Final project

Saucy Business.mp4

First shoot for second scene

 I shot the second scene on Saturday, but I'm not happy with the footage I got. 

    I filmed the scene in portrait mode, didn't plan the individual shots which led to footage that looks like a Tiktok more than a scene in a film. I will have to reshoot the scene sometime this weekend, but actually think about what I'm filming, and filming it in landscape. In the previous shoot, I made a Bolognese sauce from scratch which took around 5 trips to Publix and 5 hours. 

    I didn't even like the sauce. I spent 5 hours for some bad footage and mid sauce that's too sweet. 

Here's the title screen I came up with. It says saucy business, but I may change the name.

Scripts for the film

 Yo, I'm going to share the scripts I wrote for the film opening. I have changed what I'm doing a bit so I'll explain what I changed first.

I was thinking, and having the mafia boss or whatever sitting behind a desk wasn't really interesting enough for the voiceover, so I have changed the focus from the leader, to one of the goons who is a chef. I am yet to record anything, so if the script is too long it will be subject to change.

Shop scene

Main goon: 

I’ve been told you missed a few payments 

Shop owner: 

Please sir, business has been slow since your last visit. The people, they think I work with criminals. 

Goon 2: 

It is clear that our verbal warnings have not been sufficient. 

Shop owner: 

But sir, there is no business

(the shop owner gets cut off in the middle of his sentence) 

Main goon: 

We communicated that you were to get the money you owe by any means necessary. 

Shop owner: 

Are you saying I should commit crimes to get the money? I could never do such a thing. 

Main goon: 

I said by any means necessary.  

Goon 2: 

You would rather be indebted to us than commit a crime? 

Shop owner: 

Yes, I’m an honest man with an honest living, and not an animal. 

Main goon: 

So me and my partner here are animals to you? (agressive)  

Shop owner: 

Well, I didn’t exactly say that but. 

Main goon: 

But what? I’m just a dirty thug? 

Shop owner: 

I mean yea-  (he gets hit in the face by the main goon)

 

Voiceover script: 

I owned a restaurant before I fell into this work. I see myself in the people I “encourage” to pay what they owe. Typically, debt that is left unpaid for too long is “transferred” to the people closest to a debtor. I had nobody. They saw potential in me. They took  everything and forced me to work for my life. I had no choice but to work. I felt nothing. They saw someone who did what they were told and said nothing. The only thing I didn’t lose was cooking. Cooking is all I have to get my mind off of work. If I don’t cook I’ll start to think. Think about what the people that call me have done to me. Think about running from this life. Think about what I do to these innocent people. The people that were not as fortunate as me. The people that owe so much, but are rich in life and family. How they can lose everything because the people at the top of this organization care only about money. They call me family but wouldn’t hesitate to take me out if their flow of money was interrupted. If I tried leaving they would find me. There is no way out other than death. Whether it is by my own hands, or the hands of my colleagues. I only know how to cook because of my childhood friend. His mother taught me. I would go straight from school to their home to cook. I would return to my foster home past dark but they didn’t notice. I was invisible. When I aged out all I kept was her recipes in the back of my head. I started working in restaurants as soon as I could. Started as a dishwasher, watching in awe as the head cook worked under pressure to serve his community. By the time I was 25, I worked up to line cook. Never worked a day doing that. That year, I took out a loan from the wrong people. Rented out the space from the Korean spot that closed down. I was on the top of the world before I realized who I borrowed from. I called the people they sent criminals, which only made the beatings worse. I felt stuck when a black truck stopped by me as I was walking . They took me. Forced me to sort in rat-infested warehouses. Everything got worse since then. 

Production company logo

Today I will talk about the process of making the production company logo for the portfolio project.

    First, I needed a name. I first thought of picking the letters in my initials and adding an ampersand between the two letters, but I thought it made little sense and I wouldn't want the initial to my last name on here. I thought to repeat the same letter twice but couldn't decide which letter to choose. I landed on H and began to sketch my first drafts. In the picture below you can see me trying to figure out how to even draw an ampersand, getting the logo somewhat where I want it in just two drafts.

    Then I wanted to see it in a different format so I went to Microsoft Paint to sketch it a little more. I drew two more drafts on there and got a better idea of what I want the final draft to look and started to add words to the design. 

    I then, began on Canva to finalize the design of my logo. I created a text box, put the "H&H Productions" inside the the text box, got the font size how I want it, and picked the two fonts to finish the logo. 

    I asked a classmate about the design, and they said I should add more color, but I like the more minimalistic design to it.

Portfolio Audio Planning

 Today I will share what I plan for the audio for the portfolio project.

    Dialouge will not be super important to developing the character, plot, or setting but will still be treated as important as it is in most productions. Right now, I'm thinking of setting up a phone hidden from the camera to record the dialogue. Syncing the audio and video may ne difficult for teh editing portion but I'm unsure of any other way to record the dialogue between the shop owner and the goons. 

    Only recording the dialogue means I may have to create and record my own foley sounds for when the goons beat the shop owner. I was thinking of beating something like a chicken breast but I am still unsure how I will get those sounds.

    The audio from the monologue seems like it would be a lot easier due to the non-diagetic sound, meaning it can be recorded separate from the video. Before, during, or after the monologue, I was thinking about playing classical music. I will likely get this music from a website like Epidemic Sound, Pixabay, or BenSound.

I am still quite unsure of how everything is going to happen but I believe it will come together well.

Portfolio Group Meeting #1

We had our first group meeting this week on tuesday, and I have learned quite a bit about how I should approach these blog posts, as well as the production itself. 

I was not able to show my blog on the first day, tuesday, because the period ended before I could present my blog, and thursday lacked the time necessary for everyone to get into groups. I have not gotten criticism on my project or ideas since I had not posted them on here until this week. As for my groupmates, they had some great ideas with genres from action to comedy, and even psychological horror. I did enjoy hearing about their ideas, and showing them different perspectives and only wish we had the time this week for me to recieve that criticism as well. I can't really state exactly what I had learned from this weeks group meeting, but it defintely showed me how I want my blog and its post to look as well as made me think further about my idea. 

Portfolio Idea and Inspiration

Today I will talk about the ideas and inspiration behind my portfolio project.

Where my thoughts are at right now, I'm thinking of having a mob boss sitting at a desk talking to two of his subordinates, basically ordering them to collect money from a shop owner. The goons and the shop owner discuss for a bit and the shop owner doesn't have the money and gets beaten off-screen. I might include a monologue from either a subordinate or the boss. I think it would be different to have my credits like carved into what is going to look like a brick wall of an alley. This form of credits may be difficult to pull off from due to me needing to pretty much build a wall, make it seem dirty and aged, carving 10+ names and a production logo. I am also concerned about lighting the credits as it can't be too bright that it loses its feeling of a dark city alley, but it can't be too dark as to keep the names legible. Using the bricks/credits as a sort of transition is something I had in mind, but the whole idea seems a bit unrealistic.

The format of the credits as well as what I've been thinking for the opening are open for change, and using the criticism I hear from my classmates during the group meeting might help to guide me along the right path. I don't want to overload myself, working on my own, but want to have my project be unique. 

As for inspiration, The Simpsons played a large role. I started watching The Simpsons 5-6 years ago, and have watched over 20 seasons of the show. In the show, there is a character named Fat Tony that is the mob boss of the mafia found in Springfield. I do believe that the character is based quite heavily on The Godfather, but I cannot verify that. In season 18 episode 1 Homer has to take over Fat Tony's position, pressuring Moe, his friend, to pay what he owes to the mob. Moe, the bartender at the bar Homer goes to, then asks Homer to pay off his tab, Homer pays Moe, Moe then returns the money to Homer for the mob. This scene inspired me for the shopkeeper part, but the part showomg the mob boss is inspired by The Godfather. The costume design for that scene will be somewhat similar to the opening of The Godfather. The monologue that might be in the opening is based on The Goodfellas, at the end of that Film's opening.

Writing this blog as well as researching for other blogs give me a chance to think quite thoroughly about what I want this opening to be, and what I can do with the alloted time and resources. Analyzing the film helped me refine the very rough ideas I started this week with. 

Analyze Film Opening of Portfolio Genre

Today I will be researching and analyzing the openings of three gangster films.

Goodfellas:

The opening begins with a few credits over a black background. An older, 80s-90s Pontiac is seen on a highway at night. The camera pans past the car, and cuts to thr setting, New York, 1970. Three young men in suits appear to be disheveled and tired hear a sort of banging coming from the trunk of the car. The driver pulls over to a dark, forested area and all three get out, pull out a machete and a revolver, while the third opens the trunk. The trunk is opened, revealing a beaten and bloodied man who is barely clinging onto his life. The two armed men repeatedly stab and shoot the man in the trunk, assuring his death. The camera zooms into the driver's face as he closes the trunk. While he does this, a non-diagetic monologue begins, saying the driver had always wanted to be a gangster, as far bak as he could remember. Music begins playing when the trunk closes, the title screen appears and the rest of the opening credits roll on the same black background as the title and earlier credits. This opening establishes the characters have money, expensive car and suits. Its not the first time they've killed, they seem quite unfazed by the situation. They are apart of a gang, likely killing that man because they were ordered to.

The Godfather:

The opening begins with the production company logo, title screen after. The first shot has a close up of a man speaking about how America failed him and his daughter by letting two men that took advantage of her free. A slow zoom out reveals an over the shoulder shot of a man across the desk. The man who was listening to the other one asks why he went to the law instead of him. The first man says he'll do anything for the man, only asking for justice. The second man asks what he wants done and the first man gets up to whisper in his ear. A loose close-up of the second man's face after being told what the first man wants done. He looks disgusted and disapointed. He says he cannot fulfil the first man's request and the first man repeats that he will do anything to have this inaudible request done. A wider shot follows that allows for the rest of the room to be visible, showing the 1940s style decor and two men standing and sitting idley as the two men in the center of the room discuss. An over the shoulder shot of the second man follows, as he speaks to the first about how the first doesn't value the friendship they share and how it is the first time he came to him for counsel. He continues, saying he understands where the first is coming from, but the first lacks the respect requested by the second. He continues saying the first requests justice, but what the first requests isn't just. He continues saying, the first came into his home on the day his daughter is to be married and asked him to murder for money. They agree that what the first requested is not just and the first changes hsi request to wishing them suffer as much as his daughter. The second offers to fulfill his wish at no cost other than the first's friendship. This establishes the second man as being quite fair and just. It also establishes that he holds a lot of power, as to make others suffer as a gift. 

Scarface:

 The opening begins with the production company logo, followed by a crawling prologue explaining that Fidel Castro sent criminals along with regular citizens on American boats to Miami. This is followed by footage of one of Fidel Castro's speeches, showing him and the crowd surrounding him. Opening credits and footage of the American boats arriving in Cuba repeatedly switch for about two and a half minutes. The footage of the boats show the migrants leaving Cuba and entering America. This opening doesn't exactly develop characters or conflict, but it is implied that at least one of the characters came to Florida on the boats. It heavily develops the setting of Miami, Florida, and the historical reasoning of why the setting is what it is.

Portfolio Project Genre Research

    Hello, the second week of the portfolio project has begun and I am yet to choose a genre. I was thinking about doing crime, but the process of filming could be quite difficult. I'm currently stuck between a gangster film and a heist film. The opening that I am producing only needs to be two minutes long so introducing a sort of leader of the criminal organization shouldn't be too difficult. I was thinking of beginning the opening with an conversation between a store owner and three thugs working under the leader. The store owner hasn't kept up on payments for protection and the shot ends with sounds of beating and cries of pain before cutting to the leader hearing the news of what happened and narrating explaining how that's what happens to those who don't pay in that city.

    The heist film seems a little more difficult to introduce, but I have two ideas. Either showing the main characters when they were younger, robbing a bank, or the leader of the group trying to get the group together. The first idea is inspired by the prologue of Grand Theft Auto V, where the characters of the previous game rob a bank, as they get out of the bank, the police show up and everything goes wrong. This section of the prologue ends with two of them getting shot and the last one escaping in the snow. 

BTS of Music Marketing Project

 

Genre

Comedy movies are made to entertain and bring laughter through humor, commonly by exaggerating the situations of the real world, making fun of the social norms, or pointing out the imperfections of the humans. The central objective is to make the audience laugh, be it through the clever characters' talk, crazy situations, characters' getting hurt in a funny way, or the use of sharp irony. The primary plots usually involve confusions, fraudulent characters, love stories, and heroes encountering funny tribulations.

Also, there are various subgenres, such as romantic comedy, slapstick, satirical comedy, dark comedy, and parody which differ in methods of humor. The characters in comedy are generally over, the, top characters, the narrator, the skeptic, the clever one, thus allowing the audience to establish a connection and at the same time acknowledge the ridiculousness of the human nature.

Comedy movies are very much dependent on the accuracy of timing and they should be well, paced. The timing is very important both in the characters' talk delivery and in the movie editing. The Directors Employ quick parts or the spectators' focuses to escalate the comedic result.

Sound design in comedies can also be very playful with the use of ironic music that goes with the scene, or the use of sounds that make people laugh and also the use of silence that in fact creates “comic beats.” The camera angles also help a lot in comedy by showing people's faces and their physical humor, getting very close to the people's exaggerated reactions is something that is done very often. Most of the comedy films take advantages of the ensemble casts, which enable them to have different humor styles and character interactions.

Improvisation is a very important factor in jokes of present, day American comedy films, especially Judd productions (e.g., films by Judd Apatow). The central point of the rhythm of the editing, i.e., the moment when the scene is to be cut for the funniest effect, is what keeps the audience interested and laughing.

Comedy movies are advertised by the studios through the use of humorous situations that people can relate to, the celebrities involved, and the one, liners that are easy to remember. Usually, trailers concentrate on the funniest parts or a physical gag, whereas posters employ bright colors (especially yellows, blues, and reds) to indicate a relaxing tone.

Humor, based movies often are released during the festive periods or summer months thus, enabling them to take full advantage of people looking for nice and entertaining films to watch. The promotional campaign activities may also feature viral clips, challenges in the social media, or getting a comedians or the influencers on your side.

Nowadays, internet TV or video on demand services are the main players when it comes to comedy film marketing, and they also facilitate the “comfort viewing” and “shared laughter” for people watching at home.

Film Sample #1: Superbad (2007)

Directed by: Greg Mottola

Produced by: Judd Apatow and Shauna Robertson

Superbad is a typical example of teenage comedy, which is about two socially awkward high school friends trying to make a night out but it turns into a night full of trouble and chaos. The film gets the laugh by showing the awkwardness of the situations, using rude words and the audience can easily recall the events of their own youth.

The movie embraces the use of very close comedic performance, the rapid change of the characters' terrified faces, the spontaneous dialogue, and the escalation of the situation. The film's subtle cinematography and daylight are the perfect match for the teenage everyday life, whereas the over, the, top acting (especially by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) serve to double the ridiculousness.

Film Sample #2: Friday (1995)

Directed by: F. Gary Gray

Written by / Starring: Ice Cube

Friday is a combination of the buddy and stoner comedy subgenre. It tells the story of two friends, Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker), and their one crazy day in the neighborhood of South Central. The film employs a lot of humor that is taken from the daily routine of life, streetwise banter, and the realness of the people's culture, turning the everyday life into a series of comedic moments.

The movie adopts a very down, to, earth style visually and depends on the actors' good work and perfect timing rather than dazzle the audience with visual tricks. Much of the comedy is brought about by the characters' interactions and the pace of the film is set by the dialogue and soundtrack which is very much rooted in the hip, hop culture and the community identity. The marketing strategy focused on Ice Cube's appeal to a broader audience and the film's humorous nature which was the main reason why Friday became not only a box, office hit but also a key work of 1990s urban comedy.

1. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) – Link

2. Bridesmaids (2011)  Link

3. Groundhog Day (1993)  Link

4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Link

5. Dumb and Dumber (1994)  Link

6. The Hangover (2009) Link

7. Mean Girls (2004)  Link