Story Boarding

   

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Story Board of Harry Potter ‧₊˚✩彡 

    I am so excited to have you guys back on another blog of mine! I hope this one is just as well received as my last one <3

Today, I will be talking about MY experience storyboarding one of my favorite fight scenes from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:

Movie Clip

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Story Board

          

                  

          

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My Experience

   This was my very first time story boarding, and BOY was it an EXPERIENCE! Not easy, I tell you. I have never done this before so I probably made some mistakes or was not efficient enough in my process. However, I am proud of the results and the efforts I put into making this project come to life! I know you do not need to be great at drawing (I know I am not), but I am still a little embarrassed at how amateur they look especially the anatomy and perspective. A few things that I have learned after this was that story boarding takes TIME. It is not something you can get done in a few minutes. You can spend literal HOURS on a few frames that only make up 10 seconds of a minute-long clip, so you have to be patient! Another thing is to not feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the scene or the lengthiness of the project as long as you keep pushing through you will complete it! Just believe in yourself and your own capabilities and you WILL push through! Honestly, this whole process taught me diligence, perseverance, bravery, and most importantly: time management. I only did a story board of a clip that was around 2 minutes long, but it took LITERALLY forever. In the end, it was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears as now I have something to be proud of!

    Story boarding is important because it helps to visualize a scene and figure out how it is going to play out on paper rather than in your head as sometimes you may miss some things if you do NOT write them down. It also prevents you from making expensive mistakes as you will not need to buy anything to test out a potential scene. In addition, it will let you KNOW that it is THE scene for that moment when you have all the pieces of the puzzle laid out in front of you as one cohesive piece instead of several snapshots of a story. 

    Like I mentioned previously, story boarding is a difficult process, especially for newbies like me. If you are not disciplined and willing to put in effort, you will face the biggest challenge of story boarding—THE AMOUNT OF WORK. Other struggles may include a lack of artistic ability, an inability to express the atmosphere you are trying to create properly or TOO little or TOO many details. Not being able to draw is not that huge of a challenge as you can work around it by being more descriptive in your descriptions. The WORST problem is when you cannot express what you imagine as you do not know how to effectively utilize shots, angles, etc. (fortunately, I did not have this problem). The ONLY solution to this problem is to just study! Study how famous directors and animators compose their shots and scenes and take notice of what they use in order to convey certain emotions or create effects. The last problem is also not that big of a deal as it is something you can easily fix. Too little detail? Just add more! Envision the world and what you are trying to create with this scene; put yourself into the shoes of the characters! Too much detail? Just clean up your story board and make sure the MAIN point is being conveyed; NO unrelated tangents. 

    Overall, I think this was a fun experience trying to draw out all the cuts from one of my favorite clips from a beloved movie of mine. I really enjoyed analyzing and picking apart what the directors were thinking when they composed this very scene! 

    I hope you guys enjoyed looking at my story board and are inspired to create your own!

Mis En Scene

  

 ⋆˙⟡ Mis En Scene of The Hunger Games ✶⋆.˚

                        

    Hey everyone! I am so glad you are back to see my latest blog. Let's dive into this together! 
          

Today, I will be evaluating another one of my FAVORITE movies: 

Movie Info

Movie: The Hunger Games

By: Gary Ross

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Costuming

    Description: In this scene, the tributes are paraded around in the opening ceremony for all the Capitol to gawk at. The costuming in this scene is especially important as the outfits Cinna and Portia choose for Katniss and Peeta impact the story later on as they help them become the main stars of the show. From this, ALL eyes are on them now as they were the MOST captivating duo of the tribute parade eventually leading to their many sponsors and popularity within the Games. Furthermore, these costumes are also significant for the viewers as this is the first Katniss's identity as the "Girl on Fire" is established in the film which is essential for her character and the plot later on in the story. The pitch black both of them are dressed in represents the coal mining of District 12, but it also symbolizes their power, elegance, and in a way their later rebellious nature. The shininess of their costumes also furthers the power given to the characters as human brains are hardwired to notice and love shiny things. It basically all screams "LOOK AT ME" to the audience as they ARE the main focal point of the story. Lastly, let's not forget about the fire part of the "coal being lit on fire" part of their outfits as it literally makes them divine (in many cultures fire symbolizes purity and divinity). In addition to that, the designers purposely made the fire trail behind Katniss and Peeta making it seem like wings, foreshadowing the Mockingjay and the fight for freedom.

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Actors & Framing & Props

    Description: Amandla Stenberg who plays Rue in the movie perfectly encapsulates the innocence of Rue's character along with portraying the cruelty of the Capitol. The youthful look of 14-year-old Stenberg just makes the scene so much MORE heartbreaking than if an older actress did it. Furthermore, Jennifer Lawrence's performance as Katniss matches the audience's reaction to the death of 12-year-old Rue so brilliantly as the pain Katniss is feeling is JUST palpable which helps immerse everyone within this moment as if time was only just an observer. Katniss's makeshift burial made out of flowers for Rue paints an even worse picture (like watching a little bird's wings get clipped by the savagery of the Games) as the white and baby blue flowers further highlight the childlike appearance of Rue, and it transforms her death into something even BIGGER than the Games, pouring gasoline on flames that were thought to be stamped out. Lastly, the framing of the scene as Katniss crouches in relation to Rue's body further develops her pain and suffering and reveals the close relationship between the two as Katniss tries to get close to what she has lost (Rue) but she knows she can NEVER get her back again. Both characters are placed near the center following the rule of thirds for the viewer to focus solely on them and this pivotal scene.

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Lighting & Framing

    Description: When Katniss volunteers as tribute for her sister, the lighting is all on HER. The use of motivated light within the story draws the audience's eyes to her grief and pain as she makes the BIGGEST decision of her life which inevitably changes the whole trajectory of her life while the natural light keeps the scene realistic and relatable to the audience as they get put in her shoes, helping them empathize with her plight. The use of high key lighting in contrast to such a miserable scene creates an unsettling atmosphere and a sense of helplessness as Katniss cannot save both her sister and herself so she chooses to sacrifice herself instead. Additionally, the framing of the scene of Katniss being held back by Peacekeepers adds to the powerlessness Katniss feels in the face of the Capitol's power and ruthlessness. Lastly, the crowd in the background doing nothing as they watch her freak out further develops the vulnerability of the scene and the weakness Katniss feels despite being such a STRONG character herself. 

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Props & Scenery & Setting

    Description: There are so MANY props in the cornucopia bloodbath scene as this is the moment where the tributes all start to fight with their lives on the line. All the weapons in this scene tell the audience that this is NOT just some game and this is actually reality, a cruel bloodthirsty one. Furthermore, the survival packs reveal that this will last for WEEKS until there is only ONE person left standing as there is no certain time frame for when the Games end further exemplifying the severity of the situation. The whole scenery of the situation with the mysterious forest and the black cornucopia in conjunction with the props all help tell a story of life and death that is prevalent throughout the Hunger Games. Forests within media usually represent mystery as well as the cycle of life and death. Just like we see in the Games, the forest is filled with unknowns waiting to kill you but also provides items that can help sustain your life and aid in survival. Moreover, the black cornucopia can also add to this as black in most cultures is the color of DEATH whereas cornucopias symbolize life as they provide a healthy harvest. Lastly, the setting of the arena creates the conflict between the characters as they ALL know it is "kill or be killed" leading to a desperate fight for survival you see throughout the movie.

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Location

    Description: The location of MOST of the movie is in the Capitol which is inside of the country of Panem, and it is seen as the main antagonist for this movie. The contrast between the wealth disparities and behaviors of Capitol citizens vs. District citizens is very apparent, giving more story importance and agency to the location as the characters resent the very society they live in. This allows the audience to know HOW the location affects the story and atmosphere as for most the future is bleak even when they win, and this is reflected within the visuals of the movie.

    Thanks for reading as I really appreciate it, and watch OUT for my next blog very soon!

Mood Board

  

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Mood Board of Oppenheimer ‧₊˚✩彡 

    Another day another blog my lovely bloggers!

Today, I will be demonstrating the mood board I made for the movie I reviewed earlier:

Mood Board

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Explanation

    Starting off, there is a bunch of black and white photos in order to convey the time period of the 30s-40s at the time such as the photo of what his desk would have looked like with the pipe and messy misconstrued papers all over the place. Next, there are pictures of UC Berkeley as Oppenheimer taught there before he left to head the Manhattan Project. Furthermore, I included a college classroom/lecture hall to further capture the educational scholarly atmosphere vibe of his past. All this contributes to conveying the nostalgic feel the movie was trying to achieve. 

    I include SEVERAL photos of the actual Oppenheimer throughout his life to show his development through the stages of his life and interactions with others. For example, the top right photo of him and Einstein highlights the close relationship between the two of them. In addition, there is a photo of Eisenhower with Strauss about Oppenheimer's security clearance, showing the most vulnerable and intimate parts of his life which helps create a sense of familiarity as this movie is about his life story. Another way would be the TWO photos of Los Alamos in the top right (the secret camp the scientists and their families stayed at while working on the atomic bomb) as that is where he lived for several years and where the movie is set while developing the bomb. Right below those two photos, there are two MORE photos of what men wore during the 30s and 40s, and in the movie, Oppenheimer can be seen wearing something similar enhancing the vibe of the 30s and 40s.

    Furthermore, I added pictures of physics equations such as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle as these were the pinnacle of discovery at the time in the field of theoretical physics, which eventually led to the scientists building the atomic bomb. There are also visualizations of quantum physics and atomic particles as Oppenheimer has MANY dreams and imaginations about them in the movie. These photos help develop the feelings of amazement and wonder that Nolan wanted us to feel when watching the film.

    I also included photos of the actual atomic bomb and the mushroom cloud of destruction left in its wake which marks the beginning of the feelings of guilt that haunt Oppenheimer for the rest of his life as he realizes how MUCH hurt and despair he has spread through his invention. This connects to the next photos of Adam and God almost touching and Prometheus stealing fire from the gods as metaphors of how mankind was SO close to divinity and their OWN downfall as they began to play god with the lives of others.

    Lastly, I put small photos of the American flag and the awards he received later on in return for his service to the United States as a way to say thanks and convey a sense of gratitude for all he sacrificed for this country.

    Thank you guys for reading and tune in for my next blog!

Sound Story

 

 ⋆˙⟡ My Sound Story ✶⋆.˚

                    

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    We are back again with another blog from yours truly! 

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Today, I will be sharing my sound story project with everyone: 

Script

Scene: Match point for a volleyball game

1. Timeout before the rally for the last point

1) Crack knuckles/stretches

2) Nervous breathing

3) Pick up the water bottle

4) “And it’s now match point f-”

5) Chugs water

6) Crumbles water bottle

7) Walking onto court

8) Crowd murmuring

2. Getting ready to set the ball

1) Nervous breathing

2) Referee whistle

3) Rapid Heartbeat

4) Running to serve

5) Sneaker sounds

6) Jump

7) Serve ball hit sound

8) Lands on ground

3. Rally back and forth until the opponent loses

1) The other team picks up the ball

2) Intense battle to keep the ball on the opposing team’s side

3) The ball falls on the other side dramatically (bounces several times)

4) Referee whistle

5) Crowd goes wild

6) Hug from teammates (very sudden)

7) Teammates giving each other high fives

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Sound Story Video

    Description: My sound story is from the perspective of a volleyball player in the position of setter, with their team only ONE point away from victory. The story starts during their timeout before resuming the game for the very last rally of the game. To make the story, I started with planning and writing out my script first. Then I cataloged a list of sounds I needed to create/use in order to orchestrate the events listed in my script. Next, I recorded all my homemade sounds at my discount "foley stage" and downloaded pre-made sounds for the ones I did not make. Lastly, I edited ALL the sounds together to create the video you hear above! Once again, I made this video on Capcut on my phone. I have quite a decent amount of prior editing experience as this is not the first media class I have taken, but I never really used Capcut for them. I also used to edit for fun so that contributed to my experience. To be honest, the hardest part of editing was editing on such a TINY screen as the files are a pain to make minor adjustments on when they are extremely minute. I spent the majority of my time just tweaking small details and hoping I did not mess anything else up when I changed something. My takeaway from this project was that I should probably use the desktop version of Capcut next time and organize my editing timeline better as it was an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE arranging/fixing everything at the end to ensure my project was perfect. Overall, this was a pretty easy project to do, and my FIRST foray into sound design and making!

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Foley Video

    Description: For the sound effects, I made over half of them by myself (with only just SOME of them being featured in the video above) using an at-home "foley stage." The ones I did not create myself were downloaded from YouTube through the use of a YouTube to MP3 converter. In all, I used around EIGHT pre-made sound effects in my story that I used to enhance my own sounds through layering or was incapable of creating myself (due to my lack of opportunity/not having the means). For example, ALL the crowd sounds were just simply impossible for me to recreate on my OWN, so I just conceded and downloaded it from YouTube. This was a pretty NOVEL experience for me as I never tried making my own sound effects before (in contrast to my own tenured experience with editing in general). As a result, this led to some of the sound creation being slightly challenging for me. An instance of this would be me doing various trials to figure out WHAT would make the best heartbeat sound, and then actually obtaining the perfect take (another journey of trial and error) of the sound. In the end, I figured it out and overcame my struggles to present this project to you ALL!

    Thank YOU guys for listening, and I hope you enjoyed my project just as much as I enjoyed making it! See you in my next blog <3