Creative Critical Reflection

 4/6/2021

My final posting

Here is my Creative Critical Reflection

Same with the last post - the link is embedded

Issues with the embedded link you can copy and paste the URL:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QBlbtHK6ndxlnAv0Ey3cAXM-zbsmdAjD/view?usp=sharing

Unfortunately, there will be no 'Until next time!' in the bottom right of this post. The journey has reached its peak and this chapter will be closing. Thank you for taking your time reading my postings and I hope you enjoyed it!

Best of wishes <3

Film Opening

 4/6/2021

Yes, this is really it!!!

Here is my film opening SYN 

You can click right on the embedded link

I am so proud of this piece, and I hope you enjoy it! Thank you for reading my developing story for the past eight weeks of making this production. All of that work has been transformed into this piece - and I am happily saying I have finished it.

If you are unable to click, here is the link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHUK2nPRB3qrzHQOihasWuwELe-ThFH_/view?usp=sharing

Until next time!

Portfolio Project - Week Eight Reflection

 4/4/2021

It is truly crazy how this project has reached its final destination. I began this project with two ideas that came randomly to mind. Such varying forms - each was - but to see how the one I chose evolved into what I produced today - brings much satisfaction. 

I immediately was drawn to an idea of sin - the seven deadly sins, to be precise. Originally I wanted to develop a dystopian piece with a hyper fixation of a character - with over enhanced greed. Developing an idea was not the hard part of this production process, but the realistic capability of what I could create. I was independent filming and editing - and was limited to the settings of my home.

A deal with the devil just struck an accord of - that's what I want my story to be. Dealing for fame or money were the ideas. I created two storyboards to draw pictures of my thoughts. Act two kept the storyboard plan but Act one did not. Quickly into filming, I realized how hard it was to film and not see what or if you are even in the shot. 

Time was the real cause of change in what I filmed. There were doubts if I could even follow my planned story or - if it was - set up for failure. I am happy to have pushed through with filming everything and letting my editing decided. The whole procedure for preparing to film was a tedious endeavor that took too much time - to - not be highlighted in filming. The closeups didn't make the final cuts due to time limitations. It adds to my character's appearance and gives background. I have a scene where she tries to cover them - so audience interpretation will allow creative freedom in her story.

Audience interpretation is something I feel proud of for my piece. The ability to keep thinking and not details to be put in your face is - personally - desirable. My genre follows fantasy and drama representations. At the beginning of my project research on genre representation - of these two genres - the fantasy elements defined as a way of escapism for audiences; To deter from reality into a developing story carrying realism, fictional elements. 

Confidence in my idea for this project had its varying themes. I feel parts of my original idea were letdowns due to my incapacity - to truly - form elements well. I prefer roles behind the camera - controlling all factors and having a vision of what I want. The acting was challenging - I wish I developed my story differently to where it wasn't myself acting. Or even a less complicated idea altogether. Motivation was a deciding factor in my project. I developed my theme and felt creatively influenced to keep working. Filming, I felt to have hit rock bottom for all the work put in prior. Quality was not occurring as I planned, and to film again and again was slowly becoming something I didn't look forward to doing.

All in all - the project is in its final editing stages. There have been technical errors prohibiting working times I originally planned, but I can easily export and work them out on another platform. I learned premiere pro drastically better than my original skills. Doing my final tasks is a fulfilling feeling for the works of preparation and planning. My following postings will be my film opening and my ccr. Thank you for reading my progress over the past eight weeks - it's been a journey. 

Until next time!

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!