Creative Critical Reflection: Digital Voiceover Video

Throughout this year, my group and I have delved deeply into the world of filmmaking, gaining invaluable insights into the intricate process it entails. As we explored various concepts such as codes in movies and the categorization of different types of media, I found myself applying this newfound knowledge to films I encounter in my day-to-day life, including our own project "After It All". Reflecting on the effort that goes into creating a single movie, I gained a newfound appreciation for the artistry and dedication of filmmakers. Through assignments and practical exercises, we honed our understanding of crucial elements such as camera angles, composition, lighting, and sound, recognizing their significance in crafting a compelling narrative. Transitioning from analysis to action, we experimented with trailers, short films, and clips to put our knowledge to the test. Collaborating with my team members J.D. and L.P., we meticulously planned and executed multiple drafts and storyboards for our film, diligently searching for elements that would immerse the audience in our story. Drawing from everything we've learned about making films enjoyable, we endeavored to infuse our project with the same passion and creativity that inspired us throughout our journey in filmmaking.

Final Film

 After carefully considering Ms. Vincent's feedback, our team set out to refine our opening film, eager to implement her suggestions and improve our work. As we aimed to strengthen our storyline and introduce a more significant conflict, we encountered unforeseen challenges. Despite our efforts, navigating through the complexities of additional scenes became daunting, especially due to difficulties with certain crew members. With tensions rising and deadlines looming, maintaining focus amidst the discord proved challenging. Looking back, I couldn't help but wish for more reliable actors whose dedication could have eased the last-minute rush and uncertainty. Nevertheless, our determination and commitment to bringing our cinematic vision to life remained steadfast despite the obstacles we faced.

First Draft Feedback

 Following the completion of our first draft opening film, our teacher, Ms. Vincent, provided valuable feedback during her critique session. She noted the need for us to tighten our narrative, aiming for a closer alignment with the two-minute mark while also emphasizing the importance of introducing a more significant conflict to engage the audience effectively. Additionally, Ms. Vincent suggested exploring alternative music choices to better complement the tone and mood of the scene, emphasizing the impact of sound design on audience immersion. Furthermore, she highlighted the issue of the voiceover being too loud, underscoring the importance of achieving a balanced audio mix for optimal viewing experience. With Ms. Vincent's insightful critique serving as a guide, we are motivated to refine our work further, addressing these key areas to enhance the overall quality and impact of our opening film.

After It All First Draft

After numerous filming errors and rounds of editing, our team finally completed the first draft of our opening film, integrating all the different factors we've learned throughout the year. From the intricacies of mise en scene to the nuances of dialogue and sound production, every aspect of our learning journey found its place in our cinematic endeavor. Led by our dedicated crew members, including Production Manager Jade Sweeting, Director Dakota Montgomery, Film Writers Dakota Montgomery and Shanique Dennis, and Cinematographer Shanique Dennis, each member played a crucial role in bringing our vision to life. With Dakota Montgomery also taking on the responsibilities of Casting Director, Camera Operator, and Editor, and Bra’niyah Myrick contributing as a co-writer, our team demonstrated versatility and dedication in every aspect of production. Our talented cast, led by Shanique Dennis as Sabrina, Christina Walker as Jae, Dakota Montgomery as Tony, and supported by Jade Sweeting, Jayden, and Cherish Greenidge, brought depth and authenticity to their roles. It was quite hard to fit everyone's schedules together and many people kept rescheduling. So, this was a very stressful process. While we acknowledge that our first draft may not be perfect, we are proud of the effort and commitment poured into its creation and are eager to continue refining our work to produce a final product that truly reflects our collective vision and passion.

First Draft

Post-Production: Sound Editing Decisions

 In our film production, "After It All," we utilized sound effects as a powerful tool to captivate our audience. Experimenting with various music genres and incorporating voiceovers, we made deliberate choices to resonate with the teenage demographic, recognizing their affinity for music. By aligning our soundtrack with the preferences of our target audience, we aimed to heighten audience engagement. We used sound effects for certain motions like footsteps and the phone ringing. Furthermore, the voiceover served as a vehicle to deepen the audience's connection with our main character, Sabrina. Sound editing, a pivotal aspect of filmmaking, serves to guide the audience's emotional journey throughout the film. As the sound editor for our production, I had the opportunity to curate the audio experience, drawing from my personal taste in music as a teenager. While the role presented challenges, such as coaching my teammate to infuse emotion into her voice for the voiceover, the overall experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. Despite the obstacles encountered, the process of sound editing added an extra layer of depth and immersion to our film, contributing to its overall impact and resonance with our audience.

Post-Production: Visual Editing decisions

 In the world of movie-making, visual effects play a crucial role in expressing creativity and enhancing the movie-watching experience in various ways. In my upcoming blog post, I'll give you a sneak peek behind the scenes, showing how we used visual effects in editing our opening film. We'll look at how we created eye-catching credits, smooth transitions between scenes, and added our production logo and movie title with finesse to draw viewers into our story. Moreover, I'll discuss why visual effects are so important in movies, shedding light on how they help to tell stories better, stir emotions, and keep audiences engaged on a deeper level. So, let's dive in together and discover the amazing impact visual effects have on shaping the cinematic journey for viewers.

Production: Bloopers Day 2

 Day 2 of filming was quite fun but very stressful. There were a lot of times when the cast could not be serious or get there stuff together in manageable time. Many of us were continuously getting irritated but we had to work through our differences. Here are some bloopers when we just couldn’t keep it together.

Production: Day 2 Filming Behind the Scenes

 On day 2 of filming we decided to go eat at chick-fil-a first. While we were there it started to rain so had we had to eat our meal in the restaurant. Once the rain calmed down we drove back to the school campus but we had to pick up on of our previous actors. It was very rushed and chaotic as I would say. Once that was completed we went back to school and began Filiming.

Production: Bloopers Day 1

 Day 1 of filming included a lot of funny moments and confusions. We had to switch actors several times due to people not being able to get their parts right. Below is a few bloopers.