https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog en-us 2022-08-23 14:58:47 UTC 2024-03-31 18:48:25 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f634.png shadenshields https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2268934517 This is my first video we made in AICE Media. This film is about a bully who picks a fight then gets knocked out. I played as the bully and I filmed with Thomas Mosca, Andrew Pitts, Juan F, and Juan P. The title of this short film is called the "Big Bully."

In this film there are some strengths and weaknesses. These strengths consist of steady camera shots in the first scene, believable acting in the last scene, and sound effects were effective during the punches. But the some of our weaknesses was not being able to capture good sound when the actors were talking. Also the first scene had unmotivated action and should have a cause for what they are doing in the scene. Fluid movement was also a problem we had when the scene was a moving shot.]]> 2022-08-23 15:42:11 UTC https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2268934517 shadenshields https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2310809749 For this assignment we were tasked with taking another group's original film and rewriting and improving the script. We had to include 10 different kinds of shots and camera movement. The original plot of the film was that a girl was depressed from her parents fighting with each other, and the therapist she sees helps her feel better about her self. For our remake, we chose to change what he main character was upset about, but many of the plot points remained unchanged. The 10 shots we used for our film was a long-take, low-angle shot, high-angle shot, manipulation of color, track-in, track-out, track-left, track-right, zoom-out, and a close-up shot. My role in the film was a friend checking on the main character, and I also helped film a couple of shots. 

Some things I felt we did well in this film were the angles of the shots we took were filmed very well. I also think that the first couple of scenes were filmed very well. We could've worked harder on improving the plot and really give the audience something to feel for. The sound also continues to be a problem since we are filming these scenes on our phones. I felt that the close up of the handshake at the beginning was very well captured and that you can see the bond that the two actors really have. When the main character was on the stairs looking at his phone you could really see how devastated and sad he was. But one clip that was not filmed well was when the main character was leaving the therapist's room we had some editing problems and the clip time length should've been cut a little shorter.

]]> 2022-09-23 16:49:18 UTC https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2310809749 shadenshields https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2366903080 In class we went over a lot of different genres listing: romance, horror, drama, biopics, thriller, B-movies, animations, musicals, Indie films, comedy, sports, family, film noir, mystery, historical, superhero's,  western, war, adventure, Sci-Fi,  YA films, crime, fantasy, documentaries, and Shakespeare. For each of these genres we went over the conventions, codes, audience expectations, and we watched 3 movie clips from 3 different time periods. Some films that we watched were hybrids which are films with 2 or 3 more genres combined. 

Earlier in the year we made two films. In the first film we made, the genre is a comedy and a action. In this film there are two fight scenes which are a key element to action movies. This film is also meant to make you laugh which is why is a action/comedy. The second film we made is a drama. This is because in dramas there is usually a problem and solution and in our film its that the main character is having family issues and at the end he gets the resolved by a therapist. Also in dramas its usually based off of things that could happen any day and in this case anyone's families could have problems that need a solution. 

My personal favorite genre is probably comedy movies. If I had to pitch a potential story synopsis for a film project it would be a comedy movie. The movie would be about a Man who is afraid of everything and hasn't seen the world for 40 years. This film would open up with a man inside the hospital. The man wakes up and is informed by the doctors that has been in a coma for 40 years. This man will travel around New York City confronting everything he sees. This man is terrified by every little thing on the street and everyone is laughing at him. ]]> 2022-11-02 15:36:22 UTC https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2366903080 shadenshields https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2439622920 November through December we have learned so much about editing, sound, and screenwriting/screenplay format. We have learned about the background and history of editing. We also studied film editing concepts and created documents featuring 20 plus kinds of editing techniques. We watched a documentary on film editing ("The Cutting Edge") which told us about the history or editing and how the process and how the technology has evolved over time. For sound we studied sound basics and watched a documentary on cinema sound ("Making Waves"). Which taught us about the importance of sound and how it can be used. For screen writing and screen format we read The Incredibles script in class and learned how to format screenplays using special software. We then wrote a two minute horror film opening about someone having a nightmare as the basis for your midterm film project.

For our midterm we had to film a one to two minute horror or horror hybrid movie. This film was supposed to be an opening rather than a finished film with minimal dialogue and sound effects. It couldn't have wall to wall music or long takes. A black screen with the title and credits were supposed to start the film off and dissolve into the first image. Three cross cuts were supposed to be used to flip back and forth between the actor sleeping and the nightmare. We were not allowed to be in our film and had to have an accompanying blog post. The film must also include one close up, one Dutch angle, one high or low angle, one low key light set up or one silhouette, one pan or tilt or track/push or spin around; one zoom or dolly zoom;  one subliminal cut or multi take or smash cut; one match cut; one  J cut or L cut; one use of slow or fast motion; one intentional use of color for story/emotion; one instance of intentional use of costume/hair/makeup; one instance of visual complexity in setting choice; three sound effects; one piece of incidental music or one sound motif repeated three times.

In my film I adhered to horror conventions by using dark lighting and underexposed with lots of shadows putting the audience on edge. For the horror expectations I used suspense by keeping the audience on their toes so the are easily shocked and frightened. The they I engaged my audience to my film was by putting weird occurrences to attract the audience. The suspense also helps engage them into the film. The way I broke the horror conventions was in I was filming in the bedroom the room was supper lit up. For the expectations I let the suspense die down to much and should've kept it going. Also I broke engagement by making some of the clips to long. Some ideas I feel I represented very well were the fear of a creepy masked man that is slowly chasing you at your house. This is because a lot of people are scared of being attacked at there home. This is because your house is supposed to be your safe spot in life and the idea of someone you don't know coming in to your home to hurt you is very scary.

What I feel is successful in my film was the way that the antagonist continues to stay on the protagonists tail and never backs off even to the end. I also feel that I successfully used the sound effects properly and portrayed action and success. But in my movie some unsuccessful parts were when I filmed in the bedroom the lights were to bright. Also when I filming outside I should've switched up the angles more and shot closer up. For this project I used Arc studio to write my script. I shot all my clips on my iPhone 13 and edited on iMovie. My learning curve was directing this film and finding the right angles to shoot. I learned that it is definitely not easy to direct a film but I also learned that the angles really matter in creating a horror film. Also Horror is all about the suspense and shock. ]]> 2023-01-10 16:43:02 UTC https://padlet.com/shadenshields/aicemediablog/wish/2439622920