Beginning of Group Project: Brainstorming

Today marks the beginning of what will eventually be my group's opening scene. 

To start, I finally have my group members finalized, which is a huge relief. Start getting familiar with these names since you'll be seeing them for a while: Tori, Hannah, and Daniel :)

My group started by making a group chat to message each other with, and I named it "movie makers". From there, I asked if anyone had ideas and Daniel said he did. He introduced his idea, which is essentially a love triangle between two girls and one guy. There would be a guy who walks up to a girl's door, and basically apologize for cheating on her the summer prior. Then, the girl he cheated with would drive by and try to win him over, but he rejects her. He got his inspiration from various songs he's listened to, and I found this idea pretty interesting. However, I also slightly doubted how this would all fit into short, two-minute opening. I also wondered how this would be considered an opening scene, since it sounded like a general scene of a movie to me. I still liked the idea though!

As I thought about a love triangle myself, various ideas popped in my head at lightning speed. I thought of all the different shots and items to include, such as a trash can carrying a ripped photo of a couple, a teddy bear, and gifts. I imagined the girl getting ready while the camera focuses on different aspects of her room to understand her situation (a breakup) without words. Perhaps the ripped picture of the couple would show her dainty makeup and outfit choices, while the clothes she currently wears (darker clothes and makeup) displays the drastic change in her personality. Perhaps the boy's phone would display numerous missed calls and text messages from the girl he cheated on as she tries to flirt with him still. I suggested all of this to the group chat. 

On top of that, I sent various opening scenes of different movie/TV shows to show the different ways we could approach our scene. I really liked the opening scene of Riverdale, since it includes a voiceover summarizing the entire backstory with visuals to supplement it. This would work well with our idea. I also really liked Insatiable's opening scene, since it switches voiceovers between two characters in a unique way, providing a stable backstory as well. This would also work well with our idea, since we could possibly switch perspectives between the two or three main characters. I asked my group if they would rather switch from one characters' point of view as they're getting ready to the next, or if they would rather have each character getting ready at the same time, with the camera cutting-in numerous times between the different characters.

Tori replied, and she liked both ideas. Daniel said he liked the latter. Hannah, however, has not said anything in the group chat yet. I will be waiting for her opinion.

Although nothing is finalized yet, I'm happy with the progress we've made today. Starting is usually one of the hardest things to do, and we've managed to do it. Go us!

Update: Hannah ended up replying and said that she wanted to be the person who is behind the camera. She liked the overall idea as well

Mediamel out ❤

Storyboard Time

 Hello again!

A few days ago, I was assigned the task of making a storyboard for any movie clip. So, I chose one from the movie Twilight. It definitely took me longer than expected, but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out, especially for my first time. I decided to use a studio binder template for my storyboard. My artistic skills are definitely not the best, but I tried my best to give an accurate representation of the scene I chose. The checkboxes mark the type of camera shot, and there are additional notes indicating shot number, zooms, lighting, movement, and transitions.

 I hope you enjoy ☺

*** Not every box has a description since I included multiple drawings of the same shot***

The scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXMUkgWoMlQ

The storyboard:

Mediamel out ❤🧛🐺🌲

Legally Blonde Film Analysis

Legally Blonde is a popular romantic comedy film that features a young college student named Elle Woods in her journey to win her ex-boyfriend back, going as far as getting into Harvard Law School to do so. Elle, bubbly and hopeful, soon meets the reality of Harvard, and must work hard to prove herself amid everyone else underestimating her because of her looks. She starts off as a boy-crazy determined ex, but eventually develops into an excellent lawyer that beats all odds. Mise-en-scene in this film is both recognized and adored in this lovable, iconic 2000s movie.

To start off, the setting in this film allows the audience to be immersed into a preppy and girly style from the very beginning. The film opens off with various shots of a sorority house, decorated in every shade of pink. Its grand size is highlighted with high angle shots of the floor below, implying that the people who live there are quite wealthy. The specific font used in the opening credits are also pink, with a curly font to indicate this film’s daintiness and lightheartedness. The homecoming queen sash displayed on the wall also conveys a sense of popularity, even without any dialogue. While all this may imply lightheartedness for the west coast locations, the east coast provides a clear contrast. Harvard is shown to be rather dull in colors, with its browns and greys suggesting a more serious kind of prestige. The library, classrooms, courtroom, and outdoor areas all share these similar qualities. This allows for a change in mood, from a more playful feeling into a more solemn one. As Elle is forced to adjust to this switch to an unfamiliar location, the audience may empathize with the hardships of change as they are also forced to adjust to the familiar pink to a foreign brown. It is subtle changes like these that help the movie progress and share the message it is intending to, but without being explicitly obvious.

In addition, the lighting also enhances the movie by indicating specific moods at different times in the film. For instance, most of the film’s most famous scenes are shot with high-key lighting. This can be seen in the “Bend and Snap” scene, suggesting the flirtatious side to the women in the salon; the video essay to Harvard scene, suggesting Elle’s love of having fun; the entrance to Harvard scene, suggesting Elle’s excitement for her new school, and many more scenes throughout the film.This would be expected, considering that this film is a romantic comedy that tries to maintain a mostly light and cheery atmosphere. However, this does not mean that the darker shot scenes are any less important. During a time of seriousness, low-key lighting helps convey a sense of seriousness, and this definitely holds true for Legally Blonde. A specific scene where Professor Callahan hits on Elle uses dimmer lighting to enhance the uneasiness Elle feels as well as the emotionally dark intentions Professor Callahan has with her. Another scene of Warner’s, Elle’s boyfriend’s breakup with Elle also uses dimmer lighting to showcase Elle’s immense sadness of that night. That being said, both the uses of high-key and dimmer lighting help establish the various moods created by the film.

Moreover, the staging in Legally Blonde also plays a key role in telling the story as well as aiding the success of the movie. Although Elle makes it known that she is unafraid to be herself and to express herself to the fullest extent, the people around her do not hesitate to judge her anyway. What makes this film unique in tackling this dynamic is how Elle and the other Harvard students are staged. Multiple times during the movie, Elle is positioned to walk in front of the crowd, facing the camera with a smile. Behind her and equally visible, however, is the group of students giving her questionable and often nasty looks. The fact that this style of a shot is repeated suggests that this is intentional. Because Elle is unable to see the group of students, it suggests that Elle is focused on her goals, and not the opinions of others around her. The fact that the students are in the background suggests that they are metaphorically behind her as well, as they are too focused on being judgmental rather than working towards their dreams like she is. Although no dialogue is used to convey this message, the film intends to share the theme of staying true to yourself despite other people doubting or judging you.

Last but definitely not least is the costume of this film. Besides being a prototype of early 2000’s fashion, Legally Blonde stands out with its various styles and outfits, as well as the underlying message behind them. Elle herself is a prime example of how costume can convey a person’s emotions and how they change as a character’s feelings change. In the beginning of the film, Elle was practically wearing pink and extravagant outfits all the time, whether it be in school, at a party, or in the pool. This color makes Elle stand out visually in a crowd. While it may be true that pink implies femininity, pink in Legally Blonde also symbolizes Elle’s individuality. At her home in the west coast, it appears that Elle is more than comfortable with showing off her true self. However, when Elle begins studying for law school, her outfits gradually shift into less extreme and less pink choices. This can demonstrate Elle’s inability to focus on fashion due to studying, but also her own gradual loss of individuality as she focuses away from herself and towards getting her ex-boyfriend back. When she arrives at Harvard, she starts off with the same pink outfits, expecting to swoon Warner again. However, as she discovers his new fiance and as time progresses, she shifts into more neutral greens and blacks, implying her loss of individuality again. This can also imply that Elle was trying to fit in with the attire of Harvard students in order to be taken more seriously. However, her pink outfits are not gone forever: by the end of the film, Elle regains her confidence and her individuality in the famous court scene, wearing a hot pink dress and defying all odds by embracing her true self and winning the case that practically no one thought she would. Besides Elle, however, other characters in the film also are enhanced through costumes. Vivian, Warner’s fiance and Elle’s nemesis, is seen wearing dark colors and blacks almost the entire film, suggesting her seriousness and dull personality. However, as Elle and Vivian begin to bond, they are both seen wearing lavender pajamas. The casualness of the pajamas implies their intimate bonding, and the similarity of the colors displays their emotional synchrony. Various other examples of costume are scattered throughout the film, making it a very enjoyable film to analyze and appreciate. 

All in all, Legally Blonde is a film that many have adored throughout the decades, and its influence in fashion, the rom-com genre, and theme are still seen today. This film has made millions laugh and become inspired by the story of Elle finding herself. Through mise-en-scene, the audience can view all the various aspects of this film more deeply and can store it in their memory to treasure.

Transitions

Hello again!

Today I filmed and edited six scenes with transitions. Allow me to share my process:

Cut Transition

 First, I filmed myself looking out my window, and used a cut-in to transition straight into the next shot, which was of the outside scenery I was looking at. It was a bit tricky to film myself without having my arm show through, but I think I pulled it off quite well.

Dissolve Transition

For my next scene, I filmed myself on one side of my bed reading a book. In order to suggest the passage of time, I used a dissolve transition to the next shot, which was of myself reading on the other side of the bed. I personally think this one is my favorite since I managed to line up the shots without the camera angle moving.

Fade Transition

Finally, I filmed myself typing an "essay". I then fade transitioned into myself asleep from working on it for too long. I think this a good representation of my school year so far 😀💀.

That's all, folks! I hope you enjoyed

Mediamel out ❤

Practicing Mood Boards

  Hello again!

I was assigned to make a mood board for what I want my adulthood to look and feel like. Not gonna lie, I was very excited for this activity since I've been an avid Pinterest user for 7 years... so you could say I  had a few ideas in mind.

It took a while to perfect it with pictures that were meaningful to my values and goals, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Here's the final result:

One thing I wish to do as an adult is continue my journey with mindfulness and self care. I displayed this desire through the bath and the girl meditating in nature. I know that adulthood comes with extra stress and responsibilities, so I hope these practices can help me keep my calm. 

Another thing I really hope to do as an adult is continue learning for fun, as seen in the desk and the books. I would consider books as a way to learn since even fiction can deepen my empathy.

 Empathy relates to my (possible) future career as a therapist, as I feel a strong passion towards helping people better themselves. I showed this in the therapist office and "mental health matters" images. 

Moreover, a dream of mine is to travel the world, and I displayed this through the images of the passports, car ride, and ship. Hopefully I can find a way to study abroad, too, since that sounds like an amazing experience.

I included an outfit image to show my desire to update my style when I'm an adult haha.

 Finally, I've recently been considering moving to Washington state once I graduate college. This is pretty ironic, since I live in the opposite side of the country in Florida. A few reasons why I'd love to move there include the scenic views, abundance of flowers and animals, and the fact that they actually have seasons besides a constant summer. I showcased this through the images of the animals, tea with flowers in it, and Mount Rainer.

So that's my future! 😁

What does yours look like?

Sound Story

     A week ago, I was assigned to do make a sound story, which is basically a 1-2 minute short film without any visuals. I knew this was going to be interesting because last the time I had used iMovie was in 2016. However, my friends helped me navigate through the process, and by the end of the week it was a success. 

    Starting off, I was indecisive about what to make my story about. I played with the idea of a hair salon, but ended up scrapping that idea since I couldn't think of any foley items to make sound with. Then, I started recording a school morning-routine-in-quarantine. Originally, it was going to be an average morning routine with predictable sounds, but I decided to challenge myself with an additional scene of walking outside into the rain to pick some apples and eat it. Basically the plot was: wake up and turn off alarm, text, walk outside to pick apples, eat the apple, and get settled in my desk for online school.

    While filming and recording, I was faced with the challenge of figuring out my 4 required foley sounds. I ended up doing texting phone taps (tapping my glass jellyfish), rain (brushing my carpet), footsteps (tapping my swim shoes on the ground), and picking apples (ripping hair). I also chose to bite a crunchy plum instead of an apple, but I wasn't sure whether that would be considered foley or not. I found these sounds pretty convincing, and hopefully my teacher thinks so too. 

    Besides my foley sounds, the regular sounds included door openings, alarm noises, the "bleep" from Microsoft Teams, and keyboard clicks. For fun, I asked a friend to pretend to be a teacher greeting the "class" in the "morning". She complied 😁.

     Filming and recording was a hefty process, but that was just the beginning. I had to learn an entire program in which I had very minimal experience: iMovie. Thankfully, my friends and mainly my friend Hannah helped in teaching me where the different features of iMovie were on my phone, and how to eliminate the video portions of a recording so that it is just sound. (which I had quite a bit of trouble with). By the end of that day, I eventually got the hang of it. This wasn't planned, but I felt so comfortable with iMovie by the end that I even added bird sounds downloaded from an internet database! I definitely learned more about movie editing with this project, even if it's just sound for now.

    Although I would still consider myself a beginner, the amount that I learned from just one to two sittings proves that with a little bit of effort, and with the generous help of others, the movie making process may not be as foreign and complicated as I imagined. 

Reflecting on Classmates' shots

Recently I viewed my classmates' shots demonstrating different angles, and I commented on two of their blogs. 

First, I viewed the shots taken by Daniel Morales. He actually included a narrative to his shots which was very interesting and creative. His follow shot of himself made me feel like I was actually looking at him  in person and following him with my own eyes. His long shot, also of himself, showcased his separation from the background, making me focus on him while still being mindful of the background. His two shot of him and his friend gave me a more personal feeling since I could see the relationship between him and his friend as well as their faces and body language. His over the shoulder shot allowed me to see both him and his friend in the frame, while still allowing me to focus mostly on him and not his friend. This made me less distracted and made it able for me to fully pay attention to his reaction.

After, I viewed the shots taken by Hannah Barnes. Her extreme close up shot of her eyes made me feel an extreme amount of emotion, as if I were staring deep into her soul. Her extreme long shot of her skating made be truly appreciate the vast expanse of her neighborhood, allowing me to feel awe for her surroundings. Her point of view shot of her hands made me feel as if I were actually her walking through her neighborhood. Finally, her tilt shot of her tree also made me feel as if I were her. It felt like I was actually looking up at how tall the tree was, and it made me appreciate the tree even more.