CCR research

 Hi blog! Today, I am going to be researching/planning for my A level CCR! If there is anything I remember from last year's CCR, was that it is very important to give myself enough time to complete it so that I am not stressing last minute. As we all know, I suck at managing my time and that is 100% the thing I struggled with the most on my AS level portfolio project. I am definitely going to try and do better this year and that all begins with the planning!

Here is an image of the instructions we were given:    

So, for last year's CCR, we had to make to creative videos that overall cover the four questions we were given that regard our project. This year, we are told to write an essay of around 1000 words that reflects our work that we produce. Once again, our reflection is guided by four questions:

• How do your products represent social groups or issues?

• How do the elements of your production work together to create a sense of ‘branding’?

• How do your products engage with the audience?

• How did your research inform your products and the way they use or challenge conventions?

So, let's break down each question so that when the time comes, it is much easier to answer the questions within my essay!!

1.) How do your products represent social groups or issues?

For this question, the main focus is to illustrate the specific examples of representation that is portrayed in the piece of media that we produce. My project heavily represents mental health, specifically anxiety disorder through the character, Summer. In my CCR, I will focus on how her behavior reflects real experience of anxiety in teens. I will also discuss how my piece introduces the issue of a serious illness through Alex's diagnosis of brain cancer, and how this adds emotional depth to the production. I plan to reference specific scenes like for example, Summer's constant fidgeting with her fingers in social settings, as well as tapping her pen on the desk.

2.) How do the elements of your production work together to create a sense of ‘branding’?

The main focus for this question is to explain how I created a consistent sense of branding for both of my trailers by using a similar narrative, genre elements, and visuals. Genre and the target audience for my piece is also a large factor for this question so I will make sure to discuss that.

3.) How do your products engage with the audience?

For this question, I will make sure to start off by giving a thorough description of my target audience. I can then explain how my trailers are designed to engage the audience through emotional storytelling, relatable themes, and cliffhangers that make the audience want to actually watch the film. For example, I will hint at Alex's illness without actually giving away that he dies.

4.) How did your research inform your products and the way they use or challenge conventions?

Here, I will need to explain how my research helped me produce media that accurately represents the convention I was aiming to illustrate. For example, my research into anxiety informed the way I portrayed Summer's character, ensuring that her behavior is realistic and accurate.

Fully explained plot

 Hi blog! So... I am aware that I have not really explained the plot of "One Moment" well enough so here it is!!

Summer, a senior in high school, struggles with severe anxiety. She doesn't have any friends and never had any her whole life. It's not that she doesn't want any friends, she does. It's just that terrible scenarios are put into her brain causing her to always back out of anything fun. It's her senior year of high school, and instead of spending the weekends hanging out with friends, she stays home, reading a book or exploring nature with nothing but a camera. 

This all changes when one day, Summer gets the sudden urge to walk up to a group of people at school. Her mind still plays these scenarios into play but for the first time ever, she ignores it. Against all odds, this group of people tell Summer to sit with them at lunch and they become friends. There is one particular boy in this group, Alex. He has always had an eye on Summer. He noticed every time she started to read a new book, every time she would take out her camera to photograph nature, and every time she started tapping her pen on the desk in class. He noticed. Well... of course Summer never knew this. Alex is known as a "popular kid." He is the captain of the soccer team, has a ton of friends, and was dating the most popular girl in school who is always whispering to others anytime Summer walks by. They recently broke up but nobody knows why. 

Fast forward to a week after they all have lunch together, Alex goes up to Summer in their Marine Science class. The teacher had just announced the new project that they have to complete with a partner of their choice. Alex has always wanted to ask Summer to work together on all the projects but before he could ask, Summer would already ask the teacher to work by herself. This time, he made sure to spring out of his seat and run up to Summer. He asks her to work with him and after about 1 minute of Summer thinking what could possibly happen, she blurts out, "yes."

 A few days later, they go to the beach to work on the project where they take photos of the waves, kayak in the natural river, and overall, just explore the beach together. Surprisingly, Summer actually has an amazing time, and Alex tells her he really enjoyed working with her. 

They continue to hangout and after 2 months of going on picnics, to the beach, and other fun activities, Alex asks to be Summer's boyfriend. After a ton of hesitating, Summer says yes and from there on out Summer's anxiety lessens by so so much. Summer and Alex are the perfect couple. Everything is going grate! Well... until one day, Alex goes to Summer's house in tears. Of course, Summer starts freaking out and after about 15 minutes of Summer asking what happened, Alex tells her that he got diagnosed with brain cancer and only has 5 months to live.

Of course, Summer starts bawling her eyes out. Alex tries to comfort her, but it only makes him cry more. The two from there on out are inseparable. They spend every moment they can with each other. Whether that is bowling, going to the beach, getting dinner, or even just Summer tagging along with Alex to his appointments at the hospital. Anytime that Summer and Alex were out somewhere, Alex would make Summer take at least 10 photos every time. He saw something in her photos. He saw a uniqueness that he's never noticed before. Alex always encouraged Summer to pursue photography, but Summer always said, "I am not good enough to be a photographer." Of course, Alex disagreed. As time goes on, and the 5-month mark gets closer, Alex grows tired, fatigue, and overall, just not his regular self. This of course causes Summer's anxiety to spike back up.

It's his last day and for the past week straight, Alex and Summer have been in bed at the hospital together. Summer holding him till he falls asleep overnight and talking to each other as much as they could. Unfortunately, the time has come. Alex could no longer have any visitors. They have to say their goodbyes. 

Both of them, hysterically crying, hug and kiss each other for as long as they could. Right before Summer is pulled away by the doctors, Alex whispers into her ear, "I want you to know that I love you so much and I hope even though I may not be around anymore, that doesn't mean you get to go back to your old ways. I want you to photograph anything and everything. Especially things that you know I would want to see, and I will be watching over you the entire time. Please, just do it for me. I love you, Summer."

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Soooo that's it!! I hope now the plot is well explained and established. The main idea that I would like the audience to get out of my film would be to never take any moment for granted. At any moment, anything can happen. In the beginning of my film, Summer doesn't even have any friends, hobbies, or interests. By the end, she has found her soulmate, a hobby, and many interests. Although Alex's presence isn't with Summer anymore, his impact will never leave. From there on out, Summer is a completely different person, all because she stopped listening to her mind for just a second and instead listened to her heart.

Social Media posts

Hey blog! Today, I am going to be planning/working on my social media page! 

The app I will be using for my page is Instagram. I just think that it matches the target audience of my film, and also, I just have a lot of experience with Instagram. 

Some things that I'm thinking of posting on my page include:

• Behind the scenes clips
• Meet the cast
• Making of-
• Teasers
• Surveys
• Interactive posts

Here are some notes I took in class!!

Also, I decided to change the name of my film because I just didn't love "Almost Spoke." The new title is... "One Moment!" The reason why is because I want the whole idea of my project to be that in just one moment, anything can happen, so it's important to make the most of every second. You shouldn't spend your whole life nervous or being anxious. 

Now it's time to actually start making the posts for my Instagram page!

I decided that I wanted to make a banner type of thing for my account, so I went on Canva to make it! You can see in the photo that I uploaded it, so it's pinned on my profile. I also made sure to put in my bio that this is for an Aice media studies project so that I have no issues in the future. I decided that I want to have my production company named "CEO productions," because CEO is my initials. I think that it is fitting because obviously CEO also stands for "chief executive officer," and I am the one in charge of this project (+ I'm working alone). 

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I think that for my next post, I want to make a "meet the cast" post. I would just make one for Summer and one for Alex because any other character in my film would pretty much just be a side character. I also know that I want to upload a lot of behind-the-scenes photos and videos. Thankfully, I have been on top of getting stuff like that any time I decide to film so I should have plenty of content to post!

I think that the main colors I want to use for the social media page as well as for the trailers are blue and purple. After doing some quick research, I saw that blue represents loneliness and sadness while purple often represents emotional depth. 

(Also, don't mind the username in the picture I put on this post!!! I made the account before I decided to change the title of my film, so I still need to update it!)

Behind the scenes - production process

 Yayyyy now it's the exciting part... filming!! 

For some context, Summer and Alex (the love-interest) are in the same marine biology class. Alex eventually asks Summer to work together on a project together. For the project, they have to go the beach, so they decide to make the most of it!! Here is a little behind-the-scenes video I created for this specific scene!!

bts video

Character Development - Alex

 Now it's Alex's turn! 

As you can see, Alex is a lot more... normal. He enjoys sports, especially soccer, and he also has a ton of friends. Although he is one of the "popular" kids, he has a soft spot for the people he loves. Every Tuesday, him and his family get tacos for "Taco Tuesday," where they do karaoke and just overall have an amazing time. Alex is done with all the rude popular girls that bully the kind, shy ones.

Character development - Summer

 Hey blog!! It is finally time to start the production process of my A level portfolio project! 

I felt like my plot didn't really have a point, like all I had was just it will be about a girl who struggle with anxiety. To add more to it, I decided to turn my film (trailers) into a romance!! It will still fully have the same idea, just now there will be another character involved. So, the final genre for my film is coming-of-age/romance. 

So, for today's blog post, I am going to go deeper into who Summer is, and how I will make her come to life!

Summer is the main character for Almost Spoke. She suffers from severe anxiety which causes her to constantly miss out on all the things that other people her age do. Even something so simple as eating lunch with friends at school is impossible for Summer because not only does she feel super anxious around other people, but she doesn't even have any friends. Summer usually wears clothing that consists of muted colors to represent her loneliness. It's not that she wants to feel lonely. Everything inside of her tells her to make friends and be social... except for her head. Her head often creates visuals of what the worst possible scenario could be, and it often takes a toll on her. 

Since I am the one playing Summer, I really hope I am able to execute her character well! I am not an actress at all, so it is definitely a risk making myself Summer, but I feel that because I understand her, and have partially been in her shoes, I have a shot at being successful.

Storyboard

 A storyboard really helped me last year when making my portfolio project, so I have decided that I want to make one again for this year's portfolio project!