Creative Critical Reflection

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

 

Creating the film into for our AICE Media Studies portfolio was a lot of fun, while also teaching me important lessons about media in general, filmmaking, and editing. 

Join me as I discuss what I've learned from this project and key moments from the process by watching the video below.

If, for any reason, you have trouble viewing it from the video player, please visit this link https://youtu.be/LlbNvYf9dXE to see it on YouTube.

Completed Film Intro

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

As promised and without further ado: Dirty Dough!

I'm also including the link to view it on YouTube in case there's any trouble. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/5e1bD64wLQc?si=v4N7ao_npy9noCie

Deadlines are Approaching - Too Many to Count!

 P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Deadlines are Approaching - 7 Classes At Once

    I wouldn't be caught dead not having completed my work before a deadline rolls around. Unfortunately for me, in the final months before school ends and as exams roll around, every single class ramps into overdrive with assignments and deadlines. 

    "What does this mean for our movie intro project?" you may be asking.

    Well, it certainly doesn't make it any easier to complete!

    My teammate Shelly and I are working tirelessly every AICE Media class to edit as the Adobe Premiere Pro software isn't available for download on our personal devices. 

    Confining editing to class time is certainly stressful as we try to incorporate new editing methods and cool new graphics. However, I appreciate that it maintains a separation between this class and the time I have to work on other classes' work. It certainly means we are all less stressed out.

    I'm sure that by lowering the stress on each of us, this class gives us the little break that we all need to relax, collect ourselves, and get ready to grind  when we get to class. 

    So, on a positive note, the film intro is coming soon; you better believe it! Thanks for the patience!

Filming and Editing Our Movie Intro

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Our Movie Intro Is Coming to an End

    All good things must come to an end, including beginnings. This film intro is certainly no exception. 

    After weeks of storyboarding, planning, filming, editing, and tweaking the intro to fit the mental image we created for it, my partner Shelly and I are starting to accept that we are almost done! 

    So, to keep you all captivated before we get to the final finish line, here are some of my favorite parts from this creative movie-intro-creation process:

• Departing from the storyboard. 
• Ideally, we would stick as closely as possible to our storyboard to maintain the story idea and sequence of events we had from the start; however, we got some ideas during filming that were too good to ignore!
• Trying out new edits on Adobe Premiere Pro
• We thought we knew it all from our past projects, but that is far from the truth!
• New edits you can expect to see in our intro include cool text effects and split screening to show two simultaneous sequences at once!
• Getting suggestions from my teammate 
• Shelly oftentimes had some great ideas I don't know if I would have thought of alone! 
• Giving suggestions to my teammate
• A little more frustrating than getting suggestions, giving them was necessary from time to time while we were navigating Adobe Premiere and while filming; Shelly wasn't always right!

    Stay tuned in because the final reveal of our intro is coming soon! It's worth the wait!

    

Storyboarding our Film Intro

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

STORYBOARDING

As we did for the other film projects we had in media studies, my teammate and I made a storyboard for our upcoming film intro. 

Historically, we've struggled with keeping our project accurate to the storyboard as we had new ideas pop up while filming or editing.

Nonetheless, I hope we stick to this storyboard because it has so many cool editing ideas and great scenes to watch. 

Here they are!

February - Vocab Review

   P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Getting Ready for our Media Studies Papers

    Since we are prone to a little wintertime amnesia, it was a good idea to review certain vocabulary concerning film media - editing, mise en scène, cutting, etc. This can also benefit us greatly regarding the film intro we are currently working on. 

    When I make any analysis, I will surely include some of these terms:

• Mise en scène
• Location: place away from studio where recording takes place
• Studio: room where recording takes place; lighting, color, environment completely controllable.
• Set Design: the time period, genre, tone, setting of the set
• Costumes, Makeup
• Color
• Editing and cutting:
• Shot/reverse shot
• Eyeline match
• Jump Cut
• Graphic Match
• Action Match
• Crosscutting
• Parallel editing
• Cutaways
• Movement/Composition
• Pan
• Tilt
• Track
• Dolly 
• Crane
• Reverse zoom

And more!

I realized defining each term on this blog would make it about a half a mile long; let's avoid that! I will continue to consult my notes on a weekly basis before our exams to make sure I have these terms locked and loaded. Exams are scary but less so when you know you've prepared adequately. 

Preparing For Our Film Intro

  P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

AICE Film Intro

    Any good project starts with RESEARCH. So, how is one to research for a film intro? 

        - By watching films, of course!

    Some common themes we have seen from watching film intros are:

• Production company credits, producer name, lead cast names
• Film title
• Mysterious but not confusing; keeps audience engaged, excited to have their questions answered
• Protagonist is the first introduced
• Tone and mood are established using scene, lighting, music

We can also incorporate some of the basic film making aspects we learned from prior projects. Of course these include:

• Use of specific camera angles to establish the scene, mood, etc.
• Diligent use of editing to communicate more than the scenes do alone. 
• Attempts to mitigate background noise or other distractions
• Serious attempts at continuity to not confuse viewers. 

With this in mind, it's time to storyboard! 

Beginning Semester 2 - A Lesson on Synergy and Convergence

 P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Studying Media - Synergy and Convergence

    Back from our two-week winter break, we jumped right into AICE concepts concerning media. The first of these are Synergy and Convergence.

• Synergy is the use of multiple media platforms in order to reach and engage a larger audience. 
• This often includes work across multiple companies
• Synergy is a powerful tool for advertising
• One media form is oftentimes going to have a larger impact than the others
• Product placement is a form of synergy through TV or movies. 

• Convergence is very similar to media synergy.
• It also includes the cooperative use of digital and traditional forms of media. 
• It helps bring uniformity between the different platforms of media. 
• Some describe it as merging together different forms of media. 

    The goal of our class is to apply terms like these to AICE exams as well as to our general day-to-day view of the media. 

PSA On Littering: The Recycler Vs. The Litterer

 P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

    There's no better feeling than completing a project and seeing how ideas from just a few weeks earlier come to fruition. 

    Below is the completed PSA on littering filmed, directed, and edited alongside my partner, Shelly. I hope its comedic yet serious message can inspire would-be 'litterers' to change their 'egregious behavior!'

Without further ado:

The Recycler Vs. The Litterer

What's Next - PSA on Littering

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Working on our Next Project - a PSA

    Now that the comedy about two private investigators is done, it's time to get on to the next project. That is, a PSA! 

    This time, I chose to work with a new partner, Shelly, to try and stay on task a little better than we were able to in our last group. Immediately, we got to work. 

    First, the decision was made on the PSA topic. There was some disagreements on whether we should do a PSA on cheating, littering, drug abuse, drunk driving, or something else. Eventually, we settled on littering, a particularly annoying petty crime that ruins landscapes and harms wildlife. 

    Next, we got to storyboarding. We wanted to incorporate the following into our short PSA:

• Hard-hitting facts
• Comedy
• A story/meaningful journey
• Use of camera angles

    By this project, storyboarding became as easy as ever! Next up was recording our scenes and editing. Of course, we also needed a prop - a Monster Energy drink.     

    Before we knew it, recording was done. Some shots were perfect from the first attempt, but others took two or three tries to get it just right. Because the PSA could be so short in length, we could focus on the small details. 

    Lastly came time to edit! Keeping our storyboard near for reference was helpful in achieving the look we were going for. 

Come back soon for the completed result!

The Fruits of Our Labor - Project Two COMPLETED!

     P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

    Last class, we completely finished project two - our comedy film! It was a bumpy road to completion, to say the least, but I learned some valuable lessons about teamwork and staying on task.

    Overall, I am glad with how the short film turned out, and this eased some of the anxiety I felt from coming behind schedule for this project. I am told it resembles Charlie's Angels; I've never watched the movie, but am now enticed to! 

    Without further ado, here is our short comedy about two detectives hired to investigate each other:

Double Detectives

Lessons Learned During Project Two

    P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

   Nearing the end of our second project, there are some key lessons I feel I have learned about groupwork in AICE media studies. There was trouble getting my team members to cooperate, meet deadlines, and to each to do their part. 

    

    I am glad to say that my team members did come through in the end, but the process was a mess that caused great anxiety for me. No matter, one must make mistakes in order to learn. From this unpleasant experience, I learned to:

    

• Avoid working with people who are your friends and may have difficulty staying on-task because of this
• Avoid ramping down productivity with the thought that there is more than enough time. Always work as if the deadline is soon. 
• Realize that not everyone is perfect and team members may have trouble fulfilling their roles due to their circumstances. Keep communication open to avoid this becoming a problem.
• Be ready to try new roles and take action. It is best to lead by example, not by dictating. 

With this in mind, I will start to plan my next project, a PSA, in class tomorrow. Instead, I will work individually or perhaps with another with whom I have not previously worked. Next project will be better!

Working On Our Second Film - Comedy!

   P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Creating a Comedy

    The month of November was cut short by Thanksgiving break, but that doesn't mean we can't get a project in! 

    Working in nearly the same group as for our last project, we chose to do a short comedy. I felt it would be fun to film and edit. Let's hope that's the case...

    The greatest part yet was creating the storyboard. Using feedback from our last project, we decided to include some key features, including:

• Exciting plot twists 
• Special camera angles
• New editing techniques using Premiere Pro
• Music to enhance the feel of scenes

    Now, I will be honest, it has been a little difficult to keep our group on task at times; however, I am trying my best to mediate this issue! As the oldest member of my group, I feel it is my responsibility to help steer everyone in the right direction to get this project done. 

    

Creating Our First Film (HORROR!)

  P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

My Experience Filmmaking

    Over the past few weeks, we worked in teams to create short horror films. Our team was composed of Pandora, Samoy, Wolf, Rosa, and myself. New to filmmaking, we certainly went through a learning curve trying to understanding acting, filming, directing, and editing. 

    First, we created our storyboard. We passed it around between group members so that each one could have a part in creating the film's story. We made sure to plan out camera angles and movement as well as character movement.

    We then started filming. After finishing our first scene, we realized that following our storyboard would result in far too long a short form. As a result, we had to make some changes to our story and planned scenes. I found this creative process fun!

    At the end, Pandora mainly edited together the short film, but I played around with Adobe Premier as well to get a feel of the program. She did a terrific jo!

Here's our completed film:

Blog Entry 5 - Camera Angles and StoryBoarding

 P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

Camera Angles and Storyboarding

     Over the course of the week, we touched up on the various camera angles and their effects on film. We learned that there are 9 common and impactful angles:

• Low Angles:
• Look up at the subject, they appear powerful
• High Angles:
• Look down on the subject, they appear weak
• Overhead (Bird's eye): 
• Look straight down, shows scene and complex movement
• Dutch/ Off-Center:
• Creates unease, tension
• Eye-level:
• Most common and natural shot, creates connection
• Shoulder Level/ Over The Shoulder:
• Good for conversations and dialogue
• Hip Angle:
• Best known in westerns for showcasing gun holsters
• Knee-Level:
• Great for tracking through an environment
• Ground Level:
• Similar to low angle, but usually shows scene, detail, movement

     This in mind, we also discussed Storyboarding. We learned that Storyboarding is beneficial by: 

• Having angles and scenes planned for shooting
• Avoiding confusion 
• Having an idea of the movement in a scene (marked in red on a storyboard)
• Having an idea of the camera movement in a scene (marked in blue on a storyboard)

    Using this information, we were able to create our own storyboard for the short horror film we will be creating in groups in class. Exciting!

Blog Entry 4 - Analyzing Movies/Video/TV

  P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

What I Learned About Analyzing Film and Media

    A few classes ago, we had a guest speaker come from ShortcutsTV, in their words, "a television program created to showcase short videos and films created by high school students in the tri-county area of South Florida."

    He taught us the importance of pre-production in any sort of media, of good scriptwriting, and the effects of different angles and camera focus. 

    For example, good scriptwriting should incorporate the following to captivate an audience:

• An Introduction, 
• Conflict/Confrontation (turning point)
• A resolution (conclusion)

    Furthermore, some good guidelines for any good story include:

• Being abundantly clear, easy to follow
• Incorporating a message/ moral of the story
• Have a STRONG ending
• Create an emotional attachment with the audience

    With these in mind, the next class I had the privilege of analyzing some clips on the ShortcutsTV YouTube page by other high schoolers like myself. 

    There were some recurring themes between the different works that I would like to incorporate into some of my own in the future, including:

• Good use of music to establish a scene, emotion
• Comedy
• Varied use of camera angles as the story progresses
• Sound effects
• Lighting to set the scene, whether scary or lighthearted

    These are just a few of the aspects of media that I learned play a vital role in engaging and captivating an audience. To be conscientious of them as I watched new material was very entertaining and informational, knowing how these forms of media convey the messages they do.

Making My First YouTube Video (Adobe Express)

 P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

My Experience Making a YouTube Video

    Using Adobe Express to make my first YouTube video definitely involved a learning curve. Luckily, prior to starting, we were able to watch some tutorials on how to use a similar program, Premier Pro. Some useful tips include: 

• The Media Browser can be used in lieu of File Explorer;
• You can snap clips together using the magnet icon, or disable this feature using the same icon;
• The slip tool can be used to change when each individual video starts
• When something is selected for editing, it will be highlighted in blue
• Users are able to drag multiple clips into the timeline sequence area to minimize time spent importing clips

How I Created the Video

    First, I created my Adobe Express account, something relatively easy as I used my Google account. I then selected a template I found cool and began to edit it as well as duplicate and change some portions. 

To make the video more interesting, I added music reminiscent of the early days of YouTube. Remembering the issue of copyright, I selected a song that was allowed by the owner to be used royalty and copyright-free. 

I added videos, images, and put in cool transitions, to make sure the video keeps the attention of the viewer. 

Before uploading, I showed the video to some of my peers to ensure it was interesting and appeared well-made. I made some edits as were suggested to me and soon enough, I was ready to post to YouTube.

Here it is!

Linking the video onto blogger was real easy, I just clicked the 'insert video' icon, then pasted my YouTube video link into the box. Now, it's read to view!

I watched some of my classmates',  liked, and subscribed to them. It was interesting to see others' videos.

Overall, this was a very exciting project, and I am glad to have learned how to make my own videos!

Blog Entry No. 1 (Digital Citizenship)

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

First Lesson - Digital Citizenship

   Today, August 23, 2023, we received our first digital media lesson, in digital citizenship. That is, the ability to engage with technology in a safe and meaningful manner.

I learned that there are two main pillars of digital citizenship - Respect and Protect. 

To be respectful is to be mindful of

•  one's digital footprint,
•  copyrights,
•  conduct on communication sites,
•  other's access to technology.

To be protective on the internet is to 

• Create a strong password, which includes numbers, letters, capitalized and lowercase letters, and symbols;
• Back up data;
• Be weary of malware, phishing, and catfishing;
• Lock your device after use;
• Be aware of local laws and regulations.

In any case, the privilege to use technology comes with both dangers and responsibilities users should be conscientious about. Practicing good digital citizenship, remembering to respect and protect can go a long way in ensuring a safe and meaningful use of technology beneficial to all. 

First Day Blog - 08/21/2023

P.2 AICE Media Studies AS

    

    Today is my first day in AICE Media Studies and, in fact, the first day of school!

    I am excited to have created my Blogger.com account and to be publishing my first blog post. I look forward to learning about digital media as this school year progresses, and am hopeful that the information I learn will be useful in both college and my future career.