Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #22

 Final Shots!

Week of 3/28 - 4/3 (#1 of 3)

    On-Location! The big day has arrived, and I made sure that I know that I am well prepared for the long drive ahead. After waking up at 8:30 and getting all my gear packed into the car I knew that there was one thing that I was missing, a "Red Bull," Believe me this is a vital part of the process because I had no energy. I hopped into the car and took off to make a short pitstop before making the drive toward the island. My friend was generous enough to make me fake blood the night before so that I could use it for my film opening. After picking up the container of fake blood, I started heading for the water taxi parking lot. The 40 min drive seemed long and this made me worried because I arrived at the lot at around Noon. 

The "Fake Blood" that was used.

    After waiting to board the ferry we finally stepped foot on the sandy beaches of the island. I immediately launched my drone to try to find the best location to shoot. We decided on this small portion of the beach that seemed uninhabited. This location is perfect because I want it to seem uninhabitable and desolate. After setting up the camera and seeing which angles fit the best I ran into one problem, the camera can not show the actor lying in the sand and the water. To overcome this problem, I moved the tripod into the actual water which allowed me to get the angle I was looking for. After obtaining all the shots, I packed up all my gear and went into the ocean to wash off all the fake blood. We then walked back to the dock to be picked up by the ferry which brought us to the car. We packed the gear into the car and started our long drive home. The sunset drive home felt like a good way to end a long day of shooting in the sun.  

How the Filming process looked.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #21

 Inner Struggles...

Week of 3/21 - 3/27 (#3 of 3)

    Despite being an outgoing individual, I find it hard to act in front of the camera and to successfully play a role. Being the lead actor in a video is very stressful. The success of a project mostly relies on the main character. In everyday life, I feel like I am a very outgoing, and confident person but when it comes to being behind the camera I get butterflies in my stomach and my palms get sweaty. I know I have to overcome my inner fears because it is my job to portray my story and display my story to the viewers. 

    Going into my last day of filming I started thinking of all the things that can go wrong. I may get embarrassed because of other people around me, or even lost because I lose my train of thought. I always tend to care too much about how people see me when my focus should really be on the project and how It is efficiently filmed. In the end, I know that I must take a deep breath and do my best so that I can tell the story that I work tirelessly to create. I feel proud of the film that I am creating and the many challenges that I overcame will help me create a better-looking film in the end. I also believe that my project will show that look. 

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #20

 Last Day Ambitions!

Week of 3/21 - 3/27 (#3 of 3)

    Tomorrow is realistically the last day I will get to film my footage for my Aice Media Film Opening. This being said this day is also the most important because it includes filming all the scenes that take place on the island. There are some key ideas to think about before we head out to the filming location. These include what gear we will be taking, transportation, and weather. Thinking of all aspects now will help the production process happen more efficiently. It would most likely not be a good idea to wait till the last second and have to rush getting all the gear together and this might make the footage not be as good. 

Camera Gear I will be taking.

    To start, the first thing I need to put together is my gear. This includes all the batteries, Camera Bodies, Lenses, and even my drone gear. Making sure that every single one of the batteries is charged is key to making sure that the filming process happens smoothly. Next is transportation, although this may seem like an unnecessary aspect, it is key to making sure the entire process happens efficiently. Ahead of time, I planned out how I will get to the specific location. Given that I will be heading to an island, I need to explore various ways to travel. After researching, I realized that the best way to get there is to drive to a water taxi and take the taxi to the island. The last key point to think about is Weather. I want the beginning of my film to look like a classic tropical island. This includes beautiful weather which will contrast the events that have happened and how the character feels. 

Map of where the Filming will take place.

    

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #19

 Spins for days!

Week of 3/21 - 3/27 (#1 of 3)

    Ah yes, another full successful day of filming. On today's shoot, there were only a couple shots that I needed to film to finish the flight portion of my film opening. The two main shots I needed were the Plane starting up and, "Drum Roll Please....." "THE SPIN." Yes, you heard that right In real life (Controlled) Spin of the Plane. I woke up that morning ready for the large task ahead of me. I traveled to the airport and made sure all of my camera gear was charged. Once I arrived at the plane, I made sure to attach my GoPro To its respective mount. Before taxi, I made sure to get the multiple shots I needed of the plane starting up, which consisted of multiple angles. 

GoPro Angle During Takeoff.

    Now it's time. I received my clearance to depart to the west towards the everglades. I was cleared to take off from Runway 10R and to make a right turn heading 270 Degrees (West). Once flying into the everglades training area at 2,000 ft I started looking around for where I will achieve this maneuver. This specific maneuver needs to be completed at 5,000 ft or more. This is because a ton of altitude can be lost in a very short amount of time. After scouting the area, I realized that the cloud layer is too low so finding a new location would be my best bet. I changed my flight path and started heading for the Atlantic ocean. This is because the cloud line usually stops after passing the coast. I climbed to 6,000 ft and performed the maneuver successfully obtaining the shot.  

GoPro View During Spin.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #18

 Costuming and Schedule Changes

Week of 3/14 - 3/20 (#3 of 3)

    In order to make my film opening look and feel more immersive, I decided to research methods that other filmers have used in the past. One method I came across was makeup. Makeup can be used to contribute to the realness of a film. It also is a sound way to complement the specific costuming used in a scene. For this reason, I believed that using not specifically makeup but using fake blood would be a great addition to the opening scene of my film opening. The main character washes up on a deserted island after crashing his plane. To give the audience this idea of disaster without telling them I will rip up my pilot outfit and pour blood on the shirt and face of the character indicating that they got cut up. This will help drive the main idea and help the plot be easier to understand. 

First Test of Fake Blood.

    Another major change coming soon to a theatre near you is scheduling. Given that today is March 20th and the Aice Media Portfolio Project is due on April 4th I only have about 2 weeks to complete the rest of my project. Yes, I'll admit this deadline is causing me some stress. This is why I am going back to my original Calendar and updating it. In the beginning, I did account for missing a couple days and not being able to film but I never thought this much delay would happen. After this project is over I will definitely be giving the clouds the stink eye. In the end, I know my mission, and I know I will get the needed shots by the deadline, No matter what.

    

New Updated Schedule

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #17

 Wheels up....!

Week of 3/14 - 3/20 (#2 of 3)

    Alright, here we go, finally a perfect day we can get some quality footage. The cameras were charged...again, the plane was rented and fully fueled, and most importantly I was ready to go. South Florida is known to have large scattered cumulonimbus clouds/heavy precipitation in the afternoon, this is why I decided to book the plane from 9:00A.M. to 12:00P.M. Leaving the house was a bit of a struggle for me lol, this is because I was dressed in my pilot costume and of course, all of my neighbors were outside staring me down. As I traveled over to the airport I ran a mental checklist in my head. This list included, along with my Aviation Checklists, what specific shots I needed to film for that specific flight and how I will obtain those shots. 

The Main Character in His Pilot Uniform.

   

One of the shots that will be used in the film.

    I walked to the plane and did my many various steps to make sure the plane was fit for flight. After making sure everything was up to par, I switched modes so I could focus on getting some different shots before starting the aircraft. These shots include the actor walking towards the plane and getting it ready. Once I was finished with these different shots I hoped into the plane and started it all up. I Received clearance from Air Traffic Control that I was cleared for a westbound Departure. Because I set up my GoPro on the exterior of the plane, I didn't have to do anything in order to get footage of the plane taxing and taking off. Once in the air, I made sure to get a plethora of footage including video of the different instruments and views outside the plane. This footage will help me in the end when I am editing if I need more footage of the plane flying.  

The flight Plan That I flew.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #16

 Group Review!

Week of 3/14 - 3/20 (#1 of 3)

    Today during our Aice Media class, we gathered into separate groups and reviewed/checked in with each other to see how our projects were going. It was very nice to chat with my classmates about their different stories and ideas. I am happy to say that most of us are on the same portion of our project. This makes me feel better because I was worried that I would be behind. I liked hearing about how my classmates were planning on completing their projects and the struggles they had to overcome. Going into the second phase of filming made me feel super overwhelmed, but after talking with my classmates and going over different strategies and ideas I felt much calmer and more prepared. Going into filming the rest of the shots I will take these different ideas into consideration and I believe this will help my film look amazing. 

My Group Reviewing our Projects.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #15

 Filming Day One!

Week of 3/7 - 3/13 (#3 of 3)

    As we transition into a new phase of my project, the filming stage, we need to consider the different aspects that might give us a hard time. The most prominent of these obstacles include the weather. Our film, being shot outside and around an airplane, means that weather is a big limiting factor. Today, March 13, was the first day I was planning to film. The night before I got all my camera gear ready, the batteries were charged, the SD cards were empty and formatted, and I was ready to follow my storyboard. When I woke up in the morning I opened my window and checked the METAR (The Aviation Routine Weather Report) to see what the latest wind was and what the radar picked up. To my surprise, there were winds gusting 27kts and clouds all around. 

Example of a METAR report for the Nearest Airport

    This meant that I had to make a decision. Either continue the flight and risk my safety so I can get the shots, or Play it safe and stay on the ground. Given that I am a responsible Pilot I decided to wait to fly and just get B-roll shots on the ground. Despite this minor setback I still made the trip productive. This being said, I had to schedule the plane for another day this week pushing my Island Filming Day back. In the beginning, I gave myself extra time just in case something like this happened and I'm pretty thankful I did. Here are the various shots I filmed so far. It may not seem like a lot but given the circumstances I faced I know I will get more shots soon. 

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #14

 Change is Coming...

Week of 3/7 - 3/13 (#2 of 3)

    As I start the first steps of my production phase there are some changes I would like to make before we start. First off, after many hours of trial and error, I realized that 3D modeling might not be the most efficient way to create my film. Between trying to use the special scanning app and transferring it to Blender it wouldn't work no matter how many times I tried. In the beginning, I tried scanning a model plane just to see if the program really worked. After waiting for the images to transfer and mesh together, the model I got was scratchy and had many holes where the program could not fill in any information. Also for the scan to even commence I would have to take over 500 photos of the full-scale plane. Given that I don't have an infinite amount of storage on my phone, it became apparent to me that this method will not be useable.

Type of view the audience will get.

To overcome this challenge, I decided to cut out the various parts using 3D modeling and replace them with actual shots of the plane mid-flight. To obtain these different shots and angles I will use my GoPro Hero 9 camera. This durable, Versatile, action camera is used by many to obtain certain shots that a regular DSLR wouldn't be able to film. The camera will be attached to various mounting points located on the Wing, Horizontal Stabilizer/ Elevator, and inside the cockpit. This will give the audience a view that they have most likely not seen before. This is why, despite losing the ability to implement the 3D render/model, I believe that my film will still look cinematic and professional thanks to the use of the GoPro and the new possibilities.

The GoPro that will be used to film the exterior of the plane.

    

    

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #13

 Costuming is Key!

Week of 3/7 - 3/13 (#1 of 3)

    To fit the overall storyline of my film, being about a pilot and his mistakes, I knew there weren't many options for costuming. The choice I eventually landed on is a classic Black and White pilot costume. The character wears this outfit, consisting of a white collard shirt, Black pants, a black tie, and a black jacket showing off his wings and ranks. At the beginning of the story (Not the actual order of the opening), the outfit is clean and orderly. All components are together and the character looks well put together. As the story progresses, and the character washes up on the deserted island, the outfit is ripped up and scars are seen through the cut parts of the clothing. I wanted the outfit of the character to change as the story progresses this makes the film feel interconnected and more natural.

Example of Johnathan's Costume.

    Given that there are not many characters in the film, it is very apparent that the few characters that are in the film have outfits that match their personality and style. In the case of the main character, he is wearing a traditional pilot uniform with modern accents such as an Apple Watch and Airpods. Flight instructor Danny also wears clothes that match his mood. Given that he is a mentor and teacher of Johnathan, he wears clothes that give off a father figure impression. This includes Khaki Pants and a random T-Shirt. The styles vary greatly between Johnny and Danny. This shows off how their personalities are so different. I decided to put so much thought into costuming because I believe that it can change the overall look of a film. Turning an Average Film into an Extraordinary Film.

Example of Flight Instructor Danny's Outfit.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #12

 Storyboard Completed!

Week of 2/28 to 3/6 (#3 of 3)

    To end week three of my Aice Media Portfolio Project blog post, I wanted to update you on the progress I have made. In order to make the filming process more efficient, many filmmakers utilize the process of creating a storyboard. This sheet displays each shot that needed to be filmed so that when edited, there will be no missing clips. I spent a good amount of time this week creating this storyboard. In the end, I believe that this extra effort and work will allow me to have a more organized and thought-out project. Below I have attached my full storyboard. Here you can see what my ideas are for how my project will look in the end.   

Storyboard Page 1

Storyboard Page 2

Storyboard Page 3

Storyboard Page 4

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #11

 My Inspiration.

Week of 2/28 - 3/6 (#2 of 3)

    When we were first assigned this project I started thinking about a storyline that would get me excited and motivated to produce this film opening. My passion has always been flying since I was a young boy and throughout the years it has only grown stronger. I am proud to say that I have been accepted into my dream college, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in my pursuit to become a Commercial Pilot. For this reason, when we were first introduced to this project I had a basic idea of what the opening would be about.

Example of me flying a plane.

    Due to the fact that recently there has been an increase of crashes and mishaps at the airport I fly out of, the inspiration for my film opening was born. This project combines my love of making videos along with my love of flying This is why I am very excited to see how they come together when I film next week. I want the viewer to feel the way I feel when I fly. I want them to be immersed in the story to the point they will want to see the rest of the film. These are the reasons why I cant wait to start production.  

My View When I fly.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #10

 Beacon TV Partnership!

Week of 3/1 - 3/6 (#1 of 3)

  BECON (Broward Education Communications Network) is the media production and support operation for Broward County Public Schools (BCPS). They mainly focus on video production, engineering support, classroom equipment maintenance and repair, print services, and distance learning coordination and support. "Short Cuts," a sub-group of BECON is a television program created to showcase short videos and films created by high school students in the tri-county area of South Florida (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach). For our case, this means despite not being in Television Production, we can still utilize the help of this organization.

"Short Cut's T.V." logo.

    Like I said in a previous blog post, the quality and look of a film help make it seem more professional. This is why it will be in my best interest to use a high-quality camera. But there is one issue, where would I find a camera. I myself am not a millionaire and I can not simply afford a multi-thousand dollar camera just for my one Alice Media Project. This is where BECON comes into play. After talking with one of their representatives, I received the opportunity to use their camera gear for the filming and production of my project. This great opportunity comes with one limitation. I can only rent the gear for up to one week due to the increased demand of Aice Media and Television Production students requesting to use the gear. This means that my filming timeline is shrunk down and heavily condensed. My updated Filming schedule is Below which explains what I am going to do next.

Up-Dated Project Schedule.