All certified pilots that are legally allowed to pilot an aircraft must follow the rules and regulations created by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). These specific rules and regulations can all be found in the "FAR/AIM" which labels them exactly to their own meaning and reasoning. When it comes to our film and the filming inside the aircraft, there is a specific rule that regulates how we can complete this process. This Subreddit helped me understand more about this specific regulation.
Book Containing FAA Rules and Regulations.
In our case, a majority of the shots needed to complete our project take place in and around a Cessna 172 (Small Airplane). This is why we need to make sure that we are following all rules while getting the needed shots. I would not want to lose my license so this is very important. The exact FAR states that "Filming is allowed if it does not affect the pilot in commands (PIC) ability to control the aircraft." Basically, this means that someone else will have to film as I am the primary controller of the aircraft. To overcome this obstacle I plan on flying with my CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) who can be the Pilot in Command when I need to get the needed shots.
Example of Camera Angle that Will be Used in Film.
When looking at modern-day movies and how they look to the viewer, there are many different aspects to consider when looking at the big picture. (Pun Intended) Some of these aspects include Video Resolution, Color Grading, and even Frames Per Second. To get the right look for your specific film different types of equipment can be used. Cameras can vary from Action Cameras such as GoPros to full-scale cinema Cameras such as The Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini Pro which shoots at a whopping 12K. (12,000 Pixels!!) Each camera has its own purpose and I will utilize both types of Cameras in my film. Not exactly though given that the Ursa Mini Pro Costs $6,000 Dollars.
Video Camera Frame Rate Explained.
I want my film to look like a full-on professional movie. To achieve this look I will use many types of cameras for filming. I will use my own GoPro Hero 9 that will be attached to the exterior of the plane so that the viewer can feel like they are a part of the action. For the more cinematic shots filmed inside the plane and throughout the film opening, I will use a Canon XA40. This camera is great for filming movies because it films at 60fps making the video smooth and easy to watch. The last form of equipment I will use is a UAS (Unmanned Ariel System) such as a DJI Mavic Air or my custom Racing Drone. This will allow me to show the location of the filming to the audience.
My film, "Flight for your life," is about the life of an arrogant pilot who thinks nothing can go wrong until something does. In order for my film to have the biggest effect on the viewer, I must utilize a variety of locations. Making a movie takes a lot of time, this is why creating a schedule is very important. My movie will be shot in several locations including North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, FL, and Peanut island in Boyton Beach, FL. Since both locations require many numerous angles and shots. they will be filmed on separate days. This being said, I will have to allocate several days so that I can film all the shots I need. Unlike other examples of this project, my film will be complex consisting of many different aspects.
A good way to make sure that I am staying on time is to make a schedule laying out the milestones and checkpoints where I can mark them off as I progress. My production schedule is as follows. For the next week, I will finalize my storyboard and script. ( 2/27 - 3/3) Then my next step is to start filming. Given that North Perry Airport is closest to my house, I will start filming there first. As a licensed pilot I can rent a plane from "Flight Center International," a well-known flight school Whenever I need to. I will give myself a week to get all the footage at the airport and from the air. (3/4 - 3/11) My next stop will be Peanut Island where I can film my needed shots of the stranded Pilot on the deserted island. (3/12 - 3/19) Once I am satisfied with all my shots, I can start the intense editing process. I know this part will take the most time so I will give myself a full week to finish. (3/20 - 2/27) I am giving myself a good amount of time for each part of the project so that I will not be stressed out and fall behind on the making of my film.
Character Description: Jonathan is a young man who just graduated high school. His parents divorced back in 2019, but he was unaffected by this drastic change. He is average in height at just 5 foot 9 inches. He received his pilot's license when he was 17. At his flight academy he was the top of his class, but after a year of flying his skills have deteriorated and he has started to become lazy and forgetful. When it comes to orders he is very arrogant to the people around him and most of the time he only listens to himself. He isn't very strong and he doesn't know much about surviving given that he has had everything laid out for him his entire life. He plans to go to college once the summer ends.
Jonathan Adam's Moodboard.
Character 2
Character Name: Flight instructor Danny
Character Age: Middle Aged
Character Description: Flight instructor Danny is a well know CFI(Certified Flight Instructor) from Miami Florida. He has around 2,000 hours of flight time under his belt and he has helped many people get their pilots license including Jonathan. Throughout Jonathan's training, he knew that the young man was very bright, earning high scores on his exams. Danny also knew that when it comes to order and organization, Jonathan does not pay attention to fine details often forgetting to complete his pre-flight checks. Before each flight, Jonathan always tells Danny where he is flying and for how long. Danny usually responds with the go-ahead but because of a weather delay, Danny advises Jonathan not to fly. Jonathan leaves anyway which makes Danny concerned, but he knows that at this point there is no stopping him.
When imagining what my film opening will look like, there is one aspect that can make or break the entire project. This aspect is sound. Sound allows the viewer to understand where the film is taking place and how the environment acts in relation to the main character. Considering this I knew that when it comes to my own Portfolio Project's audio, it has to contain details that elicit a specific emotion from the viewer. I wanted my film to have an eerie feel throughout which makes the character feel uneasy and uncomfortable. To create this effect I decided to choose a song from the 1950s to 1960s time range. After narrowing down my choices I landed on the song "Beyond the Sea," by Bobby Darrin. I believe this song fits the theme of the film because it takes place on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean, hence, the Sea.
The video Explains how Sound Design affects a Film.
Now comes the hard part. The part that makes every filmmaker want to rip their own hair out. Getting the Rights to the song. In today's technological world, everything has copyright. Whether that be a Picture, video, or even in our case a song. This means that the individual requesting to use the song must contact the record label that produced the exact song and artist. In my case, the Label that I will be negotiating with is the "Warner Music Group." This label is well known for producing Ed Sheeran, Madonna, and even our artist Bobby Darrin. I found their contact number and I plan on calling them soon. I will be sure to explain to them that I will not be using the song to make any profit and that it is for a school project. I am eager to see what their response is and hopefully I will be able to use the song I requested.
In order to get the picture I imagine in my head into my actual film I will have to use a practice called 3D Modeling. Due to me not being able to fly Sadly :(, I will need to utilize another method in order to get the various exterior shots of the plane flying through the air and exploding. 3D modeling is the process of creating a 3D representation of any surface or object by manipulating polygons, edges, and vertices in simulated 3D space. Being that I never have done this before, I can imagine that it will not be the easiest act to carry out. There is a very useful youtube video that explains the specific process of how to use the program. When I fly next I plan on taking a 3D scan of the airplane that I will use in my film. Then after uploading it to my computer, I will use a program called Blender, Which is used for creating 3D animations.
Example of what "Blender's" Workspace looks like.
When it comes to video production, I know that filming and editing are the most important aspects. They also take the longest time. This is why before I start the production phase I will plan each shot using a storyboard. The film will open showing the main character on a deserted beach. After finding out where he crashed landed he lets out a loud scream. The camera moves in towards his mouth and the film rewinds showing the same Pilot walking towards his plane. This flashback lets the viewer see what the lost man is hallucinating about.
A very important aspect of a successful Action/Thriller is a strong and powerful character. Characteristics of their types of characters include having leadership, showing courage, Resilience, and being always up for a challenge. As I understand more and more about how the story forms around the character, I will implement my ideas into my film opening. While keeping these aspects in mind, I am starting to formulate my own idea of how the story will play out and how the main protagonist will overcome the challenges they are faced with.
My film, which is not named yet, will be about an arrogant pilot who ignores the warning signs laid out in front of him. This mistake causes him to crash his small plane near a deserted island. He is faced with many problems and it is up to him to overcome the challenges and make it back home to his family. As he makes his way towards salvation, he starts to question who he is as a person and how he has been arrogant and harmful to the people around him. In the end, this tiring journey causes him to mentally change becoming a better person. My film opening will mostly focus on the events leading him to eventually crash the land off the deserted island. I am very eager to start planning how the shots will come together to make the story come to life.
See you in the next Blog Post!!
Example of the Plane (Cessna 172 N) that will be used in the film opening.
An Action/Thriller film uses physical action to create suspense throughout the entire film. Similar to a traditional Action film, this film type will always have continuous motion and action including physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. When theses scenes are put together they contribute to the overall sense of danger that the protagonist has to face. Thrillers often carry out a single motive throughout the entire story. They are very plot driven films which contain many unexpected plot twists, and great amounts of tension.
Example: "Die Hard" (1988) is a great example of Action/Thriller film containing many twists and turns.
How my film will fit the Genre...
My film opening will fit into the Action/Thriller Genre by including great amounts of fast paced scenes, Explosions, fights, and even many unexpected plot twists. As i am narrowing down my options for deciding how my film opening will play out I need to consider the many aspects that I need to add so that viewers can understand the story. The motive of the main character needs to be easily viewable for the audience while keeping them on their toes with plot twists and unexpected events. I am eager to see how my film will play out and how I will implement these different aspects into my Aice Media Portfolio Project Film Opening.
This video helped me learn how I will create Suspense In my Film Opening...
Now as we enter the third quarter of Aice Media all focused is shifted upon the Final Portfolio Project. This project consists of a written essay portion and a video/blog post portion. I am very excited to start this project because I love making videos and creating stories. Ever since the start of the year I have been thinking of ideas and topics that I can base my Video on. After narrowing down different possibilities for the story I landed on an Action/Thriller Film.
When planning out how I will construct my film I will focus the most on utilizing my time wisely. When considering myself, I know that if I do not plan out each part of the project I will most likely procrastinate. This is why the pre-production phase is very important. All in all I am very eager to start working on this project and I am excited to see what is in store for the future.
Since my last Music Marketing Blog Post, my group has been working day and night to make sure that the end result is perfect. After a long discussion as a group, we decided to base our video on a love story and how love does not always go the way you planned. The song entitled "Many Shades of Black," includes different lyrics all relating to love and how it has died. Many people in our target audience range, Teens through Young Adults, can connect with this song because it is highly likely they are going through the same struggles and problems. This is why we believe this story would be perfect for reaching our target audience.
Research
In order to make sure our Band and their music video fit with the Rock genre, we decided to research multiple different examples of older Rock Bands traveling down a similar path. We noticed that many groups in the past followed a similar pattern. This pattern included using outdated tactics to connect with their viewers. To stand out, "Imperial Purple" decided to aim the majority of its marketing through its own website and social media.
Example: Our Rock genre marketing/distribution.
Brainstorming/Planning
Our group started the planning process by throwing out lots of ideas and stories that we could mold into our video. Once we had an idea secured we put together our storyboard which helped us formulate the story and how we would film it. Due to the song being about love and how it doesn't always go the way you think it will. Our story starts with two couples being together but fighting and going separate ways. They eventually find new love which in the end helps them become the best versions of themselves.
Example: Our first draft storyboard.
Production
In our quest to be unique and different from the other various rock bands of the time, we set our story at the beach in various locations. Our group decided to meet on a Sunday to film the different parts of our story. It turned out to be the coldest day of the year in South Florida. Just our luck. This made it much more difficult to film all the shots we needed. It took us all afternoon but we filmed all the shots we needed. It was then time for us to edit the story and bring it all together.
Example: Behind the scenes of filming Video.
Post-Production
After a full day of filming with hours upon hours of raw footage, it was time to put together our four and a half minute song. Yes, that was not a typo, our song was actually over four minutes long! We tried to use several editing techniques such as Masking, and even time remaining to keep the film exciting and entertaining. Although this made our film look professional, it took around 45 minutes per shot to make sure it looked perfect. In the end, I'm glad we spent the extra time to make our video stand out.
Presentation
For our presentation, we had to introduce our brand and how it is special along with how we are going to market and distribute our content. Each group member had their own part to play such as marketing, distribution, and social outreach. I was responsible for creating the band's background, social media presence, and website. As my slide came up I could feel the butterflies in my stomach despite the fact that my mother is the drama teacher and she put me in every show when I was younger. We got through the presentation and showed our amazing music video to the class, which we are very proud of.
Example: Our Music Marketing Presentation.
Reflection
In conclusion, completing my music marketing project has taught me many new ways to connect with your target audience and how to tell an entertaining story. I truly enjoyed the progression of our ideas being molded and refined into the final story. I have always enjoyed making videos but now after learning about marketing and distributing your own product, I have a newfound respect for this craft. Learning about storytelling has given me many ideas for how I am going to create my Portfolio project. I am going to use the techniques I learned for this project and utilize them, hopefully more effectively, in my Portfolio project. My goal is to create an entertaining and visually stunning story that leaves the audience wanting more.
