AICE Media Studies

For our group project, we decided to use royalty-free music. Because our film is about a killer, there are not many regular songs that we could have used. Our group was considering regular music when the characters were sitting around but ultimately we decided not to. Contacting the artists and getting the rights to their music is difficult to do over social media, especially for those who have millions of followers. Many artists have their direct messages turned off so that they are not bothered by the constant conversations with fans. Even though our intentions were pure and we likely would have gotten their consent, we decided not to spend too much time trying to contact an artist. Instead, we opted to use royalty-free music. This allows us a wider variety of music while not constraining us to a specific song. The music lets us set a tone for the parts of the movie. When the characters are sitting around, we will have an upbeat song playing. When the person is killed, we will play e...

In the past two years of this class, we have talked about filming techniques. This is because there is a large emphasis being put on them. Because of the emphasis that I have been taught, I want to put a lot of thought into how I film this project. The first thing I need to do is make sure that I have the right camera angles. In the classroom, we watched many film examples. I have chosen a handful of filming techniques that I want to use based on these film extracts. They might not be put in the final film, but they are the ones that I felt might be beneficial to add. The first is the eye-level shot. There is nothing fancy about it, but it is very common in films and because of that, I want to add it to ours. It is almost exclusively a close-up or medium close-up shot, meaning that it is taken from a relatively close distance, and leaves most of the emphasis on the actor. Because it is a relatively close shot, I want to use it in our shot focusing on the victim. The next is an over-the...

The dark and eerie setting near Nick's house was the perfect location for our film project. As a student, I collaborated with my classmates Max and Jibril to create a short film for our school project. We were looking for a location that would match the ominous tone of our story, and the area near Nick's house fit the bill perfectly. The setting was surrounded by tall trees and bushes, which gave it a mysterious and foreboding feel. Nick's house itself was old and rundown, with boarded-up windows and peeling paint on the walls. We knew that we had to be careful while filming there, as it was private property and we did not want to disturb the neighbors. We arrived early in the morning to set up our equipment and plan out our shots. The natural lighting in the area was just right for capturing the dark and gloomy atmosphere we were going for. We also brought along some artificial lights and smoke machines to enhance the mood of the scene. Filming in the area near Nick's ...

As a student working on a film project with my classmates Max, Alec, and Denton we needed a prop murder weapon to use in one of our scenes.  We decided to use a knife as it was a common tool and easily available to us.  Using a knife as a prop for a murder scene was not an easy task as it posed a safety risk if not handled carefully.  Before we started filming, we made sure to practice using the knife safely.  We learned the proper techniques for holding and manipulating the knife, as well as how to keep it away from our bodies while using it.  We also ensured that the knife was blunt and had no sharp edges to prevent any accidents during filming.  Once we felt confident in our abilities to handle the prop, we incorporated it into our scene.  As the actor holding the knife, I had to make sure that my grip was firm but not too tight, to prevent any slippage or accidents.  I also had to be mindful of the angle and position of the knife to ensure tha...

Today we faced challenges during our shoot. One of the biggest challenges was getting the right shot under the right conditions.    There were times when we had to wait for the perfect lighting or weather conditions, which could take hours. Even when we had the right conditions, it could take a long time to get the perfect shot. One example of this was when we were filming a particular scene outside in the park. We had to wait for the sun to set just enough to create the desired effect, and then we had to make sure the camera was in the right position to capture the shot. It took about an hour to get just one shot under those conditions, but we knew it was worth the effort to create the desired effect. We also had to contend with other factors like noise and distractions from passersby, which could ruin a shot if not handled properly. We had to be patient and persistent, making sure we got the shot we needed before moving on to the next scene. It was a lesson in perseverance a...

It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was excited to finally film the perfect scene for my new short film. I had planned this shoot for weeks, and everything was going according to plan until my car suddenly broke down on the way to the location. I had no idea what had gone wrong with my car, but it wouldn't start, no matter how much I tried. I was stranded on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service. As time passed, I began to feel frustrated and helpless. I realized that I wasn't going to make it to the shoot on time, and I would have to cancel everything. I tried to flag down passing cars, hoping someone would stop and help me, but no one did. The sun was starting to set, and I knew it was only a matter of time before it got dark. Finally, a tow truck came by and offered to tow my car to the nearest mechanic. I gratefully accepted, but it was too late; by the time we arrived at the mechanic's shop, it was closed for the day. I spent the next hou...

A s we began planning our horror short film, one of the key decisions we had to make was what day to film it. We knew that the timing would be critical. To ensure that we had enough time to film all the necessary scenes and get the right lighting and atmosphere we needed to get this right. We started by looking at our schedules and trying to find a day when everyone involved in the production would be available. We knew that we would need a full day to film. Knowing so, we looked for a day when no one had any other commitments. Next, we consulted with our cinematographer to determine what time of day would be best for filming. We wanted to make sure that we had the right lighting and atmosphere for each scene, so we needed to film during the day and at night. We decided to start filming early in the morning, just as the sun was rising. This would allow us to get some great shots with the morning light. We could then film throughout the day to get the rest of the scenes. We also decide...

  As we began planning our horror short film, one of the key decisions we had to make was what costumes to use. We knew that the costumes would be critical to creating a sense of fear and dread in the audience. We started by brainstorming different ideas and concepts for the costumes. We knew that we wanted to use something that would be instantly recognizable as horror, but we also wanted to make sure that the costumes were unique and memorable. After much discussion, we decided to go with a classic horror trope - the dark apparition. We felt that this would be a great choice because it would allow us to create a sense of mystery and ambiguity, while also being immediately recognizable as something terrifying. Next, we began researching different types of dark costumes. We looked at everything from traditional Victorian-era cloaks to more modern interpretations of cloaked figures. We eventually settled on a costume that was both eerie and unique. The costume consisted of a long da...

As we began planning our horror short film, one of the key decisions we had to make was where to film it. We knew that the location would be critical to creating a sense of fear and tension in the audience. We started by brainstorming different ideas and concepts for the locations. We wanted to find places that would be both visually interesting and creepy, but we also needed to be practical in terms of budget and accessibility. After much discussion, we decided to use a combination of indoor and outdoor locations. We felt that this would allow us to create a sense of contrast and variety in the film, while also being more visually interesting. We began scouting locations, looking for places that fit the overall tone and mood of the film. We visited old abandoned buildings, creepy forests, and desolate landscapes, searching for the perfect locations. One of the first locations we chose was an old abandoned mansion. The crumbling walls, creaky floors, and dusty furniture all added to th...

A s we sat down to plan out our film, one of the first things we discussed was the diegetic sounds we wanted to use to create the desired atmosphere. We knew that we wanted the sound design to be a key component of our film, helping to immerse the audience in the world we were creating. One of the first sounds we decided to include was the sound of rain. We wanted to create a sense of melancholy and sadness, and the sound of rain falling on a tin roof was the perfect way to do that. We also decided to use the sound of wind to create a feeling of isolation and desolation. The sound of the wind howling through an abandoned building would help to convey the sense of emptiness we wanted to portray. To add tension and suspense to a particular scene, we chose to use the sound of fo approaching slowly from a distance, gradually getting closer and closer. We also wanted to use the sound of a ticking clock to create a sense of urgency in certain scenes, particularly those where the protagonist ...