Sound ON

Throughout the year I have come to realize the importance of sound in a film. The whole film could be ruined if the sound doesn't have good quality and may come off as unprofessional. Originally I wasn't going to do anything with the sound since I assumed I wasn't able to amplify the sound while recording since I was only recording on my phone. However, one of my friends who played the reporter in my movie suggested that I take a separate phone and record the voice while shooting so I could later pair the sound with the video to further amplify the sound. I thought this was a great idea and so I managed to successfully pair the audio to the video. I am happy with the results because I see sound to not be an issue anymore in my film since the voice was very low.

 I also had some trouble finding music for the film as I had to look for royalty free music. I wanted something dramatic but not too much for only the beginning of the film. I wanted something to stir some emotions into the audience and let them know that this film will be sentimental. I found a royalty recording on Youtube  that was sentimental dramatic music. This recording went perfectly for what I was going for and I'm really excited to put it in my film! 

Actors Wanted

I have a few characters I will be needing for my movie. Since I am working alone, I will have to ask certain friends of mine to act in my movie, and I'm willing to pay them around $10 to $15. The type of people I will be needing for my characters are:
Little Jane: Female; 7-11 years old; Brown hair.
Young Jane: Female; 15-19 years old; Brown-light hair *NOTE* (I might be acting as Young Jane myself)
Old Jane: Female; 45-55 years old; Brown- light hair *NOTE* (I am considering my mother since she looks like me if I act as Young Jane*
Rosie Brooks: Female; 20-30 years old; Dark hair (brown or black)
Leo: Male; 18-24 years old; Any hair type
Richard: Male; big; 45-55 years old
Jane's Mother: Female; any hair type; 30-40 years old
Extra's:
-Security officers (male of female)
- 2-3 Prisoners

Peer Review

Today in class my teacher suggested that we made random groups so that we could explain each other our projects and see what they would suggest for us. Not only did this help me think of my project more closely, but when I gave advice I realized that the things that I was saying should be applied to my own project. When I explained my project, I told them that I was unsure if the opening would be too much, or whether it would tell the whole story right away. I asked them if I should make it more minimalistic. However, they liked my plan and believed it was a perfect start for a movie opening. They did not think that the content was too much. However, they did tell me to think twice about the reality of what I can shoot since I am supposed to show the outside of a prison in the beginning of my video. In addition, they told me also to think again about having a motorcycle scene since it is extremely hard to find someone who drives a motorcycle who can act in my movie. Also, Joey said she was going to rent a cinematic camera and suggested the name of the place that rent them which is called LensRental. However, they are very expensive and I have to look into my budget in order to do this. I suggested to my classmate that before thinking about the opening she should know what her whole story is, up until the end. Everyone told me I was right and so I thought about it for my own film, and thats when I decided to make the whole story of the movie so everything makes sense in the beginning. 

Storyboard

I followed my fathers suggestion and completed the story board after the script, this way I had more of a guide to work from.
First I did a rough draft of the story board and then I redid it after getting some advice from different peer and from my father.

Draft:

Final:

Writing the script

My father suggested me that I should write the script before creating any storyboard so I know better what is going to be said and more of the specifics.
I know that the script format doesn't have to be exact, but I like to be as precise as possible, so I looked up a tutorial in how to write movie scripts. https://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/. As I began writing the script, I felt creativity flow through me. I did not expect so many ideas to come to me so easily as I feared that doing this project alone would deprive me of creative ideas.
Thinking about my character's names wasn't so hard. Jane came to me because I just have a feeling that that should be the name. No reason at all, it just sounded right to me. Rosie Brooks came up because my classmate helped me pick a name out, and she said Josie Brooks, but since the main character's name already starts with a J, I modified it to be Rosie instead of Josie. I picked Richard for the evil step-father because Richard sounds to me like someone unlikable.
After thinking I was done with the script, I called my dad again so he could give me some advice on whether I should fix it or leave it how it is. He gave me many tips on scriptwriting. As we facetimed, he gave me tips and I was jotting down notes on my computer. He told me that the script doesn't have to be so technical (unless the teacher wants me to). That rather, I should leave the cinematic technicality to the storyboard. Things such as music, shot angles and directions, and pans should be put on the storyboard for more of a visual guide. Instead, the script should contain more poetic writing to guide the emotions of the characters for the actors, while still describing action and direction.
After taking about scripts for about an hour with my father, I modified the script and finally have it done. However, keep in mind I will probably modify the script again as ideas are always changing and flowing.

Here is my script before revision with my dad.

Afterwards:

Researching death penalty cases

With the story I have selected, I realized there is a big controversy that might agitate people. The controversial topic of the death penalty is something society has been bickering about for ages. The article Families of Murder Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty gave me an insight on how family members feel about this.

 "The death penalty solves nothing and may even perpetuate the suffering of the parents, children, or siblings left behind, the contributors to the booklet concur."

I have watched a few movies in relation to prison life and the death penalty, which have inspired me to make this psychological Drama including The Green Mile, which has a man who is convicted of murder and he is guilty. Shawshank Redemption, is also another crime the main character was innocent of, and Monster is a story about a serial killer.

Finally chose a story

My Story:
A story about a girl (Jane) who grows up in a poor environment. Her dad was killed in a car crash when she was just 1 years old. Her mother Marcy married another man who became her step dad. All up until Jane was 7 years old, her step father (Richard) sexually, emotionally, and physically abused Marcy, when suddenly Marcy dies of a heart attack. Then Jane legally left in the care of Richard, who is the only person in the world who could take care of her. From there on, Jane was also sexually, emotionally, and physically abused by her step-father. When Jane was 17 years old, she met a guy named Leo. They fell in love and he was her savior. One day, Richard accidentally walked in on Jane and Leo while they were in the bedroom. Richard, an alcoholic, had a drink in his hand and got so angry he went to get his gun. He drunkly shot Leo in the chest. Leo dies and Jane is in shock. Her step-father orders her to get out of bed and go make him something to eat. A week later, Jane plans to murder her step-father while he was asleep. She stabbed him 14 times. Jane is convicted and found guilty and put on death row. Jane tries to explain her true story but there is no evidence of Leo's murder, nor any evidence that her father was abusive. 30 years later, the day before she is put to death, a journalist comes in to question her about the real story. She tells the reporter the whole story. The next day she dies and is finally with Leo again.

Juan Pablo Gamboa, colombian actor

So this is my story. My dad, Juan Pablo Gamboa, who is a Colombian actor has been giving me advice on how to write a story for a movie. He also helped me with how to open this film. What I have in mind for opening is to start the story when Jane is already old, in her 40s or 50s, and she is sitting in an interview room, looking out the window and zoning out. Then comes in a reporter to ask her some questions about what truly happened. My dad suggested that before the journalist comes in, I should show a few quick flashbacks that Jane has of the love of her life as well as the horrible event that happened with her set-father. This is similar to Titanic, when Rose is old and asked to tell the story about the sinking of the ship, and flashbacks appear really quick of Jack Dawson.

Before this, I wanted to make a story board, but my dad suggested that it is better to first write the outline of the story, or the plot, the script and then do the storyboard last. He said making the storyboard is technically filming, so I have to have to know what I am going to have people say first, and what is going to happen.

Idea Pool

I realized that my brain was full of different ideas with different endings, so I decided to write down a pool of my ideas. The lead on my ideas is one about a girl protagonist of about 17 years of age, who has suffered emotional and physical abuse from her father and struggled with money. In the mist of her depression, she meets a guy who is 21 years old and who practically saves her life. The movie would be mostly the adventures of the two and how happy he makes her. However, towards the end of the movie the dad walks in on them as he is drunk and shoots her boyfriend. Out of anger, the girl kills her dad and is sentenced to death by the court. My dad, who is an actor, movie writer and producer, gave me advice on what can intrigue an audience. He explained that having something controversial that will have the opinions of the audience diverged and confused will make a good movie. He recommended me to look up famous controversial cases of the death penalty to do some research and I think I will. I still have some other ideas in mind, but this is the one that seems the most prominent.

Learning about Stories

I have still not come up with a set story for my movie. However, I do have certain ideas or pictures in my head on what I would like to do. Because I was so troubled with how stories work and their order, I decided to research how a story works and find some sort of formula so I can fit the pieces together. By watching the video "Writing 101: Story Structure" I was able to learn something I didn't know before and now it is hard not to see in every movie I watch or every story I hear. The video explains how Joseph Campbell's book "The Hero's Journey" makes a formula for story telling. The entirety of it has 3 acts. The first act contains the introduction of the hero and it's normal life, something that throws off the balance of the hero's world, a call to adventure, and then a refusal to the adventure. Next, act 2 consists of good trailer footage, "fun and games", secondary characters being introduced, midpoint or false victory, everything falling apart, and then a breakthrough to keep the hero going.

Finally, act 3 has the final battle which then leads the character to live its "new normal life." Watching this crash course and taking notes is really going to help me take pieces of all my ideas and fit into place. Because I am doing this project alone, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of work that is all carried by me, and I am my own boss. Now I am going to brainstorm my ideas on the film. As I was trying to understand how stories work, a lightbulb went off in my head that made me remember that my dad is an actor knows all about how movies work. I know who I'm getting advice from.