Reflecting On My Journey

Hello! Over the past eight weeks that I have been working on this portfolio project, I have heightened my skills and have become a better Media Studies student. Take a look at some of the ways my skills have developed throughout this project:

Research

In order to develop this project, I have had to do a lot of research on various topics. From genre conventions to serial killers, I have found the information that I needed for this project all on my own. I have documented my findings on this blog and provided proper citations for all sources I used. The research I did during this project not only made me better prepared to create a proper film opening, but it will also help me in my future media studies ventures, whichever project or video comes my way. 

Filming

I learned a lot about filming during this process. Before, I overlooked all the components that went into filming a production. The set design, the filming location, the actors, all vital components that go into creating a film. 

Set Design: Before I began filming my project, I had to make sure that the places I would be filming looked like they could be in my production. Take a look at the two pictures above. The first picture is what my wall normally looks like. It has four pictures that are brightly lit up by a window on the other side of the hallway. For this project, I needed to change the set design to ensure that the set gives off the tone that I want to be conveyed in the film opening. So, I took those four pictures off the wall and covered the window with a blanket to get the set that was used in the film opening (the second photo). The set that I created is much more effective in conveying loneliness (one solitary picture in the middle of the wall) and sadness (the dark hallway). Through this project, I learned that the way a set looks can have drastic effects on the overall outcome of the production.

Filming location: I learned that finding the proper location to fit your film concept is important in creating a production. For this project, I had to go around my community to scout out locations to shoot the playground scene of my film opening. I looked at six different parks and documented the three best ones, ultimately choosing Oakbrook park to film at. At the beginning of this project, I would have asked myself why it was necessary to go to six similar parks just to find one to film at. However, after going through this process, I have realized that each choice that is made while filming is a conscious decision that is aimed at creating the best atmosphere for your production, including finding the park that has the best lighting, background, and aesthetic to film at.

Working Through Problems

Throughout this process, I ran into a lot of problems that I was forced to overcome.

Coronavirus pandemic: March 13th was the first day that I acknowledged the coronavirus pandemic in my blog. Because this is such a hands-on project, this pandemic greatly affected every aspect of my film opening. Due to social distancing guidelines, I was unable to meet up with my cousin to film this project. So, I had to adapt and instead change my opening so the only actor I would need is my mother. Not only was finding actors a problem, but so was filming in public. As widespread closings impacted my community, the parks that I was planning to film at were shut down. I adapted to this by filming from the parking lot and even using footage from one of my past projects in order to get what I needed for my opening.

Fonts: Only when I was on the final edits of my production was when I realized that I overlooked an important part of the film opening, the fonts. Although I was pressed for time, I managed to do research on fonts and find a new font that was more effective for my film opening. Realizing that some of the most minute details can have the most drastic impact on the overall product was an eye-opening lesson for me, as I now understand what I need to look out for in future projects.

Tools

 

Software: This project would not have been possible without my use of two software programs: my editing software WeVideo and my blogging software Blogger. WeVideo is an online, free editing program that allows users to edit on multiple devices. It is a powerful tool that allowed me to create such an engaging film opening. One thing I learned when using WeVideo is that a project is only as powerful the software behind it. Also, Blogger is an excellent, free resource that allows users to create their own blogging platform. I used Blogger to document my whole journey through the medium of a blog. The reason this was so effective is that it helped me interact with others in a more personal manner, as I was able to bring my own voice into my writing and express my own thoughts. Additionally, Blogger allows users to incorporate videos, images, and hyperlinks into their publishings, which makes it more engaging to viewers.

Hardware: I would not have been able to do this project without this hardware. First, I used my iPhone 11's camera to film this project. The iPhone 11 has one of the most advanced smartphone cameras on the market. It has an upgraded dual-lens camera system that includes a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, perfect for tackling some of the toughest of shots. In addition, I used my Dell Inspiron 5570 laptop to interact with my editing and blogging software. It is a fast and reliable computer that made working on this project a breeze. Lastly, I used the Rollei Smartphone Tripod Traveler while filming my project in order to get the best quality shots. It is compact and lightweight and provided me the ability to get clean shots with my iPhone 11. I am extremely fortunate to own all this equipment. I thank my parents for providing me with the resources to succeed in anything that comes my way, including this portfolio project.

As I wrap up my portfolio project, I thank everyone who made this journey a success. To my instructor, my Media Studies classmates, and my parents, I thank you all for helping me create the film opening I dreamed of. It is coming soon, so...

STAY TUNED!