Portfolio Project - Week 5 Update 2

Production (Location Scouting)

Shortly after we had our meeting at Panera Bread, we decided to do some location scouting.

We had 2 options:

Juaquin's Current House:

Pros: Using Juaquin's current house lets us use a space that we're already familiar with, we also have guaranteed availability as Juaquin currently lives there.

Cons: We would have limited set design opportunities, as it's a fully furnished, modern home.

Juaquin's Old House:

Pros: Completely empty, as the house is being sold. This gives us HUGE set design opportunities, as we can make use of an empty home.

Cons: We have to be EXTREMELY careful, as we can't break anything or change anything about the house since its being sold. Pretty modern.

Cat Thinking or Dreaming of Something in Thought Bubble with Copy Space Stock Photo - Image of bubble, space: 262917958

Ultimately, we decided on Juaquin's current house, since it alleviates a lot of the stress of making sure that we don't break anything and possible scheduling conflicts with open houses at the old house.

Portfolio Project - Week 5 Update 1

 Production (Weekend Meeting)

This past weekend (February 22nd-23rd) me and my group had a team meeting that consisted of a final draft of what our story was going to be about, and what we wanted to include in our opening.

I woke up at around 8 A.M. and picked everyone up to start working on the project. We went to Panera Bread and ordered food and set out to make a series of events that we were proud of. We already had a general Idea of what we wanted to include, we just still had some conflicting views as well as some things that weren't set in stone.

(Me and my group disagreeing on the story)

After we had some food to eat, everyone settled down a bit and we were able to start deciding on some things. 

The first and most important thing I think we decided on was the title, we had a few ideas that related to the story but none of them were all that good since they were either too direct or too vague. (For example, one of the ideas was "Help Me" sort of alluding to Jordan Peele's "Get Out" as it's a very direct and clear while also hinting at the plot of the story) Ultimately, we decided on the name "Meek" as we felt that the word perfectly embodies what we're trying to go for when we wrote the character. Our character is designed to be this weak and submissive person who succumbs to temporary joys.

Here is the final product: 

Portfolio Project - Week 4 Update 4

 Audio

As listed in the first post of this project, I contacted a musical artist in order to ask for permission to use their music. The following are pictures of the email.

The only song of his we are going to be using will be "You'll See My Ghost" which is from his 2022 Album "What's Wrong". Song

The reason we chose to use this song is due to 2 main reasons. The first being the 10 second technological droning that the song starts with. I felt like that was a perfect fit for the black screen beginning of the film opening. The second reason was for the slow, longing kind of sound the rest of the song has to it, as well as the song's lyrics go really well with the kind of character we are trying to create. An idea one of my groupmates came up with was that we start with the song being used in a non-diegetic way and then transition to a diegetic use of the song. After showing us some examples, everyone in my group agreed on it.

Apart From Music

The beginning of our movie opening already starts with a pretty aggressive audio, so we decided to capitalize on that and layer some of the audio in the opening into it as well. We plan to switch back and forth between aggressive and sharp audio to normal audio to show how much our character is struggling. We also plan to spend a lot of time doing foley as our last projects foley was lacking. 

Portfolio Project - Week 4 Update 3

 Environment

The environment of our movie opening is really important in regard to the plot of the story as a whole, having placed tiny but important details in each shot in order to collectively work to paint the larger picture of this character's heartbreak and his struggle. There are some smaller details, like the messiness of the room and the trash that resides on the wardrobe. At the same time, there are some less noticeable details, such as small mirrors scattered around the house and small amounts of "cocaine" residue to show the character is an ex-addict. Out of all the details though, there are 2 things that set up the plot for the rest of the movie.

1. The Letter

        - The letter is a letter written to the main character from his girlfriend saying that they're disappointed about him choosing drugs over her, setting up the main goal of the film to get the girl back. 

2. The picture frame

        - The picture frame is going to be briefly shown at the beginning of the opening and then once more at the end, we plan to use this frame to further depict the sickness in our characters mind, having him step on the broken glass around him and then pick up the frame. The frame will contain a picture of the girl and a card for NA (Narcotics Anonymous) 

Portfolio Project - Week 4 Update 2

 Lighting

A very large Mise-En-Scene element of our movie opening is going to be our use of lighting. We plan to use some darker lighting at the beginning of the opening, along with a yellowish greenish tint, to make everything look almost grimy. We want the viewer to dread the idea of ever going to this house, as it is dirty and disgusting. Then once the other character is introduced, we plan to slowly but subtly remove this tint and make everything a bit more vibrant. This transition will take most of the opening, as it is prompted by his reconnection to reality and the outside world.

Portfolio Project - Week 4 Update 1

 Character Development

Me and my group plan for our character to go through many changes in our story, being limited to just the opening has made this task a little difficult but regardless, we still plan to foreshadow these developments through a few different ideas we want to show on screen. Our two main aspects of character development are the following.

1. Facial expressions

        - In our movie opening, we plan to maintain the same facial expression on our character right up until the second character mentions his absence at the Narcotics Anonymous meetings, to which we will show the first sliver of emotion our character feels.

2. Attitude

        - We plan to show a radical change in our characters attitude towards life, showing that overall, he plans to get better and wants to get through his addiction. It would start with a complete disregard for his health and lifestyle to a small step in the right direction.

Portfolio Project - Week 3 Update 4

 Current Script

Portfolio Project - Week 3 Update 3

The general idea of my story follows the story of a crippling drug addict facing the social consequences of his drug abuse. (Social consequences as in losing friends, family, relationships, etc.) The film opening starts with our protagonist, naked, face down on their bed, in a puddle of sweat. We plan to have some kind of note or letter saying "It's over, you can't go a day without-" which is interrupted by a rip in the paper and a white powder visible on the surface of the desk/table. Then, we plan to transition into the introduction of our first side character, which is a friend of the protagonist who came by to check on them. The friend caught wind of the protagonist's breakup and wanted to comfort them but quickly left after seeing the disturbing state of the protagonist. 

We are still undecided on how we want to continue this idea, but we know we want to involve some very aggressive visuals and audio such as a dog barking and the door knocking.

Portfolio Project - Week 3 Update 2

One theory of media that I would like to incorporate into my project is post-structural theory. Post-structural theory disagrees with the idea that texts hold inherent meaning and, instead, believes that meaning is produced by individual interpretation and by cultural context. I want the story of my character to suggest that, in order to show that they are something greater than the stereotypical drug addict. I want to say that they want and want to better themselves, but that there are so many things which are stopping him from it. I would rather leave most of my movie open to interpretation, as in place of retelling this awful story, I want the viewer to be aware by virtue of their own experience and knowledge. Post-structural theory is all about that, using deconstruction theory to allow the reader to read the media text on their own cultural and individual context. Post-structuralist theory of the media was created by Michel Foucault through analysis of the power-knowledge relation. For Foucault, media is used in ideology-making and reinforcement of norms in society but can further be read as a resistance against power.

For movies, it would be breaking down representation of power relations and representation or absence of oppressed voices.

The way that I would cause this feeling into my introduction, however, would be to highlight my protagonist's positive qualities of desiring to better themselves and rid themselves of their drug dependency, and highlight my antagonist's negative qualities. Lastly, post-structuralism calls on consumers of media to truly dismantle film, making films something greater than mere entertainment. Copying this same kind of thinking would be amazing because it dismisses the idea that there is some ultimate meaning and instead promotes an open-ended approach to interpretation. My first film would have people wondering what in the world they just experienced and what exactly it could actually symbolize. 

SOURCES

Barthes, R. (1977). Image, music, text (S. Heath, Trans.). Fontana Press.
Derrida, J. (1976). Of grammatology (G. C. Spivak, Trans.). Johns Hopkins University Press.
Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings, 1972-1977 (C. Gordon, Ed.). Pantheon Books.

Portfolio Project - Week 3 Update 1

 Overall, the group meeting was a lot of fun, I was able to get some feedback from a new set of ears and that really helped broaden my perspective and finalize some ideas.

The first project we talked about was Aneesa's, which was about a girl leaving a grocery store and seeing a planet up in the sky, seemingly about to crash into earth. People are panicking all around, but the girl feels unfazed by it. She then enters her car and drives away, which will then reveal the title: Rogue. The group gave some advice to have her enter the car and a radio broadcast talking about what's happening comes on in the middle of it. So that it feels more realistic.

Then we talked about sienna's idea, which starts with a group of friends hanging out, looking back on their memories on their computer. Theres a fast forward to present time, revealing the title: One last time. This will hint at the film being them hanging out together for the last time. It will be coming of age. The group’s advice was to incorporate environmental hints at why they are hanging out for the last time, like maybe something that shows they are graduating.

The next idea was my personal favorite: Maxes Time loop. The general idea is that a girl is stuck in a therapy session, when she leaves, she gets into her car, and she gets a phone call and she's back in the therapist chair. To establish the time loop, they plan to incorporate different events that happen during the meeting. I suggested that the audience should find out about the loop alongside the protagonist, to make it a little more shocking to the audience.

Finally, we have Julio's idea which starts with a couple walking out of a theatre after watching a movie, the man tells the girl that he parked behind the theatre, so they have to go through the alleyway to get back there. He is in the alley, cut up with a Pov of someone watching him. A concern was maintaining quality in the dark. In the alleyway, the girl is going to get a phone call saying that they like the watch she's wearing or some form of jewelry, hinting that the person will try to rob it. After the phone call, the girl is stabbed to death. It is then revealed that the people that murder her are a couple. An idea that came up during the meeting, was that the blood on the floor should shape into the title of the movie.

Portfolio Project - Week 2 Update 4

While researching the genre of psychological horror, I furthered my research into the target audience behind it, too. I wasn't exactly sure what caused people to be attracted to it; thus, I didn't know how to make it myself. These films are created to unsettle viewers by considering the complexities in the human mind, often those that deal with fear, guilt, and insanity. These are the kinds of movies that automatically attract audiences who like deep, thought-provoking stories that change their perceptions and evoke a strong emotional response. Psychological horror targets those who enjoy suspense and mental intrigue rather than jump scares or gore.

The target viewers for psychological horror films are generally adults from 18 to 34 years old. This is usually because the age bracket loves the detailed structure of how things happen in the movie, plus the ability to see other dark sides of humanity in a restricted manner. Both men and women enjoy the film, though studies suggest that males have a slight edge. For example, it has been recorded that about 55% of those who view horror movies are males, while about 45% are female.

A notable example of psychological horror can be found in "The Shining" directed by Stanley Kubrick, released in 1980. The movie is about the descent of a man into madness, being confined within a haunted hotel. It offers a deep look at his deteriorating mental state. Another instance is the movie "Get Out," directed by Jordan Peele, released in 2017. Here, horror is combined with social commentary, delving into subconscious fears and current societal problems. These films represent the genre's emphasis on the psychological aspects of horror, appealing to viewers who seek more than surface-level scares.

Portfolio Project - Week 2 Update 3

Me and my group already have a general idea on how we want to do our opening credits, but regardless we felt it was necessary to research and learn more about the opening credits of some other films in our genre to make sure we don't leave anything out in ours.

I decided to use the 3 movies I chose in my last blog post, in order to further my research in the films I already found appealing.

"The Shining" (1980)

The opening credit sequence of "The Shining" features an unsettling aerial tracking shot of a car driving through a vast mountain range, immediately establishing a sense of isolation and showing that there is much more than what meets the eye. The bright blue title cards scroll from the bottom to the top of the screen, an unusual choice that contributes to the film’s unsettling tone. The music features a really scary electronic arrangement of "Dies Irae," a medieval chant associated with death. The slow, methodical pacing of the credits and ominous music foreshadow the film’s psychological horror themes.

"Get Out" (2017)

'Get Out" opens with its title sequence against eerie images of trees and nature, which reflect the themes of being trapped and watched. The credits appear in a simple, white font over the visuals, allowing the focus to remain on the unsettling atmosphere. The song "Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga" by Michael Abels plays in the background, with Swahili lyrics translating to “Brother, listen to the ancestors,” hinting at the film’s deeper racial and historical themes. The use of haunting, distorted choir voices in the score creates unease, subtly preparing the audience for what is going to happen later.

"Black Swan" (2010)

The credit sequence of Black Swan is minimalistic, with a black screen and simple, white text appearing without dramatic effects. This presentation mirrors the film’s themes of control and perfectionism, avoiding any distracting visual elements. Clint Mansell’s music plays over the credits, using a haunting reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s "Swan Lake", which establishes the film’s eerie, psychological tone. The choice to keep the credits simple and elegant reinforces the film’s blend of beauty and horror, drawing viewers into its dark psychological world.

SOURCES

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/
https://stephenking.com/works/movie/shining.html

https://www.universalpictures.com/movies/get-out

https://www.monkeypawproductions.com/productions/get-out

https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/black-swan

https://www.searchlightpictures.com/blackswan

Portfolio Project - Week 2 Update 2

 In order to really understand how to truly emulate the feeling me and my group are going for; I decided to study and analyze the film openings of some of my favorite horror-thriller movies. Starting with 

"Get Out" (2017)

"Get Out" opens with a one-shot take of an African American man walking alone in a quiet suburban neighborhood at night. The camera follows him smoothly, creating a sense of realism, before a sudden shift to a handheld, chaotic shot when he is attacked. This was honestly a really nice touch, and I can 100% see myself using that in my own film opening. The sound design is eerie, with distant noises adding suspense before Flanagan and Allen's "Run Rabbit Run" plays from the sound system of the car nearby. This use of diegetic sound was the exact moment the film transitioned from paranoia to actual fear, which was honestly shocking because although it isn't a direct notice that something bad was going to happen, it was such clear indicator, and I really enjoyed it. Now I want to move on to

"The Shining" (1980)

The opening of "The shining" uses wide, aerial drone shots of a car driving through a vast, isolated mountain landscape, which I believe was done to represent how what occurs in the movie is a part of a much larger scope of things. I believe that the slow, floating camera movement creates an eerie and unsettling feeling, making the viewer feel small and powerless while at the same time presenting everyone that was involved in the film's creation. I think this is a really simple but effective way of doing this while still keeping the viewer engaged, it reminds me a lot of the Beetlejuice opening and that's one of my favorite movies of all time. The music is haunting, with deep, droning orchestral sounds that build tension before anything scary even happens, which I don't think I would do, since the kind of fear I want to emit from my opening should be concentrated in the moment rather than be heavily hinted at. The last movie opening I researched was

"Black Swan" (2010)

The opening scene of "Black Swan" uses a mix of close-ups and wide shots to show a ballet dancer performing in a dark space, with dreamlike, fluid camera movements. I really liked how this ballet dancer, dressed in all white, was almost being swallowed up by a void during her dance, the contrast between the black and white almost hint that this pure dancer is being corrupted by this evil, menacing antagonist. Soft but eerie music and whispering sounds create an unsettling mood, making it feel like something is lurking beneath the beauty. The lighting is dim, with spotlights highlighting the dancer’s movements while the background fades into darkness, suggesting hidden danger. Overall, the entirety of this scene portrayed the idea that there are hidden dangers beyond what we are currently seeing, despite the beauty and elegance of the dance, I plan to create this same effect in my own movie opening.

Portfolio Project - Week 2 Update 1

To start the new week off strong, me and my group decided to finalize our schedule for this project. The schedule details everything from the first week until the last, including research, blog posting, filming, and editing. We created the following with high hopes of maintaining organized and making a great production.