AICE Media Studies

 Here is my creative critical reflection. After a few days of work, I think I can say I love this product even more than my video! Have a look, and hear what I have to say about my final task project.

 THE TURNING Here is my final task video. Safe to say I am extremely proud of it and so pleased to share. Enjoy.

Today is the day that I have to make the final changes to my two-minute film project for my class. Essentially, this means applying all the feedback my friend Julie gave me in my previous blog! While a lot of their critiques were definitely valid, they were a bit to unrealistic for me to actually take. For example, this far into production I could never completely change my story and make it have more “meaning”. However, I can fix choppy editing, awkward cuts, and any other things they mentioned! After receiving feedback from my friend Jane, I spent a lot of time working on improving the story and characters. I wanted to make sure that my film had a clear message and that the audience would be able to connect with the characters on a deeper level. You may be asking how I did this this far into the porous room process. And the answer was, even more reshoots! Bold, I know, but I felt it had to be done. I added in some very simple shots, one that only showed the character looking off into...

  Today, I showed my two-minute film project to my friend, Julie I was really nervous about it because I had put so much effort into it, and I really wanted her to like it, as well as get new advice on how to improve it before final submission. At first, Jane seemed really interested in the film. She was focused on it and didn't say anything for the entire two minutes. When the film was over, she took a deep breath and looked at me with a serious expression on her face. She started off by saying that she thought the film was really well made. She complimented the cinematography, the editing, and the sound design. She said that I had a good eye for visuals and that I had clearly put a lot of thought into every shot. However, she did have some constructive criticism for me. She said that she felt like the story was a bit weak and that she didn't really understand the point of the film. She suggested that I work on developing the characters more and giving them clearer motivations...

With my last few blogs, I had the task of reshooting all my unusable footage. This proved frustrating as I had already fully edited my short sequence. So, having to go back and reshoot, then take apart my project, THEN insert those clips back in, was difficult.  As I watched the horror short sequence that I had made for my class project, I realized that it needed a lot of work. The pacing was off, and the scares weren't as effective as I had hoped. I knew that I would have to re-edit the entire sequence if I wanted to improve it. It was frustrating to have to start over, but I was determined to make it better.  I began by rearranging the order of the shots to create a more cohesive story. Next, I focused on the sound design, adding in more atmospheric sound effects to heighten the tension. I also experimented with different music tracks to find the perfect score for the sequence. The music I used in the first half of the sequence sounded slightly corny. So I did more research ...

 As you may know from my previous blogs, I have been doing reshoots all throughout this production process. Before I even finished the script, I was eager to take some scenery and time-lapse shots to use in my opening sequence. But now that the final film has been shot, there are many things that need to be tweaked. And then there are some things that need to be completely redone. That is what this step in the process is for! Fixing the angle of my phone on a makeshift tripod was a challenging task. I had to make sure that the camera is level and not tilted to the side. It was also important to check if the camera is positioned at the right height and distance from the subject. Any sudden movement or bump can knock the camera out of alignment, so it was essential to ensure that the camera is secure and stable. Between shots I often accidentally adjust the camera a few units to the side, making the next shot off. Now, I ensured that I was extra careful when handing the phone in any ...

As I am working on the opening sequence for my horror short film project for class, I am currently in the process of editing shots on my iPhone. I must say, it has been a challenging but satisfying experience, and I am eager to share my journey with you. After shooting the footage, I spent time reviewing the shots and selecting the best ones that fit my vision for the opening sequence. I wanted to make sure that each shot was visually engaging and conveyed the mood and tone of the horror genre. To start the editing process, I used various editing apps on my iPhone to piece together the shots. My main used ones were CapCut and Inshot. InShot is more familiar to me, but CapCut is far more efficient as I have recently learned. I experimented with different transitions, filters, and sound effects to create a cohesive and engaging final product. I wanted the opening sequence to be gripping and to grab the audience's attention right from the start. So, I focused on starting with an unusu...

The day has come, it is now time to film. I have spent weeks planning and visualizing my opening sequence. But now, it is time to put pen to paper, or rather, words into live-action  The process has been both challenging and rewarding, and I am excited to share my experience. Before filming, I had to do the actor's makeup to ensure that he looked the part. I spent time researching and practicing different techniques to create a realistic and believable look. That was earlier though, and now I got to do it all myself. It turned out just how I had hoped, achieving the undead effect I was going for. It was a challenge, but I was happy with the final result. During filming, I had to be creative with the limited resources I had. I experimented with different angles and perspectives to create visual interest and used natural light to create a moody and atmospheric vibe. I also had to improvise and come up with solutions to problems as they arose. One was the ever-changing lighting. Once ...