Group Meeting #2

 During our last group session, we went through all the work of every member since the deadline is approaching. Candelaria, who was ahead in her project, showed her film opening and received positive feedback. The team liked the timing of the inserts and how the music complemented, although we suggested altering the font of the credits. Candelaria also shared her Creative Critical Reflection (CCR) idea, wherein she would play Dorothy from *The Wizard of Oz* and walk along a yellow brick road, describing her project, with characters representing her team members. We all enjoyed it as a fun and creative way.

Sofia, who is editing and filming, informed us that she's had some difficulty with her story but is adapting. She's going to do her CCR in her character's point of view, which we all thought was a wonderful and fitting choice because her character is an investigator. Sofia also explained the process of her title lettering, which actually turned out well and was just right for her film's atmosphere.

Alexis and Lucia were going about finalizing their concepts for their CCRs, and Alexis was contemplating making a documentary type of video. Both knew they needed to get some shooting in, so I suggested they just go ahead and get their clips done as soon as possible to give them extra time to edit and work on their CCRs. The meeting went well, and great to see everyone supporting one another's work and ideas.

CCR Questions 4

Technology was implemented in every aspect of our production, from preparation through the last cut. While shooting, we utilized a camera to get good images, and clear images despite our poorly lit setting. Because we filmed our first movie in a night garage, we had a problem with lighting and were forced to incorporate various forms of lighting technology to create a spooky yet visually clear setting. We utilized LED panel lights and dimmed their brightness to avoid overexposure but yet maintain the thriller atmosphere. Additionally, practical light sources, i.e., porch lamp, were utilized to make the scene realistic as well as suspenseful. To get static shots in the event of an extreme emergency, we utilized a tripod but also employed deliberate handheld panning to convey the panic of the escape scene. From an auditory point of view, we utilized off-camera microphones as opposed to the camera's onboard audio in an attempt to achieve better dialogue and ambient sound quality.

Foley effects were also crucial in the film—after filming, we incorporated additional sound effects such as footsteps, heavy breathing, and struggling noises to enhance it all the more thrilling. We edited the sequence using [editing software] in the post-production process and experimented with various cutting patterns to build suspense. Quick cuts, sound layering, and color grading were employed to give the thriller-action sensation. Online courses were also very much a part of the project. We discovered thriller tropes on websites and online tutorials, color grading effects to add to the look of our film, and royalty-free music websites to find a soundtrack that created suspenseful tension. Online collaboration tools also helped us to share draft versions, get feedback, and work on our final product successfully. Using all of these technologies enabled us to create a professional-looking and engaging thriller sequence, showing just how much hardware and software went into what became the final product. For each of these questions, I am considering doing a creative skit in which a man shows up at my door and inquires about my profession.

I'll be like, "I do opening films," and he'll be like, "Oh really? Explain." Then I'll go on to explain how my skills were built up over the course of the project, talking about things like cinematography, sound design, and editing. I'll break it down in simple terms informally, like I'm speaking to someone who's interested but doesn't know anything about filmmaking. As I explain, I'll intercut some scenes from my first movie to demonstrate my point, for example, camera angles, lighting, and how I improved my editing. It'll make it more interactive and personal and allow me to demonstrate my improvement with ease. For question 4, I'll have the man ask me, "How did you use technologies – software, hardware, and online – in your project?" And I'll respond by just explaining the process I undertook for each of the technologies.

I'll talk about the software I used to edit and design sound, the camera technology I used to film, and how I used online facilities to learn new things and debug. When I mention each of the technologies or the tools, I will include footage of the software, hardware, or web tools being utilized, and how they assisted in getting the film made. I will try to keep it relaxed and conversational, as if I am speaking with someone who is interested but not a tech person. This will allow me to discuss the technical information without bogging down the viewer. 

CCR Questions 3

My own production experience was very naive, with only a general idea of rudimentary shot composition and general editing standards at the beginning of this project. However, through working our way through the different stages of film production, I learned considerably more about cinematography, sound design, and post-production techniques. The most significant development was probably my ability to plan and produce visually interesting and tense shots. I learned how to create suspense with camera angles, using close-ups to emphasize emotions, low angles to intensify some scenes, and tracking shots to place the viewer in the protagonist's position. I also learned a great deal about lighting—I at first struggled with having the correct balance of being noticed and creating atmosphere in our own dark garage studio, but with experimenting with LED lighting, lighting for practical scenes, and color grading in post, I was able to achieve my spooky thriller aesthetic without compromising on visual clarity. 

Besides cinematography, my editing knowledge also significantly improved. I realized how to time out scenes to be suspenseful by cutting from one shot to another at the appropriate time to build tension. I realized the power of sound design in framing the audience's experience—through the use of Foley effects, ambient sound, and silence at appropriate moments, a lot was contributed in making the escape scene more intense. I also grew more confident in applying advanced editing methods like layering of sound, color tone manipulation for mood, and quick cutting to create tension. My collaboration skills also improved. I learned how to clearly communicate my creative vision, work on shot planning together with others, and adjust to problems like reshooting some scenes because of lighting inconsistency or cleaning up our audio to prevent background noise interference. Overall, this project truly enhanced my ability to take an idea and develop it into a well-structured, interesting, and engaging film sequence, and I am much more secure in my filmmaking skills.

For question 3, the gentleman will ask me, "How did your production skills develop throughout this project?" I will respond by discussing how my skills evolved from start to finish. I will mention that my initial grasp was rudimentary and that it mainly consisted of shot formation and editing but the more I progressed, the more I learned about cinematography, sound mixing, and editorial approaches. I will explain how I came to master suspense in camera shot building and lighting, how I refined editing to establish tension, and how I built more confidence when using sound design to amplify experience. I'll provide examples within the movie itself, like before-and-after photography, to clarify how skills develop over time. I will be honest and straightforward, describing how each step assisted me in becoming a good filmmaker.

My own production skills were very basic, including merely elementary know-how of simple shot building and simple editing techniques, during the early stages of this project. But as we went along through the different stages of filmmaking, I learned much about cinematography, sound design, and post-production techniques. The most significant accomplishment was, maybe, my ability to create and develop visually pleasing and suspenseful shots. I learned to create suspense through camera angle, using close-ups to emphasize emotions, low angles to intensify certain scenes, and tracking shots to put the audience in the position of people like the protagonist. I also picked up a lot on lighting—I stumbled at first with attempting to capture the proper mix between viewing and establishing atmosphere within our dark, garage workshop setup, but with experimenting with LED lighting, lighting for practical shots, and color grading post, I was able to achieve my creepy thriller aesthetic without sacrificing visual definition.

My editorial abilities were also increased beyond measure aside from cinematography. I came to know how to cut alternately between the shots at the appropriate time so that tension was built in the scenes to be most tense. I also derived the power of sound design to mold the perception of the audience—through the use of Foley effects, background sound, and silence at the appropriate times, a lot of contribution was done to make the escape scene engaging. I also became more comfortable using sophisticated editing techniques such as layering sound, color tone manipulation for atmosphere, and rapid cutting to build tension. My collaboration skills also grew. I figured out how to clearly communicate my vision, collaborate on shot development, and facilitate problems like reshooting certain scenes when there were inconsistencies in lighting or improving our sound to avoid interference from extraneous background noise. Overall, this project truly enhanced my ability to take an idea and turn it into a structured, engaging, and compelling order for a film, and I feel much more capable in my career as a filmmaker now.

In response to question 3, the male interviewer will inquire, "How did your production skills develop through this project?" I will respond by explaining how my skills improved from start to finish. I will describe that my initial impression was general and that it was mainly regarding shot construction and editing but in the course of time, through the process, I learned much more about cinematography, sound mixing, and editing styles. I'll explain how I learned to become skilled at suspense building with camera angles and lighting, how I developed my editing skills to build tension, and how I became more confident in the use of sound design to enhance the experience. I'll have concrete examples from the film, like before-and-after photographs, to show how skills increased over time. I will be truthful and easy to understand, explaining how every step improved me as a filmmaker.

CCR Question 2

Our first shot in our film attracts the attention of the audience because it immediately puts the viewers into danger, from the perspective of the hero when he is knocked unconscious and tries to fight his way out. Instead of showing exposition or information about background and setting, we decide on visual storytelling that illustrates confusion of the protagonist so that the viewer becomes aware of his fear and desperation. The close-ups and quick cuts put us closer to the character, further into his feelings, and further realism to his ordeal. Not knowing the villain or discovering why he was kidnapped keeps us guessing, not knowing what is really going on, and the audience craves more. Turning the thriller-action genre on its side, where there is normally focus on the villain's motives. Instead, we put the audience in the shoes of the hero right away, with the escape as the central conflict.

Since our movie is tapping into that common phobia of being trapped and helpless, our movie is appealing on a mass scale, particularly to the audience of the action and thriller genres. Our movie would likely adopt a digital-first release model if it were released as a real media text. Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, or YouTube would be the best platforms to target our audience since thrillers do well on these platforms. Social media marketing would also be essential in creating buzz for the film. We can use platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to post teaser videos, behind-the-scenes material, and interactive videos to attract audiences' attention. Furthermore, distributing our film to independent movie festivals or competitions of short films would enable us to become well-known among the fan audience for thrillers and thus provide to us a greater distribution platform. With the use of online sites and festival runs, we can effectively reach our audience and familiarize ourselves within the thriller-action market.

For 1 and 2, I'll try to do some kind of "mock interview" type thing where I'm sitting in front of the camera as if I'm being interviewed about my film opening. In the first question, the interviewer (played by me in a different outfit) will ask, "How does your product engage with the audience and how would it be distributed as a real media text?" I’ll explain how the opening creates tension, pulls the audience in, and specify the target audience it caters to. To achieve a relaxed and casual setting, I will sit in a cozy chair with aides such as a cup of coffee or a notebook, just as if I were sitting in an office setting.

For question two, I will be showing more personally how I acquired my production skills. I will be moving around the house or outside, explaining my process as I tell the audience what I learned about cinematography, editing, and sound. In order to show stimulating visually, I'll have a phone or laptop screen with behind-the-scenes videos, showing a more personal take while keeping the audience engaged by changing the environments.

CCR Question 1

The thriller-action conventions feature a hero stuck in a do-or-die situation. We do the opposite in our movie, however, by making the getaway the narrative rather than the kidnapping itself. Our hero is not merely a victim but is instead someone who's taking steps to get out of a precarious situation. This is all in the thriller genre where dim, claustrophobic places help create the heightened sense of danger. The gloom of the garage that the hero is hiding in enhances the tight-lipped claustrophobic tension, drawing attention to the physical and psychic claustrophobia the subject faces when attempting to flee.

Escape is central to the art of creating tension in thrillers-action. We use close-ups of the face of the main character while waking up disoriented, in order for the spectator to identify with his confusion and fear. His vulnerability and need for urgency are essential in generating the suspense. Instead of focusing on the villainous acts of the bad person, we keep the audience guessing over whether the hero escapes or not, turning the traditional thriller approach around. This makes the actual escape the focus of conflict, replete with tension both physical and emotional.

The tension is heightened since the audience does not know who the bad guy is or why he was abducted. This mystery mirrors the confusion that the hero has, heightening the tension as he tries to escape. We do not tell the audience anything about his situation, which heightens their tension as they see him try to escape.

Finally, the escape theme touches on a universal fear: to be trapped and powerless. Our hero is an ordinary man who finds himself in an extraordinary situation, and the audience can sympathize with his situation. The danger of being held against one's will is something with which most people can identify, and the hero's fight for freedom becomes all the more compelling. By focusing our attention on the escape, we intend to place the audience squarely in the hero's shoes, building tension and drawing them in from the very start.

Conventions of thrillers. Home. (n.d.). https://xeroxproductions.weebly.com/conventions-of-thrillers.html 

Guild, S. G. (2023, February 1). Thriller genre: The blending of action, crime, and Horror stories. https://storygrid.com/thriller-genre/ 

Editing 2

 Editing has been a whole new experience, and it's actually a lot more intricate than I had expected. When we were filming, everything was more exciting — the setting up of shots, the switching of angles, and making sure that the lighting added to the suspense of the kidnapping scene. Now that we're editing, however, it's all about precision. Every cut, every transition, every effect has to have a reason behind it, and it's trial and error, a lot. One thing we’ve really had to focus on is the pacing. Since it’s a thriller-action opening, the timing of each scene matters so much. If a shot lingers too long, it loses tension, but if it’s too quick, the audience might miss an important detail. We’ve been carefully going over the clips, figuring out how to create that perfect balance so the suspense keeps building without feeling rushed.

A further challenge has been matching up the sound with the visuals. It's not just a matter of slapping on some spooky music — we need to bring out the small sounds, like the drag of the chair across the floor or the muffled struggling noise as the character attempts to free himself. These diegetic sounds help to keep the scene in the real world, and make the tension feel more visceral.

We’re also experimenting with silence. Sometimes, no sound at all can be even more effective — like right before the character escapes, keeping everything still and quiet to build suspense before the action picks up again. It’s a lot of work layering these sounds and making sure they sync perfectly with the scenes, but it’s starting to come together.

While editing can be frustrating at times and tedious, I'm beginning to see how important it is in creating the right mood and rhythm of our film. All of the little choices — the length of a shot, where a sound comes in — add up to create the opening to be as tense and thrilling as we require.

Editing

Hello to my wonderful blog!  

Since my last post, I’ve finally started editing — and let me just say, it’s been a ride. Spoiler alert: I’m not a fan of editing so far. It feels like such a slow process, and honestly, I’ve always enjoyed recording way more. There's something about having that ideal shot — when the light, angle, and movement all combine — that is so satisfying. You just feel in the moment that you've got something wonderful.  When I was photographing with my partner on the kidnapping scene, we covered up on photos and shot two versions of each photo.

We did not want to take a chance on anything seeming off later while editing, so we made sure to get lots of different angles and takes to work with. Whether it was the close-up of the character who was tied up waking up disoriented or the escape scene by the front door, we filmed everything at least twice just in case. Now, on to the editing. I'm using Premiere Pro this time around, a completely different experience from iMovie. It is much more advanced, and a little daunting, but I've been consuming lots of tutorials so that I can learn how to use it. It's a lot to take in, but I know it's worth it to have the end product turn out as suspenseful and intense as we want. While editing is not necessarily my strongest area, I know it's what will tie the entire story together, so I'm pushing through. Can't wait to see how the kidnapping scene starts to fall into place once we get everything in one piece!

Post-Production 1

 We worked last week on recording, so this week my partner and I began editing to put in those finishing touches that really make the piece come alive.

At the top of our list was lighting, which contributes to mood so greatly—the suspense film we're producing, especially. We adjusted the lighting so it's darker and more foreboding, intensifying the bewilderment and terror of the character. This is the picture of the scene before editing. See how the lighting is warm, but we would like it to be tense and mysterious rather than that. What we are trying to do is have a colder, darker atmosphere that will create a more suspenseful mood.

Third Production Post

 Hello Cambridge people!

Since the film is all about the escape of the character from kidnapping, sound is going to play a huge part in establishing tension and making it happen. We’re planning to use a mix of sounds to match the intensity of the moment—like heavy breathing, the creaking of the chair as the character struggles to break free, and the sound of footsteps echoing as they run through the garage and out the door. Silence will also be of equal importance. There are moments when we have to cut out all the unnecessary sounds in order to create a creepy atmosphere, so the audience feels the same fear and uncertainty as the character. After the escape, we're thinking of adding rapid, staccato music to maximize the suspense.

We will also incorporate Foley sounds to make it more realistic, such as the rope pulling tighter, the door squeaking open, and even the hum of faraway streetlights. All these little things will draw the audience into the scene and make them feel the threat and urgency of the getaway. Can't wait to see how it all looks!

Second Production Post

Today, Santiago was able to record almost everything for the opening, though we still plan to film the last scene and a few extra shots just in case the ones from today don’t turn out right or end up being too short. 

This is the makeup Santiago did for the shots that showed his face.

This is the first shot of the opening, where the character wakes up, confused and scared, realizing he's tied to a chair in an unfamiliar place.

One of the first problems Santiago faced while recording was figuring out what to use to tie his hands and feet to the chair, but luckily, he found some short ropes that worked.