Ivan Ramcharitar's AICE Media Studies Final Project

 After I have successfully acquired the actors I needed, I can finally create a solid story board that I can plan around. I will include a panel for each major scene. Later on I will plan the lighting and camera angles I will include in each scene, right before I film them. I ordered each scene close to each other in setting, so that I do not have to return to the settings repetitively, and put a strain on my actors. To further avoid this, I will film scenes in the same setting at the same time, even if they are out of order. Scene 1: title and credits with the house setting in background. Scene 2: In protagonist's room, where he gets yelled at by his mother. He looks out the window and sees his friend's playing, and discovers the spelling bee to get ungrounded. Scene 3: In school, he tries out for the spelling bee and fails. Scene 4: walking home, he ignores the homeless man on the side of the road.

  After conducting my casting call, I have found the majority of actors I will use for the start of my film. This is the actor I might use for the role of the protagonist's mother, as she has an adult and mother-like voice. She, however, isn't allowed to go anywhere to film, so I will be recording her voice and playing it over scenes. This is a student who tried out for the role of the protagonist/ homeless man. He is a great backup, as he has his own culture that I can represent if it comes down to it, and he is also the right age for the part. He cannot play the role of the homeless man, as he leaves the school early every day, which is the location of the road the homeless man lives on. This is the actor I will be using to play the role of the protagonist in the opening of my film. He is Asian and fits the part almost perfectly. He even offered his room as a potential setting, as it is an authentic Asian- student bedroom.  I still have to find an actor to play the role of t...

 Before I create my storyboard or get into the deep stages of planning, I have to make that sure I can recruit the necessary actors, or else I will have to use different and available actors, and therefore modify the plot and themes of my film. To recruit the actors for my film, I will hang a poster outside of my class room, with my contact information, and conduct a casting call. The reason I chose to do a casting call to gain actors, is because it is the same method Disney uses to gain it's child actors. This method is especially useful in a school setting, as lots if kids come in and out of classes, some of which will have to meet the criteria I need for my film. Since every student is busy at different parts of the day, I will travel to their classes when they are free, so that I can get an in depth interview with them, without costing them worktime.  After I conduct my casting call, which will be partially recorded, I will look over the results and see who would be best f...

 After reviewing my schedule I appear to be off track. I originally planned to enter my planning stage January 20th, but I ended up staying in my research phase for a bit too long. To make up for this, I will have to extend the deadline a couple days for my planning stage and shorten my production phase. I will try to work harder into my planning phase, rather than have it rushed as this step is crucial in preparing for the production phase. I already have an idea for my storyboard, but I still have to find actors in the right age range, and ethnicity. If I do not find a suitable Asian actor to be the protagonist of my film, I will need to make a minor change to the plot of my film and change some of the themes I currently am pursuing. I feel that I have conducted sufficient research for my film, and I am aware of the techniques I need to include in order to achieve the purpose and effect on the audience that I desire.  New Timeline: Research: December 18th- January 28th Pre-p...

  Ryan Coogler is a famously known producer for both action and sport movie genres. He is responsible for the Creed movies, as well as The Black Panther and Space Jam. Some techniques he uses in his movies are often reoccurring, which can be the reason for his widespread success. Coogler has done many low budget movies, like "Fruitvale Station" where he has to adapt to how he uses lighting techniques and things like props and costuming. His greatest advice in this area, is to "think creatively and use what you already have around you." What he claims was a crucial part of his success, was the collaboration with other producers, critiquing each other's work and ideas. He often uses harsh colors to display the struggle and work his characters go through. For example, in creed he darkens the set and uses spaced out bright lights to create shadows on the character at work, reflecting the sweat and wincing expressions of the characters. While my film isn't a typi...

Today I searched for places to film the opening of my movie. I figured school would be a fitting place for a spelling bee and a well-fitting study area, as it already has books, desks, and other materials and props needed for practicing for a spelling bee. It will also be convenient to shoot and re shoot scenes, if necessary, as I am constantly at school. At school, the library will be where most of my scenes will be filmed, as I am permitted to film there, and it is quiet.  I will also use the road connecting my school to the middle school for the road the homeless tutor lives on. this is a great place to film, as it isn't too busy, and i can shoot and reshoot multiple shots and angles without impeding traffic and risk my actors getting harmed. For the at home scenes, I will use my room as it will be a pretty authentic student setting, being that I am a student. Using my room will be beneficial also because i can prepare for scenes by setting up props and leaving my room at a cert...

 This film also contains the representation of Asian cultures, which will need to be included in the mise en scene of my film. This will help to target a specific audience, as supported by Hall's reception theory. To do this, I will need to find props that people of the Asian cultures are familiar with. According to an article titled "Mixed race America" some common items found in Asian households are things like Fancy art, to go boxes, and family pictures or heirlooms. To avoid offensive stereotypes, I won't overuse these props. I will order some props off of Amazon to create an almost authentic Asian household setting. Asian people are also stereotyped to be very clean and organized. I will need to find a clean setting where this can be filmed.  A counter stereotype I will include towards this, is that the protagonist will be a messy person, to display their level of immaturity. As the film progresses, their room will get gradually cleaner, symbolizing character gro...

Camera shots in coming of age movies is important to convey the emotions and reactions of each character. For example, close-ups are often used on each characters face so that the audience can interpret their facial expressions. Two shots can be used to display how close two characters are together, and in some cases they have the comedic effect of producing a "forced togetherness" bond between to characters who do not like each other, but end up ironically close to each other. I will need to include these camera shot techniques in my film to display the character emotions and reactions to events that happen to them. A film which uses these techniques to display emotion is the movie "You are so not invited to my bat mitzvah" In this movie two shots are used throughout the movie to show the roller coaster of the closeness that the two protagonists go through during their rivalry. The distance between them increases as they grow on bad terms, and as they get back clos...

In this image I took, I used the rule of thirds to focus the attention to the person's face so that it can be inferred that that person is concentrated on their work. I lined him up in the top right focal point, so that there is still room in the other quadrants to provide the school-like setting. To really emphasize focus on the figure intended, I could have used a shallow focus on him. Techniques like camera setting are things i need to get better at. In this picture I took, I used a natural lighting to create shadows. This can create an ominous tone, and is a good shot for a horror film which invokes suspense, as it is unknown what is in the shadows created by the trees, blocking the street light. In this video, I used the technique of a handheld camera to display a sense of action and chaos. The angle of the shot being from behind the birds allows the audience to assume that they are being chased, and are panicked.  To create a clearer video, i should have used a camera locking...

Since my film will need to create an inspiring and uplifting feeling for the audience, the lighting will need to be relatively bright. This will shape the mood of my film, by increasing color and will create a happy vibe from each shot and scene. For example, I will omit using low key lighting, as invokes mystery and an overall gloomy mood. I will instead include key lighting on each character, so their facial expressions can be displayed, I will also use natural lighting to aid me in creating a more casual and naturalistic environment. Disney movies from the 2000's use bright lighting techniques constantly for the "feel good" emotion produced after the film. For example, the movie, "the parent trap" does this. It rarely has a scene or shot where low-key lighting is used, unless it goes along with the plot. Instead, natural lighting is used in almost every shot, via windows and scenes taking place outdoors. To highlight character features, an on-set lamp is used...

This is an evaluation of my media studies techniques as of today.  Using a camera: I would say I am pretty good at using a camera, as I travel often and take a lot of pictures with my cellphone camera. To take the best pictures I can, I practice taking them at different angles. Recording sound: I could work on this technique a lot more, I don't commonly record audio by itself or as a part of a video, unless I am trying to record a song. on the radio to google later. Lighting: while visiting new places I often take pictures for my sisters, who make me take them at different angles for lighting purposes. I would say I am okay at this skill, but could use some improvement Editing software: To post my races for colleges to see, I usually edit and cut my videos to fit the format of the intended submission website Publishing software:  I have no experience with this, so I will have to learn how. Writing for Audiences: I am pretty good at writing for specific audiences, due to differ...

To master the theme of what to include in coming-of-age movies, I researched a famous producer in this Genre. His name is John Hughes and is the lead producer in over 15 coming of age movies. Some of his most famous and recognizable work, are movies like the "home alone" trilogy, Flubber, and "Ferris Bueler's day off." John Hughes' work has been successful through decades, meaning through different generations of kids. This hard feat was accomplished by what he claims as "keeping respect for characters, that match the respect in the audience. He says that many teenage movies use cliches on the irresponsibleness of teenagers, such as drama, and caring about popularity and things of that sort. By avoiding these cliches and stereotypes, he creates a respect for the audience, as they aren't exploited or targeted by the movie characters. in this way, the audience can view the characters as people, rather than a representation of them self.   In the movie...

As an inspirational themed film, audio will play a large role in creating a positive and uplifting theme. This means I will have to include a lot of non-diegetic sounds, such as inspirational music, or score. Including this will make the audience feel more involved with the film and allows them to further interpret the mood of what is going on. For example, a positive score can be included when the protagonist meets the old man, displaying to the audience the turn in mood, becoming more hopeful in the characters chances of not becoming grounded, upon finding his tutor. The movie Titanic frequently interchanges between a positive and negative score, in the presence of positive and negative events. For example, a positive score is used when Rose saves Jack from the flooding room at the bottom of the sinking ship. A clearer example of this, which is diegetic though, is the violinists playing the song, "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as the Titanic finally sunk at the end of this movie...

 Some of Propp's character types found in sports themed films include the villain and the princess. The villain could be a person or team, but often could be an injury, or prejudice beliefs in this specific genre. The princess rarely is a physical being, but most of the time a championship or goal that the athlete aims to achieve. In my film, the princess is passing the spelling be, so that the protagonist won't be grounded. the Villain, in this case, is a physical being, who is the protagonist's parent, who wants him grounded. A film in the sports genre which contains these character types as well, is the movie, "The mighty ducks." This movie is about a former hockey player (Bombay) who gets sentenced to community service and must coach and train the city's youth hockey team. In the movie, the princess started out with the coach trying to finish his service but transforms into the winning the hockey championship. The villain of this film, is the rival and mor...

In coming-of-age movies, there are a couple reoccurring character types present in the storyline. For example, there is usually a character who is overlooked by the protagonist, who then realizes their worth later on. Most times, a dispatcher is also present in the story, but they don't always fit the description of this as stated in Propp's character theory. This is because the dispatcher can take the form of the hero also, by how their whole mission can be developed by themself. These character types are going to be included in my film. The character who is overlooked will be the homeless ragged looking man, which the protagonist then turns to for help, realizing his true worth. The dispatcher will in this case fit into Propp's character theory, being the Protagonist's parents, who drive him into the path of winning the spelling bee, with the threat of grounding him. A coming-of-age movie, which also contains these character types, is the Disney movie, "Snow Day....

 Some conventions of a sports genre movie, include a sense of hard work and determination the protagonist Undergoes to achieve his goal. This is tied to the re-occurring theme in this genre that "hard work pays off." A number of challenges the protagonist faces and triumphs over is also common in this genre. Through this, they become more mature and develop a trait of resilience, usually applicable in their sport. In my film, the protagonist will face other challenges like failing grades in other classes. Through these challenges, the kid will learn how to study better resulting in a higher score in his spelling bee.  A movie that contains these conventions in the sports genre is the movie, "the longest yard.' this movie is about a football player who is imprisoned for shaving points, who puts together a football team in prison. Some challenges the Main team faces, involves harsh treatment from the guards, who they have to play against in a football game. overcoming ...

 Typical conventions of a coming of age movie, include the protagonist making a terrible mistake they must redeem themselves from. In my film idea, the protagonist's bad mistake was failing his tests, and gaining a bad grade. To redeem himself from it, he must succeed in the upcoming spelling bee. Another convention of this theme, is an emphasis on character growth. the protagonist in my film will start off as a character who often strictly judges others, who then learns not everybody can be accurately judged by their appearance.  A film that has all of these conventions, is the Sandlot. in this movies a boy who recently moved is seeking the validation of his neighbors, who play baseball. In the immature act of gaining their approval, he goes to grab them his fathers baseball, which he knows is cherished by his father. In the process of this, he accidently knocks it into a neighbors yard, guarded by his scary dog. This portrays the common convention of a terrible and immature ...

The film I am planning on creating contains 2 different types of genres: sports and coming of age. Coming of age tales have been around for many generations, however, the first film to be categorized with this theme was the 1955 movie, "Rebel Without A Cause". This film revolves around the plot of a new kid who recently moved to a new school, attempting to start his life on a new slate. He soon finds himself caught up in drama after he is challenged to a drag race with the neighborhood bully, nicknamed "Buzz". After the new kid, Jim, deals with the death of his friend Plato, he starts to mature, and takes responsibility for what goes on in his life, and also seeks a deeper relationship with his parents; one more supportive and full of guidance. this Genre fits into my film idea by how the protagonist accepts the fact that he needs somebody to guide him and teach him-an important step in the maturing process of a teenager.   Sport themed movies have been around from ...