Editing Few Filmed Scenes

From both of the days we filmed together, we only finished 7 pages of the storyboard. This means we are still missing the last 3 pages, which include more dialogue and exchanges between both of the characters. However, Mariapaula and I decided that it is best to use her computer's editing program to gather all the recorded clips and watch them in order. The editing program we used is different from the iMovie program we used before. I happened to find iMovie much better, but Mariapaula found this editing program much easier. We simply just wanted to order the scenes chronologically, so it did not really matter that the program was worse, in my opinion, than iMovie. We took out the SD card and put all the footage into a folder. Where we then sorted all the clips that we thought were viable for the opening sequence and deleting the bad ones. Once we chose all the good videos we added them into the raw footage area of the editing studios. We dragged all the videos from the section to the track, and without any editing, the whole video was about 5 minutes without all the scenes being there.

Obviously, we had to trim most of the footage to decide with ones were too long and to see if we had to reshoot it. In the beginning this was very frustrating to do because I had to keep rewatching them. We were tired of it and did not want to keep going, but we continued. After all this, we managed to shorten to time to a minute and 45 seconds. We did this by speeding up some clips that were too long and cutting out the short ones entirely. We also did this with the approval of the rest of our group members. We plan on reshooting a scene with me because it came out way too long. There are still 18 boxes/scenes left to finished filming, especially Mariapaula's dialogue on the phone and the shot of the car going off in the street. 

Continuing the Filming Process

Since I had left early on the first day, everybody else kept filming without me. They shot many scenes in which I was not included or featured. One being the scene where Mariapaula is getting ready. And her getting a phone call and she is speaking on the phone. My group wanted to get as much done as possible. Throughout the entire filming process, we would check off scenes from the storyboard. Before I left, we all went through each scene and marked which ones I was needed in. Having those scenes in mind, I could then rehearse at home. As well as getting my clothes and props ready for the next filming day.

My group also used my SD card for the footage. Since I left home, I saved all the footage to a flash drive and took it home. Typically, when we film for this class, we use my computer to edit. When I got home, I viewed the footage. I also sorted out the good footage and the bad footage into seperate folders. With the good footage now sorted out, I could begin to put them together. I then sorted out the good footage again in chronological order. This was done to preview how the footage we had would play out. I then made sure that there were no mistakes in the footage. This includes any person in the back by mistake or prop. As well as making sure the lighting, angle, and movement all worked out well

Beginning the Filming Process

     To begin the filming process, we decided to meet at our partner Mariapaula's house on February 17, 2020. This was because there was no school that day since it was President's Day, which is a national holiday. I was playing the role of a kidnapper getting ready in the morning. I wore a black sweater with light blue jeans and black shoes. My "pajamas" for when I woke up in the morning was a striped navy blue and white long sleeve shirt and red pajamas. I also brought a bath robe from my home for Mariapaula to use in one of her scenes where she gets out of the shower. We also used my personal SD card to store the footage, so I brought that as well. However we forgot to check out a camera from our teacher beforehand. So we asked our friend Macy, who was coming with us, to bring her camera.

     I arrived at Mariapaula’s house at around 12:45 PM. I took out all my clothes and utilities and set them out and ready to use. We waited for our other group mates, Rafi and Emily, as well as Macy. Macy arrived at around 1:30 PM, about 20 minutes after Rafi and Emily. When she arrived we were then able to begin filming. First we filmed the scene of Mariapaula changing. Next we shot my scene, where I was also changing and getting ready. They placed the camera in the closet in front of me and I had to open the closet and grab clothes and walk away. We then shot in the same room the scene of me shaving, using a fake razor and fake blood, and Mariapaula’s shaving cream. I had to wince to pretend to be hurt from the razor. Lastly, we shot the scene of me grabbing the items being used to “kidnap” Mariapauala’s character, putting it in the trunk, closing the trunk, getting in the car, and driving away. I was wearing  my black sweater, blue jeans, and black pants outfit for all these scenes except the one of me getting ready.

Planning: Storyboard

Attached to this blog is the storyboard of our final task. Each slide contains a sheet of what we will be filming. There are 10 pages for the storyboard template and each page has 6 boxes. The 6 boxes have  specific drawings of every action. The camera’s movement and location is described with angles and shots, for example, high angles and tracking shots. The actions of what the actors should be doing in each scene is also included. Sound is specific, especially diegetic and dialogue between characters. The titles are written in black pen in order to have an idea of where they should be placed in the scene. It also helps to plan out what titles we want to use for our final task. Hopefully our group would not have to add more scenes because it is a short opening sequence. 

Planning: Title Design

Attached is the planning for our title design for our final task. We want our titles to be unique and eyecatching. We do not want them to be just some words we throw at the bottom of the screen. We decided on using different fonts depending on when and where the titles will pop up. For example, a chilling font will be used for titles that go up during the Driver's scenes. And for the victim's scenes, a happier font will be used for those titles. The main title will be bold and large to attract the audience's attention and so that you will not be able to miss it. Most titles in the two minutes will be monochromatic, meaning it will either by black on white, or white on black. The spacing for only the main title will be different since the font we are using puts the letters too close together. The titles will fit the background and most will last 2-3 seconds, long enough for the general audience to read.

Plan for Filming

Attached is the location, sound, participants, safety, and schedule of our final task. The locations used for our film will be Mariapaula's house and her neighbor's house. We will mostly be using the inside of M's house as the setting for both the Driver and the Victim. We will use different rooms to add the illusion of the Driver and Victim getting ready in different houses. We will mainly only use the outsides of the house for establishing shots. The sound used will be royalty-free background music used throughout the entire two minutes. Other sounds will be mainly sound effects like doors opening or faucets running. Participants will be all four of us. Darwin and Mariapaula are the actors, while Rafael and Emily will work behind the scenes. One slide on the slideshow is the overall schedule of the project, while another slide is the filming schedule in detail. In the slideshow, we covered many practices we will be doing to make sure we are safe at all times. For example, one scene involves the Driver shaving his face. During that scene, the razor being used will be dulled to prevent cuts.

Planning: Sound Script

Attached in this blog is the sound script for our final task. This is the script for every sound made, including dialogue, music, and any form of noise made. Each slide contains at least 2 scenes from our film, which describes all the sounds made in that particular scene. It shows whether or not the scene is playing music, and describes what genre or mood it makes if there was any. As well as any form of exchange in dialogue between characters, or a noise that someone makes. The sound script also includes sounds of objects or movement in the scene. For example, if the shower were to turn on, the slide would describe the sound of the handle, as well as the sound of the showerhead itself. If there happens to be no dialogue of any sort in the scene, it will be mentioned. Additionally, it also states the kind of sounds that are occurring: diegetic or non-diegetic. Diegetic meaning that both the characters and the audience can hear the sound happening in that scene, and non-diegetic meaning that only the audience hears what the characters cannot.

Planning: Shooting Script

Attached is the shooting script for our final task. Each slide contains the general shooting details of each scene. For example, the second slide is for scene 1. It comprises the type of shots and angles in the scene. It has what the character(s) or subject(s) are doing in the scene. It also has the lighting; whether it is bright and cheery or dark and gloomy. The entire slide show is thirteen slides: one slide for the title and twelve slides for each of the twelve scenes. A majority of the scenes are morning-routine scenes from both Carolina's and Kenneth's point of view. Their routines are cut together to compare and contrast their preparation for the day. For example, while Kenneth just messes with his hair really quickly, Carolina puts thought into how she looks for the day.