AICE media studies

Here is my final CCR answering the last question, "How did you integrate technologies -software, hardware, and online- in this project?".    :)

Here is my third CCR, answering "How did your production skills develop throughout this project?".    :)

Here is my second CCR, answering the question "How does your product engage with the audience AND how would it be distributed as a real media text?".    :)

Here is my first CCR, answering the question "How does your product use or challenge conventions, AND how does it represent social groups or issues?".  :)

Here is my Final Task!! It represents the opening to a comedic/action sci-fi film about three teens trying to solve and get rid of the dangers within their areas. The Final Task film is called "Three Teens In Black".

At first, towards the beginning, the setting and ideas of our film we had were very solid at the time, but as we got deeper into the process, a lot of things had to change. Writing the script was straightforward, but once we started filming, we ran into a lot of unexpected obstacles. Trying to find the right locations, dealing with many lighting issues, and making sure everything looked good on camera was way more difficult than we had intended. There were plenty of times when we would try to shoot a scene, watch it back, and realize that it did not work. We had to redo many scenes and shots that day it it became way too much of a struggle. The sounds, background noises, and cleaning audio were the biggest issues we had during filming on a windy day. With all the problems happening in just a couple of minutes, we really wanted to give up and start filming on another easier day. Although we were all frustrated, seeing some of the ideas actually come to life and start connecting together...

Looking back on the entire filmmaking process, I can honestly say it was an unforgettable experience. From the initial concept to the final edit, every stage had its own challenges and highlights. Filming itself was both exciting and frustrating at times, especially when the wind made certain shots difficult to capture. Despite the obstacles, we adapted quickly and made adjustments as needed. Some of our best shots came from spontaneous decisions on set. One of the most enjoyable parts was working with my friends and seeing our ideas come to life. We spent hours driving around, setting up shots, and discussing ways to improve our scenes. The energy on set was always fun, and even when things didn’t go as planned, we made the best of it. The editing process, however, required a lot of patience. Cutting, arranging, and stabilizing the footage took longer than expected , but the effort was worth it. Finding the right music was another challenge because we wanted something that matched the...

  I know we have talked about the filming and editing of our final take, but I feel as if we didn't go over how this all came to be. When it came down to making the final decisions for our film, we really had to think about what would work best. The first big decision was choosing our location , and after discussing a few options, we all agreed that the park was perfect. The lighting in the morning is always great since the sun isn’t too harsh yet, and the natural environment adds a realistic feel to our scenes. Plus, it’s a quiet, open space where we wouldn’t have to worry about too many distractions. We also had to decide what time to start filming , and the morning was the obvious choice. There wouldn’t be a lot of people around, which meant fewer interruptions and background noise. It also gave us plenty of time to get everything done without feeling rushed. The cooler morning weather was another bonus because filming in the afternoon sun would have been exhausting. One thing w...

Throughout the editing process, I discovered so many different editing styles that completely changed the way I see filmmaking. At first, I stuck to simple cut-and-trim edits , making sure the scenes flowed smoothly. However, as I experimented more, I realized how much editing affects the overall mood of a film. Jump cuts became useful for creating fast-paced sequences, adding energy to certain moments. I also played around with match cuts , which helped transition between similar shots more seamlessly. Learning how to use cross-dissolves and fade-ins gave the film a more cinematic feel. Some scenes worked better with sharp, quick cuts , while others needed longer, smoother transitions . Color grading was another skill I picked up, adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation to give the film a polished look. One of the most fun techniques I learned was speed ramping , where I sped up or slowed down footage for dramatic effect. I also tried overlaying clips to create double-expo...

 One of the biggest challenges in post-production was finding the right app to stabilize our film. At first, I thought it would be simple, just upload the clips, apply stabilization, and move on. I was wrong. Every app had different features, limitations, and frustrating drawbacks. Some apps made the footage look too smooth, creating an unnatural "floating" effect. Others barely made a difference, leaving the shaky footage exactly the same. I started with Cap Cut, which was easy to use but didn’t have strong enough stabilization for our needs. Then I tried iMovie , but it over-corrected some shots, making them look distorted. Adobe Premiere Rush was promising, but it required a paid subscription for full access. After testing multiple apps, I finally landed on DaVinci Resolve , which had powerful stabilization tools. The downside? It took a while to figure out how to use them properly. Applying stabilization wasn’t as simple as clicking a button. Some clips became warped, ...

  After wrapping up our filming, we took a well-deserved break and grabbed some brunch. Once we finished eating, I decided to start the editing process right away. Looking through all the footage, I quickly realized how much work was ahead. There were plenty of great takes, but also a lot of moments where the wind or small mistakes made certain clips unusable. I knew this was going to take time, but I was ready to piece everything together. That evening, I got started by organizing all the clips into a rough sequence. The hardest part was deciding which shots flowed best together. Some scenes had to be rearranged because they made more sense in a different order. I found myself constantly cutting and shifting footage to improve pacing. At times, it felt frustrating because a shot I really liked wouldn’t fit the way I originally planned. Since I couldn’t finish everything in one sitting, I continued editing the next day after school. With fresh eyes, I noticed even more adjustments ...

  Today was easily one of the most exciting filming days we’ve had. From the moment we got together, everything just felt fun and effortless. We started the day by driving around, listening to music, and talking about everything and anything. It didn’t even feel like work; we were just a group of friends enjoying the process. Being able to multitask between having fun and doing work was the best strategy to use with the situation we were in. Even though we had a film to shoot, we took our time and made sure to enjoy every moment. Once we got to our location, we couldn’t stop laughing at how unprepared we actually were. Somehow, we always figure things out as we go, and today was no different. Setting up shots was hilarious because we kept making jokes and getting distracted. Even with all the chaos, we managed to get some amazing footage. The best part was that no one took anything too seriously. We just had fun with it. After filming, we drove around some more, stopping at random ...

Before filming even began, we had a solid idea in mind, at least, that’s what we thought. Our concept seemed simple, but as we started discussing details, we kept reworking certain elements. We wanted to make sure the story flowed well, but every time we solved one issue, another one seemed to appear. The biggest challenge was balancing creativity with practicality. Some ideas sounded great in theory but weren’t realistic to execute with our resources. At first, we were confident in our shot list and overall vision. However, once we got to the filming location, everything felt different. The setting sparked new ideas that we hadn’t even considered before. Suddenly, we were adjusting angles, changing dialogue, and even rethinking the order of certain scenes. The more we filmed, the more we realized that our original plan wasn’t as strong as we had thought. The wind became an unexpected obstacle, forcing us to rethink our audio setup. At one point, we even considered altering parts of th...

Today was an early start,  8 AM sharp , which felt rough for a weekend, but we had a full schedule ahead. I had to pick up one of our actors while our other team member waited at the park. By the time we all arrived, it was already 9:30 AM , and we wasted no time getting to work. The goal was to wrap up filming in the morning, which gave us about 2 to 3 hours to get everything done. Overall, the shoot went well, but it wasn’t without challenges. The biggest issue? The wind. It was relentless and crazier than I had imagined, making it difficult to capture clear audio. At times, it felt like every good take was immediately followed by a gust of wind ruining the sound. Hair was constantly in the way, and at one point, our script pages and props even flew across the park. It was frustrating, but we made adjustments and kept going. Despite the challenges, the process was fun and rewarding . We worked efficiently, and our teamwork made everything run smoother. There were moments when w...

We wanted to create something dynamic, engaging, and full of action for our final task project. Our concept centered around three determined teenagers preparing to face off against a powerful villain. To enhance the intensity of our storyline, we knew we needed the perfect theme song. Music plays a crucial role in setting the tone, and we wanted something that would immediately grab attention. After considering multiple options, we ultimately chose the iconic " Mission: Impossible" theme song. The reasoning was simple: its fast-paced rhythm and suspenseful build-up perfectly matched the tone of our project. From the very first notes, it creates a sense of urgency and determination. It’s a theme widely recognized for high-stakes missions and clever strategy, both of which align with our storyline. During the selection process, we discussed various musical themes that could enhance our project. We needed something energetic and cinematic to match the intensity of our character...

  First template: The character is walking up with a coffee cup. She says, "Okay, team, I've analyzed the data. Whoever's hacking global tech has to be close. My guess? They are hiding in plain sight!" Second template: -cut scene that introduces Natalia's character- Third template: "Hacking in plain sight? So you're saying our big villain is probably feeding ducks right now?" stated by an unknown character Fourth template: -cut scene that introduces Christelle as a tech-savvy character holding a scanner- Fifth template: -New character appears from the trees- Sixth template: -Introduction of the character Shanice- She says, " Or they could be watching us while we feed into their trap. Did anyone check their coffee for nano-trackers?" Seventh template:- Natalia snorts as she shakes her cup-  She says, "Just caffeine, no conspiracies. Let's split up and check the park perimeter." Eighth template: -Shanice rides on her bike, scann...

Font tone:         For our title design, our group wanted a very settled and sneaky title design throughout the beginning credits. Since our final task is based on mystery and adventure, we wanted the title to be hidden but bold enough for the audience to see. The three types of fonts we considered were Pink Panther, Six Feet Under, and Snatch.  1. 2. 3. Contrast :       We didn't want the movie title to be super flashy or super noticeable, so we decided to keep the contrast low and stick to basic title colors such as black, grey, white, and maybe blue.  Size :       Our group has discussed that the title shouldn't be super noticeable and should be kind of concealed and later revealed as the scene continues. We thought that the size of the font should start at around 24 and later be enhanced to size 60 or 70 . We think it is better to start small so the title doesn't interrupt the actions in the scene and distrac...

Our final task includes more details about the participants, the filming and editing process, as well as health and safety. The film centers around a group of female spies who are trying to figure out why everything is going wrong. The mystery takes days, or even years, to solve, but will these clever teenage girls manage to crack the case? Natalia is our lead actress in the final task, playing herself as the brains behind the operation. Her character brings serious energy (and plenty of laughs) to every scene throughout the film. Christelle also plays herself and is the second lead. She is the type of spy who is always unforgettable within the trio. Her character is full of sass and tech-savvy skills. She’s always ready with a joke or to crack a case, sometimes doing both at the same time. Finally, there’s me, Shanice, playing myself as the daring, action-oriented spy who loves grappling hooks and making surprise entrances. My character is very fashion-forward, knowing when to fight o...

  L ocation: Park – A quiet picnic area with a playground in the background Natalia walking up with a coffee cup, wearing sunglasses “Okay, team, I’ve analyzed the data. Whoever’s hacking global tech has to be close. My guess? They’re hiding in plain sight.” Christelle sitting on the bench, flipping through a magazine that turns out to be a holographic scanner “Hiding in plain sight? So you’re saying our big villain is probably feeding ducks right now?” Shanice appears out of nowhere, dropping from a tree branch “Or they could be watching us while we feed into their trap. Did anyone check their coffee for nano-trackers?” Natalia snorts, shaking her cup “Just caffeine, no conspiracies. Let’s split up and check the park perimeter.” Location: Local Road – A bustling intersection with a tech billboard flashing ads. Date: January 19 Shanice riding a bike while scanning the billboard with a high-tech device “Confirmed. Someone’s using this billboard as a relay point. I’ve got interferen...

  What titles are displayed during the opening sequences?   The opening titles of John Wick are sleek and minimalist, setting the tone for the film’s cool, stylized approach. The title "John Wick" appears in bold, sharp letters against a dark background, and the credits are displayed in a clean, simple font that doesn’t distract from the intense opening moments. The opening credits roll alongside a moody score, with the imagery gradually pulling the audience into the world of the film. The subdued style of the titles complements the film's quiet yet deadly atmosphere. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? The opening sequence of John Wick emphasizes somber, emotional imagery, starting with a brief look at John Wick’s grief after the death of his wife. We see his quiet, isolated life, his somber house, and a close-up of a gift from his late wife—a puppy. This intimate portrayal contrasts with the brutal violence that will soon unfold, providing a personal st...