Final reflection

 Dear big year old Cambridge people and Ms. Stoklosa, 

I am sad but also happy to say that the end of the 25–26 school year is coming to an end, and with it the end of my final project. I have finally finished everything. This class was a really fun class that helped me learn a lot and also helped me realize that I might be interested in pursuing a career in this field. I’m not completely sure yet, but it’s definitely an idea and something I could see myself doing in the future.

Throughout this project I learned a lot about filmmaking, editing, and how much planning actually goes into creating a media product. From brainstorming ideas with my group, to filming the scenes, to editing everything together, every step of the process taught me something new. One of the biggest things I learned was how important editing is, because it can completely change how the story flows and how the audience experiences the film.

This class also helped me make new friends like Vale, Emily, and Kylie, and working together on projects made the experience even better. Collaborating with other people helped us share ideas, solve problems during filming, and make the final project stronger. 

I really enjoyed this class, which is why I will be taking A Level Media next year. I’m hoping it will be just as fun and interesting as this year, and I’m excited to keep learning more about media production.

Until next year- Luca

Project links

 question 1 and 2 CCR-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I_-AZDf1QQV71cF2rwsyC7zkGGm942lp/view?usp=drivesdk

question 3 and 4 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dHVV7H7wJLcRtsuwq-7UAF_BDqO91OVv/view?usp=sharing

2 minute opening- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u1vMVJ7U_ItMdicIKszFQBrqmh17nK9R/view?usp=sharing

Editing (CCR)

 After recording my CCR videos, I moved into the post-production stage where I edited everything together. For my second CCR video, my friend and I recorded a podcast-style discussion on Google Meet where we talked through questions 3 and 4. However, when we finished recording, we realized that the audio from the call didn’t record properly.

To solve this problem, we recorded the audio separately on our phones while we were doing the call. After that, I had to sync the phone audio with the video from the Google Meet recording.

I used Clipchamp for most of the editing of my film project, but for the CCR podcast video I used iMovie to combine the video and the audio together and make sure everything matched correctly. I trimmed parts of the recording, fixed timing issues, and made sure the conversation flowed naturally.

Even though the audio issue was unexpected, it actually helped me learn more about problem solving during editing and how important sound is in media production. In the end, I was able to combine the recordings a
nd create a final CCR video that clearly answered the questions.

Post production (CCR)

 For the production of my Creative Critical Reflections (CCRs), I decided to present the answers using two different formats. For questions 1 and 2, I created a presentation where I talked through the slides and explained my ideas while showing examples from my film. I wanted it to feel clear and organized so the audience could easily understand my analysis of the genre, audience, and representation in the project.

For questions 3 and 4, I chose a different approach and recorded a podcast-style discussion with a friend (
jano he is a friend that took aice media studies last year) on Google Meet. I thought this format would make the reflection feel more natural and conversational instead of just reading answers. My friend asked me the questions and I explained my production process and the technologies I used while making the film.

During the recording process, I focused on speaking clearly and explaining my ideas in a way that connected directly to my project. I also tried to reference specific scenes from the film to support my answers. Using two different formats helped make the CCRs more creative and engaging while still clearly answering the required questions.

 

Question 4

 CCR Question 4 – Technology Used in the Project

The fourth Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How did you integrate technologies such as software, hardware, and online tools into your project?

To answer this question, I will begin by explaining the different technologies I used during production. This includes both hardware and software tools.

For hardware, I will discuss equipment used while filming, such as cameras, phones, tripods, lighting, or other production tools.

For software, I will explain the programs I used for editing, planning, and designing elements of the project. These tools helped me organize the project and edit the footage into the final product.

I will also include examples such as screenshots or images from the editing process and behind-the-scenes photos from filming. This will help visually demonstrate how technology played an important role in creating the final film.

At the end of this reflection, I will summarize how these technologies helped improve the overall quality of my project and reflect on what I learned from using them.

Question 3

 CCR Question 3 – Skills Development

The third Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How did your skills develop throughout this project?

In this reflection, I will focus on how my skills improved during the production process. I will begin by explaining how the project started with research and planning, which helped guide my ideas and production decisions.

Then I will discuss how my skills developed throughout different stages of the project, including filming and editing. I will reflect on what I learned during the production process and how I adapted when challenges came up.

I will also include specific examples of the skills I developed, such as improvements in camera work, editing techniques, storytelling, or organization. Showing examples from different stages of the project will help demonstrate how my work evolved over time.

Finally, I will end this reflection by discussing what I learned overall and how these skills could help me in future media productions.

Question 2

CCR Question 2 – Audience and Distribution

The second Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

For this reflection, I will start by identifying my target audience. I will describe their approximate age range, interests, and the types of films they typically watch. Understanding the audience is important because many production decisions are made based on what will appeal to that group.

Next, I will explain how my production choices were designed to engage this audience. This includes choices such as camera work, editing style, pacing, music, and storytelling techniques. These elements help create a certain tone and make the film more interesting for viewers.

I will also explain how my project could realistically be distributed if it were a real media product. Because the film was created as an amateur production, a realistic distribution platform could be something like YouTube or online video platforms, where independent filmmakers often share their work.

I will include visuals and examples from my project to show how these choices help attract and engage the intended audience.

CCR planning

CCR Planning – 

• Question 1 How does your product use or challenge genre conventions and represent social groups or issues?

  • Media 1 : Me at the park, answering the question while shooting the ball, juggling, or doing small tricks. Shows personality and keeps it fun.

  • Media 2 : Quick montage of clips, images, or highlights that inspired the project.

• Question 2 (Challenges I faced):

  • Media 1: talkshow-style audio clip explaining challenges and how I solved them with my dad as the host and me as the guest .

  • Media 2: Mini “talk-show” or interview-style clip where I answer questions or humorously reflect on the obstacles.

• Question 3 (Production choices):

  • Media 1: Behind-the-scenes video showing editing or filming decisions.

  • Media 2: Animated diagram or sketched storyboard with short motion graphics explaining my choices.

• Question 4 (What I learned / next steps):

  • Media 1: Mini interview with a friend or teammate reflecting on lessons learned.

  • Media 2: Short “news report” or commentary-style video summarizing what I learned and future improvements.

editing

Today we started working on the editing and sounds are very important for our project. So we tested different audio for the scenes where I’m closing and opening the door and also for my footsteps when I’m walking. Vale has been using Pixybay to find sounds because she already used it for her last project and said it was really easy to use and had good quality audio.

But on Wednesday I want us to actually film our own foley sounds so we can compare which one sounds better, the ones from Pixybay or the ones we record ourselves. I think making our own sounds will make the scene feel more realistic, especially for the sneaking back into the house scene because the door and footsteps are really important for building tension.

We also want to try finding a copyright free song to use in the credit scenes where there isn’t much other sound happening. I think sound is really important for setting the mood so testing different options will help us decide what fits our film the best.

post production #1

Today we worked finishing on filming the scene where the main character gets caught sneaking back into the house. We used my mom to act as the angry Hispanic mom and honestly she did really good and made the scene feel more realistic. We even had a little script for her to read off of so she knew what to say and how to react when she catches me. Her energy really helped bring the tension into the scene and made it more believable.

We actually finished filming the whole scene, but after watching it back I realized my acting was kind of rushed in that moment and it didn’t turn out how I wanted it to. The emotions didn’t feel natural and it just looked like I was trying to get the scene over with instead of really reacting to what was happening. Because of that, we decided we want to redo the scene with my mom so it can look better and feel more realistic.

This showed me how important it is to take time during filming and not rush, especially in emotional scenes. Even though we already filmed it, going back and improving it will make our project stronger in the end.

CCR Question 1

 CCR Question 1 – Genre Conventions and Representation

The first Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How does your product use or challenge genre conventions and represent social groups or issues?

To answer this question, I plan to start by discussing the genre of my film and the conventions that are normally associated with that genre. Genre conventions include things like typical camera angles, lighting, characters, story structures, and editing styles that audiences expect to see. I will explain where I learned these conventions by referencing research I did on other films within the same genre.

Next, I will talk about which genre conventions I decided to follow in my own film and why I chose to include them. I will also discuss any conventions that I challenged or changed in order to make the film more unique or creative.

Another important part of this reflection is representation. I will explain how my film represents individuals, social groups, or issues and how those representations are shown through characters, dialogue, or visuals. I will also reflect on how these choices might influence how audiences interpret the story.

To make this reflection more engaging, I will include visual examples from my film along with examples from other films in the same genre.

group meeting #2

 Today we had our second group meeting. My group had lots of interesting ideas and suggestions

 Andres- young hacker teen that gets recruited to hack this big company.  "primavera productions" his company (final cut camera)

gianna-  love story school meet up then flashback back to house party where they meet and then bf comes and ruins the moment.

fiona- Is doing teen girl that is acting older than she already is she gets kicked out of like a club and she is like falling apart lots of thought into costume and character development 

matias- wants to do swimmer sports films experiencing burn out but still wants to play the sport he loves. Focused alot on playing with sound. Production logo was "this has to be a joke" it was very nonch and i like it alot.

Ranveer- wanted to do like a dumb and dumber comedy inspiration from 21 jump street.

production #2

For this part of our production we took a picture of the lake because we want to film the sunrise there for our opening scene. The idea is to have the sun rising and then slowly fade our production logo into the sunrise. We thought this would look really cinematic and also set the mood for the beginning of the film. It gives a calm vibe before everything crazy starts happening in the story.

We are also planning to use different outside shots around the house, like the door and the area outside, to show the main character sneaking out. These shots will be filmed in quick succession with different angles so it feels fast paced and intense. It’s going to show him leaving the house quickly and trying not to get caught, which builds tension right from the start.

Taking the picture of the location really helped us visualize how the scene will look and how we want to frame everything. It helped us plan the lighting, camera angles, and timing of the sunrise so the transition with the logo looks smooth and realistic. Overall this planning helped us see how the setting and shots outside the house will help tell the story visually.

production #1

 For the bedroom starting scene we really focused on the details to help tell the story and show what kind of character he is without even saying anything. For the bed we used a bunch of stuffed animals to make it look like someone was sleeping. I literally have like 10 different Mickey Mouse stuffed animals so we made it look like a whole army under the covers. The blanket is pulled up but you can still clearly see the stuffed animals, so it makes it obvious that someone tried to fake being in bed and the mom already figured out the trick. This shows the sneaky rebellious teenager idea.

We also made sure everything on the desk looked like a messy teenager’s space. We placed random things like an ID, a cup, bracelets, and other objects to make it feel realistic and natural. Nothing was placed randomly, everything was there to help show personality and make the environment believable.

Another important detail was the alarm clock showing 7 a.m. even though it wasn’t actually that time. We originally wanted to film at sunrise to get the best lighting and make it look more realistic, but our schedule didn’t really allow that so we just changed the clock time. The lighting we got still looks good though, and honestly it worked better for our schedule so we’re happy with it.

Overall, planning and setting up the bedroom made me realize how small details and props can help tell the story, show character personality, and create meaning without needing dialogue.

prop

 For one of our props Vale made a party poster that we are going to use in the computer chat between me and my best friend before I sneak out. This prop is important because it helps give context to the story and shows why the main character even wants to go out in the first place. Instead of just saying there’s a party, the poster makes it feel more realistic and believable.

The poster is going to show up in the messages on the computer screen so the audience can see the details of the party and understand the motivation behind his decision. It helps build the narrative without using too much dialogue and adds to the realism of the film because it looks like something a real high school party would have.

I think this was a really smart idea because small props like this help tell the story visually. It also connects to our thriller vibe because the audience sees the setup before everything actually happens. Overall the party poster helps develop the plot, gives background information, and makes the whole sneaking out scene more meaningful.

company logo

 For our production company logo, we wanted to create something that had a strong Florida vibe, especially inspired by Miami’s aesthetic. We decided to use bright warm colors like orange, red, and blue because they remind people of sunsets, the beach, and tropical weather. We wanted the logo to immediately give that Florida energy and feel fun and eye catching.

Our logo shows a sunset over the ocean with birds and waves, which represents the Miami environment and gives a relaxed but vibrant feeling. We chose this design because it reflects where we live and what inspires our creativity. The bright colors and beach imagery make it stand out and create a strong visual identity for our production company.

The name VAMB also has meaning because it comes from our initials combined into one word, which are Valeria, Andrade, Mario, and Borde. This made the logo feel more personal to our group and represents our teamwork and collaboration on the project.

We also focused on making the design simple but memorable so it would look professional at the beginning of our film. For the creation of the logos we choose to use Canva.

We also made different designs without thinking about the colors or small important details that much :

Lighting

For this part of planning I was thinking a lot about lighting and how it changes everything in a scene. Lighting is super important because it makes people feel stuff without anyone even talking. For example we want darker or low-key lighting in some parts to make it feel tense or scary especially in the sneaking back in scene and brighter lighting in other parts to show normal everyday life. We are actually going to film this in my room and try to shoot at 7 a.m. so it feels as realistic as possible and I think the natural morning light will help make everything look real and not too fake.

I am also thinking about how shadows can make the scene feel more suspenseful. Like the main character’s footsteps casting shadows across the floor, the door moving slowly with a shadow behind it, or the blinds letting in just a little sliver of light across the messy room. All these tiny things can make the audience feel nervous without saying a word. I am also planning to use some practical lights like a small lamp or the light from a phone screen to make certain details pop like the stuffed animals on the bed or the opened window so the audience notices them and it adds to the tension.

Another thing I realized is that lighting can even guide the audience’s emotions. Bright or soft light makes a scene feel normal and safe but dim, low, or flickering light makes it feel tense, mysterious, or dangerous. For this scene lighting is going to be one of the biggest ways we make the sneaking back in feel realistic and suspenseful because everything else, the props, the foley sounds, the set, works with it. I did not really realize before how much lighting can completely change the mood of a scene but now I see it can make a moment feel intense, dramatic, funny, or even creepy just by how it is lit.

Planning lighting for this scene is actually kind of fun because you can play around with shadows, angles, and the natural morning light to make things feel real. It is like you can control how the audience feels without them even noticing. I am really excited to try different setups and see how the 7 a.m. light in my room works with all the props and sounds to make the sneaking scene as realistic and suspenseful as possible.

Props, costume, setting

For this part of planning I was thinking a lot about costumes, props, and the set and how all that stuff tells the story without anyone even talking. For costumes we’re going with the rebellious teen vibe so like hoodies, dark colors, messy stuff, just clothes that make it look like the character doesn’t care about rules or expectations. It’s small stuff but it really shows personality and attitude.

For the set and props we’re actually going to film in my room and try to shoot at 7 a.m. to make it as realistic as possible. We’re gonna make my room hella messy, throw stuff around, and mess up the bed. Then we’ll put stuffed animals on the bed to make it look like someone tried to trick my mom into thinking the main character was sleeping. We’re leaving it like that exposed so it’s obvious the mom already checked, which adds a little tension and makes the scene feel believable. Small props like phones, drinks, backpacks, and even tiny things like shoes on the floor or a notebook open on the desk will help make the environment feel lived-in. Props are super important because they show what’s going on without any dialogue, and they also help the audience understand the character’s personality and the

situation.

I never realized how much the set and props really tell the story until now. Even little things like a messy bed or the way the room is arranged can make the sneaking scene way more believable and add details the audience notices subconsciously. It’s kind of crazy how much you can communicate just by arranging a room and picking clothes and stuff.

Characters development

For this research post I looked into character development, specifically rebellious teenagers, because our main character sneaks out and does things behind his parents back. I wanted to understand why teenage characters act rebellious in movies and what actually makes them feel realistic instead of just random.

From my research I learned that rebellious teenagers in films are usually shown as wanting freedom, independence, or excitement. A lot of the time they break rules because they feel controlled by their parents or they just want to experience new things and have fun.

 I also noticed that in many movies teens are influenced by a girl they like, which makes them take risks or do things they normally wouldn’t do. Their emotions and relationships kind of push their decisions and move the story forward.

A good example of this is Project X, where the teenage characters throw a huge party to impress people and gain attention, especially from girls, which leads them to make reckless choices and break a lot of rules.

Another example is Superbad, where the main characters go to a party mainly to impress girls and fit in socially, which causes them to lie, sneak around, and make impulsive decisions. Both movies show how teenage rebellion is often connected to social pressure and wanting approval from others.

This connects to our project because our main character sneaks out to go to a party mainly because a girl he likes is going to be there. His rebellious behavior creates tension, especially when he gets caught by his mom. It makes the character feel more realistic because he is not perfect and makes impulsive decisions like real teenagers would.

I also learned that good character development usually shows consequences or growth. Even if the character starts off rebellious, the story shows how their actions affect them. In our film, the fact that he doesn’t remember the night shows the consequences of his choices but also creates mystery for the audience.

Sonido...

 Hola blog como van, today we are going to talk about sound and how I am going to implement sound into our project. In my past projects I worked with creating soundscapes and making foley sounds, so for this project I want to use those skills again. One time I made a soundscape about a carnival and I actually really enjoyed doing it because it was fun creating all the different sounds and making everything feel realistic. That experience showed me how important sound is for setting the mood of a scene. For our film, we really want to focus on the sneaking back into the house scene, so we are going to use a lot of foley sounds like the door opening and closing, the window moving, and his footsteps to make the moment feel more tense and realistic. Since that scene is supposed to build suspense, the sounds are really important because they help create that nervous feeling for the audience. 

We might also add some background sounds for the party, but the main focus is using foley for the

sneaking scene to make it feel real.