Say "I Edited It" 3 Times Fast... Promise You'll Laugh

 Yoooo. WHADDUP BLAWG

Wanted to drop by real quick to talk about the possible editing softwares that I will be using.

Number one is the most beginner-friendly and that is iMovie. I obviously have used this editing software before since it is free LOL. To be honest, I would not really consider using this but I just kept thinking about the fact that every single time I do use it. I find myself finishing my projects considerably quickly. But I don't know if finishing this project quickly is my main concern so we're just gonna leave it as a maybe...

Number two is DaVinci resolve.
I haven't had that much experience with this one if I am completely honest, but it is still an option that I have available at my disposal. 

 

Last but not least is the one that I will probably end up using and that is Premiere Pro
I have been editing most of my projects on here lately and it is safe to say that it is the easiest to navigate. There is a lot of technical elements that I am able to manipulate through Premiere but as I said, it is easy to navigate. Honestly, yeah. I think I'll use Premiere Pro XD

 

A Very Much Needed Organizational Post/ Reflection

 So I have been planning out this opening scene for a while now and it's almost time to start filming which, is honestly so so scary but also so exciting. I decided I would come on here really quickly to plan out this upcoming week since I'm going to start filming next week.

Monday, March 14th: Gather all necessary equipment. AKA make sure that all my cameras batteries are charged, my lights and monitors are working properly, and clean/ declutter my set.

Wednesday, March 16th: Meet with my cast and crew to make sure we all understand how shooting is going to go down on the day of filming. Collaborating on technical aspects. Basically, a day where we can sit down and answer any questions.

Thursday, March 17th: Filming day! :D 

Saturday, March 19th: Start importing all media into my computer and watching to make sure that I have everything necessary. In other words, inspect every shot/clip so I can pick out any problems.

Sunday, March 20th: Potential reshoot day. This will depend on whether or not I find any problems or maybe feel like changing a shot or angle or any shooting aspect.

This is it. This week right here is what I've been preparing for the past few weeks! Let's just hope it goes smoothly XD.

A Potential Addition

 So I was looking at my storyboard and realized that there's a. slight possibility that my opening is too short. The project requires me to create a film opening with a minimum of about 1:30 seconds and a maximum of 2 minutes. While I was planning I realized that mine MIGHHTT be a bit short, but since I haven't filmed yet, I can't be quite sure. With this information in mind, I decided to create a small scene that will add a few extra seconds. I might not use it, but if it is short, I will have it as a backup. But that's enough explaining, here's the storyboard for the extra scene :D

So I wanted to add something meaningful obviously, but I didn't want to add more information because like I said before, I don't want to bombard the audience with too much information right off the bat. Especially since this is only just a film opening. So I decided I could just further establish the discomfort in Paola and what better way to do that than seeing her in the moment where the discomfort perseveres the most?

 
If I end up using this scene, I think it will go AMAZINGLY in the beginning. So first we would see this scene and as she starts singing it cuts to the black screen as the credits are shown. After the credits we see the original planned scene which shows her transition from child to now etc etc.

A Bump in the Road & Cast List

    I'm sorry to bring it up again but the "Write What You Know" advice was the best thing that could have happened to me because since I am so familiar with the topic of my opening, I also have the resources that I need to create it, at hand. My two main actors are these two very talented individuals that I know will be able to bring my vision to life...
Playing Nick will be the talented....

Pepe aka my father :D
 Since the character is based on him AND he is always excited to help me out on my projects! and lastly. He is free of charge. LOL

....and playing Paola is both my worst nightmare and the best thing that could happen to me.

Me!
The reason why this becomes a problem is because I wanted to take control of the cinematography/ direction but seeing that I want to include a master shot and other visually attentive elements, I wouldn’t be able to tend to both this character and the direction of the opening. However, Paola's character is so complex and due to my resources, I don't think I would be able to get ahold of someone that could correctly portray Paola in the way that I am trying to portray her. So seeing as I know her character the best, I decided I would play her. In addition, it is kind of hard not to since Paola's younger self and older self is actually me :I. In other words, Paola is based on me so it is kinda hard not to let myself play her.

Lastly, I realized that I will need to find an extra. More specifically, someone to play the role of Raymond, which, isn't complex at all. Raymond is simply one of Nick's friends who is being shown the video. So really, I need more of a watcher than an actor LOL. ANDDDD I also need to find someone that can be handy with a camera. No special skills required other than a receptive mind that will actually listen to what I have to say so I can get the shots that I want :D The best part about this project is the fact that I have a bunch of peers that I can ask for help so, at least I'm not starting from zero and I have a few people in mind :))

CLASSIFIED!!!! Opening Script!!!!!!!

SETTING A HOME STUDIO IN A LIVING ROOM 

   

 A little girl around 10 years old singing a song into a microphone. 

 A transition is shown, the little girl is now much older.

RAYMOND
Wow! Nick! This is an incredible man. 
I mean, I'm speechless.

Anddddddd...... That's pretty much it for the script!! :D
Don't worry I have my reasons...
First of all, one of the main reasons why I have extremely minimal dialogue is because I don't want to bombard my viewers with too much too soon. I want to leave them wondering and longing for more. In my opening, I want everything to feel implied. This way, the audience can begin to create their own plot in their heads, and as the story progresses they, hopefully, become excited as their theories prove to be wrong or right. In addition, I do not really want the viewer to be distracted by dialogue especially since I want the visual aspect to be the main focus.

I also want the reader to understand the of this extremely niche struggle. For example, Tick Tick Boom (2021) describes the specific struggles of a man trying to make a living out of playwriting. Something that people don't necessarily know all that well. However, the general struggle that is portrayed is working too hard and getting nothing in return, which, is something that a lot can relate to. Tick Tick Boom does a great job at producing this through song. Similar to this film, I want to tell the specific struggle of hating your own talent, which, what????? While also visually representing the broader struggle of trying to satisfy the wants of your parents while also satisfying your own wants.
Am I sense make?

The Board on Which My Story is on

This is my visual planning aka my storyboard for my film opening and I just wanted to take a second to explain it.
So if I am able to get some help cinematography-wise. I think that this can be a really captivating opening, which is great since, well, that's the point. Anywho, if I am able to get some steady hands I would love to create a master shot that can be seen above. For those of you who don't know what a master shot is, it is just a long take (at least one minute) that contains no cuts. My inspiration for this is the Memento (2000) opening. 

In this scene, the names of the actors, producers, cinematographers, etc, are all shown while we are shown a slight revelation that introduces the peculiar plot of the movie. I like the idea of filming a master shot for my opening as it is easier to follow. When there are a distinguishable amount of cuts, the viewer must process the subconscious meanings whereas, with a master shot, the viewer is shown the "here and now".

What I have planned is a black screen for the beginning while a subtle piano plays. After some names are shown, the black begins to fade as we see a little girl singing. Once the viewer sees the transition from the young girl to an older teen, the camera begins to zoom out to show someone watching a screen that continues to play the same video. Once this is clear, the camera pans to reveal another person (Nick) to be watching beside him. We see a silhouette in the background and eventually the focus shifts to it. It is exposed to be the same teen girl from the video, with an uncomfortable look on her face. The title is revealed.

Target Audience

 YELLOW! Dropping by really quickly to talk about my target audience. 

So because my genre is Drama I wanted to make my audience more specific as it is a really broad genre. Mainly my film touches on the topic of the tension of what your parents think you should be doing versus, what you as a person think AND want to be doing. Therefore, it showcases a lost teen trying to find their way which led me to decide that my film falls under a coming of age film. 

According to MEEEE coming-of-age films usually portray a similar kind of narrative since they want teenagers to be able to relate to these stories. Naturally, the target audience of coming-of-age films is teenagers. More specifically ages 12-18 and mostly females. Usually, characters have some sort of tie or attraction to an artistic element whether that be fashion, music, etc. I believe that this is actually a great example of emulation within my opening as I will be portraying the struggles of a teen girl in a situation that has to do with art. More specifically, finding her way through it.

Predicted Color Wheel

 I want to make the use of primary colors clear throughout my opening. For example, I wanted to showcase the color yellow when showing Paola to represent her insecurity when she's working with her father. As for Nick, I wanted to make the color red prominent throughout his scenes to symbolize his love and passion for working with his daughter.
My reasoning for showcasing primary colors is because primary colors work together to create the rest of the colors. So I wanted to take advantage to use this as symbolism. In other words, the showcasing of these colors would represent that Paola and Nick have all the resources that they need to succeed but this goal won't be reached as Paola doesn't want to continue with this. 
How this tension will be shown is still a little blurry. But I do know that I want to implement the color black since according to nofilmschool.com black is associated with "no". I think this is a great opportunity to show Paola's rejection of this situation.
Color Psychology                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                             

How Research Helped me Today :D

 I was researching some film openings and I came across the City of God (2002) opening. In one part of the opening, the main character talks about his past and there is a clean transition where the camera spins around him and transitions from him being surrounded by cops and punks to his younger self at a baseball game. As soon as I saw this, I felt inspired. I want to be able to show how Paola has been accompanied by music throughout her whole life.

The movie I'm talking about is shown 10:53-11:26

Then I remembered my dad and I actually did produce a cover in which you can hear little me, :D, singing which then transitions into present me signing. I thought this could be a really cool way of not only introducing Paola's character but also establishing the extent to which music perseveres in her life.

This transition can be seen at 1:00-1:32

I think this could be a really cool way to start my opening. So let me get into detail.
After seeing this transition I thought I could do one of two choices. (Really the only difference between them would be how much of the transition I use) I like the idea of using the beginning piano on a black screen. I can take advantage of this by using this time to showcase the names of the actors, directors, cinematographers, etc. Eventually, the video would be shown on a screen as the camera slowly zooms out to show a person watching the video. Then Nick and another character would be shown as it pans to Paola's repugnant face. This will make more sense in the storyboard but I think that this could really work.
 

The Stars of the Show

Our first character is a teen girl (16-18). Her name is Paola. She was raised in an artistic household. Art pours from her entire family from both her mother and father's side. Therefore, no matter who she was with, she saw the world from an artistic and creative point of view. She lived the first half of her life in Venezuela where she was instantly immersed into the world of music. Since her dad was a music producer she grew up learning the technical aspects of music. Paola has a weird relationship with music. While she appreciates it, she doesn't believe it to be a big part of her life. She likes performing, but only in certain situations. Her relationship with singing has always been iffy. Sometimes she feels it is too personal and as if she will show too much vulnerability when she sings. Paola is lost, yet headstrong. Mentally mature, yet indisciplined. In other words, she is very complex. 

Our second and final character is Nicacio but he goes by Nick. He is Paola's father. He is a sensitive guy and always takes in every aspect of life and learns to appreciate it. He cultivates his relationships and fills them with love. He is selfless and has a hard time putting himself first. Nick has always been passionate about music. It's the one thing he's always appreciated the most. Inevitably, when his daughters were born, he wasted no time teaching them about music. As one daughter showed her love for a sport, Nick nudged his second daughter into music.

The two characters have a loving relationship but when it comes to music, and showcasing it together, there is always a bit of tension.

Say Cheeeeessseeee :DDDDD

 So I wanted to come on here for a quick second to talk about the more technical part of this journey. Thank gosh I got into photography when I was in fifth grade because now, I own a Canon EOS. So this is probably the camera I will be using throughout the course of this project.

I like this camera because it gives me options. For example, I am able to change the exposure on the camera and get that out of the way instead of doing it later in the editing process. I am able to do this through the ISO setting on the camera. Below is an example of how this simple setting can change the tone/ mood of a shot. In this project, I think I will use a lower ISO to reflect the resistance and disconnection between the two characters. 

The next setting I would focus on would be frames per second. Usually, I feel like more frames per second are more suitable for fast-paced situations. For example, In sports, you want the audience to be able to recognize almost every second of a game, so you want to make sure that your camera is able to capture every possible movement in frame. However, as my film opening is set to be a bit more dramatic, I hope to have it set to a lower amount of fps.