research 5

Hello Blog!
Throughout the course of my research, I have mentioned and covered many of the aspects needed before creating the opening. However, one aspect I haven't deeply covered is that of sound. Sound is a crucial part of any film but can be even more important in a film opening. Sound can be used to build much suspense and engage the audience profoundly if used correctly.

We will use sound in our opening by starting off with some casual dialogue in the beginning of the opening between family members, and having other common sounds of a household. These sounds will commence the opening calmly and illustrate the setting of a home environment.

Once entering the flashback, a noise will whooshing sound will be used with the flashback to show that a flashback is occurring.

Once in the setting of war, we will include noises of gunshots, explosions, and other noises from warfare. These noises will emphasize the dangers of war and contrast from the tranquility of the home environment.

After the flashback ends, another whooshing sound will signal the end of the flashback.

Once home again, we will include screams and heavy breathing to show panic and fear that came as a result of the veterans PTSD. These noises will impact the audience emotionally by showing the deep fear in the veteran/

research 4

Hello blog!
So my group and I have been working on the execution of the opening and the series of events it will demonstrate. We decided to create a story board illustrating the events that will create our opening. This storyboard may be altered later as we fully develop our ideas, but this storyboard will give us a general consensus on what we will have to work with.

In our story board  we show that we will implement a flashback that transitions to scenes of the war. We will use dramatic camera movement and editing to make this scene action packed and suspenseful.

However, action is not our main focus, suspense is. We will implement suspense by using dramatic music and focusing  on the impact the flashbacks have on the veteran.
This will be done by showing emotion in the non-flashback scene in the veteran and the family. This will impact viewers by seeing the impact of PTSD and the severity of it.

Research 3

Our group also had some inspiration from a film that uses a technique we are trying to use. This film opening is from Lawrence of Arabia. This film begins with a scene which then transitions to a flashback. We will like to replicate this technique similarly in our opening. This flashback in the Lawrence of Arabia, flashes back into the present. In our opening , instead of this, we will flashback into the veteran's servitude in war.

Our group has been researching flashbacks and how they are utilized in films. We learned that flashbacks are a function of the character, and not of the story. While showing a flashback, the screen shows in present time what the character is thinking about. To this character, this event shown presently onscreen occurred in his past. Flashback's are used to give insight, make connection between the event and the character.

For our scene, we will be using an extreme close-up, similar to the one used in the opening of Saving Private Ryan. This will give a dramatic transition from the present, into the character's past.

For our character, we will be using a young veteran. This veteran has come home from a more recent war, probably Afghanistan. This veteran role will likely be played by Dio's brother. By using a young character, I believe the film will be more impactful. We will be showing how all people can be a victim of PTSD and how serious the effects can affect a person's life, no matter of age.

Research 2

When researching genres to choose, I came across the film American Sniper. This film emphasizes on something we want to implement on in our opening. This would be the focus on one character, and his story in war and after. We will be implementing this similarly in our opening by having it be about a veterans struggle with PTSD. Our opening will give a brief idea of how the film portrays the struggle of PTSD. The movie American Sniper's focus on a singular character in war was well executed, leading to it's success. It created an emotional connection between audience and character, which is what we are aiming to do.

While reviewing with my peers, we decided that our opening will give a flashback to the veteran's servitude in war. We decided on this focus because it will allow us to give our explanation of the war before showing his struggle with PTSD. This will follow sequential pattern since the war obviously comes before PTSD

Partial Planning.

   Our group has been planning where and when we will gather to work. None of us are currently working so we will all likely be available mostly throughout the week. In our group-chat we have discussed places we can shoot. We will likely be shooting in Vista View Park since it resembles a battlefield. We will also be shooting some shots indoors, possibly in my house. All of our shooting will be shot on an actual camera, that belongs to Artur. We will be recording noise from either a headphone microphone or another microphone; we are still searching. We have also discussed that we can meet in Panera or the library to work on any editing. Our film will star one main character, who will be the veteran who suffers from PTSD. We plan this film to be a suspense/thriller. We will continue to research this genre and generate ideas for what we can include into our opening.

Research

    Our group's research for our final project has officially begun. We have decided to make an opening scene of a film about a soldier who suffers from PTSD. As a group, we all watched the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan. This opening scene from Saving Private Ryan is very well executed. It emphasizes cinematic shots, dramatic facial expressions, music, and sound to express the seriousness of this matter. PTSD is horrible disorder affecting millions of people, mostly veterans, in the US. We want to use accurate representations of this disorder, like from SPR, to get our ideas and accurately present our opening's topic. We will be using several of the techniques from this film in our opening.

Representations in the media

Representations in the media

        Within my project I would like to address the struggle of immigration in present-day United States. Immigration has become a highly discussed topic, generating lots of controversial attention. As an immigrant to this country, I understand these struggles and would like to portray them in my project. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants the United  go through these struggles yet I feel like they do not get accurate representation. For this reason, I would like to represent this group.

           In films centered around the drug trade, like 'Breaking Bad', Latino immigrants are often represented negatively. Although some cases may be accurately represented, the popularity generated by films or shows like Breaking Bad is immense. This popularity gives a huge population of people a general negative view on immigrants within the United States. Latino characters like Gustavo Fring and Tuco Salamanca are one of the few Latino characters in the show and are also drug kingpins attaining immense illegal wealth. Every time Mexico is mentioned in the show, it is for the purpose of the drug trade. This is a reoccurring theme seen in many media examples. This representation can be based on some truth, but is not true at all for the general Latino population. Most Latinos are ordinary, peaceful people with no affiliation to crime. Each country has it's own culture which are independent from drug trade or use. These representations make people believe that many or most Latino immigrants are also affiliated to drug trade, which is not true at all. In my project I will challenge these representations of Latino immigrants with more positive ones.

         Although many media representations of Latino immigrants are negative, there are still some representations that are positive.  In the film 'McFarland, USA', immigrant families are more accurately represented. The film takes place in a largely Mexican US high school. The film shows the guys on the track team as hard working, dedicated, independent young men with aspiration. Although they may have some fallout with coaches and family, they are represented as normal citizens with interest in ordinary activities. This is an aspect many media representations of Latinos are lacking. Instead of focusing on drug-culture of Latin America, this film focused on dedication and hard-work done by immigrants. As a Latino immigrant, I personally feel this dedication and drive everyday and see it in other people like me. I will retain this characteristic in my project and make it one of the predominant characteristics.