Report on Industry Event

For my industry event I attended the Princeton “Ivy Film Fest”. The Princeton host this event for students and by students. One of the most impressive parts of this fest is that it’s a world-world festival and these films are being showcased through various parts of the world. Viewers get the opportunity to not only see films by their peers locally, but the viewers were always able to see films from, Mexico, France, China, and various other countries. Besides watching films, the Ivy Film Fest is committed to connecting today’s pioneers with the next generations of filmmakers. While the event is intended for students it’s opened to anyone. This gives students the opportunity to meet up with experienced filmmakers and even some professionals who currently work in the film industry.

The experience that I had at this event was eye-opening, informative and entertaining. One of the reasons why this event was eye-opening is because we all were watching film made by students. These directors, writers, producers, and editors are all people who are just like me; students of film. I was blown away by the professionalism and excellence that each film displayed. I can recall the moment where I was inspired by the creativity and it challenged me thinking and made me rethink, my story, and overall agenda with my film. I’m glad that my thinking and creativity were challenged because I believe it will push my project to be the very best that it can be. There were techniques and styles used in some of these films that I have never seen before. There were some stories that were absolutely captivating and kept me glued to the screen every wakening second. It’s my hope that I can get a similar reaction to my project when it’s at its completion.

Another great opportunity that I was able to have at this event was speaking with some of the student filmmakers. There was many people aiming to converse with the filmmakers so my conversations weren’t as long as I had hoped, but I was able to pick some of their minds for a moment. There were some other guest at this event who are fans of film and I was able to run my idea to a few different people and the feedback that I received was positive. The overall advice and feeling that I took away from taking with the filmmakers and even the causal guest was how the edits are nice and the having a big budget is useful, but what really makes a film great is the story that it tells. Stories can be delivered in a multitude of ways, but if your able to connect your story with someone’s emotions then it was a success.

This was my first time being at a film fest and it was a great experience. I’m glad that I chose this event for my industry event. I hope to attend some more film fests in the future to keep my creativity sharp and find some hidden inspiration. I would recommend any who choses film for their thesis project to attend a film because it allows you to have exposure to film that you can’t find on DVD or the movie theater. Not to mention the opportunity to speak with some actual filmmakers.

Prototype 2

My second prototype was a written three act structure. The purpose of the three act structure is to organize the story of the short film. The structure breaks down the film in multiple parts for example there is a section called normal world, inciting incident, call to adventure, and more. The story is obviously crucial to the overall success of the film. For my film I am going to be switching up the genre is frequently so it’s important that I have a strong storyline that continues throughout the entire film despite the various changes it will go through. It can be very difficult to keep the story in order when dealing with multiple genres so this three act structure was helpful in organizing all of my ideas.

I had some classmates review my story during our last class meeting. It seems that the story was interesting and indep. This three act structure was about half of the film and I plan on doing another three act structure for the second half of the film. Something that I will keep in mind is making sure that I am creating a story that is possible for me to do. For example I have to make sure that I choose the correct settings to film and not plan a story line around a setting that I won’t be able to have access to. I plan on revising my story even more and will continue to make little tweaks and changes until I get my story line tight.

Prototype 1

For my first Prototype I chose to take a famous movie scene and make my own edits. The clip that I chose to use was the scene from the original Jurassic Park movie. Fortunately enough I was able to find a clip from that movie without any background music. This was important for my editing because music and instrumentals play vital roles in the editing process. The reason why I chose this as my first Prototype is to test out different editing techniques that I have learned during my research. I have learned that editing may be the most important part of filmmaking. The editor has total control over how the film is supposed to be perceived and received by the audience. You can take raw footage and make it to completely different genres buy specific coloring techniques and music selections.

Ultimately I hoped to see if my editing techniques would be successful. Since I was able to find a clip without any background music I was able to have complete control over the edit of the film. The original clip was meant to be light, funny, and not too serious. My goal was to take the scene and completely change The genre and overall feel of this clip. I chose to give this scene a darker and more thriller like feel. In order to do this I darken the scene by playing with the saturation and exposure I also added more blues and greens to the color to try to make it feel more dark and eerie. I Also found a instrumental off YouTube that was made for horror and thriller movies. By adding those edits I was able to change the overall feel of the scene.

During class I was able to receive some useful feedback on my prototype. Firstly many of my peers agreed that I was successful in changing this genre of the clip. They felt that the colors and music was helpful which was exactly what I changed so I knew that I was successful with those edits. One piece of advice that was given to me was to be careful with my exposure use. There were some scenes were it was too dark to make out what was in the actual clip. For example there was a shot of a helicopter flying over the ocean but it was hard to tell that it was flying over the ocean because the exposure was so low and it was too dark for that specific shot. Going forward I will be mindful to edit each shot accordingly and not make one overall edit to the clips, but I’ll be intentional with the exposure, colors, saturation, etc.

Research Update 3

For my third piece of research I wanted to get into the minds of the professionals. After gaining knowledge on the technical sides of filmmaking I wanting to gain a better understanding of the intangibles of the those who make films. One the most prominent film communities currently is the “No Film School” community. They provide a web page, social media, and youtube clips of resources for young, up and coming, and even experienced filmmakers. I recently came across this youtube video that is added below and I was able to get in the mind and creative thinking of directors from the Sundance film festival.

There were many interesting ideas and thoughts that were shared from these directors. What I enjoyed most about this film was how they gathered a group of people who bring different stories, perspectives and worldviews together for this video. One director spoke on tapping into what you know. Many young directors and filmmakers often try and overthink their stories and lose authenticy from their films because they are trying to create a world that they know nothing about. I learned to stay true to myself and stay within the things that I know. I hope to use my own experiences and thoughts to create a real and authentic film, regardless of the genres that will take place; I hope that the style and story stays true to who I am as a filmmaker.

Another idea that stood out to me is when one filmmaker said you’ll never know until you try. This concept is often being used and can easily be overlooked despite the importance that it holds. I found myself many times doubting the possibilities of my ideas and then water down my creativity because I feel as though I wasn’t able to create what I am envisioning. There will never be a perfect time or scenario so it’s best to just try and don’t fear failing because even if you fail you be able to learn from it. Growth cannot be achieved unless failure was present beforehand. This is a motto that I live by and will carry into my thesis project.

The main idea that was being talked about was the idea of staying true to who you are. Another director shared with the group that if they were all to create a film about Hurricane Katrina they will all create totally different films despite it being the same topic. The reason this is comes the fact that we all have different perspectives and journeys so we all see the world differently. What makes a great filmmaker is the ability to show the audience how you see the world from your own eyes. When a person is able to create with authenticity then it will be apparent to the viewers and in turn will make the viewers more attached and invested into your film.

Prototype Plan

Prototype 1: Storyboarding

Storyboarding is one of the most important parts of the creative process. I will either physically sketch out the storyboard or I may use a software program that allows me to create it digitally. This is a key part of prototyping because I will be able to see how I will connect the storylines as seamless as possible.

Prototype 2: Edit youtube clips

The plan for my second prototype will be to find various youtube clips and attempt to change the feel and genre by editing alone. Post-production will play a vital part in the execution of the multiple genres. When editing these random clips I will be experimenting with the coloring, music, and edit choices. The editing process has the most control over the project. Adobe Premiere Pro will be the editing software that I will be using to create these videos so this will give me an opportunity to learn more about this specific program.

Prototype 3: Record a mock scene

I am currently recruiting the on-screen talent for the project so for the mock scenes I’ll be using actors who may not necessarily be in the final project. This will give me an opportunity to see who will best fit the story line and character portrayal. Also this gives me an opportunity to work on my director skills and I’ll gain a better understanding of each scene setup once I start recording the actual film.

Research update 2

For my second research update I decided to watch a comedy. One of the biggest parts of my film is the ability to use a wide variety of film genres. In my opinion comedy is one of the hardest genres to successfully execute. It is important that I do a lot of research when it comes to different types of genres. While I will be watching movies with all different types of genres I felt that this was the best place to start. When it comes to comedy there are many different kinds and different approaches to it. Considering what I will be working with I decided to watch and study an Adam Sandler movie. Adam Sandler is one of the funniest comedians of our generation and has found much success in the film industry so he is a great person to study.

The Adam Sandler movie that I recently studied was “Happy Gilmore”. This is one of if not his most popular movie. I learned a lot from watching this movie and did my best to pick out the parts of the film that really made it successful. One of the things that Adam Sandler does best along with most other great comedians is the flare for the dramatics. The main character of the movie is Happy Gilmore and he has anger issues. While anger issues can tend to get out of control Adam Sandler took anger issues and really dramatized it in order to gain more of a reaction from the audience. While a golfer with anger issue may yell and curse, Happy would go beyond that and throw his golf clubs a mile long, beat up on elderly people, and even fight an alligator. These scenes proved to be some of the funniest. Along with the dramatics it seemed that Adam Sandler used pain and punishment to his advantage and it was apparent that some of his intentional funny moments came at the demise of certain characters. These are all things that I would have to direct the talent on in order to execute a joke or action. This movie showed me that sometimes the funniest parts are done and not said.

When it comes to filming it was important to note of how light the scenes were. Comedies are meant to put people in a good mood and be light hearted and fun. One would be hard pressed finding a scene that is dark and gloomy. When filming for this particular genre I will be making an intentional effort of filming things in well lite areas where it brings a light feel to the scene and puts the viewer in a good mood that is uplifting and enjoyable to watch. Another element that is important is the music. I’ve noticed that there isn’t much background music playing throughout the movie. When characters are speaking it’s usually with no background music. The main reason why songs or instrumentals are being played is to set the mood or feeling for a particular scene, but overall it’s important to let the on screen talent shine and not distract viewers away from them. Additionally many of the shot were close ups. These close ups helped bring attention and focus to the characters and let the audience know that this dialogue is very important for you to pay attention to.

It was very interesting watching a movie from a director’s or producers point of view. It’s interesting how little details can really make a big difference in the outcome of the film. With any genre that I am shooting it’s important for me to set the correct mood and setting for each different genre. The producer has the power to control the viewer’s feelings and if I am able to successfully move the emotions and feelings of the viewer from clip to clip then my project will be successful.

Research Update 1

For the first research update I learned about video production and editing. The resourse that I used to find this information is from Lynda.com. While putting together my research plan one of the main skills that I knew I needed to learn or grow more in was in film production. Throughout the video playlist the viewers were taught of the different aspects of production and editing. I have always believed that editing was simple and the least important. These videos have changed my perception and have caused me to changed the way I approach editing videos and I have gained a new respect for this part of the creative class. The expect giving these lesson is Rob Garrott, the content manager for video production and editing at at lynda.com.

One of the first points that Rob brought the attention of the viewers is the importance of having a clear creative goal before shooting even begins. In my past experiences I would go into the field and begin filming based off all the ideas and concepts that are scattered throughout my mind. I often found myself very frustrated while filming and now I understand why. Rob often argued that pre-production is the most important part of the entire process. The example he would give is that you would never see a musician going on stage without practicing his instrument and receive a standing ovation, and the same goes for filmmakers and producers. It would be ignorant for a producers or filmmaker to go onto the field without practicing or having a plan of action. It’s important to be able to describe your vision with clearly with words. If you are having a hard time accomplishing this then it’s imperative to go back to the drawing board and work out more of the kinks that still linger.

Another interesting part of the video series was how Rob broke down the three stories that every film has. The first story that every film has is the story that you wrote and conceive; the second story is the one you shoot in your camera; the third story is the one that you edit. All three of these stories should be able to work harmoniously and create a fluid storyline that supports the vision and creative goal that was created in the very beginning of the creative process. Something else that stood out to me was when Rob was speaking on the control and power that the editor has. Editors have the power to manipulate the viewer’s perceptions by how the various elements are pieced together. While the director camera crew and providing the shots and scenes of the film it’s actually the editor who has the most control. The way a video is editing is the reason for audience reactions and emotions throughout the film. For example when watching a horror movie or thriller the way a scene is edited brings out the emotions of the viewers. While the actors and directors play a pivotal role as well it the way the shadows are presented in the room and how the music is lingering in the background and then fades out to really put the view on the edge of his or her seat.

It’s very interesting how these videos have broken down the importance of production and editing. One of the most important concepts from the videos was how editing is a creative process and like any creative process it takes trial and error and forces one to really be creative and dig down deep inside one’s self to find solutions and beauty to the film. The skills and knowledge that I have acquired from this will be very instrumental in the production of my project and will prove to play a pivotal role in how I attack this film and guide my throughout the creative process.

Finalized Concept

Finalized Concept

The project that I will committing to is the idea of an interactive short film. This film will be unique in many different ways. The ways that this project will differ from other projects is by incorporating a variety of movie genres. With each choice being in the hands of the viewer. The goal is to embed videos into one another this way there will be a seamless transition from one video clip to the next. The inspiration behind this project is my passion for film-making. I have only created small one minute clips, but I have never done an actual short film. There’s a commercial on television that has the two main character going through a scene, but it constantly changes genres right on the spot and it creates this excitement and unpredictability. This commercial inspired my idea to include multiple genres into my film.

This project represents my personal values and interest by including my loves for film and movies. I have always dreamed of creating a film and this is something that would be an incredible starting point for me. Being able to dream up a story and then making come to life really excites. Being an IMM major we are often forced to be creative and think outside the box and being allowed to let my creativity run wild is exactly what I love to do. While being an IMM major I tend to lean toward the side of media and video editing and film-making. This project will help my future endeavors because after graduating I will aim to work in social media. The ideal role for me is to create content for the social media and creating videos clips will be on the top of list of content. Creating such an innovative and creative film will add to my portfolio and force me to gain more skills in this area.

I believe there will be a lot of interest in my film because film and video is such a huge part of media. When watching television and when going to the movies you will rarely see any still image promotionals. People love video. The reason why my project will gain even more interest is because of the interactive aspect that I will be presenting to the audience. Once potential consumers see the ability to be in control of the storyline it will immediately attract them to see the film and take control. I imagine the viewers will sit at my film and try and go through each and every possible ending and twist.

When implementing this project technically it will take more research on my behalf. I imagine that I would need some sort of coding to embed the clips into one another. One of my peers spoke about a Youtuber doing something similar to this idea, but he just created a video and the transitions were chopping and obvious. The goal is to make transition seamless as if your sitting at your local movie theater. I will likely be editing my clips in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. When filming I will go to the cage and find the best camera suited for my project along with lighting pieces to make sure the quality remains high, crisp, and clean. What’s great about this film is that I am able to give it multiple styles. When making it a romance it will be a lot of close up with and a bright scene with romantic music and a quiet and serene scene. Then when it changes to horror it will grow dark and the music fades into something suspenseful and creepy. There will be a variety of styles.

When prototyping this project I will be working a lot of different recording techniques and learning how different films are executed. I will share my storyboard with friends and peers and see if my story is entertaining and engaging. Also I plan on practicing embedding videos over one another by creating little clips with my phone and practicing how I would execute when I get my actual clips. This will be one of the most challenging parts so I will be sure to spend a lot of time of learning and mastering this technique.

Research plan

History

Reading the history of film
Learning what purposes it served originally
Learn about movies in the early days
What attracted people to go to the movies

Film-making

Techniques of film-making
Understanding how to implement different angles
Learning how to control and use lighting
Researching what would be the best camera to use for my film
Learning how filmmakers execute a camera film

Directing

Researching prominent directors
Learning different techniques of directing
Understanding different film genres
Watching different films from various genres (horror, romance, action, mystery, adventure)
Learning how to get actors to execute the vision

Editing

Using Lyda.com to learn about After Effect
Gain a deeper understanding of Premiere Pro
Research all video editing software programs to find the best one suited for me
Learning how different genres edited differently then one another

Coding

Learn coding
Research how to embed videos into one another
Talk to my uncle who is an experienced coder

Revised Concept

Idea #1 Interactive Short Film

After the feedback given to me I feel confident in my idea. The strongest part of my project seems to be the multiple genres idea. With each decision the genre will change, but the story, characters, and settings will remain the same. In order to separate my project from similar interactive films will that all the decisions being made will embedded into one clip with seamless transitions. Another interactive short film with a similar concept has the choices embedded into multiple clips while I will keep it all on one video file. In order to do this I will likely have to host the film on an app because I haven’t found any ways of incorporating my vision on social media.

Idea #2 VR of TCNJ

This past week I was pitching this idea to my family and friends and I got some good insight and a lot of positive feedback. The most meaningful feedback that I received concerning this project was from a friend of mine who is currently selling his home. He was showing me how potential buyers are able to view his home via a 3D tour. This would be the perfect execution of my vision for this project. I am currently trying to get in connect with the person who set up the 3D for them and see how I would be able to accomplish this on a grander scale with multiple locations on campus.