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Showing posts from October, 2023

Production; Just a bump in the road

  Hey Gems welcome back. Today's blog is a little different. Today we'll be going over some bumps in the road that we're in my previous blogs; so if you need a refresher refer back to those. Enough chit-chat let's get into this. When we first picked our group I think the hardest thing to decide was the song but once that was picked and the section being used fell into place. Filming our first scene,  minus the window situation, was a breeze. So the original plan was Madeleine, Karina and our friend Olivia would be acting with me recording. I can't remember who's idea it was but it was genius. Filming a version with and without Olivia just in case something happened, which ended up being the case. With Day one filming done we had to come up with our next filming day which was a lot harder than day one. Everyone had a different schedule.  So now we had to work around clubs and sports which didn't interfere before. When we could just film the scene.  Despite th

Production; The pigeon, the sand and the ice cream shop

Hey Gems. See the wait wasn't too long. Double the blogs double the fun.   But  I think y'all have waited long enough let's get into this.  So we left off on the awkwardness of filming in public. But luckily for me there wasn't that many people there, perks of filming in the early afternoon I guess. However when we were about the film a scene in the ice cream shop we realized we had no towels for the beach.  Guess what we did. I hope you said go back to the house and get some because you would be correct.  So we walk from the beach to her house and from her house back to the beach. Yep you did read that correctly. I'm double blogging about our double walking.  However if was a blessing in disguise. We played Maddie's mom the video in process, we she said it was slightly unclear. So we took that added little actions to the video, to help convey the tension and feelings going on between the two of them. So a few hundred steps later with props in head we are ready

Production; 5 seconds of fame

Hello Gems. Welcome back to a glimpse or another production blog.   Last blog we talk about filming; today is a little difference. I made my acting debut, yes yes I know last blog I was all 'I'll just be filming no screen time for me'. Oh how the tables have turned our original actor couldn't make filming so we had to go me plan B, which was me. So let's get into how I balanced on-screen with off-screen. Once again we meet at Maddie's house for filming, however this was not our filming location, think of it as our trailers. So we walk down to Fort Lauderdale Beach which is when we discover there is construction being done. This though very surprising, does not interfere with our filming process. Scene 2 is where I'm on camera and since I can't be two places at once Maddie recorded Karina and I. I know what you're thinking 'problem solved'; well it's not. All three of us are going to be in this next shot and I know I make myself seem like

Production; Taking the first shot

Hello my lovely Gems. Welcome back to another installment of my production blogs. Last blog I referenced the actually filming, telling y'all to stay tuned, so here we are. The moment you all have been waiting for, so let's get into it. Just to clear up this is only day 1 of filming the other days are coming. So Take 1 was film in a wide shot but also a three shot. I used these angels were used to establish the close relationship between the friends in the video. After a few more takes the location was changed. Inside, where I was out of sight, the setup for the shot had to be somewhat different. The angles were the same beside a medium close up was when Karina is showing Maddie something. I used this shot to direct the viewers that this relationship is the main focus of our video. From that angle I move to a over the shoulder shot were the viewer are seeing what Maddie is seeing. From there I return the camera to the original position however with a two shot to add to the growi

Production; The setup

 Welcome back Gems.  I'm assuming we all read my last blog. So pop quiz, where am I on the storyboard? Trick question I'm not. I'm filming. I know you all are waiting for this so let's jump in.  We started filming recently at Madeleine's house. But less about we and more about me. While sitting around the table I guess things just became clear. Madeleine and Karina would be the killer and the killed. So me filming was the most logical choice. All of this takes use to Scene 1 Take 1. But this isn't about filming rather the setup. ...stay tuned.  Take 1 was filmed out door by the pool. I was filming at a slant. However when filming my reflection was caught in the bedroom window. Which for a person who should not be there, is a problem. So after doing a few more takes and my suggestion to move inside there is a location change. Now in the living room I can film without being seen. As any great cameraman I made it work. So after saying action and cut  more times tha

At the drawing board

 Hey Gems. Welcome back to another blog. Here's the storyboard enjoy the fine art.  Scene 1 - 3 friends sitting on a couch. Friend 2 is showing friend 3 a picture. Scene 2 - Friend 2 gives friend 1 her phone to see the picture. Scene 3 - Friend 1 sees a text message on friend 2's phone; her boyfriend cheated on her with friend 2. Scene 4 - We see friend 1's reaction to the text, but the other 2 don't notice. Scene 5 - Some days later, friend 1 sees friend 2 with her friends walking along beach. Scene 6 - Friend 1 asks friend 2 to spend some time together, just the 2 of them. Scene 7- Friend 1 + 2 do activities together, they get ice cream. Scene 8 - Continue to hang out. They go to the beach, around sunset. Scene 9 - They get in the water. Friend 1 is angry at friend 2. It's now sunset. Scene 10 - Friend 1 strangles friend 2. Scene 11 - Underwater scene of friend 1 strangling friend 2 Scene 12 - Friend 3 looking at friend 1 after friend 2 is dead. Scene 13 - Friend

The plan

Hey Gems.  Today I will be talking about how my group mates an I will be planning our Music video out. Our song choice was "Are We Still Friends" by Tyler The Creator.  Props: In our music video we will be using props. One of the props we will be using is a cellphone. The cellphone is one of the most important parts of this music video. In our music video the cellphone shows evidence for one of the characters. Another one of our props is a friendship bracelet. This item signifies the friendship the two friends had before the problem occurred. The item shows the friends second guessing their decisions Location: Our music video will be shot in two main places. One of the locations is a Maddie's house. We will shoot about 2-3 scenes here. The other big location is downtown near the beach and the beach. The closing scene will be shot at the beach. These are most likely the scenes were the video gets interesting. Schedule: My group and I have decided to meet up at least twic

The (re)search is over

Welcome back. To learn how to do something you must see it first. So here we are. We look at 3 different videos, so let's get into it. WUSYANAME by Tyler, The Creator: The music video opens with an establishing shot of a blue car, with suitcases on the top, driving down a road towards mountains in the distance. From this shot it moves to a bird's eye view on the car to a wide shot of the same. The wide shot is then cut into a close of the back windshield and the suitcases.  The Actor (Tyler) was wearing an outfit that fit perfectly with the setting. All other background actor were in a similar style, though he was the only one in a hat. A female lead actor was introduced as Tyler was trying to talk to her as shown through a close up and two shot, cutting between the two. This continues until there is a close up on the dish is her hand as she is walking away from him. She then sits at a table with another man in a two shot, the two bring the only ones in all gray. It then freeze

Finding the right composers

  Hey  Gems.  Welcome to another installment of the inner workings on my mind. This time it's how I picked my partners for this project. And y'all already know how this goes. So let's get it into this Gems. For this project I'm working with Karina and Madeleine. For most project Madeleine and I work together so for this one of course it was an easy choice. Working with Karina honestly come from her being friends with Madeleine. So it was kinda like all the dots connecting. I truly believe the work ethic is there for every member. And that we will balance each other out. Making for an ideal group, if I do say do myself.  The song we will be using is 'Are we still friends' by Tyler, the creator. We chose this song because of the dramatic vibes of the song. This is going to create a storyline just as dramatic. With lyrics of it just screams yo be interpreted into a dramatic music video.  We all have these visions and they seem to be mixing very well. Old friends, n

Guess who's back...?

Welcome back Gems.  I'm back and better than ever.  So for all the newbies let's catch y'all up. My name is Makenna Jewels Ricks born on December 20th 2007 making me a Sagittarius. And there's a few things you need to know: pretty in pink is a phrase I live by and music just might be my lifeline.  From a very young age I have always loved to read, a trait I still posses. The feel of paper in my hands is an unbeatable feeling.  It has always been amazing how some can create such a complex world with only ink, paper and their imagination.  Emotional transportation to anywhere or any time I like. The Book Thief, Six of Crows and Legendborn are my top 3 favorite books of all time. I highly recommend.  Baking is a passion of mine. I love desserts,  the sugar rush  not so much. C hocolate bars may or may not be my poison of choice. By hey we all have our things. My first time editing was the commercial which was a fun learning experience. However I'm very excited for the