Hello everyone! I am so excited to finally be able to say...
that after long awaiting and many night editing...
My own film production - ECSTASY - is finally completed! I am happy with how it turned out, but do believe more could've been done, but regardless i'm super excited and relieved to have it finished.
so please... go check it out!
And for my creative overview of the long process of this project,
here is my CCR if you'd like to check it out as well!
Ok... you know whats happening by now.
(if you don't this is another CCR question/scripted answer post... shhhh)
LuOnline.
#4 - How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?
One of the main technologies used in this project was camera equipment. Recording the scenes required planning how the camera would move, where it would be positioned, and how certain shots would be captured. As well as the entire fact of my only available camera having the lenses broken.
Even though it wasn’t professional camera equipment, it still worked well for filming and allowed me to capture the shots I needed.
Using a phone camera also meant I had to think more about camera positioning and movement since phones can be harder to stabilize
For example, one of the scenes involved a close distance to my friend's face, naturally, it was harder to stabilize the camera and keep myself from laughing or reacting.
Shots like that required planning where the phone would be held so the video would still look smooth and not too shaky.
Another technology used in the project was lighting equipment specifically a ring light. The ring light helped control the brightness in certain scenes and made it easier to highlight objects like the background or close ups of Cami’s face,
it might not seem like it made much of a difference but it made the day look brighter and the right timing i needed it in.
Lighting helped set the mood and made the shots feel more intentional instead of just relying on random lighting in the room which is overall pretty bad.
Audio was also an important part of the project especially the voicemail from Cami’s dad that plays at the beginning
Using audio like this helps give the audience context about the story before much dialogue happens (since there isnt much in mine)
online research and digital tools were used during the secondary planning stage
Looking at examples from other productions and blogs genre conventions helped A LOT to guide me making decisions about shots, lighting, and storytelling techniques, as well as just giving me clear directions on how to get started
even though the project used simple equipment like a phone camera and a ring light, combining different types of technology helped turn the idea into a 'complete' media production
Im actually pretty excited for this blog as I already knew my ideas the second a CCR was mentioned!
If you're not sure yet, in this blog I'll be talking about my CCR ideas and how I will do them, for example: A podcast, guided presentation, a video, etc..!
---------
For my CCR I want to do something a little more creative instead of just doing a slideshow or a normal presentation.
My idea is to make it look like different interview situations where I’m being asked questions about my project,
For CCR questions #1 and #2 (by recommendation from my teacher) I plan on doing a video podcast style interview.
These questions are more about explaining ideas like how my product represents social groups and how it engages audiences and could be distributed
since they don’t really require a lot of photos or visual examples I think a podcast format works well for them as well as seems really fun to do as I get to incorporate my friends, making it less boring for Cambridge to grade
For the setup I plan on rearranging my room so it looks less like a bedroom and more like a podcasr filming space. I’ll probably move my bed to use the blank wall behind it, take down the many posters I have up, and organize the background so it looks more like a small podcast studio
Another one of these...
Get used to it! Most of my blogs will progress into only speaking over CCRs as it's getting closer to the due date...!
Anywho! CCR #3....
"How did your production skills develop throughout this project?"
-----------------------
For this CCR question I will be discussing how my production skills developed throughout the project. (who would've guessed!)
At the beginning of the project I mostly focused on the idea and storyline but as the project continued I started learning more about the 'technical side of media production'.
One of the biggest areas where my skills developed was planning and organization. At first I thought making a timeline would be easy and could be left for later... but I was very... and VERY wrong.
I quickly realized that planning shots, locations, and props actually takes more time than expected and can't be made up completely out of day dreaming and random ideas.
When I actually began filming it was a mess, as I had a good 60% of it planned... I had to sacrifice a day of recording to really sit down and get my ideas straight (still im glad i did..)
I also improved in prop and visual planning.
At first I didn’t realize how important small objects could be, but throughout the project I started paying more attention to details like ideas and sceneries that'd make the whole "teen" vibe more realistic, and other everyday items that make the scenes feel more 'human'
Lighting was another area where I learned more as the project continued. I experimented with using a ring light and adjusting window shades to match the mood of certain scenes, as well as having to fake many night scenes as day time (do NOT recommend... record it during the right time.)
Small changes in lighting can completely change the atmosphere of a shot so learning how to control that was an important part of my process.
But this project helped me understand that media productions isn’t just about having a good idea. It also involves planning, experimenting, and adjusting things throughout the process to make the final result what you envisioned as well as realizing not everything will go as you wanted it to,
Obviously as this is a student based project I didn't have paid actors which was a . HUGE. and may I say HUGE... variable of my vision as my actors were... not the best.
hihi, Lu is back online!
Today i'll be explaining or, discussing my CCR question #2: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
For this CCR question I will be talking about how my film opening engages the audience and also how it could be distributed if it was a real media production. (obviously.)
Since my project is a teen drama with what I guess you could call "psychological elements"
the main audience would most likely be teenagers and young adults. Stories that focus on addiction, mental health, and just a teenage focussed life tend to connect with that audience more because those topics feel more realistic and relatable to them, naturally, luring them in.
The way my opening engages the audience is mostly through visual storytelling instead of a lot of dialogue. For example, the kitchen scene where my main character Cami is organizing pills already tells the audience a lot about her situation before anything is directly explained (which is that she is medicated). Small moments like the voicemail from her dad in the beginning with little to no reaction, or her dancing while sorting pills help show the contrast between her normal life,struggles , and her personality.
Another way the audience is engaged is through "mystery" and curiosity. When the pills fall and she finds the small bag under the fridge that moment acts as the climax of the opening since its not explained what it is. The audience doesn’t fully know what’s happening or going to happen next which encourages them to keep watching to fully understand
If this project was a real film it would most likely be distributed on streaming platforms, since that is where most teen dramas are consumed today and I know this is a very common answer in this generation, but also social media, I have came across many youtube films or small creator films through my own algorithm on social media and videos. Platforms like streaming services or online releases allow productions to reach younger and selected audiences more easily. Social media would also play a big role in promotion with trailers, short clips, and teasers being posted online to attract the targeted viewers.
But overall my project tries to engage the audience through emotion, curiosity and related subjects that make the story feel believable instead of overly dramatic and childish.
For this post im going to talk about how I plan on developing my lighting scheme, since lighting is probably going to be one of the most important parts of my project.
Because my genre is a teen drama mixed with psychological elements, lighting is going to help set the tone without me having to over explain anything. I dont want the lighting to feel all bright and happy, especially in the kitchen scene. Even though she’s dancing and acting normal, the situation itself isn’t normal so the lighting needs to subtly reflect that. While still having good quality lighting.
For the bedroom opening scene, I’m thinking of using more natural and softer lighting, maybe slightly dim, so it feels calm but also kind of heavy (like the only real light source is the windows). Since the voicemail from her dad will be playing while shes in bed, I dont want the lighting to distract from that moment so keeping it simple and more natural will help the focus stay on her reaction and the audio (as well as the fact shes not moving and just laying there untill its basically over.)
In the kitchen scene, I plan on using cooler lighting tones instead of warm ones. Cooler lighting usually gives off a more serious or detached feeling which fits the theme wayy better than a warm lighting.
I have a ring light that I can use to control brightness and direction, especially for close ups of the pills and her face, etc. The ring light will help make certain objects stand outwithout lighting up the entire room too much.
For the scene at Lexi’s house (the secondary girl, not sure if I mentioned her confirmed name has been picked as Lexi) , I want the lighting to feel more harsh and direct since theyre outside and obviously the sun is a thing also that scene is more confrontational and in a way awkward stronger lighting or sharper shadows could help make it feel slightly uncomfortable.
I dont want it to look overly produced, but I also dont want it to look accidental. The goal is to make the lighting look intentional but still realistic
The only scene i can see myself using warm lighting is the bike scene since I want it to be captured by the sun to really show the time of day and also highlight and contrast her features
Overall my plan is to experiment with different lighting setups before filming fully. I’ll test how the ring light looks in different positions and see how cooler vs more neutral or warm tones affect the mood. Lighting is something that can completely change the feeling of a scene so even small adjustments could make a big difference in how the final project turns out and as easy as it looks... I can tell it won't be as easy as I wish it would be.
Hello everyone,
I've come with some exciting updates!
I have confirmed all my characters names, plot holes, props and finally... and officially,
my logo!
Here it is:
I've decided to my logo with a theme of illumination, bright, or something in between this since for some unspoken reason the "name" 'Lumina' has always stood out to me,
Maybe it was also influenced by the meaning of 'ilumina' in Portuguese means to bright or lighten something and overall a pretty word.
Originally I wanted to do something inspired by my favorite artist, TV Girl, and planned to include one of their own characters (Valerie) and include a picture of a vintage woman's face:
But unfortunately this would've gotten copyrighted.
So here is the process of me finally creating a logo, using Canva!
For this post i'm going to talk about the props I’ve collected so far for my project!
Since the story focuses on Cami’s addiction, the pill bottles are really important.
So far I have 4 pill bottles and 2 empty medicine blister packs
The pill bottles are actually from either old, expired medicine or empty bottles i've gotten around family members house and asked to take. I found some of these in an old medicine box at home. I plan on removing the original stickers and printing out a new prescription label with Cami’s name and information on it to make it look more realistic. I think small details like that will make the scene feel less fake and more believable.
The blister packs (the metallic things the pills stay in.. just learned thats what they're called) Since they’re the main focus in the kitchen as well as the bedroom scene, i plan on reusing them, and throwing them messily around to add to her character behavior/atmosphere.
Having multiple pill bottles instead of just one makes it look like something that’s been going on for a while instead of just randomly placed there or for a natural/normal use. The blister packs also help add to that effect, especially in close up shots when she’s organizing everything. Like they were just restocked or adding to her depression look.
For other props, I’m still gathering things. I’m planning on thrifting for an older looking backpack since the original backpack I was going to use broke... and for Cami so it doesn’t look brand new i dont plan on using my actual school backpack as much as I want this to look realistic I dont want it to look out of place. I also thought about using aluminum foil in the secondary character’s hair to show she’s bleaching it, since that’s an easy way to show personality without explaining it. As well I plan on getting an Amazon paper bag and covering the logo to use as the box that will be hidden under the fridge.
Overall, props are more important than I originally thought, especially for a project like this where visuals matter a lot. Even small changes like switching labels or using everyday objects can make everything feel more realistic.
I finally set down a name for my film... ECTASY, as well as the drug it is also a word used to describe an overwhelming feeling of happiness which contrasts perfectly with my story!
For this post im including my script / storyboard draft for the opening of my project. This is still very rough and mostly just to map out shots, timing, and ideas. The story itself is staying the same or atleast the idea of it but things like shot order, pacing, or dialogue might change once filming actually starts or as I go on with my research and new ideas flow.
-----
ECSTASY
SHOT 1
Credits, fade of title with audio message left by her dad
speaking of... bla bla bla, go to rehab, ill be coming home soon,
Opening –
Over long shot girl laying in bed.
Turn to the side, voice message still playing but ending
Shot from the side as she turns,
SHOT 2
Maybe walking to kitchen? or just cut to her entering the kitchen
SHOT 3
IN kitchen, clicks play on music.
Music transitions from diegetic sound to non diegetic (sound bridge)
Dancing in the kitchen
SHOT 4
Putting pills in.
Lots of pills.
SHOT 5
Opening something (grabbing bowl) or still dancing.
Drops pills on the ground.
sighs or curses...
Shot from the ground/under smt grabbing pills from the ground
Finds something under the fridge/tile
Shot from behind the fridge focused on her picking up the piles then the box.
takes the box out, shakes it curiously, shot now medium shot.
put it on counter and opens it
(A lot of stuff that I can use to symbolize drugs?? not sure what yet...)
Shakes it.
Looks at it weird.
“holy shit….”
(realizes what it is)
SCENE 6
Shot on bike riding with backpack.
Hair blowing on wind but not in a aesthetically way
Throws bike on ground.
Infront of a different house.
SCENE 7
Knocks on door.
Girl with a cigarette and messy hair like mid hair bleaching. (maddie)
Answers the door.
“what-“ -maddie
About to close door on her face.
Cami stops door from closing.
“wait wait wait” -cami
“hold on” -cami
Takes drug out and shakes it a bit.
“no- I don’t car-” -maddie
“holy shit.” -maddie
Shakes head noddingly. and says under breath "thats what i said..."
“that’s a shit ton of- (ecstasy)" Tittle shows cuts off before she can say it.-maddie
(this will prob change as im not so sure if this is how i want the title)
“I know…”
“like a shit ton..! Camila where did you find this?” -maddie
“idk I js kind of found it.” -cami
“you js ‘kind of found’ an insane amount of drugs?” - maddie
Cami nods.
Madi finally lets her in.
---
Again, this is really rough draft of my script that I actually did mid planning of the plot, during class, so obviously its not finalized but i'm still excited about having the main idea laid out. In my head it much more detailed and flows better so this will likely be edited, as well as the language although they are 16-18 years old I dont want to curse too much otherwise it'll just seem pushy and overall unneeded.
Also if I end up thinking this might be too heavy or need to be censored i might change my idea for those reasons as well.
For this research post i'm going to talk about representation theory, mainly based on Stuart Hall (since it connects really well with the story i'm planning and the themes im focusing on)
Representation theory is basically about how people and groups are shown in media,
and how that affects the way the audience understands them. Instead of just showing someone as a stereotype, media can either reinforce those stereotypes or challenge them by showing more realistic and "human experiences"
In my project this theory is important because the main character (which i'm not set on the name yet.) Cami, has a constant drug addiction (spoiler!). A lot of the time in films and shows addiction is either overdramatized or romanticized which can make it feel either craved in a way or just unrealistic.
I want to represent her in a more 'grounded' way by showing her more casually but not boring and dreadful instead of only focusing on extreme moments specially since its only the start of the film. Simple actions like organizing weekly pills, or listening to her dad’s voicemail unaffected as if shes used to it, or being alone in her kitchen help display her as mentally unstable/avaliable without pushing it to a whole dreamy, or even euphoric way.
This is something that is also done really well in Euphoria.
 |
| Euphoria - Rue |
The show represents addiction and mental health through everyday moments, visuals, and emotion rather than constant drug dialogue which always makes it so tiring to over hear about, and overall sounds forced but Euphoria really displays the characters and their actual personalities so well...
For example Rue is often shown alone or doing some voiceover from her perspective, or going through routines that show her dependence without needing to explain it directly. This makes the audience understand her situation while also feeling more connected to her as a character as well as actually enjoying the show.
By using representation theory in my project I'd really want the audience to see "Cami" or whatever name I end up using as a real person rather than just “a drug addict.” The overall goal is to show her struggle in a realistic way but intriguing way that just from my film opening someone would actually want to see more!
Using visuals and actions to communicate meaning, this theory will influence how I take certain shots, use lighting, and decide what moments to include in the opening so the representation feels intentional and not just random.
If representation theory caught your attention, these links might help give further understanding I probably didn't provide
https://guilsboroughschoolmedia
Last class we had a group meeting, where basically a group, or person working on the project would stream their blogs and we'd all give each other advice and tips.
This is how it went.
---
Originally I got put in a group meeting with 5 people, myself included
One of the boys in my group had a (in my opinion) really.. questionable idea,
The idea overall wasn't bad at all, just really hard to achieve since it requires a whole army, and its not that I don't believe he is skilled enough as I'm sure he is, especially with a camera, but making a whole army with actors under the age of 18, and only around 6–10 people, might not be the best idea. Although it wasn't the brightest idea mentioned, it gave me a reality check on who to cast and use as my actors.
Another girl in my group agreed with me, she basically listed the same facts as me as well as gave me some suggestions on my own film.
I went last when it came to group suggestions since my group was really excited to share their ideas and I didn't want to get in between anyone, but that gave me less time to receive any advice and barely enough time to explain my plot. Because of that, I didn't receive as much feedback as I'd wish, but just hearing everyone share their ideas gave me a really good validity check as well as new inspiration.
Specifically about my plot which is almost finished (get excited...) as well as great ideas like intro shots and new lighting techniques I should definitely use.
At first I know I originally wanted a very heart heavy, lighting based, intro film, but after the meeting I got my mind set in a more teen drama direction. I don't know if my idea is the best, but so far I am very excited about it.
For this post im going to summarize my project idea as well as my main inspiration, since at this point I finally have something close to a solid plan (i'm spooked)
------
The genre i'm going with is a teen drama mixed with psychological elements but very teen-young adult based. I wanted something that feels emotional and realistic, but also slightly unsettling, without fully crossing into thriller... since I was having a pretty hard time with the storyline for this, I finalized an idea about mostly entertaining but still realistic,
The story is about a girl who for now is named Cami, who has this drug addiction and and due to some past incidents she has been going to rehab for around 3 weeks now but has been skipping it regularly.
The opening starts with a voicemail from her dad talking about her needing to go, which sets the tone right away before anything is actually explained specially by showing that she is unbothered by it as if she has heard this before. (i'm very excited about this part)
Most of the opening focuses on small moments instead of big dramatic scenes, so mostly rising action instead of the climax. Cami is shown in her kitchen dancing around and organizing her weekly pills, which is meant to feel normal at first.
When she spills them from either grabbing something, or dancing, and crouches down to pick them up, she ends up finding a box under the fridge which is later revealed with drugs. This moment is kind of the shift because it shows how addiction follows her even when she’s "trying to move forward" (not really but thats the best way I can word it). She then takes the box to her friend Madi’s house, and the opening ends shortly after a interaction where Madi doesn't want to talk to Cami from a insinuated previous fight, then she ends up getting lured in by Cami's finds.
My biggest inspiration for this project as mentioned in every blog... is Euphoria,
especially in the way it tells the story visually instead of overexplaining everything. The show focuses a lot on routines, music, and emotion to show what a character is going through, which is something i want to reflect in my own project.
The use of voiceovers and audio, but instead of doing my own characters voice over as that sounds tacky and childish if not done right, I want to give context with voice messages, setting, and character design
I also have some specific shot ideas that i want to try. One of them includes getting a shot of my friend riding her bike while im filming from the back of another friend’s truck driving in front of her.
I think this could create a really smooth and cinematic shot that still feels natural and fits the tone im going for. Shots like this would help the project feel more "dynamic" without overcomplicating it
For now, this is definitely the storyline im going with, although small changes might be made as i continue planning and testing shots, specially since i have other ideas of how the plot may progress. I still want to keep the project flexible since ideas usually change once filming actually starts. But for now this idea feels the most exciting and realistic for me to produce, and it fits the genre and inspiration im aiming for as well!
Please checkout Euphoria clips to further understand the character I am heavily inspired by,
More realistic clip that really inspired me
For this research post im focusing mostly on target audience as well as kind of mixing in representation and planning since they all connect (and i cant really talk about one without mentioning the other)
Since im still fully deciding between a teen drama and something more mature psychologically, the main target audience would be teenagers and young adults.
Most films and shows in these genres are made for people around my age since they focus on emotions, relationships, pressure, and mental struggles, which is basically what the "teen life" revolves around anyways. Even if the situations are dramatic or unrealistic the feelings behind them usually arent, which is what makes them so relatable.
Genres in TV (this article gave me so much inspo towards other films i can look into for this project, thought it was pretty cool and you should take a glance at it)
A lot of teen based productions rely on the audience seeing themselves in the characters (which will be really hard to do in 2 minutes...). If the characters feel fake or forced,then the audience isnt really going to care about what happens to them or mostly what they go trough
Teen dramas usually show things like identity issues, friendships falling apart, family problems, feeling isolated, or not knowing where you belong, which are all things most teens experience at some point of their lives. This is something i want to keep in mind when planning my project, because overdoing it could make it feel corny and cheap in a way, but underdoing it could make it so boring
Representation also plays a biggg role here. If the characters dont feel realistic or human then the whole story wont really land. I want the characters to feel like real people not just some stereotypes or exaggerated versions of teens you usually see in movies. Small things like facial expressions, body language, or silence can say more than dialogue sometimes, which is something ive noticed a lot in the productions ive been researching. (like Thirteen for example)
Another thing ive noticed is how simple most settings can be in teen dramas. A lot of scenes take place in schools, bedrooms, hallways, or other everyday locations that even tho very casual they have so much small details that really give information about the plot/character without just throwing it in your face. Using familiar locations makes the story feel more believable and less like a movie thats trying too hard. This is something that will probably help me later on when it comes to location finding and planning shots (specially since it makes it much easier for me to find everyday settings)
Keeping the target audience in mind will help me figure out the tone of my project. I dont want it to feel childish or overly dramatic (even tho its literally only 2 minutes.) Finding that balance is probably going to be harder than I think, especially since i tend to overthink things the second i finish planning.
Overall, this research helped me realize that knowing who im making the project for is just as important as the idea itself. If i dont keep the audience in mind early on ill probably end up making it more biased for what I'D want to see not the audience
Regardless i will continue to research and update you all through my journey of media.
1/27/2026 - week 2
Making Time
When I first got switched into AICE media, as well as assigned one of my first projects we were required to create our own schedules for the recordings and whatever else. Honestly I truly believed that it would be so easy to make a schedule and a timeline, after all you just have to write down what you'll do each week, so I thought it was something I needed little to no effort in...
I was wrong.
Timelines are essential for nearly every project, specially in this class. Without an idea of time of a plan to follow, you are completely lost. You'll have no lead and by the time editing comes about you realize for forgot clips, sounds, and other key factors that could easily change your project from leaving an impact to just being the bare minimum.
Yea I'm strongly opinionated about this... so if you're in any media form class, learn from my mistakes and do NOT skip planning... but again who am I to tell you what to do?
Regardless planning will take me around a few days since i quite literally have to plan the planning.
TIMELINE (sort of...)
FIRST 2 WEEKS
WEEK THREE
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
Portfolio Project Genre #2 - Teen Drama
For my second genre, while taking me a while to make up my mind, for now i'm considering doing a teen drama like production.
The teen dramas sub genres, as the name suggests, are made for teenage audience, usually focusing on the everyday lives, relationships, struggles and the contrast between teen and adult life experiences. Teen dramas are defined by the stories they tell and the experiences they display, wether its relatable to the audience, or very different from what is usually experienced. (https://www.imdb.com)
These types of films explore the everyday life's of teenagers and young adults and highlights both their personal and social challenges,
(for example a very common element would have the setting be at a school)
If we're not speaking of daily life and relationships teen dramas can also also often include high stakes events or turning points that drive the story (like breakups, betrayals, competitions, or major personal decisions. They also frequently explore what is referred to as moral dilemmas, social hierarchies, and the consequences of choices, which is used to add tension and keeps the audience engaged.
I think i could really work with this theme as a teen myself, i could highlight and really show the themes i'll be producing, but I do intend to do something more serious and more mature yet still in that genre.
---
As i explained on my last blog, intuitional conventions focus on networks and studios marketing and influence. These institutions target specific audiences by scheduling streams or when its released at times where teen could and would usually be likely to watch them.
For example, releasing the production on Netflix which is highly popular among teens. Their marketing strategies just like many other teen based genres usually focus on social media campaigns and teasers, as well as merch and posters.
Teen dramas use certain techniques to make the story and emotion feel real and relatble (which is key for teen dramas). Close ups are often used to display characters feelings while sound and music helps set the atmosphere of the characters personality or what is going on. (ex: sad songs for breakup scenes) Voiceovers or inner thoughts are usually presented as well, but likely wont be used in my project as I personally view it something cheesy.
--
Pretty Little Liars (Tv series, 2010–2017) –
This show is a very popular and classic teen drama that mixes in some mystery and thriller elements as well. I got inspired by it because it’s a perfect example of a teen drama, it focuses on friendships, school life, relationships, and the struggles of growing up, while also showing the pressures teens face with secrets as well as social drama and themes like peer pressure. (link) I find it interesting because it makes everyday teenage issues look intense and emotional making it relatable but also keeping the audience entertained.
Thirteen (Film, 2003) –
This film is a raw and somewhat realistic teen drama that shows the events of teen years that aren't usually as shown on TV. I got inspired by it because it shows the struggles of friendship, family, and growing up, but mostly because of the way its produced with the lightening techniques and how every emotion is displayed with a different technique. As well as I, myself, really enjoyed the film.
https://post45.org - teen drama article
https://www.cinema.com - Thirteen article
Portfolio Project Genre - Psychological/Thriller
Hey everyone..! It's been a while...
For my AICE Media Portfolio Project I was told to pick two genres to research for a film opening, as soon as I heard that, I can't lie, I was already overwhelmed. I'm really indecisive and I constantly change my mind or get better ideas after already making a choice, so when it comes to picking something I usually require way more time I don't have for this decision...
For the first genre I'm considering for my project, I've been thinking in doing a psychological thriller/drama.
I know I would like to produce something that will catch the viewer's attention and maybe even allow me to be used as an example for the following classes...
As I've always been into psychology and truly fascinated by the shock factor in thrillers when I discovered psychological fiction is a thriller sub-genre I can't say I wasn't excited.
---------------------
"Psychological fiction takes readers deep inside the minds of its characters" https://fictionary.co/journal/psychological-fiction/
When it comes to psych fiction the general audience is more mature (obviously) most being rated and recommended for an 18+ audience as it may include violent and naturally a more disturbing atmosphere a younger audience wouldn't be able to see through the meaning and the allusions presented.
On a realistic note, it might be challenging to filter to this sub genre and make it appropriate for a classroom since it depends on "uneasy" factors and feelings, but it's nothing I can't figure out...
The thriller genre itself is all about suspense and tension, it focus on keeping the audience hooked and on edge throughout the entire film instead of only at the climax. It usually involves a sort of danger or a mysterious atmosphere which I was thinking could be achieved with a lot of lighting techniques (specially low-key lighting) the only thing I'm a bit puzzled upon is the fact that thriller, specially psychological ones tend to have a weird crossover between reality and what's in the characters head ,making it harder to tell what is actually happening, which would usually not be an issue but since I have to produce a film opening with barely any context, it will be challenging to elaborate that in such a short clip (2 minutes).
When it comes to genre convention based on content, meaning, "a group of themes and topics that make the genre what it is" (https://www.studiobinder.com) In the thriller genre, this is usually presented by producing films with a tense storyline (murders, kidnappings, secrets, investigations, etc.) but when it comes to techniques, it mostly relies on camera angles, sound, editing, setting/props, narrative techniques and as mentioned before, lighting. The shift from a close up to fast cuts, or hidden meaning props highlighted with lowkey lighting is essential to embrace the suspenseful atmosphere.
Institutional conventions in thrillers are the best way studios and networks are able to form/shape the story and its atmosphere. This includes marketing like trailers, merch, posters, choosing where and when to release it and other key factors to intrigue and bring in audiences all over the world.
Some productions that have inspired this genre for me, would be Euphoria and Girl, Interrupted.
(Now I know both of these productions may be a controversial selection since they're obviously not appropriate for school projects, yet since the project only relies on the start of the film and not the following development I believe id be able to filter it and pull it off while still displaying they're hard feeling emotion. And yes both productions are listed as a psychological thriller.)
Girl, Interrupted (Film, 1999)
This film is a strong example of psychological thriller because it explores the mental struggles of the characters mental struggles in a psychiatrist hospital, focussing on their thoughts and emotions.
Euphoria (Tv series, 2019)
Although technically a "teen drama" it still includes strong psychological elements of mental health and struggles, as the series develops it transitions into a thriller by highlights trauma factors, and other thriller like genre conventions.
My name is Luiza. This blog is for my AICE Media class and its where I’ll be showing me and my partner's project called "The Written Frustration". That project is about using different camera shots to tell a story and show emotions without any dialogue or videos.
In our story the main focus is a piece of paper. My partner and I decided to close ups, long shots, and high/low angles to make the paper feel like the center of attention also by focussing on the paper instead of the surroundings. The way the characters interact trough it instead of talking to eachother shows tension and some kind of mystery. For example when we used close ups to highlight the words being written and crossed out, and long shots to show the distance between the characters.
This blog is just a place for me to explain the choices we made, how the shots help express the mood and why we chose those shots.
