Planning -Mise-en-scene# 67

Mise-en-scene

Sup, I am drained of energy and can not express how tired I am however I can look forward to winter break which means to two weeks off from school. since this the final blog of the year since I am not going to blog during the break, as I planned to enjoy it fully. Mise-en-scene in film refers to everything the audience see within the frame and its arrangement, including set, props, actors, costumes, makeup etc. They are all placed to create meaning, mood, and visual story telling for the audience to interpret.

The film will start in the park Rafa wants the character to be seated on a park bench, alone. he wants the film to include midshots of him and the character development the character goes through, from him going through the stages of grieving.

Another key thing to consider is color symbolism, when it come to clothing because they can convey different meanings Rafa plans to wear dark cloths which can include colors such as black, blue or gray. And he also mentions that Madison to wear something that represents purity or angelic nature as she is going to be watching Rafa as a ghost you could say and to wear cloths that are white because they symbolize the things I stated previously 

In conclusion, clothing is going to be one of the most important thing of what I discuss with my group. Since this is my last blog of the year, I want to say Merry Christmas, and also Happy New Year. 

Planning- Equipment # 66

Equipment

 sup, I am tired of writing "hello" in every blogs to start it so I decided to change it a little. We need to the list of stuff we need to for filming in January. 

First, Although a professional camera is usually what we would need, we currently do not have one in our hands so we will would use one of our phones which would be Madison and Rafa because they have an iPhone and there camera is the best they argue that because I have an android and do not trust the camera my phone has.

Secondly, a stand or something to stabilize a camera is needed to prevent the camerawork from looking sloppy which will make it unprofessional is something I want to avoid as I am going to be working with the camera. So in short a tripod is a necessity, We have two options either one of us buying a tripod or we can ask Mrs. Ortiz to let us borrow a tripod and hope she agrees and trust us with the tripod.

Lastly, Something that we need is a microphone, I talked to a friend Serenity and she showed me a microphone that she is going to use for her music video. This helped realized that when we are at the park where are going to have a variety of background noise and a microphone can cancel some of that and focuses on the voice of Rafa when he is acting

In conclusion, We need a tripod, camera which will probably be one of our phones, and also a microphone and lets not forget about a editing software. The most important thing is to have a positive energy. Project like this one takes time and having positive energy can help us relieve a little of the stress

Planning - Cast and Roles #65

 

Cast and Roles 

Sup brochachos and brochahas, today has been a long day for me. At this point a I'm just waiting for the two weeks of break therefore I need to do my blogs in order to enjoy my break and sleep all day. In order to do that we need to plan who is going to do what in the group when it come to the film.

I am usually going to be as they said doing behind the scenes work which would doing be Camerawork, because there is no acting role for me. I will be recording the with of our phones with a tripod in order to get the best shots and angles we need. And also If needed I will help with other stuff such as editing.

Since I spoke of editing, the editor will be Madison as she is the one who holds the best skills when comes to editing and has the most experience with editing. As well Madison will be playing the role of the dead character due to her not wanting to part take in any of the speaking lines. and having her as the dead character could give the film a opposite gender character which can develop a platonic side

Lastly Rafa is going to be the lead character as he will play the character who is grieving in the film as previously stated that Madison did not want do be part of any speaking lines. Also I think me and Madison can agree that Rafa is the best actor of the group and also he is very exited about acting although he might not openly admit he wants to act as the lead role.

In conclusion, I will be doing the behind the scenes work, Rafa and Madison will act, Rafa being the lead character and Madison being the editor. I just think the cast is going to work fine and if there's a need of another character I can always help although my acting skills are not the best.  

Planning - Finalizing Script #64

Finalizing script 

Hello, last blog I left out with the process of creating a script. Today is the day the finalizes is to finish the script to stay on pace with the filming process and also with the blogs since sometimes I am drowning in homework and then I remember I have to do blogs but that is my fault as procrastinate often.

With that mentioned, the length of the script is something to expand because what AI generated is not always the best and sometimes is not as long and detailed for a film that is supposed to last 5 minutes, not 4, not 6 it has to be exactly 5 minutes. Rafa as the great friend he is decide on taking the script to what he called the workshop and work on it and then he send me the what he came up with.

This is what Rafa came up with: 

FADE IN:

EXT. PARK – EVENING

Golden hour slipping into blue. The park is almost empty.

A TEENAGE BOY (16–18) sits on a worn bench. His backpack rests at his feet. He holds his phone but doesn’t look at it.

Silence. Wind. Distant laughter from somewhere far away.

He exhales, shaky.

BOY
(quiet, unsure)
I didn’t know if I should come here.

He glances to the empty space beside him on the bench.

BOY (CONT’D)
I almost didn’t.
I thought… maybe if I don’t come, it means it didn’t really happen.

A beat.

He rubs his eyes hard, fighting tears.

BOY (CONT’D)
You always said this park was stupid.
Too quiet.
Too… honest.

A weak, broken smile.

BOY (CONT’D)
Guess that’s why I came.

He looks straight ahead now, as if she’s sitting there.

BOY (CONT’D)
I keep thinking I’ll see you walking up late, like always.
Saying you “lost track of time” when we both knew you just didn’t want to be alone yet.

His voice cracks.

BOY (CONT’D)
I should’ve noticed.

Silence. The weight of the words hangs.

BOY (CONT’D)
Everyone keeps saying, “There were no signs.”
But that feels like a lie people tell themselves so they can sleep.

He grips the bench.

BOY (CONT’D)
You asked me once if people would miss you if you disappeared.
I laughed.
I thought you were joking.

A tear slips. He doesn’t wipe it away.

BOY (CONT’D)
I keep replaying that moment like I can change it.
Like if I say the right thing now, you’ll hear it.

He turns more fully toward the empty space.

BOY (CONT’D)
I would’ve stayed.
I would’ve listened longer.
I swear I would’ve.

A long pause. Wind rustles leaves.

BOY (CONT’D)
Do you know how quiet everything is without you?
Even when people are talking, it’s like the sound stops halfway.

He swallows.

BOY (CONT’D)
They don’t know where to put your name in a sentence.
Past tense feels wrong.

He lets out a breath that’s almost a laugh, almost a sob.

BOY (CONT’D)
I’m mad at you.
And I hate that I’m mad.

He looks down at his hands.

BOY (CONT’D)
You didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye.
Or to say… thank you.

He looks up again.

BOY (CONT’D)
You were the first person who made me feel like I wasn’t invisible.
Like I mattered just by existing.

Tears fall freely now.

BOY (CONT’D)
I don’t know how to do this without you.
And everyone keeps telling me time will fix it, but time feels like it’s just… moving on without you.

He reaches into his backpack and pulls out a folded piece of paper.

BOY (CONT’D)
I wrote this yesterday.
Then I hated it.
Then I rewrote it.
Then I realized no words are enough.

He unfolds it but doesn’t read.

BOY (CONT’D)
So I’m just gonna say this instead.

He looks directly at where she would be.

BOY (CONT’D)
I’m still here.
And I’m gonna carry you with me… even when it hurts.

A deep breath.

BOY (CONT’D)
I hope wherever you are… it’s quieter in a good way.

He sits back. The sun dips below the trees.

After a moment, he places the paper on the bench beside him.

He stands, slings the backpack over his shoulder, hesitates—

Then gently taps the bench, as if saying goodbye.

FADE OUT.

END.

In conclusion, The dialogue explores the loss affects the friend who is still alive, aswell as the anger that the character experiences isn't out hatred and more toward emotion of guilt and loss you could say.I have to take hat off and give credit were credit is due to thank Rafa for working on the script as it looks great.

Planning - possible script #63

Possible script 

 Hello, Rafa created a scrip to start gathering some ideas for the real scrip at the end of the film. Since our film needs a male character and also a female character. Rafa is going to be the male character and Madison the female character. Although we do not know which of the character is going to dead. Also we do not really want to mentioned that the character committed suicide, however we want for it be allude to that conclusion in order for the film not to be censored.

Similarly, to when we need to create a title, I do not think any in our group including myself have the creative abilities to create a full script so we turned to another great friend Chat gpt to generate a script for 5 minutes short film about a teenager speaking to their teenage friend who took their own life. During these process That the character of the male character to be alive and also in a state of grieving, and focus on the emotions of anger and desperation. also the setting will be in the park.

Here what AI generated:

EXT. PARK – EVENING

A quiet park. Empty swings. A few birds in the distance.

A TEENAGE BOY sits alone on a bench. His shoulders are tense. He stares at the ground for a long time before speaking.

BOY
I didn’t know where else to go.

He kicks at the dirt with his shoe.

BOY (CONT’D)
I thought if I came here, maybe it would feel normal.
But it doesn’t.

He looks to the empty space beside him.

BOY (CONT’D)
You used to sit right there.
You said this bench was cursed because everyone who sat on it had bad luck.

A small, sad laugh. It fades quickly.

BOY (CONT’D)
Guess you were right.

Silence.

BOY (CONT’D)
I keep thinking I’m going to get a text from you.
Like this is all just some really messed up joke.

He pulls out his phone, checks it, then locks it again.

BOY (CONT’D)
Everyone keeps telling me they’re sorry.
But they don’t know what they’re sorry for.

He rubs his face.

BOY (CONT’D)
I should’ve said something different.
I should’ve asked more questions.
I should’ve noticed how tired you were all the time.

His voice starts to break.

BOY (CONT’D)
You asked me if people would care if you were gone.
I said, “Don’t be dramatic.”

He swallows hard.

BOY (CONT’D)
I didn’t know that question mattered.

A long pause. Wind moves the trees.

BOY (CONT’D)
I’m angry at you.
And I feel horrible for that.

He grips the edge of the bench.

BOY (CONT’D)
You left me with all this stuff I never got to say.

He looks up, eyes red.

BOY (CONT’D)
You were my best friend.
You were the only person I could sit next to and not feel weird about being quiet.

Tears fall. He doesn’t stop them.

BOY (CONT’D)
I don’t know how I’m supposed to do school or jokes or anything normal now.
Everything feels louder without you.

He reaches into his backpack and pulls out a folded paper.

BOY (CONT’D)
I wrote you a letter.
Then I tore it up.
Then I wrote it again.

He stares at it.

BOY (CONT’D)
Nothing sounds right when I read it out loud.

He sets the paper on the bench beside him.

BOY (CONT’D)
So I’ll just say this.

He turns fully toward the empty space.

BOY (CONT’D)
I miss you.
I’m still here.
And I wish you were too.

A beat.

The sun dips lower. The park grows darker.

The boy stands, hesitates, then lightly touches the bench where she would’ve been.

He walks away.

The paper stays behind.

FADE OUT.

END.

In conclusion the script that AI created is not half bad because I liked how the boy is the only the character speaking because Madison told us she does not want to have any speaking parts. Since Rafa is the one who is acting I can tell his a little excited towards acting because he really like the theme of what the film has.

Planning - final decision on location #62

  

Final decision on location 

  Hello, as I mentioned last blog, today my team are going to finalized the decision on where we are going to record for our short film. We need to finish this now in order to focused in other important aspects of our planning stage and we less than a month to start recording, and I think my group and I want to be on paced and not let the work drown us.

We finished the discussion that I showed in the last blog and this is how it went:

To summarized, I agreed with Rafa on what Madison mention previously of having multiple filming locations. She also mentioned that how Lake by the Bay is another park that we could go to, since its closer to her, And its not that far from my house As I live in the middle of where time team lives you could say. Rafa mentioned that we could also film at school or at one of our houses.

I said if we need a pool for recording my house is available although my house is not that big. Madison said that the park and school were a better place to record. We then settle to film in our school Cutler Bay Senior High and the park Lakes by the Bay.

Overall I think location is going to match pretty well with the location, as I think the setting will give the characters in the film a place to revisit old memories and that will help develop the emotional side of the film. Rafa mentioned that for most of the filming the characters will be sitting down or walking while they talk 

Here's a picture of the park Lakes by the Bay:

Here is also a picture of our school:

Planning- trying to find a location # 61

     

Trying to find a location 

Hello, today my team and I created a group chat in order to talk about the project because sometimes were are not in class together due to thing such as one of us being absent or in a field trip for example. With the group chat we can still make progress on the planning of the short film.

    Madison created the group chat, as she wanted to decorate the little details such as the profile picture and the name which the title of our short film. she reached to me and Rafa.

    Here how the conversation went:

    Basically, Madison asked me and Rafael if we had any idea or suggestions for any possible locations for filming. Rafa suggested the idea of going to a park for filming and he mention South - Dade which is not that far from my house so I said it was fine by me .However Madison told us that the park was to far from her house. She also gave the great suggestion that we use multiple locations for filming which will give us a more varied mise-en-scene.

    My team and I are still discussing the location for filming, as we have a little difficulties to chose a place, which is normal thing when working with a group because we all think differently sometimes.

Although good team work together to find a compromise, we will continue to discuses on our final location 

   

Planning - Title and Fonts #60

Title and Fonts

Hello, Today I sat down with my group (Rafa and Madison) to discuss our project possible title and fonts. This is because usually title and fonts go hand by hand and are very important elements when it comes to the cover of a film. Although the audience does not know it the title and fonts of a film cover affects what the audience will feel because it serves samples of emotions and experiences.

Therefore, our films need a good fonts to evoke the emotion of the film which is of sadness. Since me and Rafa had no sense of creativity and Madison was also lost when asked our very good friend google AI to give us some ideas for the title Rafa and I  decide that the best title for the film should be Echoes in the Empty seat. 

After we figure out the title we needed a good font to go with it.We needed a font that was simple and clean nothing to fancy just simple and that is has some flow to it. I search up a font generator to discuss with my group the most possible, the generator allowed me to type the name of the film and give the best possible results after discussing my group narrowed it down to two. 

(there was this font which was titled Regular Style)

(Then there was this font called Brass Hopper Head)

In conclusion I like the second one, which is something me and Rafa Agreed we liked, because it is still clean but steers away from looking to basic. I think this is the group will choose because it has what we want. That is all.