Creative Critical Reflection

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3vfLydUyud5ZlRPMU4zcldiYjA/view?usp=sharing

Final Project

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3vfLydUyud5Rnp0N2Mzd0VhZ0k/view?usp=sharing

Filming Complete!

        After the many weeks planning and organizing this project, production has come to a close. The final scenes were shot at Pembroke Gardens in Pines. I had a good friend Josh do some of the camera work as I played the role of Ben Fields. I have already begun post-production and am already close to finishing the opening. The one thing that really helps is looking through all of the clips and titling them correctly with what they display. I am excited to watch the final outcome and can't wait to share it!

Photo Credit:

http://www.thecrazytourist.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Pembroke-Gardens.jpg

Animation

        At the beginning of most films, there is usually an intro displaying the production companies and distributor involved in making the film. 'Nightfall' will be no different, showing two companies who helped produce the piece. For the distributor I chose to create a company entitled, 'Scenic Route Inc.' I think that the name has many meanings behind it involved with movie making and it is not already a name taken by a professional studio. The Studio I decided to name 'Moonlit Studios.' As I was looking through some photos I saw an image of a blue moon and thought that it made a cool studio name.
        After coming up with the names, the hard part begins, animating the intros. I have already completed a sort of "rough draft" intro for Moonlit Studios yet it definitely needs some work done to it. I think that it is a good start and can lead to a prosperous and visually creative animation. For Scenic Route Inc, I had some ideas for using a road made out of 2-d shapes, yet the animation is hard to do. It takes a bright mind and someone great with computers to animate anything, from 3-d models to 2-d text.

The World of Editing

        With production soon to be finished, it's time to begin the post-production phase. The programs I will be using consist of Adobe After Effects as well as Adobe Premiere Pro. I also may be diving into Adobe SpeedGrade a little bit as it is a new program from Adobe good for color correction and color grading. Color grading is a tool used to get the "cinematic look" or "film effect." A great source to learn how to color grade is from a Youtube channel "UglyMcGregor." Most of his videos explain film making for low budget film makers. There are also various websites that explain color grading and color correcting, yet seeing the process done in a video is much more useful in my opinion.
        Editing can make or break a film. Even with the best acting and camera movements, the editor has the final say on what enters the film and what doesn't. The editor is pretty much the closest thing to being the director as far as what the final outcome will look like. They get a massive say in what angles will portray a scene the best and how the pacing of a scene will play out. While editing can be very stressful, especially if the editor has to work with poorly shot footage, it is my favorite part of film making. Editing my film opening will be a particularly hard challenge due to the fact that I plan to sync every shot perfectly with the music I have chosen. That said, I am excited to begin this phase of the journey and can't wait to explore more about the post-production world!

UglyMcGregor Film Look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnL4Z0ebcBc

Production Has Begun!

        Production on the 'Nightfall' opening has finally begun. After much planning and waiting, I took a little trip down to A1A near Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. The filming took about 1 1/2 - 2 hours and is nearly complete. Now all I need are the final shots requiring an actor. To finish off the shoot, I will be filming in Pembroke Gardens as it is closer and gives off a similar vibe. With about a week till the opening is due, I now have to begin post-production while still in production. I am deciding on my production studios name and intro as those go before every film.
       Some things that I learned while out filming in public is that you have to be outgoing and not care what people think. It can sometimes be awkward while filming when people are staring at you. To get certain shots different body movements are required and to the average person this may be a little strange. I had numerous people ask me what I was filming and one lady even asked if I was alright. It takes a lot of mental blockage to break out of one's shell to film in public. I now have much more respect for people who do "vlogs" everyday as they are not only filming their surroundings but themselves with many people watching them. I am excited to begin the editing process for this opening and can't wait to share it when it is complete!

Storyboarding

        Storyboarding is a major part of pre-production for any film. A storyboard consists of "a panel or panels on which a sequence of sketches depict the significant changes of action and scene in a planned film, as for a movie, television show, or advertisement," as stated by dictionary.com. While a storyboard is essential, it can sometimes be a struggle for low budget film makers. With a higher budget, directors and producers can create the exact scene that the story requires. In the case of a student film maker like myself, it is hard to create the exact setting that the story requires.
        My storyboard (currently in the works) is hard to sketch due to the background being very inconsistent. While I plan to film on A1A in Fort Lauderdale, I cannot control what the scene looks like. If the city decides to plant more tree's while I am filming, then they can do that. Also, due to my film using many cinematic shots, it is hard to tell exactly the subjects I will be filming. I do know for certain how the film opening will end and that is easily storyboarded, yet the cinematic sequences can be a bit tricky to plan before hand. 

Quote:

1. "Storyboard." Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/storyboard>.