CCR Question #3

    CCR number 2

    For, my second Creative Critical Reflection video I will discuss how my partner and I have developed our production skills as we have been creating this project for about seven weeks now. I can proudly say that I have grown within my production skills in Aice Media compared to the beginning of the year or even before taking this class. However based on the 3rd question, "How did your production skills develop throughout the project?" I am considering answering this after question #4. In question 3 I have to reflect on my production skills throughout the entirety of this film opening portfolio project, which seems like a good ending point for my CCR.

    As mentioned in my previous blog post I know I want to execute this by doing an interview style video of my face and then integrating pictures and videos of the production process as I mention these entry points.

Topics to mention:

• Real life experience 
• My honest feelings on the project
• Research (updating blogs with thriller conventions or audience) 
• Process (location scouting, actors, costume design, lighting techniques)
• Filming and editing (discuss little experience before)

    
    When I first heard about this project I was worried I wouldn't produce a good film or even have enough tools for it. Especially considering my partner and I’s are doing this for the first time at a beginner level in film, editing, and creating a full production from start to finish. But now that we are done we have come a long way from the start of this course. Creating a film is a very long journey and to some may seem difficult but I found the actual process to be entertaining and interesting to be apart of. 

    My partner and I haven't had experience filming like other students who have been apart of CBTV or even film class. This was a completely new experience for the both of us and the process didn't come easy. However, we work well as a team and use each other to bounce back off ideas, which is how we came up with such an elaborate film idea.

    First, even just picking a genre we wanted to go based off was difficult with so many good options to choose from, but as we researched we were both fond over the idea of doing a thriller. For both of us, this was taking a big step and stepping outside of our comfort zone since they're specific conventions in a thriller that have to be mastered like creating suspense. We researched conventions and came up with possible film ideas, each landing on some we didn't love. With many class periods thinking strategically and different plot ideas we landed on ours. 

  
    Once we knew our idea it was time for the production process to begin such as finding actors, creating costume designs, character mood boards, location scouting, script making, and eventually start filming.

    We both came to the realization at some point before filming that we were nervous for the outcome because of how highly we talked about this project and how we both pictured the film to turn out professional. We were nervous our vision wasn’t going to come to life because we didn’t have the best tools like a professional camera or stabilizer. Once we began the filming process we got over our fear relatively quickly as we played around with different visions, shots, audio, and used a tripod to assist in filming. Because we spent most of our time with this project planning, organizing, scripting, and scouting for locations and especially actors compared to the filming and editing portion I think that is why we were able to develop such a well made production. 

    My true honest feelings about this project is I am glad we are finished with it! However, I really did enjoy making this film for the past couple of weeks. I found myself saying to my partner "I am actually excited to start filming," because it has been such a new experience. I have never in my life created something like this with so much detail and thought put into everything. But I also wouldn't say it was only the best of the best experience, because my partner and I also struggled with a couple of things. Finding actors took us a really long time which backtracked our filming process. This worried us because we felt like we were behind but once we figured it out everything went smoothly. In the end I think it has been a learning journey to say the least but has helped me improve tremendously my filming and editing skills, when compared to other projects we have done in class such as the One Word Sound project.