent out a school, park, build a set for a bedroom and rooms of house, and honestly, so much more. Although, since out film is circled in a school, it would consist mostly of that. Possibly, if I had the capabilities to use a town to film some separate scenes for throughout the movie, that would also be very special. I admire how films look, and the location definitely plays a big part into how the film look, but also how the film feels towards the audience. This honestly would be the second to first expense that would the most. Actors are expensive, but so are sets and perfect locations! 

Lighting/sound/editing

I do not know too much about lighting, sound, and editing. In terms of how to use it to a full-blown movie extent, but if I really take the whole thing into account, I can say that it would honestly be so much money. My goal for this movie is to not only have the acting, costumes, and location good. I want to create an atmosphere that feel unsafe just through the sounds, filters, and look of the scene through those small factors. I would start by purchasing equipment that could make my scenes look unsettling, so lots of ambient lights that can mimic school lights in a unsettling way. Because I would honestly say that using the actual ugly school lights wouldn't help that much to make the scene look 'mysterious'. Sound would be something less than lighting. I would say that most sound could be created through the scenes and simple microphones. Lastly, I will say that the editing would cost A LOT, to make everything look real in this movie would take a lot of effort, time, and money, so it is definitely one of the big spenders for this film.

Going to Beacon TV studios (pics missing)

 Benefits-

The benifits of having somehwere like Beacon to go to were that it basically had everything for me to use. When abby had gone over to pick up filming gear the first time, she got everything we needed! We didn't think it was possible to acquire such gear but we got it! It made things much easier by having what we needed right by our side. We got a very useful camera, a tripod, lighting that changed colors and really changed the mood on the scene, microphones to have a clear understanding of what was being recorded, and clear instructions on how to use them. Without beacon we would have been suing our phones, which probably have terrible quality if you ask me, haha. We saw past films and really saw how these films were...not the best. So we are very happy that we got to have opportunity some groups over the year could not. 

Struggles-

The small benefits seriously made up for the many struggles with the gear. We mainly encountered the issue of getting the gear, since the place is so far (Davie) and we all live in Miramar getting the gear felt like a chore! So abby got it first, then i did for the second time and when my mom heard hwo far she had to drive she was not happy. Another issue was converting the vidoes, as the director and editior I had to rely on Abby to convert the videos into her phone since she had her own converter. So I had to wait and rely on her for that. Which was painful when we were on a time crunch. The last was the renting of the gear, we had to rent the gear which we had a time limit of only a week and if we broke any of the VERY PROFESSIONAL GEAR we had to pay! Which was scary thinking the gear was being used by the whole group so the gear was going into multiple hands of people. Overall though, still a worth it experience. 

Specific camera shots/angles

 In total today I will be discussing four camera angles. POV, Close up, Cowboy, and Medium Close up.

POV shot was used in the beginning when we had the POV of not the character, but the scene was not of the character's POV. It was the mirror's POV. This was used because we had to ensure that the audience could clearly feel the frustration coming out of Irenes through the direct look of her face. The next type of shot that was used was the Medium close-up, which was used during the ending scene of the film. When the voices in Irenes's head got higher and higher. Or in this case, louder and louder it got worse for as time went on. When the voice eventually started to feel real enough that last time, Irene turned her head to fully look at the thing that killed her for the first time in a year. By using a medium closeup, we clearly see her emotions and fright by the monster she has been hunting for. 

A cowboy shot was utilized as Irene was heading towards her class. Only around below the hip and above was seen. The intention for this was that even in a crowd and in a camera, Irene is not important. She doe not mean anything to the camera, so she gets no full shot, and she means nothing to her peers who cannot see her. So ergo, they ignore her. This is the last type of shot to be discussed in a close-up. Now this close-up is different because it is only doing a close up on an object. By showing these objects it shows that Irene's once moral things that meant so much are no longer what she can use. They are individually in a close up to give the audience context to what she is looking at and what she is acknowledging she no longer has the capability of using. 

Editing Post 2 (missing pictures, 4)

 Within the time of editing amongst my peers we have spent much time to do it. We are still editing, but we have spent around 4 hours worth of editing. This is because we have to input sounds and rewatch, recut, and reevaluate scenes to see if they are cohesive with each other. Without them being cohesive, the film does not make sense, and it can leave an audience uninterested. So that is why we spend so much time into who and what we are doing during editing. And also why we have spent a little more than three hours editing for such a short clip. 

The people involved in editing are Jadelyn and me, and this is because Jadelyn has many good ideas for editing but she also knows how to apply them. I love to edit in my own time, so this already is an activity I have taken into my personal life and enjoy. Haaniya and Abby are also involved editing but are more so the idea givers than the actual editors; for other input, we also ask out friends. Especially Andres, who is involved in videography at Everglades. Others involved are just friends who we would like input from an unbiased audience such as my group. We can't always judge everything since this is our film, so we need other opinions. We are currently still needing to film two more things that we missed, but we are editing everything we can so that when we quickly film those other scenes, we only need to edit those and send the video out to Ms. Woz. But overall, we are almost done.