AICE Media Studies

A major component of my opening is the narration done by the main character, Annie. When she isn't talking directly into the camera, she will be doing a voice-over in post-production. The microphone I am using is a Blue mic to increase the audio quality. At first, I was considering using my regular laptop mic since an average middle-schooler probably wouldn't have a stand-alone mic. On the other hand, all the coming-of-age movies I've seen have had amazing sound quality. I chose the ladder, deciding that quality sound would make this seem more like a professional opening sequence and less like a found-footage documentary. I opened my laptop's built-in voice recording software, which I will later add to Clipchamp when I am in the process of editing. On the other half of my screen was the scripting blog. To record, I decided to go into my mother's room since it was the quietest and furthest away from the living room where all the excitement in my house happens. In thi...

Set design plays a crucial role in the film-making process. Establishing shots play a key component in setting the foreground for the world the audience will experience, which set designers meticulously craft. Whether it's interior or exterior, set designers create a world for our characters to interact with, ultimately showing who they are to their core. Additionally, the set is not always meant to blend into the world's background though, a set designer's job can also include adding hidden symbolism and linking with the overall plotline. As for the audience's viewpoint, it can also be visually appealing and add to the aesthetic that the film is going for. Since this film is meant to seem like a nervous middle schooler is producing it, all the sets will reflect this. By that, I mean that sometimes we will see things being held together by tape or rope.  In this scene, I have created a set that can be immediately recognized as flimsy. To make a solid color background, A...

In our adolescent years, we acquire an entirely new set of things we own, otherwise known as props. I was inspired by the song sequence When She Loved Me  from Toy Story 2 . In this song, a toy witnesses her owner stop playing with her toys and growing up. Instead, she starts to play with nail polish and makeup. This part of the movie has recently become very relatable because as my interests transitioned in my early teen years, I found myself playing less and less with the things that used to make me so happy. As Annie is based on me when I was younger, I will use my own props from the dolls I still have. These are the dolls I used to play with for a long time, even in my early middle school years. I distinctly remember wanting to throw them away, but I never did due to the connection I had with them. Annie will go through the same thing with these dolls in the sequence when her dad is organizing a garage sale and asks Annie to look through her things to see what she wants to keep...

For as long as I can remember, I have always been frustrated with my hair. When I was in elementary school, I was frustrated about my hair not being straight and more manageable, so I chopped it all off. In middle school, I was frustrated that it wouldn't grow back fast enough, so I always wore headbands. Now in high school, I'm frustrated that if I cut my dead ends off, my hair won't be as long as I'd like it to be for senior pictures. This is not an experience that is unique to me, almost everyone went through an 'awkward hair phase' in middle school that they'd prefer to ignore. In my opening sequence, I will explore the shifts in Annie's character through a multitude of hairstyles, as well as include a scene where Annie gets downright angry with her hair. This hairstyle will be used for the first scene, where Annie is setting up her camera. Usually, when I wear/wore braids, it would be to make sure my hair didn't get tangled while I slept. So nat...

When a young person is developing a sense of self, that sometimes includes cosmetics. This usually starts with small things like chapstick, lipgloss, or mascara. There is a huge industry based on advertising for adolescents who are key, vulnerable consumers. As someone who has become more comfortable using makeup in my older teenage years, I remember when I was trying to put on eyeliner for the first time and looking like a raccoon. This first makeup look is of Annie wearing the makeup she is most comfortable with. This is also before she is influenced by older kids, so the makeup is hardly even noticeable. Annie is wearing bright pink lip gloss and clear mascara. She's not wearing this makeup to impress anyone, she's just wearing it because it's new and exciting. This mentality will change when she goes to the mall and sees older girls. This new look is drastically different than the previous one. In order to make the makeup look like it was done by an actual pre-teen who ...

 Before I can begin filming, I have to plan my wardrobe. Throughout the opening, Annie goes through multiple transformations. This is in part, her fighting the influences that target her and trying to find what style she really loves. While she knows she isn't a child anymore, she also isn't quite comfortable dressing as most teenagers do.     The above outfit I have chosen will be worn by Annie. This will be worn after she has seen the teenage girls at the mall and decides she wants to dress more maturely. Annie has never really worn hoops or a low-cut top, but since she saw the teenagers shopping at Garage , she decides she'll try their clothes on too. As she looks at herself in the mirror, she tries to exert the persona that she saw in the teenagers, but nothing is working, this leads to her trying on the following outfit. This next outfit is chosen by Annie's friend as she tries to help Annie feel comfortable. The low-rise cargo pants take Annie far out of the comfo...

1st Scene-  The opening will begin with the main character, Annie, setting up her camera to face her. 2nd Scene-  Almost immediately after, Annie is playing with her hair while explaining the things she used to enjoy when she was a bit younger and what she enjoys now that she is a pre-teen 3rd Scene-  To show how 'mature' her taste is now, Annie is showing the camera her records 4th Scene-  Annie is shown watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , to indicate how she still has a strong connection to her childhood 5th Scene-  Annie's grandma is shown saying how she thinks Annie is a romantic 6th Scene-  Annie is watching a romance movie on her laptop, feeling sad that she isn't experiencing anything romantic like her classmates have 7th Scene-  Annie starts taking out her braids and picking at the pimples on her face 8th Scene-  Annie's relative is shown saying how he thinks Annie growing up so fast 9th Scene-  Cece, Annie's best friend, is i...