Scouting is for the brave

INSPIRE others, inspire yourself, get out there and look! Be aware.

I know I'm a little ahead of the game here and there is more important things I should be prioritazing, but I have already started looking for our main protagonist. Since I want this film to be as authentic as possible, I tried to envision if me playing the main character was going to be possible. After careful consideration of everything I would have to do during the production, the equipment set up, the shot composition, the script, the mise-en-scene, the camera handling, the lighting, I realized that also acting was virtually impossible, and would make my life 10000x harder, especially considering I do not own a tripod. Not that I couldn't get one, but for this project I think I'm better off staying behind the camera, so I can have better control of the other aspects of the production, and focus on those. 
I decided I wanted someone that could authentically relate to my story, someone that had gone through a similar experience and had an emotional connection to the conflict. I asked several friends who I knew had immigrated recently about what they thought of the whole process,  and how it had affected their personal relationships.  I was at the beach on Friday, and as I spoke with my friend it came to me that she would be perfect for the role, but later that night my other two friends also came to mind. I narrowed it down to two friends: Ana and Sara, who both moved in 2018. Ana was ruled out pretty quickly once I learned she can't ride a bike, and that is a major part of the short film. So it was down to Sara. I also had another friend in mind but for different reasons. Natalie has the vibe I want my character to have, the style, the personality, but not necessarily the connection to the content. Therefore, I decided I was going to try them both. And also consider their schedules, as Sara works and goes to college, while Natalie is a second semester senior......... Natalie was also practically raised here, and has no accent, while Sara just started learning english, which is something I need to consider in terms of how I want my character to be portrayed and represent. I'm leaning more towards Sara, as she also has a background of performing, but nothing is clear. 
I decided all I need to know if my girls are the one is to audition with the most important scene: the bike scene. I don't need them to be Meryl Streep or Saoirse Ronan, I just want it to feel authentic. So in the next week or so I will be meeting with them and trying out said scene. If none of them work, then the scouting continues but until then... 
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Genre research: Experimental Films

THAT is what I want to explore the most, the different, the challenging, the new, the refreshing. Let's take a look at what characterizes this array of ideas that constitute the core of experimental films. The avant-guard. More than a genre, this is a niche that often influences the mainstream, going back to postmodernism, it shapes the oversaturated area of media that we often consume, and I wanted to see how my film could take a small part in doing this.  This films explore the possibilities of the medium itself. 

1. Experimental: a form of film that challenges and re-evaluates cinematic conventions and explores ways of telling stories in non-narrative ways and uses alternative methods. They draw from different art forms such as literature, poetry, dance, painting.  
2. Genre conventions- content:

• There are no set of rules 
• Express more personal experiences or eccentric topics 
• minimum dialogue, they rely more on visuals 
• rarely follow a narrative 
• draw attention to themselves 
• surrealism lends itself to experimental films, as it interprets the subconscious dreamlike features of how we interpret life. 
• abstract form is used sometimes to transmit the message: shapes, colors, movement
• can seem completely random but are organized through theme and variation 
• introductory sections shows the relationships that will be explored, and other parts show similar but different kinds of relationships 
• dependent on building greater and greater distance of the introductory section, increasing the contrast of the parts as time goes on.
•   Associational form juxtaposes film's parts to suggest similarities, contrasts, emotions, and expressive qualities
• doesn't follow a lot of conventions but generally relies on grouped images of larger sets 
• repeated motifs
• content that invites interpretation 
• Self-reflexive 
• breaks 4th wall --challenges mainstream ilusion
• Surrealism
• non-contextual arrangement of subjects
• seems like a dream 
• plot is very reliant on what the director wants to express
• 
  

     3. Genre Conventions- production: 

     common ways film makers challenge conventions in these films (not restricting or             binding in any way), as the whole purpose of the niche is challenging the mainstream,       so they conventions change and range widely. 

• out of focus 
• painting on film
• rapid editing
• asynchronous or non diagetic sound 
• no sound track 
• many create found-footage and repurpose existing material 
• no dialogue 
• numbered film frames 
• choppy editing 
• no specific target audience
• audio-visual manipulated in weird way 
• lighting varies widely 
• tends to have eccentric mise-en-scene
• location changes are minimal as the characters or things are the center focus of the films 
• Voiceover-train of though of character
• low number of actors 

    4. Institutional Conventions- marketing:

• no clear target audience-- varies by topic 
• shown in museum and niche film festivals 
• posters tend to be unique and differ from everything in the media, very colorful and eye catching 
• marketed in specific viewing experiences to assure the critical thinking and personal views of the viewer. 

Film Example #1

Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets

directed by Shūji Terayama

• first scene protagonist breaks the 4th wall 
• eager for a sense of freedom
• uses reverse tracking shot 
• purple color grading throughout that is very prominent
• when the scene is tense soundtrack is loud
• the movie ends with how it started but instead of soundtrack being loud, it ends with him screaming in railroad
• represents counterculture
• explores the youth and the system it develops in 
• plays with surrealism and realism by hinting at times that the camera is there, while also not explicitly telling the viewer everything, but making them feel it     
• psychedelic scenarios 
• mixture of styles deriving from music videos and documentaries

Film Example #2

What did Jack do?

Directed by David Lynch 

• short film
• uses dialogue but mostly idioms--interesting choice to make viewer think
• breaks illusion and plays with the use of animals 
• uses aesthetic of old movies 
•  Uses no color to stick and kind of mock old detective/suspect scenes from 60s movies 
• minimal music, but includes musical number for dramatic effect
• minimal characters
• only one location 
• diegetic train sounds 
• shot reverse shot is most common but uses an array of close ups as well 
• asynchronous sound throughout 

More Examples: 

Un chien andalou by Luis Buñuel 

Intolerance by D.W. Griffiths

Eraserhead by David Lynch 

Chealsea Girls by Andy Warhol

Boyhood by Richard Linklater

The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos 

Dogtooth by Yorgos Lanthimos 

st for the coming of age research!

Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_film

https://nofilmschool.com/2013/11/experimental-filmmaking-for-dummies-part-1

https://www.fredcamper.com/Film/AvantGardeDefinition.html

https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/film/experimentation-in-film-the-avant-garde/

https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/close_look/a-critical-guide-to-understanding-experimental-film-54712

https://www.academia.edu/12277642/Experimental_Film_as_Marketing_Strategy_Sponsored_Film_Culture_in_Postwar_Sweden?auto=download

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2014/20-essential-films-for-an-introduction-to-avant-garde-cinema/

DIAL simplicity

THINGS to do: schedule, screenplay research!, new ideas!

So I finally got down to making my schedule, and it seems like there is so little time! It's kind of nerve-wracking not going to lie, but I am VERY excited.  If I stay in within the schedule everything should be under control.

Last class we had a group meeting and it was SO helpful. I was able to nail down my idea. I basically had an idea of how I wanted my film to end. A girl in a bicycle riding in her neighborhood at night screaming at the top of her lungs. I wanted her to be screaming in a cathartic way, out of her frustration. We had had a lesson on screenwriting and studied on the best ways to do an effective story. We studied how simplistic ideas are the best way to go in terms of the major conflict. I wanted to draw from something personal to me, so that I was able to portray the story in the most accurate way possible, saying my experience and drawing from within. So here is what my story is basically going to be about: How the immigration process can be incredibly frustrating and the uncertainty it brings, and how this can affect a family dynamic and in my story specifically a young teen. This is a POV that is often not portrayed in this kind of storylines, and it's different enough for me to shine a light on the realities of immigrating, and how they affected me. I believe it will also bring peace to myself and what I went through, and hopefully help others going through similar situations and making relatable content to those that are feeling how I felt back then. I am incredibly excited to head on and write this story, in the most authentic way I can. 

Here are some of my notes from the group meeting:

-work backward start with the end scene and go from there.

screams for catharsis as an outlet --frustration with immigration and how it affected relationship with parents

lot of symbolism

metamorphosis Kafka

immigration bureaucracy

navigate and escape a life

Smithsonian

bike day

bike night

wheels turning imagery

symbolism

metaphor

circle imagery !!!!!

candle light in the dark

lawyer made process harder highlight that

explore experimental films!! genre research

simple story

end with girl in bike screaming

major conflict: frustrations with immigration process

different light on how the immigration process hard thing wasn't assimilating into the culture but the bureaucracy and legal part and family dynamic

research coming of age

graphic match !!!

bureaucracy

I decided I want to focus a lot on symbolism and subliminal messages, while I want to show how the bureaucracy affects families, I also want to focus on the frustrating effects of going through the process with your parents but not really, since each person that immigrates goes through a different set of challenges. I am going to research more coming of age films, and experimental films in the following posts soooo
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"Certain things words just cannot describe...they must be seen and experienced"

THE question we all encounter at some point. 

How do I get inspired? How do I come up with something that is worthwhile? 

It's funny how sometimes we come up with stuff randomly. Like today, I was seating watching a random movie with my parents and wrote all this in my notes:

GIRL in beach makes toy with things found at beach --> location jetties rocks

story about relationship with father and first scene is her alone, father is a drug addict but they have healthy relationship so  its extra complicated, he hides addiction pretty well and is a good father but has that bad side. Mom out the picture. Talk about how family relationships are more complicated that they seem. Research dont want to undermine addict stories, or portray an unrealistic idealized version of it. THAT beach scene tho i can picture it perfectly. Came to me watching love jacked with parents. A SCENE like the about time scene when he goes back to have a final day with his dad. --> love those beach scenes SO MUCH inspired by them. Ocean drive? no not family enough.

Other, girl looks out window every day and notices something. Dont know what yet. A little day to day thing.

American beauty bag scene--> umbrella Starbucks. Something about life being so infinite. Maybe a short film all about little moments. Abstract? could work. Would be hard tho. Worth developing?

I've compiled quite a collection of random surges like these, but most of the time they don't amount to anything, because most of the time they make no sense. I'm not the best at putting my thoughts into words. 

So to fight this artistic block I was having, I went with some friends to ARTECHOUSE in Miami. It is an exhibition that combines art, science, and technology. WOW. I got incredibly inspired. It amazes me the incredible art people are able to make. This exhibition consisted of Infinity rooms, and projections with mirrors, that were truly out of this world. The entire experience was so immersive. Not to mention it is close to Ocean Drive, so the architecture nearby is incredible. There is no better way to look for inspiration than going out there with a camera and just shooting. I'm pretty happy with the results here are some of my favorites. 

I remembered how amazing it can feel to just go and do what you love with no limitations. It felt so good!!!It definitely got the ball rolling on my head, and seeing all these talented artists' work was even more inspiring. Not to mention my upper mega talented friends that also shot some amazing photos and vids.  I greatly enjoyed getting out there, and it is the best way to start this project. I just need to get my ideas together now and write it down!!! But I will definitely update on how I stimulate my brain into coming up with something! I sometimes dream my ideas so we will indeed see. 

More pics of me in my element :)

https://www.miami.artechouse.com/ 

What to do if you don't know what to do

IRONY is key here, since you try the opposite of what you want, to learn what you actually want. You try everything!

This year so far we have  done a documentary, and a trailer. Last year we did a music video, and the film opening.  We've come a long way indeed. #growth.

From Amalthea

to Túlipan sin agua

to Trinkets

to Tune

 All incredibly filling projects that have taught me and helped me grow so much. They have also taught me why I don't want to do them as my portfolio.  Let's take a ride through memory lane :)

It all started with the MUSIC VIDEO. Amalthea's Static Noise. One of the most fun projects ever. With Static Noise I learned the importance of storyboarding and having a plan B. We had storyboarded VERY roughly, but then it rained, and plans had to change rather quickly. The editing process was also a mess, and hello why didn't we shoot more b-roll???????? Matching the song with the shots was SO hard. And while I loved the vibe from our band, that we got to create, I realized that if the creative idea or the brand of the band or artist didn't match mine, or my vision, in the end is all about branding, and I wouldn't have full creative control. Not to mention I don't know any local bands. So even though I completely loved shooting one, and editing to the beats is my favorite thing, and the dreamy immersive, completely world transforming vibe of music videos amazes me, we ruled out the music video.

A little bit after we did the DOCUMENTARY. AH Trinkets. What a nice little wholesome project. This was the first time I didn't edit a whole project myself. It was nice collaborating with Sophie and mixing our editing skills, even though I only edited the intro. It was refreshing giving up some of the control I'm usually used to. Shooting this was SO  much fun, and incredibly interesting.  I shot Marco's interview, and once again used some BECON TV equipment that was SO nice. I loved shooting that interview mainly because I learned so much about a thing my friend was incredibly passionate about, that I wouldn't have before. The whole exploration and research and learning of a topic that comes from doing a documentary is my favorite part of documentaries.  I also had a pretty huge self realization moment when we were doing critics in class. As we were watching the docs, and listening to what others recommended for ours, it hit me that I wanted to do this forever. I realized I had stuff to say. I stopped seeing my work in a self deprecating way, and started seeing it as opportunities to grow. I started being proud of what I was making, and that was pretty big for me. Hello new major :). BUT besides all that, it was a no for the doc. I felt like the conventions were a little hard to challenge. Not that I don't like a challenge, but I wasn't connecting with the vibe and style of them. I admire the dedication of all of it, but given as what I like most about producing is the mise-en-scene, the sound, the art direction, and docs tend to be less about aesthetics, and more about content, it didn't feel like it was for me.

(we're not doing this chronologically for a reason so trust me for a second <3)

The most recent, the TRAILER. Oh how I loved the trailer. Mixing everything I love. A little bit of montage, music, storylines, everything about it is I believe everything I like doing. So why didn't I chose it? It was just to recent. I was actually proud of how I went about doing this one. I actually outlined, storyboard, chose the soundtrack, and stuck to the schedule. I edited with time, but again struggled with sound, cause when do I not :/. However, I didn't have control of the story since we used short stories done by the creative writing students., And I got to say I LOVED it. It gave me a chance to focus in so many more things in a more detailed way.  Having just done it though, I wasn't to eager to jump right on the trailer wagon again.

And now the one you know all about. The FILM OPENING. Yes, that is not an option for the A level portfolio project, but I had to include it because it played a big part in my decision. I learned what not to do, and trust me I can go on and on about how my film opening could've been slightly better, but that is not the point. I learned that no matter how much you plan, sometimes you have to improvise. It taught me that I want to tell the full story. With the full liberty of my stylistic choices, my storyline, and a story I can tell from beginning to end. From all the projects this will be the first one I will actually do completely by myself. Yes, I no longer have a partner. However, this is exciting! This will be completely and fully mine! I'm as equally terrified as I am excited.

So there it is, that is why I chose to do a short-film by myself.

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"Dog gives birth to green puppy named Hulk"

AN inspiring random moment. I have been thinking about the impact media has on us. What we think, who we are, what we do. We recently researched and studied collective identity in class. I did a case study on the collective identity of drug addicts, specifically opium users. It is astounding to see how the way media portrays a certain group, how it represents it, can mediate how an entire group is seen.
We also did case studies on different postmodernist theorist, and how they interpret the era. To think that the media does not completely control society is naive. Yes, it is an interchangeable relationship. Society is reflected in media, represented, and media shapes what society thinks. The chicken or the egg dilemma. After studying all the ways media dictates what we think and do, I thought it was curious to see a title for an article like "Dog gives birth to green puppy named Hulk". I, like probably many others, clicked on it because that's what the click bait's for right? Anyway the story was predictably not true and mediocre. The dog was literally green because of poop.
This made me realize I don't want that for my short film. But all of these research has also shown me that even when you think your'e innovative and unique, it can always be tied back to something that has been made before, because hello ~pastiche~ and how can we be unique? The amount of over saturation present today is so incredible, that we have been exposed to so much, we have access to so much. How can my art not be mediocre? How can I make it stand out? How can it be more than a dog filled with poop named Hulk? But I was seeing everything from the wrong angle. It is simple feel good, cute stories like the puppy Hulk that people consume the most. In a world filled with bad news, sometimes it is necessary to reach that escape, that feel good, nonsensical cute story. It doesn't have to be a super complex story for it to be good. Not that the puppy story was any kind of life changing, but it made me appreciate the little stories. It weirdly inspired me. 

This class has changed me so much. I feel like I've grown as an artist incredibly. My peers are so talented, and they inspire me every day. We love wholesome creative friendships. I'm so excited for this project. It is going to be the first time I have no safety net. I'll be doing everything entirely by myself. It feels so big. Kind of unattainable. But I'm determined to do the best I can. Give it my all.

It's funny how I've had so many ideas this year, I even storyboarded some, but now that i actually need one I don't like any. But, I decided I want to focus in a simple little story for the short film. I am interested in a day to day life event, seen in an extremely detailed way. I don't know if that makes sense I'm still developing it.  Tomorrow I'm going to Artechouse, and a comic book store, and a record store. I'm going to take my camera, and shooting a little. Hopefully, I get inspired.

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https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/17/us/green-puppy-hulk-north-carolina-trnd/index.html

PUPPIES!!!

IT has started! In class we worked in a marketing campaign over the last two months. We could choose between the Census campaign for the City of Weston, or Wonder Paws, a local pet rescue. My group chose Wonder Paws, since we thought it went better with our styles, and had more room for improvement, and new ideas. 
We focused on the fundraising aspect of the rescue. We researched two case studies: Paws4you, and ASPCA. In our research we found that these rescues relied quite heavily on social media, and community involvement, so we decided to follow the same route. For our target audience, we found it best to be millennials with an affluent income. This millennials are very prominent in places such as Miami, or Weston, as many are either stable enough economically to start a family, or have no interest in starting a family but count with well paying jobs in the city. Moreover, this generation is very community driven and likes giving back. Looking back, I believe a more centered target audience for us would have been young millennial parents living in the suburbs, since this would be more likely to have the income to donate.

For our social media campaign, we based our posts on Adobe's Behance 2020 Trends. We specifically focused on the use of motion graphics, digital posters, and animations.

We believed this was going to be the most effective way to reach our target audience in the platform of Instagram, and allowing for the Instagram page of the rescue to grow exponentially. Additionally, our newsletter would imbed this features as well, and include a connection button to our page, with monthly videos of a pet that either was sponsored successfully or need sponsorship.  Our goal is to try to have our target audience donate a set monthly fee, or sponsor a pet throughout their whole process.  

 

With our slogan:" Small paws, big steps," we tried to ingrain in our audiences mind that all collaborations help, and together we can reach a greater goal. Our logo and color palette follows the simplistic but eye catching techniques our target audience tends to be the most drawn to. We wanted to use primary colors, but in a faded tone, to stay within the aesthetically pleasing range. 
We created a longer video, where we interviewed a volunteer who has been fostering Bruno, a dog at the rescue. The day of it was very windy, and the subject was kind of distracted. In retrospect, the filmer should have maybe tried to find a less windy spot and try to get the interviewers attention for at least a few questions. In the editing process we could have also attempted to fix this minor issues. Consequently, making the video shorter, could help make it more effective and users less likely to skip it.
This project was incredible helpful by helping us see how working with a real client is. Moreover, it was good to see how working with a group can affect a long term project, and to learn to work in that dynamic. In addition, researching new trends, target audiences, color palettes, etc. are all things we have to also cover in our big portfolio project, so doing it now was extremely helpful, to get our feet wet, and also to see the mistakes we made and how to fix them. Moreover, getting the feedback from not only our peers, but our clients and the marketing researchers, will give us a bigger perspective on how what we are creating translates to others. Especially how our vision comes to life and the reactions of the beholder.
I am excited to see how we can apply this techniques that we learned in our project!
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https://www.behance.net/gallery/86124977/2020-Design-Trends

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/apr10/aspca-founded/

https://www.aspca.org/about-us

https://medium.com/@katherine.britton/humans-loving-animals-how-the-aspca-uses-its-brand-personality-to-save-lives-8934ce4dc101

https://www.aspca.org/

https://www.aspca.org/adopt-pet

Here we go again....

ISN'T it exciting? It is a new year!!! And I am so excited for this project. This year I am taking AICE Media studies A level, and the class has been all sorts of amazing. I feel like I have grown as a creator so much since the last time I was here. From looking back at my portfolio and noticing improvements that could be made, to creating new things. I have gotten more into film photography, and have also watched tons of films from which I'll be drawing inspiration from. We are in for a wild one and it should be fun. I'm excited and feel like this project will really push me and throw me outside my little comfort zone. 
I feel like in A level we are way more comfortable in sharing our ideas and opinions. I have learned so much from my extremely talented peers, and look forward to see what they create in this last few months. This class is also more focused and detailed, so we develop a more centralized focus on our craft, and create or specialize our own style.  
I have a camera now!!!! So I will hopefully be able to create content in a more regular basis. However, I am still planning on renting the equipment from BECON-TV, since theirs is way better. My partner in this project will be Jonathan Caseverde, and we chose to do the short film. We have a starting idea that I'll expand on on future posts, but I think we will probably change it. We will see. Expect more gifs and pretty colors. For now ....
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CCR

 And here is my CCR
https://youtu.be/iVVANXKg9so 

Thank you for following my process!

Drum roll please...........

Here it is! Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/J-t18Eb2iwE
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ev62ppn04UnPIgleHMfen3on7UXm1c6g/view?usp=sharing

The End

      After weeks of planning, and more planing, and then more planning, we filmed. After weeks of editing, and more editing, and then more editing, we we're done. We've reached the end folks! Now it is time to look back and reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

          First of all, I think my idea was always pretty concise and clear. I knew exactly how I wanted it and how to do it. The storyline, and character development changed as the days passed and the characters grew on me. But I think I pretty much had set how the film was going to go. I do believe that if we had planned accordingly, and the original ending would've been filmed like planned, the opening would feel more like a film opening than now. However, the final touches of the window and the birds, I believe make it clear that the story is just starting, as well as the countdown. Looking back, I believe having direct dialogue directed towards her from him post breakup, would've made it a little more clear in the sense of what was going on. However, I like the ambiguity of the poem, and the fact that it makes you think, and the finishing touches on the verbs tenses make it more powerful.

          I do wish I would've recorded the voiceover with the poem with more time, and trying my actor before, because at the end it wasn't necessarily what I wanted. It wasn't as powerful or emotional as my original idea, but it worked. I wished I would've used someone with more soul in their voice, or that was able to relate to the story, so that emotion could be felt. At the end it worked out but oh well. I loved my actress and her work. It was exactly what I was looking for, and her wardrobe was spot on. The location was exactly what I wanted. And the actor worked out better than I thought. His shot were probably my favorite, the lightning was spot on, and made all the shots look amazing! I am so happy we recorded backup footage in the little market, because we ended up using lots of it. It was a little hard to find shots were they actually look like a couple, but we made it work. 

        The editing was fun. However, I need to work on my sound editing for the future. I struggled with it the whole process, and it turned out decent, but could've been better. The coloring with Luts was perfect, no pink like I had pictured, but it looked very cinematic. Moreover, It didn't bring the resolution down like VSCOX, and I could edit each shot individually, for a better result, and the nice colors can still be seen. Consequently, I decided the pink for the letters for the same purpose I wanted the coloring pink before. The podcast, looking back, might've been unnecessary, but it gives a nice touch to his character, and hints at the story. Choosing the font was a whole process, that we kinda left for the last minute, but thankfully dafonts.com saved us. 

        I am extremely happy with the final product, and we worked really hard to achieve our dream. It was beyond what I thought it was going to be, and I am proud to call it mine. I hope you like it and thank you for staying tuned, enjoy!

Now what?

I had various dilemmas in the editing process. The montage of her was difficult, because I did not wanted to feel repetitive. We had many good shots of him, but not as many diverse shots for her. We didn't have enough footage. The actors were sometimes awkward when acting as a couple, because they're best friends. THE AUDIO. if there is something I'm not the master at is editing audio. I am still having trouble with it and let me tell you it is a struggle. I can not get the diegetic sounds of the city to flow, the song sounds weirdly convoluted, and it feels fake. I used this website with royalty free sound effects to get all of my folly sounds:http://soundbible.com/1609-Traffic-Jam-1.html. It was a really great resource that helped out a lot, because the original sound had a weird hum from the mic, probably because I'm no expert and used it wrong. And in some you could even hear a radio station (?) I know weird.
My cousin works at a media creator company, and while talking to him and some of his coworkers, they told me i could download some tools to do the coloring in final cut, so that I could edit each shot individually. This was a lifesaver, because even though I didn't hate using VSCOX I wasn't loving the result. So I will be using that resource for sure.
Yesterday and today I was supposed to finish editing the shot to finalize the ending, but I was really feeling under the weather and got a severe allergic reaction so I wasn't necessarily up for it. I will do it this week in class, and that way I can get feedback from my partner.
For the ending I have decided to end it with the title card, and then use old footage I got of my bedroom window to symbolize the beginning of the film, since I don't think I'll have time to reshoot anything, and now I just have to work with what I have.
I realized I was asking too many people for feedback, and their reactions made me doubt my work. I have had since day 1 really high expectations for this project, so its really important to me. So I will just do what feels good for me and be confident in what my partner and I are doing.

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And the editing begins......

We decided on using final cut pro x to edit our video, because it is a software I am familiar with and have used before. I started editing in IMovie, so the transition to final cut was seamless. I tried using DaVinci, but I did not like it. Since final cut is $300, I was going to edit in my cousin's apartment in Miami because he has the program, however he was extremely busy, and the days I could go he couldn't be there to open his apartment. So I tried to download the final cut free trial apple offers, but my software was too old and my computer had no storage. So after a 2 hour phone call with apple support, I finally was able to download Mojave, the new software, so that the I could download final cut. But then I had no storage, so I had to delete all my old footage of past projects, pictures, documents, etc. and then...... FINALLY I had final cut.

I edited in my breaks as a ball person in Miami Open, and I'm proud to say I like were the film is going. However, like I mentioned before the ending was a struggle, so I ended up using the backup footage and creating a flashback in his point of view. I like it but it doesnt convince me, it needs more. It is still missing the title , which we still haven't decided on, the podcast, the poem, the credits, and the subtitles. So we have a long way to go. My partner is writing the script for the podcast and recording it, and I really like Tulipan sin agua for the title. But we will see.

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Complications

So, since we had some complications and we couldn't record the last scene (which was the most important !!), we need to figure out what we're going to do. We have some options:

1. Use the footage we have and not have the falling scene where he catches her.
2. Use the extra footage from the market that we got the Sunday we filmed
3. Record him remembering her with a polaroid in a balcony (borrow camera again, and has to be before spring break ends)
4. Record them fighting in the balcony

I think we're going to go with option #1, because it is the least problematic, and doesn't require shooting again, because we have a lot of editing to do with the sound, the coloring, and the actual editing. If we do film again, it think we would do option #3, because it fits our story, and doesn't give much away, since it doesn't reveal anything, just hints at their breakup. That one would be shot at my cousin's apartment in Miami, probably around sunset and someday over next weekend since I'm not traveling anymore. We would have to talk to a girl in our class that borrowed the BECONTV equipment, to see if we could use it. 

I'm editing tomorrow morning, so I'll be able to see if we do need more footage, or the same purpose can be achieved with what we have. I think we should be good, because we don't want to give too much away, and we want to drift away from romance conventions a little.

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Can you hear that?

For sound we have decided on doing several things:

1. Business Podcast: the guy is going to be listening to a business podcast that me and my partner Mateo are recording next week. We still have to work on the script, but we probably will have the mic from BECON TV.  Examples for inspiration: Start up, How I built this, The Pitch.
2. City: we decided we simultaneously want diagetic sounds of the city that I will record Monday. We want honks, car, etc. If I can't find it when I go, we will have to look in the sound effect library our teacher recommended.
3. Poem: We already have the guy that will do the voice for the poem, however, we are on spring break and we have to make sure our schedules don't have conflicts to record one day. The poem also has to be finalized.
4. Music: We also have the song  that starts as soon as he is approaching the train station. I have to see how I'm going to edit it so that it sounds faint and when he removes his headphones the podcast stops and he listens to the song clearly. 

Untitled

Name, name, name. What will the title be? It has to be meaningful, it has to make the audience interested in the film, making them want to watch it, and it has to have relevance (?), maybe not necessarily relevance.

Since we want our film to be in Spanish, the title should be in Spanish too. We want it to have something to do with impossible love, or love that can't happen or that consumes you.
We have the following options:

• Tulipán sin agua (tulip without water): the tulip is beautiful, but without water it won't survive, however, the water does not need the tulip at all, much like out characters.
• Nicotina (nicotine): something addictive, that you can't stop consuming even though it is bad for you. Like the guy with the girl.
• Fumar(Smoking): same as nicotine, this would contrast their relationship with addiction, shining it with a negative light (not sure if we want that)
• Mares y océanos (seas and oceans): this would contrast with the drowning mentioned in the song and the poem, and relate to their infinite ambitions, their personalities, and their complexities.
• Dolor exquisito or La Douleur Exquise (French)(Exquisite pain): The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have.If we do it in french, as pretty as it sounds, it wouldn't make much sense.
• Siempre tú(Always you): relating to the song 
• Ahogándome (drowning): relating to the poem, and the feeling he has of drowning in her 
• Como quererte (How to love you): more like a rhetorical question, relating to the difficulties he faces to understand her.

Hopefully we can decide on one soon, or come up with more

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