CCR3. How did my production skills develop throughout this project?

Hi! I continued with the CCR.  This post is about question number 3 

How did my production skills develop throughout this project?

This project helped me improve my filmmaking, editing, and acting skills. I did the whole project alone, but I received collaboration from my cousin, Daniel, aunt, Natalie, and mom. They helped with camera movements and editing in Final Cut Pro ( I learned about using this software in the basic mode). Also, I improved on using camera angles with a tripod (some clips were filmed while I was acting) Lighting is also a skill that I need to improve on. One of the biggest challenges was maintaining the darkness of a horror film. The LED blue light in my bedrooms helped me achieve the eerie aesthetic. I changed the clips to black and white using Final Cut's coloring tools. The result was different but challenging because my initial lighting was blue and dark, and the shadows were projected differently.

However, I kept some clips in "color" to give the opening a different touch. Another use I made of color was with the titles that appear in red, which, according to what we learned in class in the color scheme unit, signifies danger, at least in the horror genre.

The final scene in the bathroom was one of the most thoughtful because I had to use a makeup product to make it look like blood on the floor. But I had to leave that clip in color to be noticeable. So, I divided it and was able to generate the effect. This may be one of the criticisms that those who have seen the film have made of me: Why that scene in particular? It looks "divided," but I wanted the blood to be noticeable in its real color.

One of the parts that gave me the most work (besides acting, which I had never done before) was post-production... I had a lot of material, and compressing it into 2 minutes while trying to preserve the original script was difficult, but not in vain; many experts describe this part of the process as magic. I was reading some blogs, and, for example, Kim Sarnoff published her point of view on this phase of cinematography in 7 Wonders cinema (2022), saying "that it's about synthesizing all the elements that have been gathered, created or designed during the whole filmmaking process". In addition, she mentioned that all the team members were involved in sound editing, special effects, color correction, grading, and editing.

So, the editing part was the biggest challenge, and I learned, among other things, that you need a lot of order and structure in what you are doing from day one to succeed in your final delivery. I enjoyed the sound design part. I used Foley to hint at the presence of something unseen and added effects from Final Cut's sound library, which is great. I also used music that I downloaded from no-copyright websites such as Pixabay and BenSound.

I am thankful to my cousin, Daniel Velazquez, and my aunt, Nathalie, who helped me throughout the process. Compared to my previous projects, Glitch required a more intentional approach to pacing and atmosphere, which helped me grow.

CCR2. How does my film engage with audiences, and how would it be distributed as an actual media text?

Hi there!  

It's time to answer the second question, but even when my Opening Film was almost ready, I worked to add some extra effects in post-production.  

I am still editing some parts because I have to be within 2 minutes' length, and I have filmed so much, so I must choose. I have the issue of having to "cut" some parts of my original script. However, my opening will be good. ( I hope so!) You will see it in a few days!  

This is part of my edition process...

And now, Question Number 2

How does my film engage with audiences, and how would it be distributed as an actual media text?

The target audience for Glitch is teens and young adults who enjoy psychological horror and supernatural elements. The film builds engagement by starting with a familiar scenario, gaming at home alone, before slowly introducing eerie and unsettling moments. (I wrote about the target and audience in a previous post.) "A Deloitte study showed that horror is a very close third among genre preferences for Gen Z. ( Comedy, Action, and Horror ).  On the other hand, Movio's study also found that the market for horror films is younger than most".  So, I think that Glitch engages with the young target ( 16-25 Years Old )

Instead of relying on jump scares, the suspense grows through mysterious messages, strange noises, and an unseen presence, keeping the audience on edge.

If this was an actual film, I would first post it on YouTube or TikTok, as short horror films often go viral on these platforms. From there, it could expand to streaming services like Netflix, allowing a bigger audience. RMIT University has one study about how social media is growing as a way for filmmakers to present their horror productions. Dr. Jessica Balanzategui ( 2024) said, "These two platforms have cultivated an environment for emerging filmmakers to develop distinct creative voices and build the profile of their work in collaboration with an engaged community of platform users: a creative dynamic I call 'participatory experimentation."

CCR 1: How does my film use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues?

As part of my AICE Media Studies Film Opening assignment, I must complete a Creative Critical Reflection (CCR) to analyze my work and filmmaking decisions. This reflection explores how my project follows or challenges industry conventions, engages with audiences, develops my production skills, and integrates technology.

The CCR must be presented creatively with two videos, podcasts, or other visual components. In each one, I have to answer two questions. It is an individual reflection so that I will share my insights from the process.

Some requirements are:

• Research
• Do not do things like "talking heads" in front of the computer
• Writing the scripts for each part of the CCR

In this post, I answered the first question. Also, I wrote some ideas for my script with this.

How does my film use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Glitch follows many traditional horror genre conventions, such as an isolated protagonist, eerie sound design, and a slow buildup of suspense. However, instead of a haunted house or a supernatural entity, the horror comes from technology, my Video game console ( My Xbox), and an unsettling warning that suggests something beyond the screen is watching.

My project also challenges the girl stereotype in horror by featuring a male protagonist, showing that fear and vulnerability are not limited by gender. Andie Korenge, Editor in Chief of Eagle Eyes News (2024), said, "Horror films enforce stereotypical representations of women"; thus, most horror films have the first victim, a girl. So, I changed it, and my distressed character is a boy.

At the same time, Glitch reflects teen digital dependency, turning the obsession with gaming and social media into something dangerous.

My film represents part of the routine of teenagers playing video games and using social media. According to Paw Research, about 40% of U.S. teens play video games daily, including 23% who do so several times a day. Another 22% say they play several times a week, while 21% play them about once a week or less. Teen boys are far more likely than girls to say they play video games daily (61% vs. 22%).

I'm thinking in the format that I would use, and a "YouTube" show hosted for my cousin Daniel Velazquez ( he has a band and he loves to communicate ) sounds excellent. I have to work on this idea, but at least I am clear about what I want to say about the 1st question...

This is only a reference script.

Presentation, Fonts, and Foley

After finishing all my filming, I transferred all my clips to Final Cut Pro. Here, I continue the post-production process.

Today, the main parts I focused on were the titles, intro, and foley.

First, I used a template form Final Cut, which was perfect for presenting the production company. Then, I created an intro for the movie with Canva

 I added the name of my production company in a different font than the rest of the project. 

FONTS

Afterward, I just added the credit sequence to my first few scenes. Final Cut is perfect for finding more fonts and effects.  IMovie has a limited library, so I had fun choosing some options. 

This is my final choice:  I used the Koratati font, size 97. I also used the glow effect to give it more light and used red for the credit sequence because red's meaning in film is danger and evil.  Besides, this color contrasts perfectly with my film's black and white style.  Korataki is a tech font. 

I found its look at myfonts.com

So, I have it on FinalCut. This is how I am working on it!  Of course, I want you to see the final product, but you must wait a little because I don't want to spoil it. 

Foley

Foley's technique is challenging, but I've already worked on it in another project for this class. We watched videos showing how this technique can improve a film's sound direction. I talked about it in a previous post (read here).

For my opening, I worked with a couple of foley. One is about a distorted noise that my character hears through his headphones. To achieve this, I took two karaoke microphones, connected them to my speaker, and completed the distortion I sought.

The other foley is related to some sounds that Daniel, my character, hears and doesn't know where they come from, something like Scratch, Scratch, Scratch, etc. These are the same microphones I managed to generate when I rubbed them on a carpet. Here, you can see it.

Well, I'm getting closer to presenting my project. Work is still to be done, but I can show it through my blog in less than 10 days.

Coloring? B&W?

It's time to start making magic in post-production. 

In previous posts, I told you about using two different software programs, iMovie and Final Cut Pro. I decided to organize the clips in iMovie, but the editing and effects I want to add, I'll do them in Final Cut

My aunt is still part of my team, and my mom will help me too. Final Cut is more complicated than iMovie, but they also have some similarities since both are from the software developers. 

Since I already have all my clips, the next step is to edit them so that my story is fluid and generates tension in the audience.

After watching some movie trailers like Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List, I decided to decolorize my clips in black and white and leave some details in color. It will be a challenge, but it's worth trying because it would make my project stand out.

    Spielberg's technique is very well-known in the film industry. The Guardian (2019) states why Spielberg used the black & white style in this movie: “The Holocaust was life without light. For me, the symbol of life is color. That’s why a film about the Holocaust has to be in black and white.”  

Here is a sample of what I did.

 I also began working on the sound. I've already downloaded three tracks from BenSound, the copyright-free music library that my teacher recommended. Since my opening doesn't contain much dialogue, the music and additional elements like some foley (breathing and steps) can give more tension to the scenes.  In my next post, I will write about it.

Keep in touch!

Behind the Scenes

 I have been filming my short film opening project for over a week and have made progress. I'm finished with most scenes and will start the last one. However, it hasn't been easy the entire time. Yesterday, while finishing the previous shots, I ran into a problem. 

I would need a shadow or someone to stand there for the shot where Daniel looks outside to see the entity. I would use a sticker from iMovie, but I couldn't find anything realistic enough. Then, I considered using my dad, but we could only film it in the backyard because of the lighting. After reviewing the clips and concluding that it wouldn't work out, I went to ask him if he could record again, but he was already asleep. So, I set up the tripod and did it myself.

However, I managed to capture part of what I wanted. It's not that simple when you must be the director and the actor simultaneously.

But other clips turned out well, like the silhouettes from the bathroom. I achieved this using the indoor light and taking advantage of the darkness outside to cast a perfect shadow. Here is a photo of the clip, and you can see the image of what I wanted to achieve.  I asked my aunt to be this part's "shadow" figure behind the window.

I might have to shoot again some clips, but this week, I should already be entering the final production phase: post-production. This is the phase where the magic of cinema is achieved.

I already have several things in mind, and I have been watching clips from films by directors like Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. There are many interesting techniques that I could apply.

Late Night Vibes

 Yesterday, I finished all the shots outside the house. So,  I'm getting closer to completing the project. In this post, I will look at what I did.

Scene 1 was about getting the story started as the paranormal events occur. The first shots are from outside the house, slowly approaching Daniel's window. In these shots, you see the house where the events of the entire movie will take place.  

Capturing the Shots with the iPhone 16 Pro Max 

The street was empty, so I could capture some natural sounds, such as crickets and wind. It made everything more real and added to the creepy vibe I wanted for the opening film. My mom's iPhone 16 Pro Max captures the details really well. (or at least, I hope so).

The enhanced Night mode on the iPhone helps me to have details visible even in the darker parts of the frame without making everything look artificial. 

Since I was filming at nighttime, I had to be careful about exposure. The iPhone’s capabilities allowed me to tweak shadows and highlights during editing without losing too much detail. 

Here is one extract from one shoot:

Outdoor shoot with some light inside the bedroom

Dealing with Outdoor Lighting

Lighting was challenging; I wanted a dark, eerie atmosphere while keeping the house visible. I used a portable LED light and the iPhone’s flash when necessary. The key was to create enough contrast so the house looked like it was in the night atmosphere.

I also positioned the tripod in different spots to make the most of the natural light sources. I had to adjust the angles a few times due to overexposure from the porch light. Adjusting the brightness function on the iPhone helped achieve a balanced look between darkness and visibility. The lighting was tricky, but I played around with different sources to keep things visible while keeping that eerie nighttime feel.

So, I’m happy with how the outdoor shots turned out. The iPhone did the night shots very well, and I can capture the combination of natural sound with the dim lighthouse and front yard.