The final post of all time

     Ok, this is it. The final post. The post where I share everything to the world.

     The links to my 2-minute film opening and 2 Creative Critical Reflections are below. Enjoy!

Opening

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fbd_60Qy-wL208rvb16E5PDZEJn9quSS/view?usp=sharing

CCR 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B7FsT2c_8oU2pdBQKvfD497kDmiafPw6/view?usp=sharing

CCR 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-MR3_zxbcCk-n2j3hlEDqBQJhYgxgsDZ/view?usp=sharing

    Those three videos took a lot of time and effort. I know I can do better. But, I am still proud of my work. I am also proud of my blogs, which also took plenty of sweat. But, most of all, I feel like everything I've made here is a reflection of myself and my own personality... So, I'm happy.

Thank you for reading all my blogs!!!

Bye everyone!

my "friend" keeps thinking I stole his ideas for my blog...

    which is somewhat true... but, he has a really good blog and so I "take" some of his ideas even though they are small jokes and he gets really upset about it for no reason at all. It's kinda annoying but also really funny at the same time. 

His name is Zach London.

  the bum i'm refering to...

    His blog is down below. 

https://londonlaysitout.blogspot.com/

    Go spam hate comments please (jk please don't do that)

    Anyways, there is a reason why I am bringing this up. It relates to the bigger picture of this class and, more specifically, this project.

    

    The whole project was a wonderful experience and I actually find it really interesting that my friend bullies me about my blogs. The ability to create and share work is truly wonderful. It allows others to look into your creation and comment on it. Obviously whether I "stole" his work is entirely subjective, but, even having that argument in the first place proves what this class is worth.

    As I am starting to wrap up this project, I am reflecting on my new skills in creating and my new skills in crtiquing others' work, just like what Zach does. I learned how to be a better director, writer, actor, and filmmaker through this class. Even though I am no Christopher Nolan or Martin Scorsese, I am genuinely impressed of the skills I've gained throughout high school through the processes of filmmaking and journalism (which includes this class!). 

    And I think that's the point of this class, even though we haven't yet critiqued the film openings for our class, I'm sure it will boost our skills. Because as much as I dislike Zach for thinking I took his ideas (which some may argue that I did!), everyone has a right to comment and argue about others' work because they've made work on their own and perhaps the critiques serve as a way to improve oneself. Zach has taken this class before and is actually in A level. Critiques and comments are not meant to harm the person in no way, but, a way to make them better. Zach wants to make me better. But. Still. Fuck you zach. I know you're reading this like a little turd. I know that you want the best for others. I know that you want others to imporve. I know that making fun of people like me serves as a way to improve yourself. But. Still. Fuck you. It's my blog, I can say whatever I want.

    But, on a more real note. It's all about improving yourself, through the cycle of creating and critiquing, which seems obvious. But, I feel like many other classes that I've taken don't quite give you this experience, which is why I think this class is genuienly crazy for even existing. So yeah I had a pretty positive experience with this class. I'll see you guys next time for my final post. See yah!

Editing makes me dreadful but also pretty cool

     Ok, I've started editing my CCR's! which has been pretty cool.

    But, I'm not here to explain my enjoyment... I'm here to talk about my editing strategy!

How it feels to talk about my editing strategy

    I'm not going to discuss the basic editing techniques I use. But, the more advanced one's that like are unique to my CCR's specifically.

    For both CCR's, whenever I finish the radio edit (the full project with just me talking(no pictures yet)), I add the pictures(no duh). But, sometimes pictures look unproffessional, so, something I have learned from my television production classes involves using blur, scale keyframes, and dissolve transititions to make pictures look more proffessional. Here's how I do it.

    I add two of the same clip on top of one another on the timeline. The picture on the bottom has the "gaussian blur effect". The picture on the bottom is also scaled up so it fills the entire frame.

    

Here's what it looks like

    Next, the top clip is keyframed. It depends on preference, but, the pictures alternate from a larger to smaller scale, or vice versa.

Da keyframes

    Next, I add some transitions between pictures(cross fades) and then done!

One frame of the final product

    In addition to these clips, I've also used pull/push transitions between clips for style.

    Anyways, that's enough rambling for me today. I hope you've enjoyed my rambling. If you didn't, I don't really care. This is just me explaining my editing process, which has been pretty chill and unchallenging. Sooooo yeah, peace!

Proffessional CCR maker here

    eh not really... but they were fun to make.

    I created two Creative Critical Reflections and filmed both on the same day. I helped film my friend, Bella's, CCR, and she helped film both of mine. Overall, it went well so i'll just be yapping about the production of my own CCR's (even though filming Bella's was part of it... but it's not mine so I'm not gonna talk about it)

This is how it feels talking about the CCR's even though nobody really cares

    I think it's a good time to talk about the equipment I used. The only things I used were my Iphone 14 and a tripod one of my dad's friend's had. The lack of equipment was mostly due to our inability to check out equipment from Cypress Bay Television (the club I am in that gives out equipment). The club gives out free equipment, but, we filmed over spring break, making it impossible to get equipment. It's fine though since we still made it work, even if we preffered to use better equipment.

The biggest overall issue with both CCR's was Bella's dog. She kept interrupting multiple scenes, but, it wasn't a big issue. I just thought it would be funny to include this fact. I also don't know his/her name.

Bella's Dog

    The first one we filmed was one where I had to read fan mail. The biggest issue here was that I suck at speaking impromptu, which was what Bella wanted me to do. In fact, she told me that the video was annoying because I kept messing up when I tried to memorize bullet points from the script(she is much better at this than I am) In the end, I memorized in short bits at a time and, at some points, I would read off the script held to the side of the camera, looking at the camera very often.

    The Second one was filmed outside and the issue of memorizing lines was no problem considering that I was looking offscreen, talking to someone, allowing Bella to use the script as a teleprompter, negating the requirement of memorizing lines. Now, this action is a tradeoff since nobody was looking at the camera, making sure the shots looked good. Now, I checked the shots afterward and they looked fine so, it wasn't a big deal. What is sort of a big deal though are the shadows all over my face. I wanted to have myself facing the lake in her backyard. But, this came at the expense of properly exposing my face in the direction of the sun. But, I am going to try fixing the shadows in post and seeing how that works.

Why was this the only photo I have of production

    The CCR's were lowk chill to edit and stuff... I'm starting to wrap up my project as a whole. Be prepared for my final CCR's! Peace!

ok wait let me think...

 ChatGPT generate me some ideas for the production of CCR.

thinking

You should create your CCR's based off these two ideas. Your first CCR should have you reading fan mail and fan questions, where you respond to various questions presented based on various questions that have arised from the film opening. It could serve as a creative and simple way to deliver information of your opening! Your second CCR should have you wake up from a dream where you played as an actor in your short film! Next, the other actor from the short film appears and gives you questions about your opening, which serves as your CCR! The CCR ends with you waking up again, but, this time it's yourself! The interaction with the other actor was another dream! You wake up and break the 4th wall saying how this CCR is terrible and it ends! I'm sure you will find these ideas to be quite remarkable. Let me know if you need any help with your project! bye loser.

Wow thank you chatgpt!!!! I will be continuing to use you for the rest of my project!(that was a joke) (no amount of AI was used in any part of this project)

This was me rambling on the solidified ideas I have for my CCR's production. I hope you guys enjoyed. Peace!

CCR 4 of 4

 

This is the script for answering CCR 4! Enjoy

The hardware that I used included a tripod, T7 Canon Camera, a tube light, SD card, Lark M2 Hollylands, and reflector. I got all of my hardware through the checkout system for a club that I am in. Cypress Bay Television. The club hands out equipment for free to students. So, I took advantage of the club to film my project.

I used software to develop my film during the pre and post-production timelines during my film. I used WriterDuet to create my script and CCR’s . I used Blogger to create my blogs, which I uploaded updates on my production of the opening every few days. I used epidemic sound, which helped me find sound effects and music. I used Canva to design my title and production logo. And, finally, I used Premier Pro, an editing software that I used to edit my final project.

Wow... very informational very cool. Here's another funny photo from my competition because I want to have a funny blog.

wow, that wasnt funny. that was actually very heartwarming and fun. that's my amazing team if youre wondering.

ok, i know you guys dont really care sooooo bye for now.

CCR 3 of 4

 

This is the script of the 3rd of 4th CCR that I will be producing...

Before I even begin talking about this CCR, I think it’s a good time to mention that I have created many pieces of visual/auditory media in the past, including news stories, short films, and more. Personally, I would consider myself to be quite skilled in creating media. However, my skills can always be improved. Throughout my project, my directing skills have improved drastically since I never directed a short film before. It was challenging, but, also extremely fun to try to create the best film possible with the various challenges presented my way. I also believe that some of my acting skills improved, which is what I hoped for because I have always wanted to act in some of the pieces that I wrote myself. Speaking of writing, my writing skills have also improved through the creation of a piece that I thought was interesting and fun to make. Overall, the experience in making the film opening was challenging and somewhat dreadfull. But, in the future, I bet I would be thankful that I took this challenge on.

That's my CCR 3. You guys probably don't care. But, my competition went well! I really took a lot of pictures, but, I want to have a funny blog, soooooo, here's a picture with me acting tuff with spongebob.

Ok, i see you guys later bye.

CCR 2 of 4

    CCR 2 will fall under the same production of CCR 1, where I answer questions that are asked by me thruough a producer telling me specific questions, which I will have to answer. Anyways, I wrote my script for CCR 2! I researched the question from my previous blog posts and I feel comfortable sharing the script now! The script is final and I am personally very proud of it.

Also, I realized that I never posted my script for the first CCR. 

Soooooo, here it is too.

 

CCR 1

Well, Will suffers from depression, which a major point of representation within my film opening. This point of representation serves to highlight the global issue of mental health, which has seen an increase throughout the globe. Everyone has different ways of coping with mental struggles, some more extreme than others. And, My film showcases an extreme version of coping where a teenager doesn’t leave his own room, due to an experience that happened in the past due to the death of a family member.

CCR 2

Anyways, more modern dramas are starting to introduce the aspect of mental health into their films, showing an increase in representation of the topic, which is why my opening uses typical genre conventions. It also uses drama conventions in the structure to my film. Drama films typically include plenty of dialogue between characters, especially when introducing characters, which is what I aspired to do with my film opening. Drama Conventions typically follow a character-driven plot, which my film does, showing how it follows genre conventions.

In total, this is the first product that I will be creating for my CCR's. Enjoy!