1st CCR Question: How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

At the beginning of the project, we didn't know much about filming or editing, but as we worked on our opening scene, we learned a lot. For example, as we filmed at Savannas Neighborhood Park, we learned to set up the shots better, repeat the takes to get the best out of the actors, and use different angles to make the scene more interesting. As we edited the film, we learned to trim the clips, improve the pace, adjust the audio, and improve the lighting to make the scene more professional. If we analyze the skills we have, we can see that we have become better at filming as we tried, learned from our work, and made improvements to become better each time we did the scene. Looking back at the project, we learned that skills improve through trial and error, as well as through teamwork, as we have become much better at filming than we were at the beginning of the project, although there's still a lot to improve, such as the audio and the lighting.

Post-Production Process #2

 During this session of video editing, we concentrated more on the quality of sound as well as the visual quality of our news scene. We listened attentively to the sound clips, adjusting the volume so that all the lines are audible and equally loud. We also started thinking about the addition of some light sound or tone to the video, giving it the quality of an actual broadcast. Besides the sound, we also adjusted the contrast of some clips that had problems due to the lighting while filming outdoors.

As we did this, we realized that little details make a big difference. For example, there was wind noise in some clips and others were quieter than others. We even thought about the possibility of re-recording the lines and making them voice overs to make them sound better. We also experimented with the colors to make the clips blend well with each other so the scene looks even instead of uneven. This shows us that this is the part where we fix the problems and make the opening look good.

With this process in mind, we now understand that not only is it important to put the video together, but also to make it look as professional as possible. With this in mind, we feel more comfortable using the editing tools and understanding how to correct the mistakes from the filming process. Looking to improve, we would like to complete our audio, make sure our lighting is constant, and add the final touches to make the scene look as realistic as possible.

Here is a video we used that helped us create voice overs on Clipchamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YYsK8uSBhY

Like stated in this and the previous blog, we could use better lighting in order to make it look like our original one, just more polished in editing. This one looks a little too light, for the mysterious and serious tone, we are thinking of using a darker lighting.

To add, we have also thought of using one of these ring lights, they're very popular in the media world for lighting. 

Here is a video we have saved that helps us for future purposes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5ANQIHkr8A

Post Production #1 - Editing Process

 This week, we have continued to work on the editing of our news broadcast scene and have concentrated on making it more organized. We have imported all of our video clips again and have labeled them so that they would be easy to locate. Then, we have started arranging them according to our script so that the scene is presented in the right order. We have also added simple cuts to the video to make it look like a news broadcast where the reporter talks clearly and the camera cuts at the right time.

As we were working on this, we also realized that pacing is an important part, as some of the clips may be too long or may contain awkward pauses, so we decided to trim them down so that the scene could look smoother. We also started working on the transitions, as we wanted to see which ones look more realistic, and we found that simple cuts look better for a news video rather than flashy ones. This also helped us understand that the style of the edit has to go along with the genre, so for our serious mystery, we want it to look clean and professional.

Looking back on this editing session, it helped us realize the importance of organization in our post-production. At first, it seemed disorganized with all these clips, but once we labeled everything, it made a lot more sense. We still want to work on the dialogue so it sounds more natural and ensure our cuts match the tone of the scene. We're getting closer to making our opening scene look like a legitimate broadcast.

This is how it first started: In this one, it sounded a little too awkward for our liking and not professional enough. However, we looked at videos on Youtube that could help us with speech for our next clips. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXLtpIRiOyU 

This is how it is now: Notice how it looks more polished

Production Post of my Choice: Editing Process

This week, we began editing our news broadcast scene using the clips that we shot at Savannas Neighborhood Park. We reviewed all of the takes that we shot, choosing the ones that look and sound the best. Once we had done that, we organized them so that they would be like a real news broadcast. We also trimmed them so that they do not have extra time at the beginning or end, making them look more polished. It was nice to see how the project is coming together, as it is starting to look like an actual movie instead of just random clips.

As we edited our video, we realized that there are some areas that we could still improve on. One major thing that we noticed is that we could still work on our voice overs and audio quality, considering there was a small taste of wind for about 1 second, which could interrupt sound quality aspects for Cambridge. There are some parts of our video where the volume of our audio is not as loud as we would like it to be, so we could re-record our lines or add voice overs to our video to make it sound more like a real broadcast. We also realized that we could still work on our lighting. Since we did our video outdoors, it could be seen as dark or not bright enough, so we could still work on our lighting when we edit our video to make it look more natural. 

Looking back, the editing helped us realize our strengths and weaknesses. We had a good acting and location scene, but audio and lighting are a lot more important than we realized. This helped us realize that editing is not just putting the video together, but also fixing the video and getting it to look professional. Going forward, we hope to improve our audio, adjust the lighting in the editing software, and possibly re-film some parts of the video so our final opening looks realistic.

 This is one picture from our editing process at Lorenzos house:

We also had a bit of trouble with some editing parts, so we used this video for reference: How to Edit like A Pro on Microsoft Clipchamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYRWhFey_Hw

Group Meeting #2

 Hi Cambridge, today in class we had a second group meeting. I liked  having this activity because it helped me brainstorm new ideas with others and even share some of my own ideas that could help my group partners. These are my partners and my opinion on their project:

Henry- He has a good idea, its pretty unique on how its going to be a fun and "artsy" opening. However, he should really start to record his opening this week and the fact he needs an actual plot. To add, his logo and blog are really creative. 

Luisa- She has a really decorative blog, it matches with her opening well. I like her idea on the mind of a teenager on substance abuse, it's a sensitive topic but for me its really distinct because it has a lot of meaning, I think she will do well with her opening.

Mario- Personally, Mario improved his blog really well compared to last time. Last time it wasn't as decorative, and it didn't really invoke a meaning towards the viewer. He has a great idea so far and he should keep doing what he's doing with his props.

Andrea- I believe that Andrea has a great blog and opening scene, the only thing that she could work on is the lighting and camera which even she said she needs to improve. 

Gabi- She has a nice blog, great idea so far on the romance plot, but she still needs to work on time management because she's also on the fence with other plot ideas. I believe she should stick on her regular idea but also focus on the fact to not do to much for her opening.

Gavin- He has a great blog and a funny idea for his opening. I like his opening because it's different from everyone else's, not everyone would do a comedic opening. However, he should also try out different camera angles, lighting, and editing for his opening.

For myself, I believe me and Lorenzo are doing a great job so far on our recordings and editing. However, we could fix some things such as one of the voice recordings. To add, my group partners liked our idea for the opening and even gave some ideas on what we should do for the second portion of our opening, considering we are in the news broadcast part. 

Production Post - Costume creation + Improvements

For our costume design, our aim was to mirror the style of news reports and look credible. We picked clothing similar to what reporters or interviewees might wear, such as shirts in neutral colors and neat clothes. This choice helped the scene appear believable and professional.

This is a great reference photo to what could be improved:

After the shoot, we spotted areas for costume improvement. We could make the outfits more formal to closely resemble real news broadcast. Also, we realized that colors matter since some appear better on camera than others. Dark, simple colors worked best compared to patterns, a point we'll correct in our next session.

Looking back, I believe our costume choices were a decent start, but improvements are possible. This project showed us that small details, like clothing, influence how professional the scene looks. Going forward, we'll plan our outfits with care and ensure they fit the tone of our mystery film. The goal is to improve the final product to be more genuine and of higher quality.

Here is a link providing inspiration for us on the importance of costumes in films: 

https://theatreandfilm.capetown/the-crucial-role-of-costume-design-in-the-film-industry/

Production Post: Shooting Process

This week my partner and I went to Savannas Neighborhood Park to film the news scene for our opening. We brought our equipment like our phones and a tripod. We also had a script. We picked this place because it looks like a news report setting and the lighting is good.

We set up the shots to look like a news broadcast. We took a lot of shots of each other saying the lines from the script. We said each line times so we can choose the best one later. Some shots had just good sound and others were more emphasized with our voice.

We tried ways of filming like taking medium shots and close ups. This makes the scene more interesting to watch. After we looked at the clips we picked the ones that looked natural and clear. This taught us that filming takes time and we have to work. We saw what we need to do like speaking louder and acting more confident.

I think this was a good start for our production. Now we have footage to work with and make better during editing or we can make it look even better by also improving the video too. My partner and I are happy with what we did at Savannas Neighborhood Park. Overall, filming the news scene was a great step for us.

Here is a reference article that helped us understand when to use the right lighting:  https://www.dandolighting.com/blogs/battery-blog/the-importance-of-lighting-in-film-production?srsltid=AfmBOorTBEOKT5tDhhGNTsvV4240WifymEnEa20MB6CqMjIyEvGkA Q6C

Company Logo

 When we created the logo for our production company, we wanted it to be simple, professional, and memorable. We considered our company name and the image we wanted our logo to have. Our film is a mystery, so we chose colors like black and dark blue because they make people feel suspense and a serious tone.

We tried out a lot of fonts and styles until we found one that looked clean and real like the logos of other production companies. We thought about how our logo would look on the screen for a time so we made sure it was easy to read and understand. This way we could keep our design simple and still make it stand out. To add, a nice detail we could use is the animations, we can make the logo fade into our opening movie which I think is pretty unique.

I used canvas to make the logo:

Looking back I think our logo is a fit for our movie. It makes our project seem official and organized. I think if we added a more detailed logo could make it more unique. Making the logo taught us about how to brand a movie and how a short introduction can set the tone for the film. Our production company logo is something that we're happy with, and it is a good representation of our mystery movie.

The tutorial we used: https://www.canva.com/design-school/resources/how-to-make-a-logo

Planning Post of My choice

This week I worked on figuring out who our mystery film is aimed towards. Our target audience is teenagers and young adults who like stories that are suspenseful and about crime with surprises along the way. I thought about how people my age watch shows like Stranger Things and other mystery shows that give us clues as we go. This helped me see that our film needs to grab people's attention away. The news scene we filmed is meant to give people information but make them wonder so they keep watching to find out what really happened.

                                            

I also thought about what makes mystery films appealing to people. They usually use lighting, serious acting and dramatic music to build tension. We tried to plan our project in a way that our characters are young people, which makes it easier for our target audience to identify with them. When viewers can imagine themselves in the characters shoes they feel more connected to the story they want to keep watching. This makes the mystery feel more real and not just weird.

Joker (2019)                         

Here is a link explaining the importance of lighting in films: https://torchstar.us/blogs/learn-tips/analysis-of-movie-lighting-why-can-lighting-influence-peoples-emotions?srsltid=AfmBOorgmV7hUJ1cAkiewlQSsPQhupOuzKE5GiXGmTBq0BBHh4G6VTNa

Thinking about this really helped our planning. Before we just had an idea of ​​who we were making the film for but now we know exactly who our audience is and why we are making it for them. This made our decisions stronger like how we deliver our lines and how we set the mood. We still want to make sure our story is unique and different, from mystery films. Overall this step gave our project direction and helped us understand our audience, which is teenagers and young adults who like suspenseful stories and that is who we are making our mystery film for.

Here is a StudioBinder video I used for reference to gain an idea: How to start a movie in 6 different ways, from Nolan to Baumbauch    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw_ysaoVlt4

The first 8 minutes of Stranger Things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKtq-bZgS8I

Planning Focusing on Audio

 In this blog post, I plan my ideas on the audio. This is how it would go: 

The news anchor, on television is talking about the murder, this is what you hear first. Each person is watching the news report but they are all sitting in their own separate spaces. They are connected because they are all listening to the thing. When you hear what the news anchor is saying on the television you should understand that something serious is happening.. Some things will not be clear and that will always leave you wondering about the audio and the music and what they mean to the story. The audio is important because it helps to tell the story and it is something that all of the characters are experiencing at the time like the sounds and tunes that you hear. The background sounds are different depending on where you're. You might hear voices in a quiet place. Sometimes you can hear a microwave humming, or people walking by as you hear their footsteps. You can also hear noises from outside. This makes every scene feel real and like it is actually happening. The scenes feel like they are part of life not, like something that is fake or set up.

A quiet sound is there when the scene starts. It is very soft like the sound of someone breathing. When the camera looks at people the sound gets a little bit louder. The music is still quiet. It makes you feel something. You start to feel a little weird. You want to know what is going on. These feelings build up slowly. You hear a clock ticking and some wood creaking against stone then it is quiet again. This happens right before someone shows up. Movies, like Se7en show us that small noises can make normal moments feel very serious and scary.

What you hear shapes how people feel and respond often stronger than what they see. Music along with sounds builds anticipation, sets rhythm, holds attention on key moments. This silence charged with weight suggests hidden layers unfolding beneath the surface. That pushes viewers to stay tuned, tracking each faint noise like it might reveal something.

Planning Post Focusing on Mise-en-scene Element Pt.2

In this blog, I figured out the props and set design for the opening scene. The set design is really important for the opening scene. This is because each character is in a place in the opening scene. The setting of the opening scene helps the audience understand who the characters are in the opening scene. They don't need someone to tell them about the characters in the opening scene.

For example one character might be in a living room. This living room is very clean and organized for the character. This shows that the character is a person or a person who likes to be in control, in the opening scene. When you think about it a person can be in a room that's really messy or very dark. This could mean they are stressed out they have secrets. They are hiding something. The way their space looks makes them seem like people. The rooms they are in show what they are like and how they live. This makes the characters feel more real and believable because their rooms are a lot, like them.

Props are really important in a story because they can give us clues about what is happening. We can use things like a phone or keys or even a newspaper to show that something big is going on. For example the newspaper can have a story about the crime that is on the television. These little details can help connect the characters to the crime without being too obvious. The movie Inception does this well, where the small things in the background make you wonder what is important and what will happen later. Props, like these can make the story more interesting. Make you think about what is going on with the characters and the crime. These kinds of things like props really get people curious. The people watching start to see patterns and they start to connect the characters and the things that happen. This is because props like these make the audience think about what's going on with the characters and events. Props like these are very important to make people wonder what will happen next.

I think using props and set design like this will make the opening more interesting because everything in the scene will feel like it has a purpose. Even if the audience does not notice every detail at first, those details can become important later in the story. This also supports the enigma code because it gives clues without giving clear answers right away, which keeps the audience thinking and engaged as they try to piece the mystery together.

Planning Post Focusing on Mise-en-scene Element

 Hi Cambridge, this is my plan for the Mise- en- scene: 

The story starts with colors being the main focus. Shadows slowly cover the screen. Each character is in a place so the light changes a little bit when they appear. The lighting looks different depending on who's talking. The feeling of the story comes from how light there is. One corner of the room might be really dark. The area right next to it is bright and sharp which helps keep the dark tones going. The Dark tones are really important. They help set the mood for the story. Dark tones make everything feel serious. Lamps are around and they can turn on and off then the window lets in a beam of warmth as the screen is too. It makes a soft humming noise in the background. Everything is set up right so that each room feels like it is real but it doesn't get too much. The lighting helps the people watching understand how they should feel about each person and what is happening in the scene.

For example if someone is standing in a room that is not well lit and their face is mostly in the shade it makes you think they are not sure about something.. If someone is in a room that is well lit they might seem like nothing is going on at first until you take a closer look, at the lighting and the person and the scene and the lamps and the screen. In stories like Gone Girl shadows can really change how we see the truth. This keeps people watching trying to figure out what is real and what is not. We tend to look where the light is the brightest, like the light from the TV. When someone's face is in the dark it makes us want to look closer. This is because our eyes are drawn to the areas even if they are not very bright. When light and dark are next to each other it can make the emotions in the scene feel very strong.

Lighting like this can make the scene feel more real making the drama and the everyday feelings feel true, to life. Mood builds fast here, speaking volumes before words ever come out. Even when people are not close, the choices link events quietly across space. With silence pressed between figures, visual tension hums beneath every frame. Darkness here is not absence, it hints, trails behind motion, suggests secrets buried under ordinary faces. That mystery does not shout, it leans forward, asking attention without sound. Viewing becomes something to solve, made deeper by what stays hidden.

Planning Post on Character Development

 Hi Cambridge, this is my planning post on the character development.

When the story begins, dark tones are present, with shadows softly playing across screens. Characters take up distinct spaces, so each appearance causes a slight change in brightness. Depending on who speaks next, the lighting changes. This means that the lighting could reveal the mood. Nearby areas glow a little warmer, but some corners receive little light. Behind curtains, darkness persists. Angles feel deliberate in other places where beams run across wooden floors. When light peeks in through a window, the tone could be melancholy. In this case the shadows aren't just there for decoration, they have a purpose.

The audience's emotions toward characters and moments are facilitated by the lighting. When someone is standing in a dark area with their face slightly covered with light, it can cause suspense around that person. When the same person is in a well-lit setting, their appearance is less significant until the situation changes. In movies like Gone Girl, where shadows subtly destabilize audiences by allowing them to piece together hints from erratic lighting. Light attracts attention, especially when the television shines brighter than anything else in the frame, and viewers focus on the report that is being presented there.

This kind of lighting arrangement could improve the opening scene of the story. Rather than using just words, mood is created through color and shade. Deep shadows and gloomy colors strengthen the code theme, and where visibility disappears, mystery increases. As viewers take in the quiet between shadows, curiosity is gained.

Portfolio Storyboard

 

This is the storyboard me and Lorenzo will be using for inspiration, we are going to focus on the types of camera angles and shots during our opening.

My project Idea and major inspiration

My opening scene gets the audience's attention by creating a sense of mystery and interest. It features three to five shots of a group of three to five characters, all watching a TV news about a murder. They are in different locations throughout town. At first, there seems to be no connection between them or the murder. However, the audience meets all the main characters and begins to wonder about them. Even without all the details, they work to piece together the story, becoming active participants instead of dry spectators.

The focus in this opening scene is the reactions of the characters and how we can integrate mood through aspects such as camera shots and angles, which generally offer subtle hints for the viewers. Some characters might be looking worried with a close up shot of their face, others might avoid watching the television screen with a combination of a low and Dutch angle, and still, others might look strange or even too casual regarding the murder. All these scenes, although very small, are important in offering the audience a reason to suspect these characters, making them not notice the villain in the opening. One character in the film is actually the villain behind the crime, but this is not revealed at the moment. So, some slight hints follow the scenes with the television, which might relate to the coldness in the story, such as one of the characters washing their hands for too long could give the audience clues.

Looking back, I believe the scene in which the film opens engages in the enigma code, increasing suspense and tension. However, because it gives pieces of information and clues to the various characters, the whole audience essentially questions all the figures, thus keeping them engaged in the story. I got inspiration for this from movies, such as Zodiac and Se7en, which give information and are suspense based on the given reports, reactions, and the events in the film that create a sense of tension and mystery without giving too much information even in the beginning. Therefore, I hope that by using a similar style of approach to suspense in the beginning, me and Lorenzo will be able to engage the audience with the movie, making them see themselves in the detective character,  keeping them engaged even in a brief opening scene.

Research on one media theory I wish to integrate on my project

 Hi Cambridge, 

A media theory I'm interested to integrate on my project is the enigma code due to the fact that it withholds information to develop mystery or leave a plot point unexplained. In the film world, the enigma code initiates by describing a strange or unexplained event such as a phone ringing in an empty house, which hooks the audience. This media theory works because humans are naturally investigative and encourages them to keep looking for answers. This theory works because it plays on the audience's natural curiosity. When information is unclear, the audience begins to ask questions and try to look for clues. The lack of clear answers creates tension and keeps the audience hooked on the media as the audience slowly gets involved in solving the mystery instead of watching events unfold. Using the enigma code on my project would help the story be more interesting and captivating. By not revealing everything immediately, me and Lorenzo could make the audience think deeper and stay invested in the story line. It also demonstrates creativity on how information gets revealed, making the overall experience of watching the opening or mystery films in general, more impactful on the audience.

Films that use the enigma code:

Se7en (1995)- This film withholds information on the killers identity and motive, which creates suspense through clues until it is revealed.

Inception (2010)- The audience is engaged on guessing about what is real, the truth of the dream layers, and if Cobb even escapes the dream world.

Gone Girl (2014)- The film withholds information on Amy's disappearance, making the audience second guess themselves, as the film gives twists revealing the information on Amy. 

Group Meeting #1

Hi Cambridge, my class had a group meeting in class and this blog shows the criticism I gave for my group partners and ideas I was given, this day was important to look for ways to improve my ideas with others.

Guillermo: Very unique idea on the photographer film, good ideas of color usage during the opening (shady like the Godfather).

Sam:  He has a good idea so far on the motivational message through sports, needs more emphasizing on what he is going to do as a sport and what message is going to be sent to the audience. 

Andrea: She a really good blog presenting her inspirations, I really like the idea of romance and the split screen of one character being all bright and one of them being dim.  

Mario: He needs more elaboration with his ideas and I believe his blog needs more work on being more organized at a higher level in terms of being in highschool. However, if he can elaborate on his ideas he could do very well on the project.

Gianna: She has a very detailed opening but she has to keep in mind that it has to be at most 2 minutes long. She should not stop brainstorming on her ideas, but also focus on how she's going to organize her opening without having too many details and more time available for her opening.

An idea I was given was to create 5 frames in the beginning of my opening of the characters watching the news about the murder of someone and how one of them is secretly the antagonist but isn't given right away, and to give small details of who it could be without showing the face such as a low angle and an over the shoulder shots.

During our project group meeting, everyone gave clear and helpful feedback on the work. They explained what could be better and also shared their own ideas to help improve each others projects. Listening to everyones opinions helped me understand the importance of improving using other peoples critiques and what I could fix on my part. Overall, this meeting helped me see my work in a new way and showed me how criticism can be essential to improve aspects of me and Lorenzo's project.