Representation in Forsaken

Greetings and welcome back bloggers! Today we at CineMarcus Productions are happy to share with you today the use of representation in the film opener! Join us today as we discuss the representation revolving Kendrick and the themes that make Forsaken the greatest it can be!

Our film mainly targets around teenagers, particularly those who relate to have inner struggles (Other wise self discovery), and emotional experiences. In this scenario, the story isn't "stereotypical" as it starts in the mall as you guys already know, showcasing the friendship of Kendrick alongside with Wyatt and Ericson. However, in the end of the film opener, it quickly shifts to feelings of loneliness. Because of this, the abrupt atmosphere makes the film more intriguing to viewers who want to understand this area that may be universally understood and makes the storytelling overall feel fair.

When challenging representation, instead of showing people that teenagers are always happy, my film opener really shows a more complex and real reality where both joy and loneliness exists which not all movies showcase ranging from young to old audiences. It focuses on characters with depth and avoids stereotypes as told in the previous paragraph, providing an emotional journey that feels authentic in the end.

The visuals match the story’s tone as well as seen in scenes that are bright and full of color! For example, as the story progresses throughout the opener, the story shifts dramatically at the end. And for this reason, Forsaken challenges the idea that being young is always CAREFREE and happy while as well acknowledging the heavy feeling of loneliness, showing that the search for friendships is just as real as happy moments. Specifically, we believe Kendrick’s story is already well made and does not need any further improvements.

Thank you bloggers for reading today's post! Stay tuned for more updates and see you on the flip side!

Breaking News...

 Greetings and welcome back bloggers... 

As you know, I left no update on Saturday regarding our Day 3 Reshoots. Well today I want to address those claims and I regret to inform you that we have encountered an unfortunate problem... As many of you know, today was meant to be the day we completed filming for Forsaken. However, due to circumstances, my partners Justin and Alexander sadly were unable to attend filming that day, making it super impossible to proceed with the important scenes we had planned to finish...

Although this delay is frustrating and disappointing for all of us, I want to reassure you that this is not the end of Forsaken. Situations like these are really unfortunate but we will regroup and film as quick as possible. For now, let’s remain optimistic! We plan to shoot sometime next weekend on February 1st so get your hopes up! Thank you bloggers for taking your time to read this post! See you on the flip side and stay tuned for more updates!

Updated Storyboard

Greetings and welcome back bloggers! Today we at CineMarcus Productions are happy to present to you our latest and updated storyboard for Forsaken! After shooting some of the film opener last week, we have encountered various problems that we couldn’t solve. Meaning, we had to change some shots from our initial storyboard that way we can use other satisfactory transitions and shots that make up to our expectations. A few of our early shots had an uneven rhythm and lacked seamless transitions, which kind of disrupted the scene's flow overall. 

To address this, we changed the camera angles and created more dynamic tracking shots to more improve the lively atmosphere of this world! In addition, some of our lighting decisions before had failed to really convey the fun mood we intended at the beginning, so we implemented more high key lighting and some places with more natural lighting to enhance the atmosphere we promised for you guys! Even though our storyboard had some shots my partners Alexander and Justin and I wanted to make and share to you guys, I want you guys to know that these new additional shots are more effective and important to capture the atmosphere of this world! Join us today as we undergo the latest updates on our storyboard that we have currently filmed!

These new shots not only improve Forsaken much more but also brings to me and my partners a really fresh new perspective to our vision to bring to you guys! Stay tuned for more news on the film opener! Thank you bloggers for taking your time to read this blog post! See you on the flip side!

Group Dynamics

Greetings and welcome back bloggers! Today we at CineMarcus Productions are excited to share how our group dynamics are shaping up so far! Now you may be wondering, have we had any conflicts or arguments communication-wise? Actually no! We've been doing fairly well in terms of coordinating film shoots, capturing satisfactory shots, and ensuring everyone stays on the same page! My team, specifically my partners Alexander and Justin, are able to openly share ideas and offer constructive feedback to each other in which has been a huge factor in maintaining this connection! It's exciting to see how much we've grown as partners in such a short amount of time! Furthermore, our guest actors Freddy and Raul are also cooperating with us nicely! They've been amazing at acting and we're forever thankful for them to join us!

Looking ahead, we're committed to keeping this teamwork going. We also know that challenges will definitely arise as production progresses in future film shoots, but we're confident that our strong communication and shared passion for storytelling will help us basically tackle anything that comes in our way! Teamwork has been our greatest asset, and we're thrilled to see how it continues to shape the final product of our film opener! Thank you bloggers and stay tuned for more updates! See you on the flip side! 

Day Two of Shooting

HELLO BLOGGERS AND WELCOME BACK TO TODAY’S EXCITING POST! IT’S THAT TIME!!!

Today we at CineMarcus Productions filmed our reshoots at the mall, and we’re very satisfied with the final product! Even though we didn’t finish filming today, we’ll continue on and do reshoots for Day 3 next weekend on Saturday, January 25th! Moreover, we also faced some challenges regarding transitions, but I’ll explain them further in the blog post! Join us today as I share some of my favorite highlights and some challenges we encountered today!

(I also would like to apologize that I left you guys hanging! I was indeed a day late on publishing this blog post of course because I was too satisfied with the outcome of our reshoots!)

We had all agreed to meet around 2:30 PM to discuss how we would make each shot at the mall. Unfortunately, I was running quite late and didn’t get there until 3:00 PM. This not only reduced our time, but it also meant that my partners and friends had to wait for me for 30 minutes! Also, I want to really highlight that my partner Justin was able to attend today’s shoot! In the past, he couldn’t join due to scheduling conflicts, but now that he’s here, he can assist me behind the camera and suggest any changes we might implement!

Upon arriving at the mall, it became immediately apparent that we were going to face BIG challenges due to heavy winds. The strong winds not only affected the comfort of my friends, making it difficult for them to film, but it also interfered with our audio recordings really badly. To address this issue, we had created an immediate solution: during the editing process, we would muffle the sound captured in the windy conditions and introduce background music at the beginning of the footage to improve the overall presentation. In the end, it worked out fairly well!

Following the completion of filming, we went on my phone to review the footage to pinpoint any unsatisfactory shots we would find which we didn't do on the first day. A few issues were identified, so we stepped outside to capture the additional footage! Despite the initial difficulties and the several unsuccessful attempts, which led to some moments of us laughing uncontrollably that reduced a lot of time, eventually we were able to concentrate and successfully capture the desired shots! While these challenges were frustrating, the overall experience proved to be rewarding in the end!

In the end, we all got to film half of the film opener, and you probably could tell that we were all satisfied. You’re correct! Not only did the transitions look cleaner and more natural, but so did the shots and lighting, too! We also attempted to get some inspiration to create these transitions and shots from several directors, particularly my favorites: Edgar Wright, Denis Villeneuve, and Quentin Tarantino! These shots didn’t look rushed whatsoever, and we were all jubilant in the end! We’re excited to start filming next weekend, and we can’t wait to finish filming the opener! Thank you bloggers for reading today’s post and stay tuned for more updates! See you on the flip side!

Lighting in Forsaken

Greetings and welcome back bloggers! For today's post, we at CineMarcus Productions are excited to share with you the lighting in Forsaken! We'll go deep into the lighting that's incorporated into the project while describing the different types of lighting utilized! Additionally, we'll examine how the project would be if we had some bigger budget or access to equipment! Join us today as we explore the lighting utilized in my film opener, Forsaken! 

As we prepare for the reshoot of our film opener, it’s important to focus on the areas we can enhance, especially given the changes in character dynamics and our previous concerns about the pacing and visuals. With the decision to scrap the old footage, I would like to discuss the lighting choices for our new shots, which will take place in the same settings.

The film opener throughout mainly has artificial lighting that with this choice it helped really convey the indoor environment of the mall. But the film opener at the beginning will start outside the mall with an establishing shot of the mall, where the use of natural light will definitely help improve the visuals and capture the atmosphere of the outdoor surroundings. This transition here would serve as to establish the film's tone of course in which as the story progresses into the arcade scene, the vibrant lighting of the arcade will be utilized to make the energy and depth into the interactions between characters improve the overall story.  The soft glow from the mall's artificial lighting shows a warm and inviting atmosphere, creating in the end an intimate backdrop that perfectly evokes a refreshing mood for the opener!

Additionally, an important moment in the film opener will occur inside the protagonist’s house at the end, where we plan to utilize low-key lighting as well as fill lighting! That way this technique will help evoke a sort of dark isolating mood surrounding Kendrick, basically highlighting his emotional struggles in contrast to the more vibrant energy he experiences in his dreams. These lighting choices will be definitely be useful in improving the storytelling and overall visual impact of the film!

We never intended to use major film equipment because carrying it around the mall would be quite inconvenient, and it would definitely draw odd looks from people... Fortunately, the existing artificial lighting in the mall effectively enhances the ambiance of the opener, eliminating the overall need for additional lighting sources.

Thank you bloggers for reading today's post and stay tuned for major future updates! See you on the flip side!

Editing in Forsaken

Greetings and welcome back fellow bloggers! Today we at CineMarcus Productions are thrilled to announce that we have started to walk through the editing phase of Forsaken! As the director of the film opener, I am also super excited to take on the main role of being the editor, a task I will be undertaking alongside with my amazing partners Alexander and Justin! Editing this film opener will be a difficult process because I can already tell because we want to capture many important details. Join me today as I discuss how we will edit the opener!

Regarding the film's editing process, we are still in the early process of capturing all the footage! Remember from our previous blog post that we wanted to plan and redo majority of our film opener due to how rushed it look with unnatural transitions, shots, etc. Because of this, I haven't faced many challenges during this incomplete stage of editing. 

Although despite this, I can only think about facing one major obstacle while editing and honestly I really can’t work around it. The issue mainly is that I will mostly be editing the footage at my house instead of outside my home sadly which restricts a LOT of time. My computer has way more accessibility options in comparison with my other devices not just from my house but also in school while running smoother. The only solution for this problem that I can think of is to do all the editing exclusively at home which isn't a super big disaster. Still, it certainly becomes a frustrating situation that I must deal with whenever I edit a video. But in the end, I would like to announce that even with all of these struggles, we will edit the film opener through the software's known as Premiere Pro! 

With the footage we currently have, I've begun to create some transitions and put some filters in the video to improve the shots heavily! This approach really helped bring out more vibrant colors in the video where actually it looked really grey at one point. I also believed that there was a lot of potential for the visuals to be more striking and engaging!

 While it might seem very small at first, it's very important to recognize that we are just at the beginning of making the film opener in which my team and I have many plans and ideas for more edits to improve the project! By gradually dedicating time to the editing process, I am confident that we will achieve our goals and complete the editing efficiently!

Thank you bloggers for reading this post and stay tuned for future updates! See you on the flip side!

Title Sequencing in Forsaken

 Greetings Bloggers! Today we at CineMarcus Productions are excited to share with you the analysis of our upcoming title sequence in our film opener Forsaken! I am incredibly proud to share with you our latest updates on this and oh my goodness. You guys are in for a treat. I hope you enjoy the process to which we will craft this magnificent piece of work! 

My partners Alexander and Justin and I have aimed for the title sequence in our introduction to highlight the film's name and the contributors to the productions (aka mine) while setting the overall tone and mood for the rest of the film! Because of this, we have started investigating and actually have concluded that the choice of font for our title sequence would significantly improve its impact! We then searched for a font that would basically kind of embody the style and spirit of the film opener. For this reason we have found five fonts that we felt captured that essence and in the end narrowed it down to a single choice!

 Forever Freedom (WINNER)

We searched for a font that sets a bold, modern, and memorable tone, which is why I personally chose the Forever Freedom font! Its clean lines and classic design perfectly giving Forsaken  a somewhat professional look right from the beginning. It just feels right if you know what I mean? Anyways, whether viewed on any sort of screen, this font in my opinion stands out and makes sure my title is noticeable. It’s not just a font, but it’s the first impression of the entire film, and it’s exactly what I needed!

Monument Extended

This font called Monument Extended with its kind of elongated letters show how strong it is to read, setting the right tone for a story full of emotion like Forsaken! This clean modern style feels very fresh in my opinion, giving Forsaken a professional feel to it as well. But even though this font is very strong, my partners and I really didn't feel like this would be the perfect one to use in our opener.

WigWag

This font known as Wigwag is kind of a bold and playful font that looks like it's designed for eye catching videos just like Forsaken! The Wigwag font has a casual show card style letters that I think works well for drama-themed projects. It's additional styles also have a old, classy, and nostalgic feel to it. While this font looks stunning in every way possible, my partners and I just didn't feel like this would fit on the screen with the atmosphere for Forsaken.

Cheddar Gothic 

This font known as Cheddar Gothic is REALLY eye-catching. This design with its rustic and expressive style really captures the essence of a font being used in a drama film, making it one of the more perfect choices me and my partners thought we could use. However, even with its diverse range of additional styles, the font isn't as perfect as our winner that was previously mentioned.

Balneario

Balneario is yet another great option but it wasn't better than Forever Freedom! Its smooth and casual  and somewhat cursive design has certainly intrigued my group and especially me! But while we initially contemplated on putting it into our film, we later concluded that it doesn't quite align with the energy and tone we want to achieve in our project.

Thank you bloggers for reading today's post and stay tuned for more updates! See you on the flip side!

Sound in Forsaken

 Greetings, Bloggers! Today we at Cinemarcus Productions are thrilled to announce the types of unique sound designs we are planning to use for our film opener Forsaken! Our sound choices are not just about creating a realistic environment for you guys, but are also about improving this drama while engaging our audience! So join us today as we undergo the sound used in Forsaken!

When considering the sound design for this project, we have a lot of creative ideas to put in the film opener since we intended to produce a drama! For the most part, many of the sounds in this film opener are basically from the natural environments inside and outside the mall. While they haven't been incorporated yet, I plan to add a few non man-made sounds into the film. 

Specifically, I aim to include more environmental sounds at the beginning of the opener along with background crowd sound effects for most of the scenes set in the mall, and slurping and eating sounds in the cafeteria. Additionally, all other diegetic sounds we plan to include can be captured by our cameras as we film our performances.

Regarding the non-diegetic sounds or sounds that the audience alone will hear, we intend to include music throughout the majority of the film opener! In most parts of the film opener, we plan to have cheerful music playing while the characters navigate the mall. As for the actual sound editing process, we have not started editing Forsaken yet mainly because there are still very important scenes that need to be filmed!

 But since my partners Justin and Alexander and I will be involved in the editing, we actually have already decided that the sound along with the overall editing, will especially be managed using the Premiere Pro app and other mobile editing apps like iMovie for example.We hope to use copyrighted music mostly, however, if that doesn't work out, all music we ultimately use will be copyright-free, and using copyright-free music isn't necessarily a poor choice! For this reason, we will as well use sound effects mainly from Youtube, but the following websites are going to be used as well: 

Websites:

https://freemusicarchive.org

https://www.audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music

https://www.bensound.com/

Thank you bloggers for taking your time to reading this blog post! Stay tuned for more updates and see you on the flip side!

Drastic News...

Hey bloggers... Today I bring you all some unfortunate news for our project Forsaken. Our guest actor, Ryan, who has been trying to portray the role of Bobby, sadly won’t be able to continue with us. Due to scheduling conflicts, he won’t be available for our Day 2 reshoots. This is indeed a VERY problematic setback, as Ryan’s acting added something truly special to this character and the entire film opener. Moreover, we are also sad to announce that we will not add Bobby into this movie opener, so disregard all of the character development we at Cinemarcus Productions showed in previous blog posts. We understand the disappointment this may cause and we are very sorry for this news.

In light of this, we’ve also decided to take a step back and redo the entirety of the film opener. After reviewing the unedited footage from Day 1, it became clear that it didn’t meet the expectations we wanted and the tone we had envisioned. Reshooting this also feels like starting over in many ways, and it’s not without a sense of loss for the work we’ve already done. Even if it means facing these challenges head-on, we know that starting fresh isn’t easy. We firmly believe that it’s the right decision to do this because it helps ensure we’re telling the story in the best way possible. Thank you bloggers for taking this news and stay tuned for more updates... See you on the flip side!

Day One of Shooting

 IT'S THAT TIME BLOGGERS! WE HAVE STARTED FILMING FORSAKEN! 

From the moment the camera started rolling, it was clear that this project is going to be something special! There were laughs, a few nervous jitters, and even some unexpected moments of brightness that would make it into the final cut! It's only day one and I already can’t wait to see how this film opener will result and become to be! Anyways, now I really want to show you our progress so far and some challenges we can across the way! 

First and foremost, our day started with a bit of a hiccup as we struggled to decide on the perfect music for the opening sequence. We planned to put background music for the majority of the opener, and it felt like every option we played just didn’t quite fit the mood we were going for either too intense or not impactful enough. Time was going by roughly fast and we realized we were wasting a LOT of time trying to make this decision. In the end, we had made the call to leave it for later and figure it out in reshoots in the future. It wasn’t the ideal start but sometimes you have to move forward and trust the process that will guide you later!

The next challenge we faced at the start was creating transitions between shots. We wanted the transitions to feel like what you would see in an Edgar Wright movie. It was mainly a test of timing and positioning requiring multiple takes to get it right especially on my iPhone. At one point, we tried doing a whip pan transition but we attempted doing it so many times that it threw us off guard. In the end though our team came together and we were closer to fixing the flow we imagined!

On the bright side, some of the scenes were refreshingly easy to shoot especially those set in spaces like H&M, Vans, and the arcade Round 1. These locations gave us super dynamic circumstances and at one point while we were filming the staff inside the Vans store thought our filming was pretty cool! It was fun capturing these moments and these scenes had an almost like effortless charm to them. This definitely in the end balanced out the day’s earlier challenges!

We wrapped up the day at my friend Freddy’s house, which was the perfect setting for the final scene we shot for Kendrick’s moment of isolation! With the lights off in his room, the cozy and melancholic atmosphere of his room is exactly what I envisioned for Kendrick’s emotional state perfectly which made me super happy! Watching him recreating what I imagined on my storyboard in that space was powerful, leaving not just me but the rest of my team with a quiet sense of achievement as the day came to a close!

This was just the good parts of the day though. After reviewing the footage from our first day of filming at the end of the day, my team and I realized that all the shots I made didn’t quite meet our expectations. While some scenes worked well, others felt disjointed especially when it came to transitions and the overall flow of the story where some shots really lacked the impact we were aiming for, and the pacing didn’t feel right. 

For this reason, it also gave us the idea that we needed to redo our approach. That’s why we’ve decided to meet up again this Sunday January 19th to reshoot, focusing specifically on improving the transitions and other shots that just felt like were missing.

We finally came to this moment and I'm beyond excited for the future! See you on the flip side!

Forsaken's Supporting Characters

Greetings fellow bloggers! Today I have a big announcement and I can't wait to share the exciting news with you all! Any guesses on what I'm about to reveal? Let’s build the suspense! Drum roll please... I’m thrilled to announce the supporting characters who will bring our story to life! Join us in today's blog post as we get ready to meet these characters and know their personalities that will add depth to our film opener!

Wyatt:

Before we dive into the specifics of this character, I want to highlight something special! My partner Alexander is bringing this character to life! It’s a super exciting opportunity for my team because we can explore the dynamics of his performance!!! But anyways now onto the main topic, let’s take a closer look at the character shall we? This character, Wyatt, wears a black T-shirt and light-washed jeans for the whole film opener where he values comfort and enjoys living in the moment. Wyatt is very charismatic in which his charisma is not just in his appearance but in the way he makes others feel! When he enters a room, his energy shifts the whole mood! When you think about it, he's the type of person who effortlessly makes others feel seen, heard, and especially important!

Bobby:

Before we get into this new character, I additionally want to clarify that my friend Ryan, who is NOT in AICE Media Studies but took this class last year, is willing to help me with the film opener and be a guest appearance! Anyways back into the information, this character, known as Bobby wears a black hoodie and black sweatpants. He is also very tall and in the video he is basically the "definition of chill" if you know what I mean. He brings a calm yet unbothered attitude that draws others to him being that type of guy to go with the flow. He gives a nonchalant perspective, so much so that he could get away with super funny observations and the whole friend group could share a few laughs with him!

Ericson:

Before we get into THIS new character, I want to as well additionally clarify that my friend Raul, who goes to West Broward High School instead of Everglades High School (My school in case you forgot), will be helping me bring this film opener to life and will be a guest appearance too! Anyways, this character known as Ericson has a skinny kind of build and has curly hair that has a casual and effortless appeal! He in my opinion is someone who enjoys the company of friends but doesn’t feel the need to be the center of attention if you know what I mean!

Thank you bloggers for reading today's post! See you on the flip side!

Color in Forsaken

Greetings Bloggers! Today we at CineMarcus Productions will be undergoing the important aspects of color in our film opener Forsaken! Today we will explore the different aspects that lead to the very fun atmosphere in our film opener! And I'll tell you right now it is COLORFUL.

I really want to talk about the vibrant colors in the arcade specifically. This scene not only shows how fun the atmosphere is but also highlights the difference between the environment at the mall and the big tension behind the story. The bright neon lights and colorful arcade machines in the film opener for this scenario help evoke a sense of nostalgia and excitement for the characters, drawing the audience into the lively world presented!

Now, onto costuming, the protagonist, Kendrick, wears a white long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans as you guys know from the previous posts. Suppose you don't know what these colors represent! In that case, white often symbolizes innocence, which could suggest that the protagonist is either a morally upright character or someone attempting to begin a new type of journey! Me and my partners Justin and Alexander believe that blue jeans help convey a sense of comfort; however, in this context, blue adds an element of sadness in the film opener because we want to attempt to foreshadow that this is all a dream and Kendrick is forever sad.

In comparison with Kendrick's clothes, the supporting characters also wear similar kinds of clothes too, with actually two people wearing black hoodies and sweatpants and another person wearing a green and white jacket with blue jeans! The two characters in black hoodies and sweatpants basically show that the dark clothing sets them apart from Kendrick's lighter attire. Meanwhile, the person in the green and white jacket with blue jeans presents lets say a more balanced attire. In which for this reason, the green helps evoke a connection to a lot of energy, while the white hints at a desire for clarity! 

Thank you bloggers for reading today's post! See you on the flip side!

Main Character Analysis

Greetings fellow bloggers! Today we at Cinemarcus Productions are thrilled to look closer at our intriguing protagonist Kendrick in the film opener! We will explore his character traits and the rich symbolism he contributes to the story. But before I get into detail, I want you guys to know that my friend, Freddy, who is NOT in AICE Media Studies, is helping me bring this story to life by playing Kendrick! Fun right? Well join us on this post as we talk about his personality  and his deep impact on our film opener!

Physical Characteristics: 

Describing physical characteristics, Kendrick’s physical appearance tells us a lot about who he is. He has large expressive eyes that draw attention heavily, giving him a look of constant curiosity. He also has a large nose that adds a bold and distinguished feature to his face. Kendrick also has glasses with thin frames that complement his kind behavior as well as kind of dark hair that's well styled with a middle part!

Costuming:

In our previous blog post, we had talked about Kendrick's outfit for the opening scene, which you guys know primarily about! If you don't remember, he is dressed in a white shirt and comfortable denim jeans, complemented by his headphones. Kendrick's headphones also serve as a really important role in this opener! Basically it sweetens his enjoyment of his overall surroundings and symbolizes his deep connection to the world around him.

 Personality/Psychological State:

The main idea of this opener was mainly to highlight Kendrick's loneliness in which he has no friends. The mall scenes throughout the film opener basically contrast with the somber reality that is surrounding him possibly in real life and not his mind, revealing the deep emotional pain of his character. More importantly, his mental state is intensely lonely because of the lack of meaningful relationships in his life as seen with him dreaming about fake friends. This deep emptiness inside him basically highlights his sense of isolation while differing with the friendships he desires, making his reality even more painful than you seem. Psychologically, he appears to be grappling with feelings of low self-esteem because his imagined happiness isn't real. Between his dreams and his actual reality, this shows a sorrowful part of Kendrick wanting someone to talk with him...

Thank you bloggers for reading today's post! See you on the flip side!

Costuming in Forsaken

Greetings bloggers! Before we start filming, I would like for you guys to really know the kind of costuming that will appear in our film! As I have stated in the previous blog post, we won’t be doing anything special with the clothes to be exact. This film opener is more of a relaxed chill atmosphere, mainly what you typically think of a friends hangout now. 

We’re starting with mainly casual outfits to keep things simple and relaxed, matching the modern kind of vibe of the hangout spot where the film opener takes place! We as well plan for the protagonist to wear white attire with denim jeans! In this case, this outfit represents the ease of the Kendrick’s interactions in this setting. Alongside this, we’re introducing vibrant colors to highlight the energy and excitement of the mall adventures! These warm tones will play a significant role in important scenes, ESPECIALLY in the Arcade, helping to create the lively atmosphere that ties everything together!

Compared to Kendricks's white outfit, his headphones add a fun touch to his look! Throughout the opening scene, he wears them as he strolls through the mall, immersing in the heavily fun atmosphere while enjoying every moment! You may think the headphones are just for him to look cool right? Well actually no. The headphones aren’t just for show, but they highlight how much he loves music and how it connects him to his surroundings. Whether he’s nodding along to the beat or simply enjoying the sounds, it’s clear that music plays an important role in his life. This small detail helps to show his playful carefree personality and deep appreciation for the little things, like spending time with friends and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Thus, the headphones symbolize his unique way of embracing the world, blending joy, music, and friendship into his everyday experience

The arcade itself in our filming location is FILLED with bright, colorful lights, and by incorporating similar warm colors into our outfits, we are making sure that we aim to make the mall scenes more dynamic and engaging! Our goal is to capture the thrill and excitement of the character’s experiences, and by using these bold warm colors, we can bring that energy to life! We look forward to sharing more about this exciting project in our next blog post! See you on the flip side!

Preparing to film

Greetings bloggers and welcome! Today we at CineMarcus Productions have some exciting news to share! Drumroll please... We will soon begin filming the opening scene of our much-anticipated feature film, Forsaken! Before we dive into the shoot, let me share some details about the setup process!

Costumes:

 The film's setting here is very indeed relaxed and casual, meaning that heavy or extravagant costumes for the characters are pretty unnecessary. In such an environment, everyday clothing is more appropriate for individuals hangout spots, especially the characters in Forsaken. By using comfortable attire, this film opener in my opinion can create a more authentic atmosphere that aligns with its themes and more importantly, reveal the personality traits of the characters!

Props:

While props may not play an essential role in this opener, the video is designed to be highly interactive. As we explore the vast vibrant mall, you the viewer will see all of the various activities that the actors do! For example, you'll join the fun in the arcade as we buy and enjoy food together. 

Actors:

We're as well thrilled to announce that our team member, Alexander, will play a meaningful role in the film! Justin and I will be working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly, along with three of my close friends who will also portray characters in the film, bringing their own skills to the project. Moreover, I also gathered three of my other friends who aren't in the AICE Media course to participate in the opener to really capture the atmosphere for you guys!

Locations and Dates & Times:

In addition to the side of actors, we couldn't have asked for a better location than Pembroke Lakes Mall! This vibrant spot is full of life and action and holds special meaning for all of us. It is a place filled with laughter and beautiful memories, making it the perfect backdrop to express our film's narrative fully. Furthermore, we plan to start filming Saturday January 11th, around 3:00 PM EST. That way, we can get all of our filming done in one day and focus more on editing the opener as a whole! 

Film Equipment:

As we explored different options for filming the opener, we decided to use my iPhone because of the efficiency of its camera, especially since I have the latest model (The iPhone 15). This choice not only minimizes the amount of equipment we need to carry, but it also gives us the freedom to create and edit countless videos together, allowing for greater creativity in our process!

We're getting super close to finishing our project and oh my goodness you all are in for a treat! Thank you bloggers and see you on the flip side!

Initial Storyboard

Hello and good day bloggers! As we move closer to the exciting moment of filming my final project, I’m delighted to share the beautifully crafted storyboard for Forsaken! My talented team has dedicated numerous hours to bringing our ideas to life, and I am incredibly proud of our collective work. I truly hope you find the passion and creativity in our project just as inspiring as we do! 

Storyboard:

The opener is quite heartbreaking isn’t it? Not only did I contribute to this storyboard, but with the help of my partners Alexander and Justin, we completed it surprisingly quickly, and it was definitely worth the effort! Justin and Alexander helped share numerous ideas that shaped this storyboard very fast! For instance, Alexander suggested showcasing the massive cafeteria in the mall, which both Justin and I agreed should be included in the opener. Justin as well mentioned how high angles would be efficient in capturing the essence of how powerless the characters are to the stores!

However, there were some challenges in bringing this storyboard to life. One major issue is that I’m not very skilled at drawing. As you can see in the storyboard, it transitioned from well-drawn figures to stick figures. This style may not be very eye-catching, but since it’s just a rough draft, the aesthetics aren’t the primary concern in my opinion. Aside from my drawing skills, nothing else really detracted from the overall quality of the storyboard!

It's almost surreal to think that we're nearing the end of our journey with CineMarcus Productions! It feels like just yesterday we were starting out. I'm truly amazed at how far we've come and I can't thank you enough for your support in creating this feature film opener. Thank you bloggers and see you on the flip side!