Portfolio Project

WEEK FOUR: REGIME CHANGE

Good morning blog.

Today in class, we had a group meeting. Our teacher, Stok, put us into groups of 6 to discuss each other's projects and blogs. It was helpful to see where everyone else was with their projects and how I am not the only one who still hasn't landed on a concrete idea. Listening to the ideas and problems my classmates were running into formed an explosion of teamwork where we all were trying to lift each other up and help each other succeed.

When I explained my story, they were just as confused as you are. They tried to guide me, as well as each other, to fill the plot holes and take my ideas onto the screens. Here's where we got:

When I mentioned that I want to play around with the timeline of the story, everyone loved the idea. The only thing is the concept is way easier than executing it. I also mentioned that my parent's office has an elevator So Manny, one of the students in my group, gave me the ideas on the note. 

I think I could have gone somewhere very cool with the idea. that was until I had a conversation with Stok. She made me realize I was so stuck on this location and elevator, that I didn't truly enjoy what I was creating. It was frustrating to hear but after much back and forth and jumping and hiding, I realized she was right. So, I went home and decided it was time for this story and me to part ways.

Dear weird, unfinished, elevator short film,

It's not me, it's you.

Sincerely, 

your former writer.

Anyways, after I ate some ice cream to deal with this breakup, I quickly got to thinking. I was in my happy place (my car) when it finally hit me... but I'm not going to tell you the idea until it's COMPLETELY set this time.

I thought it was time I stop playing with your feelings,

ms. spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK THREE: PLOT CHANGE

Literally scratch that.

Give me a minute, my brain is spiraling

ms. spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK THREE: PLOT REVEAL

Hi guys!!!!

I think I am most excited about this blog. I'm going to tell you about my story. I have a solid idea but to be honest, I hope I can solidify my ideas as I type.

As I've said before, I want it to be a creepy, psychological, very A24 type of movie. To put it in one sentence, I want my audience to watch this film and question their entire life up until this point. Okay, I until this is a bit unrealistic for a 5-minute short film but I am shooting for the moon (I'll be okay if I land in the stars... but like the closet star to the moon).

You after you watch my film

I would like to show off my current planning document before I try to use my big girl words to explain my movie:

Now let me translate.

The storyline is about two girls who have a very close relationship. I still have to decide if that relationship is romantic or platonic, but that is relevant because I don't want it to be the main focus point. They go to an empty parking lot which is clearly their normal hang-out. They somehow end up going into the office building...

Wait, this is exactly what I was talking about: brainstorming. I think they should be lovers, and the plot is that they finally are going to get together. They enter the elevator the audience is going to think they are going to kiss. Their faces are lit up, the tension is high, the door closes and on the next floor it opens, and one of the girls is on the floor, dead. Surprise! 

That's the basis but I do also want to play around with the timeline and a potential alternative narrative.

I really hope you somewhat understood that, but I promise, it'll make more sense later

ms. spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK THREE: TIMELINE PROPOSAL

On the timeline, week three has a couple of things to be checked off. I think I did a pretty good job last week with week two, so let's get straight into what needs to get done. The first was "think about who could play possible characters."

Ashley and Sophia, two of my closest friends, both have never acted before. I'm gonna try and train them because I don't really have access to anyone else and I know their schedule will work with mine. Slightly excited because they're best friends so I know they will have good dynamics and are both exceptionally captured on camera. 

Next on my checklist is "reach out to these people and see if they're interested."

done.

This blog is going to be a little short because I have a big one coming. By week three, I was supposed to have finalized my story. Although I can't promise that, I have a very good plot in the making. 

EEEEEEK!!!!!!

ms. spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK TWO: THE RESEARCH BEGINS

According to my blog schedule, this week I am basically researching. I want to focus mainly on genre, so the first thing I did was go straight to vimeo.com and look up "psychological horror short films." Not much popped up... I didn't realize I picked such a niche genre. Nevertheless, I fell into a deep shorts hole and eventually found the area I was looking for. I watched a few short films, but none of them seemed to call my attention. Not a single video sparked an in idea, at least not a video from Vimeo.

I would give credit to a short film for kickstarting my creativity though. It started with a conversation I had with Vane (you know, the one I worked on Pursuing Passion with). This is how it went:

Vane : I'm so stuck, I can't come up with anything.

Me : No, literally, I'm head empty.

...

Me : Have you watched Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared?

Vane : Um, no.

Me : Watch #5, it changed my life.

If you don't know what Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared is, please do yourself a favor and watch it. It is the single most terrifying, creepy, life-altering film I have ever seen. If you clicked the link, you might be confused why a British surreal comedy horror series with puppets would be my inspiration, but I think you'll get it once I explain my concept.

BRB going to go watch season 2 of DHMIS

ms.spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK ONE: TIMELINE PROPOSAL

I am going to start this post off with a disclaimer: this is not a strict schedule. I know myself and I am going to be realistic that things will change and pieces of this schedule will get thrown around. Nevertheless, this is my ideal schedule of what would get done each week of this project.

WEEK 1

    - Choose which project (short film)

    - Pick a genre

    - Brainstorm possible storylines

    - Blog!

WEEK 2

    - Research genre characteristics

    - Watch short films

    - Pick specific aspects of the genre you want to focus on

    - Begin to develop a plot

    - Blog!

WEEK 3

    - Think about who could play possible characters

    - Reach out to these people and see if they're interested

    - Finalize story

    - Create a storyboard

    - Blog!

WEEK 4

    - Create a filming schedule

    - Write the script

    - Confirm with actors

    - Make sure everything is set for filming

    - Blog!

WEEK 5

    - Start filming!!!

    - Create social media page

    - Make 3 (or more) posts for the page

    - Research film festivals and postcards for them

    - Blog!

WEEK 6

    - Hopefully, finish filming

    - Start organizing media

    - Make 3 (or more) posts for the page

    - Post behind-the-scenes footage on the page

    - Decide what to use for the postcard

    - Blog!

WEEK 7

    - Edit, edit, edit

    - Find the music needed

    - Make postcard

    - Blog!

WEEK 8

    - Edit, edit, edit

    - Make small videos for promo

    - Blog!

WEEK 9

    - Hopefully, finish editting

    - Kinda an off week

    - Play catch up

    - Blog!

WEEK 10

    - Finalize anything that needs to be done

    - All minor details must be checked off

    - Blog!

WEEK 11

    - Done!

    - Final touches

    - Blog!

Stay with me to see how long I can stick to this schedule...

ms. spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK ONE: TIMELINE COMPARISON

I created my beautiful blog schedule based on a sample T. Stok gave us. This sample was good, but there are definitely things I would change... and I did.

Said Sample

The first thing I noticed when I saw this schedule is how much they focused on the print component of the project. Personally, it takes me way longer to develop, plan, create, and complete a film than it does to create a digital, one-page postcard. I also know myself well to know I need a few weeks, in the end, to catch up and fix anything I need to make it perfect. As I have previously mentioned, I have a very busy schedule, and I am working on breaking this habit of procrastinating and perfectionism... but just in case, I added those weeks. I also feel as though genre research is important, it doesn't need to be a multiple-week thing. Overall, I liked the style and layout of this schedule, I just wanted to add a bit of me to it!

Not to get you excited, but I think I just landed on a plot... but I'll leave it at that for now

ms. spielberg

Portfolio Project

WEEK ONE: PORTFOLIO PROJECT - A LEVEL EDITION

Hey guys, we're back!!

I know you all missed me and I apologize for the quick break but we're back and this time, it's big. We're working on the biggest, most critical, and time-consuming project of the entire course... and I have no idea where to start.

The class must choose one of four different options for our portfolios. Stok described the music video, movie promo, documentary, and short film options and explained exactly what would be needed for each. Immediately I knew I wanted to make a short film. We don't get a lot of opportunities to work individually in class. When I work with partners, I feel that neither my partner nor I don't benefit due to my extremely overwhelming schedule. The short film option seemed closest to what I want to pursue in college, directing, and given I am sadly going to college soon, I thought working on my very own short film would be amazing practice as well as allow me to gain the most experience and knowledge from this project in general.

There are three components to this specific project: the 5-minute short film, a social media page, and a postcard to promote the film at a film festival. At a macro level, this seemed generally easy. Oh, just make a movie, pull up an Instagram, and slap a picture into Canva... a piece of cake! We then were told to look into our options and make a final decision, which is when I realized this might be a little more difficult than originally intended. I'm sticking with this choice, I like that I'm going to have my work cut out for me. 

Get excited, big things are coming!

ms. spielberg