Podcast!

Podcast linked here. 

Film Opening

Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ScNqFhLBxA&feature=youtu.be

Decisions, Decisions

            Alongside my two minute film opening, I must create some sort of creative critical reflection! After much debate, I've decided to make a podcast. I plan to write a script ahead of time, as to avoid going off on tangents. I've already begun researching and, so far, have found quite a few, including this one from Die Hard (1988) that I will absolutely be giving a watch!
          Regarding the progress of my opening, there is still so much to do. A lot of my friends have found themselves just as stressed, and we've all decided to get together tomorrow at Starbucks, with our laptops and hopefully have a super-duper productive editing session. Outside perspectives are also always super helpful, so I am excited!
         I've also decided I want my film to be titled "Hoops". Through the duration of the film, after the opening, I picture my protagonist going on obsession fueled adventures, contriving her own nemeses and conflicts. I want her costume, or rather signature, to be her hoop earrings. They are introduced in the opening, but obviously not emphasized since film opening's rarely explain the purpose of a film's title. 

Until next time!
CS

Assembling an Opening

          To edit my opening I've decided to go with iMovie! Even though I have access to Adobe Premiere Pro on my mom's desktop, iMovie is something I'm familiar with and learning a new software would definitely set me back, time-wise. Moreover, being able to edit from my laptop will be more convenient, as it's portable. Although iMovie isn't the fanciest thing around, it has all of the features I need to assemble an opening, and I love it!

The audio failed

          I've already started piecing clips together that don't need to be edited to music, like Kiara talking. Later on, after I've decided on a song, I'll fill in the empty spaces with the shots I had planned of her dancing and fooling around, out of "character." 
          The only big obstacle I could foresee while using iMovie for this project would be the audio failing on me. It's already happened twice when I was trying to put in sound effects, so I'm going to look into methods of prevention. 

Color correcting!

Until next time!
CS

Filming Fun

Screen cap one (color corrected)

            I filmed everything on Sunday and, in retrospect, it went pretty well! Kiara came over around twelve and we were finished by four. The first hour we spent going over her monologue, and the last three we spent filming and snacking.
           Blocking ahead of time really did help the filming process go by smoothly, as well as story boarding. Not every shot came out how I envisioned, so there were some deviations from the story boards, but the only major obstacles I encountered were sound related. Sometimes planes would pass by or my mom would let the sink run, but all we had to do was wait it out.

Screen cap two (color corrected)

Screen cap three (color corrected)

            Overall, I'm content with my footage. I decided to film it on my camera's "cloudy" mode, which emphasizes warmer tones. In post production, I plan on further enhancing the film's warmth through color correction. 
           I'm really excited to edit. It's truly my favorite part of the whole process- watching snippets turn to scenes and come to life. Really, I'm only nervous about finding the right song. I continually find myself backtracking on my choices, unsatisfied with the music I've decided on. Luckily, Free Music Archive has many (many, many) options for me to sift through. I will keep you updated!

Until next time!
CS

Storyboards!!

story board 2

story board 1

            As I've already mentioned a bunch of times, I want to initiate the opening with a midshot of Kiara staring into the camera and saying "Hey, you!"  The viewer will most likely mistake this for her breaking the fourth wall and that feeling of confrontation will be further reinforced by a crash zoom. I've also decided to incorporate a crash zoom because it's a common technique used in action films. I want to film a lot of the opening with the same intensity of an action movie, the way the character would imagine it.
           I then wish to interrupt the zoom with a montage of Kiara putting music on to provide background as to why music is playing. I also like the way the shot of her pressing "play" is similar to pressing play before watching a movie. In Kiara's mind, she's getting into character and acting out her own film.
            I then want to return to Kiara in close up, saying things like "You shouldn't be here." Once she starts to break character, though, by shaking it out or sighing, I want to cut to a shot of her in profile. The moments she is not head on and facing the camera are the moments I wish to emphasize that she is really only playing "dress up" in front of the mirror, putting on this blend-of-every-action-hero-she's-ever-been-exposed-to persona. 

           The rest of my shot/ angle choices I will explain/ justify in my director's commentary, but for now, here are my storyboards! 

story board 3

story board 4

story board 5

story board 6 (last one)

     

Until next time!
CS

Monologue Magic

          The backbone of my opening is its monologue and, even though I'm a firm believer in improvisation, I think it's necessary I prepare at least a loose script for Kiara before filming tomorrow. There are certain points I wish to address in my opening that I don't want to lose in ad lib.  
         

"Hey, you! What're you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. Wandering, at this time of night? You should've listened the first time 'round. You've gotta listen. They don't call me the Baddest Mama Jama Around for nothing. I tried to warn you, y'know, I tried. But you can't lead a horse to water." KIARA whips out a fork and puts it in the position of a gun. "Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew... pow. You do this to yourself." - the monologue

           First, I'll make a quick disclaimer! I know that the saying is "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," but there's a point in her saying "-but you can't lead a horse to water." She messes up the line and it puts emphasis on the idea that she is not an action hero. No matter her attempts to be as cool as one, she will somehow fail because life is not a film. It's also the climax of the opening and I think that, accompanied by her pretending a fork is a gun, is a funny way to relieve the tension. 

          Moreover, the monologue includes two realities. Kiara imagines she's off somewhere in the back of an alleyway, confronting her nemesis. Really, the viewer can see that she's talking to herself in front of a mirror. 

          Furthermore, I'm presenting something that, to the character, would be considered very private. It is her ritual, the same as brushing her teeth or getting dressed, and so I want to include the line "You're not supposed to be here," because the audience isn't. Accompanied by Kiara looking straight into the camera, it will add to the confrontational feeling I want the opening to carry.
         Of course, I'm open to adjusting certain lines if need be, as long as the sentiment behind them remains.

Until next time!
CS