Film Opening and CCR's

Here are all the files: 

Film Opening: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QYi8NAjDX81rSNhZ1vdAYUea7ZpBKSgy/view?usp=sharing, 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QYi8NAjDX81rSNhZ1vdAYUea7ZpBKSgy/view

CCR Questions 3 & 4: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12vSrNfgZXELKMRL_XeF0JNNKa5kTWRUP/view?usp=sharing, 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12vSrNfgZXELKMRL_XeF0JNNKa5kTWRUP/view

CCR Questions 1 & 2:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1irXkCtatSyie4SXXIG_IsWfju3IxPek1/view?usp=sharing 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1irXkCtatSyie4SXXIG_IsWfju3IxPek1/view

Reflection

Finally Done!!

 Finishing this project was both challenging and fun. From start to finish, it was full of unexpected problems, learning moments, and chances to be creative. Here is a summary of what I learned and how I grew while working on this project.

An important aspect of this project was using all the skills I learned in class. These included shots, angles, composition, movement, mise-en-scène, editing, and sound. I even created a separate blog to focus on sound, where I went into detail about the music choices and sound design for my film opening. For this project, I signed up for a free trial on Epidemic Sound, which has a wide variety of music. I used four different songs to match the tone of different scenes. One was passionate and rhythmic for the flamenco dancing scenes. Another was soft and emotional for the moments where Triana reflects on her struggles. For scenes with tension, I chose dramatic and suspenseful music to show the weight of her health issues. Lastly, I used an uplifting track at the end to highlight her resilience and love for dancing. Sound was a key element in telling my story and creating the right atmosphere.

This was also the first long-term project I’ve done completely on my own. While it was rewarding to have full creative control, it was also challenging to manage everything by myself, from planning to filming to editing. I realized how important it is to plan ahead and stay organized, especially when unexpected issues come up. For example, I had to make sacrifices, like spending less time on other activities, to ensure the project was finished on time. I also learned that having backup plans is crucial to avoid delays on the project. 

Overall, this project taught me a lot about adjusting to challenges, working independently, and using what I’ve learned in class in real life. It was a tough but fun experience that helped me think more creatively and solve problems quickly. I’m proud of what I made and grateful for everything I learned along the way.

Editing My CCR's

After filming my Creative Critical Reflection (CCR), the next step was editing, which was important to complete the process. Since I didn’t want my CCR to just be a still talking shot, I decided to include pictures and clips of what I was talking about. This way, instead of just explaining my points, I could visually show them, making it more interesting.  Luckily, I didn’t have much trouble with the editing. Most of the work was simply putting the clips together and adding visuals to make it more engaging.

One of the small choices I made  was using different angles for my first two questions, which I answered as a student asking a teacher questions. I filmed that from multiple angles so I could switch between them, making it look more dynamic instead of sticking to one simple shot. This added a bit of variety without requiring too much extra editing effort. 

Adding extra visuals like clips from my film opening and relevant images was straightforward. It was mostly about matching the visuals to the points I was making. This approach made the CCR feel smooth without being overly complex or time consuming. By combining visuals with my explanations, I made sure the final product was clear and engaging.

Overall, editing was a smooth process that didn’t require a lot of adjustments. It mainly involved organizing the clips and visuals to make the CCR cohesive and visually appealing. In the end, I was happy with how everything came together and how it represented my work on the project.

Here is a picture of question 3 & 4

Filming CCR

I officially started filming both of my CCR's this past weekend!! To be honest it was so hard to come up with different ideas of the approach we were taking to answer the questions. I initially wanted to recreate the interviews were the questions are your " google search" but then my instructor said that it wasn't creative if we were recreating something, so instead, I came up with the idea of a student asking a teacher questions and a phone call with a friend who wants to know more about the project. 

For my first approach which was a student asking a teacher questions, I had to create a "classroom" in my room. Since the classroom was in my room, it was really hard to not get my nightstand or the door in the frame but I made it work. When I started filming, I thought that I was going to be able to finish it in one day but to this day my room is looking like a classroom and a bit of a mess. 

For my second approach, which was a phone call with a friend, I didn't have much trouble filming it. My dad reminded me that I had a mini tripod at my house so I set up my phone and started recording. The only setback that I encountered was remembering my lines. This made me waste so much time since I had to keep reshooting certain parts.  

Here is an unedited shot of one of my CCR's 

Script/Research For Question #4 of CCR

 Here is the script for question 4 of my CCR:

[Phone Rings, Friend Picks Up CONTINUATION OF QUESTION 3]

Friend: That's awesome. What kind of tech did you use?

Me: Well, the main thing I used was my phone for the camera. I didn’t have a professional camera to work with, so I had to make do with my phone, but it actually turned out pretty good. For lighting, I used a ring light, which was the only light I had. I wanted the film to have a dark, shadowy feeling, so I used the ring light to create some shadows around Triana while she was dancing. It helped keep a tense mood, but it was also tricky to make sure the shadows were where I wanted them.

Friend: Nice! So, the ring light was the only light?

Me: Yeah, exactly. Since the whole aesthetic was darker with shadows, the ring light was the perfect tool for that. It was kind of a challenge though, because I had to position it just right to make sure it didn’t light up the whole room too much but still kept Triana visible. It worked out, but it was definitely a bit of trial and error. 

Friend: That sounds a little tricky, but it seems like you made it work. What about sound?

Me: For sound, I had to get creative. I used a wired headphone as a microphone. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked for what I needed,  it was just about getting decent sound while filming the dance scenes.

Friend: That’s pretty smart! What about editing? How did that go?

Me: Editing was where things got a bit complicated. I used Premiere Pro to edit this project. I already had some basic knowledge, but when it came to all the effects and advanced features, I had to watch a lot of tutorials and try things out before I figured it out. For the text and fonts, I used Canva since I've experienced using this platform before. And for very few things I used Photoshop. 

Friend: That’s awesome. So, what did you take away from all of that?

Me: Honestly, I think the biggest thing I learned was how to work with the tools I had and adapt. I didn’t have the best equipment, but I made it work with my phone, the ring light, and the headphones. It wasn’t perfect, but I figured out how to make the production look good anyway. I also feel way more comfortable with editing software now, and I know that’s going to help a lot in future projects.

Friend: That’s really impressive. Sounds like you learned a lot. I’m super excited to see it all come together!

Me: Thanks! I’m excited too. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I’m really proud of how it’s turning out. Can’t wait to show you!

Friend: For sure. Let me know if you need anything!

Me: Will do. Talk soon!

[Call Ends]

Script/Research For Question #3 of CCR

 For question 3 and 4 of my CCR I will be answering the questions as if I'm calling one of my friends to talk about my film opening " Fallen Rhythm ".  Here is the script for question 3 

 [Phone Rings, Friend Picks Up]

Me: Hey! How’s it going?

Friend: Hey! Good, just chilling. What’s up?

Me: So, I’ve been thinking a lot about Fallen Rhythm lately and how the process has changed since I first started.

Friend: Oh, nice. What do you mean?

Me: Well, when I first came up with the idea, I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted it to be. But as I kept working, it all started coming together. I did a lot of research on flamenco and its emotional depth, especially the idea of pushing through pain. That really helped shape Triana’s character and how I wanted her struggles to come across.

Friend: That’s cool. So, you focused a lot on research?

Me: Yeah, and then when it came time to plan, I got really into storyboarding and figuring out the pacing. I wanted that fast-paced opening with flamenco shoes, a red skirt, and then Triana entering the studio. So I had to figure out how to keep it dynamic but not too drawn out.

Friend: Sounds like you had it mapped out pretty well.

Me: Well, I tried to be prepared, but things definitely changed once I started filming. One thing that I had to adjust was the lighting—it just wasn’t giving me the vibe I wanted, so I had to tweak that .

Friend: Yeah, that’s always tricky. Was that the biggest challenge?

Me: Honestly, no. The biggest challenge was definitely managing everything within the time frame. It reminded me of when I worked on the music video assignment, where I had to balance everything from timing to making sure the visuals matched the pace of the song. This time, though, I was also dealing with the difficulty of filming the dance scenes and keeping everything in focus, especially with the fast movements.

Friend: Oh yeah, I remember how you had to adjust a lot with that. Time management was an issue then too, huh?

Me: Exactly! And, also, filming the dance scenes, I kept struggling with not showing up in the mirror. It was so tricky to get the angles right without accidentally showing myself and this made me lose so much time because I had to keep reshooting. 

Friend: Yeah, that sounds tough! But did the blogs help with managing it all?

Me: Actually, yes. The blogs really helped me stay on track. They forced me to break down the process into smaller pieces, which made it easier to focus on what I needed to do . It kept me on top of things, so I wasn’t scrambling last minute.

Friend: That’s actually a good way to look at it. So the blogs kept you organized?

Me: Yeah, exactly. Even though it felt like a lot at the time, they made me think ahead and helped me get everything together in the end. It made the whole portfolio process feel more manageable.

Friend: That’s awesome. You’ve definitely grown from it. I’m really excited to see how Fallen Rhythm turns out!

Me: Thanks! I can’t wait to show you. It’s been a lot of work, but I’m proud of how it’s turning out.

Friend: For sure. Let me know if you need anything!

Me: Will do. Talk soon!

[Call Ends]

Script/Research For Question #2 of CCR

 Here is my script for question 2 of my CCR:

[CLASSROOM SETTING SCRIPT – QUESTION 2: AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT, TECHNIQUES & DISTRIBUTION]

(Scene continues in the classroom. The teacher, played by me, sits at a desk. Behind her, her name is displayed on the wall—no whiteboard. On the desk, there’s a computer, a notebook, pencils, and some decorations. A student—played by my sister—sits at another desk, ready to ask more questions.)

STUDENT: We talked about the genre, but who is your target audience?

TEACHER: My target audience is young adults and independent film fans who like psychological thrillers. In my blog, I talked about how Fallen Rhythm explores desire and the pressure to keep going even when it hurts. That’s something a lot of young people relate to, especially students, athletes, and artists who push themselves to succeed. I looked at films like Black Swan (2010), which also explores physical and mental strain in an artistic setting.

STUDENT: How did you make sure your film connects with that audience?

TEACHER: A big part of audience engagement comes from visuals and sound. Like how Euphoria uses a purple color scheme to create a dreamlike feeling, I used deep reds and shadows to show intensity and exhaustion. Red represents passion and danger, which both play a role in Triana’s story.

I also used editing to build tension. In my blog, I explained how quick cuts of the flamenco shoes, the red skirt, and the dance studio create an intense rhythm. Instead of using traditional music, I let the sound of the cane drive the pace. The silence between hits makes the audience feel uneasy, which fits the psychological thriller genre.

STUDENT: So, where will people be able to watch it?

TEACHER: Since I’m an amateur filmmaker, I’m focusing on online platforms. YouTube and Vimeo are great because they allow independent filmmakers to reach a wide audience without a big budget.

(Turns to computer, pretending to type.)

In my blog, I talked about how independent films often gain attention online. The short horror film Lights Out was first uploaded to YouTube and later turned into a feature film. That showed me how online platforms can help small filmmakers get noticed.

STUDENT: Are you submitting to festivals?

TEACHER: Yes! I plan to submit Fallen Rhythm to student film festivals. Festivals give independent films exposure and allow filmmakers to get feedback from a wider audience.

My distribution plan is to upload Fallen Rhythm to YouTube or Vimeo, promote it on social media, and submit it to festivals. This way, it can reach both online viewers and the film community.

STUDENT: That makes sense!

TEACHER: Alright, to wrap up—Fallen Rhythm is for young adults and independent film fans. It uses strong visuals, sound, and editing to connect with them. For distribution, I’m focusing on online platforms and festivals.

Any final questions?

STUDENT: (Shakes head) Nope.

(The teacher closes her notebook, adjusts a decoration on her desk, and the student starts packing up. End scene.)