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.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #9

 FAA Clearance.....

Week of 2/20 - 2/27 (#4 of 4)

    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. 

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #8

 The Gear Makes Everything!

Week of 2/20 - 2/27 (#3 of 4)

    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. 

Type of Drone that will be used for Filming.

Aice Media Portfolio Project - Blog Post #7

Ready, Set, Go...!

Week of 2/21 - 2/27 (#2 of 4)

    

    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.

Production Schedule.