Blog 26: Editing Day 1

                Editing

    Welcome back my loves! Editing is an essential technique that polish one's filming product. As an editor, I am more happy to spill about my editing journey. 

    We used CapCut as our main editing software. Some other color filter app was considered but CapCut's filters are also applicable. Me and Mimeo decided to divides our most time consuming part, which is title sequencing editing. She does the first two title effect and I do the other twos. However, our imagination did not match our expectation. The title sequencing took up a lot of our times, considering from choosing the font to the appropriate color and shadow.  We chose to use the Pinyon font for the title and the birthstone font for each individual's name. However, each scene utilize different  it's own color and appearance techniques. We figured that the title looks a little weird and shaky as it doesn't move with the objects. Attaching the phrase on top of the products was a complicate idea for us. We tried different techniques and positions. 

    As result, CapCut's motion tracking feature work the best for us. After a couple hours with title sequence. We moved on to transitioning. Transitioning was only placed primarily on the most important part like shifting in scenes, lighting or mood. We chose to use the simplest transitioning as possible, such as fade to black, fade to white, dissolve, and blur. The only dramatic transition was employed in this film was pull in to create the overwhelming effect and place the audience on spot for Gigi's roller coaster emotional. 

To be continue...

 

Blog 25: Title sequence

Title Sequence

    HEY HEY HEY!!!! Capitalized Hey!! I'm so glad to welcome you back with another blog. Today, I am spilling a little more details of the film. To be blunt, this is the best part. Even way before StoryBoarding, I was making sure in every way to be creative about title sequencing. We came up with multiple ideas such as beginning/ending credit, or random title sequence. It's been tough. 

    Nevertheless, to pursue an modern Hollywood film quality, we need something more than just classic. Like an unique ingredient stirs up the flavor of a dish. Considering this a less than 2 minutes long video, we don't want the title sequence to occupy or over expand through out the movie. The key here is to meticulously throw the name in as

natural as possible. Since, this is an opening of a movie, we crossed out the option of ending title sequence. We initiated with the beginning title sequence idea. However, this option requires us to create a little "non-plot" scene so the audience would most likely pay their attention to the title sequence. 

     Due to time limit, we decided to move on to ending tittle sequence.  If we were to employ title sequence at the end of our footage, it requires some background with name scrolling through out. This is an interesting idea, but it wouldn't go with the theme. Our topic is creating a filming opening, it would make much sense if we decided to put the title sequence at the end of the film. In additionally, the idea of 'throwing' in names randomly at the corner border of some continuous scene in the beginning. Originally, we agreed to end up with this idea, but we found a better one that effortlessly blend in well with the theme. We recorded some close up scene with Gigi doing her make up and each close up action will show an individual name on it. For example, a close up shot with overhead angle on the eye shadow pallet and the name will appear right on it. Then, Gigi will open the eyes pallet and pick up some powder from the pallet. As we wipe away the product, the name will appear on the powder portion. 

Blog 24: Sound

 

Sound

    Hey guys! We've missed you. I've had some update for you. First off, when it comes to filming, we all expected a well going record without any additional go back or disruption. However, life doesn't always go as our way. We had to cut off the original sounds for some of our scenes due to unexpected noises and other uncontrollable factors. Deciding to record during our winter break was a good day but—what's that also mean? Everyone is on break! So yeah!!! Don't worry, as I said, I'm updating you with GOOD news. Upon using our knowledge from Media Studies, we have figured out ways to solve this. What do I mean by that? Let's dive in. 

    When it comes to sounds, there's various. I've had plenty experiences with editing and one of the most important job to always do is make sure all the sounds align and match. Most of the time we would enhance the volume of our products using editing app. For instance, my best bud—Capcut—it's a great app that allows you to layer sounds and extract music as well. We are planning to play some backtrack which flows from the beginning and gradually become softer as it's approaching the plotwist. The main idea here is create an emphasis on the rapid change of emotion. The intention was for the audience to put themselves at ease and doesn't know what to expect. This not only create a twist of mind but also increases the quality of the film overall. Additionally, some of the scenes original sounds will be cut off and substitute with sounds produced by Foley Stage. 

 

    We scheduled a different that only dedicate to Foley Stage and explores music options. For examples, we replicated the exact same actions to maximize the compatibility of sound to image. After several attempts, we were able to pull it off and celebrate. I would say, the toughest sounds to replicate was the sash being takes off. Why? The major factor contributed to this was because we did not keep the original sash. Hence, we were trying to recreate through rubbing the clothes together. It was close enough with a little touch in editing. Overall, making sure all sounds matches and relevant to the theme will stay on the top of my check list when it comes to re-evaluating the final products.

Blog 23: Day 1 of Shooting

    

   The Diary 

Ep1: First day of  Shooting 

    FINALLY!!! Ooooops... Intro first. HEY GUYS!!! I am so EXCITED to talk about our first day of filming. There's a lot of tea to spill so let's boil this up. 

        Breakfast: 

    First of all, we did not get into filming right away. It's the 3rd of January, the last day of our winter break and we decided to had some fun but also get the filming intact. Our crew decided to goes out for breakfast, technically it was brunch. We planned to get there around 10:30, however we arrived at Ihop around 11:30 (we couldn't wake up). I haven't had Ihop in 5 years, making it's my first time back. It didn't go that well... There was some incidents happened in the kitchen and delayed our food for an hour. In spite of that, we just "yap" the whole time and discussed about the filming. Addition to the situation, I left the birthday cake at home, unfortunately, so I had to make my way home to grab it. If this wasn't bad enough, I left my Stanley cup at the shop and somebody took it.... 

    I was definitely paranoid but as an optimistic person, I tried to maintained my professionalism and the filming came out great. 

        Gigi's house:

     I arrived around 1pm and that's when everyone was ready together. Except one of our guest—Kamilah— was there with us since the beginning. 

    The very first scene was modified, it came up to the realization of not having an actual table calendar, we had to drew a calendar on board right on spot. Therefore, we also switched up the angle from how it looks like in the Storyboarding for Scene 1. Besides, everything stayed the same except Scene 16 was begin as Gigi take the cake from the counter and pass by grabbing the family picture to the table. The reason why we added the family picture detail was to put the audience on spot through the greater emphasis on her family. This set an overwhelm mood and would capture further attention from the audience. 

    On the 20th of January, we will host the 2nd day of shooting. The ideal was to add some further scene that directly drive the clues of her mother passed away. We want the film to convey the emotions and deep stage of our main character. Lastly, some of the scene was suffered from uncontrollable noises. Therefore, we will mute the original sounds and substitute it using sounds from the Foley stage. 

     

P/s: We finished the more than half of the Chocolate cake, it was DELICIOUSS!!!

Blog 22: Free Blog Post

 

Some of  my    thoughts

    Hey guys, welcome back! I have a little update today. I am so glad that we have catch up with each other so far. I had spoiled most of the plots up until this point. The process of brainstorming and planning was quite challenge for us. 

    Even though everything was carefully planned, things still came up on our way. For instance, our first change started when the "Spiderwomen" doesn't think that she is the best suit for the main character and the "Real life Barbie" should take over the role instead. That also leads to the change of location because we figured that Real life Barbie's house has better natural light source and much more familiar to most of us. Through this project, I felt like we did a great job in communicating. Agreement is tough sometimes and counter idea comes up pretty often. However, we were able to pull it off and work our way through the Storyboarding. Deep down, I was really proud of our Storyboarding because without it, most of us will be out of track when filming day comes. It was true. We had to pull up our storyboarding and goes step by step on the filming day. It was fairly easy and went very well for us. 

    Originally, we were going to include some flashback scenes where Gigi and her mother enjoyed the birthday together to give the audience a clue on the absent of her mom. The black and white family picture will also hint something was missing and the lost of her mom. Nevertheless, we decided took the scenes out because of the time limit. Yet, we are still considering even after filming, I personally feels like the scenes are necessarily and it tells more about the character's catastrophe. Therefore, we came to an agreement of adding in some scenes that cast Gigi's mind back to the memories and how emotional she felt when she set herself to the reality. So... there will be the second day of filming!!! I'm thrill than ever to polish our final out come.  

 

Blog 21: Supporting Characters

 

Supporting Characters 

    It's me again, your favorite blogger! If you followed my previous blogs, we left off mostly with descriptions of mise-en-scene and Gigi. Have you ever wonder? The story line only revolve around our main character, so... Where is the supporting characters? Don't worry! We got this. 

    The supporting characters are physically absent but they are there mentally. For instance, Gigi's dad — our supporting character — whom made a call home to inform his absent. He attempted to text her but due to the hurried, he left with a voice chat. This plot twist our main character inner emotion from excited to disappointed. Though her dad clearly shown regret and promised to make it up for her, Gigi still can't stand the fact of celebrating alone on her most remarkable day of one's life. 

    In a further extent of emphasizing Gigi's inner state of emotion, we decided to add a little detail where she grabbed her family picture, where they used to spend birthday together. One happily family falls apart tragically and pressured on one another. Meanwhile, Gigi is surround with thoughts and mourning her mom. Her dad on the other hand might not noticed the fact that this is her only big birthday but simply thinks he can make up with Gigi. This create a spiraling effect that deepen to show the mental battling of our main character. She's not only sad but also learning how to accept the reality. The first lesson on her mature major path. 

 

Blog 20: Color in you project

  Color Use 

    Hey, bestie! As you might or might not already know, color is a huge element of mise-en-scene. Our project, the coming of age, "Eighteenth" is not only translate the illustrating fiction story of a young self who are stepping herself upon the stage of maturity with a healing wound—reminiscing her lost mother. Gigi—the main character—open the scene with a gorgeous cool shades outfit. Gigi's color choice of costumes motivate the innocence and a light ambient start for the new journey. On one side, the outfit might seems quite simple but it goes superior well with the theme and background. 

    I don't want to spoil it yet, so let's set our mind to imagination. Her bed, bed side and makeup table's decor follow a vintage princess vibes—a softer shade of gold's surface engraved with well-designed branches of flowers. The slight antique green was blend in so well with the set that the moment she sat down, everything was set in time and place. Even the earthy green was dancing beyond that windowpane, under the warm sunlight of a casual spring breeze in January. The beginning of the film was motivated to pursue with high key lighting and a carefully intention to employ a chilling atmosphere. Besides, her room was covered in multiples, different colors and unique poster. It all contributed to her strong personality. 

    As the film progress towards the plot, the lighting will slowly twist through the engage of low key lighting. This will change the whole mood of the plots emotionally and physically. However, the film's filter will be done through some editing and the adjustment of brightness in camera. Overall, we want to keep the pure nature color of the room and smoothly transition with a darker filter matches the story's line up. 

Bonus: Towards the end of the film, Gigi will celebrate on her own with a chocolate cake. Chocolate symbolizes love and affection. However, in this case, each individual will interpret the choice of cake differently. Maybe chocolate was just a casual choice of flavor or maybe the brown symbolize the juxtaposing between sentiment and the pitch of gloom. 

Blog 19: Main Character Analysis

Main Character Analysis 

    Hey guys! It's another day with another blog. This blog will spot the light on our main character—the only character in this film, GiGi. 

    Let's pretend that you are an audience without any prior knowledge or the appearance of my blog. You wouldn't think much, beside "Oh that's just an outfit".It just a simple fit. She had on a formal jeans, a white shirt that cover with a soft pink crop jacket. Each color layers symbolize a stage of thoughts, pink for exciting; white for neutral and shift in emotion stages; dark blue for sorrow, disappointed and nostalgia.  The distinction of Gigi is illustrated through emotional stages, from exciting to a drop of disappointed.  

     However, an actor without props is just like teaching without materials. We purposely open the scene pan from the calendar hinting a special day with Gigi coming in with her birthday sash. The film shift to her sitting down, picking up the makeups' necessities, then reaches her phone. Not much of a spoil. Flash-forwards, Gigi picks up her birthday cakes, grab her young-self family picture and light on the candles. All of this props are major factors that contribute to highlight the main plot and the universal theme of the film. Gigi, just a teenage girl who turns 18th, suffers her first birthday without mom. Despite, she tried to kick off the day, hanging on with a smile and eventually fall apart due to the absent of her beloved father. 

Blog 18: Costuming

 

 Costuming

    Dear, bestie!!! Welcome to 2025's first blog. We're opening the year with an interesting topic. I'm very appreciate as we encounter another chapter of our filming project. You had came a long way and stayed persistence with this process. I am SUPER impressed and far more wished us a successful year. Up until now, we had already filmed our project and I'm proud to spill you with some tea. Let's discuss about the choice of costume.     

    Throughout our film opening, we won't have any change of location. The film sets at Gigi's house (our main character in the movie) with the motive to showcase her roller-coaster emotions on the first birthday without her sincere mom. Gigi will only put on one outfit and it's quite simple. She puts on a formal jeans, a white shirt that cover with a soft pink crop jacket. Each color layers symbolize a stage of thoughts, pink for exciting; white for neutral and shift in emotion stages; dark blue for sorrow, disappointed and nostalgia. 

    Additionally, prior to our plot twist, she has her hair up with a cute clip for the get ready process. Just an ease-looking outfit with a back meaning, Gigi doesn't expect anything much by portraying herself as a casual person. Lastly, most of the props will be seen in the movie will be in order as the plots goes: birthday sash, makeups' necessities, phone, birthday cakes, candles, and family picture frame.

Blog 17: Preparing to Film

 

Preparing to Film 

    Hey, welcome back to my blog! Today, let's talk about our Filming's supplements. 

Actors

    Since our film is title to a coming up age theme, we will be having only one character throughout our filming process. Having one character not only save up our time and portrait the isolate atmosphere but also limit unnecessarily factors that allows us maximize our details as well as time for editing. Giving an isolate environment with dynamic lighting, it's more liikely to build up a Hollywood filming quality vibe. 

Costumes

    Our main character will first put on a simple outfit but also looking nice with a vibrant color which indicating that somethings bless is going to happen. Obviously, it's her birthday. On the background when we shadowing the room will show a princess birthday dress. But our main character will not put it on as the plot twist lead to her out-mood and cancelation. 

Props

    Props will play a huge role in our movie opening. We decided to introduce our name as contributor through labeling it on each of the make up piece like brush, concealer, and eyes palette. Our character will be holding each of the items and we will do the magic using editing. As the movie progress, she will be holding up her mother's picture that they took on her birthday the previous year while mesmerize. Another prop coming up will be the birthday cake as she carry it out with mix feeling, the cake will be dark chocolate as it juxtaposition her mood. 

Locations

    Initially, we decided to film at the Spiderwoman's house. However, due to the change of mind and actor, we decided to film at Real life Barbie's house instead 

Dates and time 

    The film idea began in 2024 and the first shot will be taken on January 3rd, 2025 at 1pm 

Film equipment 

    Upon discussing, we decided to use our own filming equipment, instead of borrow them from professionals. Why? Our group have experience of working together on many filming projects, hence we will work our way up like regularly with a Iphone's camera and a phone stander to keep it stable. Overall, I believe that this will be a fun and smooth filming experience.

Blog 16: Initial Storyboard

Initial Storyboard 

    Hey guys. Welcome back! Today, we are having a special blog. This blog is definitely longer than usual since I will present to you our Storyboarding. Storyboarding is a form of visual and elements that provides us a concrete guideline to base off when filming. 

    Here are the overview components of our group's Storyboard: crafting process, story flow and contributors. There are the total of 18 scenes including a sketch, description, camera angles, audio notes, transitions and graphic/text link to each. The creation of this script was a true team effort, with everyone contributing their talents and hard work. However, the major credit for the brilliant ideas goes to our very own "Spiderwoman," the mastermind behind it all. Next up, we have our artist. 

    As I introduced in Blog 10, 'Real Life Barbie' is the superior artistic person and she is willingly to take over the sketching part. Her collaboration with me and "Mimeo" was nothing short of amazing as we worked together to refine every detail. The descriptions require much efforts and time, involving thoughtful and considerate conversations. We constantly discussed the elements of each scene and ensure that the story flowed smoothly without any illogical. Setting everything on track and divide tasks that suitable toward each individual's strength had enhanced our teamwork's quality and mark the key of communication. 

    Now that I already tell you about the Storyboard's establish, you're very welcome to take a closer look at our recent work!