First day of Filming

Today is the first day of filming. During first block, we gathered together to film the one of the scenes. Me and Jazmin were the actors this time, since the scene we were filming only required the two of us, and Kenya became our cameraman. And because we chose our school as the filming location for this scene, we got to the spot we decided previously and started filming. Jazmin and I already had our lines memorized, therefore it only took us a few minutes of practicing. As we started filming, we encountered the first challenge of the day, we could not be outside of the school property without supervision, so a security staff had to watch us, and now our time was limited since he had to go back to do his work. The second challenge was that we kept laughing, we were already aware that this might happen because we are not professional actors, but we still tried our best. Since it was a short scene, it took us less time than I expected, after 40 minutes the shooting was done. 

 

  I am so excited to embark on this journey and see what the final outcome will be! So please feel free to share some tips and give feedback.

Sound

 Sound in filmmaking is a crucial element that can impact the audience's viewing experience.

Diegetic Sound: Refers to any sound that originates from within the fictional world of the film. This includes sounds that the characters within the film can hear, such as dialogue, footsteps, and sounds from objects within the scene. Diegetic sound is crucial part of the film's narrative and helps to establish the setting and, atmosphere. 

Example: A character in the film hears the school bell ring, and it is heard by both the character and the audience. This is an example of diegetic sound because it comes from the world of the film and the characters and audience are able to hear it. 

Non-Diegetic Sound: Refers to any sound that exists outside the fictional world of the film and is not heard by the characters within the story. This includes elements such as musical score, narration, and sound effects added for dramatic effect. Non-diegetic sound is typically used to enhance the emotional impact of a scene, guide the audience's interpretation of the narrative, or provide information that is not accessible to the characters.


Example: Dramatic music plays in the background during a scene where the killer is chasing one of the characters. This music is not heard by the characters within the film and exists for the benefit of the audience.

Choosing the perfect location

 Choosing the filming location for our teen drama set was a journey full of creativity and collaboration. Through careful decision making, we were able to find the perfect environment to bring our history to life. While we anticipate the release of our film, we invite you to join us on this journey through the hallways of high school, where every moment is a lesson in life, and justice search. Stay tuned to receive more updates as we embark on the next chapter of our filmmaking journey!

Progress March 2024

 With the pre-production complete, its is time to move on to the production stage! Now filming begins, bringing the script to life. We now have to work closely with our crew members and actors to capture the essence of the film. 

Progress February 2024

 February is coming to its end, and I would like to share my progress so far. During this month, we made sure to advance with the Pre-production so we are able to start filming during the next months. We mainly focused in creating characters and coming together to create a plot for our film. After giving life to our characters and deciding the plot, we moved on onto the casting phase, which was a complicated process, but we were able to find the right people to represent the characters.

Casting

 Casting is the process of selecting actors to portray characters in a film, television show, play, or other performance. It's a crucial step in the production process, as the actors chosen can greatly influence the success and reception of the project. My team as the casting directors are responsible for finding and auditioning actors. We are planning to cast our classmates to find the perfect fit to bring our characters to life!

Casting decisions can have a significant impact on the overall tone and direction of a project, so it's important that we find the right actors who can bring the our characters to life in an authentic way. Successful casting can elevate a production and resonate with audiences, while poor casting choices can detract from the storytelling and audience engagement. 

Connotation

 Today in class we learned about connotation. Connotation is a fundamental aspect of language that goes beyond the literal meaning of the words. It refers to the set of associations, emotions and implications that a word carries, that may vary depending on context, culture, and personal experiences. Understanding connotation is crucial when creating our script since it influences how words are interpreted and the impact they have on the audience.

Connotation adds depth to language, allowing people to convey shades of meaning beyond the explicit definition of a word. An example of this is the word "home." On a surface, it simply refers to a place where someone lives. However, its connotation evoke feelings of comfort, safety, and warmth. Connotations can be categorized into positive, negative, or neutral. Positive connotations evoke positive emotions or associations, such as "generous," or "success." Negative connotations, on the other hand, evoke unfavorable feelings, like "failure," or "misery." Neutral connotations lack strong emotional tone and are objective, such as  "book," or "chair."

Moreover, connotations are not limited to individual words but can also extend to phrases, symbols, and even nonverbal cues. For instance, the phrase "silver lining" carries positive connotations of finding hope in difficult situations, while symbols like a dove may connote peace or purity. Nonverbal cues, such as body language or tone of voice, can also convey connotations that complement or contradict verbal communication.

Connotations are also influenced by personal experiences and associations. A word that may have neutral connotations for one person may evoke strong emotions or memories for another based on their life experiences. For example, the word "cat" may carry positive connotations for someone who grew up with beloved family pets but negative connotations for someone who has had traumatic experiences with cats.

However, the use of connotations is not always straightforward and can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Different individuals may have different associations with the same word, leading to  confusion. Connotations can also be subtle and subconscious, making it challenging to control how they are perceived by others.

In conclusion, connotation plays a vital role in language and communication, adding layers of meaning and emotional resonance to words and phrases. By understanding the connotations of words and how they differ across contexts and people can communicate more effectively and evoke the right emotions through our script.