The End, Links to Project (#30)

It's still Monday thank God. I finished everything a day before it was due. We are so back. Here is my film opening and my two CCR's.

CCR 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x6JbGsAK3I5wtczfr94TqiRxMidZbjjh/view?usp=sharing

CCR 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cbnjjb64pO4OUDAWwalawaguE5BpRGV-/view?usp=sharing

Film Opening

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bro0HTj29p_ndMdW9-fic5PD-QIt5t5I/view?usp=sharing

Do You Have the Time, to Listen to Me Reflect? (#29)

 

This is what I'm referencing in the title. Live, Love, Laugh, Green Day.

I learnt a lot while creating this project, most specifically, that I am not a perpetual motion machine. I can't work and work and work and expect to not be burnt out. I feel like this project was started eons ago and it's finally over. But, thus with the conclusion of this project also comes the time to reflect. Ready? Let's go!

Editing:

I forget how fun editing is. I would say it's a hobby but sadly I also don't enjoy being sat at a desk for over 4 hours. If editing was somehow faster, if i could wirelessly transfer my thoughts from my brain to my computer, then I'd love editing. Tall order, I know. Despite that, this project reminded me how much I love staying up late and doing work (that isn't sarcasm, I'm a weird kid.) I find darkness very peaceful, and I like the quietness that comes with being the only one awake in the house. Maybe I actually am Batman, all that's missing is the "billionaire" and "orphan" part. (That's a joke, Mom and Dad, please don't die. I would be really sad)

However, I could've improved my time management. I know editing kind of takes a long time, that's part of what makes it so fun, but i could've worked arround that. I could've gathered B-roll on my phone when I didn't have my laptop on me, I could've looked for music. 

Blogging:

I found out that I really enjoy blogging. It's like having a journal but better because I can upload whatever photos I want. Often, I would start writing blogs the week before posting them because I enjoyed it so much. I think I'm going to keep this up, I even made a personal blog. It's called The Walrus' Voyage because walrus' are cool and the word sounds like my last name. 

Sleeping:

At one point or another, I forgot that I'm not Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and that I'm not a being of the night. I am very much a diurnal creature. And I need to rest. So, when the sun has gone down and the moon has come up, I must be asleep for the sake of my health. School work has made me forget that my life has a purpose outside of my education, and obviously, that made me burn out. But hey, part of reaching for the highest banana is being smacked in the face by branches, almost falling off the tree, and trying to avoid nasty bugs. I hope that metaphor made sense. 

That's all for now Glorp, I'm going to enjoy my spring break. Good bye!

He Clime, He Rhyme, but Most Importantly, He Edit the CCR (#28)

This is me right now. I should be wondering the whimsical woods with a weird stick and white beard, but here I am at 11 am editing my CCR. I can't believe I'm starting spring break by doing schoolwork. Yucky.

CCR #1

Before I went out to shoot, I decided to outline where I wanted to have b-roll. So, I color coded my script.  This way, when I'm up high in the tree, I can focus on not falling off. And, actually, this proved to be really helpful. It meant I didn't have to memorize the entire script, only the parts where there isn't any b roll.

My color coded script

Also, since I couldn't shoot Wednesday, I took that time to gather the b-roll and create the graphics I'm going to need, that way editing could go by a lot faster. But, when I did sit down to edit, I did have some slight issues. 

Problem #1: I was unable to transfer files on my phone to my computer in a way where the file doesn't get compressed. So, I just sent it to myself through WhatsApp and saved the file on my computer. This means that the video is going to have lower quality than usual. Buy, honestly I don't know any way to work around it, so it's staying that way.

Problem #2: It's Friday, and when I made the schedule I forgot it was my brother's birthday today. Holy moly, I'm a terrible brother. So, I can't finish the edit today since I'm spending the day with him. It'll have to be tomorrow, sorry Ms Stoklosa. However, I do have a line edit done, all I'm missing is graphics, captions and music.

Problem #3: I talk too much. I tried to get my footage to just what was in the script and it's still 4 minutes over. Whoopsie, I guess I have to find a way to work around this.

(My nine minute long timeline)

While editing, I used the best tool in all of Premiere Pro, Text-Based Editing. This thing is a time saver and the only reason I enjoy the method of self-torture known as "editing". The person who created this feature deserves a raise.

What my timeline looks like right now, 

I'm using text based editing to make my line edit.

I'm also making my own graphics with After Effects! I really like the way they are turning out. I followed this tutorial, but played around with some of the texture and effects. I found it really helpful and actually learnt a lot of things with it! Here's one of my graphics.

For music, I wanted something slow and relaxing, so I picked a playlist off Youtube and chose my favorite songs from there. I think this really added to the "relaxed and enjoying life" mood I was going for.

Barabim baraboom! I'm done with my first CCR! And only a day later than expected! Now for number two.

(I'm so proud of how neat this timeline is.)

CCR #2

I just watched Emi's first CCR, it's not done but it's so good. I want to make something good like that and she just motivated me to do so. So, I rewrote my script for CCR #2 and now I have a better concept. But, I'll be honest, Glorp, I didn't have many ideas for this CCR. I mean, I have what I'm going to say, but the "creative" part of this Creative Critical Reflection has me stunned. So, what does a lunatic do when he's out of ideas? He opens up a random word generator and plays an association game until the goblin in his head shouts out ideas.

Bottom > bottom of a flower pot > dirt > burial site > dead boss

Charlette's dead boss emerges from the grave, sets up camera, and talks about the movie. It'd be fun to do something similar to the Who Was Show in a sense that the characters know that they are in a show despite being from eras where that kind of technology didn't exist. Here's a good example, during her introduction, Amelia Earhart discovers that the narrator is a man. She doesn't like that, so she walks off stage and replaces him with a women narrator. I'm not going to get the chance to make something with this many actors nor do I want to copy their idea. But I think something with that level of goofy self awareness would be fun to make. Don't ask me why it's in a language that I don't understand. 

Here's another example that's in English. It isn't as self aware as the prior example, but this one is at least in a language I know how to speak. 

I have just finished my script, but I don't want to post it because I know Emi will read it. Dear Emi, I'm not going to let you see anything I'm doing until the CCR is done. Love, Football. Anyways, I asked Emi to do some emotes in costume for my graphics, I didn't explain what they where for and she asked no questions. It's turning out very well. Also, I used the songs from Minecraft soundtrack and this western music for my video. The plan is to film the rest tonight to avoid daylight affecting my lighting. You aren't ready for this Glorp.

(behold the finished timeline)

Graphic Time! Gather All Your Friends, it's Graphic Time! (Extra Blog, #27.5)

Hello Glorpie! This is just a quick update blog for the portfolio project. The plan was to finished these last week but oh god, life happened. When I say life happened I mean it happened. Anyways, I got After Effects open and got to work making graphics. I talked to the group about my text and we decided that ZebraWood is by far the best font to use in this situation. I think it fits very well. 

Most of the effects I used:

• Camera movement tracker, which the text is linked to, that way the graphics moves as if it where a real object in the scene.
• Rotobrush, it is to make Emi or and object go in front on the text. I think this just made the graphic so much cooler.
• Just a vague drop shadow. This is a trick I learnt from my guardian angel, Gus. He's the man I go to with all of my After Effects issues. This little addition to my graphic makes it look so much nicer.

And with that, our opening is done! It will be posted with the CCR's in a blog later.

Productions and Plans of the CCR (#27)

Dagnabbit Glorp! 

Guess what? Well, you can guess but you can't say what because this is my blog. It's literally a one sided conversation. By all means, speak to your computer screen, it won't respond though. Did you speak? It's fine if not, I won't make you guess. My portfolio project is due the 25th. T w e n t y - f i f t h ! ! ! That is in 7 days! And my mind goblins haven't even gone around to filming the CCR yet! I hope my use of exclamation points demonstrate my concern! I am very concerned!!

Me, trying to fix this issue.

Here's the plan buckaroos'.

Tomorrow is a Wednesday (19th). Tomorrow is an "A" day, meaning I will likely have minimal school work and homework. When I get home, I will grab my script, grab a wireless mic, grab my camera, and clime trees. 

Thursday (20th), my 11 year streak of owning a green card comes to a halt as I swear my faith in America and become a citizen. Since that's a "B" day, I'll be chained down by my teachers' wonderful ability to assign homework that makes me want to tear off my ear and gift it to a cleaner at a brothel. (lib.berkeley.edu.com, 2019) But, regardless, an attempt at a line edit will be made. 

Friday (21st), I plan to have the first video fully done by 10 am. I have no school so 7:00 am, so my little legs will be sat crisscross applesauce at my desk, ready to start editing. Also, the plan is to record my second CCR and get a line edit done (by 3 pm). A lot of work in one day, I know. Consequences of my actions. (I don't want to link the source of that reference because the artist is problematic and I'd rather not promote them. Just pretend this is a funny joke, maybe exhale a little bit of air through your nose.) 

Saturday (22ed), I hope and pray to all the Mayan, Greek, and Roman gods to ever exist. By 10 pm I wish to have both projects done. This will give me ample time to overthink my work before submitting it on Tuesday.

I See, I See, and I Are? (#26)

Welcome Glorp to my humble abode. This is the first time I'm writing a blog post at 6 am. "Why?" I hear you ask. Well, I'm going to a renaissance fair at 9 and I also have a lot of home work. So, as Pokey from my favorite childhood book said, I'm putting work before play.

My entire childhood in one photo. 

Pokey, my G.O.A.T, looking radical as always.

How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

Software:

We used Premiere Pro and After Effects to assemble our project. Our school pays for a subscription so we don't have to. It's the best thing in the world and I appreciate it every day. 

Zach thoroughly contemplating his great editing.

Hardware:

The editing is done on Zach's laptop and the graphics are done on mine. We used Zach's amazing, beautiful camera to film. I felt like I had a bar of gold in my hands while shooting, but it was better than a bar of gold because gold can't record video. It's not Zach's camera. Also, while shooting we had no tripod. Zach said "It's fine, I have a makeshift tripod." His makeshift tripod was a tube light. We just placed the camera on it and hoped to god our two feet whould be sable enough. The entire time I was recording, only one though rushed through my brain. "I am one with the tripod. I am one with the tripod. I am one with the tripod." There never existed a Greek god of tripods, but that day I manifested his existence. Statherón is his name, coming from the Greek word statherós (σταθερός), meaning "stable."

Online:

I used the internet's wealth of resources to research our project. Thanks to the internet, I didn't have to touch a library throughout the entirety of this project. (I'm sure before the internet they were lovely, but they've really gone downhill since.) I loved researching this project and I learnt a lot about Victorian era in the America west. I know Zach also used free online databases to get sound effects for his sound design. I listened to what he has so far, it is beautiful. Apollo would be proud.

Okay, I'm going to get ready for the fair now! I'll C, C, and R you later Glorp.

C and C, but where is the R? (#25)

Dear Glorp,

Today I washed cars and begged people for tips.

Edit: Me, harassing people for tips. Your welcome CBTV,

If they are going to make me work, at least make me beg people for money. It's what I'm best at. (This is a joke)

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Believe it or not, I'm not a people person when it comes to getting stuff done. When I fool around, I'll admit, I'm a goofy guy. But when I'm focused, all other things don't exist and I feel like my purpose in life was to be the thing I am doing. If I am writing this blog, my mother might as well said "this child will be writing blogs until the day he dies" during my birth because this is the only thing I am right now. Blogs. Blogs. Blogs. That's the only narration in my head because I am so focused. I am a blog. The real blog is me. 

The only issue with being so focused is that I tend to be ignorant of other people. Which is bad when I'm working in a group. So, I learnt to cool off and be a little more passive this time around. I decided to expand my knowledge on westerns so much, my pert in this group became niche. Throughout this project I was the groups' Google. They'd ask me anything about the Victorian era and I would give a very specific answer. 

Production wise, I'd say my skills are good, I didn't learn much because I've done productions like these before. I was just going through the motion. Zach did remind me that the rule of thirds existed and I was like "Oh, yeah right. I should start using that again."

Okay, that's all for tonight Glorp. Buh bye!