What Happens Next?

 Although we could’ve filmed over our thanksgiving break, we chose not too. Some of us were traveling with family, and even in a pandemic, we weren’t able to get together this time around. I still feel really good about the position that we’re in as far as when the film is actually due. Only because the filming process can be done in one day if we really stick to our schedule, and my partner and I are both really good at editing. So it also doesn’t delay us or slow us down in the editing process. If we film over Christmas break we’ll have about two  and a half weeks to months only film but make sure our editing, music, sounds, everything is properly pieced together. Although we referenced in our “Planning” blog we would film on 11/23, things have seemingly changed. It worked out because we are actually in need of one more actor and we actually still haven’t decided upon who that will be yet. But since we didn’t film I’d like to further my blog on marketing. Seeing the website come together with all the pictures was exciting to see. I was able to make the social media pages which was a different experience since we only had personal pages for ourselves. We really felt like marketing campaign managers for a real movie. This has to be my favorite part of this whole experience thus far. 

Music Choice

 I don’t actually think we quite came to terms, with the fact we’re going to have to insert music. Meaning we have not really thought about a sound track to use, or even which artists. I think on the scene where Destiny walks out the office after fighting with the CEO of the company, I’d like to have the song “Walking on sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. We do have to ask for permission to use the song as well. We do plan on using mostly ambient sounds, meaning the natural sounds that fills the office, while they’re arguing. As well as the sounds outside in the parking garage and other small details we’d like incorporated. The reason we’d like to use that song is because, as she walks out the office after arguing. It captures a sense of fulfillment within destiny and it is also a happy upbeat song. Right before the movie begins to get dark and twisted. It really just adds on to the plot and theme of the story. Because we really aren’t focused on the music we do not plan on having different songs inserted into the film. Everything is mainly natural sounds, and an intensified sound whenever action is actually taking place. I feel the trickiest thing about music is, copyrights. Because a lot of the music we use will not be our own original songs, we do want to avoid being copyrighted. Which is why we have to ask the artists first, before we edit in that music. And because their schedules are so busy, I am not sure hoe much of a guarantee it will be that we hear back from them.

Marketing Campaign

  Moving along very quickly with our project, my partner and I created several social media sites to really push out film. We did start out by creating an entire website that is centered around our film. The first social media account we set up was an instagram account. Using a picture of our two main actors as the profile picture because we decided that is the picture we want as our headliner. We decided on the name “My sisters Keeper,” because it really just fit the whole concept/ idea of the movie. Two sisters who were close when they were younger and eventually grew apart and one grew envious of the other one. We know that instagram will be a great way to market and push our film because it’s such a mainstream platform used by a lot of teenagers and even adults. We then created a twitter account. I feel twitter is more effective for the way we’d like to promote this project because twitter is one of those platforms to really voice your opinions. Also being able to retweet so that your followers share posts to others who you may not follow. It definitely touches different sets of eyes that way. Next was YouTube. Now YouTube is a platform that we can actually use to not really promote but a platform where we’d put our film on so that people are able to watch it. It will be a very familiar site with a ton of people versus putting out somewhere that will be hard to reach. Lastly was Facebook. Not a platform I’d too much use other than simply putting out our release date of the film and our poster. On every account created we are able to post a short trailer clip, as well as the information on when and where to find our film. All of the accounts have the same name and profile pictures to keep it nice and simple. Lastly, we attached each of our social media links/accounts to the bottom of our website, on the website you can also find a short synopsis, background of the actors, and a throwback video of the sisters. We really hope to build our fan base and reach different audiences because this film is going to be one for everyone to view. And we’re so excited to film and put this movie out. 

Storyboard for short film

   

Planning our storyboard probably is the most challenging task for us right now. It’s like we know exactly how we want this film to play out, we’re able to visualize and everything; but putting it down on paper was so much more challenging. Especially knowing how to break up all the specifications of the scenes into 5 second picture boxes and not putting too much content into one square. Also some of our scenes were short so we had to kind of stretch/improvise the scenes just a little. Storyboarding is actually one of the biggest steps to filming for me because it gives you almost like a tentative schedule to follow. It is obviously always something that can be modified but for the most part you have everything you need to do outlined for you right there on the paper. So when it comes to filming day we can just refer back to the storyboard to see the specifications of each scene. Not only that but having a general idea as far as we hat shot, angle, camera movements, and what kind of sounds go in each scene. Which is very important. This is actually our first time working together and because of everything being virtual and social distancing it did become a little harder as far as communication goes to be able to successfully fulfill this projects every need. We’re also filming with some of our close friends as our actors so to keep the amount of people narrow, and not jeopardizing any COVID-19 precautions. The next challenge for the actual filming process is actually finding an office space/ scenery that is actually going to allow us to film there. The corona restrictions have altered a lot of places and companies and the activities that are able to take palace. We actually found one venue but they aren’t allowing people to sit down inside. Which means we’re back to square one with everything beside of course the scenes that can take place outside. We also may need a few extra actors but I do want to make sure that everyone is safe so we may film on different days with different people. Just to make sure no one especially our actors, are being put in harms way. Lastly, we do anticipate on recording over our thanksgiving break so that actually gives us another week to plan our our location and what days we want to film with who, and who belongs in the right scenes. As well as making sure we, the producers of the film are safe as well. 

Planning for Short Film

The parking garage at which parts of the film will take place 

 Planning Blog- Location- Office space at Dunkin Donuts and an underground parking garage 

Health and Safety- We plan to make sure to have our seatbelts while driving. Also while we are “using the knife we are using all the safety protocols. We take safety very seriously. In addition to these safety precautions, we will have a buddy system. So if anyone needs to walk off during our filming process someone will be with them. You could never be too safe. 

Props- In our short film we don’t really incorporate that many props. Since this is a fairly traditionally thriller film we will be using props like knives, ropes, zip ties, chairs, and cars.

Costumes-  Destiny will be wearing a business suit while Ashleigh will be in something casual. Most likely jeans and a tee shirt 

Participants- The main two actors will be our friends Ashleigh and Destiny each playing their respective roles. Jontae who will be playing the President that Destiny argues with in the beginning and Ashleigh’s dad who will play the mysterious man throughout the rest of the film 

Schedule-  

On 11/10-11/13 we will be doing our storyboard. On 11/23 we would like to start filming. We want a couple of days to film. Since we have a week long break for thanksgiving break we should have a couple of days to film everything and refilm if necessary. 

Short Film Vs. Feature Length Film

   To begin, the short version of 9 versus the full length version were completely different. The short, as I mentioned in the previous blog, seemed as if it began in the middle of a story that was left out from the audience. While the full length was able to provide a full clear and concise storyline, to contribute to the movie. The full length movie, also embodied different characters such as, others that were just like 9. As well as providing a beginning to end on the creature that roamed post-apocalypse. The quality of dialogue differed, the full had more than the short. But was I furthered watched the full and rewatched the short, I realized the short was actually kind of the same as the ending of the full. They were trying to destroy the monster to get back something that their creator (the scientist) left behind for them. In the short 9 knew he had to retire the device and later on he uses it to see the lost souls if the other numbers. Same as the ending of the full. The short lacked character development and the full was just enriched with all these characters that made it great. All the numbers were so brave and really new they had to work together because they were all they had left. So for that, I enjoyed the full way better. And I say this to say that, in the full I actually was able to see the scientist that was alluded to in the beginning. And was able to listen to the reasons behind creating them, further realizing that they are all different parts of his soul. I think that is a very interesting attribute to the plot and story of the film. Lastly, although both were action packed, the short actually showed a great sense of action for a 7 minute video. It did tell a story just not the entire story, at least not in a way that was understood to by the readers. 

Research 9, the feature film

 Wow! So the film actually caught my attention way more than the short. And yet I said I didn’t really like animation, I liked this one. The feature film starts off with the making of 9. And then the story goes along to a post-apocalyptic scene where clearly a war has taken place. Since it is animated and futuristic the war happened between humans and machines. It wasn’t very clear who won but it does seem no one was left standing. I think making it post-apocalyptic was a smart move because again it gave more life to an animation like an actual science fiction movie with real people. When 9 goes out and cant speak he seems hopeless and scared. He then met 2 and 2 was able to get him his speech and inform him on others that are just like him. Turns out 9 was not alone! The creature that I still can not wrap my head around takes 2 and this is where 9’s character shifts. When 2 is take and 9 is injured, 5 steps in to save him and shows him the others. But because they were now the only family they had, 9’s determination to go and save 2 really outshined. The directorial style is still very prevalent in the feature film because it still shows the directors animation outlook. As well as I feel it taps into his architecture degree in many ways. The film is true to him and his personality, that definitely can make a great film because it was so personal and true to his nature. The development of 5’s character started off very shaky. He was the one that sort of played by the rules of 1 and actually was not up to the idea of going to save 2.