CCR editing

 Post production is basically where all the separate parts of my project finally came together to make a real movie. I spent most of this time using technology to change the mood and make sure the audience understood the story.

I used Clipchamp for all the main editing. One of my biggest goals was to use Stuart Hall and his theory about encoding. I did this by adding a creepy background noise under the talking to encode a feeling of fear. I also used the color tools to make the car scenes look blue and cold. This made the vibe feel more lonely and trapped.

 For the actual CCR video I included screen recordings of me working in Canva and my Clipchamp timeline. This lets people see how I layered the video and sound together. I also had to focus on the pacing of the clips. I cut the footage to match the beat of the music so the audience stays interested. This is like the hypodermic needle theory because it tries to get a fast emotional reaction out of the viewers through what they see and hear.

 The last part was making sure the film was ready for distribution. By putting my project on a public link it is like what independent films have to do in the real world. They have to make their work easy to find for companies like A24 or different streaming services.

CCR production

 

GeminiThe production phase of my Creative Critical Reflection was a unique challenge because I had to balance two different "sets." Half of my production took place in a kitchen to film the "Baking Interview," and the other half involved gathering high-quality behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage of my thriller, SECRETGemini said

The production phase of my Creative Critical Reflection was a unique challenge because I had to balance two different "sets." Half of my production took place in a kitchen to film the "Baking Interview," and the other half involved gathering high-quality behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage of my thriller, SECRETS.

Gemini said 

Since you have already finished your filming and editing, these blog posts should sound like a "look back" at what you did. Use the classroom theories we talked about so your teacher sees that you applied themGemini said 

The production phase of my CCR was a challenge because I had to balance two different sets Half of my production took place in a kitchen to film the Baking Interview and the other half involved gathering behind the scenes footage.

For the baking part I had my mom as the interviewer and she asked me questions off camera while I prepared the base and mix of a cake. This served as a metaphor for the conventions and social groups in my film. I had to ensure the lighting in the kitchen was bright and clear to contrast with the low-key lighting I used in my actual thriller opening.

During production, I focused heavily on Representation Theory. I wanted to make sure that my character Emily was represented authentically as a student-athlete. Managing the actors Emily and Luis taught me that clear communication is the most important production skill. I used a strict shot list to ensure I didn't miss any important angles, like the close ups of the mysterious note, which were essential for my encoding of the mystery.

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Links

flim opening: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pVaGldakXNsOnEGafBqDEwnQB0mnBGga/view?usp=sharing

ccr: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VxR-chEg3QhtWJpE5rTnxEXyZQxmiWPP/view?usp=sharing

Final reflection

Overall, I cannot believe I am done with this project it went by so fast! I have learned so much in the process of my film opening and the ccr. When I first started I was not very good at editing and I was dreading the part where I knew I was going to have to edit but I learned how to do it and I actually enjoyed it and it made it worth it once the final result was all put together. I definitely learned to appreciate all the hard work that goes into making media because I got to see all the work that goes into just production. I had a lot of fun and even though it might have been frustrating sometimes in the moment when lines were forgotten or scenes had to be reshot but looking back at the footage it definitely made lasting memories. 

CCR question 4

Interviewer : We have talked about your skills but what about the tools? How did you actually use all this technology to bring the flim opening to life?

Emily: Technology was a huge part of making this look like a professional thriller and not just a school project. I used my iPhone 16 to film everything I chose it because the camera quality allowed me to film in low light inside the car without losing the details in the shadows.

For the software side I used Canva to design my production logo for EP FILMS. It allowed me to layer the dark doorway image with the white text to set the mood before the movie even starts. Then I moved everything into Clipchamp for the final edit.

Clipchamp was where I really integrated the online edit tools. I used the color balance settings to cool down the temperature of the footage and added a film grain overlay to give it that cinematic texture. I also used the audio tools to layer the background music which is what really built the suspense. Using all these different technologies together is what helped me turn raw footage into a finished product.

Actions:

 Show a BTS photo of you holding the phone while filming Emily or Luis.

 Show a quick screen recording of you in the Canva editor moving the "EP FILMS" text around.

Show your full editing timeline with all the different tracks for video and audio.

 Do a Before and After on the screen where one side is the raw phone video and the other is the edited version with the grain.

CCR question 3

 Interviewer (Voice only): So the cake is in the oven and we are looking at your computer now. Looking back at day one of filming compared to the final product how do you think your skills actually grew?

Emily  (Voiceover): It is crazy to look at this behind the scenes footage. Honestly on the first day my production skills were pretty basic. I was mostly worried about just getting the camera being still and getting the phone to vibrate loud enough.

But as we kept filming I learned how much direction matters. I realized that to get the thriller vibe I had to be very specific with my actors Emily and Luis about their pacing and eye contact. If you look at these clips of us filming the note scene you can see me adjusting the lighting and the angles to make sure we were not breaking the 180 degree rule.

My organization skills definitely developed too. I went from just having a rough idea to following a strict shot list. I learned that if you do not plan the close ups and over the shoulder shots ahead of time the editing process becomes a nightmare. By the end of the project I felt way more confident leading a set and making quick decisions when the lighting was not hitting right.

Actions: 

 Show a shaky behind the scenes clip of you trying to balance the phone in the backseat.

 Show a clip of the actors between takes.

When I mention the 180-degree rule show a screenshot of Clipchamp timeline where two different angles are put together.

Show a screen recording of you dragging clips around in the editor.

CCR Q2

 This will be the script for question 2

Whisking/Mixing the batter.

Interviewer: This is looking good. Who is this cake for anyway? Like, who did you have in mind when you were putting all these pieces together?

Emily: The "ingredients" of the film were mixed specifically for a Gen-Z audience. I represented this social group through Emily a student-athlete who is relatable but stuck in a dangerous situation. I wanted my peers to see themselves in her shoes.

 Pouring batter into the pan and sliding it into the oven.

Interviewer: Okay, it's in the oven. But once it's done, how do you actually get it out there? If this were the real movie, where would people even find it?

Emily: That's the distribution side. I wouldn't just put this on a random shelf I’d go to a specialized bakery for a thriller I’d target a distributor like A24 or Blumhouse I would also use social media marketing to get it hyped and eventually aim for a streaming platform like Hulu or Netflix where my audience lives.

Transition to q3

Closing the oven door and wiping your hands.

Now that the cake is baking I’m going to jump over to my computer. I want to show you the actual technical "oven" I used Clipchamp and Canva to make this whole thing look professional. See you in the edit!