Group Meeting

Hi! We grouped up in class today to find out things we can do to improve our projects and help others improve theirs. I found this extremely effective. Dino, a fellow classmate, came up with the great idea that after the puking scene, Lily and Jessica could leave the stall and slam the door (Zain and Dino even acted it out). He noted that the door slam could have a significant sound effect and as the sound comes on, the title could appear on the wall. I thought this was super cool and a great way to implement the title. Zain also let me know that filming of school bathrooms cannot be done during school hours so I think that was pretty important to know.


The members of my group also mentioned that my blogs should be titled with the name of what I’m talking about rather than numbering them so that it’s easier to organize. They also recommended that I don’t make the pictures of my script super big and just keep it as is or put the link of the PDF.


Zain and Dino also gave me great advice on how to make my flashbacks smoother, as flashbacks are hard to create. Zain said it would look good if I started off the flashback with just a close-up shot of Lily’s face zoning out. Then, Dino suggested a subtle fade-in of white noise and lighting/filtering to make the flashback look like it’s from the past. Another good idea that Dino had was to end the flashback with faint callings of Lily’s name by the teacher, and then the last calling of her name would be the end of the flashback and back to reality. Luis thinks that my intro might have a lot of components for two minutes, so I’m keeping in mind that some changes may have to be made or some scenes may have to be cut short.

This is an idea of the bathroom door closing that Dino suggested. 
https://youtu.be/mQpO7sRfGaI?si=97W7zkiDd2ZiQZF_

It's hard to explain how I want the title to look. This isn't the exact font or placement of the words I want, but it's just an idea.

I also had a couple links from the evidence of my research in my blogs, but they weren’t clickable, so they taught me how to make them clickable and easier to access, which I appreciated a lot.


I noticed that one of my group members had a really good idea of a police chase scene, as it fit the idea he was going for. The only issue was the visuals of the actual scene. I asked him to imagine how he wanted the scene to look and that he was going to need to implement a way to show a car chasing after another car. He needs to do this, not JUST from the perspective of inside one of the cars, if that makes sense. He should certainly film the faces of the drivers, but he also needs to actually show a car chasing another car from the exterior. I gave him the idea of maybe filming in the sunroof so that it gets a shot of the car chasing the other car so he doesn’t just film the men’s perspective. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I also let him know that he should definitely have a lot of shaky handheld camera movements in that specific scene, as it causes chaos and shows how the car may be going really fast, even if it isn’t. I also told him that maybe he should find an area that is rocky and not on concrete, to film it. I think my idea really helped him visualize and open his eyes to how he actually needs to film the scene rather than just seeing an idea and not planning how to film it.

After listening to the ideas of my classmates, I really like their ideas and I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

Researching teen pregnancy and character development

 Hi! I got some feedback from my teacher and need to include more research on character development and teen pregnancy. Teenagers who get pregnant are more likely to face critical social issues risky behavior that leads to poor health issues, and child welfare than those who are older. Results from several studies show that young women who bear a child as teenagers are substantially less likely to complete high school than those who bear a child later on. Card and Wise, for example, found that young women who bear a child in high school not only were of lower socioeconomic status when they were in ninth grade but already had lower academic abilities and lower educational expectations than their classmates. These factors also predict poor school performance and poor later life chances.

Evidence:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219229/

For character development, I knew I needed more research. I stumbled across the opening sequence of "Boogie Nights" which effectively introduces the characters and their initial motivations, establishes the film's world, and sets the stage for the character development that will unfold as the story progresses. The film begins with a tracking shot into a nightclub where Eddie Adams is introduced. He is a young and seemingly innocent person. The choice of introducing him in a nightclub sets the tone for the adult industry backdrop. Eddie's interaction with Jack Horner and the offer to join the industry is the starting point of his character development.

Boogie Nights

I think I can try to develop a better introduction of my character by starting off with her daily routine. This is so that viewers can get a better sense of who the character is, what they do, and who they do it with. I think interactions with friends and teachers can help develop the voice and manner of the character. I want to Use the character's possessions to convey her social and economic status. For example, her clothing, (put together and organized) can speak volumes about her aspirations of being a successful student. By combining these elements in the opening scenes of my film, I can develop my character's place in society by providing the audience with an understanding of her situation, and help develop character throughout the story.

Revised script and changes made

In today's blog, I wanted to talk about the way I developed my script and some revisions I made. First, I utilized the Canva template, "TV and Film Script Doc in Black and White Agnostic Style" and lots of script examples to create the ideal screenplay I wanted.  I had to alter my script as I didn't capitalize the names of the characters throughout the whole script, only during dialogue. I also had to change the way one of our characters, "Jessica," spoke to Lily. This is so that viewers get an authentic perspective of how teenagers communicate. I had quite a lot of words/sentences bolded, so I had to fix that as well. I added "INT." and "EXT." to specify where the scenes take place. 

Here is my revised script:

Script

 

Story Outline Brainstorming

 Story Outline Brainstorming:

My partner and I want to create a film opening that captures the experience of a pregnant teen who has to navigate through school, social, and familial life with this new big change. Lily is determined to attend Yale University and has a big future in front of her. She earns amazing grades, is part of many clubs, and has lots of extracurriculars, We choose to do this because this is a sensitive subject that happens more often than people think and should be addressed more. We hope to create a relatable/comfortable aspect for our target audience, which is targeted toward pregnant/non-pregnant teens but also for family members or friends who have endured this situation.

We want to begin with our actor, me, walking into school and through school with the themey, catchy, song over it. We want to utilize mise-en-scene elements like the way she is dressed (ex: a put-together outfit like a skirt or a Yale hoodie would be good, a ponytail with a bow, holding books, with a backpack on.) 

I imagine her like this but a little more preppy.

To make her seem even more academic, and if time permits, we could always add beginning scenes of her delivering papers to teachers or at after-school clubs during the music which will help develop her character in an instant.

Everyone knows Lily, especially teachers, so she gets waved at by many students and teachers while walking into school and she has just received valedictorian. People will say hi, wave, or congratulate her and she will respond. Some people could even ask her for plans or she could say something along the lines of “Are we still on for Friday?” We want to make it in a way so that the music doesn’t stop throughout the beginning and everyone just talks over the music. The scene will immediately cut to her, throwing up in the bathroom, while a friend holds her hair back. Her friend will ask her something like, “Are you good?” She’ll then nod “no” and look back into the toilet. We will use Foley sounds for the throw and we will make a barf mixture. As she continues to throw back up in the toilet, the title of our movie will pop onto the screen with a big effect. The font will be in a way that the scene will continue, but, inside of the letters of the title. 

The next scene will begin with a shot of the back of her head, and the bell will ring. The music will then come on again and the titles will pop up as she walks. She makes eye contact with this one boy in the hallway, which happens to be a very important shot. The boy will be the guy who got her pregnant, Jake.

Lily happens to have this class with Jake so throughout the scene, they make eye contact in class (if we have time for this.) If not, we will just briefly show Lily zoning out in class, which she never does, and cut to a flashback of the night she spent with Jake. 

The flashback is Lily lying on her side in bed. She awakes, smiles, and turns to look at Jake after spending a night together until she realizes he has abandoned her. The flashback gets interrupted abruptly by the teacher saying “Lily” and she gets startled. Then the teacher will say “Focus, eyes up here.” She will make eye contact with Jake, and then look at the teacher. He will continue the lesson and that’s where the opening ends.

Character development

My partner and I wish to create a development of character within our film opening. We want to create our character and their relevancy to the story. We will have one lead actor that drives the plot and appears in most scenes. There will include supporting characters that might be related, or a friend to the main character. We could establish a brief background of the characters and also have minor characters that will appear in very short amounts of time and may not even say anything.




"Up" develops character by showing the journey of Carl and Ellie from childhood to old age. It showcases their dreams, emotions, backstory, and struggles but also establishes the connection between the characters.

The next step in character development is understanding our character’s purpose in the story. For our lead character, we need to establish the inner conflict they will face, and drive their actions throughout the story.

After researching, I found something called character arc. This is the inner journey of the character, and mapping out how the character will change from one person into another type of person by the conclusion of the film or series. We want to establish how the character will turn out in only 2 minutes.



We also have to figure out our character’s social profile, background, and history, which will influence how they speak, act, and how they interact with other characters.

First setting and first dialogue is something we need to consider and think about. It shows where they may hang out/be around and how they talk to the people around them. Our character needs to have a specific voice and a good idea might be to change her voice around certain people.

Blog Schedule

 I plan to post 3-4 blogs a week. I want to follow the Portfolio Recommended Schedule but the dates below are different from the exact days and may be changed for unforeseen circumstances. I will certainly be using the post-ahead feature for Spring Break. 

1. 2/9- transition post
2. 2/13- picking out genre/ genre research
3. 2/15 research film openings
4. 2/16 timeline post
5. 2/20 film opening approach/genre characteristics I may want 
6. 2/21 Develop story outline/brainstorming
7. 2/22 develop script w/description of how it was developed
8. 2/26 create shot list and revisit project schedule and discuss changes
   
   
9. 2/27 create storyboard w/ descriptions
10. 2/28 research possible filming locations
11. 3/1 develop filming/editing schedule
12. 3/5 summary/analysis of any necessary research
13. 3/7 develop mise-en-scene elements like props/costumes/setting
14. 3/8 begin filming and document the process (include photo of filming)
15. 3/12 continue filming blog opening and documenting
16. 3/14 documentation of the editing process
17. 3/15 research into necessary techniques
18. 3/16 research and/or summary of response to CCR question
19. 3/18 research information relating to creative critical reflection
20. 3/19 finish editing of film opening
21. 3/20 get peer feedback on final edit
22. 3/25 research information relating to CCR questions
23. 3/26 create Creative Critical Reflection projects (at least two different approaches)
24. 3/27 create Creative Critical Reflection projects (at least two different approaches)
25. 4/1 create final, overall project reflection
    
    
26. 4/3 final project link
27. 4/5 post project and CCR to blog
    
    

Opening Intro Research

Opening introductions in coming-of-age movies usually show the protagonist's everyday life or an important occurrence. The title is typically introduced during the opening few minutes of the film, frequently memorably or stylistically to set the tone for the film. Credits are typically put at the beginning or end of the film. In coming-of-age movies, choosing a font might differ significantly depending on the overall aesthetic and feel of the movie. However, titles and credits frequently include traditional, easily readable fonts that fit the tone and ideas of the film. Helvetica, Futura, and specially-made fonts for the movie are common options. We frequently see someone getting ready in the morning.

After researching and coming across "The Edge of Seventeen," the opening scene of "The Edge of Seventeen," the camera tracked Nadine, the protagonist. It panned across her high school hallway bustling with students. Nadine and the theme of this movie are heavily shown through the opening and introduced in a relatable scenario, navigating the awkwardness of adolescence. The credits appear in a contemporary and youthful font, reflecting the film's modern tone. The title "The Edge of Seventeen" could be shown through mise-en-scene, such as graffiti on a locker or a scribbled note, capturing the essence of teenage emotions. I noticed that the credits and the title are in the same color yet different fonts as the title has a larger, bolder font which we typically see in film openings.

Genre Research

I decided that I am doing a coming-of-age genre. I wanted to take inspiration from Mean Girls which is a teen comedy, but put a spin on it.

Coming-of-age films typically star teenagers and are targeted toward teen audiences, which follow the lives and adventures of young adults, specifically middle school and high school students. The coming-of-age film is a level of emotion and response from audiences according to Raindance. Early coming-of-age films were mostly adaptations of well-known books, such as Little Women and The Wizard of Oz. 

 These films usually follow a characters realizing their future and showing their development from a child to a young adult. They also include things like first romantic relationships which I may implement into my own project. This genre mainly focuses on the growth and development of a protagonist from youth to adulthood. Like other films from this genre, I'm going to include mental, emotional, and personal growth in my main character. 

 A lot of times this genre revolves around themes such as self-discovery, identity, friendship, love, and the search for meaning in life. It usually deals with the journey of the main character and deals a lot with character vs. self which I will implement into my project. This genre deals with identity and figuring out who you are as a person which is a huge theme that I want to use. Challenges and obstacles within the character definitely exist. While a lot of this could be emotional and heartfelt, humorous moments can exist and will certainly exist in my piece.

Image of Nadine from "The Edge of Seventeen,

After some research, I found a film called "The Edge of Seventeen," which depicts a similar theme that I want to implement into my project. Nadine, a high schooler struggles with isolation, insecurity, and anger which she uses to lash out at those around her like family, friends, and even one of her teachers. She ends up on a journey of growth and realization of how her actions are caused by her internal struggles. This film also has humourous moments while still portraying the complexities of teenage, and I liked how it used a coming of age genre to show a journey of growth. I will definitely be using this film to guide me in my opening.

Transition Post

From this point on, my blog posts will be solely focusing on my Cambridge Portfolio project. I am excited to showcase all of the knowledge that I have gained in this class so far and hopefully create a great film opening. I will implement a lot of knowledge from past projects ike sound from the music project and filming from the music marketing video. I must now brainstorm and plan out dates of how I wat to organize my steps. I will complete 3 weekly blog posts and document/take notes of any steps taken (which will eventually be put into my final blog post). I want to work in a group of 3, with Madi and Clara. We will each film and we may bring in friends to act. I want to add my blog posts to my Canvas calendar to remind me of when to post. I want to wait and hear ideas from Madi and Clara before getting hooked on an idea. I think I may want to establish a character vs. society conflict. If not, I will do a character vs. character conflict. I want to do a development of a character as my establishing technique by engaging audience for example, my target audience will be teens and young adults (18-25). I'm using this strategies to create a relatable aspect to evoke emotion and understanding toward viewers. I wish for my piece to provide viewers with characteristics and habits commonly seen in teens.

Music Marketing Blog Post #2

 

For the researching part, Madi, Clara, and I started to research country music after receiving our genre. None of us had that much knowledge of country music besides Madi so it was very interesting to research.

We completed our research chart by splitting it up with two case studies for myself and one for Madi and Clara.  

Example from our Music Research Chart

After hearing our very heart-wrenching song, “Need You Now” we knew that this song had to be about two individuals. Madi, Clara, and I decided that our singer, Kacey Smith, would represent a brand to help navigate women, aged 25 to 40, through the complexities of relationships and life. Our video would be based on Madi and I splitting up as friends. 

 

Example from our Google Doc brainstorming sheet.

Clara took over the marketing campaign, creating a captivating website and social media accounts as well as pre-launch details.

Madi and I created a storyboard which made the filming process a lot easier but we had some complications when we realized that some clips just did not belong and some needed to be added. We did not rush and made any necessary changes.

4 examples of shots from our storyboard.

The filming process was not easy, but it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. We had plenty of retakes, and a lot of changes were made along the way. We each took turns filming depending on who was in the shot.

Madi filmed a high-angle of me during our music video.

                            Madi took on the role of editing our music video. She created flashbacks by putting a black-and-white filter over us up above.

For the presentation, I primarily did most of it. We all filmed our voiceovers and Madi implemented them into the presentation. It took a long time and we had to make sure it looked appropriate for the genre.

Overall, I think I put my all into this project and didn’t know what I was capable of. After seeing that I had to complete a research chart, storyboard, music video, and presentation, I thought all of that was so unnecessary. Little did I know that all of that was extremely important to plan and it made things go by so much faster. I also underestimated the amount of time that needed to be put into the music video because there were many retakes, and the presentation was not formed in one try. When creating my Cambridge portfolio, I will definitely be thinking about planning ahead and accounting for time.