Group Meeting (week 4)

Hello, today I had a group meeting talking about the many projects that we are all working on. I met up with five other people and we were all talking about the progress and ideas of our projects. There have been many different ideas in many different gernes and they are all amazing. 

First is Nathanial's project. His idea is pretty cool in my opinion and the story is very exciting. Kinda makes you feel the same way as when you are waiting for a new movie to come out. Anyways the story goes like this. " Todd is a timid young man from the Midwest who has an intense fear of germs and getting sick. One summer, he reluctantly agrees to go with his girlfriend, Ellie, on a trip down south to Florida, where the two will stay in a rental house by an Everglades tourist park. Part of the purpose of the trip is to held Todd get over his fear, as advised by his therapist. Things take a dark turn however when a rare species of mosquitos begin to emerge, biting victims at the park and infecting them with a deadly toxin. When the park refuses to shut down, it becomes up to Todd and Ellie to stop the swarm, teaming up with a local entomologist named Mike and the park's down on his luck gator wrestler named Dan.:

This whole storyline and idea is very interesting and I frankly can not wait to see how it is gonna look like after it is all said and done. It looks and sounds very interesting.

The next story idea is by Madi. Her idea is as follows: The film opening will start with the main character walking through a crowded school hallway, unaware of her pregnancy. She encounters the guy who got her pregnant, leading to a tense moment. The music abruptly stops as she throws up in the bathroom, with the sound effects created through mixing foods and foley work. The opening then transitions to her in class, where she has an awkward encounter with the guy. Flashbacks hint at her pregnancy, without explicitly stating it. The opening ends with her waking up alone in bed, with a voiceover calling her name as the teacher does in class. Small details like the appearance of the title, other actors, and filming locations still need to be decided. The progress has been good and the next step is creating a storyboard to visualize the opening scene.

This is a very interesting story idea that can be very well adapted into a film. The depth and the unique story idea is very cool and very eye catching.

The next story idea was from Dani. Her story is as follows: Over the past week and a half, she has been watching coming-of-age movies for inspiration and working on brainstorming ideas for her film opening. She has drawn inspiration from films like "The Edge of Seventeen," "Spiderman," "The Florida Project," and "The Breakfast Club." She has narrowed down her options to three concepts that incorporate elements from these films. Option 1 is inspired by the bold title and music start of "The Edge of Seventeen." Option 2 includes a dramatic pause similar to Spiderman movies. Option 3 takes inspiration from films like "Jessica Darling It List" and "16 Wishes" with unique transition styles and pop songs. She is considering a combination of these concepts to create an attention-grabbing opening that represents youth and growth in the coming-of-age genre. Finalizing the approach for her film opening is the next step in her creative process.

I believe that the way that she is creating the ideas for her film are very inspiring and very nice to read about. The way that she goes into details about what she is gonna do for her film helps give me different ideas on what I will do for mine.

The next story idea comes from Clara. Her ideas is as follows: The film opening will center around a woman mathematician who discovers the 23, 28, and 33-day biorhythm cycles through complex equations. Accidentally leaving her notes open leads to their discovery by someone who leaks the information to the press. The mathematician sees her findings being shared on the news and receives an urgent call from her boss to come into work immediately. A close-up shot captures her realization and panic before the film title appears on screen. Upon reaching the office, she faces her furious boss questioning her carelessness in sharing the findings despite explicit instructions not to do so. This sets the stage for a conflict-driven narrative.

The story idea that Clara and her group have come up with is very different from the other ones that I have seen before. The story is meant too seem like it is on a cliff hanger but in reality it shows more then it seems to.

The final story is by Mariano. His story is as follows: The story will focus on a teenager in Florida who struggles to socialize during the summer due to his battle with depression. The film opening will begin with a slow zoom out from the character sitting alone on the beach while others his age are enjoying themselves in the background, highlighting his loneliness. The main character will then stand up and walk away, symbolizing leaving his problems behind for the moment. Scenes will show individuals attempting to greet him, but he blocks himself from socializing. The use of bright colors around him contrasted with dark colors representing his inner struggles through mise en scene. Background dialogue and music will be used to enhance emotions in the opening sequence. Further development is still needed, but the concept shows promise in conveying the character's internal conflict and isolation.

This idea for a story is very lively which makes it more interesting. The idea that the different symbolisms are very obviously shown in the film is pretty cool in my opinion.

Continuing the Story (Week Three)

  This is a continuation of the story plot and main idea from the last Blog. After the encounter with the mysterious shapeshifter, Frank begins to have dreams about it. He starts having not only dreams but nightmares about it to. The shapeshifter has begun to turn into the people that he cares about the most.

At this point Frank is desperate for answers on what the hell this thing is and what it wants from him. Frank begins looking for answers and comes across an old book store. Gaining more information about the bookstore it appears to have many different reports of having some sort of super natural activities. Since the reports have come from many different people, he thought that it would help give him some type of reason for the shapeshifter.

Frank ends up mustering up the courage to go to the bookstore. As he begins to dig around he finds something shocking. In the dirt and trash around the store there was a book that seemed out of place. Its name was " death to the devils sons". Inside the book he finds something that could help him with his current problem. He finds the true form of the shapeshifter.

Beginning the Story (Week Three)

While starting to create the story for the project. The research i have done really does come into play. Beginning to apply the research to the project itself has become very interesting. Not only am I continuing to learn more but I have been able to fix any mistakes I have made in the past.

In the story there is a town that is named Crestwood. In a random part of town their is this teenager that goes by the name of Frank. One day. everything was normal. Frank was walking down the street minding his own business, he finds a dark ally. He decides to go down the ally but going down the ally he would see something that he would never forget.

There was this strange creature that was appearing to Frank to be a shapeshifter. As Franks eyes look at this disturbing creature as it changes between forms. The moment the creature notices Frank he runs away and runs all the way back home. When Frank spastically tells his parents what happened they do not believe him because he always loves to play stupid pranks.

The Final Part of the Research (Week two)

 The final part of my research will be finalized with the finished production of the story. The idea that me and my partner had for the project was pretty good in my opinion. In the story the teenager is being followed by a strange being throughout the entire movie. 

While he is getting followed the creature appears to have the ability to be able to shape shift. So throughout the entire movie the creature is following the main character by changing his shape into the people that the teen knows personally. 

Throughout the movie the teen is getting more and more freaked out by the strange things that are happening around him. The strange behaviors of the people that he knew best. When he figures it out, most of the people that he had known that the creature turned into had been killed off. 

The continued Research (week two)

 The more that I continued my research the more I realized how incredible the horror films are. The Idea that me and my partner are currently coming up with is the idea of a shape shifter type of movie. This would be a thriller combined with a horror movie. 

The full idea would be how a teenager would be going throughout his day, but does not realize that a creature is coming after him. This creature decides to take the form of the people that the teenager knows such as his parents, family and friends. Throughout the movie, it becomes more and more obvious to the teenager that something is not right. He begins to feel uneasy and begins experiencing unnatural events.

This idea would use a creative way of editing and making it seem as though nothing is what it seems. The use of sound techniques used in the film will signify when the creature is near the teenager. Certain stings and soundtracks would be the indicator that the creature is near. When the audience feels as though the creature is near a certain sound will appear to sort of bait the audience into thinking that something is wrong when it is not.

Starting My Project (week two)

 The genre that I have decided to choose with my partner is horror. The main reason that I chose this genre is because there are many different ways that you can make into horror. There are many different techniques and styles that you can use in a horror film such as lighting, shadows, editing techniques, and sound.

One of the websites that I have used for my research is Horror Studies Resources. This website has allowed me to further understand what makes a horror movie a horror movie. Generally speaking it has helped me a lot. Not only did it show me how to properly create and make a horror film but it has also showed me many different ideas that I can put into my project.

Another website that i used for my research is DartMouth Libraries. This website showed me the results of what happens when the right techniques are applied to a film. These techniques show how when they are put together can create the sense of horror. This website was also very helpful because it showed me the finished products of the films that correctly used caan help create that scary feeling when watching.

My Opening to my Portfolio Project (Week one)

I am Mariano, I am thinking of doing the genre's horror and thriller. I am thinking of doing this because not only are they easy to do but they are challenging to do at the same time. Horror uses lighting to be able to create suspense between characters and create the scary feeling.

Thriller causes me to make more of a thought out and more interesting story rather then just relying on the effects. Unlike horror thriller can make the story interesting while at the same time inducing adrenaline to the audience.

This project is a very good way for me to be able to express my creativity through video. I've always been a little interested in making a short film and now this gives me a chance to be able to explore that. The amount of things and ideas that I have for this is amazing and the opportunities that this gives me are endless.