The death of my beloved laptop

As I keep mentioning in the past few blog posts, I had issues with my laptop. Here's what exactly happened. 

On Friday, March 15th, my laptop worked fine during 5th and 6th hour. I remember what day this was because I was grinding out some work for my classes while listening to music and even took some picture of my setup (I take pictures of everything). However, on a day that I REALLY could not afford my computer to breakdown, it did just that. Come 8th hour and my computer isn't even turning on. I got home and tried everything, I would try to keep it on a charger and got absolutely NOTHING but an eerie hum. I told my Dad who ended up procrastinating to call some tech guy for help, not that it would save my laptop. The guy checked it out over spring break and said it wasn't worth it to fix as the motherboard or something was fried and replacing it is about the same price as a new computer (no idea what any of that means but RIP). This was obviously a setback, especially as for this class alone I need some kind of computer to edit my segment and do blog posts. 

(here's a mini shrine to her, I don't have pictures of the back right now but I had so many cute stickers I'll miss >:c)

I'll miss you always :(

No time to grieve when I had a project to finish though, here's how I worked around this.

So, on the day it actually broke down, I had SO MUCH WORK. Like I had to edit a segment for my TV class due that day and knock out some other school work. Once I got home, I just downloaded Premiere on my Mom' s laptop and did just that. Come spring break and there was another little obstacle to overcome. I filmed on Tuesday (3/26) and planned to just grind out editing on Wednesday. However, my Mom and Dad kind of just.. went to Orlando for the day without a word (they were tasting catering options for my older sister's upcoming wedding). When I woke up I tried to go to my Mom's office to use her computer only to discover she had taken it with her. I literally started crying out of panic (only for like 2 seconds but still, THAT'S how freaked out I was that I wouldn't be able to edit). After some convincing though, my Dad let me use his super cool Alienware laptop. 

It ended up working out, main issue was having limited or weird hours to use the computer since my Dad has work. I pulled like two all nighters to be able to have laptop hours.. it was all worth it though!!

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.. I am getting a new laptop!! It should arrive on Wednesday (4/3). I'm super excited because I've never owned like my OWN laptop, this one was my first and it was my Mom's 6 year old one. Plus, my Dad got one with an i7 processor or whatever so those are good for video editing (I'll finally have a laptop that won't crash every time I open Premiere!!) I'm pretty excited :)

Music

 Looking back, I got really lucky with music. The reason I was struggling to decide on what to do beforehand was because I didn't exactly know what would fit the vibe for the final sequence. While this would have been super bad if I couldn't find any non-copyrighted music I liked, I got lucky. Thankfully, one of Matt's brothers, Erick, is a musician. Matt "jokingly" sent over one of his beats saying I should use it for the video, and it actually kind of fit. It's a more rock or grunge type of beat then I probably would have gone for if copyright wasn't an issue, but I really like how it ended up working with the sequence I had edited. Especially at the end, it ends perfectly timed with the protagonist's defeat in both his training and the flashback. 

Anyways, here's the permission document. Big thanks to Erick Toribio. :)

(It wouldn't let me embed it or upload the actual PDF so here's a screenshot of the document)

I'd say this song works because most training montages within the sports genre use hype music. While recently this has gravitated more towards rap or hip-hop in more recent films such as Creed III, it's also common to use Rock music like the classic use of Eye of the Tiger in Rocky IV.

While this piece is a bit grunge-ier and strictly instrumental, the energy still fits that of a typical "hype" training montage. In order to emphasize the flashback scenes though, I did use a lowpass to make it sound "drowned" in a sense, I'll go more in detail on my editing post though.

Communication: Actors, Location, and Equipment

This post is going to be super brief, I just wanted to come on here and give an update on my official filming date. I spoke with Coach Cater (the head of Southwest Wrestling), and originally we planned for Tuesday, however Matt has work so thankfully we were able to reschedule to Wednesday. Below are the screenshots:

Conversation with Coach Cater:

Convo with Matt and Roger; mainly addressing Matt's Schedule conflicts:

Now, for equipment, I did as I planned to and messaged Jim from Becon-TV (a program here in Broward County where students have access to equipment). While I was planning on just going there to pickup the equipment myself, many students are checking out now for their own AICE Media projects. Luckily, a friend of mine, Mariana, is checking out very similar equipment to me to film on Tuesday. Together, she, Jim and I were able to arrange that she picks everything up  (Monday 3/25) and I get it from her on Tuesday, the day before I film. This way, both of us can use the equipment with no issue. I didn't really mind if I got it from her or Becon, I'm just happy it was available at all (plus I don't mind that Mariana lives closer to me than Becon is). Below are the screenshots of Jim and I's conversation followed by screenshots of Mariana and I's conversation (most of that happened over a call though).

Prerequisite to upcoming SPAM

Man, I have been BUSY these past few days... I've been working non-stop on this project and honestly haven't been updating the blog.. well get ready for a SPAM. I have like 3 half-written posts but here's a list of what to expect from the next few posts:

• the planning changes I had prior to filming
• my laptop dilemma...
• a recap of the filming day
• editing: changes to the original plan, successes, and difficulties
• the first "final" and even MORE changes after critiques

I just wanted to post this so there was a break/explanation as to why the next few posts will be talking about earlier dates.

Lets get started then.

Scheduling Plan

So, I was originally feeling SUPER behind compared to my peers, but after speaking with my friends turns out many of them are also just starting to film. The film intro is due April 2nd, right when we get back from spring break. This is perfect for me because between school, wrestling, homework, and everything in between, finding time to do other things is very difficult.

I've spoken with my main actors and we should be set to film this Monday at Southwest Highschool's wrestling room. I need to confirm with Coach Kater on how that would work as it would be off hours, but I'm confident we'll be good to go. 

For equipment, I plan on checking out a DSLR (I'm not picky since I don't know the differences tbh) , most likely a Sony model, a tripod, a light kit, a boom, a phone lav, and batteries. 

I understand that in order to really execute the extreme sounds within the flashback (wrestling) scene I will need to voice record Foley or find sounds in an online database, hence the phone lav.

In terms of planning my CCR, I'd like to do a guided infographic for one portion and then a skit (still debating what kind) for the other portion.

Colors

Color Psychology

Short Overview

Colors in film are often used to guide the audience's perception of a scene. Colors are also used as an extension of the character's mindset. Specific colors have developed into being associated with distinct things, for instance, red can represent love and passion, but it also represents anger and violence. Depending on the context in which a color is being used, it will provoke a different reaction.

Yellow; Obsession.

The color yellow is very striking and noticeable, it sticks out to audiences when it is used. Traditionally, this color can represent more positive emotions such as wisdom or knowledge, but usually is used in a more "deranged" way. Yellow represents sickness, insecurity, idealization, cowardice, deceit, hazard, and the most relevant to me; obsession. 

Examples in film

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, a big inspiration I take is from the "tortured artist trope." One of the most popular texts of this is Whiplash, a film about a young man who becomes consumed by his passion for becoming one of the greatest jazz drummers in history. In doing so, he becomes so obsessed he destroys his relationships with several people and even allows it to physically harm him. In this movie, yellow is often used, especially when displaying Andrew (protagonist), at the peak of his obsession. 

I am choosing to color correct using this in Runner Up, because like Andrew in Whiplash, Will is "pushed to the edge of sanity" (Yamout) by his own hand. He, like other character in plot lines of this trope, present the audience with the question "how far will people push themselves in order to be the best?"

Sources:

• https://scenesfromanimaginaryfilm.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/obsessions-inferno-the-cinematography-of-whiplash/
• https://ipr.edu/blogs/digital-video-and-media-production/color-theory-in-film-a-video-producers-guide/#:~:text=Color%20Theory%20in%20Story%20Telling&text=This%20helps%20the%20viewer%20feel,overall%20tone%20of%20the%20film.
• https://nofilmschool.com/color-psychology-in-film
• https://medium.com/@jackneath2/killing-the-tortured-artist-trope-924b38e24b6c

Casting Done

 So remember the Coach I mentioned in one of my earlier log posts? The one who's story I took a lot of inspiration from? Well.. guess who's playing the main character. You guessed it! Coach Matt!

Here are the reasons why I chose to 'cast' Matt as Will (the protagonist):

• Physical Attributes: While the story of Runner Up could apply to virtually any sport, I chose wrestling as it holds personal meaning to me, I know what I'm talking about, I can relate to it, and resource wise it's easier to manage. Now, regardless of weight class, wrestlers are very athletic; arguably some of THE most athletic athletes (that sounds weird). Like I said, the story could apply to any athlete, so the weight class didn't matter. For instance, I compete at 105lbs and I still relate to the same mental and physical hardships this sport instigates as someone competing at 175lbs. All I thought about when casting then, was that they're able to keep up (physically). The wrestling/workout scenes in this film intro aren't going to be some fake TV drama BS.. I know what good wrestling looks like and I won't have anything fake. The finals match flashback WILL look like a real state finals match. And so, Matt happens to be in shape, you know being an ex-wrestler. He is 24 years old, like 6'2 200lbs, and trains with us at practice in addition to the gym. I know for a fact that he can execute my high-level-wrestling vision for the flashback match. I also know he'll be able to push himself for us to get quality training shots; this includes lifting in a weight room and cardio exercises.
• Money: Another BIG part that helped me decide on asking Matt, is that I know he wouldn't charge me money or anything. He's doing this as a favor, which I very much appreciate. I promised to get the boys (Roger plays the antagonist, I'll mention him right after this) dinner after filming.
• Passion: Last but not least, I know Matt doesn't half-ass anything. Although he's never acted, we spoke in person about what filming will look like. He sounds like he is genuinely invested into this because he sees that it's important to me, I'm excited to see how we work together with me playing "coach" (directing) rather than him.

Roger:

To be honest, there isn't much to go in detail about Roger, I asked him to act because he's my friend and I knew he would. The reasons with him are pretty much the same as Matt.. only his role isn't AS important since the story doesn't develop his character. He only appears in that one flashback action-scene of the finals match. Roger was also my top pick because he's the only wrestler I know weighing close to Matt. Roger competes in the 190lb weight class, so Matt is just a bit over that. It's also super helpful that Roger and Matt train consistently with each other; they know how the other wrestles. This will make "choreographing" the finals match a whole lot easier. I already made the aware that this scene isn't just them "going live" (wrestling like a normal match), but instead the three of us will have a play-by-play plan of the moves executed in the match.

Minor Concerns:

So here's my only issue with the Matt/Roger duo, yea they weigh close enough.. but Matt doesn't really LOOK like a 17-18 year old Highschool-Senior. Roger sometimes does (he has a bit of a baby face lol). Will is supposed to have just recently ended his season by a few months, it's fine for him to look older but what about in the flashback scene? Is he going to lose to some kid? I think with the help of some makeup I can try to make Roger look a little older or Matt look younger. 

Screenshots:

Here are the messages I have with first Matt, initially asking him, Roger was asked in person and I  explained the idea there as well.