Editing the few scenes filmed

From both of those days that my group and I filmed, we only collected the first 7 pages of the storyboard. We are missing the final 3 pages, which include more dialogue between both characters. However, I still decided to use my computer's editing studio to gather all of the video clips recorded, in order to observe what the final task would look like so far. This editing studio is different than the original iMovie that I have used in the past. However, I found it very simplistic, where the easiest tools were available, such as cutting or trimming a clip, muting the audio, and adding background music and transitions. I only wanted to combine the scenes in chronological order, so I did not mind the type of editing software that I would use. I took the SD card and dumped all of the footage onto a folder. I went through the folder, proceeding to select which clips would work for the opening sequence, deleting the takes that failed. Once I had chosen and labeled all videos, I added the clips into the 'raw footage' section of the editing studio. I dragged all of the videos from that section onto the video track. Without editing, the whole product was around 5 minutes, and not all of the scenes were even there.

I obviously had to trim most of the footage and decide which scenes are too long in order to potentially reshoot. At first, it was very frustrating to edit these scenes because after I kept rewatching them, the acting started to seem unrealistic and I found the video to be choppy. Although I did not want to keep working, I did not give up and managed to shorten the time to a minute and 45 seconds. To achieve this, I had to speed up long clips and cut out the short ones, but of course, not without the approval of my group members. I also trimmed as much of the raw footage that I could. The only problem I have with the opening sequence so far is that the video is too long and we have 15 seconds left to add the last 3 pages of the storyboard. I want to be able to reshoot some scenes with my groupmate Darwin because all of his footage is what makes the video long. There are 18 boxes left on the storyboard to record, and other boxes have to be refilmed, especially my dialogue with the phone call and a shot of the car driving off onto the street. I plan on gathering all of the footage once we are done filming, and then messing around with the iMovie studio; for example, transitions and finally adding music, and this needs to be added for the final product.

The Filming Continues

My group needed to get work done the next time we met up. I had a plan to continue filming by the storyboard, meaning in chronological order. I decided to take a shower in the morning so that I could have a steamed bathroom for one of the scenes. Once I finished, Emily came into the bathroom after I got dressed, but I kept the shower on, to keep the mirror steamy. I put on a bathrobe as part of a costume and had to walk from the shower to the mirror and wipe off the steam. This was supposed to be a pan, and there would be natural lighting coming from the window. After this, I had to do the rest of my acting scenes, such as, getting ready in the bathroom and walking into my room to pick up my phone that was ringing. I also had to learn the dialogue that would finally be presented in our film. This happened in my room at five o'clock in the evening, to have the right lighting. Emily filmed the scenes of me walking into the frame and the close up of the phone leading to my face. There had to be a few takes because I kept messing up the dialogue, and every time we would restart the set, it would take a moment for the camera to refocus on the iPhone. After filming this whole scene, I had to film Darwin outside before he had to leave. I recorded a tracking shot of him taking some tools to the trunk of a car. This was where I had to set up the camera for a trunk shot of him placing the tools inside. I wanted to get in the car to observe his acting from the screen, but I could not figure out how to access the trunk from the back seat. Instead, I did what I did with the closet scene, which was to start recording on the camera and place it inside the car. Finally finished with the immobilized vehicle scenes, I had to film Darwin driving off with the car. However, in his take, he took forever to pull out of the driveway. Then I took over for a second take, but Emily accidentally made it a tracking shot.

First Day of Filming

My group met up at my house, on our day off from school, to begin filming in the afternoon. I provided the location and props that we needed for our scenes. This long process was very stressful for me because I had to help the director and be an actor for the film as well. The first scene required my dog and it was in my room. While our team member Emily was setting up the camera, I chose clothes to throw onto the bed and set my dog's position. I had to use treats in order for him to stay in my room long enough to get a few takes. There were different reactions from my dog every time, and although it is a thriller, I added a 'cute' aspect of throwing pieces of clothing onto him. After having a few clothes go onto the bed, I walked into frame, grabbed my outfit, and walked back out of frame. The next easiest thing to film was the establishing shot of my house, so I had to move my parent's car that was parked in the driveway, in order to only have the car that would be the kidnapper's. I stood across the street with a member from another group gathering a 40-second clip of my yellow house. Once I finished,  I had to start filming the scenes with my groupmate Darwin. The idea from the storyboard was followed, where "Kenneth" had to grab his clothes from the closet and leave. I had to start recording and place the camera in the closet to start the scene. I helped place the clothes on hangers because Darwin was already in his pajamas. Moving onto the next scene was the kidnapper shaving his face. I had to place the shaving cream on the actor and make a red paste to act as fake blood. I used common condiments: at first, just ketchup, but I added barbecue sauce and strawberry jam after. Basically, I would set up the scene and have a member of another group record it. This took more than just 6 takes because the actor did not know how to cooperate. This means that the first day of filming was not that successful because we did not get very far.

Planning: Storyboard

Attached to this blog is the storyboard of our final task. Each slide contains a sheet of what we will be filming. There are 10 pages for the storyboard template and each page has 6 boxes. The 6 boxes have  specific drawings of every action. The camera’s movement and location is described with angles and shots, for example, high angles and tracking shots. The actions of what the actors should be doing in each scene is also included. Sound is specific, especially diegetic and dialogue between characters. The titles are written in black pen in order to have an idea of where they should be placed in the scene. It also helps to plan out what titles we want to use for our final task. Hopefully our group would not have to add more scenes because it is a short opening sequence. 

Planning: Title Design

Attached is the planning for our title design for our final task. We want our titles to be unique and eyecatching. We do not want them to be just some words we throw at the bottom of the screen. We decided on using different fonts depending on when and where the titles will pop up. For example, a chilling font will be used for titles that go up during the Driver's scenes. And for the victim's scenes, a happier font will be used for those titles. The main title will be bold and large to attract the audience's attention and so that you will not be able to miss it. Most titles in the two minutes will be monochromatic, meaning it will either by black on white, or white on black. The spacing for only the main title will be different since the font we are using puts the letters too close together. The titles will fit the background and most will last 2-3 seconds, long enough for the general audience to read.

Plan for Filming

Attached is the location, sound, participants, safety, and schedule of our final task. The locations used for our film will be Mariapaula's house and her neighbor's house. We will mostly be using the inside of M's house as the setting for both the Driver and the Victim. We will use different rooms to add the illusion of the Driver and Victim getting ready in different houses. We will mainly only use the outsides of the house for establishing shots. The sound used will be royalty-free background music used throughout the entire two minutes. Other sounds will be mainly sound effects like doors opening or faucets running. Participants will be all four of us. Darwin and Mariapaula are the actors, while Rafael and Emily will work behind the scenes. One slide on the slideshow is the overall schedule of the project, while another slide is the filming schedule in detail. In the slideshow, we covered many practices we will be doing to make sure we are safe at all times. For example, one scene involves the Driver shaving his face. During that scene, the razor being used will be dulled to prevent cuts.

Planning: Sound Script

Attached in this blog is the sound script for our final task. This is the script for every sound made, including dialogue, music, and any form of noise made. Each slide contains at least 2 scenes from our film, which describes all the sounds made in that particular scene. It shows whether or not the scene is playing music, and describes what genre or mood it makes if there was any. As well as any form of exchange in dialogue between characters, or a noise that someone makes. The sound script also includes sounds of objects or movement in the scene. For example, if the shower were to turn on, the slide would describe the sound of the handle, as well as the sound of the showerhead itself. If there happens to be no dialogue of any sort in the scene, it will be mentioned. Additionally, it also states the kind of sounds that are occurring: diegetic or non-diegetic. Diegetic meaning that both the characters and the audience can hear the sound happening in that scene, and non-diegetic meaning that only the audience hears what the characters cannot.

Planning: Shooting Script

Attached is the shooting script for our final task. Each slide contains the general shooting details of each scene. For example, the second slide is for scene 1. It comprises the type of shots and angles in the scene. It has what the character(s) or subject(s) are doing in the scene. It also has the lighting; whether it is bright and cheery or dark and gloomy. The entire slide show is thirteen slides: one slide for the title and twelve slides for each of the twelve scenes. A majority of the scenes are morning-routine scenes from both Carolina's and Kenneth's point of view. Their routines are cut together to compare and contrast their preparation for the day. For example, while Kenneth just messes with his hair really quickly, Carolina puts thought into how she looks for the day.