1st Blog- Start of Final Task

Hi, my name is Asia Monroe and Happy New Year!!! So, it is 2020 and I am aspiring to change this year. I had the flu last week so that is why this blog is coming in later than everyone else's. I went to the doctor on Monday and they diagnosed me with Flu B. I feel like my 2020 year so far has been pretty bad and I am trying my best to get myself back on track. I want to work even harder this semester in school especially in this class. I was doing really well in this class last semester and in the 1st quarter so I want to do it again. I want to not only do well in school, but do well in the Cambridge program. It would really mean a lot to me.
    Some things I have learned so far this year, is that I can really do anything I put my mind to. Walking into the Cambridge class was kind of nerve-racking for me, but I have learned how to do a lot so I feel a lot more confident. I have learned how to use a camera, and editing software. I learned how to use a camera from my teacher, but some of the things I know is how to attach it to a tri-pod and take it off. It is actually harder than it responds. I learned how to edit from my teacher as well, but I mostly learned from YouTube when I really needed help. I also learned about CLAM, and CLAMPS. Basically, each letter stands for something else. (C) in the word CLAMPS, means Camera, (L), means lighting, (A) means angle, (M) means movement, (P) means props, and (S) means shots. When learning everything, you learn how to apply them when watching film.
      My pitch ideas for my film, are to film a horror film. I would start it off by showing someone watching a scary movie. And it would be very quiet within that moment. The camera would then turn to the screen and when the jump scare on the screen pops up, it would cause a scare to the audience. After that, I would do scary things around the house to intrigue the audience to get them into it. The next kind of movie I would film would be an action movie. I would most likely have two people fighting over something and then someone else intrudes to try and break it up. And then that person would end up getting punched and start fighting everyone. It would cause a mess, and then once they stop fighting they will forgive each other. Lastly, my other pitch is romance. I really like romance, so I decided on doing this. I will have two people who have just finished getting out of an argument start to talk about how they really feel about the situation. And it would end with the two characters figuring out the situation and apologizing to one another, and either kiss or hug it out. And that is what I am planning on doing.

Editing blog

 I have not had the chance to edit my video for mainly 3 reasons. One because I have been stressed out. Two because my mom has been sick and  have been worried about her and the fact that I could not find an app, and three because I have been testing a lot. I have been focused on school lately. This is one of the main reasons I have been stressed out. School takes up the majority of my time, and I try my hardest to stay involved with things and sustain relationships. But sometimes school gets in the way and it makes me sad. I have been trying to learn how to manage my time wisely so I have enough time for everything and it is equal. But it's not only that, I have also been feeling overwhelmed as of late. I know that high school is a lot of work, and it was expected, but it is just a lot right now. I am getting used to it, and I am going to keep working hard to achieve my goal of getting my Cambridge diploma.\
   The second reason why is because my mom is sick. My moms sickness has really taken over me for the best. It has affected my whole family. She has been sick for a long time now and it is really worrying me. I asked her to help me find a video editing app, but there really was not any good ones to download. I was getting very nervous because I thought I would not be able to find any. And, now the project is due on Monday of next week. I only have three days to edit the music video, and I am getting very nervous about it. What if I don't finish on time? What if I put in all the hard work and still fail? These questions have been roaming in my head for the longest, and I can't seem to get them out. These are bad things to think about it, because it is negative energy, but I can not help it. This is what happens when you have anxiety and over think and stress about everything.
    This week alone I have had about 5 tests. Back to back. And it was not fun, because I would use up all my time studying. And it is so crazy, because I spend so much time studying and working hard, and I fail my tests. That makes me feel like a failure. Like I did not do good enough, and then my grades and self esteem went down. It was a very hard time for me this week to even have the courage to want to get up and go to school. Not because I woke up at 4:45 every morning, but because I feel like everything I do, I am just going to fail at it. Which does have some part in the whole stressed out situation, because this has been on my mind all week long. All in all, tomorrow is a new day, so I am going to try my hardest to edit tomorrow.

Final filming blog

My experience while recording over the break was kind of hectic. For one thing, I had to make time to record and to make food for the holidays, and I did not have much time for both. I wanted to record on Wednesday of last week so I could have it done before the break but that did not happen. I ended up having to record on Saturday of this weekend and a little bit of today because my mom went to a football game with my dad  and her friends. There were days when I wanted to record, and then days that I wanted to rest because of all of the pressure I felt. The days I want to rest, everyone was available to record. And the days I wanted to record, nobody was able to. So I got frustrated...very frustrated.
       On Tuesday, I asked my friend if she wanted to record with me on Wednesday and Thursday, and she said yes. Then when I texted her on Wednesday, she did not answer for hours. But when she did answer, her answer was no. So, I asked her if she could come to the park and record there, but her mom still said no. Fast forward, I was at lost because I had nobody else to record my video with, and therefor I had a mental breakdown. Then, by some miracle, I asked my mom on thanksgiving if she would be willing to record with me, and she said yes. The excitement I felt was amazing and I was so ready to get started.
      When Friday came around, my mom began to feel a little worried. Not because I was not going to be able to get my video done, but because my mom was sick and she has not been feeling well all week. So we did not record Friday, because I told her to rest. Then Saturday came around, and she sill was not feeling her best but she decided to start recording with me. And we got about 45 seconds done because she began to feel pain again. Luckily, she washed her clothes last weekend so we could begin where we left off which was in my room. I was originally going to record outside or at a park, but my mom was not up to it, and I felt more safe with her inside in case anything happens. But other than that, the video shooting went great today and I am proud of us. And that's it for this project, I guess you will see the finish product later. Until next time...

Film blog

  I have not filmed yet, I think I am going to film at school next week or at home after school. As of right now, my journey is very stressful to be honest...I have been stressing out..s done before thanksgiving because people probably won't be in town. I have anxiety, so I do not want to be in the video so that is why I have to get this right before the holiday...So far, one of my friends said she can not film this weekend, so I am resorting to filming after school or with my mom and aunt since they volunteered to help me with it. But I am not so sure what is to come as of yet.

     I was going to check out a camera at school last week, but my dad said he already has one for me at home we just need to get an SD card.. I really hope the quality is good. But so far, what I have donw, was figure out what song I was going to do (which is surprisingly harder than it sounds) and find out who to do it with. The hardest part was finding people to be in the video, because I don't want to be in it like I said already. But I think the real reason why I haven't recorded anything is because I just do not have the time. And I have been caught up with other work from school. 

      I was also absent a lot last week. I did not get  the information. I was a day behind, but I am trying my hardest to get back on trach right now. But I have to say, I am kind of excited to get started on the filming, but I know the editing is going to be a lot of work. I was going to film the week after thanksgiving, but this whole project is due on the 9th and I know I wont have enough time to edit if I did that. But I am going to try my hardest to work and get it right so I get the best grade I can. I don't really know what else to say so im just going to leave this here.

Storyboard

             In this film, I am planning on doing a music video with my two friends or my mom and aunt. We will be filming at the school or at the house...I will start the video off with them doing their makeup or standing around being dramatic. It will introduce them and say "7 rings" on the screen. The next scene will be them finishing their makeup, and walk towards the camera...they will walk down a hall either in the house or in the school. Then it will cut to them being farther down the hallway and still singing the song. They will then turn around and it will automatically cut to them sitting on the couch or on a seat in the school, singing the song.
            After that, it'll cut to them still on the couch, but sitting up and a bit more zoomed in. And they will be singing one at a time and the camera will zoom in on whoever is singing in that moment, and that will just continue on and on for about 15 seconds. They will then be outside in the backyard, or in the schools courtyard dancing to the song while singing it...then it will cut to them on the table or on a bench in school with a fluffy scarf around their necks just singing the school. And then automatically cut back to them outside or in the courtyard dancing and singing the song. They will walk from the backyard, to the side of the house or towards the back of the school (building 17) and sing the song, while the camera is at eye-level. And after that, they will walk away, and that will be the end of it...

Planning

           For this project, I am not completely sure where I am going  to be filming the video. I am thinking that I am going to film it at my house, and around the area whenever I have the chance. I chose this location because there will not be a lot of time to record at school, so I decided to record out of school. My friends may have different schedules as well, so I made a schedule that may work for everyone. For health and safety, there is not much to worry about as of yet, but I do plan on using some sparkling cider in thye background to be a replacement for champagne or alcohol. To be sure of everyone's safety, I will place the bottles far away from my friends and keep a first aid kit around in case of any emergency. I will also keep the camera safe, but most importantly the actors and director.
           Some props I will be using for this video, are some sparkling cider bottles, and a lot of "expensive" looking accessories. Things like, a fluffy scarf, necklaces, rings, and a few outfits my friends will bring themselves or I will purchase if needed. I might even get a wallpaper for my walls, for a background. Or order something like that off of amazon. For the costumes, I think I will buy a few dresses for a couple of scenes, but nothing too fancy. I am hoping to make this video not skin revealing, but very goofy and funny.
         The schedule for this project consisted of getting the assignment, and planning basically. I was not there when everyone did the first blog for the project, but I did figure out a song for the video. When I came back to school on Monday, I had to do my blog, and tell my teacher what my song was for my assignment. And Yesterday was an A day, and I do not see my teacher on A days, so I did not really do much, but I did start on my blog. Today, I did not go to school because I was not feeling so well...but I did still do my class work. We have two blogs due tomorrow by midnight, and this is one of them. The next things I have to do is make a storyboard for my blog (which I don't have). But the last thing is just to write about what is in the storyboard, and post it on here with a blog. This weekend I am hoping to start filming so I can dump all my footage onto the computers next week and start editing right after break...its going to be a long couple of weeks.        

Conventions

            Some things I learned from the commercial was that I need to make more time to actually do the things I need to do. I learned that I am not the best editor, but I will try my hardest to make my music video one to remember (in a good way). Some things I want to learn is how to actually edit good on the editing app. Now that we have a new assignment, what I want to do better is editing. Shooting and dumping the footage is the easiest part. Although editing sounds fun and easy, it does get difficult and it was pretty difficult during our last project. But this time, I want to practice a lot with the different buttons that are on the actual app.
             The song I am doing is 7 rings by Ariana Grande. When I looked up the genre for her music, they gave me a lot of different genres. She releases a lot of different songs, so the genre for her music really varies on the song. The genres are, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B/Soul, Teen pop, Soul music, Rhythm and blues, etc. The reason why I picked this song for my project, was because I could not really find anything else. Although there are a lot of songs out there, most of them have cuss words and talk about drugs and sex. But main reason why I picked this song, is because I like the beat and rhythm, and making a music video to this song will not be that hard.
            While looking for other videos like this one, they all are the same in a way. Most of them are just dance videos. Ariana's original video is kind of a music video, but she is in a mansion with her friends, and they are just chilling. Some angles they use are, close-up, high angles, and long shots. The camera that are used in the video are very good too. The movements that I see are tracking shots, tilt, and zoom. The shots that seem to be used in this video, is a crane shot, and a stock shot. The crane shot I believe is something they used because towards the beginning, the camera was very high, and facing downwards towards the people. When it comes to CLAMPS, C: the costumes used are very "skin revealing". They had furry coats and swimsuit like clothing on. L: The lighting throughout the video was dimmed, but had a pink light around the corners of the camera to make everything look pink. A: the actors throughout the video were boys and girls. They all knew the dance, although some were obviously just extras. M: the makeup was very dramatic and very pink. The whole video was just pink .P: The props throughout the video were champagne bottles and expensive items. S: The setting in the video was a mansion like I mentioned earlier. It seems like they were making themselves look rich and worth a lot of money with the costumes, and props and setting.