Extra Blog Post-Fangirl: Rise of An Empire

On Thursday November 20th, four girls bravely joined other countless fans who gathered for the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. One of these girls, myself, filmed portions of the never-ending night, as the footage will become part of a documentary I previously planned with Veronica Lopez during the summer. The documentary, entitled Fangirl: Rise of An Empire follows fangirls, those who tirelessly dedicate their time to their fandoms. The videos below are snippets of what was filmed the night of the premiere and a mere preview of what is to come. 

Disclaimer: This is raw footage, so some things like lighting and volume may be an issue. Please watch at your own discretion. 

Blog 10: EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2. Example EQs:

• a. This EQ could allow research on healthy weight loss and what contributes to it, for the researcher to argue based on what they've researched, and makes sense--Meets Rule of Three
• b. This EQ allows for research on successful convictions in criminal investigations, it doesn't list prior convictions and facts about them, and makes sense--Meets Rule of Three
• c. This EQ is a little subjectice--what satisfies one customer may not satisfy another--therefore, arguing would be sort of difficult--Does not Meet Rule of Three
• d. This EQ allows for research on anesthesiology and chronic pain, arguments on treatments, and make sense--Meets Rule of Three

3. What techniques can be employed to develop, produce, and distribute a film that is either well-written, interesting, visually striking, timeless, or a combination of all these characteristics.

Lesson 1 Reflection

1. Postive Statement

I am most proud of the fact that I was able to speak knowledgeably about my topic. I thought anxiety might prevent me from that, though I think I did really well.

2. Questions to Consider

• Self-Assessment: P
• I feel as if I reached every major point necessary during my presentation. I also think that I went into detail and clarified just enough so that I may have provided my peers with new insights about film. 

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?

I had more than enough information to go over. I planned out my lesson well enough so that if I, for instance, began speaking too fast and had enough time left, that I could go into even more detail about my research, mentorship, or guiding questions for my research. I also practiced enough so that I was comfortable speaking on what I have researched and learned. I brought some nice visuals as well, such as worksheets from ROP, some notes I have taken in the past whilst researching, and a page from a script I read. I feel as if I successfully spoke on everything necessary for the lesson. 

4. (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1? 

I was a bundle of nerves, much like my other peers today, so I would probably try to calm myself down a little more so I wouldn't speak so fast. There was actually one article I wanted to speak more on, which was about camera techniques. I think it would have added something a little more extra to my presentation. 

Extra Blog Post: ROP Assignment

Recently, we have begun writing our own scripts in ROP. The link below leads to my script, Perchance To Dream. The script is a brief story about a girl named Noelle whose dreams haunt her. I drew inspiration from an episode of The Twilight Zone--which is one of my favorite shows--though I changed the ending. The episode was about a man who visits a psychiatrist about the dreams he keeps encountering fatal situations in, though I chose another direction to go in. I am also considering combining this script with the film I am working on for my independent component, Girl's Night Out, seeing as they have some similar aspects. I think the combination of the two scripts would work very well. 

Perchance To Dream Script 

Blog 8: Research & Working EQ

1. Working EQ:

What are the best techniques to create an aesthetically pleasing film?  

2. Possible Answers

• Choosing the best shots, angles, or focal points.  
• Utilizing the film's premise/storyline and character's attributes to create a vibrant or memorable color palatte.

3. As of now, the resource that has helped me the most in my attempt to answer my EQ is Filmmaking for Dummies, written by Bryan Michael Stoller. 

4. My mentors are Amanda DiPiazza and Phillip Miller (my ROP teacher). So far, I haven't discussed cinematorgraphy techniques with Amanda. However, with Mr. Miller, I have learned various camera shots and such in ROP. 

Second Day of Mentorship

Friday September 26th, 2014

I observed the filming of the Disney Channel TV show whose run-through I previously observed on Wednesday. I was able to see several scenes. I sat with my mentor and several other producers, taking notes as they watched the filming. There were four cameras focusing on the set and actors from different angles. Behind those were a group of flat screen TVs showing the angles from the cameras so that the producers and director could see clearly. The director was constantly giving instructions to the actors, even as the cameras were rolling. If there was a lack of continuity, or something suddenly just didn't make sense, the producers and directors briefly spoke and decided how to fix the situation, or even how to improve an actor's performance. The amount of takes for each scene depended highly on the director's preference or the actor's performances. There were even some wardrobe malfunctions that had to be quickly corrected because of the Disney's strict guidelines. As I mentioned before, I was an observer for the day. For the most part, I took notes and asked my mentor questions about certain situations regarding the content of the episode or general filming inquiries.

First Day of Mentorship

Wednesday September 24th, 2014:

I observed a run-through of a TV show that has not yet premiered on Disney Channel. Since it has not premiered, I cannot yet reveal its identity. I met my mentor for the first time at Hollywood Center Studios and she briefly explained what I was walking into. Run-throughs are done every Wednesday for the show. The cast rehearses the episode, jumping swiftly from set to set. The sets are often directly across from each other or adjacent to each other. Run-throughs are similar to a rehearsal of a play. The point is for the crew to get an idea of what their episode is going to look like, as well as to notate or address any potential issues regarding the content of the episode. First, however, Amanda took me to the "Rack Check", where I met the wardrobe staff, and the showrunner. The Rack Check's purpose is for producers of the show to work with wardrobe people regarding the clothes/costumes worn on the show. Various potential issues were addressed, then we moved on to the run-through. I shadowed as the entire cast and crew shuffled from set to set, rehearsing each scene. Although it was fast-paced, the group and the run-through itself were rather light-hearted. Since the show was a comedy, there was a lot of laughter, as expected, and much of the crew served as an audience, that way the producers--including Amanda--were able to gauge what reactions to the episode would be like. I took notes for most of the day, and read the script as the cast acted out each scene.