Final Project - Hemlock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YylmvVmyXck&t=15s

Week Nine- Project Reflection

It's very rewarding to look back upon the start of this project and read over all my blog posts. I was very apprehensive about beginning my portfolio project, but as I've gone along and seen what I've accomplished and all the knowledge I've built up along the way about film, it helped me feel more comfortable working in this medium. I'm satisfied with my film opening, despite it not being what I originally envisioned because I know I worked to the best of my ability and I had a lot of fun making it.

There were a lot of times during this process that I felt at a loss, especially with quarantine happening. Sometimes life just throws you curve balls and you gotta roll with the punches- and life seems to throw a lot of curve balls. Whenever I took a break, I came to this project among other assignments to research and develop what my film opening was meant to convey. To make sure that my audience can fully appreciate what I was trying to do, and that of course my mise-en-scene looked good. I tried to immerse myself in my blog as much as possible so that when the time to film came I'd be over prepared and familiar with my material.

This project was clearly a challenge, and one that I was happy to take. It was a test of my abilities and it helped me learn more about myself and my habits online, in the world and with different art forms. This course was more than life changing as well as this assignment and I'm excited to take A Level next year and challenge myself all over again.

Week Nine - Editing Progress

The only editing software that I've used before is WeVideo, introduced to me as a free editing site by my teacher. It's not the best software, and sometimes it can freeze and the editing process can be tedious, but it's what I feel most comfortable with. I recorded everything on my phone, so after sending all of my content to my laptop, I got right on that editing grind. Partly because I just wanted to be done with it but also because I was eager to see the finished product. I'd been working on this project for so long, developing it and stressing about it and I want badly to see what I'd created. 

I got all of the videos together and finished the initial editing, but now I have to edit in foley and the credits, etc. It's shorter than I'd hoped, and I'm considering filling in black screen for the credits as opposed to the shots I filmed of the props- I'm a little disappointed by this because I wanted to get a surplus of video content to use, but when it started raining on set I thought what I got already was good enough. 

Week Eight - Filming

Due to quarantine, Markham Park isn't open and I'm forced to change my set to a patch of grass near a lake in my community. It's a pretty nice spot right up against a tree and some bushes, even if it was windy and birds were everywhere, getting in the way. Quite a few people were also bike riding or walking their dogs by the spot I chose, but they weren't in any of my shots.

I only had one problem while filming- one of my friends who said they would help by being an actor never got back to me and instead another friend of ours took their place last minute. This meant I was a couple hours behind schedule, but we were able to finish every thing I needed plot-wise right before it started raining. I wish I'd gotten more, just to add some more beef to the plot line, but I did what I could and I'm glad.

My friends are by no means professional actors, but they were both patient with me in understanding my directions and remembering their lines. I really appreciate that they took the time to drive down to my neck of the woods and put effort into embodying my vision for this project. However I'm not surprised that they took it seriously considering one of them had taken this course and understands the process I'm going through. 

Even though I ran into a little problem with my actors, I'm happier with the results I have now. These two friends looked good together- they complemented each other in a way, and this included their outfits. I told them both the color palette I was looking for, and they both ended up wearing green and red. Natalia had to wear black (because after speaking with them I found they didn't have any white clothes) and wore green pants by chance, and Olivia wore red, white and a green mask that her mother had made her (around her neck throughout the video). I didn't really notice the mask until I finished filming, but the colors are all cohesive so I don't mind it that much.

Week Eight - Progress

I know that during quarantine is not the best time to film a project. I know that. I know I should just stay home for another month straight, rotting in my bed and doing homework instead of meeting up with two friends I haven't seen in months. Trust me, I know, but I don't really have a choice here. I'm meeting up with my two friends to film tomorrow, but due to my situation there are a lot of things I'd anticipated doing that aren't a reality anymore. Concerning props, set location, etc. 

I put together all of the props I'll be bringing with me to my set tomorrow; instead of using one of the blankets from Amazon that I browsed I found a blanket in my house that looks like a proper picnic blanket. I ended up buying the blanket anyway (because why wouldn't I) but using this blanket would get the idea across that they're having a picnic gathering much better. 

From the picnic set that I have, I'm using a plate and two of the mugs. There were also thermoses that I did not catch when I'd rummaged through it, so I decided I'll use one to put tea in, so that I can pour an actual drink into the cups while designing my set. Tomorrow morning before the set I'll cut strawberries and put wrap over it to preserve it. 

My other props include the journal with all of their planning, and a small glass vial with "Hemlock" flowers in it. Coincidentally to me needing flowers as small and white as these, my mom bought some and brought them home after grocery shopping today. After cutting the strawberries tomorrow, I'll cut a few flowers off of the plant and fill the vial with them. I would do it tonight but I wouldn't want them to die overnight and wilt.