Film Reviewing

 After the final edits and going through my film I decided to check in with someone to make sure we are on the right path. Each group member asked different people. I want to take any constructive criticism into consideration for any truly final edits. So, I decided to ask my mother’s boss and dear friend, Heidi to review my film. I choose Heidi because as she does know me since by mom has worked for her for more than fifteen year, but she a very analytical person, she is technical, so I am sure she will be a wise person to take advice from. She is a CPA so her work must be without error all the time so she understands the demands of my ask. Interestingly enough, Heidi herself told me she took a film and media studies class in college once, so this ensures she will comprehend what to look for in the short film. I have asked her to be truthful and to get as much constructive criticism as possible because it helps. Prior to sending her the video I did explain the project and everything we had to have. I showed her some of the shot requirements and measure that we had to take. She gave positive comments and very specific constructive criticism which I appreciated. She began speaking of the transition and how they needed to be a little bit quicker for the jump cuts to be at a fast pace. Lili and Angie decided they would meet to fix those issues. She also enjoyed the awkwardness of the conversations, especially the one in the cat food aisle, where I as “Rachel” bump “Chloe” and spark a random conversation. She did mention that the sound was a little off the action parts of the film. I thought about the issue and it has an easy solution would just be using more of the middle sound for the beginning and pushing down the rest of the sound, our group had trouble agreeing on what to do here. As I’m new to the group sometimes I feel left out or just do not get the “memo” on stuff, but I understand. Sometimes I do like to do stuff on my own and then I ask them if it okay with them, like finding the music, but I’m trying to take a step back. Anyways, Heidi said that all the shots look very high-quality. I told her it was due to the settings that we had Angie film on with her iPhone, 4K and 60 fps. Overall with have a great film and only minor errors to fix. Heidi was a great choice for peer reviewing my film because she very analytical and well-informed on what to look for. 

Second to Last Edits

 It's time to add the opening sequence titles to my short film as I move toward the end of post-production. I begin by debating with my group what typeface and color scheme would best suit the overall tone and aesthetic of the movie. I experimented with many styles for a while since I wanted the titles to be eye-catching and visually appealing. I started outlining the titles in my editing program with Lili once I had a few concepts in mind and with the assistance of my team. I checked that each title is evenly spaced and aligned, and that the font size is readable on a range of screens. It presented a challenge for me in last year's final task. I also included any relevant details, such the director, production firm, and title of the movie. As I worked, I continuously compared the titles to the opening video to make sure the timing was accurate, and then I examined one of the film. Without detracting from the visual storyline, I wanted the titles to be interesting. I began incorporating special effects or animations that would improve the visual impact of the titles once we were satisfied with the initial arrangement. For instance, I incorporated a minor zoom or a fade-in effect to make the opening sequence more lively. Also, I made sure that the names matched the music or sound effects I added to the opening sequence in the proper timing. I kept in mind how crucial it was to capture the audience's attention right away while I made the last tweaks to the titles. I wanted the opening sequence to stand out and leave the spectator with a positive first impression. Yet, I had to watch out that the titles don't overshadow the opening scene or appear unrelated to the rest of the movie. I rewatched the opening scene numerous times once I was happy with the outcome to make sure it looked polished and professional. To make sure the titles are perfect, I made a few last adjustments. To guarantee the final product was  safe and secure, I exported the finished film and made backup copies. Making sure the opening sequence titles are added correctly is an essential step in the post-production process. My short film is now ready to be seen by audiences with the titles in place. I'm pleased with the final product and eager to hear what audiences think of the rest of the movie and the opening scene. The color scheme is portrayed below. Now we have our film review to ensure our edits are final!

Preparing Myself

After so much filming I wanted to review how I got myself ready to film over the course of the filming. Every time was pretty much similar but I believe it is an important aspect of making this short film possible. I started by repeatedly practicing my lines as I get ready to act in my short film. I concentrated on delivering my lines with the appropriate body language and feelings to make them seem genuine. I put on my outfit, which helps me get into character, after I felt secure with my lines. Each item in my clothing was carefully chosen to complement my character's personality and the overall feel of the movie. I opted for big, black attire. I sensed a change taking place as I put on my costume, and I became totally absorbed in the part. I feel gloomy, unsettling, and aggressive. I put on my costume and make my way to the group's vehicle in Angie's car as we begin our journey to the sets. Angie is so far the only one of us who has her driver license so that’s why she is always driving. Sadly, there was some bad traffic on the way almost each time, and I was always concerned that it could be too late to start filming now. I made an effort to maintain my composure and concentration despite the delay because I needed to be totally present for the shots. I mentally reviewed my lines as I was being driven, trying to maximize the time I had. I then took a few long, deep breaths to relax any tension or uneasiness I was experiencing. Because I could not in the car, I properly greeted everyone and caught up with my fellow group members in an effort to foster connection and be more personal with them as I had to spend hours with them on end. I warmed up my voice and body by stretching and practicing vocal exercises while we prepared to shoot. I went through my lines once more as well, feeling more assured and eager to begin. The videographer, Angie, offers Lili and I a few final instructions and reminders before we begin filming. To ensure that the shot went as smoothly as possible, I paid close attention, attempting to absorb every instruction and detail. As everything was prepared, we began filming, and I quickly assumed the role. I strive to make every syllable count as I deliver my lines with conviction and feeling. I also adjusted my posture because I appeared slouched in nearly every shot. As we shot take after take, making sure we got the greatest shots possible, the minutes flew incredibly rapidly. I always feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when we came to an end, knowing that I had given it everything and had helped make the film a success. This where I can truly see how important mis-en-scenes is to a film.

Night Out

 It was time to shoot at night, and I was excited to see how the parking lots would look in the dark. We scouted out the best locations for our shots as a group, taking into consideration the lighting and backdrop. I quickly realized that filming at night required a different approach because Angie (who was filming) had to work with limited lighting sources. The harsh fluorescent lights in the Galleria mall parking lot created interesting contrasts and shadows that we incorporated into our shots. At least the other parking lot we were filming in was outside. I had to be careful not to disturb the shoppers while filming because it might have made them feel uncomfortable because we were filming late at night. It was difficult to navigate the parking lots in the dark, and I had to be wary of potential hazards. We experimented with various lighting setups and angles in order to capture the mood and atmosphere we desired for our short film. Despite the darkness, Angie was able to capture some stunning images that would not have been possible during the day. Filming at night added a sense of mystery and intrigue to the story we were attempting to tell. It was a fun and collaborative experience, and I tried my hardest to collaborate with everyone to make the best film possible. I had to rearrange our filming schedule to avoid the busiest times in the parking lots, as well as daylight saving time, which meant late nights or early mornings. The sound of passing cars in the distance added realism to our film that we could not have achieved otherwise. I had fun improvising with our lighting with Aleiah at times, using flashlights and other light sources to achieve the desired effect. To ensure that we were all on the same page, we needed to communicate clearly and effectively as a group, especially in the dark. The lack of distractions allowed me to focus entirely on our film, and we were able to make significant progress in a short period of time. My sister is used to filming at night, and she gave us advice on night filming, which helped us refine our shots and techniques. It was a memorable experience that taught me a lot about the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking. I was exhausted by the end of the night, but the sense of accomplishment and excitement about our film kept me going. It was satisfying to see the finished product after all of the hard work and effort that had gone into filming at night in those parking lots. I'm grateful for the opportunity. I'm appreciative that I had the chance to collaborate with such a brilliant and committed group of filmmakers, and I hope to have more occasions to do so in the future.

Editing Changes

  Tonight, to contribute to all the editing Lili has been doing I suggested we do a group shared photo album. With this Lili was able to move the shared videos and photo album of our group onto her iPad. I then told her the shots for each scene because we had so many takes. Then together we but the shots in order of scenes and trim each one for a clean transition in between shots in the same scene. So far there was five scenes covered so, mostly the beginning three minutes of the film. After that we decided to clip the shots that have the same acting but from a different angle. Especially the scene in the grocery where Angie took many takes from different angles. It helps for a jump cut fast pace. As a co-editor, I started watching all of the footage and noting the best takes and moments. It's critical for me to understand which shots work well together and which ones our team may need to retake. As previously stated, during the rough cut stage, I experimented with different pacing and shot sequencing to find the most effective way to tell the story. I also paid close attention to the sound design, including the proper timing of the music and silence space to hear the characters speak in order to increase the emotional impact of each scene. I showed the rough cut to Lili for feedback and we worked together to refine the edit. This involved making cuts, adding or removing scenes, and adjusting the pacing to better align with the emotional arc of the story. I also worked on color grading to ensure consistency and cohesiveness of the shots. As the edit progressed, I became increasingly concerned with smoothing out transitions between shots and ensuring the story flowed smoothly. One of the most difficult challenges I encountered was balancing the need for visual interest with the need to keep the story clear and easy to follow. Throughout the editing process, I kept in close contact with my team members to ensure that everyone was on the same page. I also took detailed notes on each edit so that I could easily go back and make changes if necessary. When I got to the end of the fourth scene (the last one so far), I started thinking about how we wanted the film to be distributed. This can be done via YouTube or by simply posting it on the blog. I also worked on the film's promotional materials. Editing a short film takes time, but seeing the finished product come together is always incredibly rewarding.

Music Research and Decisions

  I was starting to feel that my group was not making this important task a priority as I was, so I initiated a  discussion about music since we are in the midst of beginning editing. On YouTube, I looked for "No copyright thriller music". Many options were presented, and thankfully, many of them included the phrase "no copyright music." I wanted a mixed tempo with some low tones near the start, middle, and end. Throughout the piece, I was also looking for some fast tempos. This time around  I only watched three videos by the same creator. Once I viewed them I sent them all to my group to review them in class the next day. No one answered me when I sent the videos in our group chat, but that's how it usually is... I was not too worried as I knew that we had class all together the next day. Unfortunately at school all day today we had to stay in our first-period classes so we were unable to discuss in class. I sent a FaceTime link to them to join to talk and listen to the videos together. I could do this because of FaceTime's new feature called "Share Screen" where you can listen and look at other people's phone screens during a video call. These are the unanimous decision on each video and why they were or were not a good fit. The first video named Thriller Cinematic NoCopyright Background Music Compilation was primarily adrenaline-boosting music with an absurdly fast tempo, so we passed. The second video, NoCopyright Tension Background Music Compilation, had a track similar to the first one in that it also got off to a fast start—something we agreed we didn't want. However, I was convinced by my group that it's exactly the tempo combination we need. The third one named Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video/ Fear of The Dark had a very low tempo and creepy music that was way too slow-paced. We desired a building in the song because the film included jump cuts and action matches so it would not make sense to have a slow track for shots that are used to create a fast pace. So, after listening to all of them closely and we voted on the second one, it was fast then slow then fast again which perfectly matched the action of our scenes. The good thing about this video is that the length of the video was one minute more than we needed, it was six minutes long. The other videos were either too short or really long. I'm glad because in the task before this one in AS level, I had to crop the sound my group was using so much because it was way too long and the option I originally wanted last time was sadly too short. After inserting the music, I told Lili to use the audio extrapolate option from CapCut to insert the sound from the video into the film. I learned about that from the editing video I watched about how to get the most out of using CapCut.

Brownies and Crafts

 Yesterday only Lili and I could film, the problem here was that Angie had all the props in her car. Right after school, I went straight to the parking lot to wait for her to be able to get the props. It took about 10 minutes for her to get there, but fortunately, she parked in the shade so I was feeling fine. My mom went to pick my sister up from school early to get her license today, so I had no ride, she was going to pick me up from Lili's house. With this, I got a ride from Lili's friend Kaitlyn, who was also going to help with filming. I got the props from Angie's car and there was so much traffic in the school zone I had to run up to Kaitlyn's car and get in quick while she had her blinkers on. When I arrived at Lili's I helped connect her printer to her computer to be able to print pictures for our stalker bulletin board. Pictures of maps, Lili, and Lili's friends were printed. Kaitlyn helped me put pins in the board attach the pictures and connect all the pins with a red string that Aleiah brought. Then I added a bunch of random messages made out of college rule paper on the board to bring out a mysterious mood from the board. I wrote messages like "Chloe Reed who are you?" and "Saw her at the cafe 3x this week" I changed into my costume and Kaitlyn filmed from a ladder that Lili set up for her. Lili read me my lines and I acted. Lili was laughing so much at the fact my acting was so realistically creepy that we had so many takes. Then I was starving and dying of thirst, I was kind of afraid to ask Lili for food, but I finally did, and she gave me a delicious protein bar with orange juice. I was so grateful and I knew that we had finished what was planned so I offered to teach her how to make the brownies I brought her last time. I sent her the recipe and we went straight to the kitchen, her mom set out the mise en place and I got to baking with Lili. I kept eating chocolate chips while making the batter and laughter filled the kitchen as Lili and I spoke about the chaotic day that I had at school. While the brownies were in the oven my mom came to pick me up and I gathered my stuff and left. I was very kindly escorted to my car and while I was in the car Lili texted me that the brownies were finished. I instructed her to let them cool for 10 minutes and then leave them in the fridge overnight. This morning I texted her about the brownies and she said "They're gooood...I love ittt"

Many Back-up Plans

  Last night I agreed to leave school as fast as I could to begin filming... but to get to that I had to do much more than I expected. Last night I had Cambridge Award night at my school where I got my AICE diploma and an award for doing well on my AICE Environmental Management exam where I would split ways with my mom and leave to go home with my dad. I then remembered that I left my costumes all at my mom's house in a backpack. I thought that I would have to go all the way home after she picked me up and take forever. So the first thing I did when I got to school in the morning was to call my mom... when I took out my phone though, it was dead. I had to wait an hour to charge it and finally, I called her asking her to put my filming backpack in the car. Later that day I realized that we would probably be hungry after school so when school was over instead of going straight to Lili's house we each went to eat. I went to Menchie's and Chick-fil-A, coincidentally so did Aleiah, and Angie and Lili were right next to Chick-fil-A eating at McDonald's. When I got to Lili's house I changed and turns out the filming had to be cut short because Lili had to babysit at 6:00. So I practiced my lines in the car to our set- our nearest grocery store [Publix]- and practiced with Lili. When I arrived I got a shopping basket for Lili to hold as a prop and filled it with food products that were aesthetically pleasing. Then unlike what was planned (to film in the canned goods aisle), Lili picked the least crowded aisle which was the pet aisle because every other aisle had an employee and people. I realized that my hair was throwing off the continuity of the shots because in every take my hair was on a different side so I decided to just braid my hair. A store employee during a take was just standing there which was making me and the whole group nervous. I decided to nonchalantly leave the aisle, Lili came with me and left Angie and Aleiah but turns out he was just stocking the shelves. After that scene, I walked to Starbucks with my group to film the next scene. However, the café was packed so I suggested we go to the next nearest café in the mall. I had to film the scene as Lili, Angie, and Aleiah were all in the shot, not me. When I began filming the time was ticking and all the girls were stressing and the takes just seemed forced so it was decided to just leave the café scene for another day. My favorite part of today was the fact that Lili's mom baked us gluten-free coconut macaroons, they were exquisitely delicious. 

Foundational Editing Knowledge: Less is More

 

To advance in this project, I decided to further my knowledge of video editing on a new platform since I could not film today. I called my group and settled on an alternative date to film. Honestly, I was glad, my mom has just come back from a cruise and I wanted to spend my day with her instead of filming. I additionally know that Lili had an important chemistry test to study for, so it works out anyways. I looked over the storyboard with my group to decide what editing transitions are needed and I wrote them down. Since I am with a new group this year I have to adapt to the editing software they are used to using. This software is new to me but I am aware that it has a lot of helpful and clean features. It is called CapCut and the great thing about it is that it's completely free of charge unlike Abode Premiere Pro (without being on a school account). I took notes and watched two YouTube videos of 35 minutes each and I feel as though I can tackle this film editing with ease. All the software's functions and buttons are way more simple to understand and apply in practice. I also have Lili basic a professional at using CapCut to help this process become facile for me. It is so much more effortless to utilize the software, and it's also easy to access the help section in case I forget how to do something. In my past project, I had to download music videos, put them through an mp3 converter, and then place the sound in my software. However, CapCut has a feature that automatically extracts sound from any video and places it in the film you are editing. Furthermore, CapCut can be used both with a phone and a laptop making it more accessible than Adobe Premiere Pro which can only be used at its best quality on a laptop. Similarly to Adobe PP, I can add words to my shots because it offers typography editing. To create the title designs for my film, I will undoubtedly use this function. Pre-made title designs are also included. It's a pleasure for me to work on and learn about this application. In addition to demonstrating their own work, the videos were concise and the information given taught me how to add effects for the transitions between shots. Ultimately, in this case less is definitely more.

Filming Complications Resolved

So far, I've been shot in about two and a half scenes out of a total of eight with my group. In one scene I was the protagonist and in the other one Lili was. As the story is based around me in the beginning I am in most scenes so I do not have to film as much this time around. I'm still probably going to have to film the cafe scenes and the beginning of the shopping scenes. Because my group and I have very busy lives, I had to make a schedule and organize everything for our group to film this week. To create this schedule, I took into account our free days. Since I am only available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday and Sunday it's kind of difficult for us to film. Most of the group is more available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. So I asked my group to film this Sunday afternoon (which they could not) , Monday, and Wednesday night to get 3 total scenes. So we canceled Sunday and decided to film on Monday and Wednesday. So to prepare for today (Wednesday) I packed a backpack full of costumes, the storyboard, my sneakers, and stalker sunglasses. Today was also the day that all juniors took the SAT so I was pretty drained after school and by the time I was ready to leave school at 2:40 pm. My mother then drove me to Lili's house. Since I am the story's main character I had to be sure I remembered the script and studied the storyboard. I arrived at Lili's house at 3:00 pm, Angie and Aleiah were waiting for me to start filming the second scene. I got ready to film in Lili's room and began acting in her kitchen (pictured below). I was glad I did not forget the manila folders at home as they were the props necessary for this film. To film the solo "Chloe" scenes I kept referring to the storyboard during filming. After a while, I had grown so hungry had to get some snacks and refreshments so I asked Lili if she could get me a snack and water. She brought me a granola bar and water, and I was so grateful. Lili's parents checked in very frequently to ensure I and everyone else was okay. I felt very welcome and secure in their home. In the end, I calculated that a total of three additional scenes were filmed and I left in the late evening.