Filming Process

     Finally finished up with filming after slight scheduling conflicts. My anxiety increases as the due date gets closer and closer. The more I look at the clips, the more I start to nitpick at them. Unfortunately, we don't have months to work on this project, just a few weeks left. I have to do my best and ignore my perfectionism mentality.

My dog in the right bottom corner peeking

    Filming ran smoothly with just some quick mishaps in the way. For example, my dog getting in multiple frames or the camera focusing on the wrong thing. But all of these things were fixed by taking my dog outside or refilming the shot. All clips came out well but knowing me I might refilm certain ones or add some depending on how editing plays out. Some clips were intentional for a certain type of editing, like an eyeline match.

    I plan to match this with a shot of the calendar showing an important date/tradition in Latin culture, a family parilla (Direct translation: grill). This would create that struggle for balance between her friends and her family. One of my biggest worries is that the audience won't be able to capture that. Hopefully editing and sound will play a big role into transforming this theme.

    Next blog post, I should be starting on editing. This week, I want to finish importing and organizing the clips. I could even start working on sound and color if time lets me. My goal is to have the film opening done by the end of next week as I need to start researching and producing my CCRs soon.

First Obstacle

      Well it was going to happened eventually! My first obstacle of filming process. My family friends are over. I mixed up the dates they were coming. I thought they were coming in two weeks, which would be no problem since it would be just editing. However, that didn’t work. It’s alright thought. I can push filming to Monday and start editing the same day so I don’t lose time. A small issue but a quick situation. This didn’t stop me from continuing. 

    In order to make up for lost time, I started completely cleaning the whole house. That is when I noticed there is a better location to film the eating and texting scene in my house. My kitchen has a kitchen nook (just found out the official name) that the walls are decorated with souvenirs from Venezuela. I have no idea how I didn’t think of this spot first. There is also a calendar on that same wall so I wouldn’t have to use the phone calendar like I thought I’d have to. This makes it much more smoother, now just two days until filming. 

Costume Design

     This might be the easiest part for me. My first idea for an outfit for Alba is whatever is trending right mow. She is a teenager, it’s normal to follow trends. This means oversized hoodie and baggy jeans. It is representative of a teenager now. For the hoodie, I own this light camo one. I’m not joking when i say you see everyone wearing this around school. It is impossible to not see it. I also thought about headphones, you will never catch anyone not wearing headphones nowadays. Those are the three crucial components of the costume for Alba. 

Equipment

     With filming day approaching, it is important to have equipment to better service the film project. I already have some since my sister used to to take a film class in middle school. The item that will come most useful out of this a tripod. The tripod stabilizes the shot, so the film will move smoothly. It also is adjustable so I can low and high angles.

        Another element I'm going to use is Artemis Pro. It is a camera app that mimics a professional camera.  Artemis Pro is a digital director's vision that helps them avoid discomfort in their backs as a professional camera is really heavy. It is perfect for shot planning and lens selection, and it provides a thorough database of cameras and lenses along with real-time simulation of pictures using different lens possibilities.

Lighting Techniques

    Almost time until official filming day, if all goes well it would be this Saturday. This would leave the following week dedicated to editing. It would have to be during the week which makes it more complicated. Next weekend, I'm going north to celebrate my aunt's birthday (it's a surprise). So excited for it, however, it is interfering with my schedule a bit. I'll just have to make more space for the project. Final step for filming is to establish lighting.

    Developing a lighting scheme for filming without professional lights can be difficult but if you use available light sources creatively, it can go smoothly.  According to the Film Camera Course website, one of the key strategies is to use natural light. Positioning your subject near windows during the day can provide soft lighting.  Additionally, using household lamps and adjusting their positions can help control the light's direction and intensity, giving you more control over the scene's mood.

    Another useful approach is to understand the basics of three-point lighting, which includes key light, fill light, and backlight. The key light is the main source of illumination, while the fill light reduces shadows caused by the key light. The backlight helps separate the subject from the background, adding depth to the scene. You can achieve a professional-looking lighting scheme without needing expensive equipment.

3 simple rules for filming without lights (exterior). Through The Lens Film School. (2024, November 15). https://filmcameracourse.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/filming-without-lights/

Hellerman, J. (2023, September 5). 13 film lighting techniques every filmmaker should know. No Film School. https://nofilmschool.com/lighting-techniques-in-film

Audio

     One of the most easiest to plan but diffucult to do is audio. It is easy putting words on a plan matching the scene. Audio is crucial in a film because it sets the mood and enhances the story. It draws the audience in, making scenes more immersive. Good sound design can highlight important moments and convey feelings that visuals alone can't. In short, audio makes a film more engaging and impactful.

Sound plan for film opening 

     The most important way my film is going to utilize audio to capture the story and emotions is through non-digetic sound. One of my biggest worries with this project is that the audience won’t be able to understand the situation Alba is in. Her emotions and mindset play a huge role as to how the story escalates. I don’t want the viewer to believe she doesn’t like her heritage. To find the music I want, I found a website that offers free, non-copyrighted music, https://pixabay.com/music/. I have yet to find the perfect song so wish me good look in this treasure hunt!

Props

      Props are essential in my film opening to show the difference between Venezuelan heritage and American culture. For instance, in her home, we can use props like arepas on the kitchen table, a traditional Venezuelan dish, that could be what she is eating. This will visually represent her cultural background and the warmth of her family gatherings.It also wouldn’t be a problem to make as it is a staple in my house and it’s super easy to make. However, scenes in her room  could feature fast food wrappers or shopping bags from the mall  emphasizing the different world she is trying to blend into.

Arepas

     Additionally, props will help foreshadow the conflict and eventual resolution in the story. For example, the character could have a hidden box under her bed containing cherished items from Venezuela, like a family photo or a baby costume from Carnaval. This box can symbolize her hidden identity and the internal struggle she faces. During the fight with her friends, perhaps an item from this box gets accidentally revealed, sparking the argument. In the film's resolution, she could proudly display these items in her room, showing her acceptance of her heritage.

Infinite Colors

     The closer I get to filming, the more I lose myself to my imagination. It is rather easy to plan once you have your film opening set. The worst decision I have to make is between two elements that coukd contribute the same to the opening. Colors are complex as two colors could represent two different ideas to created a balanced picture but just look off when put together.

      So I’ve finally decided on a coherent color scheme to enhance the themes and emotions in the opening of my film. Since it's a coming-of-age story with both lighthearted and dramatic elements, I want to use a vibrant but contrasting palette. For the scenes where the main character Oriana is trying to fit in with her new friends, I'll use cooler tones like blues and grays to represent her feeling of isolation in her interactions. These scenes will have a more calm, chilling look, reflecting her internal struggle. On the other hand, when she's with her family or embracing her heritage, the colors will shift to warmer tones like reds, oranges, and yellows. These scenes will be lively, symbolizing the warmth and love of her culture and family life.

      In the film's opening, I want to show the audience a visual contrast that hints at the main character's dual life. When the opening scene shows her staring at her family it would be filled with warm, inviting colors and a lively atmosphere, reflecting the joy and connection she has with her heritage. Then a scene of her texting her new friends, the color palette shifts to cooler tones, highlighting the almost emptiness she feels. This visual storytelling will help the audience immediately understand the main conflict of her identity and the emotional journey she's about to go through. .

Example from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011))

Introducing Alba

     Developing the main charcter of my opening was kind of difficult. We both are very similar, both are a Venezuelan teen who migrated to another country. However, our stories are different. The main character is mainly surrounded by people who don’t share the same culture as her. Whereas, more than half of students at my school are Latinos. Not too easy to hide tour heritage if you’re in a capsule of it. but besides this, most teens know how it feels to try to change yourself to fit in (should never happen). 

     Meet Alba then. Alba means “sunrise”, which ciuld be interpreted as growth. She moved to the US a few months ago. She learned that to “survive” high school she had to fit in with the rest. She from then grows as a person to realize you should change who you are. I wanted her to be relatable for not only teens but immigrants too. Many movies showcase this but it’s always the same pretty American girl who takes off her glasses and changes to a completely different person. I wanted to stray from this with Alba. 

Storyboarding

      After figuring out my plot, I just have to visualize how the opening sequence will play out. This is the goal of what it will look like but many things can influence changes made. For example, the credits might not look at pleasing as planned. This would result in a deviation from the storyboard. But this what I have for the storyboard as of now:

Film Story

     I finally figured out what the plot of my film is going to be. I am still following the lighthearted but still dramatic coming-of-age movie. It follows a girl who moved from Venezuela, she has made some friends but at what cost? She hides her identity and heritage from them, trying to fit in with the crowd. They don’t know about arepas, family gatherings to watch a soccer game, or Carnaval. They know fast food, night out to the mall, and fall fairs. This main character (yet to find a fitting name) struggles to keep both sides of her life from interacting. After a big fight with her friends, she is left what seems to be alone. To make matters worse, her family found out about how she has been concealing them for the past few months. She tries to regain her relationships, apologizing to her friends for example but they refuse to listen. When all seems lost, she finally decides to listen to her family and embrace her culture. This leads to new friends who don’t make her want to reduce herself to someone she is not. The film serves as a lesson to many young immigrants out there, don’t be ashamed of yourself. 

    The title of the film is yet to be decided. One of my choices is a term of endearment used by the my family, Chichi. However, there are multiple meanings to this word other than just slang for little one. It could be vulgar to some. So that is still is a work in progress. I am glad that my film opening plot is done, just some details to establish like what is the main character’s name? What kind of fight did she ge tinto with her old friends? Could I foreshadow this in the film opening?