Research for Critical Reflection Essay

When I was a freshman, I kinda knew a few seniors who took AICE Media since we were all part of our school’s TV club. One of these seniors was Virginia, who was known for being an exceptional writer within the club. I even vaguely remember hearing her and her partners talking about their portfolio project that year. So, when it came to sifting through old AICE Media blogs for inspiration, it made perfect sense to read her critical reflection. You can check it out here.  

As I read her blog, I noticed that the CR's goal is just to explain the motivations behind the project and how those factors influence decisions throughout the creative process. Virginia’s insights focused heavily on pre-production planning and conceptualization and how that shapes the final product.

However, something I noticed was the absence of a discussion about shortcomings or “failures” in her reflection. While she did an excellent job articulating her successes and behind-the-scenes inspirations, I found myself thinking about the importance of acknowledging our missteps as well. This is something I plan to include in my own critical reflection.

Reflecting back on our documentary project's critical reflection, I realized that one of the areas where I fell short was in the integration of multimedia elements—specifically, embedding more videos and photos to elevate the overall quality of the essay. I had some great footage and images, but I didn’t fully utilize them to enhance the narrative. This time around, I'll keep that in mind as I develop my essay.

Additionally, I’ve come to recognize that I often struggle to write AICE Media essays in a more personal tone. My other class experiences have conditioned me to adhere to a strict, formal writing style that feels a bit stiff at times in this course's context. While I understand the importance of maintaining a degree of professionalism, I think there’s value in adding a more relatable and lighter touch to my critical reflection. I want to share not just my successes but also my obstacles and mistakes in a way that feels accessible and genuine.

By doing this, I hope to shed light on my true experience throughout this project. After all, many people have faced similar challenges, and it can be comforting to see that we’re not alone in our struggles as young filmmakers. Discussions about our pitfalls can humanize the creative process and make our journeys more relatable. As I work on my CR, I plan to weave in some anecdotes about my experiences, the unexpected hurdles I encountered, and the lessons I learned along the way.

In the end, I believe that embracing both my triumphs and my failures will lead to a more cohesive and authentic reflection. I’m excited to take these insights from Virginia’s blog and my own experiences into account as I kickoff this final reflection of my time in AICE Media. 

Research for Print Component

 (This is a post I am behind on, but better late than never, right?) 

One of the components for the A-level portfolio project is the print component. For my selected option, short film, this is a postcard meant to market the film's screening at a film festival. I haven't been too stressed about this component since I was thinking of it as a thumbnail/sneak peek of my short film, just with information on where to catch the screening. I knew all this would come after filming, and now that I have the bulk of it done, I can start this aspect of the project! 

In class we went over some important features that MUST be included on the postcard. They seemed pretty self-explanatory to me, but I'll list them here anyway:

- title

- key art

- director's name (ONLY CREDIT ON THE CARD! This is meant to be minimal & not overcrowded)

- date & time of screening

- locatoion

- social media information

After some serious digging on Google and through old blogs, here's a sample project I viewed:

Cutting Room Floor was one I just looked up because it was a past project that I've seen before and enjoyed, but mostly just cause I remembered it by name. On the left is the back of the postcard. I included it because I want to highlight the simplicity. It is just a snippet from the short film with the necessary text over it. My main takeaway for this component is to keep it simple. While I don't think choosing a snippet of the main character's back profile was the best choice, the general conventions hold true: show just what you need to get the screening information across to the audience.

With that all said, I'm not too worried about this component. I plan to decide on snippets for the front and back as I sort through the clips and continue to edit. The front will likely be a two-shot of Mia and Rebecca and the back might be a picture of Liam looking like a douchebag. 

Filming + Changes

 Another great day of filming! As planned, Gio, Mateo, and I met up on Monday to tackle all of the bedroom dialogue scenes. This included the first scene between Mia and Rebecca, the 2 mini transition clips, and the scene where Mia pretends to be Liam for the final rehearsal. 

We started at around 9:30am and finished around 11:30, it actually took much longer than I expected but hey, that's perfectly okay. Afterwards, we got to celebrate with some pancakes that Gio's mom made! They were delicious. 

It was much easier to get into character for these parts of the script compared to how the other ones went, so I'm thankful for that! Gio REALLY threw herself into playing a "boy," it was hilarious. I can't wait to show off how the scene turns out!

I do have some readjustments to the project to report however....

There are 2 remaining scenes: the boxing scene & the "founding fathers" scene. I've decided to rewrite the boxing scene into more of a running style of training, somewhat like a Rocky parody, because I couldn't secure a location that I liked for it. I have 2 tracks to choose from for this scene however, so I feel good. And then I was always reluctant about doing this, but, for the founding father scene I am going all out and buying costumes. I've seen people (girls) online dress up as foundign fathers and it is the vibe I want Mia & Rebecca to emulate. Below is an example of people doing this online:

With that said, I had to reschudle the filming date to be when i get back from Virginia... so sometime after school this week. I know, that is cutting it close to the deadline, but I won't wait for those scenes to start editing. I am trying to balance my national tournament and making adjustments to this project at the same time, so we're working with what we got! 

Social Media Theme

 As I mentioned in my last post, I've started to work more on my social media now that I have a better idea of my approach. I'm going for a mix of composition notebooks, fun colors, stickers, scrapbooking, and chalkboard vibes. Now hear me out, I get how that sounds like a lot going on, but I honestly believe they all complement each other and express that quirky, teenage girl vibe I want my comedy short to emulate.

On the left is an example of a post I've uploaded. Additionally, I've worked on a profile picture and some other posts coming soon. I had a specific vision for the profile photo so I watched the Youtube Video linked here to learn how to fill text in a 'groovy' shape in a circle using Adobe Illustrator. Unfortunately, it had no audio instruction and wasn't very helpful to me... so that idea was a flop.. BUT! After lots of trial and error I realized a simple yet fun logo would work perfectly. Here's what I landed on for the profile picture:

I intentionally went for a circle shape cause I thought it woild be the most visuallt appealing for a profile picture format. I chose a dark background cause it reminded me of a chalkboard and I liked how it contrasted with the fun colors.

Additionally, I added a short bio: 

 I'm starting to feel more comfortable with this portion of the project now that I'm solidifying a style. So many ideas of future posts are rushing through my mind I can't wait.My tag is still back on my social media research post, so don't forget to check it out! 

Finally! A successful day of filming

fter last weekend's fiasco, I was really hoping this time around everything would work out smoothly—and luckily, it did! This Thursday, Mateo, Alex, and I met up at my place to dive back into filming. Mateo and I decided to skip school for the day (don’t worry, we didn’t miss anything essential!), making the perfect opportunity to focus on our project.

It was Alex’s first time acting, and wow, he COMMITED to the bit. I was genuinely impressed by his ability to step into his role and bring so much energy to the scenes. I have to mention one particular moment that turned out to be quite memorable...watching my boyfriend pick his nose for a role (that I subjected him to) on camera over several takes was a unique experience! 

Anyways... as always, Mateo was an incredible support. His suggestions and expertise helped elevate the scenes, and it just goes to show how important teamwork is in any creative endeavor. Unfortunately, Gio was unavailable this time, so we focused on the two scenes featuring Alex. But no worries—I’ll be meeting up with Gio on Sunday or Monday to wrap things up and ensure everything flows smoothly.

While I feel overall positive about the shoot, I do have one concern lingering at the back of my mind: the last scene might be a bit overexposed. It's tricky to gauge how it will look in post-production, but I'm hopeful I can touch it up and address any issues before the final edit. Fingers crossed...

Here's pictures of us hard at work:

Group Meeting

Today in class we were put into different 'teams' to talk about and critique one another portfolio projects. I unfortunately missed out on the last meeting, so I'm glad I was able to participate today. My group mates were Corina, Emma, Alec, and Romina, on the right is our super cute picture. I haven't spoken much with most of them, apart from Emma, so it was also a nice experience to get to know my classmates better. 

We went around sharing where we're at with the project, asking questions, and giving helpful critiques. Most of us agreed that the social media component has been the biggest struggle, so that's what my main takeaways relate to. Corina especially helped me spark a great approach for my social media

strategy. Essentially, she commented on how the cover of Forgetting Sarah Marshall (seen on the left), which I researched in my genre blog post, gave her a similar vibe to the plot of my short film. It is very scrap-booky, teenage "vibe," which fits right with my short! I can't believe that this whole time, the path around my roadblock was hiding in my blog all along. 

Before I had this epiphany, the reason I've been struggling with my social media is because I couldn't visualize a social media page that gave away specific parts of the plot of the short film. Other projects, like Romina's documentary for instance, can get by with marketing the "vibe" of the series, or focusing on a specific graphic or item, but my project doesn't exactly have something like that. My initial plan was to wait until I was in the production phase and make the social media more like "behind the scenes" thing, but now that I have a visual theme in mind my options open up a lot. The group recommended a couple posts in fact; 

- Questionarre on "How would you dump your significant other?"

- Emoji/Drawing posts alluding to the bits (ex. boxing gloves for that scene)

- And then the other typical posts (meet the director, cast, etc..)

I'm very happy with how the meeting went, I found it very beneficial. I'll be organizing my upcoming posts this week, and I have set the re-scheduled film dates for this weekend. 

I spoke too soon...

Wow. So remember on Friday when I said filming went well and the rest should also be a breeze? Well, I seem to have spoken too soon. Yesterday ended up falling through, which wasn't a huge deal, but today was supposed to be my day to catch up and stay on track. Unfortunately, I woke up with a stomach virus or some kind of illness that knocked me completely off my feet. I spent the whole day in bed with a massive migraine, and I ended up puking about four times. The only thing I could manage to keep down was a few saltines, which is definitely not what I had in mind for the day.

This setback is definitely pushing me back a bit in terms of my filming schedule, but thankfully, I didn’t procrastinate too much in the first place. I’ve already spoken with Mateo and Gio, and they’re both available to film next weekend, so there’s a silver lining. Today was just a yucky day, but on the bright side, Alex arrived from New York! I’m looking forward to hanging out with him, long distance kinda sucks sometimes.

Despite feeling crummy right now, I’m determined to use the upcoming week productively. I plan to spend class time getting myself reorganized, diving into research for my print component, working on social media posts, and preparing for our next filming dates. Right now, though, all I can think about is how much I just want to wake up tomorrow and feel normal again. Here’s hoping for a better day ahead!

Slight change of plans

So, I just got out of the banquet, and it ran MUCH longer than expected. What was supposed to be a concise evening turned into three hours filled with impromptu speeches delivered by people who, let’s be honest, do NOT know how to give speeches. While it was amusing at times, the endless stories and awkward pauses definitely wore me out. However, amidst the chaos, I had many reasons to celebrate: I won MVP for the second year in a row! It felt great to be recognized again by my teammates and coaches, but the entire event also got me thinking about my senior year (next year) wrestling banquet. It’s hard not to imagine that I'll feel that bittersweet twinge, knowing it'll be the end of the road for me in this sport I’ve loved and poured so much into.

Anyway, I’m getting off track here. By the time I left the banquet, I was feeling completely exhausted but still determined to push through and film. I called Mateo and Gio, hoping to rally our spirits and get things moving. However, it turns out we were all feeling the same way—worn out and a bit drained. They both agreed that Sunday would actually be easier for them, as they had other commitments that would require us to rush filming if we tried to go ahead today. It was a relief to have that understanding, and we decided to regroup and tackle this fresh tomorrow.

So, the updated plan is to knock out the two bedroom scenes tomorrow, and once Alex arrives around 2 or 3pm, we’ll film the first and last scenes that he’s in. I’m still feeling good about this weekend overall; I think we can capture some great moments together. If everything goes smoothly, I hope to jump into the editing process next week. Until then...

Off to a great start!

So, as I planned, we filmed the poetry scene in the auditorium during TV! It took a bit longer than expected, primarily due to the comedic aspects of the script that kept us all giggling between takes. Working with my best friends made the process even more enjoyable, but it also introduced some challenges. We found ourselves cracking up at the most unexpected moments, which added to the fun but also made it hard to stay focused. I underestimated how tricky it would be to nail the lines while maintaining character, especially with such a goofy script.

Despite the hiccups, I really like the way the shots turned out on camera. The lighting in the auditorium created a really vibrant atmosphere, and I think it captures the essence of our playful performance perfectly. To top it off, our friend David happened to drop by and lent us a hand by holding the boom pole, which made the process smoother. 

Overall, I feel good about how everything went, even if it took a bit longer than we planned. I’m really excited for the weekend ahead; we’ve got some editing to do, and I can't wait to see how our hard work transforms into a finished product. I expect the rest of filming to go well too!

Equipment

For equipment, I plan to do as I did last year. I messaged Jim from Becon-TV (a program here in Broward County where students have access to equipment) and asked for a camera (Sony A73), a tripod, a 3pt light kit, and then a Shure microphone, a boom pole, and wireless lavaliers from my school's television production program (of which I am apart of). 

Here are the screenshots of my conversation with Jim:

(Mateo and I are splitting the camera, much like how Mariana and I exchanged equipment last year)

I was initially concerned about audio, which I got lucky with last year (since there was no dialogue or anything in my film opening). I have never filmed a short film or any kind of segment where I needed to capture dialogue without the appearance of microphones, making me a little nervous. During our TV class, Mateo showed me how to connect wireless lavs to a Shure mic on a boom pole and then to a camera, which makes it sync up all at once. 

The rest of the equipment is pretty self-explanatory—a camera to film, a tripod to set it on, and lighting. Though it's been a while, I am familiar with this equipment and expect little to no technical hiccups during production. 

I picked up equipment from Jim and checked out the rest during TV! All is well and set to go!

A Busy Weekend Ahead!

I’m thrilled to share that this weekend is all about filming for the short! Since I’m diving headfirst into my acting role, my friend Mateo has generously offered (or rather, accepted my pleas) his skills as the cameraman. I felt it was vital to touch base with him and Gio during our TV class this week to confirm our filming schedule: (this unfortunately was a verbal interaction, so I'm unable to insert screenshots here)

Friday

This Friday, we’re set to film an exciting scene in the auditorium—specifically, the poetry scene that I’ve been eagerly looking forward to. The ambiance of the auditorium works great, and luckily, it's empty right when we're able to go. However, there’s a little twist; I had originally wished to keep filming after school on Friday as well, but Gio has an appointment, and Mateo is also busy with his own short film project that same night...

Saturday

With that in mind, we’ve decided to film most of the remaining scenes on Saturday after my wrestling banquet, which should be an eventful evening on its own! The event starts at around 12pm, and I suspect should be done by 3-4pm. That being said, Gio (and possibly me too) has a party that night, so I'm aiming to tackle the room scenes and the library scene (I made some edits to the script) before then.

Sunday

Once Saturday is wrapped up, we’ll regroup on Sunday after Gio returns from church. The plan is to tackle any remaining scenes then. I also have two very brief scenes to film with Alex, who’s getting here from New York by at 2 PM. With everyone’s schedules in mind, I feel grateful that we’ve managed to carve out this time together.

Looking ahead, I’m feeling really positive about how everything is shaping up. I’ve mapped out what we need to accomplish over the weekend, and I’m confident we have more than enough time to film everything we want. It’s been such a pleasure to work alongside my friends, who are always willing to help me. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our filming adventure. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

The Grand Unveiling: My Screenplay is Finished!

 After a long week at states (where I places 4th by the way!!! WOOO!), I finally got back today (Sunday) and wrapped up my screenplay. 

(on the podium!!!!!!!^^^^^^)

It only took weeks of brainstorming, tweaking, rewriting, and debating over whether or not one scene was actually funny, but I've concluded my screenplay is finally done. How to Dump Your Boyfriend is officially in its final form (until I decide to rewrite it again five minutes from now). But for now? I’m calling it finished. And honestly, that feels pretty damn good. Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

This whole process has been… a ride. Writing a comedy short film sounds fun—and it is—but it also meant staring at a blank page and trying to force my brain to be funny on command. Turns out, forcing humor is not the move. It came easier on some days more than others, but eventually, it all came together. I realized that the heart of this short film wasn’t just about a breakup—it was about the absurdity of overthinking, the ridiculous things we say when we rehearse conversations in our heads, and the universal struggle of trying to sound cool while your brain is having a full-on panic attack. I wanted it to feel real, but also just exaggerated enough to hit that perfect comedic sweet spot. 

One of my biggest challenges was definitely timing. In a five-minute short, every second counts. Every joke has to land, every pause has to feel intentional, and every scene needs to move the story forward without dragging. I was initially overthinking how to transition from one 'bit' to another, but I think simple cuts ended up working out fine.

In addition to scheduling and some more planning (like storyboarding and whatnot), I hope to film most scenes before 3/16 when my boyfriend, Alex, gets here. That means taking this script from words on a page to actual moving, talking, living characters. I already know this part is going to be just as chaotic as writing it—if not more. But I can’t wait! It's been far too long since I've made some kind of video/segment. For now, I’m just taking a second to appreciate how far this idea has come. From a random “what if” thought to an actual, structured screenplay that I’m proud of.

Without any further ado, here's my screenplay below (Mrs. Stoklosa and anyone else who might be stalking my blog, please get back to me with any critiques! I am NOT sensitive in that sense):

How to Dump Your Boyfriend Screenplay

What's all this talk of 'states'??

 
I realized that I keep referring to states keeping me busy, but I've yet to explain it! I mentioned this last year a lot during AS Media, since it was a huge inspiration for my film opening, but I am a wrestler. This year I was very fortunate to qualify for the State Tournament again in March (6-8). I didn't place last year, but I've got a feeling this year is going to be a LOT different. I wont be able to work much on my portfolio project during this time since I'll be super locked in, but I've planned accordingly to not let it set me back. Wish me luck!!

                                                                                                 (silly picture my mom took of me at regions^)

Meet the Cast (and characters)!

So, I am SET on my cast for this project! The process wasn't all that interesting, but it deserves a mention nonetheless. It ended up reflecting my real life, which is funny but also cute since this piece reminds me a lot of my best friend. I'm also taking this introduction as a chance to go more in-depth on the characters themselves, without any further ado...

Meet Rebecca!

Rebecca is the main character of this film. She is 17 years old, like myself, and is a witty, dramatic, and slightly over-the-top girl who treats breaking up with her boyfriend like it’s a high-stakes performance. She’s pretty charismatic and confident in most areas of life, except when it comes to confrontation. Instead of just ending things directly, she turns the breakup into an elaborate, theatrical production with the help and encouragement of her best friend. Rebecca is a little chaotic, often overthinking situations and making them more complicated than they need to be. Despite her dramatic nature, she has a good heart and genuinely wants to do the breakup "right," even if her methods are ridiculous.

I will be playing Rebecca mostly because as I write, I hear myself saying her lines in a very specific way, and I guess I'm becoming a bit of a control freak here. I want to get this right, and that starts with properly emulating the main character. Also, as I've mentioned before, I see the friendship between Rebecca and Mia as a reflection of my friendship with my best friend Gio, so who better to play the role right?

Gio as Mia!

Mia is the super cool best friend character; she encourages a lot of the mischief that powers this comedy and is super supportive of Rebecca. If I didn't already give it away in the last introduction, this role will be played by my best friend Gio. Unlike other "nepo" cases that cast poorly, I have a lot of trust in her. This isn't either of our first times acting (together too), and I know our chemistry is gonna look great on screen. Mia is more chill and practical, the type to say, “Just text him and be done with it,” but also the first to grab a cowboy hat when the plan turns into a Wild West showdown. She’s the ultimate best friend: supportive, fun, brutally honest, and always having her best friend's back. 

The bummer of a boyfriend.. played by my very own :p

Okay, I'll admit that this one was mostly a convenience casting. I was telling him about my project over a FaceTime Call and saying how I was struggling to picture someone to play the role (the character, Liam, is only in the first and last scene but needs to be casted regardless, lol). He (jokingly) said that he could play the boyfriend.. but it wasn't the worst idea. I've never seen him act (he never has) so I had to test his skills. Of the four-ish lines Liam has, Alex nailed them! There's no way you could really mess it up though; it's just nonchalant "okays" and "yeahs." About the characters, Liam and Rebecca have been dating for a few months of their senior year. He isn't the most goal-oriented guy and is SUPERR chill, maybe too chill, never picking up on Rebecca’s hints that she’s over the relationship. After a while, the lack of effort got old. He's not a bad guy; it's just that his clueless nature stopped being cute, and his gross, childish habits have caught up with him. My boyfriend, Alex, is the total opposite but he'll play the role just fine. (he's the cute one on the right of the photo!!)

With casting done (very easily at that), my short film is on track! I'm hoping to film my scenes with Gio after states (which ends march 8th) and finish up the two scenes with Gio the week before spring break! That way, I'll have the beginning of break to edit and still have time for any final touches!