Thursday, January 30, 2025

Costuming

 Milly's color palette would consist of pink, brown, white, beige, etc. She is very bubbly, so her style will match that by adding many rounder shapes, frills, and a soft silhouette. The things I think of when it comes to Milly are boats, ribbons, bubbles (surprisingly), and soft makeup.

Cleo's style is a little more streetwear, not as cute as Milly's. When I think of her, I immediately think of gold jewelry, a very earthy style. Her color palette is brown, green, navy blue, and yellow. Cleo's earthy style translates into lots of different layers, great jewelry, and very flowy. Her style is a bit calmer than the rest of the group, and her jewelry and uniqueness make her stand out.

Theo is a pretty clean-cut guy. His color palette would be blue, green, beige, etc. His style feels very strict or restricted in a way, showing his quiet and closed-off personality. Since he's a nerd, he will obviously have glasses. He would also most likely be wearing some kind of dress pants or khakis. This would then be topped off with a slick hairstyle.

The last character (who was originally named Cary, now named Joaquin) is the delinquent type. Joaquin is definitely punk or grunge, which would mean their color palette is mostly black, with some hints of red, blue, and grey. Essentially, their style would mirror Milly's. They would have a much sharper silhouette. 


Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Preparing to Film

  • Actors
We have decided that all 4 group members will be a part of the cast. We will also have one of our teachers act alongside us.

  • Costumes
Our 4 characters, Milly, Cleo, Theo, and Cary all have their own distinct personalities, and their clothing will definitely reflect that.
Milly: very pink, coquette, cutesy, outfit with lots of frills. maybe some sort of clashing patterns. definitely preppy
Cleo: more earthy, with hues of brown, green, yellow, etc., flowy outfit with lots of layers and jewelry
Theo: clean-cut, nerdy, his fashion is very strict and he doesn't go outside the box much
Cary: dark, brooding, lots of chains, combat boots, all black

  • Props
We won't have many props in the movie since we'll mainly be in an empty classroom. Notebooks, pencils, etc. Headphones will be a very important prop in this short.

  • Locations
There'll be 2 main locations for this sequence:
- the hallway
- the classroom
these is what we have for the main setting as of right now unless we change things up in the future.

  • Dates
Our group has discussed dates in the past but we have decided to start filming in February, preferably the 1st or 2nd week.

  • Script
Now, our script has not been finished yet but it will be done by February.

  • Film Equipment
My group will be using my Canon EOS R100, and we will be getting some other things like a mic, tripod, etc. before filming.


Moodboard for Opening Sequence


 This is my moodboard for my team's opening sequence. On the right, I have the setting, which will be set in the classroom. Our opening sequence is set in detention, so of course the setting will be a mostly empty classroom, pretty boring (like most detention settings in cheesy high school films). The middle photo is more to show what kind of color grading we want to have throughout the sequence, a little darker and cool toned than normal. 

Now, on the right, there is just a small representation of each of the characters that will be in the sequence. On the very top, we have Milly: she's the bubbly, outgoing type, very talkative, doesn't know when to be quiet, etc. The one right below will be Cleo, which is our heroic type, she'll be sort of like the leader of the group, the person that annoys you with their overly-confident persona, but is somehow likeable at the same time. Next we have Theo, who's our nerd, he's very shy quiet, keeps to himself unless someone needs to be corrected. Lastly, we have Cary, who is our dark and brooding delinquent, not exactly a bully, but someone you definitely wouldn't want to mess with.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Viewing Other Student Work

Dare To Thrill - https://youtu.be/nYpjHCwRO6Q?si=3cGBOqgAwJw4X8xd

The use of camera angles really elevates the short by making the action more intense. The use of music makes the audience immerse themselves in the story. Using synchronous sound along with the music was a great choice since it accomplished amplifying the thrill that the characters experienced when they stole the vehicle and enjoyed the ride. In between each of the shots the transitions were all vastly different which affected the audience's point of view of the overall film. The short ends on a cliffhanger, which leaves the audience wondering "What was in that trunk?" "what made them run?"

Always Watching - https://youtu.be/g-yrsmQS7bo?si=8UksGfq0ZulZ8Nuo

The theme of this short is definitely a lot darker than the previous one. The use of sudden cross-cut flashbacks is very immersive and allows the audience to feel the intensity as Kane talks. At the height of the climax, a small detail in one of the flashbacks is the victim, Kane's best friend, is wearing red, which symbolizes the danger he's about to face. The style of handheld filming and random movement incorporated a look into Kane's mind by showing the anxious and sporadic behavior that he exudes. The dialogue between him and the therapist just makes the audience feel anxious, with the reverse shot further inserting them into the conversation.

The Blue Boar - https://youtu.be/xvMH-1XdR9c?si=EQSmXyyxnCHIQQua

The opening scene effectively sets the tone for the rest of the short. When the older character reprimanded her, it prompted the audience to wonder about her past experiences. Additionally, the frequent employment of close ups and wide shots allows the audience to gain a deeper insight into the characters' feelings and responses to the events occurring in the short. The jump cuts in the last 10 seconds of the film illustrate to the audience how the character created the boar from plants and fully comprehended the title from the final image along with the singing in the earlier scenes. 

White Coat - https://youtu.be/dvAsmo32uo0?si=WSDUFYnPzNLyBzUR

From the first scene, there is a clear difference that sets this short apart from the first few. The low-key lighting is very prominent throughout the whole film. The lack of dialogue helps the audience focus on all the things happening on-screen, while also letting us fill in the blanks on our own. The use of cross cuts helps with showing all the different technical elements. The overall ambience that is set by the use of low-key lighting + blue color grading sets the tone. The mysterious ambient sounds help tie in the lighting, making the experience more interesting for the viewer.

Stalker. - https://youtu.be/FxIZJKdc-Sw?si=Yn8gu7sSVi2XOPqO

This video seems to fit into an enigmatic category. The central character awakens to the noise of her alarm clock and prepares for the day ahead. Eventually, when she sensed a photo of her was being captured, it started to change with an evident tension. The technical aspects, like a close-up to highlight her response to someone capturing a morning photo of her, a low-angle shot to depict her rising from bed, and a high-angle view to reveal her starting her work along with the note she discovered in her pencil pouch, were well-executed. While I value the incorporation of the elements and the tense music to convey the terror of the situation, I found her reaction to the photo slightly strange, and the abrupt cut felt mismatched since she was brushing her hair and then just standing there. 

Nostalgia - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p8azlLRHyqaShaOJC6SBJwzGx7s9Cjpk/view

The initial scene starts with a gradual upward tilt toward the sky. We were drawn to a painting of a house in a community, and on the painted wall, we observed a grandmother in contemplation. We then observe a close-up of her reaction; she looks discontented, as if this image carries significant importance for her. Next, we observe her extending her hand to her chest and plucking a leaf from the shrub. The scene abruptly shifts to a series of pictures of her, an urban landscape, and religious icons displayed on a table. This video concludes with a young girl appearing as if she were her younger self. While I believe they could have placed greater emphasis on more cuts instead of other technical aspects, I truly appreciated the video's message and how effectively the title aligned with the narrative. I felt nostalgia too, and I want the viewers to finish watching my group's video with a specific emotion after viewing the clip. I also appreciated how they positioned the title after demonstrating the slow tilt at the start. 

Rise - https://youtu.be/q9AKdUT8nyg?si=lF4PozzAWDEMnqPy

This clip featured minimal dialogue, if any, yet the music significantly contributed to the theatricality, as did the various camera angles. There was a primary character who was playing soccer while listening to the music. As soon as he donned the headphones, we were able to hear the music along with him. The music only decreased or halted when the other character was seen observing the field and when the main character removed his headphones. It enabled the audience to nearly participate in the soccer playing experience alongside him. The camera angles enabled us to concentrate on the various techniques and playing styles employed. For instance, when demonstrating the footwork, the camera follows the foot movements and gradually pans up to reveal the player. There are several full body shots when the player scores or just before he loses touch with the ball, after which the camera shifts to focus solely on the ball. 

Dear Lover - https://youtu.be/O_bKQDg6fiI?si=GDPO_niAZMQwWk00

This clip features a monologue that provides us with background information about the character. The music being played sounds soothing yet somewhat sorrowful. The selection of camera angles, including over-the-shoulder shots, high angles, and close-ups, conveys the regret or contemplation the protagonist experiences while recounting this narrative. Mise en scene has a minor role since the character's outfit in the different clips indicates that this is a backstory. The character sports an open blouse and applies more makeup, allowing the audience to deduce that she is older. The monologue's VoiceOver, which reveals the characters' past, enables us to observe her immediate reactions in that moment. The strongest technical aspect here appears to be the sound and camera angles. 


Creative Critical Reflection

 Here is my Creative Critical Reflection along with some more in-depth responses to each of the questions: https://youtu.be/glk_v9pAnKU?si=L...