This Is It!!

I know, I know… I am aware of the fact this will be posted on March 30, 2020. I have been quarantining for the past two weeks because #CoronaVirus. Anyways, this came out very well and I am very happy that all of us were able to see our hard work put into the video. Thank you to Nick, who was able to fix some of the minor issues, my shot-reverse-shot. Also, with his technology skills he was able to make this a science-fiction/neo-noir film. Fares, did very well with the sound and the intense piano music in the background. Kevin did bomb with the storyboards and mise-en-scene. I’ll give him Props. Haha.

I am very sad that we will be wrapping up this blog. It seems that this has been my major focus for the past two months, however I am glad i was able to put all my effort and focus into a project with having fun on the side with some of my best pals.

Goodbye Blog, It’s Been Real!

The Finale Part 1

All of the photos and audio in this presentation comes from Adobe Spark. Using this platform was definitely interesting, honestly I did not want to use it because it was difficult. For example, you can’t have multiple things of audio in the presentation. So, behind my narration you have piano music. However, after a few slides, I got the hang of it! This was definitely time consuming but great way to make a presentation. Enjoy watching!

If the video does not work, here is a link.

Simulation:Renegade

A Happy Yet Sad Ending. This is my last second to last post, again, I feel that I have prioritized this blog and project so much. I put so much effort, time, and tears into making this. Not exaggerating. However, I learned so much from it, and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to make a project such as this.

I know what your thinking why did she takes screenshots? This is a long presentation. Okay? Okay. Also, I did it by slide because that’s how I organized my thoughts and presentation. So don’t judge. Not to mention, If I would have copy and pasted all of that on here, it would have been a really really long blog post. So I screenshot yes it to make your life easier. You’re welcome.

Here it is, without sound.

However, with those adjustments by overlaying and other editing stuff, the rest of the film was able to come together. The black and white features of the film really give it that gritty noir look. Nick also added these glitching titles for the opening scene. This emphasized the science fiction genre with the technology aspect and the simulation being transformed from black and white to color. The shots are definitely more diverse and give the film a little more contrasts due to being in one room. I was really stoked to be able to use my Ultra-Wide lens for the master shot of the two sitting together, it turn out great.

Even though, it’s a little amateurish because we are not all professionals here by all means, I think we did well. I have learned that filming is definitely not easy and that 2 minutes can be a little hectic. All in all, we all put in our 100% effort and focus into this project, so it will turn out well.

Also… Bloopers!

I knowww I didn’t get to blog about these in past posts. But in our final reshoot we had bloopers. Yes they contain explicit language and some references. We are teenagers and laugh at ridiculous things, I just wanted to film it because it was funny and we needed content.

Yes another post on how to help Fares… I’m a good friend I know.

So in addition to my research on the software audacity. Of our biggest sound effects is the gun shot sound that will be inserted as Fares whips around to then see Kevin. To make it startling, knock him out of the monologue something needs to be realistic. This one article by A Sound Effect, mentioned that if you didn’t have a real firearm, you could use a balloon popping, fireworks, pop its, etc to have a convincing gunshot sound. This is just to help, because when you first think of how to record a odd sound effect, like a gunshot, you’re like ahhh. So I definitely wanted to look at this for myself, to know and be of help of what could be done. If Fares, wanted to go in depth of a gunshot, they have layers of where you could use like the sound of fire or electricity bursts just enhance the weapon. This could be useful since we are filming a science-fiction film, mechanics and overrated sound effects give the sound dimension and modernization of where the weapon is from.

All in all I thought this was cool and a good way of looking at how to record weapon sounds. The article continues on how to record punching, kicking, smacking, more physical action sounds. Which is added information but still good to look at for future reference.

Source:

https://www.asoundeffect.com/supreme-scifi-weapon-sound-effects/

So since my end was finished I thought I would do some research on how to operate the Audacity Software, to help Fares out a bit.

In this, the man speaks of how sound can be distorted and speaking to loudly or using sounds that are too loud for the microphone will affect the quality what you are trying to do. Also you can compress the sound waves to make them even all around, so that way it sound consistent not very quite to blow ears off type of sound. Very useful for when your recording off your computer.

You can add music into audacity by clicking on a file and dragging it onto the software. It creates a whole new window so you are able to work on multiple sounds at once and monitor your progress as you go along. However, the the new sound will overlay on whatever audio you had from the beginning. To cut a certain portion of unwanted audio you basically just select and and hit delete on the unwanted portion. Pretty simple.

You can also split the audio, so that way of talking and a sound effect need to align up they can be that way. If that’s makes sense. You would do this by going to the edit tab, clicking on clip boundaries, then hitting split. This helps to move the audio/track around so that it matches whatever audio that you already have. To make this clearer, you would click on the time shift tool, allowing the movement of audio.

Again these are just basics, to help him along, by watching one video I was able to understand how the software works. More research would be needed if you wanted to create your own sound effects, etc.

Link to video; https://youtu.be/8ClwSNm362E

It was good, actually….

So, Wednesday, we filmed once again and it was a success. I re-shot using the 180-degree system when the detective, Fares, was doing his monologue. This helped to keep consistency and continuity. First, I had a establishing shot outside the door of the study room of Fares sitting in the room In addition, I used a high angle to imply that he is being watched over, to add to the story of someone watching over the simulation, dictating it. Also, I used a close-up to show what he was reading and a profile of what the character looks like, adds characterization to the opening. I added a variety of shots to make it more of a contrasting scene since I was in the same room. So here is some of the footage to show you some of the opening I filmed.

I was able to use my Ultra-Wide lens in context! So we added two establishing shots, one in the beginning and the end. So the establishing shots show the proximity between the hacker and the detective. The blocking emphasizes the attitude the two characters have between one another. Even, when Fares is alone it shows he is very individual and concentrated on his work, he is a nerd. In addition, we added a master shot of the two characters. This master shot adds to the atmosphere, it shows both characters are in play and shows the actions, making the scene more dramatic.

One thing I couldn’t get right is the shot-reverse shot. The concept of the shot I had right, but I messed up the line of action. Nick was able to make the corrections in Adobe Premier, so we did not have to re-shoot which would have been terrible.

The ending was changed. After watching the rough-cut, I knew I wanted to change it to something more flowy and that shows that ‘this is the end’. So, I went back to the establishing shot from the beginning, only this time the hacker was in it. This shows that they have to leave the room, that something was onto them and they could not remain in that area. The loud thud of door, is very emphasizing and demonstrates that they have left all their belongings and are moving out. For a film opening, I feel like this was useful, it shows their is more to come without going into the whole action of the movie, and leaves it on a cliff hanger for the audience.

Overall, it all went very well, I only messed up once. I really appreciate how my group is very cooperating and they sacrificed their time to come and re-shoot. Also, the librarians were very sweet and opened the library for us, which made it accommodating. It made it a little stressful on me, because I did not want to take advantage of their niceness by coming back and re doing it every time, however it all worked out.

Today we talked about the rough-cut…yikes

So as a group we watched the rough-cut together and I realized how much I messed up filming wise, I am sorry fellow group members. However, Nick made some suggestions and we had some guidance from our teacher as well. I honestly will just list the suggestions because there are lots…

1. Shoot from different angles. As a first time cinematographer, I really was learning as I went, it did not help that I was ad-liping due to forgetting to storyboard before the film day. I know, I am terrible, trust me I feel it. One part that needs more angles is when Fares is writing on the board, I need to move the camera closer and get him from different angles rather than just have that one shot.
2. The messed up shot-reverse-shot. So this was kind of all of our faults because we filmed a frontal point a of view from Fares and then an over the shoulder from Kevin, when they were talking back and forth. We just have to make up our mind and decide which one because they both mean different things. WE WILL BE USING SHOT-REVERSE-SHOT. thank you, that is all.
3. We defied the 180-system. Basically we shot in ways where we overlapped and were on that 180 degree line, which was not good. So we have to reconsider this when we shoot again.
4. Addressing continuity!!!! Looking back there were a lot of continuity errors, not just Fares and his hat. Kevin had used props in one shot, like having a book, then in the other he did not. So we just have to maintain that continuity.
5. The ending needs to be fixed. Okay, so instead of panning from the guys to the door, I should follow their movements. Also, I realized there wasn’t that much emotion in the last part, this could be because we were tired and stressed. But we need to have something happen to show that something is happening in the room, like adjusting the clock, then they briskly walk out the door. I would use another tracking shot for this.
6. Fares at the whiteboard. Fares needs to be off centered, like a little to the left or right to make it seem more natural and to actually see what he is writing on the board. So we have to adjust his movements and the angles we film him at.
7. WE NEED A DONGLE ADAPTER FOR OUR IPHONES. I do not own a dongle pr air pods, because my phone does not have a headphone jack. Nick is not going to to be there on Wednesday when we re-shoot, so it is up to us to get it done. Fares said he had a dongle and Kevin said he was going to order them on Amazon, so hopefully we get one.

Overall, things do need to be adjusted and fixed in order for us to have a good quality film. It was very bad, but I am taking it as I sucked and need to step it up. I am stressed. Okay? Okay.

I will link the rough-cut again down below, so you can get a glimpse of what I discussed.

Nicks Dope Title and Some Adjustments That Will Be Made

So even though we already filmed and will have further discussion on re-shooting, our favorite editor, Nick has been working on some affects to add to our film. For the title of our film, Nick tested on Adobe Premiere an effect that I thought was pretty neat.

This kind of gives me an idea on what to do with our relocation in the study. The previous idea was as the car is driving away have the title appear, however, that has to change due to the script changing. I was thinking as the door is closing and it makes the loud thump, have like a coding glitching affect added then the title appears. It shows that the simulation is defected and kind of could look cool. I mean I have to discuss this with the editor himself, but it might be an option. We do have to think of credits as well, this could be in the beginning as Kevin is walking and in the monologue. I think this will be best because of the dialogue that occurs in the middle of the sequence, and our credits won’t be long since Kevin and Fares doubled up on roles. Then Nick and I are big boys carrying the cinematography and editing of the project. Meaning, we have the bulk by filming and editing the footage into a somewhat nice looking film opening.

All in all, be on the look out for more content, we are going to put in out 100% to make this a grade A project, with all of us giving our maximum effort we should be on a roll.

Here it is, the product of our stress and filming. It does look bad unedited, from this, you can just see the continuity errors and our ending is a little rough, so again we need to work on these and we will most likely have to have another day of re-shooting. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Again, it was not completely terrible, I would have to say that we did do a good job on our first ever film product. Personally, as stated in an earlier post, I have never done a project like this or have filmed anything so it was a learning experience for me. I honestly enjoyed being able to be in action by filming, taking what I have learned in the first semester and being able to apply that to a project. Analyzing cinematography really helped for this opening scene, I was able to know what shots were needed, I did need advice on some parts, but mostly I knew what to do and how to angle the camera. For example, the tracking shot in the beginning, I knew that was essential to our film, I wanted to have that entrance of the hacker, to exemplify his attitude even in his walk, compared to the detective who was studying profusely trying to get to the bottom on the case. In addition, I wanted to show how the simulation was affect by the clock stopping, so that close-up of the clock really showed that time is different and something has changed. Obviously, Nick is going to edit what needs to be done such as the chiaroscuro and some of the science-fiction aspects so make it that neo-noir film. This will have to be after we re-shoot some of the footage, as the cinematographer my group may not like it, we may need to film the first part with fares without his hat, and again the ending.