Creative Critical Reflection

Question 1 -  Magazine

How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Question 2 - Podcast

How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

Question 3 - Podcast

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Question 4 - Director's commentary

How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

Final Brief

    Our film opening is final complete! I am proud to introduce Off Script a film by Gabriella Offredi, Sophia Espinosa, and Jocelyn Villa.

Production - film day part 2

    Since we did not finish filming on Friday we decided to have another day of filming on Sunday. On our first day of filming we decided to mainly focus on last scenes of the film opening, this included all the scenes filmed outside and in the car. While it may seem as we're filming backwards, we had to use our resources wisely. On Friday we had very little time left before the sunset so we had to film the outside scenes before it got dark. On Sunday we learned from our mistakes and started to film earlier in day to take full advantage of the natural sun light. 

    As a group we were very good at communicating our thoughts, this included any slight changes and what we thought could be adjusted to positively impact the film. Thankfully we were able to complete the rest of the scenes in this time period, after many takes the beginning scenes were done. The filming process is a lot of work, much more than you would think. A simple 20 second shot could take up to 10 minutes maybe even more. After wrapping up our second day of filming, we all sat down and ate lunch together. It was a great way to bond and celebrate this next step. 

   

Production - film day part 1

    Today was our first film day! After school Jocelyn and Sophia came over to my house to begin the filming process. We focused on the mise-en-scene of the film, we discussed what outfits we would be wearing, what accessories would be shown throughout the film, and what makeup styles we would wear. 

    Since it was later in the day, we needed to take advantage of the day light and we decided to begin with the outside scenes. This included all the car scenes and when Jocelyn's character, Arianna, was waiting to get picked up. It honestly took longer than expected because of the amount of retakes it took to perfect certain scenes.

     When acting in these scenes it was important to listen to my peers for advise. Sophia was the cinematographer and director during this filming process, she encouraged me to improvise and add to my lines to make it feel more natural. This helped me a lot since I was able to envision what I would say as Alejandra in this moment. 

    As part of the car scene we drove to Cali Coffee for our next establishing shot, this represented the upcoming setting for the last scenes. At first it was very nerve-racking to film in public, but I ended up having a great time working with my peers.

     We will have to meet up again because we sadly could not film everything in one day, the next time we meet up we will film the beginning scenes of the film opening, this will include when my character, Alejandra, first wakes up, when she is getting ready, and when she is talking to Jocelyn's character, Arianna, on the phone.

Production - Production timeline

     I wanted to create a production timeline that would organize my time effectively over the next few weeks. The deadline is approaching very quickly, it is important that I remain focus and on track. By planning ahead I will be able to focus on one section of the production process at a time. 

Week 1 

    The first week I will focus on finalizing any planning details before the official filming begins. Although I already have a general idea of my film, this week will focus on turning those ideas into something final.

Checklist:

- Make any final adjustments to the script draft. 

- Create detailed storyboards for each scene.

-Plan camera shots, angles, and movements.

-Gather all props

-Decide on a filming location and schedule.

    This week is very important since it sets the foundation for the rest of the project. 

Week 2

    In the second week we will be filming all the scenes. This is a very important part of the process. Everything that has been worked on for weeks is now coming to life. Me and my group will work together to ensure the shots match the vision drawn on the storyboards.

Checklist:

-Film all main scenes (this includes the morning routine, the phone call, picking out clothing)

-Capturing a variety of takes for each shot to ensure no retakes will be needed.

-Film the additional B-roll footage (Driving scenes, small details)

-Review the footage after each session.

-If necessary reshoot any scenes.

    Having extra footage would always be helpful during the editing process as things may not always go as planned. 

Week 3

    The third week begins the editing process. The footage will be edited using Adobe Premiere Pro. At this point in the production the goal is to create a rough draft of the film opening. 

Checklist:

-Import all the footage.

-Organize the clips into the correct sequence.

Trim clips get rid of unwanted footage.

-Add basic transitions.

-Begin working with audio.

-Reach the 2 minute time requirement. 

    This step will allow me to see how everything looks once it is all put together. I will then be able to tell if any part will need improvement.

Week 4

    The final week will be dedicated to last minute final edits, I will focus on improving and finalizing my film opening. This includes asking for feedback and then improving on it. 

Checklist:

-Add final edits.

-Sound adjustments and color correction.

-Add titles and text if it is not done so already.

-Watch the full film.

-Export the final product.

    While I understand not everything will go exactly as planned, creating a timeline helps me feel more organized and prepared for the process ahead of me. This timeline will allow me to manage my time wisely.

planning - script final

      As a team we were able to collaborate and agree on a final script, we went through many ideas and storyboards of how we pictured these scenes to play out. In the end we combined dialogue, ideas for camera angles, and actions. 

    For instance we unsure of how to film Alejandra picking out her clothes, we needed to be able to hear the dialogue while also viewing her actions. Therefore we decided on an over the shoulder shot, this allowed us to see the characters emotions and action as she is talking on the phone. My peer, Jocelyn, came up with this great idea and i'm very happy that we were able to include it in the final script.

     Overall, after lots of brain storming and collaboration I am very happy with how this script turned out. Now we will continue the script with the girls' trip to school. 

Planning - Title

     The title gives the audience their first impression and overall helps determine the tone of a film. While alot of my focus has been on filming and editing, I worked with my teammates to come up with a title that reflects both the message of the film opening and the style of a teen coming of age film.

    In films, titles are often seen as title cards within an opening sequence. The placement of the text, the font, the color, and the timing of when the title is shown can influence how the audience interprets the film. 

"Beautiful Life"

    Our original ideal for the title was "Beautiful Life", it radiates a positive and uplifting tone. It focused on the experiences of growing up while also appreciating life as it passes by. I also really liked that this title leaves a lot open to interpretation. The audience is given the option to imagine what the story could be about based on the opening. This title reminds me of the 2006 movie "Little Miss Sunshine", both titles imply personal growth and joyful times. This aligns well with the coming of age genre. 

"Off Script"

    

    As a group we decided to change the title, we figured the original title no longer felt right. As the new title implies, we decided to go off script and call the film opening "Off Script. Personally I prefer this title, it has a deeper meaning. It insinuates that characters do not follow the norm, instead they make unexpected choices. This accurately fits how teenagers are known to live life. The name "Off Script" can also reflect the directors view of the film opening. The characters are seen breaking away from routine as they think about ditching school. This makes the film opening more engaging as it hints toward acts of rebellion and fun while still fitting into the coming of age genre. 

Importance 

   Film titles are often short and memorable, they are made to give a very short preview of what is expected throughout the film, however it is still vague enough to create curiosity, grabbing the audience's attention as they want to learn the meaning behind the title. Titles may also act as a form of branding, giving the film a distinct identity.

   The placement of the title is just as important. I am still debating where exactly to place the title within the opening, however I am thinking of introducing the title in the first 30 seconds, maybe even during the makeup scene. 

   To conclude, developing a title for the film has shown the importance of collaboration within a group, we had to come together to share our ideas and in the end choose a name. Even though we did not stick to one title name, it shows how we can adapt and express new ideas.  “Beautiful life” created a positive tone, while “Off Script”  ultimately aligned with the storyline and theme.