Creative Critical Reflection

Film Opening: The Tale of Valespire

     Hello world, I am now writing my creative critical reflection, and I think it is coming along well. I plan to do a director commentary for my video, this is where I would play my video as I speak over it. I think this is the most effective way to reflect upon my project, so when I say something specific I can show you exactly what I mean. As I am writing it I am realizing everything that is weird about my film (You will see what I mean). So far writing my reflection has helped me see everything that I can do to improve in the future. This weekend I am going to post my film and Critical reflection so you can see everything I am talking about.

     Hey everyone, So i finished editing my film opening today! WOO! When I first put all of my footage together in the correct order it seemed like something was missing, so I deiced to get so royalty free music to put in for the background of the world. I didn't realize it when I was filming,but some of my shots in the castle still have modern items in them. I can't really change that because I don't have time to re-shoot those scenes. So that sucks. Another thing that I had to do was get an establishing shot of the castle so the viewer would know the scene is in a castle. I had to create a scale version of a castle then I put it in the grass in front of some trees to try to make it look big.

This is what the castle looks like. In the film there is a dark effect over the whole shot so viewers wont see the drastic color change in the bricks.

The film turned out good, although it was not ny original vision. But the acting is still pretty bad. So now I have to do my creative critical reflection. That will be posted later in the week. Yeah so tthat's all for now.

     Whats up everyone, I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO FILM TODAY!!!! My scheduled and my friends all lined up, so it was a pretty good day. We had to film everything in the film today because I am very behind  in the project. There was one small problem about today though... Markham Park was closed due to Rock fest. It was terrible, we drove down there, but there was a police blockade. So We settled for the Tequesta Trace park. We found a spot that had lots of trees so it worked fine. The second part of my opening takes place in a castle so I rigged my bedroom to have a throne and I covered all of my 21st century stuff with sheets and posters. As you know I didn't have a budget for this film so the castle scene looks really cheesy and homemade, that was a bummer, but there was no way around it. The crown that the king wears is paper and the acting is not the best, but that is what I get for doing this at the last minuet.
    Also Yesterday I slightly changed the script. The opening scene in the Forrest is now a POV (point of view) shot from the perspective of the royal Valespirian spies. The characters cannot be heard but it is implied that they are talking about the amulet because Arthur's mentor gives it to him. The scene in the castle now includes an interaction of the king with the spy and then with Merek. The spy tells him that the amulet is with Arthur and then the king gives Merek the quest to retrieve it for his own evil plans. It is also all day time, nothing is at night. The costumes are OK but not  fantastic as well.

This is an image of the first scene of the film From the point of view of the spy looking at Arthur and his mentor. (Mentor- Right, Arthur-Left)

This is the Title card that I created for the film. I think it captures the video game theme that my story is structured upon and shows you the amulet in the "A" of Tale.

That's all for now... Tomorrow if editing day!

         Hey Bloggers, I finally wrote my script and drew my story board!!! I am about to show you my vision for the film opening,but I just want to say that I finally have all of the things I need to film so I will be filming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And now for my story board...

The first thing that will be on screen is the opening credits and title. I decided to do this because I enjoy it when films fade into the move from the title card. The first shot is an establishing shot followed by a long shot from behind some bushes looking at the characters, this is done to show that they are being watched. Then through the scene Arthur and his mentor are speaking in the woods about the ancient amulet. The mentor is used to explain the history of the amulet and what it can do.

Arthur grabs the amulet right out of his mentors hands and puts it on. The mentor explains when It will be activated. The last shot of this scene is the same one as the first from behind the bushes, but this time the camera pans away as if someone were running away from Arthur's conversation. The scene changes to an establishing shot of the Valespire castle. ( I'm going to have to improvise a castle because there is not one where I live).

Inside the castle there will be a shot of the throne room door. You will hear the king scream "What!" as if you were walking in on a conversation Then you will see the king angrily asking one of his spys who he saw the amulet given to. The spy will respond (he is very scared, on the ground bowing at the kings feet.) The king then throws the spy out and calls for Merek. Merek enters and kneels before the king (his father). The king will then give him the mission to retrieve the amulet. Merek says that he will bring it back, and the king says if he fails then Merek will be banished. You will get to see that the king is very evil and that Merek is just following orders.

By doing the film in this order you see the two main characters and the lives they live. I understand that by doing it this way it is not very obvious that Merek is the protagonist, but he will be the only one that the audience should identify with. Arthur will not be interested in the story he will be told by his mentor and he will be kind of a dick when he is given the amulet. So the next post that you will see from me will be the first day of filming post.

     Hey Everyone, I wasn't able to film when I said I was going to try to because I didn't realize that I was going on vacation, but I am filming this weekend. On another note, I created the characters names: the villain is named Sir Merek of Valespire and the hero is named Arthur Fenwick. I looked up mediaeval names using this website HERE. The kingdom that this story takes place in is called Valespire, a name I created by looking at other names. Valespire is the evil kingdom that Merek is from and the one Arthur wants to destroy.
Right now I am creating a script for my opening. I don't think that I am going to have a chase scene as I previously stated because as I developed my villain more I don't think he is best represented chasing someone. I also don't think I am going to lead in with an ancient story being told with pictures because it is not turning out as I planned. So I am going to show the amulet being taken from the kingdom of Valespire in the past and then giving it to Arthur in the present, and I will lead into Merek being angry about the amulet being stolen. I am going to post the script when I finish it.