Creative Critical Reflection

This is the end for me


The last post of my career... Thank you and enjoy :)

Here is a link just in case ;)

CCR

The Light at the end of the Tunnel

I present to you... Hemoglobin Canvases

Don't forget to make popcorn!

Let's Look Back for a Moment

Cue The Final Countdown

My project is due in a few days and I want to reflect on this extensive journey and I'm taking you with me.

I'm going to tell you (and maybe even rant) about the whole process. From the beginning, to this moment right now. 

Let's start by saying that I did underestimated the amount of time that would take for me to complete this project. I really wish that I could have had organized my time better, I wish I have planned more days to shoots and re shoot some scenes. 

But I think it all goes back to the planning of this project, now that I think about it I was too vague with the goals and expectations that I had anticipated each week. Instead of specifying what I wanted to accomplish for each weak, I limited myself by dividing the process for this project into three stages: Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. Now that I have experienced what is like to create a film opening by myself, I wish that I was more aware about the amount of time that this takes. Obviously it was impossible to foreseen the obstacles that were going to be present in the way (Like the pandemic) but even when I was making the schedule I was not thinking of any obstacles AT ALL. 

I tend to get stuck if something does not go my way, and this project taught me that I have to be resourceful and work around situations and make the most of new opportunities that are presented to me. I had to build locations from scratch and film the same clip like ten times, which was sometimes frustrating.

Even though it was really fun and rewarding at times, sometimes I felt like the deadline was approaching faster and faster and I wasn't making any progress, which created more frustration.

With all of this being said, I'm really proud of what I accomplished in these two months. I could not be happier with the final project and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did when I first watched it.

Putting it all Together

As promised, I get to talk about editing now.
I have to say that it wasn't as difficult as I thought, but it takes a lot of time. I put most of the footage in order fairly quickly since  I already had it somewhat organized when I uploaded it.
Probably the most difficult part was figuring out the placement of the text. I also have to mention how annoyed I am with Wevideo because apparently I can only use the fonts that they offer in the website... The problem is that I realized that after downloading a bunch of fonts, so I had to settle with the one that you see on screen.
I choose that font mainly because I feel that it makes a good match with the score, it feels elegant and expensive which is something that I was going for in the first part of the opening to juxtapose it with the lack of resources of the character.
I also somewhat struggled deciding if I was going to put the credits during the first half of the second half of the credits. I was hesitant to put them at the beginning since the editing is fairly quick to match the score, but in the end it worked out and in my opinion it looks really nice.

We All Make Choices... Re-Shooting

Hi! I'm completely done with filming... Well, I was. But I had to Re-shoot the final portion of the scene (The Art Store) and I'm going to tell you all about it.

But first, a small disclaimer:
For obvious reasons I had to leave my house to film this scene,. I know that with the Coronavirus happening I'm supposed to stay home as much as I can. Don't worry, I still was careful in my surroundings, and while filming I made sure to keep my distance from other people.
Also, my mom was already going to the store because she needed to buy groceries :)

Now that I put that aside I have to tell you that most of the information that I included above is pretty much useless since i'm not using the original footage, but I'm going to tell you why.
So... I was going over my footage, putting it all together in the editing program (Minor spoiler for my next post) and I wasn't satisfied with how the shots in the store looked like... The background was all wrong and it overall looked muddy.. There was nothing interesting in the composition and the subject was getting lost (I have to admit that this is my fault and my choice of clothing).
Those collections of shots were taken at Walmart and one of the problems is that their prices are fairly low. You may be asking yourself, why is that a problem? If you have been reading my posts you know that one of the themes that I want to explore in my scarcity of resources (economically speaking) of the main character. So having low prices, and I'm talking like less than two dollars, visible on the screen didn't really made much sense for the storyline.
At that point I decided that I had to Re-shoot that scene. I wanted to do it in Michaels because everything there is Fancy and expensive but apparently all of their stores closed temporarily because of the virus. I didn't had a second option so I asked my mom of another store that was similar to Michaels. She gave me two options, either Home Depot or Office Depot. I went with the latter because I think that Home Depot is not the aesthetic that I'm going for with my movie.
The next day we were ready to go to the store (This time with my dad, and I have to mention that he is a much better camera person than my mom) and everything came together.

Original cut (Walmart)

Final cut (Office Depot)

As you can see from the comparison, the two cuts looks really different. At first I thought that dressing the character all in one neutral color and covering his face would help with to create some mystery. Even though that may be the case for the scene I think that he gets lost in the scene. For the final cut I kept the neutral color but I went with a lighter tone and I think that it works much better. Also, instead of covering his face I just tried to not show it and I think that it still works great.
I'm glad that I was able to re shoot that scene because I'm much more satisfied with the final product than with the original one.
I think that the items in the background are much more visible and that helps to tie the scene together.

Double Threat... Title and Score

This is something that I have not been thinking about a lot and I just realized that there is only like a week left so I better come up with something soon.

For the Score...

I have discussed this component in the past and I mentioned that I wanted to incorporate classical music into the opening. More specifically  I want something that starts slow and then progressively becomes a fast paced song.
I have been using different platforms to find music that is Royalty free and I found these options:

Solo Cello Passion
Restless Natives From Youtube's Audio Library
Mysterious Shadows

I think that so far these are the pieces that fit best with the tone that i'm trying to create, I'm going to keep looking just in case I'm not convinced once the film is edited.

And for the Title...

This has not been as easy... I think I have a problem with naming things.
I was thinking of naming my film as the name of a color like "Crimson Red" but I think it's too cheesy and in your face (If that makes sense)
I still have to work on this skill and I hope that by the end of this week I'll have something in mind.

The Happy Little Corner

I want to start this post by saying that this made me realize that I don't have as much space in my room as I thought... Seriously, I had to rearrange everything so I could create a space to film.

By this point I'm like 75% done with the filming process, I just have to get out of the way the scene of the gallery (but I need to finish the artwork first) and the scene in the store (I figured that I'm going to Michaels® since apparently is still open...)

Let's get back to discussing how the filming went... It definitely took longer than I expected but I think it's because what I was filming was not a linear story but rather capturing snapshots of a bigger scene (cue the se7en intro). I still needed to create a setting where all of those moments took place in order to tie everything together... And that is how The Happy Little Corner was born.
Note: This picture was taken after I began filming. I also added some hand-prints on top of the newspapers

As you can see there are many elements and overall the scene appears to be quite full and messy... It is completely in purpose. I want to create the idea that the main character does not take care of his surroundings since he is so focused in completing a specific task. I also added the jar full of coins next to the canvas to allude that he is saving up money to buy stuff and to show the theme of being from a lower class.


I tried to film everything that I could on my own, but for some scenes I had to ask my mom for help (Either holding the camera of moving the lights) I learned that it is way easier to work with a team than by yourself.
By the end of the day cleaning this up also took waaay longer than I would have liked to but i'm done with this part of the opening so now I just have to focus on the other things.

Making Skin-tones was More Difficult than I Expected

Everything couldn't be perfect and it seems like the Coronavirus is trying to intervene once again.
Remember that I was going to become a professional makeup artist? Well... Turns out that the package is going to take a little bit longer to arrive, getting here just a couple of days before the deadline.
I could try to wing it and film the scenes where I was supposed to use the makeup kit when it arrives, but I feel like that is way too risky since during the last few days I want to dedicate my time solely to the CCR. Instead, I remembered that there are like fifty more methods to create those types of visual effects so I gathered all the materials that I could find in my house.
Paint, glue, and paper towels. I needed to make it work, so after what it felt like an hour of mixing colors, I finally created one that somewhat resembled my skin-tone (It is way harder than you think, I even found several guides to make those types of colors).
I also noted that if I'm ever going to use this skill again, I have to make sure that I write somewhere the amount of paint I mixed to create certain color. Because if you have to mix everything again without a guide I bet you are going to have a really fun time.




But anyway, I figured out the skin texture fairly quickly and painting the blood was also easier than create the skin tone since I already had red paint... Obviously.
You may be thinking... Did it work? I think you should judge it yourself.
I think that I have already create too much anticipation so here is the final result....

 

I know that It doesn't look like it's worth a thousand dollars but it doesn't look terrible so I'm proud with the final product.
And with this obstacle out of the way It is time to continue filming..

I Still Have Hope... Filmmaking at Home

I was scrolling through twitter when one of the accounts that I follow posted an interesting article. It fits perfectly with the circumstances of this project.
It is a compilation of movies that were made in the home of the filmmaker
Homemade Cinema
(I recommend Coherence)
This made me feel a lot better about the place that I'm in right now and I found a motivation that I can make a great project even if my resources are limited.
Im going to study some of these films in my free time to observe the techniques and learn how can I take advantage of my space!

And so the Filming Begins

Finally
                             Finally
         Finally
            f         i          n          a          l       l             y

I just finished filming a small scene for the opening, it took way more time than I expected but I really want this to be perfect. I'm experimenting a lot with different shots and the lighting... Oh the lighting. I basically have to film everything twice because i'm working with both white and colored lights and unlike I find a way to connect two parallel realities (One where I work with color and one with white) I'm going to have to do everything twice.
Here is my little set up

I filmed this inside of my bathroom since it does not have any windows so it is way easier for me to control the light source with the lamps. I'm also using two lamps because it is easier for me to switch between the one that has color and the one that does not.
Also, ignore everything that is in the background. It is a little cluttered but that is not going to appear on screen, I'm only filming what is inside the sink.

For this scene I used red food coloring to create the appearance of blood... It was really fun to use it but also really messy.







Here is a little sneak peak :)

Playing with Lighting... A Multi-Colored World

I been trying to figure out this whole lighting thing.
Let's go back to one of my earliest post when I talked about neon lighting being incorporated in my opening. I decided that I was not going to buy the lights but instead I'm using the method with the colored papers.
Lucky for me I already own two lamp that are really useful because I can easily move the thing were the light bulb is... I don't know how to explain it but i'll attach a picture later on. I went on a short trip to my local supermarket to buy the cellophane paper, unfortunately there wasn't any available. I still had some hope so I continued to look for something that had a similar texture/transparency so that the light of the lamps could pass through it.

And that's how I found these plastic-like bags!

 




I didn't really knew how these bags would react with the light so I began playing with them. It was fairly easy to get result that I wanted, and I figured that the easiest way to work with them (since i'm doing this alone because of COVID-19) was to tape them to the lamp.

The first picture is how the light usually looks and the other three pictures show the light with the colored plastic in front of it. (And don't worry, the light bulb does not gets hot so the plastic won't melt)
I learned a few things while experimenting.
1- Some of the bags don't have are more transparent than other (blue and yellow) so the color is not as bright. To fix this I simply stacked a few of the sheets and that made the color brighter.
2- I can also put different colors on top of each other to make new colors. Blue on top of yellow make green.


Overall i'm really happy with the result and I definitely will be incorporating this element to the opening.

I Have ~almost~ Everything Ready

I already have the studio of the artist ready, I realized that since a few of the shots I'm included are close ups I don't really need to create a setting. Instead, I'm going to film in a dark location (My bathroom, because 1. It does not have any windows and 2. It's big enough to accommodate the props that I will use) so that I can create a more dramatic lighting.
I also owned most of the stuff that I was going to need to create the artwork, which is one of the things that I will be focusing and updating more next week.

I don't want to spoil anything yet.. See? I'm creating anticipation... So as I begin to film I will insert pictures of the sets. I also have to polish some details so that everything comes together.
I almost forgot to mention that while browsing on the internet I found a makeup kit to create the fake wounds on the victims, it has everything that I need and it's relatively inexpensive so I'm getting it and It should arrive by next week!

This is everything that it includes:

• Four Color Special Effects Wheel (1oz.)
• Nose & Scar Wax (1oz.)
• Stage Blood (0.5oz)
• Spirit Gum (0.25floz)
• Spirit Gum Remover (0.5floz)
• Liquid Latex (1floz.)
• Black Eye Pencil
• Flat Brush
• Sponge Applicator
• Stipple Sponge
• Color Directions   Yields 10-15 Applications Per Kit.

Oh and by the way I also found a mini-tripod (Seriously, is like less than 6 inches) for my phone. It was laying around in my house and apparently my brother bought it a few months ago, and I was informed that it was part of a toy to make slow motion movies... Or something like that.

Some Critical Changes

Good news!

We had an online conference with our teacher and she gave up an update on the due date for this project. Apparently the deadline was extended which means that I'm going to have more time to work on this!

I also took some time to think about some of the changes that I'm going to make.

- Since my friends can not longer appear in the opening I'm planing to appear as the main actor aka the artists. I'm going to use my family as the victims since I don't really have to show much of their face and they don't have any dialogue so I can work around that.

- The scene in the gallery previously showed a person talking with the main character. This is still a key moment in the opening as it triggers the flashback that explains the background of the character so I could not cut this part. Instead, I plan of simply not getting the other person in the frame, either by making it appear as if they are behind the camera or I may be able to show their hands but not their whole body. I'm hoping that it doesn't look awkward so I will have to play a little bit with that specific scene.

-I was debating whether or not to change the location for the Art Store scene since most businesses are closed, but I still want to include that in my opening since it is a key moment for the development of the character. I have two options for this: Either film it in my house with the materials that I already have or I can visit Walmart since they have an art section and they will remain open since they are considered an "essential business". I could also wait until march 31st to see if the stores hopefully open but I don't want to risk not having enough time so I want to have a back up plan.

I Wasn't Expecting This... Help

I'm back with an important and unforeseen update.
So... School was canceled this week and I think that I'm going to have to change my filming schedule. You may be asking yourself (or not) why?

Here enters COVID-19... You know, a global pandemic, the usual :)
Thankfully i'm not in the "critical" age group so even if I get the virus (which I really hope does not happen) it won't be fatal... The recovery process would be extensive but that's not what I'm here to talk about.

This is a big obstacle for the production of my film because I was relying on having some of my friends appear in it. They can no longer do this because all of us are in quarantine (We are fine by the way, it's only to stop the spread of the virus). I may also have to change one of the locations where I was going to film (The art store) because they are closing most of the stores as a precautionary measure.

While I come up with alternatives to overcome this obstacle don't forget to wash your hands and stay indoors.

I'll keep you updated, see you.

~Currently practicing social distancing~

My Career as a Special Effects Makeup Artist will Begin Here

I'm trying to do something different here.
I want to add some shocking factor to the my scene opening, which is why I decided to showcase some of the wounds of the victims. I already have some experience with these types of effects with liquid latex on the skin.
I reached the conclusion that the materials that I'm going to need are:
Toilet paper or paper towels
Either latex or glue (I'm not alergic to latex so I think I'm going to use that)
Makeup that matches the color of the skins of the "victims" and a lot of fake blood.

The process is fairly simple.
1-Apply the latex on the skin and put a piece of paper on top of it
2-Repeat step 1 at least one time
3-Let the latex dry
4-Make a cut in the tissue with a pair of scissor (Be careful) or with tweezers
5-Apply the makeup (Liquid foundation) around the hole that you just made.
4-Apply fake blood and red makeup directly to the "wound"

It should end up looking like this:



I'm going to try to recreate this and tell you how it goes, wish me luck.

Connecting with an Audience

So... I decided to dive a little deeper into research the target audience of my opening film based on the genre. I need to understand the demographics (gender, age, ethnicity, and income) to improve the decisions that I will be taking from now on.

Why is it important?
Identifying the target audience is a key element to develop marketing strategies. Many distributors focus on a specific set of people as they are most likely to purchase the product.
In the film making it is important to identity it during the pre production stage (like I'm doing right now) as it will affect the content of the film.

Target Audience.
I'm diving the target audience of my film into the thriller and mystery genres as the opening of my film will contain elements of both.
The first thing to keep in mind is that these types of films are usually targeted to more mature audience as they may contain strong language and graphics scenes.
    -Age: Considering that the content of the film is not suited for younger audience, I will focus on young adults (18-25)
     -Gender: I think that both genders will like this type of movie. Both will be interested in the action of the movie.
  I will be doing a survey and updating this posts with the results :)
To compile this information I created a Google forms survey that I will be sharing with my friends and on social media
Click here if you want to take the Survey

Turning a Small Film into a Blockbuster

We are back with some critical research.

Lets set the scenario that I'm planning to shoot and release the complete film rather than just the opening. In an ideal world, I would profit from this production but first I have to ask myself, how can I get my film to a mainstream audience?

Film Festivals

It is important to connect with your audience at a local level, which is why i'm focusing on festivals that take place in South Florida. It is both convenient for me as these locations are close to me and technically I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money in travel expenses.
The filmmaker usually can get acknowledge for completing work and submitting it, it also increases their potential to gain recognition among audiences. It is also an opportunity to meet people that have similar interest, they can share their thoughts and give feedback to each other.
Film festivals also facilitates securing deals with distributors.

     -Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Nov. 3-19

The only requirements to submit a film for this festival is to pay a fee of $40 dollars before the deadline. It is one of the biggest motions pictures events in Florida. If you are a filmmaker there are events like parties, receptions, and galas.
Last year (2019) they made about 200 screenings of 186 films from 41 countries.
Fliff Website

     -Popcorn Frights Film Festival Aug. 6-14
Unlike most festivals, this one focuses on showcasing a specific genre of film. It is especially designed for horror lovers and filmmakers. They accept from full length movies to animations, even work in progress projects.
Popcorn Frights Website

Independent Film Distributors

Some distributions companies focus on finding the voice for unique independent films.
Companies like Indie Rights Movies makes it easy and convenient for film makers to distribute their independent films. Submitting your movie is completely free but they do ask for 20% of royalties in exchange to distribute it in a wide range of platforms (Limited Theatrical, Retail DVD/Blu-Ray, etc...)
There is also the option to of video on demand platforms (VOD), these include:
     -Transactional VOD, audience pays for individual videos. Ex. Itunes, Vimeo
     -Subscription VOD, audience pays a subscription fee for access content. Ex. Netlix, Amazon Prime.
     -AD supported VOD, content is free with advertising. Ex.YouTube.

Digital Platforms (Social media services)

The advantages of these platforms is that it enables filmmakers to reach fans without spending
large sums of money.
Usually creators use platforms like YouTube or Vimeo to upload their content.

One of the most useful social media platforms that I found for new filmmakers and overall content creators is Reddit, they have a community that is exclusive to Filmmaking. With over 857k members, it is the best place to get and share feedback on these types of projects.

Some Character Design

This post is going to be fairly simple and short as this is not a big concern because as you may know by now, I'm going to rely a lot on close ups.

1- The Artist
The character will wear a white shirt that will have some stains of paint to showcase his job as an artist. The shirt will be paired with jeans although I don't think that the viewer will be able to see the lower half of the body of the character during the first half of the opening.
For the gallery scene, the artist will pretty much keep the same clothes but instead of being stained they will be completely clean to show how he is on a higher level of the socioeconomic status.
For the last scene in the store I want to clearly establish that the viewer is seeing a flashback, which is why the artist will once again have stains in his clothes.

2- Secondary Characters
These are the characters that are in the gallery. They will be wearing darker colored clothes to create a contrast between them and the main character.

Location Scouting

The Studio-

The opening of my movie will take place mainly in a studio like setting where the artists is going to create his masterpiece.
I'm going to set up a space in my house that is going to mimic the look of a studio. My plan is to make something that can be assembled and disassembled fairly quickly and without too much work since I am working within a limited space.
At first I was planning to film the movie outside, but with proper consideration I decided to stay indoors as it would be more convenient both for continuity and time.
I already own some of the materials that I'm
going to use in the first time of the opening.

These images serve as the inspiration for the studio, as you can see in the examples I'm trying to keep things fairly simple or "minimalist". Unlike the image on the right, I will refrain from showing the source of light (windows) because I want to create a claustrophobic and confined atmosphere that mimics the mental state of the main character (Obsession)

The Gallery-

This is probably the hardest location that I'm going to have to create. As with the studio, I want to create a minimalist space where the camera will not focus on outside space but the space will be limited to a single room. I'm planning to create an ethereal atmosphere by using white for both the walls and lights. This will create a nice contrast with the painting of the artist who will have warm tones.

The Store-

This is the last location for the opening and the easiest to film in. I can go to any store that has art supplies and film there. 

Music Makes the Movie

Why is it so important?

It is important to consider the score for the movie as it helps to create its tone. Film scores typically encompass a variety of styles of music, depending on the nature of the film.
Film often have different themes for important characters, events, or ideas which are prominent throughout the whole movie. These themes are known as a motifs
- Ex: The numerous themes in Star Wars associated with characters like Darth Vader.

Choosing the Perfect Soundtrack.
I did some research and I compiled some information that affected the score that I'm planning to choose for the film opening.
- Use an unique song, try not to use songs that have become famous in other films. The bond that is created between the audience and the music will be forever associated with your film, so try to create a new experience for them.
- Your music should complement the subject matter of your film. If you don't think about the scene's importance and tone then it may evoke completely different feelings among audience members.
The pacing of the scene is also extremely important. For example, during actions sequences the editing is fast paced which is why there's usually a rock/electronic song playing in the background.
-Sometimes less is more. The combinations of sound effects and the atmosphere can be enough to set the tone of the movie

Ask for permission!
Make sure to have the proper licences and permissions to use the music in your film. Using music without the permission of the artist/label puts you in risk of your project being taken down.
There is also the option of using copyright free music like Bensound, Purple Planet, and Artlist as long as you credit the website.

Music for MY opening...

For my opening I am planning to choose a score that falls under the "classical" genre or at least has that classical feeling... I don't really know musical terms so try to stay with me.
I feel like that type of music is appropriate for my scene because I'm going to showcase the process of making a painting and I want to create an ethereal feeling. The music would also create some juxtaposition with the parts that are going to show the victims of the main character.
While doing my research I found that No one owns the copyrights to the music written by any composer before the 1900s so technically I could use the compositions of Mozart or Beethoven.

Enjoy my Beautiful Drawings - Storyboard

The storyboard is complete! Meaning that i'm almost done with the pre-production process, finally. After three long weeks of figuring out the story for my opening I present to you the final version of my storyboard.

These are some overview points:
-The opening is divided into 3 scenes:
     The first one and the longest one takes places in the studio of the artists, this part of the opening will be like a montage of the artist creating his masterpiece and showcasing his victims. This is one goes first to establish the tone of the movie.
     The second one takes places months later in the gallery. The audience will be partially introduced to the main character and this scene is key to establish the motives of the character and his goals.
     The third and last scene is a flashbacks and takes place in an art supply store, I choose to include this scene to establish the background of the character and explain more in depth his motivation to kill people to create art.
I rely a lot on close ups because I want to create a sense of intimacy and at the same time establish a relationship between the audience and the main character.
I also want to keep the identity of the artist somewhat a mystery, at least during the first half of the opening, to create a sense of anticipation until his full identity is revealed.

Now that I completed the storyboard it will be much easier to make other decisions and ultimately end the period of pre production as I finish planning.

Time to Create a Killer Masterpiece

One of the most important props for the opening of the movie is the actual piece of art created by the artists. Not only does it help to advance the plot but it also introduces the theme of homicide.
I want to thank the universe for being an art student so I already have a few ideas in mind to create the physical artwork.

These are a few examples of some works created by me. The idea for the prop that is going to be used in the opening would ideally include some human features like the eyes and ears seen in the work on the left.
The prop would be more grotesque that the examples here because I want to create some shock value for the audience. I'm planning to use fake blood or incorporate some type of red paint into a canvas to give the appearance of a "Bodily fluid" used for the artwork.
I'm also want to play with latex to add some texture to the canvas and give the appearance of human skin, i'm not sure if gluing latex to canvas would work but i'm going to experiment a little bit with those two materials.

I had a Moment of Enlightenment

So... I decided to completely change the plot for my film opening. Exciting right?
It's not that I decided to switch a few things or change small details from the ideas that I previously presented on the posts before this one. But instead I choose to go in a completely different route for the plot of my film (Shout out to my teacher for guiding me).

With that being said I present to you... [Redacted]
I'm still trying to come up with the name for the film so it will remain unknown for now.

The plot of my movie is centered around an upcoming artist who is obsessed with the idea of becoming famous and having recognition world wide. The problem is that this artists is currently struggling economically and they cannot afford to spend a single penny on materials to project their ideas onto a canvas or any other surface.
Our protagonists has the great idea of resorting to alternative methods of collecting materials for their work. These methods may seem a little bit unconventional for the public eye as they involve homicide, however the average person does not know this so they think that it is another artist that is trying to do something controversial to become relevant.
Eventually these unconventional techniques are paying off, as some galleries begin to show interest in the artist's work. Our protagonist begins to rise in the social scale as some of their fellow colleagues begin to suspect of the ethical work of our protagonist and will eventually try to uncover the truth behind the paintings.

I hope that this not so extensive summary of the plot shows my vision.

While thinking about this idea I found several lists of artists using bodily fluids in their art in a legal way (Hopefully). If you want to check their works out you can check these links:

Wikipedia Article
Flavorwire list with images

The Endless Possibilities for the Plot

I have tried to get all my ideas together and i'm going to give a quick overview of what I could possibly shoot in the future:

1- Miami drug war during the 80s. The main character would be involved in some way.

2- Heat of passion crime. a story about a love triangle, one of the characters acts impulsively.

3-I want to explore the idea of food tampering in a school environment.

4-Person wakes up but does not remember anything from the night before but are guilty of a crime.

So far these ideas are really vague, I have to pick one and then dive deeper to develop a complete story, the characters, the script, and the storyboard.

An extensive lists of potential criminal charges... Ideas

This is only for research purposes and I won't attempt any of the crimes that are about to be listed.

So.. I realized that my knowledge about criminal activities is very limited. I only know the basics, like illegal substances are not good and killing a person will definitely send you to jail, but there must be more to that, right?

Yes, I was right.

To compile this list of crimes that I could potentially incorporate into my film I used these two websites:

FindLaw  ClariFacts

And I decided to compile a list of some crimes that stood out to me... Enjoy learning about these charges and please don't attempt to recreate these.

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft- This one made me laugh
Arson- Setting fire to property
Blackmail
Child abandonment- does not apply to orphanages
Credit/Debit card fraud
Drug manufacturing and Cultivation
Damage to religious property
Destruction of property to prevent seizure
Embezzlement- withholding assets (Financial fraud)
Forced labor
Identity theft
Impersonator making an arrest/search
Manslaughter (Both voluntary and involuntary)
MIP- Minor in posession of alcohol
Product tampering- contamination of food
Tresspassing
Video Voyeurism- recording an individual without their consent

There were more than fifty more crimes that I could have included in this lists but I thought that these could be incorporated relatively easy into a story. One of these crimes will be the base of my story which is why I wanted to list potential options first, I will be picking a few of these later and create the outline of a story based on them.

Wish me luck

Lighting and Other Materials

These past few days I've been looking on different online stores and doing some research about the different props that I will most likely incorporate in the film opening.

Neon Lights-
I want to add a pop of color to the scene and i'm relying mostly on lighting to achieve this.
One of the options is to buy a trip of LED lights form Amazon or visit my local shop to buy these. There are different options that vary in length, brightness, and range of colors. The lowest price that I could find was $17.99 for a set of strip lights. They have the ability to change colors periodically and the user has the option to control the speed, these lights are also flexible which is an advantage because they can adapt to different locations.
The other option that I found is much cheaper and I can make it myself. It requires cellophane, which is the thin and transparent paper that is sometimes used to wrap presents, and a lamp. The basic idea is that you put the cellophane in front of the light bulb on the lamp to create a colored light. This is a god option because it's cheaper than buying them since a pack of cellophane papers of different colors cost about $5, the downside to this is that unlike the store bought lights, these would not be flexible and I would depend on the lamps that I already own.
These two videos explain the process more in depth in case you want to give it a try.
DIY Colored Gels by Nate's Film Tutorials, DIY Ways to Color Lights by UM Stamps

Crime Scene-
The basic idea for my story has to do with some type of crime as it is a characteristic of the genre I choose. The options that I have are pretty much the same as the item above. I can either buy them from a local store or make them myself.
Some stores like Party city and Walmart offer "crime scene kits" that range from $5 to $10 dollars. However I think that they don't offer anything that I can't make with some basic materials so for these I plan on sticking with the Do It Yourself method.

Trying to be an Organized Student

Creating a Schedule

February-

February is all about Pre-Production. During the last weeks of this month I will be occupied planning the body of my story, I will have to create storyboards, prepare props and an appropriate wardrobe, and finish writing the script for the opening of my movie opening. 

I also have to find some who is willing to act in this opening. 

Even though this may seem like a long list of tasks I'm already completing the most important one, setting a schedule.

I think that the Pre-Production process is the most important one of any production which is why I wanted to have enough time to properly think about most of the choices that will affect my story in the future.

March-

March will be the busiest month for me as the three process of production will be completed. As I said above, I want to have enough time to create the base of my story which is why the pre-production phase will be completed after the first week of march.

The next phase is production, the cameras will begin to roll and actors will be on set. during the two weeks that I will be dedicating to the production of this project I will be recording the shooting process and posting updates about said process.

I want to dedicate at least 6 days to filming the opening, this will be happening during Fridays and weekends because I figured that the actors will be more likely to be available then than in weekdays because of school and extracurricular activities.

During production I will also be creating the sound effects, most of the effects will be created in a foley stage and will be added on the post production part.

The post-production will be happening during the last weeks of March and the beginning of April. During those week I will be occupied editing the footage, adding the sound effects, and adding titles and graphics. There is the possibility of Re-Shoots happening if i'm not satisfied with the end result of a scene but I hope that is not the case.

April-

April will be the last month to work on the project (Just one week to be exact). The purpose of this last week is to make the last few changes of the scene and I hope to have everything ready by April 1st to have enough time to complete the CCR.

So... I'm really trying to be organized to have everything in control, I hope I can stick to this schedule and if something changes there will be an update.

See you soon

Diving into the (Inspirational) world of Neo-Noir Movies + Openings

Opening Scenes

After spending a couple of minutes (Hours?) trying to choose some opening sequences that embody the Neo-Noir genre.

But first, what makes a good film opening?
-leads to a singular goal, gives the viewer a promise that something will happen, creates anticipation, there is a strong theme present, it creates a strong connection with a character, it makes the viewer care
-Unifying theory of 2+2 - Make the audience put the pieces together instead of giving them the 4.

The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

Opening Scene of The Place Beyond the Pines

https://nyti.ms/2piu2TE - This is a clip of a voice-over of the director telling anecdotes about the scene while it's playing (Shout out to The New York Times)

The opening of this movie perfectly embodies all of the elements of a neo-classical film. From the camera shots to the mise-en-scene elements, it's all there. The opening relies on a long tracking shot (more than three minutes) of the character walking through what it looks like a carnival and ultimately performing a stunt in a motorcycle. The sequence happens in night time and there are really bright lights that are used to create that characteristic chiaroscuro element to highlight the contrast of light and dark. 

Even though the character that is being followed by the camera is surrounded by a lot of people, the tonality of the scene create a lonesome and almost melancholic feeling. Diegetic sound is used for carnival rights and the voices of the crowd surrounding the character.

All of these elements paired together hint to the fact that main character most likely does not feel comfortable in his environment.

Sin City (2005)

Sin City Opening Scene

This opening scene is more stylized than the first one but it still shows conventions that are typical of a Neo-Noir movie. The scene basically shows a woman and a man talking on the rooftop of a building and it ends with the man (Spoiler?) killing the woman with a gun. I think that the betrayal theme of the movie is already established by this point, this scene also shows a strong contrast between shadows and lights and towards the end it begins to rain (Obscured settings). Unlike the opening above, this scene does have cuts and it is not tracking any character but instead it relies on close ups of the faces of the characters.

Some of the stylistic features of this scene is the shot showing the figures in 2-D and the fact that the background looks like something you would find in a superhero comic. I liked the use of color against the black and white to highlight some of the characteristics of the female character like sensuality. 

I picked these two openings because they show that even though they fall under the same genre, they are completely different. I'm using this as motivation for the opening scene that I'm going to create in the following weeks because It is evident that I have options, I can create pretty much whatever I want as long as it follows the characteristics of the genre and I can afford to produce it -I'm working with a limited budget $$ you know- 

I feel great now, I feel that I have creative freedom for this project... Lets hope that I'm still as optimistic next week.

Genre... Again?

I'm back to tell you more about...

Thrillers-ish!

To spice thing up a little I'm diving into a sub-genre of thrillers: Neo-Noir (Sometimes referred to as a stylish modern crime-thriller).

I'm sure you have at least watched at least one film that mixes these two genres but I'm going to discuss that later in this posting. For now I'm going to discuss some characteristics of both genres and the result of the combination of these two.

     Crime Movies- Crime movies are fairly easy to understand, they revolve around the actions of a criminal or "mastermind" -if you want to glorify them- and it will often show their rise and fall. Some crime films may choose to portray the victims of a criminal or a specific person trying to catch them.

These films are usually fast paced and have a mysterious atmosphere around the plot or characters.

Other characteristics are

1- Urban locations, the "bad part" of town.

2- Dramatic scores are used to build tension, crime jargon/code words in dialogue

3-Some films exaggerate these criminals and may fall into stereotypes to represent them (Male, tattoos)

Some of my personal favorites are:

                                

   
Thriller Movies- If you want a detailed explanations of this genre you can visit the "genre research" posting, I'm still going over some key elements of this genre to refresh your memory.
These types of movies often incorporate an element of suspense, characters are innocent victims that are not accustomed to danger and they take place in either a an urban setting that is highly populated or sometimes in isolated locations unknown to the main character. Editing is fast-paced and the identity of the antagonist will be most likely hidden.

So... What happens when you mix both genres?
The beautiful hybrid of Neo-Noir is born. To put it in the most simple terms, these movies combine the suspenseful atmosphere of thrillers with a crime plot.
Some features of these films are:

Femme Fatale

- Characters: an Anti-Hero which is like a protagonists that lacks conventional heroic attributes. Along with the Anti-Hero there may also be a Femme/Homme Fatale which is an attractive and seductive character who ultimately pushes the protagonist into dangerous situations (ex. Jane Smith in Mr. and Mrs. Smith / Amy Dune in Gone Girl).
- Themes and Organization: False accusations and betrayal, existential dread, corruption, and paranoia. The level of violence is these films has increased over the last coupe of years.
They often present complex plots with plot twists and Achronological narrative/analepsis -The narrative doesn't go in chronological order- are often used, this may be achieved with the use of flashbacks or flash forwards Ex. Pulp Fiction (1994), Memento (2000).

City of Tiny Lights (2016)

-Lighting: Low-Key lighting where contour figures are exaggerated and using light to create emphasis on shadows. This type of lighting is used to create an effect of chiaroscuro which creates a high contrast between lights and shadows (In Neo-Noir films neon lights may be used to heighten this effect using color).
-Setting: Obscured backgrounds are a common feature in these types of films, this effect is achieved with the use of fog, smoke, steam, and/or rain. Urban settings are also prominent (mostly at night) to create a sense of isolation. Some films in these genre have been set in peaceful looking settings like countrysides or small towns to counterpoint the violence on the screen.
-Shots and Angles: Long-tracking shots paired with dutch angles or inverted frames that reflect the instability of the film.
-Sound: As with most films, diegetic and non-diegetic sound will be used to add a layer of depth to the narrative. However, Neo-Noir films will also rely on a first person voice-over narration.

What is Neo-Noir | Netflix
This video summarizes the key elements of a Neo-Noir films and provides some visual examples... And it is made by Netflix so it's worth it.

Over the next few days I'm going to explore films that fall over this type of genre and I will be giving you my thoughts... I will become a film critic if you will.

Watchlist:
Drive (2011)
Nightcrawler (2014)
The Handmaiden (2016)
Femme Fatale (2002)
Heat (1995)
Chinatown (1974)