Film Opening

 Film Opening

    Hey everyone! Here's the link to the final film opening!

Film Opening 

Creative Critical Reflection

Creative Critical Reflection

Hey everyone! Below are the links to both media products of the CCR!

CCR #1

CCR #2

Cambridge Portfolio Project: Final Reflection

 Reflecting

    Hey everyone! I am back with more progress updates on the Cambridge Portfolio Project, as I have finished up the Creative Critical Reflection. I decided to take a moment to reflect on the whole process of working through the Film Opening and the Creative Critical Reflection. I want to start by saying that I have learned so much throughout this process; I learned some valuable lessons and learned more about myself along the way. I will now be talking about the 2 very valuable lessons that I learned. 

Lesson #1: Always Have a Back Up Plan

    As you can see from the title, we did not create any back up plans for the film opening project. There were several situations in which we could have used a backup plan, but didn't have one, causing us to solve these issues very quickly. Thankfully, we were able to face these obstacles, but the stress of solving them could have also been avoided. For instance, on the day that we filmed the film opening, the extra actors that were going to be in the film, who would have played Stella's plan, could not end up making it, so we had to completely eliminate them from the film opening. This was a huge issue that caused us lots of stress, since in our storyboard, the family took up lots of the shots...

    Above are the pictures of our storyboard, which as you can see, lots of the frames have the family involved. So, when me and Natalia got the news that the actors playing the family canceled, we were stressed, since we did not have a backup plan for this problem. Even though, as I mentioned earlier, we were luckily able to come up with a quick solution, which was to use tighter close-up shots on Stella, so that it would look like that was the plan all along. However, this process would have been a lot easier if we had a backup plan ready in case this happened. 

Lesson #2: Always do a Trial Run Before Filming

    So, for the next lesson I learned, it had to do with trial runs. Like the first lesson, this was one of our major erros during the production process. So, here's what happened: when we were filming the outdoor scenes of the film, instead of testing how the audio of the shot would sound like, we just began filming without checking on any factors that could possibly affect the film. After recording quite a few shots, we finally decided to check our progress (While we did check the shots, we should have checked the first shot we did right away instead of waiting). This is when we noticed that the device we were using to record, did not capture the audio correctly, so it looked like the dialogue was muted. With this problem in mind, we had to reshoot all of the shots we had. 

       This made us lose a lot of time that we could not get back, which honestly was a bummer, since losing so much time is something that we could have prevented. However, I am just thankful that we at least checked the shots at some point in the production process. However, we now know that we must take trial runs to make sure that everything about the shot is okay.

   Anyways, those were the two main lessons that I learned while working through this project, and I hope that you all learned something from my experiences, and make sure not to repeat my mistakes! This was definitely a long yet meaningful journey, but I am glad that I managed to learn so much from this. This chapter is finally ending, but that does not mean it is completely over! I still have to share with you all my final film opening and CCR, which will be in my next update. 

    So, stay tuned for my next update!

Creative Critical Reflection: Finishing Up

 CCR: Production/ Postproduction

    Hey everyone! Today marks the wrap up day for the CCR! I will be going through both the production and editing process for both media products of the CCR. So, let's get started!

Media Product #1: Presentation with Voice Over

    So as mentioned in my previous blog, this is the first media product that I worked on for the CCR. I already had the presentation ready, but I still needed to record the voice over to complete the presentation. In order to do the voice over, I printed out the script that I would read off of and edit the script in between recordings. I also had the script labeled by slides to prevent myself from getting confused and saying the wrong information on the wrong slides. Anyways, below is the script I used with the corrections on it.

    As you may have noticed, lots of words have been crossed out. The reason being that when I first recorded the audio using the original script, it reached 8 minutes, which would only leave me 2 minutes for the second media product (not enough time!). So, I had to go back to the script and cross out several things to make the presentation the appropriate length to leave time for the other media product. 

    To record the audio, I used an audio feature that PowerPoint offers, allowing me to easily record the entire script on this platform. 

    On the task bar at the top of the screen, there are a list of features to use that PowerPoint offers, and one of them being "Record", is the feature I used to do the voiceover. 

    Anyways, after several attempts of reciting the script, I exported the presentation onto One Drive, and I have it ready for when I post the final media product on my blog. Since I have already been working on this presentation (I talked about it in my last blog), there was not much left for me to do. However, for the second media product, the self-automated interview on my "channel", I had a lot more work ahead of me to go through...

Media Product #2: Self-automated Interview

    For this second media product, I first chose a location that would allow my face to be seen clearly and shows the best quality possible. I ended up choosing a big window from the house, being in my room. I filmed in front of this window during morning, so that the overall lighting would be bright for the interview. Below was my set up for the filming process...

    However, before I began to film, I quickly familiarized myself with the script that I wrote, just by remembering the main points, to talk about them on camera. Below I have the original script for the 2 questions I was going to answer...

    After taking a look at the script, I began to film, and everything was going smoothly, until it was time to edit. When I got to editing, which I used Cap Cut to edit, the videos together were way to long (10 minutes long!). Based on the presentation I created, which was a bit over 5 minutes, this video had to be maximum 4 minutes and 20 seconds, which is less than half of what I had. I started removing clips that were accidently filmed or were mistakes, basically any bloopers. With the removal of the bloopers, I was hoping for the length to go down by a lot, however, it only went down from 10 to 8 minutes. From here, I became very strict on what could go and what could stay, until I finally got to an appropriate length for the interview. 

    After having all of the videos that would stay, I began inserting photos that matched with what I was talking about. The main reason that I chose to do this was because I wanted to make this interview engaging, and I felt that looking at a talking head for 4 minutes wasn't going to make that happen. Here is an example of what I am talking about:

    As you can see from the screenshots above, I am adding things like colorful fonts and photo inserts that relate to my responses. Since I want this interview to be super engaging, this is obviously not going to be all that will be incorporated into this media product, but it is a sneak peak of my work (the rest is a surprise!). With that being said, besides the final touches, I just have to add the references and credits at the end, which I already have in the script that I put in this blog post earlier (it is everything highlighted in red).

   

The final thing that I worked on in relation to the CCR is the YouTube channel. So, for my film opening and CCR to be easily accessible, I have created a YouTube channel, in which these videos will be posted...

 

    The film opening and the CCR are already in my channel, but as drafts, meaning they haven't been posted yet. However, that will change soon! Also, for the thumbnail, specifically for the interview CCR, I used Canva to create it. The reason why I am specializing more for the interview CCR is because of its concept; this type of video is more personalized, so I would rather it have a creative thumbnail. The other CCR, the presentation, will have a more minimalistic thumbnail that looks similar to the actual presentation. Anyways, below, is the thumbnail in work on the Canva platform...

    Anyways, now that I have explained this process of working through the CCR, it is now time to close this chapter of the Cambridge Portfolio Project and move on to my reflection of this whole process (which you will see soon!).

    Stay tuned for my next post!

    

Creative Critical Reflection: Current Progress

 CCR: Current Progress

    Hey everyone! I am back with a progress update on my CCR. So, as you may remember, I chose to do a presentation with a voiceover, and then an interview that is self-run, like a Q and A session. So, I will first be talking about the approach to begin working on the CCR, and then how I began working on the actual two media products, and then what my next step would be. 

Approach to the CCR

    Starting a big portion of the Cambridge Portfolio Project is definitely overwhelming to think about, and a lot of time has to go into the CCR. So, I took a few days to think about how to start the CCR, since there is so much to it. I ended up deciding to type up my responses to the four questions of the CCR...

    - Question 1: How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

    - Question 2: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

    - Question 3: How did your production skills develop throughout this project? 

    - Question 4: How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

    I typed these answers onto a word document so that I could make the rest of the process easier for myself. I have inserted screenshots of the word document below...

    So, as you can see from the screenshots, some sentences are red, and others are highlighted yellow. I used some color coding to help organize my thoughts onto the word document, and to prevent myself from getting confused. So here is the rundown of what the colors mean: 

    -White: Any white sentences just mean that they are part of my response for the questions. (Nothing too special behind the meaning of this)

    -Red: Any red sentences mean that they are research that I took from either previous blogs or other websites. These will help me when I have to cite where I got my information from. 

    -Yellow Highlighter: Any highlighted sentences mean that they are one of the four questions I had to answer, or titles for other sections of information to avoid confusing myself. 

Media Product #1: Presentation w/ Voiceover

    Anyways, after typing up my answers for each question, I knew that I had to begin transferring the information onto my first media product for the CCR, being the PowerPoint Presentation with the voiceover. For the PowerPoint, I knew that I did not want the slides to look super busy, but I still wanted them to look appealing with a variety of color, resembling Stella's bright character. I also chose to do this in order to make the presentation engaging. I used the following colors: yellow, green, orange, blue, pink, and white. Below, I have a video of the PowerPoint (without the voiceover) to show you all how the slides are looking as of right now...

    I still have some things to add, and some things to remove from the PowerPoint, but I wanted you all to be able to really see the progress, and see the changes I make along the way, so I decided to share what I currently have. For instance, I want to remove some words to make it more concise and add the citations for the research I did. From here, the only thing I am missing is to edit the PowerPoint a bit more and create/ add the voiceover onto the presentation. 

Media Product #2: Interview

    Moving on to the interview of the CCR, I decided to write the script for the dialogue I will be using during the recording of the interview. All I did was edit my responses from the word document, modify the language to make it sound natural for an interview and put it in script form. Below I have screenshots of my script that I created, that I will be using during filming to guide the production process... 

    While I did modify the language before transferring the responses, I still will be revisiting the script just in case there are any mistakes that I missed before. However, from what I have seen so far, there isn't too much that I have to change. But having the script ready for now, means that my next step would be the production process, where I film all of the shots that I have to film for this interview to come to life. So, soon I will have to film the scenes for the interview, and I will have to record the voiceover for the presentation. 

    Anyways, I will be moving on to filming/ recording what I need to for both of the media products for the CCR. So, stay tuned for my next update on my progress as I work through the CCR!

Creative Critical Reflection: Group Meetings

 CCR: Group Meetings

    Hey everyone! I am back with an update on my Creative Critical Reflection. So, as you all know, I have had some doubts on what two media products I should choose to create my CCR. Well, I am pleased to say that I have officially chosen my two options, and I have chosen them with the help of a group meeting that my AICE Media Studies teacher created in class today. 

Group Meeting: Discussions 

    The purpose of the group meetings is to be able to share your ideas and give feedback to your peers. So, during the group meetings, i decided to take advantage of the fact that we were receiving feedback and decided to express my concern/ doubt on my CCR options. I told my group that I wanted to choose two options that were the least time consuming, but that were also the most engaging options. I was looking for a balance between these two options, so I was not sure where my CCR was headed. 

    My peers were telling me that they recommend the talk show option and the presentation with a voiceover. I was told that the presentation with a voiceover would go well with the first two questions that I have to answer for the CCR. While the presentation does not require me to stand directly in front of the camera, it will have its visual aspects with the commentary, making it an engaging option. This option also would not be as time consuming as other options because it does not require any storyboard planning to film anything. 

    They also recommended the talk show, because during the interview sections, I did not have to look directly at the camera since it is normal to look at the "host" of the talk show. This would also mean that I would not have to memorize any lines of my responses, especially considering how complex the answers may be. My only doubt with these options is that I would have to plan out the shots, since I have to actually film this, and that I would need another actor to play the host of the talk show. However, I could just ask a family member or a friend to help me out with the part. Even though this would be engaging, I would not want to rely on finding another actor to help me out, so I will be doing an interview where I read the most trending questions about me or my production. The only thing is that I have to memorize what I will say because I would not want it to look like I am reading off something. I just want it to seem natural, like a normal interview. 

    So, my final options will be the presentation with the voice over and the interview.

Moving Forward

    Having the options that I have now chosen; I have to begin working on my CCR. For the presentation with the voiceover, I will be using PowerPoint, since I am experienced with using it, and it has a voiceover option, making it easier to work with. For the interview, I want a plain background with just a few props that may help give away the idea that the video is an interview. For now, I will be finishing up my answers that I typed out for each question, and then modify them as I begin working on my actual CCR. 

    Anyways, that is all for now as I wrap up the planning process for my CCR. Stay tuned for my next update on my CCR!

Creative Critical Reflection: What is the Plan?

Creative Critical Reflection: Plan

     Hey everyone! I am back with an update for the Cambridge Portfolio Project, as I will be moving from the Film Opening Project to the Creative Critical Reflection (CCR). So, starting now, my main focus will be the CCR, and I have been using my notes that I took in my AICE Media Studies class on the CCR, which I have put below for reference...

    These notes really helped me get a better understanding of how I should be approaching these questions and ensuring that my responses answer every part of each question. While I know that I have to choose two different media products through which I share my responses, I haven't been able to pick my final two. Here are my options: a presentation with a voiceover, a talk show, and an enhanced podcast. Since from these three options I haven't been able to pick my top two, I decided to hold off on the decision for a bit and in the mean while come up with my responses to the 4 questions. 

    My only final decision from the media products is to do the enhanced podcast, but I am not sure about which one my second choice would be. However, for the enhanced podcast, I am planning on answering questions 3 (How did your production skills develop throughout this project?) and 4 (How did you integrate technologies - software, hardware and online - in this project?). So, whichever media product is chosen as my second option will be answering questions 1 (How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?) and 2 (How does your production engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?).

    I do have a few doubts on the media products that I can choose, so I will be asking my AICE Media Studies teacher on Monday whether or not my plans would work. Based off of the advice I get, my choices for the media products of the CCR may change, but by the beginning of next week, my plans will all be sorted out. 

   Anyways, stay tuned for my next update with me in this journey of completing my Cambridge Portfolio Project!