Editing Blog

  I began to edit 3 days after I filmed. Before editing, I had to return all of my filming equipment to Ms.Cats. I also had to dump my files and save them for future use. On Tuesday morning I returned all my equipment and signed them back in. This equipment included a tripod and camera, the SD card would be returned later. After I completed this, Ms.Cats lent me an SD card reader to dump my files. When I checked out my computer, I moved the files to the laptop. Next, i saved them to my flash drive under "Old Town Road". I then cleaned up my space and checked back in my computer. Lastly, I returned the SD card and reader back to Ms.Cats.

  The next day, I returned to class and began to edit. First, I checked out my laptop and retrieved my flash drive. My folder was on my flash drive as I left it. After checking my files to see if all were there, I opened pinnacle studios. Next, I imported my 67 files. This took a couple of minutes and while I waited, I re-watched some of my scenes/takes. When they finished importing, I remembered that I needed the audio file to start editing. I asked around and my classmates told me that I could use a youtube converter website to do so. On this website, I had to paste the link of the youtube audio into the bar so it would download. As soon as it finished downloading, I saved the audio file to my flash drive.

  I then imported the audio file into pinnacle studios from my flash drive. Next, I reviewed my clips to see which ones I would use when. Before i began putting the clips in place, I cut the audio down to the first minute and seven seconds. Next, I began to put the videos in place based on the parts of the song. I had to cut down several clips in order to fit them all. I also detached the audio on the videos. this was so that the only thing being heard would be the audio file. After this, I reviewed my clips to make sure everything was in place. I then exported it into a movie file and emailed it to myself. I would add the effects later on an editing app I use on my phone.

Filming Blog

  The last time I filmed, my actors weren't able to o much due to our lack of costumes. This time, I made sure to have all costumes, props, and equipment ready. Our preparations allowed us to film efficiently. During thanksgiving break, I was able to pick the costumes up from a family friend. The costumes consisted of fake horse body suits and cowboy hats. We also picked up props such as toy guns and holsters. Today we filmed both inside and outside. Our outside area consisted of a large grassy field, basked in sunlight. My two actors wore little-to no makeup which included: hydrating lip gloss and primer- to give their faces some shine. Our filming consisted mostly of key light that filled the whole scene.
  Before we started filming, I confirmed that the audio for the actual video will be the first minute and fifteen seconds of Old Town Road. This way, we were able to introduce all the actors of the video in the intro of the song.  I started off my filming with shots for the introduction. This included the actors individually dancing or looking at the camera. The introduction shots will be in slow-mo  once edited. While filming I went through all the scenes with my actors and made sure they did correct movements and acting. The introduction of the music video was filmed inside. While inside, we used the TV to play music and filmed in front of a crème backdrop. The rest of the video was filmed outdoors. Once we transitioned outside, I used a speaker to play music.
  I filmed the video from many different shots. Most of my filming included 2 shots of the two actors. The introduction shots I filmed were medium shots. The 2 shots included medium-closeups from the chest-up. I did some pans shots to showcase props and introduce the actors. I also filmed several tilt shots of the actors dancing. I filmed two transition scenes where the actors jumped at the end and beginning to look as if they jumped from inside to outside. I filmed the transition out scene from a low angle. The transition in scene was filmed at a high angle. I used several other angle shots and movements while filming. After, we cleaned up our space and removed the costumes and props.

Filming Blog

  Last week Wednesday I finished my storyboard and planning. I spent the rest of the week planning a filming date. In order to do this, I had to check in with all my actors and be positive that they would be able to film; we ended up choosing Saturday. I also had to take care of equipment, costumes, and locations. On Thursday evening, I was able to check out a camera, tripod, camera bag, and SD card from my classroom. I filled out all the necessary paperwork and the equipment was mine for the rest of the weekend! Next, I had my mom purchase a stick horse from Publix, a prop for one of my actors to use. I also asked a family friend to borrow a few cowgirl costumes. She agreed, but the costumes wouldn't be ready until the next week. For now, we had to improvise with what we had until the next filming date.

 Once Saturday morning came, I decided that today I would do inside scenes only. Once my three actors were all dressed and present I began to play the song: Old Town Road- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Cyrus. The first thing I shot were a few pan shots of the horse head for the intro. While I took some establishing shots-horse included- I had my actors practice their dance moves for specific parts of the song. I also did some brainstorming to fill in the gaps of my storyboard. For example, I figured out my plan for the full intro. To fill in the scenes with no lyrics, I will film varying establishing and wide shots of my actors and our locations. I will add effects (relating to the theme) to these scenes to increase it's aesthetic. In these scenes my actors wore normal clothes. These scenes consisted of more dancing and less acting, I will be filming more acting during my next filming session.

 As I began to film more, I took several close-ups of my different actors. These close-ups included the actors holding the toy horse. This made it look as if they were riding it. I also did a few tilts of the actors looking straight ahead as they did their dance moves. Once I edit these clips they can be turned into a sort of artistic illusion. I filmed takes of the actors alone and together. These clips will be arranged throughout the official music video. Due to the lack of costumes, we didn't film for more than an hour. We will pick up filming with costumes later this week.

Storyboard

Planning Blog

(1) Location:
I have chosen several locations around my neighborhood for my music video. These locations include: my backyard, a large grassy field next to my house, a room in my house, and our neighborhood park. My mom gave me permission to include the backyard in my filming and she also got permission from the association to include the park and field.

(2) Health + Safety:
To ensure the safety of myself and my actors, we will have parental supervision while filming outside. All actors will also wear kneepads under their pants to prevent knee injury. A first aid kit will be kept on hand during all filming.

(3) Props:
The props I use will be indirectly/directly related to my song and the story I will be telling in it. Some props will include a bed and house scenery that are indirectly related; they will help me tell a story in my video. Other props may include lassos and toy horses which are directly related to the theme of my song; this song is country and involves talk about riding horses.

(4) Costumes:
The costumes my actors will wear will include cowboys hats because the theme of the music video and song is country. Actors will wear little to no makeup and may also be seen with straws poking out of their mouths, similar to cowboys.

(5) Schedule:
 11/15: On this way we completed our research blog.
11/19 : Today I started and completed my planning.
11/20: Finish story board
11/21: Story board blog due
11/23: Film
11/24: Film
11/25: Must have done filming and be ready to make a blog
                         Thanksgiving break
12/2: Must have done filming and be ready to make second filming blog
12/10: Must be finished with CCR.

Intro to New Project

  Last week, I successfully completed and submitted my commercial project. I was also able work efficiently on my creative critical reflection questions and turn them into my teacher. Throughout my commercial project I gained and learn many skills and things in relation to the filming world. I was able to integrate technologies and programs such as, Pinnacle studios, the Blogger app and website, Cannon cameras and filming stands. My favorite part of the filming process was the editing stage. I favor the editing stage because, I successfully learned how to enhance media through a computer program. I will now begin the next project, a music video.

  The song I chose for my music video project is: Old Town Road. Old Town Road was written by a male rapper, Lil Nas X. This song was performed by both Lil Nas and Billy Ray Cyrus. Lil Nax X's 'Old Town Road' hit is categorized as country music. One reason I chose this song is because it's not only popular and highly favored, but it is also energetic/upbeat, perfect for a music video. For this project I decided to part ways with my partner and work alone. This decision led to a lack of actors which I solved very quickly: I decided to film my music video starring three of my younger sisters; they love Old Town Road and dance to it almost everyday, this is another reason I chose the song for my music video.

  The genre of my song is country. There are countless conventions seen throughout country music videos. Country music videos include many tracking shots, establishing shots, closeups, and pan movements. Tracking shots make the audience feel as if they are moving with the actors as they ride on horses, close-ups often introduce the character, establishing shots highlight the scene of the music video, and pan movements are used to introduce a new scene or character. There are many sound effects including ambient sound , digetic sound, and non-digetic sounds. The ambient sounds include crickets and chirping birds. The digetic sounds include the thump of horse hooves and saddles, while the non-digetic sounds highlight different sound effects such as "BAM" or high-pitched effects to introduce shocking new actors. In the editing of country music videos, I see countless cut-aways, shots/reverse shots, graphic matches, action matches, jump cuts, and a few montages. One music video even included an iris in transition. Very common costumes in these videos were cowboy hats, button-down tees, boots, and clothing. Costumes also included gun holsters and sometimes dark shades. The props used were often horses, saddles, tooth-picks (held in the corner of their mouths), trucks, and sometimes guns. Little to no makeup was used in these music videos, they were often used to create identification tattoos on the actors. Settings included big grassy fields and empty roads. I will begin the planning for my music video within the next week.

Edtitng Blog

  After getting new laptops, we began editing on Monday. When I arrived to class I checked out a laptop and then started it up. After logging in, I inserted my flash drive to move all of our media files to the laptop. Next, I clicked on the Pinnacle Studios application and waited for it to load. The application took a while to load so I restarted the laptop upon Ms. Cat's request. The application acted the same after I restarted it so I put it away and checked out a new laptop. After logging into my new laptop, I moved the media files from my flash drive onto it. My partner and I tried the application again. This time, it took a couple minutes to load, but opened successfully. I took a few minutes to get myself familiar with the application.
  I successfully found my way around the application and began to import all of our footage onto it. Next, I went through the clips to see which ones could be of use in our commercial. I found an establishing scene clip where I introduced the audience to our school. It looked good; however, the audio wasn't quite fitting. I decided to do a voice-over. I had to play around a little until I was able to left click the mouse and find a tab that said "detach audio". Next, I found the video that I needed for the voice-over, detached the actual video, and left the sound on. This was all in a separate track. After watching the clip, it looked perfect. I then imported the next clip of the storyboard. The bell rang and it was time to go, we were told we would have time to finish editing next class.
  My partner and I continued to edit on Wednesday. I checked out our laptop as soon as I got to class and logged in. Before leaving on Monday, I saved the movie file to my flash-drive. Once my laptop loaded, I copied this file to our desktop. Next, I started pinnacle studios and reviewed our clips. I began to cut and import videos onto the track, putting together the commercial. All the clips were in order of the story board. After I finished putting them together, Ms. Cats watched the commercial, she liked it but we now needed to cut down some clips. The time exceeded the limit, 30 seconds, by 2 seconds. I began to edit the clips and added transitions such as, cross fades and dissolves. I also cut down come clips that could be cut. After watching our commercial, I exported it onto my flash-drive. I then emailed the final product to Ms. Cats and put away our laptops and supplies.

Editing Fail Blog

  Hello. Welcome to my editing blog about how we were not able to edit. During our last Media studies class, I arrived eager and ready to edit our film. Before my partner even got to class, I was in my seat at one of our age-old computers and already logging in. Once my computer loaded, I double-checked that our footage was there. After watching a few clips, my partner and I got ready for the next steps, the actual editing process. I began to search for pinnacle studios but could not find it. Pinnacle studios is the application that we will be using to edit and create our films throughout the class. After alerting Ms.Cats of our issue, she made an announcement to our class. Apparently all the computers on our side of the rooms did not have Pinnacle studios.
  Ms.Cats explained to us that in order to install this application on our computers, we might need the assistance of the school's tech people. They were supposedly busy setting up for an event our school was having later that week. We tried to install them anyways. Our computers have been running since 2008 so they are extremely slow. After a while, Ms.Cats inserted a CD into my computer. She told me to alert her when anything popped up on the screen. She also told me alert her if the installation was successful. At first, nothing happened. My screen was blank for about 10 minutes. During these 10 minutes, I occupied myself with another assignment.
  Finally, a loading sign appeared on my screen. A question from the computer then popped up. It asked if I wanted to allow the app to make changes. I called Ms.Cats. She clicked the yes button and filled in the service username and password. After some time another loading screen appeared. The application was now installing. Ms.Cats told me to alert her if it fully installed. A quarter till the end of class, the application still hadn't installed. We needed new and updated computers. Ms.Cats told us all to move our footage onto a backup such as a flashdrive, just incase they got new computers over the weekend. She said that in the near future, we will be editing on laptops.

Filming Blog

  Before I began filming I had to gather all the equipment together. First, I filled out the form that allowed me to check the equipment out. Ms.Cats then gave me all the equipment necessary; this included a tripod, camera, pass, and SD card. Before I left the classroom to film, I asked Ms.Cats and my fellow peers, any questions I had on how to use the equipment. I then followed my storyboard and went to the first scene's location: the school's entrance through the bus loop. First, I took a couple takes recording the "Fort Lauderdale High School" sign and saying: "welcome to Fort Lauderdale High School". This scene was considered an establishing shot. Next, I allowed my partner to take a few shots, copying my exact movements. I then recored three tapes of my partner standing below the sign and welcoming our audience to the school. After I finished up recording the tapes and securing the tripod, we moved to our next scene/location.
  For our next scene, we needed a flying L sign. After asking around, I managed to find a small flying L sign on one of our buildings. I got close to the sign so that it would look zoomed in on the camera, and took a couple takes recording the sign and having my partner voice: "home of the flying l's". My next stop was the cafeteria. On our way there, we came across the senior patio and I saw a huge flying L sign painted onto the concrete, I decided to redo the scenes we had just taken using this sign instead. I took several low angle and high angle shots of my partner standing on top of the L and repeating her line. I then took a wide shot introduction of the patio. We continued to move onto the cafeteria and I took a few shots inside the cafeteria. i then filmed my partner standing in front of the cafe sign and introducing it to the camera. Next, we moved to the front of the restrooms where several club signs were hung on a wall. I filmed my partner speaking briefly about the Cambridge and Law program. Then, I filmed her introducing a few of our school's clubs.
  After leaving the restrooms, I carried the camera and tripod to our track. I asked a student from another group if she would mind doing a jogging take for us and she agreed to it. I gave the equipment to my partner and I sat as she took a shot of the student jogging and saying: "this is our sport's field ". When she finished, I took a couple shots of the field and me talking over it, just incase we needed to do a voice-over. I had my partner stand under a tree and I took shots of her doing the outro to our commercial. After re-doing some shots, I took the equipment back to the classroom with 25 minutes left to dump. I turned in my pass once i got into the classroom. Next, I checked out an SD reader from Ms.Cats and inserted the SD card into it. Once I put the flash-drive into the computer, i began to dump all the clips into a new folder I created called: "Media folder". After checking to see if the clips were all saved, I removed the reader from my computer and returned it to Ms.Cats along with the rest of my equipment. Lastly, I logged out of my computer and listened to Ms.Cats explanation on how to complete this blog.

Storyboard

  There are many different angles/shots that will be used in our school commercial. One of the shots will be an establishing shot; this will show the audience where the scene takes place. Many eye-level shots will be seen in our commercial. These shots will be regular eye-level scenes that are shown shooting straight ahead. Point of view shots will be used as we show the school through the eyes of our actors. Over-the-shoulder shots will feature our actors walking through the hallways of the school. We may also use a low-angle to view the entrance of the school from shooting straight up.    
   Different movements will be used in our commercial. We will use the tilt movement to reveal different locations within the school. The locations we will use can vary. Examples include, the media center, our café, and the track field. We will also use tracking shots. This shot will track the actor as they run or move, making it look as if the camera is moving with them.The tracking shot scene will feature athletes and activities that usually happen after school. We will also make use of the zoom feature. The zoom will be used to focus on people or objects within our commercial.
 There are also several different editing techniques we will be using. Our commercial will include voice-overs, used to introduce the school. It will also feature pop-ups of different clubs and activities. We will use cross cutting to switch from scene to scene. Another editing technique we will use includes eye-line matches. We will edit titles into our commercials to introduce and name our project. Several inserts will also be utilized in our commercial.

Editing Lesson Blog

  Today, we discussed how to properly use our cameras/tripods, as well as editing using Pinnacle Studios. In our class, we will be using Cannon cameras to film. We were taught how to turn them on and off, how to do takes, and how to set them up on our tripods. The first thing we were taught to do before starting our editing is to dump all our footage. We would start by right-clicking our desktops and creating a folder for all our footage. Next we would put all our footage into this folder. The  person who logs in the first time we do this, must log in every other time because all of our footage would be on their desktop. The definition of dumping is: taking all the footage from your camera or SD card and move it to your computer. The easiest way to find your footage folder would be to go to the DCIM; If that fails, you would be able to go to private and find all the footage that was dumped from your camera with the same date and time. The dates and times of all footage must be checked to be sure it is ours.
  Next, we logon to Pinnacle Studios and switch to the editing screen. To start editing, we must import all of our desired footage into pinnacle. After clicking on the plus button, you highlight all the footage you want to use and check that the dates and times are correct. Double-check that all your footage is checked and then import it. There is a section for your raw or original footage and then a section for the footage that has been edited. There are also three slides: Titles, Films, and Music; The different elements must be under the correct slides to work appropriately. To start editing the clips, highlight the ones you want to use at the moment and slide them down to the track. Wait until the yellow line has turned green, that means your clip has fully-loaded. To split your clip, you must click the razor blade once (on the section you want to cut) and it will automatically split.
  One type of editing is color enhancement. This can be used to adjust the lighting on your clips, or to add cool color effects. Another type of editing includes transitions. Standard transitions include: zooms, wipes, and fades. We also learned how to detach audios. If you want to do a voice-over, you must film the speaker for their voice and detach the video instead of the audio. Another effect you can use while editing are titles. When you click on a title, the words your text here pop up and you can enter the name of your title. You can adjust your title by size, shape, color, and direction. When you have your final product you must export it. The project should be saved at "sd best quality", exported to mp4, and saved with the desired title. After you check to see that your project was properly exported, you can close Pinnacle and turn in the assignment.

Planning Blog: scripts, costumes, props

  Today I will be writing a planning blog for the commercial I will be creating. This commercial will be about my school, Fort Lauderdale High. We will capture the best qualities and essentials of our school to bring appeal to our commercial. There will be information about our magnet programs, sports, clubs, and our school meals. Everything advertised in our commercial will be used to entice others to attend our school. The planning will include locations, props, costumes, schedules, and back up plans. All of these items will be listed below.

Props: 

• lunch trays and food/lunch tables
• library books
• school supplies
• any other supplies needed 

Costumes:

• Broward County Schools dress code.
• Club t-shirts 
• Sport Uniforms 

Schedule:

• Research blog should be done by 9/7
• Planning the script, costumes and schedule

Locations:

•  Different places in the school
• Track field
• Cafeteria 
• Audiotorium 
• Senior Patio

Back up plan:

•  If the weather is bad, we can film in front of the media center or in the auditorium.
• If someone is absent we will work on editing and taping locations.

Research Blog

   The Commercial I will be filming will be a highlight of Fort Lauderdale High School. In this blog, I will list the conventions and codes that are often used in school commercials. School commercials consist of a variety of Mis En Scene.  The locations of these types of film always include in-school or classroom scenes; This consists of school cafeteria's, football fields, classrooms, computer labs, and gyms. In the commercials, students wear school appropriate clothing or uniform; Some students even wear prop glasses to give off a vibe of intelligence. Teachers placed in school commercials are often seen teaching with a stick that they use to bring attention to the board. Scenes shot in the cafeteria will include different foods, students milling around the room, standing in lunch lines, or eating.
Other props included in these commercials include desks, lunch tables, school supplies such as paper and pencils, and sports gear.
   There are a variety of sounds and editing techniques that fall into school commercials. This includes digetic sounds such as two actors/students having a conversation, the topic based on the school. Soundtracks used in these commercials often contain upbeat and energetic music with voice-overs explaining the different pin-points of their school. Jump cuts are often added into these commercials. An example of this would be a cut of students leaving the cafeteria to sitting in class. Inserts are also very common. Pictures that are often inserted include awards and contrasting locations within the school such as, the culinary arts room and the media center. Eyeline matches show the audience the point of view of different actors within the commercial.
   There are also many different camera angles and movements used throughout school commercials. Establishing shots are used to introduce the school as well a different locations such as a football field. Tracking shots are use to film the actors as they walk to class. High angle shots film students sitting at their desks and attentively watching the board. Zooms are used very often to focus on a body of text or even actors within the commercial. 2-shots and 3-shots show students talking in pairs and groups on lunch breaks. Point of View shots are used to highlight the school through the eyes of an actor. There a variety of other camera shots, angles, and movements used within school commercials.

Aice Media Studies Blog

 Hi, my name is Sanaa; Suh-Nay-Uh, the second to last A in my name has an accent but since I'm typing this on a computer, you cant see that. I am in the law program at my school and I currently take Criminal Justice 2, Aice Sociology, Pre-Aice World History, Aice English, Financial Algebra, Chemistry Honors, Economics with Financial Literacy, and Aice Media Studies of course. I take school seriously and as much as I hate to admit it, obsess over my grades, but in the end it takes me a very long way. I am an introvert, I rather be to myself than around a large group of people and I consider myself very awkward. Even though I'm sweet and polite, especially towards adults and people I've just met, meeting anyone new is like I said, awkward. I do come across people once in a while that I just click with and feel comfortable around, but its rare. I thrive around older people who are extremely cute to me and seem to be able to uphold the best and most intelligent conversations. Ok, I'm not a total geek, let's just say I've always been ahead of my time. And no, even though I am humble about my looks, I'm not that weird awkwardly "ugly" kid who everyone makes fun of, though sometimes I have a strong urge to be that kid's friend -you know as long as they aren't seriously crazy or anything-. I could be that popular girl with all the friends if I wanted to, but that wouldn't be the real me and if I had to list all my qualities, fake wouldn't be one of them.
 My greatest pet peeve of all time is being video-taped or photographed, especially without my consent. I love movies and shows but not as much as I love books, and candy has to be one of my favorite things, even though I have braces (which I sadly never want to get removed). I am currently obsessed with Call Of Duty (a videogame) and am now considering buying a ps4. I am also currently missing  my favorite person of all time, but that's another story for another time. If I had to pick one word to describe myself, I would say there isn't a word big enough; I definitely am different, I get that a lot. Waking up at 4:40 every morning, searching for clothes, and having to do my hair is actually starting to seem a lot like hell and that scares me a little lol. I have a strong urge to help anyone in need yet I wasn't born with a million hands, so that's a bummer. I have strong views on loyalty and honesty -to a certain extent, that extent being my mother, sorry mom-. I mean who doesn't lie to their moms every now and then? Like no mom I didn't eat one of your cookies and I certainly don't know where it could've went. I would also say im also a little weird and I have many layers. Though Im the sweetest person ever, I love challenging authority-it makes me feel like a mini sociologist-, thanks to my teacher Mrs.Blecker; I can be very stubborn at times, and maybe I have tiny teeny weeny anger issues but very thick skin. All around I'm a good hearted girl with a good head on my shoulders.
 I've grown up fixated on shows such as Criminal Minds and Law and Order. I believe this is why I joined the Law program. But I've always seemed to be most aware and protective of victims of sexual assault, soon Law and Order SVU (Special Victims Unit) became my favorite show, Olivia Benson becoming one of my heroes. I wanted to be apart of a team like this and help fight these types of crimes. I soon realized that I didn't like the idea of putting myself in immediate danger every single day, especially because I want to have a family of my own. So I settled on a more subtle but extremely important part of the process, helping these individuals heal mentally. In the future my goal is to become a successful clinical psychologist, a person that others can come to, a person that can help people let go of their pain and lead a happy life. My dream school is FAU Honors College and I also want to have a few of my own businesses up and running by the time I turn 22. My goal in life is to be happy and successful. P.S, I laugh at almost everything, laughing is one of my favorite things and my laugh can often be very painful to listen to... Just thought I should throw that out there haha. I'm not definitely not as boring as this first blog might make me seem. Thanks for reading, have a nice day :).