Creative Critical Reflection

Link to Prezi

Film Opening

Link to Film Opening

I Finally Got Permission!

     I've been weeks, at it with a couple managers and record labels, complicating the whole process in order for them to let me use certain songs. I thought there was no hope, until my brother mentioned that he is actually friends with a band member from an indie group called 'Kids'. Yet he couldn't have told me this any sooner. So he helped me reach out to them and placed the final piece to puzzle. I'm really thrilled that things were able to work out and the song, "Sunshine" goes perfectly with the opening. It's suppose to represent the dream world. For the parts that portray reality, I'm using small bits from a song, "Superstition" by The Kills, whom I also reached out for its use.

Editing

     Im almost done with the editing and Ive also started my Critical Reflection. I also changed my mind on how I am going to be presenting it, I re-thought my decision and decided to take a different route. I thought I was set with just doing it through a Google Presentation, but thought it was a bit boring. What I now have in mind, is doing a screen recording on my computer paired with a voiceover of me explaining this whole process. I think this is a more efficient route in order to translate my thoughts.
     As for editing, Everything is following through. All of the clips I shot are coming to use. So far I have the first minute done and Im really liking the way its turning out. As Ive been adding in the credits, I am thinking of including some famous production labels to make the opening seem more professional.
     For music, I still haven't received the permission for a song I really wanted to use. Luckily, recently I asked one of my friends, who is a musician, to whip something up incase I end up not using the song. Its a shame if I cant use the song because it went really well with the opening. Other than that my project is still going smoothly.

Still Waiting for the Music

       So far, Ive been able to look over the clips and at least lined them up on my editing timeline (using Final Cut Pro) and I like what I see. I don't think I would need to re-shoot anything, which is really relieving. The only thing kind of holding me back from continuing this process is waiting for a certain record label give me permission to use a song, 'Dreaming' by Mac DeMarco. Its almost as the last puzzle piece I need to complete the picture. I have been able to lay out all the clips on the timeline, but haven't had the chance to make certain edits without the music. My intention was to have some of the beats within the song I chose, to match some of the cuts between clips. I'm really hoping they respond to my e-mail soon and not have to change it to another one.

      As for my Creative Critical Reflection, I've been thinking for it to be presented through Google Presentation. I like how the presentation can look professional yet interesting with the provided themes and color schemes. Oppose to, for example, Prezi where I feel there are too many designs and transitions that it becomes more distracting, overlooking the text. I have also been writing a 'rough draft' of the Creative Critical Reflection. I still need to add more to it, and hopefully finish by the end of this weekend.

Post Production Begins

     I officially finished filming! I'm really pleased to have this part over with. The piece of footage I needed to shoot was at a specific park that usually has a lot of people, but due to it being spring break it hasn't been busy. Luckily, when I checked yesterday there were a decent amount of people, perfect for the shots I wanted.
     Since I have that done I can move on to editing where the project begins to form. These past few weeks I've been messaging different record labels to ask for permission to use certain songs, but its been a more difficult process than I intended. In the end I'm only waiting for one more to accept.

     The music in my opening is an important element. I'm going to be grabbing bits from two songs and put them together. On one of the songs, its very mellow/indie track, that will be used to convey the dream world. While the other one just has several quick beats and other irritating sounds that I want to incorporate to show how the main character actually feels going through this confusion.
     What I usually tend to do when editing previous projects is leaving some clips on for a bit too long so I have to be careful with this and be more aware. I think what helps is that due to the small amount of time we are given for the opening, I'm bound to have to make these faster edits.
   

Successful Week

     This past week, during Spring Break, I was able to get done what I needed to on this trip to Colorado. All I'm missing is to film the rest at home. What I have in mind is for this washed-up reality she lives in is somewhere it seems isolated, silenced and cold. As for the 'dream world', it would take place somewhere sunny, warm and full of life, which I can find where I originally live. Everyday that I was here on my trip I filmed for at least a few minutes in order to make sure i have enough to edit with. This also helped because since I don't have my computer to upload all the clips and look over them, and I've just been relying on the tiny viewfinder on my camera.  

Day one of shooting

      Today I started filming. I am really glad I'm able to film around this environment as it goes along with this representation of a washed-up reality. For my main character I have my 10 year old sister to hold that role. Before filming I assured she was wearing dark colored clothing in order to convey the character sad state. I also added dark eyeshadow and liner under her eyes to accentuate the bags (tired eyes), show her exhaustion. I even made sure to over shoot because these are the only days ill have access to this background and allows me to have more to work with when editing. Since here in Colorado, winter is coming to an end, all the snow is melting. The location is very isolated so you cant seem to hear any sounds, but dripping of melted snow coming down from the roof. What I did was I left my camera sit in one place recording this sound for at most four minutes to have it just in case. I feel like I was able to get a lot done today and I still have these remainder days to film anything else I need.

Sticking to the Idea

     Ive been contemplating lately on whether or not I should stick to with this idea for the film. I wasn't sure if the idea was something i can expand on and be able to portray. After constant thought, I feel like its best to stay with it. I definitely don't want the focus to revert to the brain disease and have it overlook the message. I wanted the message to generally show the unfortunate reality we live in today and how we all wish for things to be and seem different. It almost becomes a fear to face it and recognize it.

     I have to make sure the opening stays simple and focuses more on the character. Im planning on filming over spring break where ill be surrounded by cold snowy weather. I feel like this environment will be great to film in, almost as a white pallet to work on when adding coloration during post production. Its also not entirely convered in snow, the warm weather is coming in dying down the snow making it great for representing the reality part the main character sees. In my opinion, this is a great week to have the production part of the project done having the remaining weeks focusing on post production.  

Camera Shots and Opening Update

Anatomy Of An Opening Sequence: David Fincher’s Seven
     I've been getting some inspiration from David Fincher's film opening in 'Seven'. I am really inclined to the Close Up camera shot techniques he uses in the opening showing very rigid visuals that perfectly conveys the creepy tone and character. This has actually made me re-think on how my film opening would come out. I was planning to introduce the main character with the full appearance and the setting, but instead do the opposite. I really want to focus on the main character, for the audience to grasp how shes feeling. I want them to almost experience this confusion between reality and dreams with her. This would mean to include sounds of the main character heavely breathing or maybe them fidgeting with their fingers.

      During the weekend ive been continuing the storyboard, but have been making various  changes, going back and forth on my ideas. Im having a hard time being able to convey what I want the audience to know in these two minutes, while keeping it interesting and intriguing. What I had already done for the intro, feel like its a bit too repetitive throughout the two minutes. I think the main character speds the whole time just reverting back and forth from reality to her dreams, there needs to be a limit. I am trying to find other ways to make it simple, but turn down the repitition. 

Research and Planning: Film Opening in Progress

     These past few days I've been working on my storyboard, guiding me to put all my ideas together. Im not finished and am slowly incorporating more details for each shot and maybe include some other shots in-between. I want to open the film with the character already in this 'dream' world then waking up from the sleep attack a few seconds after. There are mostly going to be close up and medium shots in order for the viewers to concentrate how she is mentally and physically dealing with it, ignoring her surroundings.

Storyboard (so far)
UNFINISHED

   
















     Ive also researched more on mise e scene and found this article showing several examples. This really helped me have a better image on what the character should be wearing and how to change different aspects between reality and the dream world, in terms of lighting, in order to differentiate. Ive intend for the dream world would have high-key lighting, bright hues and mellow music in the background. While in real world it has low-key lighting, quiet and convey emptiness.
Link to article: Mise e Scene

Research and Planning: Idea in Progress

     For the past week Ive been able to develop what I think will be my story for my film opening. Its headed towards a Drama/Adventure genre, based on a girl (age not decided) who is dealing with Narcolepsy. Due to having this condition she tends to confuse reality and her dream world since she is constantly reverting back and forth from them. I want to convey this idea by just showing little from her daily life and have the film opening introduce the character and her condition. This would also mean practicing and playing around with the camera shots and editing to fully know how Im going to present it. So far I've been making the storyboard to have a better understanding on how it would be shown and what exactly Im going to want the viewers know from just these two minutes. I really like this concept because it's a story I've never heard of and I really wanted to gear myself in creating something unique and different.
    Since the main character would be diagnosed with this brain disease, I most certainly done my research of the specifications in terms of symptoms, causes and treatments of Narcolepsy. Within the opening, I plan for viewers be able to identify these effects and making it transparent for them to see what she is going through.

Narcolepsy Research
Sleep Disorders Health Center: Narcolepsy
What is Narcolepsy?
Youtube Video

Planning: Group Meetings

    Today in class my teacher had put us into groups in order to share the ideas we have with one another and give opinions and constructive criticism as to how to improve and strive to grow from them. I thought this was a great way to bounce off ideas being able to receive an outside viewpoint, it definitely helped especially since I'm working individually. After sharing the story I have in mind to others in my group, I feel more conscious as to what I want to create. What my group helped me realize and focus on was how I am going to present the story. Since there is minimal time for the opening I have to be careful as to what I incorporate in every edit for it to be intriguing and understandable. Im glad I was able to get feedback from others along with helping my fellow classmates expand on theirs'.
 

Researching: Editing Techniques and Openings

     These past few days I've gone to research and view various film openings and editing techniques in order to inspire as to what I would like to create. Since the story I'm inclining to do is headed more towards a Drama/Adventure genre, it was easier to stumble upon openings that lye in the same area.
     One film opening that caught my eye the most was from 'Stranger Than Fiction' where it began with the story along with the main character's day to day life. I would like to bounce off idea from that concept of just showing how this character's has been constantly living, having the viewers understand that its repetitive and almost living like a robot/wired.
     After watching some other openings, I read an article that gave tips on editing, taken inspiration from Vsevolod Pudovkin, a director who is known for his contributions to the world of cinema with his editing techniques. This was really helpful and insightful for future reference when I do begin to edit and build my opening. One of the techniques I enjoyed learning about was contrast, and my idea does consist of two different 'worlds'. It allowed me to have an idea as to how i might convey these 'worlds' making it simple, understandable and interesting for viewers.
    So far the collection of information I've been finding has been greatly useful and I feel like its allowed my ideas to expand and come together.