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Showing posts from March, 2023

Final Review for "Theft on 32nd"

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     Filmmaking is a complex process that requires a lot of planning, hard work, and collaboration. Our film production was no exception, and we had to work with a limited budget and a tight schedule. To ensure that we could get everything we needed within the time, we spent most of our time scouting locations, casting actors, and creating storyboards. We also had to consider various logistical factors, such as transportation, catering, and equipment rentals.      Once we started filming, it was an intense and exhilarating experience. It was amazing to see the vision of the director and the creative team come to life on the screen. The cinematography was exceptional, and it was fun to experiment with different camera angles and lighting techniques to create the desired visual effects. The actors gave good performances, and we used any people who were not in the shot as the crew. Despite some unforeseen challenges, we were able to shoot all the scenes we needed within the allotted time,

Editing: The finalization of this process

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     As I sit back and watch the final cut of our short film, I can't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. I am thrilled that we were able to take this project from conception to completion and create something that we can all be proud of. It has been a long road, but the final product is worth it.      The editing process was challenging, but through careful attention to detail and collaboration with the team, we were able to create a film that truly captures our vision. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of individuals, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together.      Throughout the process, I learned so much about film editing. I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of lighting, framing, and pacing in creating a cohesive and engaging film. I also discovered the power of experimentation, and how trying different techniques can lead to exciting and unexpected results.      Collaboration was key thro

Integrating sound effects

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     As I sat down to tackle the sound design for our short film, I knew that it would be a challenging and demanding task. The film called for a soundscape that would evoke a sense of danger, unpredictability, and tension. To begin, I watched the rough cut of the film and made detailed notes on the various sound elements that needed to be created or improved upon.      Crafting a soundscape that would fully immerse the audience in the film's world was of utmost importance, and I had to work on different sound effects for each room of the house. Carefully crafting sounds such as creaking floorboards, the hum of electrical appliances, and the sound of drawers opening and closing was key to making the audience feel like they were right in the middle of the action.      In addition to the foundation of sound design, I focused on personal sound effects, paying attention to even the smallest of details, such as the screech of a car braking and the rustling of fabric as the robbers searc

Editing: The continuation of this rigorous process

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     As I launched Davinci Resolve, my heart raced with excitement and apprehension as I realized that we still had a lot of work to do on our short film. With the software open, I quickly located our project file and began to sort through the footage we had gathered. As I worked my way through the footage, I became increasingly immersed in the story and started to see how the different shots and scenes fit together to create a cohesive narrative.      However, as I continued to work, I noticed that some of the shots weren't as strong as I had hoped. In particular, I noticed that some of the shots lacked proper lighting. This made it difficult to capture the intended mood and atmosphere. This realization made me appreciate the importance of lighting in filmmaking, as it can make or break a scene.      As a result, I had to spend extra time editing those shots to try and enhance the lighting and create a more compelling visual experience for the audience. I experimented with differe

Refilming

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  Today was a day of great productivity for me and my group as we embarked on the refilming of our short film. Our collective efforts were geared towards perfecting the scene where Django and Marty sneaked into the bedroom of the Jetson household. As we didn't take many takes during the initial filming, we all agreed that a refilming session was necessary to get it right.      With all our resources and equipment ready to go, we assembled as a team and got down to business. The whole team was present and eager to get things started. We began by refilming the scene where Django and Marty searched for valuables to steal without waking Emily Jetson, who was played by Katie. The scene required several takes, but we persevered until we felt that we had captured the right emotion and intensity.      The next scene we tackled involved Cop 1 and Cop 2 arriving in the neighborhood and chasing after Django and Marty. We had to refilm the scene where they were chased and eventually caught aft

Editing: The beginning

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     Today was the day that I began editing my short film, and I was excited to get started. I had already organized all the scenes into folders based on the location and date of the shoot, so I was prepared for the task at hand. As I sat down at my computer and imported all the scenes into the timeline, I placed them in the order that they were shot.      The first thing I did was watch the footage to take note of which takes were the best and which needed to be trimmed down. It was a slow process, but as I worked through the footage, I began to see the story come to life on my computer screen. However, as I continued to work through the footage, I realized that some of the shots could have been better or had better lighting.      This realization led me to use editing tools to stabilize the shots and adjust the brightness and contrast to improve the film's overall look. As I worked, I took breaks in between to rest my eyes and clear my mind, which helped me to come back with fres

Compiling and Reviewing Flm

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 Today is an exciting day for me because I am going to work on the editing process of my short film. I have been eagerly waiting for this day, but I am also a little nervous as this is my first time editing a short film. I have compiled and organized all the scenes that I had downloaded onto my computer.      However, downloading the files onto my computer was a bit of a challenge as I encountered many technical difficulties along the way. It took me a couple of hours to figure out a way to make it work, but I still don't know what I did. I am just glad that it worked eventually.      Once all the scenes were downloaded and organized, I spent an hour carefully organizing the footage into folders based on the location. I wanted to make sure that finding the scenes I needed later on would be easier. I labeled each folder with a clear and concise name to make navigating through them more manageable.      After organizing the footage, I opened my video editing software, Davinci Resolve

Filming Blog: Final day of filming

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     Today was a productive day for my group and me as we resumed filming for our short film. We started where we had left off in the previous filming session, with the scene of Django and Marty sneaking into the bedroom of the Jetson household. The entire team was present, and we had all our resources and equipment ready to commence filming.       Our first task was to film the scene where Django (Jorge) and Marty (me) search for valuables to steal while trying not to wake Emily Jetson, played by Katie. They woke her up, so we had to film the scene of Katie screaming after waking up. We then moved on to the scene of Django and Marty trying to escape from the neighborhood.       The next scene involved Cop 1 and Cop 2 arriving in the neighborhood and chasing after Django and Marty. We had to capture them being chased until they reached a dead end and got tackled by the cops. It was a hilarious scene, and we had to do a few takes to get it right. After that, we filmed the scene of Djang

Sound design: Finding sounds

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     Today was the day where my group mates and I would work on the process of sound design. Sound design is essential in films because it helps to create a more engaging and believable experience for viewers by immersing them in a realistic audio environment that complements the story being told. I was tasked with finding sounds and creating them so that we can later implement them into our film. And so I began searching online for many sound effects that can be used.      I began by specifically searching for a sound effect of a cell phone ringing as a cellphone is used a lot in earlier scenes. I searched through different collections of sound effects until I found the perfect ringtone that suited the atmosphere and ambiance of the scenes. After finding the ringtone, I then proceeded to search for another vital sound effect - the sound of footsteps.      The sound of footsteps would be particularly essential for a scene where Django and Marty break into the Jetsons household. It woul

Filming: Beginning the Process

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     Today marked the beginning of the filming process for a new project, and the day started off with a confirmation from everyone in the group chat that they were available to participate. The group chat had been created earlier to facilitate communication between the team members. Jorge suggested that everyone should arrive at 8 am, and both Katie and I confirmed that they would be there.      As I was one of the main actors, I made sure to arrive early to assist with setting up. The first scene involved a table where me and Jorge would sit in a dark room. However, we had to postpone filming the scene because the sunlight was interfering with the desired lighting effect. The team decided to film the scene later in the night when the lighting would be more suitable.     To maintain a sense of continuity, we decided to film the scenes in chronological order to keep track of the production progress. Among the scenes we filmed, the house scouting scenes were particularly enjoyable. It w

Finding costumes and props

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     Today marked an exciting day for my group members and I as we set out to search for props and costumes for our upcoming short film. As a team, we had brainstormed ideas and identified the key items required to bring our vision to life on screen. To ensure efficiency, we had decided to split up and tackle different stores separately.      We were each assigned different stores to visit in search of the necessary costumes and props so Jorge and Katie went to the stores that they selected. I had decided to go to a Party City to search for props and costumes as it wasn't too far away from my house and I heard that it has many great props and costumes to choose from.      As I walked into the Party City store, I was immediately overwhelmed by the array of options before me. My heart raced with excitement as I scanned the aisles, searching for the perfect pieces to bring my short film to life. I had been meticulously planning every detail of the house invasion scene for weeks, and I