AICE Media Studies

Our short film, "The Lull," boasts a rich cast that reflects the vibrant diversity of the Americas. From the sun-drenched beaches of Rio to the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, we showcase a multitude of ethnicities. Corvelest, a central figure, embodies the strength of African-American communities. Teo bridges the gap between his Argentinian heritage and the experiences of Argentinian-Americans. Finally, the film brings to life the infectious warmth, passion, and unwavering spirit of Brazilians. This intentional casting allows viewers across the Americas to connect with the film on a personal level. "The Lull" tackles more than just cultural identity. It delves into the crucial issue of mental health awareness. Our protagonist grapples with past traumas, showcased in a jolting nightmare sequence. His struggle emphasizes the importance of normalizing these experiences. We want the audience to understand that they are not alone, and that there is hope for overcoming...

 Hey guys so the film's finally finished. Below you'll see the post card for the film, a picture of the website with the link and QR code included. As well as the finished product itself. Hope you guys enjoy! https://teobalsamo.wixsite.com/thelull1

 As stated in the previous blog, filming was done on Saturday, 3/3/2024. The filming once again occurred at Corvelest's house. I was able to finish filming the dialogue scene. Which was between the protagonist (Teo) and antagonist (Corvelest) characters. I was able to get up until right before the pre-climax scene. Filming that pre-climax was scene took a while. I basically filmed the protagonist walking into the kitchen and grabbing a beverage for the antagonist. However, I had to shoot him doing that from a variety of angles, and lighting. In terms of lighting, the first time the lighting from the ceiling was brighter. I shot the same scene again but in darker lighting. The ceiling lights have lights that can adjust so I played around with a bit. I filmed the same scene a third time and it was the darkest one this time. Also, when the protagonist goes to open the fridge, I filmed from an angle where the camera is above the protagonist and he's on the right side of the screen....

 Teo didn't have any last minute plans, and I with my group was able to film yesterday. Which was on Saturday March 3, 2024. Though the group and I were supposed to film again today it didn't happen. This is because Corvelest is working today at 11. Corvelest initially thought he would get called at around 12 or 1, which would me to film Corvelest and Teo from 10-11:30. But as always plans change at the last minute. To top that off Teo for whatever reason likes to sleep late and wake up late on the weekend. So an arrangement involving filming early in the morning wouldn't work. Anyways, I showed up to Corvelest house yesterday at around 12 noon. I picked up Teo like last time from his house and went straight to Corvelest's. There was a slight delay however, since Teo forgot his suit, he had to ask his sister to drop it off for him, which set me back filming for about an hour. In the meantime, Corvelest put The Wolf of Wall Street  the film on the TV to watch till Teo...

Taking inspiration from other films can only take you so far. Watching films and taking ideas from it doesn't get progress done. Though I'm going through a period of not filming, it's best to still stay productive. Hopefully this thing of not filming will end this weekend, and the plan to film Saturday and Sunday remains the same. I've decided to assist Corvelest in editing the film. During one of my free class periods that I have him, I've been using his laptop to piece the the clips together. The point of this is to be ahead of the game. Especially since time is running out for the deadline, as it just reached the 2 week and a few days mark today. SO essentially I've been putting the scenes together. As well as editing out unnecessary parts from the clips. It typically consists of editing out the very first half second, and the very last half second of the clip. By me doing this, this'll give Corvelest the time to incorporate sound and edit the lighting in...

 The weekend that the group and I were supposed to film. As previously stated it had to be postponed. This is because my group member Teo couldn't make it. Since he had plans with some friend of girlfriend which he prioritized more than the filming date. I decided that I wanted to be productive and draw some inspiration. I decided to go the movie theater along with a pal of mine from church. I watched the new Bob Marley movie with him which was late at night. The movie started around 10:00 at night and ended at midnight. Instead of laying back, relaxing and just lazy-mindedly watching the film. I payed attention to the camera angles, the different shots, and the non-diegetic and diegetic sounds used throughout the film. I took much inspiration especially on the medium shots and medium close up shots. Where Bob Marley would be seen interacting with his people and at other times his studio executives and renowned people of status. The reason I payed particular attention to the scenes...

Welcome back guys and yet another week has passed. Unfortunately another postpone has occurred. The pressure is mounting increasingly to get more progress done. The group had agreed to get together on the weekend of 24th and 25th. To film for possibly an entire day and knock out more than half of what's needed for the film. I was good to go and same for Corvelest. However, for whatever reason it couldn't work out for Teo. Apparently he had a sleepover or some sort of hangout with a friend. I was a little upset, but I understand he's got to hangout especially after working hard in school all week. The next time i saw him and Corvelest I addressed the group and essentially said that we need to tighten up. How the project is due in less than a month and the pace has got to be picked up. Teo understood this and said he's willing to clear out his weekend to film. I still got to check with Corvelest. But me personally I'll make it work to film on Saturday and Sunday this ...

Since there are only 2 characters in the film, there are only 2 costumes set that are being used. For Corvelest character, a white button up, formal pants, a belt, and loafers were used. Those clothing items except for the loafers and belt were not his, and was actually Teo's. It was debated whether Corvelest should also top it off with a suit, which is also Teo's. The suit and dress pants are navy blue. The loafers that were used as there was not any other formal shoes in range that would be usable. The only minimal downside to the loafers is that they are very velvety material, they are black making it workable. As it's used for more formal parties and not for business affairs. Oh well, it works though as Corvelest's feet are not filmed during the film. For Teo's character, only informal clothing was used. The sort of clothing that one would used as home, comfortable clothing. The clothing set consisted of gray sweatpants, crocs, and a regular shirt. The point of ...

 While filming, a variety of props were used. Random items to the most conventionally used everyday items were used. Firstly, in the beginning scene, the protagonist character can be seen holding a picture frame. The portrait is supposed to be of a picture his deceased brother. Upon which he's looking at and reminiscing on past memories shared with him. That picture frame prop is a prop that was found in Corvelest's house. It's a picture frame of former President Obama, which may lead one to ask if anything was done about that original picture of the president. The response to that is no. Though I along with my group mates debated taking the picture out of the frame. Just for a few seconds to film the scene, it was decided that it would not be taken out. It remained within the frame even when the beginning scene was filmed. To make sure that Obama's picture was not shown, Teo, my group mate acting as the protagonist. Can be seen holding the frame in a way that only the ...

Finally, the day came where I could alongside with my group. After postponing the dates twice, and anxiously trying to start filming it was able to happen on Saturday. Which took place on 2/17/23 from 11 am to 1 pm. I made sure everything worked out on my end, and to assist to my fullest capacity. My other group member, Teo, needed a ride that day and I was able to pick him up to go film. As my parents weren't driving that day and I could drive the car. I also brought props such as a pull up bar which would be used for one of the scenes, and my long board. Though the pull up bar wasn't used, the long board was used as a step for my group member Corvelest. Which was incorporated in the beginning scene when the antagonist knocks on the door of the protagonist character in the film. To keep the longboard still and not moving, I went across the street to this abandoned house that has a slim piece of brick. Which I used to slide under the wheel and suspension of the long board keepi...

 As stated in the previous blog, the filming session was postponed for the following weekend. Which would be the weekend of Feb. 11 and Feb. 12. That however that date too had to be postponed. This abrupt change was because my 2nd group mate, Teo had last minute family plans. These plans would coincide during the proposed hours of the filming session. After discussing with my group, I proposed that Saturday, Feb. 17, could be another day to film. Personally, it works for me because my wrestling season is over so that clears my schedule up a ton. Since many of my wrestling tournaments would take place during the weekend, my availability was limited because of this. According to Corvelest he has this Saturday off making which makes him available. As for Teo, he too is avail though he has SAT tutoring right after. My anxieties to get the filming over with has soared. Mid-way in January when I started planning for filming, I had a feeling that much postponing would occur. Which is what...

 Since mid-week of January I along with my group, having been planning for our project. Some would say to a vigorous extent. Though this may be true, there are certain aspects of the project that have not been figured out yet. One of these factors includes the costumes that the two main characters will wear. Partly due because it has not been decided what season the film will take place during. Initially, I proposed that the group could film on Thursday, Feb. 1, as it was a Professional Study Day. Meaning that everyone's released at 11:40, which would allow myself and the group to film right after school. That was pushed back however, because I had mandatory wrestling practice that day. To which I proposed that maybe the following Sunday would be a more suitable day to film. That filming session would be from the morning to the afternoon. That too was pushed back as I had urgent tasks to attend to at the last minute. Just yesterday the filming day was decided to be postponed for Sa...

  Below is the storyboard in its complete form. The storyboard sequence of events goes left to right and down the next column, left to right again. The first paper, is the beginning scene, the 2nd is the pre-climax scene/events, the 3rd is the climax event, the 4th is the post-climax scene/events, and the 5th is the ending scene/cliffhanger. 

 Though my group and I have not entirely finalized the filming schedule. We intend to start filming this weekend either on Sunday the 21st or Monday the 22nd, as we have a day off on the 22nd. If we do film on those one or two days we would film whatever scenes we can knock out on those days. We won't necessarily be filming in chronological order that the film will be. Meaning that our organization skills especially of the scenes must never be lacking during this process. We intend on filming the rest of the scenes, with high expectations of finishing the filming process by early February, mid-month at the latest. In terms of locations a few locations have already been predetermined as they are idealistic for filming regardless of the scenes. Downtown Ft. Lauderdale, my group member Corey's neighborhood, his house. As well as our other group member Teo and his house and his neighborhood. The only participants that will be involved in the filming and editing process are me, Davi...

There's a lot of diegetic sound throughout the film. Example would be in the beginning, where one of the characters are using a sawing machine to saw some wood. Sometimes aside from the diegetic sound that occurs within the house, there are moments where there is just sheer silence, with very subtle sounds being made to heighten the suspense and eeriness of the scene. Lots of sudden diegetic sounds occur in the background of the setting of the film, with that sole purpose of causing fright in the audience, and to foreshadow the possibility of a scary moment/event coming. The lighting used goes from neutral to low-key. In the beginning when its day and the child character is inside the house, aside from the lighting from the sun that can be seen from inside the house, not much exterior light is used in that scene. However, when it transitions to the scene where the kid is lying down in his bedroom, the lighting then becomes dim and somewhat low-key. The main character's family a...

  Only diegetic sound in the beginning, the main character walking, opening the door, the jangling of her apartment keys, the noises coming from her laptop, her sitting down, her placing certain objects down on the table for example, her smoking her cig, her phone ringing and the voicemail that follows, and the cars driving and honking on the street outside (which indicates that that the character lives in a big city). Non-diegetic music that gives hints of rising tension begins in the scene when the character sees a shadow behind her via the camera on her laptop. However, it experiences an abrupt end when the main character goes to open the door to confront the person who's knocking loudly on her door, to find no one there. We see some asynchronous diegetic sounds further into the film such as constant knocking on the door, while the main character is within camera view. Both the characters sport different costumes and looks. The 1st character she's seen with more urban street...

Non-diegetic sound in the beginning, when the music in the background plays as the film starts. Quick VoiceOver occurs by the guy main character before he and the other main character (the girl) make their on-screen appearance. Mainly diegetic sounds throughout the film, sound of the voices of the actors speaking with each other, the voices of other students speaking with each other, the PA inside of the school that announces that the main character is pregnant. When the 1st plot twists occurs, suspenseful music begins to play and the pace and the tension of it starts to increase as the plot twist continues.  The costume of the main characters are more formal attire. Due to 4 of the characters running for school president and vice-president, the day of the election they dress up more properly in an effort to secure more votes. The rest of the students who are not main characters dress decently, with many wearing button up shirts, regular shits, jeans and pants, and common shoes and...

Diegetic sound in the beginning. You can hear people cheering, as it appears to be a New Year's celebration. In the 2nd scene you can subtly hear the woman lighting her cigarette, smoking it, and exhaling the smoke, as well as the crickets chirping in the background (indicating that the scene is taking place at night). Non diegetic sound more specifically ambient instrumental as the scene transitions to the woman and her husband showing affection to each other, both of them having their arms wrapped around each other. More diegetic sound as she grabs her jacket to fold it. Furthermore, in the scene where her veteran husband is teaching her how to shoot a gun. AS well as the scene where she's going about around her house doing common tasks before the climax begins to occur. As tension heightens and pre-climax occurs, sound experiences transition from diegetic to non diegetic, as all the background (diegetic) sounds such as the operator and lady communicating with each other and ...

The video offered a treasure trove of insights into the intricacies of short film creation, each leaving a profound imprint on my filmmaking aspirations. The emphasis on resource awareness resonated deeply. Determining whether your script caters to a five-person or twenty-five-person cast prior to embarking on the writing journey serves as an essential foundation. Moreover, the counterintuitive approach to crafting climaxes was a revelation. Trusting your gut is often a recipe for predictability; subverting audience expectations, on the other hand, ignites intrigue. Once the thematic essence of your film crystallizes, it becomes the guiding light for your narrative, dictating the very essence of your characters' actions and reactions. Filming itself, as eloquently highlighted, demanded a focus on adaptability. Building your equipment arsenal around your chosen filming device, be it a professional camera or a humble iPhone, fosters resourcefulness. While storyboard...

I found it interesting how one could even envision the concept that was shown in the video. More so, putting into practice and turning straight-up pictures into a film. I seen in the video that you don't have to have film to make a good film, that pictures will do. What matters is the way you captivate the moment. The emotions, the scenery, and all such components. Without expecting, I actually enjoyed watching the montage of photos as a film, and I was hooked within the first minute. This will help me during the short film process, because now I know how crucial it is to capture the moment of any scene to the fullest extent possible. Basic cams (angles, shots, camera movements) are a fundamental necessity in this process, which is why I will be paying much attention to the fine details. The article reiterated what was explained and shown in the video. However, it dove into depth about the importance and the how's of capturing moments in film. It also provides context of the tw...