CCRs

 CCRs

I haven’t spoken much about my CCRs on this page, but this week I will be focussing on tackling that last step of this project. I feel that the CCR is such an amazing way for creators to explain the stylistic choices behind their artwork. Explaining our stylistic choices can help others understand our artistic intentions and the meaning behind our work. This can lead to a deeper appreciation and understanding of our art. When we explain our stylistic choices, we can receive feedback from others about our work. This feedback can help us improve our art and develop our skills as artists. It can help us connect with others who appreciate and understand our art. It can also help us connect with other artists who share our artistic vision. Explaining our stylistic choices can help us gain recognition and establish ourselves as artists. When we can articulate our artistic intentions and the meaning behind our work, others may be more likely to appreciate and recognize our art. 

I have two different ideas for my CCRs which I have been implementing. The first is a simple presentation that really emulates the style and design of my film opening. I am choosing the more general thoughts and questions to put onto the slides so that way I can get my ideas across easier. The second CCR will be a video of myself explaining many of the setbacks that I faced during this process. Here I explain why a lot of things did not go as expected, why some ideas in my film opening changed, and really just my overall thoughts about the process of this film. I will be explaining the reasoning behind the development of the characters for my film and how they specifically relate to me. 

Here are the scripts for both: 

CCR stand-up script: 

My new film “Plastique” was a difficult one to work through as I found myself stuck between many creative blocks, passing back and forth many different ideas. I finally came to one and I prepared for weeks for the production of this film. After traveling to California this year, I had a different image of what my film opening would be like. My creative blocks suddenly all disappeared. I altered a few pieces of my film to fit a different narrative that I wanted to follow. The main change was making Ed a newborn in this film. 

• How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

The idea was for the mother, Elyssa, to have Munchausen syndrome by proxy in which she was to fabricate her son, Ed, and the illnesses that he has. This is why we can see Elyssa on the phone with the doctor as she is not understanding that nothing can be done, she insists that her baby is sick. I wanted to represent the side of motherhood that isn’t normally shown in mainstream media by adding a thriller twist to it. 

Mental illness after giving birth, also known as postpartum mental illness, is a range of mental health conditions that can occur during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. While the causes of postpartum mental illness are not fully understood, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and other stressors associated with childbirth and caring for a newborn may contribute. 

Elyssa is stressed out as she has to deal with her newborn baby. It is not uncommon for mothers to feel a sense of loss or struggle with their identity after pregnancy and childbirth. The physical, emotional, and social changes that occur during this time can be overwhelming, and it is not uncommon for mothers to feel disconnected from their former selves or struggle to find a sense of purpose or fulfillment. 

The title of the film is Plastique relating to the fact that we see Elyssa sort through so many different character facades, her identity is almost fake. This is shown through the symbolism when the last shot reveals that the baby is also fake, Plastique.

 

• How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

The target audience for my film ranges from 15-35. I think my film hits a large target audience because thrillers are most definitely taking up large theaters in today’s age, as many people have been fascinated by the biggest hits such as Nope. To appeal to a certain audience it was of utmost importance to their needs, behaviors, and interests, and what better way to do that was to put yourself into the age range. I thought to myself, what did I want to see come out of this and I ran with it. I conducted research to understand the demographics and behaviors of certain groups, and I spent hours asking peers for their opinions of my thoughts. 

There are many different ways that this film could be distributed considering its versatile target audience. The number one goal would be to get this film into a theatrical release. I feel that movies have always been released in theaters and that's the way that it would go. Having a strong marketing team would help in the long run, because they would need to aid all aspects of the audience. Having a target audience that lives their whole life on the internet is not a bad way to start. Engaging in marketing on social media involves creating content and interactions that spark interest and build relationships with your target audience on social media platforms. After having a theatrical release it could then be moved to a streaming service for those 

Presentation Script 

There were many different ways that my production skills were able to increase during this media production. The most important lesson I learned over this course is efficiency. Efficiency is important because it helps to maximize productivity while minimizing the waste of time, resources, and energy. When you are efficient, you are able to accomplish tasks with fewer errors and in a shorter amount of time, which can lead to higher-quality output and greater productivity overall.  Even when it came to me getting stuck in a creative block, I still took that time to watch movies, do research, and talk to peers trying to gain inspiration. When it comes to production efficiency is a main factor. 

The second most important lesson that I learned through this experience is that peer feedback is always good. Seeking feedback can help you to identify areas where you can improve your skills and knowledge. This can help you to develop as a professional and grow in your career. By getting feedback from others, you can identify areas where you may be making mistakes or could improve your performance. This can help you to refine your skills and perform better in your job. Engaging in the group meetings was the kick for me when I was deciding what to do with my film. If it wasn’t for that meeting I would not be in the same position that I am in now. 

• How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware, and online – in this project?

The computer software program that we use is adobe premiere pro. Adobe Premiere is a top-tier video editing software used by professionals in the film and television industry. Its user-friendly interface, professional-grade editing tools, integration with other Adobe products, cross-platform compatibility, and regular updates make it a versatile and reliable choice for video editors of all skill levels.

The equipment I used consists of a canon m50 mirrorless and for audio a rode microphone. The Canon EOS M50 is a camera that takes high-quality photos and videos. It can shoot 4K video and full HD video, making it a versatile option for photography and videography. 

Rode microphones are designed to capture high-quality audio for a range of applications, including music recording, film and video production, podcasting, broadcasting, and more. These microphones can attach to the head of the camera to capture sound. 

Another software that I am using for this project is Canva. Canva is a web-based design platform that allows users to create a wide range of visual content, including social media posts, marketing materials, presentations, and more. I’ve used Canva on multiple occasions, whether it be for a mood board, a storyboard, or a presentation just like this one. 

Updates

My film opening didn’t go the way that I planned…

I don’t mean this in a bad way! The outcome of the film opening was different from what I expected and honestly some major factors were changed. It's not uncommon for ideas to evolve and change as you work on a project. It's important to remain flexible and open to new possibilities. It's rare for a creative project to turn out exactly as planned, especially with filmmaking where there are many variables at play, such as weather, location availability, and the performance of actors. The characters are the same but I was still able to incorporate the original aspects of the film opening into the final product.

I honestly think I spent too much time trying to develop a whole story rather than focusing on the OPENING aspect. It's not uncommon to get caught up in the creative process and lose sight of the specific goals or constraints of a project. In the case of the film opening, it can be easy to become invested in the story and characters and forget that the opening is intended to set up the rest of the film. I really was trying to look at the bigger picture this entire time. As an artist, I always want to strive for more when creating something, and I felt that the constraints of just making a two-minute film opening were making my brain burst. I wanted to fully flesh out this idea, and I lost sight of the actual goal. 

(screenshot from adobe premiere timeline)

Filming

 Hey everyone!!!! This weekend I finished filming and editing my film opening and it went really well. I was able to work alongside a good friend and amazing filmmaker, Virginia Monasterio as she was a major part of my film opening. Working with an experienced actress like Virginia can certainly be a valuable experience for any filmmaker. Not only can she bring a depth of skill and knowledge to her performance, but she may also have insights and suggestions that can help improve the overall production.

Virginia was able to add a lot to the film, as she added her acting skills and a lot of her film knowledge. She was able to cry on command! Being able to cry on command is a skill that not all actors possess, and it can add a powerful emotional dimension to the performance.  Virginia was also able to get into character quickly and understand your direction. It's always great to work with people you already know and trust, especially when it comes to creative projects. Virginia brought a lot of her own ideas and creativity to the role, which can help make a performance even more nuanced and interesting.

(photo during production)

Virginia's input helped to elevate the overall project and add more depth to the character. As a director, it can be challenging to balance the need for creative input from your actors with your own vision for the project, but I was able to find a good balance. As a director, it's important to have a clear vision for the project and to be able to communicate that vision to your cast and crew. While it's important to be open to suggestions and ideas from your actors, ultimately it's your responsibility to ensure that the final product is in line with your creative vision. I was able to strike a good balance between being receptive to input from Virginia and asserting my own creative authority when necessary.

(selfie of Virginia and me during production) 

Updates

 Hey guys! I just wanted to come on here to say that I have decided that I will be attending the University of Florida, and I am so excited to start a new chapter in my life! In order to do that, I must close out this chapter. That being said, my first day of production for my film opening will be tomorrow! I will keep you all posted! 

Drained

 I am feeling very drained coming off of the STN trip. This year has been a lot for me and my television production journey. I love what I do but this year I was so close to losing the burning passion I once felt for TV. I went into this year with so many high hopes. I took on such a vital role within this club because I loved it so much. This was a place where I could call home, a place where I could go and feel comfortable with who I am. My safe place.

I spent all year building a team full of talented and creative individuals to compete in the largest television competition in the nation. I studied these kids, getting to know them, and watching their every move. I was able to pinpoint the gifts within all of them and create teams that would benefit the whole crew. I fell in love with mentoring these children, experiencing such enormous waves of happiness every time I saw someone on the crew light up the room. September 17th was the day it all clicked for me. I stood in front of sixty children who had spent their time, on a Saturday, to come and try out for this competition. I looked out into these children’s eyes and water immediately began to flow. I had fallen in love with what I was doing. I spent my weeks, my days, my months devoting my life to this. 

I went into this year saying to myself if I can change one person’s life then I have done my job. After the trip was over I received a message from one of the sophomores in our club, her name is Duda, and she said to me

 “...thank you so much for showing me the other side of competitions and for showing me that CBTV is more than a club, we are a family! I WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT YOU! I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for the club and especially for me!”

I read this message and I immediately started to ball my eyes out. Knowing that I was able to make an impact like this on someone’s life has allowed me to see past the fact that I was falling out of love with this passion. I was able to look past what had happened this entire year and come to a realization that this is why I do what I do. I crave to pull human connection out of anyone, whether it be the person that I am interviewing, my literal neighbor, or even my baby cousin. The human connection was there, and I could feel it radiating. There is hope

Falling out of love

 Before I continue with my updates for my film opening, I wanted to let some emotions out. As artists, we use our emotions to create and tell stories therefore letting them out would help me in the best way possible. 

Falling in and out of love is a difficult thing to go through, but when it involves passion, the situation explodes into something much bigger. 

For my whole life, I knew I wanted to be in production, but it wasn’t until tv production at high school that I transformed into a journalist. Through my time at CBTV, I fell quickly into a love for telling other people’s stories. I had become a writer overnight, coming up with different ways to approach news stories, practicing late in my bedroom for competition, and watching youtube videos to learn more. I worked my entire high school journey to apply to UF and I ended up getting in for summer B with the Journalism school. 

This is exactly where I wanted to be. This is exactly what I loved doing. This is exactly what I should be going to school for… until it wasn’t. I didn’t care to hear the words “journalist” come out of anyone's mouth, I didn't want anything to do with it. I opened my eyes, looked around, and asked myself, do I still have a passion? Was I going to let years of hard work and success come crashing down all because I was confined to the toxic shackles that others placed on me? I had been repeatedly getting called selfish by those I look up to the most and all of a sudden I lost the need for validation. I lost the need for my work to be appreciated. I even started to not appreciate it myself. I had fallen out of love. 

Short Film

 Hello there again, tonight is the last night of my trip in Long Beach. We placed fourth in Crazy 8 News Magazine. I got the chance to act alongside my good friend Virginia Monasterio. For her category, she was placed into Short film, and she had 6 hours to write film and edit a two-minute film based off of a prompt. She decided that I would be best to fit the role of the kidnapper in her movie. The team ended up placing 2nd place overall!

 I gained a lot from this experience, I got hands-on experience in the industry. Whilst acting in the short film, I got to see how Virginia writes, directs, and produces the films that she makes. Virginia is an AICE Media A-level student, meaning she has already taken the course that I am enrolled in. See how she works was a big help because I know that she has experience in this project specifically, and I made many mental notes so that I could execute my film opening in the best way possible. 

LONG BEACH!!!

 

Hello everyone! We have arrived in Long Beach California!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO! I am so excited to embark on this six-day journey with my television production crew. Yesterday we went to Knott’s Berry Farm and we rode all types of different rollercoasters. Today we competed in Crazy 8 News Magazine and I think we slayed. We have been working nonstop every Saturday since October to practice for this competition and put it all on the table. I haven’t been able to give much thought to my film opening since I am producing other projects for completion, but I will come back and update you guys if I have anything else to say! 

Busy Week!!

 Welcome back! This week is going to be a very hectic week, so I need to make sure that I am on top of my stuff. This week I’m going alongside my television production crew to Long Beach, California to compete alongside every tv school in the nation. Last year we won first place out of everyone, in the category for crazy 8 News Magazine. We have been preparing for this trip since September and I am so excited to see our hard work finally pay off. It’s going to be a super fun trip, we have lots planned such as going to the knots berry farm, visiting the observatory, and getting a Warner bros studio tour!!

For this reason, I will be out of the state from Wednesday to Monday, so I will start my production process when I get back. I am planning for my two production days: Tuesday the 21st of March and Wednesday the 22nd of March. I have found two actors that fit the roles very well. Virginia Monasterio is going to be playing Eylssa and Drew Van Dam is going to be playing Ed. Ed’s real name is Edward and there is a bit of lore behind the characters' names. The relationship between Edward and Elyssa can be classified as chaotic and destructive just like World renowned Alyssa Edwards. Edwards is a notorious drag queen known for her chaotic and drama-centered time on RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

I chose to name Elyssa with an E instead of an A so this way she comes off as more connected to her son. Their names both start with E’s which is an odd occurrence especially when Elyssa is normally spelled with an A. I will update you guys while I am on the first day of my trip. I would love for you all to accompany me on this experience. Maybe I will gain inspiration in the city that is known best for filmmaking! 

Plot

 I will lay out the entire film opening bitch to you guys. I want you to know exactly what is going on inside my head. Elyssa is this mother that keeps her son, Ed, roped up at night while he sleeps. She tortures him at home, giving him medicines for illnesses that he doesn’t even have. She is a horrible mother who makes her child go to school daily. Elyssa never lets him miss her because she does not want anyone to suspect anything is going on. Everyone feels for Ed. He is paralyzed from the waist down, stuck in a wheelchair, and drugged up on medications for who knows even what. Ed is known as the “sick” child of this western suburb town. 

Elyssa Makes sure that she keeps up with the town. She goes on outings with her sister Belinda, while she leaves Ed home to rot in that nasty room. She is president of the Parent Student Association at the middle school that Ed attends. Elyssa looks like a normal mother on the outside, but as the secrets start to unfold, Elyssa finds herself in a debacle. The opening will consist of a series of shots in which Elyssa prepares her son for a day at school! I will be filming soon :)

Mood Boards!

 Hey Everyone! Here are the two mood boards for my main characters for the film opening! I didn’t think I can put into words what I wanted their vibe to be, so I created this so everyone could better understand!

                                                              Elyssa (Mother to Edward)

Ed (Son of Elyssa)

Today in class we learned about the CCR. For this year, we have to produce two different CCRs in two unique ways. This is the first year that this is being brought upon us students as in previous years only one piece was required. As soon as I heard this news my brain started revolving in circles trying to pick up a new idea from every direction. We were shown a couple of examples of the CCRs, what to do, and what not to do. It seems that many of the successful ones were those that had a lot of substance, stuck to a script, and had a sprinkle of creativity throughout the piece.

That is all I have for today, I have a lot more coming in the future weeks!

The Act

 For my film, I wanted to take a different approach to this syndrome because of the inspiration I have taken from the show, The Act (2019 dir Nicholas Antosca)This show was based on a true story of a mother (Dee Dee) and a daughter (Gypsy)  where the mother had server Munchausen syndrome by proxy.  Gypsy was the most improbable suspect when Dee Dee was found fatally murdered inside her home in June 2015. She was raised to believe she was born with a wide range of disabilities and illnesses, including paraplegia, leukemia, severe asthma, muscular dystrophy, and epilepsy, to mention a few, and had been quite "ill" her whole life, confined to a wheelchair. 

(The Act)

According to Michelle Dean's account of Gypsy, "She was thin and pale, and her teeth hurt and were falling out. She was fed with a tube. When Dee Dee had to transport an oxygen tank, a nasal cannula was looped around Gypsy's tiny ears." Due to Dee Dee's constant attempts to keep her younger, she had Munchausen syndrome by proxy disorder and was actually only keeping her otherwise healthy daughter (who had no concept of her age) ill for years. Gypsy planned to have her boyfriend—whom she found and started seeing online, apparently behind the back of her helicopter mother—kill her mother after discovering her mother's falsehoods.

Source: https://time.com/5553735/the-act-hulu-true-story/