CCR Question #1

The last thing before I can officially say my film project is done. And it's...well, it's the Creative Critical Reflection, the CCR. Which, basically, is where I have to, like, really dig into my film. Analyze it, explain why I did things, and, you know, show how it connects to real life. It's not just about, like, 'Oh, I made a cool movie.' It's about, like, why I made it. And why I made those choices.

The question I made a script of my answer: 

How does your product use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Our Production Logo

The logo development and font selection for the opening scene were the parts we focused on today. Our main goal was to have a clear look at the major changes to the screenplay. A few directions (and words) will be enough to describe who we are and what we plan to do, and with the contribution of the mind map, we focused on it (them). The process of designing the logo involved; getting the gif from Giphy app and then adjusting the models to achieve the desired design.

For the logo, we all went with Canva since it’s user-friendly. We began by using templates and modifying them to the way how we wanted it. Of course, the black background with white text was a good idea. Apart from that effect, we decided it was best to stick with the "D&G Productions" name, as this was the form it took. We are being very creative, so it won't take us more than a week to have the original name.

                                            

We usually use Canva, but for this video, we wanted more animation. After some research, we saw that there was such a feature, too, just like it is in the other software. Next, we were looking for a solution to animate the typekit. We grouped everything and then started to see some crazy animations. We eventually opted for "Baseline" and made the logo appear from the bottom at a central place. We agreed to do the cool, not overstated one.

Lastly, we started to look for the title and credits fonts. We really wanted something which will correspond to the logo in a simple way. We are down to a very short list of the most sensible ones.

Editing: The Fun but Time-Consuming Process (Thanks to My Partner)

I was totally clueless about Premiere Pro before this class, and I'm still learning the ropes. Luckily, my partner volunteered to edit our film. I watched her figure out how to stabilize shaky video, add zoom-in effects, smoothly change the volume, use the cutting tool, and fade out the audio. Things I'd never know how to do! Seeing her work made me realize how much goes into editing.

                                               

We ran into a big problem: we had way too much footage. She was already at a minute and forty-five seconds, and we still had more to film! It was a bit stressful, but she didn't give up. She spent a lot of time cutting and trimming the video until it was a better length, one minute and twenty seconds.

Obstacles During Filming

On our second day of filming, we had everything set up, the camera ready, the way to film the location, and the timing perfect to film during the sunset at 6:28 PM. Our actress had just arrived at my partner’s house, our filming location. And we were parking the cars two houses down to begin filming when she suddenly got a call from her mom. Her car had run out of gas in the middle of nowhere, and she needed help urgently.

It was around 6:00 PM when she got the call, and we quickly thought of a solution to the problem. And we realized that even if she left right away and managed to help her mom as fast as possible, there was no way she’d make it back in time for the sunset. By the time she returned, our time for filming would have closed, and the entire scene we had planned depended on that lighting.

It was frustrating, but there wasn’t much we could do. Sometimes, unexpected situations throw everything off schedule, and this was one of those moments. Now, we have to reschedule for next Monday but based on the time change we will have to film around 7:30 PM. This experience was a reminder that filmmaking isn’t always quick and easy, like how it went on our first day of filming.

Shooting Process

 Shooting Process for Our Film Opening

The filming of the two-minute opening sequence was both exciting and challenging. Because we shot everything inside Layla's room, we needed to make sure every shot depicted the emotional highlight we wanted to show. A lot of trial and error for angles, lighting, and movement to make them sit right was what the filmmaker went through. 

Directing Layla’s Movements

Since the emotions of Layla break down into the core of a film, body language and movement were a well-considered part of the equation. We directed our actress, Layla, to move sluggishly and deliberately to show her fatigue and emotional burden. Simple actions, like how she laid on her bed or paused before grabbing the bottle, filled out her character without requiring dialogue. 

                                        

Challenges We Faced

It was quite a challenge to maintain the natural look of every shot. Filming in a legitimate room meant working within the limitations of space. Certain scenes had to be re-shot multiple times in different angles and emulated the right emotion. Another issue was making sure that in some shots, the camera stayed steady. Some of the techniques we used were stabilizing on surfaces or creating smooth, slow movements with the camera in hand to achieve the right feel from the scene. 

Set Design Creation

Set Design Creation for Our Film Opening

Set design is just as if not more important, as costumes when it comes to building a character’s world. For Layla, her space had to reflect her mental state—messy, chaotic, and filled with reminders of her past. Since the entire film's opening takes place in her room, we needed to make sure every detail added to her story.

Creating Layla’s Space

We designed Layla’s room to look unorganized and neglected, showing how little she cares about her surroundings after her brother’s death. The goal was to make the space feel lived-in but also emotionally heavy. Everything in the room tells a part of her story, from the things she’s abandoned to the items she still clings to.

Key Set Elements

• Messy room: Clothes thrown on the floor, showing a lack of motivation to clean or take care of herself.

• Makeup all over her desk: A sign that she might have once or sometimes cares about her appearance but doesn’t anymore.

• Food wrappers and a pizza box on the floor: Representing the lazyness and uncaring of cleaning the room after snacking. 

• Trophies: A reminder of her past achievements, now covered by the mess, showing how she has distanced herself from who she used to be.

• Pictures with friends: Representing the people in her life, but they seem distant now.

• A picture with her brother: The most meaningful object in her room, showing the connection she lost.

• A bracelet with his initial: A sentimental piece that keeps him close to her, even though he’s gone.

Symbolism in the Set Design

Every detail in Layla’s room adds to the audience’s understanding of her character. The disorder reflects her emotional state, while the trophies and pictures hint at who she used to be. The bracelet and photo of her brother are small but powerful reminders of the grief that defines her world.

Costume Creation

Costume Creation for Our Film Opening

Costume design plays a big part in shaping a character’s identity and showing their emotions. We need Layla's outfit to reflect her mental state, her grief, and how the world around her seems. Since the film's opening focuses so much on her emotional struggle, we wanted to make sure her costume helped tell her story without needing extra dialogue.

Defining Layla’s Look

Layla's outfit has to match her dark and dull mood. Her clothes need to seem effortless, like she didn't put any thought into them, something that is comfortable but also reflects how she doesn't care about anything around her. We liked the darker, softer colors to represent her grief and emotional detachment. Nothing bright or eye-catching since that wouldn’t fit her character.

Key Outfit Choices

• Black hoodie: This represents Layla hiding from the world, almost like a shield between her and reality.

• Gray sweatpants: Something casual that shows she doesn’t care about appearances anymore.

• Minimal accessories: We considered giving her a bracelet or necklace to symbolize her brother, something she keeps wearing as a reminder of him.

• Messy hair & no makeup: She wouldn’t spend time fixing her appearance, so a natural, undone look fit her personality best.

Symbolism in the Costume

Layla's outfit adds to her story. The black hoodie makes her look small, as if she's trying to disappear. The dark colors reflect the weight she carries emotionally. Any accessory she wears would hold meaning, showing her connection to her past and the person she used to be before everything changed.