Creative critical reflection

Here is my creative critical reflection. Its uploaded through youtube

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Final Project

Here is my final project. It is uploaded through youtube.

Little Sneak Peak

I have decided to include a small video showing one of the very bad takes of filming. When I first watched this, I quickly saw what went wrong. The most noticeable part is that my actors, filled with excitement of working with a young aspiring director like myself, fund it hard to contain their smiles while filming. This was eventually fixed after multiple takes. Another problem I later realized is that I found some background noise that I did not want. This however is harder to fix. Instead of trying to cover the background noise, I think it would be best to eliminate the original sound and simply record the audio again in a much quieter location and later add some foley sounds to add authenticity. While it wile be an editing challenge to match up the dialogue with the images on the screen, I am willing to take on this challenge for the good of the film. Please have some mercy while you watch as the final version will not be this bad.

Extra Sounds

While I was editing my film, I found that just having dialogue sounds would not be the best in terms of adding a scare factor. I could add some music filled with tension just before the monster attacks. However, I feel that it would be even scarier to instead just have the sounds of the forest and some extra sound effects. I feel this decision goes best with the theme of the movie. I, as a director, am trying to emphasize the feeling of fear in an abandoned forest and in this case, when the whole forest is silent except for the sound of some rattling of bushes, I feel like that would frighten people more than if I were to add music.

While in the forest, I decided to record some of these sounds such as some bushes rattling and some footsteps on the forest floor. These sounds make the film much more authentic. I would use these sounds as the main characters move around the forest.

I also found a website that provide me with all the sounds I would need to make the film and I have even found some sounds that I am already thinking about using. The first sound I found is titled "Godzilla Roar". I'm thinking of adding this to the shot of where the creature attacks in the forest. The next sound is titled "slowed breathing". I would add this sound in the shot of the creature observing the victims in the forest. Lastly, the next sounds are titled "Rainforest Ambience" and "Nightime". These sounds are perfect to have as background noise while they are in the forest and would make the scene while they are in the forest much more real. 

P.S. Don't worry. All these sounds are copyright free. 

"About soundbible.com." SoundBible.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 

2016. <http://soundbible.com/about.php>.

Location, Location, Location

After some touring around some really creepy un-inhabited areas around South Florida, I decided on  small forest near the side of the road to shoot my film. I chose this place for various reasons. The first of which is the view from outside of the forest. From the outside, you only see the tall trees and the bushes that cover the lower ground. I believe this only adds to the aspect of a "forbidden forest" that I am trying to achieve. Second, There is a small little camp ground surrounded by trees that would be perfect for filming my film. The camp ground has many large thick trees where I could have the creature observe its victims before the attack.  

Here are some photos of the campground inside the forest.

I truly believe that this location will work wonders in terms of adding a scare factor to the movie that I am looking for. 

Passion

So I was getting ready to film, preparing the most minute of details of my film, and I began to think: how did Spielberg manage to create the fear specifically through out his film. Since Jaws has been my model through out my endeavor, I wanted to know what was his line of thinking in the year 1975 when Spielberg created his first major hit. So I began researching some interviews with Spielberg to see if he could spill some of his secrets. I managed to find one interview, not necessarily about how he created the film, but about all the struggles he went through in the making. He mentions how filming on a boat was especially difficult and how he almost lost his camera at sea. He also mentions the challenge of making an adaptation of a book.
Then he mentioned what drived him through out all this; his passion. Spielberg said that before making a film, he dives in so deep into the topic that it becomes his passion. "I have to be willing to dedicate the next two years of my life into a topic". In my mind, this undoubtedly helps a young film maker, like myself and like Spielberg was at the time. When you're passionate about something, you're willing to do anything for it to come out perfect. You're willing to put in countless hours of your life into a project because you care so deeply about it. I realized that for me to create the best film I possibly I can I have to have a "Spielberg mentality" if you will. Dedication cannot lack, not even in the slightest through my journey or the film will be nowhere near as good.

"Steven Spielberg Talks 'Jaws' In 1975 Interview." youtube.com. 

N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2016. 

     <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRfTuNOV678>. 

Script!

Here is a short script pf some of the dialogue of the film opening.

Script:

Fade In:

The dog runs into the forest as the two boys chase after him. Nick arrives at the edge of the edge of the forest first and stops right at the edge of the forest first and abruptly stops. Michael, who was slightly behind him, runs past him and into the forest. Once he realizes that his brother would not go in the forest, Michael stops.

Michael:

What are you doing!? Why did you stop?

Nick:

I’m not going in there!

Micheal:

Nothing is going to happen to us, we’ll go in, get him, and get out.

They both stare at each other for about 2 seconds as Nick is still scared.

Michael:

I’ll protect you don’t worry.

They stare at each other as Nick is still filled with fear.

Micheal:

Do you wanna lose Max?!

Nick reluctantly walks into the forest with his brother right beside him.

As they slowly walk through the forest, they  both call out the dog’s name.

Both:

Max! Max come here boy! Max!

In the distance Michael hears some ruffling of leaves and turns expecting to find his dog but sees nothing except nature, so he turns back. The camera switches to the point of view of the creature, hiding behind some trees as he sees the boy on their search.

Both:

Come on boy come here!

The creature moves to a position closer to the boys. The boys in turn are surrounded by nature and appear with a lost look at this point. It is here when the creature attacks.

The screen cuts to a pitch black screen, where the title will be.

Nick regains consciousness as he is on the ground and appears dazed. He stands up and screams his brother’s name.

Nick:

Michael! Michael!

Nick decides to sprint back to his house as he is to afraid to look for his brother.

"How to Write a Screenplay: Script Example & Screenwriting Tips." 

www.writersstore.com. N.p., n.d. 

     Web. 2 Apr. 2016. <https://www.writersstore.com/ 

     how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/>.