Baby Steps

 Brainstorming

I'm back! Recently, Rayyan, Edison, Eugene, and I have brainstormed how we want to approach our movie opener, particularly the theme of it. Since all four of us have similar interests, it was quite easy to narrow down the types of movies we find appealing to create. The genres we have considered include but are not limited to horror, adventure, comedy, and action!

Horror

Our horror idea centers on a YouTuber who ventured into a haunted woodland without knowing the true consequences of his decision. Character disappearances, thrilling legends, and dark figures are all part of the plot, which builds to a very exciting and frightening conclusion. As a result, this concept produced numerous advantages for us. First of all, there isn't really a need for props because the woods already provide a spooky atmosphere. Not only does this save us a LOT of money, but it makes our video more professional as the scenery would be similar to those used in Hollywood. Additionally, it created anticipation for the audience. Horror films are easy to hook readers in as they capture the effect of suspense and curiosity, which are naturally attention-grabbers for the human brain. They also encourage our group to try out new jump scares and inventive camera techniques. Horror's have the level of versatility that lets us be creative with our ideas and scary effects. Above all, creating spooky settings would be more enjoyable for all of us. However, there are problems with the concept.

Filming at night presents a significant challenge; getting good shots in the dark requires specialized equipment. Other problems included arranging outfit changes in the middle of filming, as well as the possibility that the weather would not allow for an outdoor shot. 

Adventure (Featuring Comedy)

Another good option was an adventure that focused on conveying humor. Our goal was to transform That One Uno Edit's wild comedy into an action-packed chess game. Think of two players facing off in the greatest chess game ever, complete with unordinary reactions, where the Queen Piece is shown as the final traitor in the chaotic plot. Some positives are that we were able to shoot it indoors, which provides us with greater control of our environment to operate in. The overall setup was also quite simple, saving both time and money. This idea also had some pretty hilarious potential, especially for viewers our age who are more likely to get the intertextual reference and be pleased with the silly exxageration of the game. However, there were also some disadvantages. People who don't understand the references might not find the humor funny, limiting our project to a small target audience. When creating a movie, especially only the opening sequence, it is absolutely essential to hook in as many interests as possible, so having this idea may just be a bit too unique for us. It would also be difficult to capture that fast-paced intensity of the film and would require a prodigy in both camera shots and editing. We have confidence in ourselves to create a good project, but this task may just be a bit too high for our first-ever video.

Action

The last movie idea we brainstormed was to incorporate a video game-themed film filled with excitement and action. In order to create an intriguing film, the main character must overcome difficulties and foes in a cinematic manner. We did not plan out the exact storyline of it yet, but we have a baseline of the thematics behind it. In summary, this idea was lively and provided excellent visual scene chances. The dynamic storytelling and quick pacing were fascinating to consider, and planning stunts together would have been an exciting way for us to bond together and ejoy the film-making process. Despite all these awesome benefits of this idea, it was quickly countered because the concept was too ambitious for our capabilities and available resources. It was impossible to successfully replicate professional-level action scenes without sophisticated equipment or experience. Furthermore, as actors in our video, we would have to execute actions that may be hazardous to our health and possibly life-threatening if done wrong. On a professional basis, their would be stuntmen and safety equipment to ensure the protection of actors. However, we lack this, so our "action" would be very limited.

So? Which idea will it be? Find out right here on Saleh Selections soon!

Searching the History Books

Reviewing Former Student Work

It's that time again! This week, I have been watching past movie clips made by former students in order to get a better idea of how I want to construct my movie. I watched 5 different videos and analyzed the features that were eye-catching and those that needed some improvement in order to achieve that cinematic vibe. I have posted the video links below as well as my opinion on their successes/shortcomings and how they can be improved.

Roll Call

Role Call's opening introduces a police case identifying different suspects for a murder. The strengths of this film were the editing involved to make the mugshots seem professional and symmetric for each take. I also liked how the narrator was explaining each subject's background in a hasty manner to build suspense and hook the audience in. As for weaknesses, I felt that the voices of the actors were not adequate to appear professional. It could have been recorded better, whether that was using a better microphone like a shotgun mic to capture their voices better or for the actors to instill greater passion in their voices. Also, I noticed the camera was shaky throughout many scenes. While I don't know if this was done on purpose to create an anxious effect, I think it should not have been used that many times throughout the film. So, using a tripod or camera stand would have made this film feel more cinematic.

New Everything

I was not that impressed with New Everything. To give some positives, I liked how the film conveyed the ordinary morning routine of a student despite him being the "new kid." Also, I liked how the clip played the music that the protagonist was listening to in his headphones, putting the audience in his perspective. Despite, I believe the flaws outweigh the strengths. I think the opening seemed very vague and boring. Their was no dialogue, no background music, no narration, etc. It just depicted the morning of a school day without truly giving it significance. This could have been improved with something as simple as a voiceover of the protagonist's thoughts as he woke up, entered school, walked into class, and more. Also, the sound effects of footsteps did not appeal to me, particularly because it was quite obvious it was a sound effect. The steps were not in sync with the walking speed entirely, and the sound of the steps did not match the house floor or concrete sidewalk in the film. Instead, it sounded like he was walking on dirt or grass, which removes the realism of the film. A simple fix would be recording the footsteps on the proper surface in a foley stage.

Dreamland

Dreamland had an intriguing opening but seemed to lose its aura as the film progressed. The strengths of the film lie in the first minute or so, where a dream-like scenery of relaxation, flowers, and supernatural powers were bundled together to create this mysterious paradise. I enjoyed the tranquil film score, as it added to the heavenly feeling, especially when paired with the surreal pink hue of the film. I also enjoyed how the producers reversed their recordings to make it seem like objects were floating, adding a special touch to the video. However, I began disliking the film when the creator transitioned from the dream to reality. It felt insequencial and abrupt, and while this may have been the purpose, I think it was not connected properly. To go from this dream stance to being outside a pharmacy can be vague without proper background information, and the rest of the film of the protagonist smuggling different drugs does not explain the turnaround of scenery. This could have been avoided with a voiceover describing the protagonist's thoughts behind being at the pharmacy. Another fix could just be slowing down the transition between the two states to allow the viewers to process the change.

Dear Lover

Dear Lover was a different film than the previous ones. Strengths of this film include a calm nature environment and a soothing instrumental to convey the protagonist's peace of mind after a tough time. This is reiterated by another notable strength: narration. I liked how the voiceover was used to provide background information into the main character's life, posing the problem at hand and how she is dealing with it. This allows the audience to gain sufficient information to be hooked into the movie in order to see what happens next, an ideal movie opener. Weaknesses came towards the end of the video when there were multiple shots in a small amount of time, including the lake, the movement scenes, and the interview. It almost felt like a montage, which is not ideal to convey a mood of tranquility. By reducing the number of shots in the sequence or editing them more smoothly, this movie could have been improved.

Dare to Thrill

This was my favorite film of the ones I reviewed! So many positives could be seen. I liked the acting of the young adults, portraying the excitement, eagerness, and even immaturity that many people their age express, making it seem realistic. The fast-paced shots added to this thrill. I liked the close-ups of the car speedometer and other features to really focus in on the chaotic driving that the teens participated in. I enjoyed the ambient dialogue and laughter, and though it could not be understood, the emotions behind it were very well on display. I enjoyed the steady camera shots of the car, as this was probably difficult to achieve. Since it was done properly, it creates a professional outlook. Finally, the music was the middle ground. While I did like its party-like feel to reflect the mood of the opening, I think it was too loud. It covered many features, like the engine roar and car screeches, making it harder to hear them and receive the entirety of the intended effect. Just by lowering the sound of the score during the sound mixing stage, this movie could've been well on its way to a Hollywood opener!

Meet the Squad!

Group Member Profiles

Hello, viewers! Today, I have something a little different than usual for you. I will be introducing my group members for our Media Studies project, where we will work together to create a movie opening! Along with myself, I will be collaborating with Rayyan Awan, Edison Chen, and Eugene Oh! Obivously, you guys most likely have not met these individuals, so let me tell you about them:

Rayyan Awan

When introducing my group, there is no better person to start with than Rayyan! We have been best friends for many years now! We first met in a debate class during our middle school years and quickly grew close due to our similar interests, sense of humor, and overall personalities. Over the years, we have strengthened our bond, overcoming obstacles such as being at different schools for a period of time, given that we are not in the same grade level. Rayyan and I have worked together on in-school and recreational projects already, so we have experience engaging. We also typically play video games with one another, so we are fairly coordinated with one another, allowing for greater ease in the media studies project. As an individual, Rayyan is academically gifted, earning the highest grades in a schedule overflowing with college classes. He is also a prominent leader, holding an officer position in numerous clubs at our school. These traits will allow us to plan out our project and execute our ideas efficiently, with Rayyan taking a leading role in overseeing and organizing this process.

Edison Chen

Next, Edison and I met last year at school through our mutual friend, Rayyan. While we used to only exchange a few words in the presence of our mutual, our bond has grown over the past two years, and now we are close friends and relate to one another greatly. Edison is a passionate person, determined to achieve whatever he sets his mind to. Most notably, he wanted to form a club where both badminton and pickleball players could meet and play with one another, and so he spent countless months planning and forming this organization. Unsurpisingly, he succeeded this year, and now this club, known as Pickminton, is not only an official extracurricular at our school but a widely known one as well. Apart from that, Edison is an outgoing, genuine person overall, and would make the process of making our two-minute film feel seamless and fun. Edison is an amazing addition to the team due to the fascinating ideas he could bring to our film and his determination to reach his goals, making him an effective member.

Eugene Oh

Our third group member, Eugene, appears to be a perfect addition to the team. Since we met in middle school, Eugene and I have grown progressively closer over the years. Sharing passions in football and gaming, we had various topics to connect on, and this has only gotten us closer. We have also been a part of numerous friend groups that have risen and fallen over the years, and our friendship is one of the few to remain intact and strengthen, for that matter. We have an immense level of trust, and we feel comfortable sharing our emotions, issues, and more with one another. To put simply, he is a friend that, if I needed him at 3 a.m., would be there for me, and vice versa. Now, in terms of his contribution to the team, he brings a unique perk: photography. Eugene's family has plenty of experience with professional photography, so it is no surprise that he has substantial experience in the field as well. This would be a magnificent aid to our team, as he not only has professional equipment to use for our film, but he also has enough knowledge to know how to properly operate the machinery. This would give our film a more cinematic, professional look, enhancing our project!

Ahmad Saleh (Me)

Last and certainly not least, ME! To make inferences about myself, I believe I can significantly benefit our team. First, I have an amazing academic record, portraying me as an advanced mind who is no stranger to critical thinking and problem solving. This would allow our team to tackle obstacles we may face while working on the project and keep our flow going throughout. Moreover, I am a passionate and loyal person, as many have noticed due to my loving commitment to Liverpool. These traits would mean that I will always be committed to our project, whether this be working on my portion of the project in a timely manner or even just my energy that I will give to this group and project. To top it all off, my close relationship with all my group mates will allow for an efficient, relaxed, and cooperative working environment that will allow us to get the most out of our collaboration!

 Story Boarding

Welcome back! I am so excited to show you guys my first ever storyboard!!! I did my storyboard based on the comedy Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.  I did the ever-so-funny scene of the cow fight, which was LOADED with humor, sarcasm, and just a silly vibe. Here is the movie clip:

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist Movie Clip

In all honesty, storyboarding was a new and interesting experience. The main thing that stood out to me was the extreme importance of storyboarding EVERY scene, no matter if the smallest of changes occur. By doing so, you are basically creating the entire movie on paper. When making a film, this allows you to easily alter, edit, or touch up different aspects of each shot before the actual shooting begins, leading to swift takes. While I did not record any of those scenes, I did get a feeling of how this process would be simplified through storyboarding. Another major thing I learned was the level of detail required in a storyboard to illustrate the scene to the maximum. For example, you don't just need to draw the basis of the subject and his surroundings, but far more. Subject movement, character movement, emotions, environmental factors, any possible changes in background/weather, and even the overall mood must be included in the storyboard in order to get the most out of it. Ultimately, I believe the most important thing about storyboarding isn't how well you draw your scenes, but the mise en scene you wish to convey and its effect on the audience. If you wish to instill an anxious mood in the viewer, make sure the contents of the storyboard reflect this feeling on paper, not only when the motion picture is put together. 

After storyboarding the fight scene above, I encountered some notable challenges that shaped my perspective on storyboarding. The most obvious obstacle was drawing shots in one frame when, in reality, the subjects and surroundings would move/interact, and the camera would move as well. Trying to grasp all these variations into one scene to express multiple seconds of a movie at each instant is not that easy. It requires me to brainstorm how I am going to implement all the changes into the frame in order to express them adequately. I would say this was the hardest and most time-consuming part of storyboarding. However, there are also some basic challenges. For one, I am not a good artist AT ALL. So, having to draw so many scenes in detail was a huge struggle. After erasing and redrawing many frames multiple times, my finished products were still nowhere near some of my peers. Luckily, a perk of storyboarding is that you can use words to describe some aspects if you just cannot grasp the information in a picture.

Well, that was my experience! I posted pictures of my storyboard for you all below! Feel free to look through them and leave any feedback you may have of what I exceeded in and what I need improvement with (besides my drawing skills!!)

Storyboard