Portfolio Project - Week Seven Part Three

 3/27/2021

All filming I completed yesterday. Any scenes that may need to be - reshot should not be an issue - as only minor details should require this. Now taking all of my clips and taking certain sections from each that best build my story is next in my production process. To begin the editing, I will arrange my scenes then add the sound to support them. 

I am thankful that my break coincided with my shooting process. Filming during a school week - with all of the tattoos applied for each scene - would have been strenuous. Editing all that I shot - will be one difficult task, but if I space out the process - the results should be rewarding. 

I filmed an insomnia scene followed by a bathroom scene to show the effects of the ticking on Onyx. Splashing water on my face took many tries due to my independent filming. The majority of my filming time due to my lack of view of what is in - shot or focus. I would have liked to utilize more zoomed-in effects, but I can only do that in post-production editing. 

I have clear images of what I want with all that I have filmed - but depending on my amateur editing skills, I am worried if I can fill that image. My story is panned out, and what I want from what I filmed should be there. When searching for the exact thing I need and if  - what is needed needs editing - to be what I envisioned is the difficulty. Unfortunately, time is running out, and my final stretches for this story need to happen. Following the film opening is my ccr. I do have a detailed account of my production process and all of the difficulties involved with it.

I did deter from my original idea with my 'SYN' branding progression. Getting any makeup added to appear on the camera and not look just like an outline was quite hard very quickly. I changed the progressional to a fading effect rather than a color signifier.

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Seven Part Two

 3/24/2021

Today I was supposed to film, but the direction of my film opening was so skewed from the last posting I decided to make a posting to write my thoughts. I was unsure of what to do with the timing and installments of the second branding. Today I took time to just think about what it was that I was filming. I forgot about the ticking in the piece - which was very important to the story. The ticking I remembered and decided starts after the first installment. I will film the second installment where the ticking is louder and possibly faster. The second installment is already communicating the effects of the first installments' ticking by showing Onyx suffering from insomnia. 

Time lapses between the two installments of the second branding can communicate how this continuous ticking has been driving her crazy. I will convey time-lapse by having the second installment appear rawer as I did when each time of branding first appeared. The area around the first installment will have no makeup added - so it is appearing healed.

Questioning where to end my piece was a challenging idea.  I have not decided on my setting for filming - but I know how I want my final shot. The whole thing will end with the 'SYN' disappearing and the ticking stops. I may do some visual effects on the two fully developed branding to signify an activation - of sorts. The real question leaving at the end of what is happening next seems developed in my idea. Audience interpretation with the piece can allow for different narratives of progression and outcome to occur. The effectiveness of my piece should communicate the genre representation I want of the drama/fantasy realm.

Tomorrow I will be sure to begin my filming of Act three and four. Motivation for today thankfully lead me not to film but decide on important storyline aspects I was missing.

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Seven Part One

 3/23/2021

Act Two - of my film opening - was filmed last night. I'm going to either continue the story with two installments of the second branding or maneuver fantastic editing to make three installments fit. With each scene  I film, I realize how much I can fit into my film opening. With everything I have filmed so far, I'm going to clip sections of takes and then compile them together. The main effect of my film opening is going to be sound. The story centers around - a deal and - the product of - skill on a guitar. With how these scenes I envision - are put together, audience interpretation can form for what is happening in the story. The audience's idea of how much time has passed from the first clip of the devil handshake to Act One performance can build different narratives. Either fame or skill can be recognized, or the deal has now presented unknown effects on Onyx. Within Act One, Onyx is hiding her tattoos and brandings, as if she didn't know about them or she forgot to hide them. 

Act Two transitions to practicing at home and writing music. Unsuccessful attempts occur, and the first installment appears. This scene also allows for the visual effects - on her skin to be seen from another point of view. Establishing the 'SYN' from her skin to the 'SYN' on the guitar is another attempt at representation of the connection between the two. 

Here are some shots from the scene I filmed last night. They seem to appear darker on the computer than on my phone. They are dark - to follow the mood of the production but more visible in the recording.  Filming Act Three comes next before the editing process. I may decide while filming to make this the final Act due to time constraints. 

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Six Part Three

 3/21/2021

I filmed Act One, but there were more errors than successes. Getting ready for shooting took about 2-3 hours. The transferring of ink to skin failed quite a few times. To conduct, the area of skin has to have perfume on it. I had a tattoo right above my eyebrow - I also had to do each letter separately. Perfume got in my eye on three occasions, which was very painful. 

There were issues with the letters themselves. I printed inverted versions because I knew with the 'SYN' tattoo - that was needed. But after soaking and preparing for transfer to the skin - I required the non-inverted version of the words. The 'NEED' took about 6-7 attempts before it worked and finished. The 'DESIRE' tattoo had an error with one 'E' but was not too bad - besides doing each letter one at a time. The 'WANT' was the easiest, and if it failed, I would do it in eyeliner, which was its original idea. The 'SYN' did not fully transfer, so I had to use eyeliner to complete the calligraphy. 

Filming Act One taught me that I do not have enough time to do all I wanted with the film opening. To create a story with enough character background and conflict understood through interpretation - I need to lessen the number of Acts planned. I do not have enough time in the two minutes allotted. Filming independently - may be the issue at hand. I am struggling - to direct myself and do not know if I am in the frame for each take. 

I took many takes of everything I could think of for my Act One idea. If I learn effective editing, I think I can pull through with my visual effects. I will need to clip many of the takes I shot into a progressional sequence to make one effective scene. The majority of my film opening will depend on the editing process to bring out the idea effectively. All sound will be added post-production. I may add some - character speaking, but right now, that is - not planned. 

Knowing how long the process is for preparing to shoot - I will prepare as early as possible. Finally finishing, around three am when I started everything at eight pm is not another desired reality. I will film again tomorrow since I am exhausted from last night, and hopefully, that process is better. I will include some photos from last night.

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Six Part Two

 3/19/2021

Spring Break has officially begun! I used yesterday to clean and organize the settings I am going to use. I also filmed a few tilting shots of my father's amp for the act one scene - the concert. It can be a quick glimpse, and I will speed up the clip. All audio heard of the instrument will be added during the editing process. I will begin filming tonight. My room allows too much light in, so manipulating the camera to have a soft focus while also creating a darker theme would be difficult. My room LED lights -  I would like to use - to bring about my color themes of red and green - during filming. I originally planned for - a flashing that would cause a flashback, but I decided to show the devil deal and mirror the performing shots. 

Before cleaning

After cleaning

>   For Act three, I would like to do a bathroom scene. Show vulnerability and also include set design to build character. I would clear all that I have existing in the bathroom that does not develop the theme of the film opening. With these photos, you can also see the cracked ceiling - from water damage - that I painted for the bathroom scenes.

Before arranging

After arranging

>   This area is where I want to film Act Two. I dusted and cleaned the table and chairs for filming. I also dusted the memorabilia and guitars; to make sure if the camera picks up on them - there is not dust visible. From my storyboard - this is the moment for the first installment of the branding. Onyx will be playing the guitar and writing music. I will make the 'SYN' branding the first to take an impact - but not painful. The effect of the branding taking her skill will build visible confusion until she checks and sees a difference. This occurrence will hopefully communicate a connection between the guitar and her fluently to the audience. After confusion, here comes the pain. The installment of the second devil seal begins then.

I got some nice shots yesterday during the evening for the pan around the room. The change in focus of lighting from the window to around the room was unsuccessful. So I either film multiple shots and edit together - to keep the filming during the day - or I do the scenes during the night with no outside light interfering. I will attempt again for the day shooting, but the night may be the better option for an altogether setting. My house is noisy during the day, and if I want to create sound from Onyx, filming at night would be the better choice.

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Six Part 1

 3/16/2021

Today was another group discussion during class. Communication on my production with new and previous students was a pleasant interaction. The feeling of familiarity with students and our projects makes a practical connection through a screen. We are all following the same processes and having similar obstacles as the due date comes closer. Enthusiasm on my project felt like a big motivator; today and last time. Feeling confident in my work where others felt doubt held assurance in my idea choice. When it comes to the ccr - my idea falls harder in some categories of relation elements. For example, targeting an audience cannot be based on a similar experience but rather hobby or interest. I could delve into the emotional connections of human greed - on a practical level; maybe even research the occurrence in everyday life - we commit sins. 

Planning some ideas for my ccr ahead of time will set me for success, but I need to think about my filming right now. Time management for a successful production process needs to be a primary focus. I do have enthusiasm for my idea and the ability to create this story. Effectively doing that needs focus with planning to allow for my conception to succeed. Filming needs to happen this week. Filming is something that once I start, due to cosmetic and visual effects, should be finished - relatively altogether. 

One relation I was having with a person today was the reality of how much one scene can take up in our allowed allotted time. The filming I did on Sunday, in which I need to edit clips together, can take up to 20 seconds. That is quite a bit - so every second count. The good thing would be my ideas so far are not too much or too far-fetched for a film opening. Meaning refining into something simpler isn't something I need to contemplate. 

Spring Break will be very helpful in my production process. I can have time to solely focus on producing, combined with an ability to obtain quality rest. Act two and three should be done together - due to their similar themes. Act one is introducing and mirroring the deal, while act four will be the ending and signifying another change introduced. 

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Five Part Three

 3/14/2021

Today I began my filming process. I focused on the devil handshake scene. That scene is a two-shot, so filming over the weekend would be the best opportunity to do that. There were difficulties in filming which eventually worked through. The black curtain I used for a backdrop could only cover so much of the frame, so I had to zoom in more and have less setting. The candle pillars I wanted to add for ambiance couldn't fit the frame - so they were cut. The original words I printed out for branding were not inverted, so I had to learn how to invert and reprint. The difficulty without them inverted would make all of the letterings backward when placed on the skin. The makeup that I had practiced made the process of the pain look more happen quicker. Filming did take longer than I expected, and with what I filmed - I already know that the editing of this short scene with being similar. 

I had my father - take videos of me filming and doing the makeup effects, which I can use for my ccr. Having a figure in front of the camera - able to balance the zoom and focus on him - was helpful. Filming the rest of my shots will be difficult since I am doing it independently. Planning what exactly I want from my scenes should aid my focus. Following a specific basis for my story - with planned sound - should lead me down a successful path.

With spring break approaching - I will have more time to film myself without 7 hours of online classes. I, of course, have assignments over the break that will also require my attention. But my main priority is filming and then possibly starting the editing process. Today's mistakes will hopefully not occur next time I film. Spending a couple of hours watching videos on youtube about filmic pro and how to uses its capabilities - filming on the app became quite easy. I am still figuring how to use lighting with the focus, but overall, today went well.

Until next time!