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“Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts.”

Full Sail University: Business of Film Course

The acquired knowledge and insight gained about the television and film industry from the Business of Film course at Full Sail University has been nothing short of remarkable. The initial goal for this course was obtaining information on how the movie industry works, the legalities involved, and an overall educational perspective on the industry. The assignments and course activities were instrumental in expanding each student's knowledge. An assignment that served an insightful purpose was the “Film Festival Case Study.” This assignment prompts students to explore film festival listings online and find one that would be an excellent platform to present of our class thesis film, Lucid. This assignment was great because of its requirement. The Film Festival Case Study questioned festival mission statements, events for filmmakers, parameters for entry, and the listening and viewing audience and community that would be in attendance.

Full Sail University: Film Production Masters

This course serves as an informative conclusion at the end of a very long sentence. The education obtained from the Masters in Film Production at Full Sail University was both inspirational and meaningful. Since the Mastery Course, the goal was to become a stronger narrative storyteller and to expound on that awareness by becoming exposed to the necessary tools that can be used to tell a story. Through this program, the progression of the courses provided the necessary education to pursue storytelling in a visual form confidently. The knowledge base and resources (from the knowledge of each course director to the tangible online instruction and assignments) were invaluable. Each course individualized the materials needed to be informed about storytelling and since completing the courses have formed a well-rounded writer. Anyone with a keen interest in narrative, visual storyteller to strongly consider the program and become an artist in the process.

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Film Production Thesis IV: Film Assembly Master Journal

   My primary goal for the Full Sail University’s “Film Production Thesis – Film Assembly” Course was to obtain a clear understanding of editing and sound. The course offered more than just those two elements of a film’s post-production. The course delved into the topics of color correction and audio production. The three most supplemental aspects of the course were being ingratiated to the world of Pro-Tools, being introduced to the Full Sail University Dubbing Stage, and learning proficient sound-editing strategies. At the time of the course’s completion, I am confident that I developed a newly found revere for motion picture audio and the importance of sound.

   The completed goal with the course was met by way of editing my course’s thesis film, “Lucid.” From developing the film from pre-production, production, and post-production, and having participated in through and thought-provoking discussions, critiques, and collaborations, the process has provided the opportunity to gain information of the power of sound confidently. This course was more appreciated as we were able to use the acquired knowledge from previous film-making courses.

Before taking the course, I was never able to accurately examine the alternative possibilities available with dialogue, sound effects, and music. Additionally, the classroom discussions were of great supplement. Under the direction of the course instructor, participants of the course were exposed and equipped with the knowledge and creative tools needed to complete our film and become more acclimated to audio. Furthermore, “Lucid” was able to receive the proper treatment and a developed soundtrack.

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Mastery Journal

I found this course to be a very beneficial one as I was able to become a much stronger editor towards its completion. One of my favorite aspects of the course was learning how to become a stronger analyzer of media.

Throughout the course instruction, we analyzed trailers and other media which taught me the importance of storytelling, knowing who your audience is, and becoming a stronger visual artist.

Another enjoyable aspect of the course was learning how to maneuver Avid Media Composer and creating media from it. Although the projects I completed in Avid was a trailer for my class thesis project and a commercial for an in-class assignment, I was able to learn a new editing software which I can add to my professional palette. I plan on using Avid more in the future for both my projects and hopefully in the world of work.

Watching the journey of our thesis film, “Lucid” transition from rough cut to picture lock has provided a new perspective on editing and the movie-making process. The entire experience has made me more aware of how compelling a story is through editing and who is responsible for telling the story. Also, learning about the different kind of cuts that films use in their presentation and their effects on the overall story makes for an effective cut.

I’m happy to see that out the film is almost completed. I was delighted to be a part of the creative process in making it the cut that it is today. I am always amazed at how a couple of individual clips can come together to tell a story. I’ve always wanted to tell stories but I was more interested in the writing and story production, but I believe that if I develop more editing techniques, I can become a stronger storyteller visually.

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Film Production Thesis II:  Production - Mastery Journal

The Film Production Thesis II: Production Course has provided an opportunity to apply general classroom and lab instruction to a practical, real-world scenario, participating in on production.

Fulfilling the role as the 1st Assistant Camera Operator on our class thesis production, “Lucid,” I was responsible for building the camera, assisting the camera operator, and functioning the focus of the film’s composition.

This role was one best prepared for with extensive reading of course materials but more importantly, practical camera labs.

A significant factor in this role is understanding the difference between lenses, camera operation, and the measurement of operating focus between a subject and a camera. Furthermore, this means working at the request of the director of photography and the director of the film.

In addition to being an aid in the operation of the camera during the production, there was much leadership demands best executed through professional interpersonal communication and trust in the fulfillment of responsibilities of the other members of the camera team.

The process of production is one that can be challenging but can be positive if handwork, professionalism, and a concise understanding of the purpose of the film's production is recognized.

The experience of this course has been an invaluable one and has prompted the search of more on set production opportunities. The ultimate compliment to any production is collaboration.

Since a production brings together many creatives and artists, it’s only natural that collaboration is part of the equation.

With the combined knowledge of others and the fulfillment of their respective roles, a film production can perform smoother and more efficient.

A successful production will share the following qualities: leadership, hard work, communication, and professionalism among others.

Participating in the operation of a production carries more value than reading or hearing about the practices from someone else.

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Mastery Journal

Premise

The themes of fear and self-doubt paralyze the protagonist in the aptly titled short film, Anxiety (2018). The YouTube short film, written and starring Aaliyah Larson, follows a young girl whose insecurities manifests itself into a taunting physical version of herself when she is alone. The protagonist faces her negative alter ego while fighting her self-reliance. The heavily featured themes of fear and self-doubt play throughout the course film. The film’s genre and tone are drama and overcoming a lie that the main character believes.

Basic Dramatic Structure

When we first meet our protagonist, Maddie, she enters a dark home. After checking her answering machine, we learn that she is home alone for the evening. Her parents leave for two weeks, and she is instructed to maintain their home in their absence. While at home, Maddie receives a text message from her friend Kassandra, who invites her on an outing. From there, we see an alternate version of Maddie presented as both negative and discouraging. Maddie is plagued with negative comments from this version of herself as she tries to find an outfit to attend the outing. She eventually surrenders to her negative thoughts and remains at home. While lying in her bed, Maddie thinks about another negative situation, not receiving communication from a boy Maddie likes. A significant change in her story comes when Kassandra calls Maddie again to invite her out, and she accepts. This acceptance weakens her negative persona and causes her to maintain a sense of self-acceptance. The movie ends with Maddie leaving home and her negative sense of self behind.

Production Design

One element of the film that contributes to the film’s theme and story were the color choices between the two characters. Maddie, when she appears on the screen, wears bright, innocent soft colors. This color choice and style corresponds to her hair and makeup choices. The character of Maddie also has a purity within herself. Maddie is presented as a protagonist with a personal, antagonizing situation and is hopeful that she will resolve her issue before the end of the film. The negative, adverse version of Maddie presents as a dark force made valid by her wardrobe choice. Black is part of her wardrobe and is complemented with shadows, negative words, and a dark undertone. The film takes place in Maddie’s empty house. Her house is assumed to be a place that she grew up, made memories, and became the woman that she became today. Her home has contributed to the development of her mind, thoughts, and beliefs. The filmmakers made a deliberate choice to have Maddie face the worse version of herself at a place where she is most familiar. The home in this movie acts as not only a setting for the movie to take place but serves as a character within the film.

Cinematography

The camera movement for this film is minimal and depends on close-ups. The purpose of this camera movement is to show character emotions and place emphasis on the extent of their plight. The filmmaker’s choice to use split screen gives the audience an insight into the cinematic conflict of the conflict. Additionally, Maddie is illuminated with a bright, hopeful light while in contrast, her alternative wears black. The character of Maddie is at the forefront of the screen, which shows her importance and hierarchy of her alternative version.

Sound and Editing

Another element of the film that is worth mentioning is the dialogue. The main character of Maddie speaks with a tone that is hopeful, innocent, and genuine.  The alternative Maddie speaks with a negative and disapproving tone. The dialogue serves as a character trait for each character. The words used and the disposition of both characters contribute to both the development of their arc. Maddie introduces the scenes in this film added by to the alternative version of herself. The combination of story, shots, character development and other cinematic elements serves its purpose as a complete narrative on what the emotion of anxiety is to the character of Maddie.

The film employs the use of split screen and always put the protagonist in the forefront and places her different character in the background (typically in the shadows or in a dark part of the film). This placement shows the dynamic of her conflict and her importance about her character. Another element in the editing of this film is the use of close-ups. The close-ups were used to fill the frame to show the detail of Maddie’s character and show specific information on Maddie’s face and emotions.

Cinematic Story Elements

Some cinematic storytelling or production elements that I could employ from observing this film is the use of sound, the use of setting, and the use of colors and shadows to display a more cohesive narrative. Each element of the film stands on its own but supplies to the overall primary plot. Choices that are most important is spending an inordinate amount of time during the pre-production phase of locations, lighting, and talent. The more time invested, the more prepared the execution of the film. Preproduction helps to anticipate the challenges and the creative solutions to those challenges.  

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“Entertainment and Communication Law” Mastery Journal

The "Entertainment and Communication Law" Course was an informative and introspective lesson on the field of Entertainment and Communication Law. The course discusses and defines the importance of copyright, trademark, the right of publicity, distribution, contacts, and a variety of prevalent entertainment and communication terms. Additionally, the course discussed contracts, intellectual property, contract negotiation, standard financial, licensing, and employment agreements used in the industry.

The "Entertainment and Communication Law" Course provided a comprehensive and fresh perspective on the material and media that I consume every day, and the variety of protection is available. The extent of course materials, topics, and discussions surpassed the four week course time frame at Full Sail but has satisfied with my original objective. Before entering this course, I wanted insight on legal terms and world of contracts and distribution of a film. 

The course defined and discussed concepts and terms that were unfamiliar. One in particular defines copyright as, "an original work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device," taken from The Copyright Act of 1976 17 U.S.C. Section 102(a). Other protections include patents, trade secrets, and right of publicity. 

The copyright law protects literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. The discussion of copyright delivered new information on protection and its limits. The discussion introduced trademarks, the right of publicity, and defamation. This discussion helped with the understanding of obtaining the proper protection.

Understanding the protection the copyright law covers and the types of usage that is permitted. Another aspect of the course I enjoyed were assignments. Participating in a "Scavenger Hunt" predicated on the topics discovered in class, reinforced the classroom instruction with real-world experience. This particular assignment trained my mind to pinpoint various works of copyright and trademarks.

Another assignment served the same practical purpose was "Mock Appeal" assignment. The assignment provided a case in which we had to defend an allegation of copyright infringement. This assignment enforced the material received in the course by clarifying parts of a case, formulating a defense, and discerning between factual information and matters of opinion. The "Mock Appeal" provided an in-depth understanding of what happens in a courtroom and what content creators have to face.

Moving forward, armed with information received, the awareness of the protection of creative works and their usage is a new part of my daily media consumption. The knowledge of the copyright law and the extents of its security is a valuable tool to remember. Securing the rights for the protection of creative works is an exceptional tool that artists in the entertainment industry have for their benefit. One benefit of obtaining copyright protection is the owner is entitled to seek damages and attorney fees in federal court. Other topics I enjoyed the discussion of was distribution pre-sales, compensation, guild agreements, and the proper roles of agents and managers.

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Mastery Journal Assignment

"Visual Storytelling," is the sixth class of my twelve-month Film Production Master Degree at Full Sail University. My goal before this course was to gain a thorough understanding of what Visual Storytelling is.

In my opinion, visual storytelling is a concept related to what we observe visually and base on our perception, what we draw from the shapes, colors, words, and thoughts presented to us. The ability to transcend ideas into words, words into images, and images into visual concepts. This beautiful process which makes the movie-making experience, a magical one.

This course has been my most difficult in the program. I was tasked to complete a numerous amount of task within the accelerated timeframe of four (4) weeks. These assignments include a picture recreation, a story within a photo, a narrative short, a mastery journal, a scene schematic breakdown, and more. To my surprise, I manage to complete them all without defeat. In the process, I learned that accountability, exercising time management, being proactive, and practicing discipline can take a student a long way.

The course presented some topics which includes, but are not limited to composition, lighting, rigging, camera schematics, and much more. The basic instruction the course provides on each topic was enough to spark the interest on the topics and allowed for a stronger understanding of the subject.

Since I’ve enrolled at Full Sail University, I've developed an analytical mind for film and television. I can no longer watch media for entertainment. I am always on the lookout for ways to see more media and train my mind to become more observant on the film industry. The beautiful thing about storytelling is: we have more than one way to tell a story.

One gem that I've acquired in the course is, a person can't make movies just by watching them. They have to constantly make them, watch them, learn them, and become them. I realized, from this course, I love being behind of the camera. I love telling stories and making them come to life. The more information that you take in on the art of filmmaking and the use of the camera, the more confident you will appear when telling stories.

The course has provided the confidence that is needed to become a better filmmaker. The accountability that comes with wanting to learn more, experimenting, and furthering your knowledge base is a crucial element of filmmaking. The course also has helped with my goal of becoming a better filmmaker. The assignments have provided a platform to learn more about focus, ISOs, grain, noise, lens, and much more. I am a much better student for taking "Visual Storytelling," and will continue to grow as the program continues to move forward. I am more confident than I was coming in. I look forward to telling more stories.

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Mastery Journal

“Experimental Filmmaking” has been one of my most enjoyable courses since being in the Masters in Film Program at Full Sail University.

My initial goal for this course was to be a director of a film that I wrote. This goal was met when I made the film, “The Invasion of Marcus Walker,” for which I went through the process of casting, pre-production, post-production, and the boundless world of editing. What a ride!

The growth that I received during this class and working on this film was invaluable. I am a stronger filmmaker from this experience.

One thing that I learned which made me a better filmmaker was, with scenes involving dialogue and audio, make sure a master shot, close-ups, over the shoulder shots, expressions, and reaction scenes are shot.

These should happen even if a script supervisor is present on set or not. These didn’t happen on my shot, and as a result, I ended up cutting up what would have been a seamlessly, excellent scene. I have learned my lesson and will apply it to future productions.

Another lesson I learned is the importance of learning what is essential for your film, visually. While writing and doing pre-production, I had many ideas, but when it came to securing a final edit, I felt that some of my ideas (although aesthetically beautiful) didn’t serve a purpose for my film.

I appreciated the lessons on virtual reality and other forms of media. The idea of being introduced to making 15 second content on a weekly basis have transformed the limits that I imposed on myself when it comes to creating content.

The entirety of this course has become a transformational journey for that I am grateful to have been enrolled.  I am a stronger narrative storyteller since taking this course.

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Mastery Journal

“Directing Talent” has been a useful course having taken it. The course has provided insight into the world of directing. The directing world, which I have learned, has many fundamental lessons that must be mastered to be a capable director. My goal of being introduced to the world of directing and its components was met with the completion of this course.

 The one thing I will take from this course is understanding the importance of motivation. The motivation for an actor to speak, to perform, to respond, about what the audience perceives as a complete story.  This translates to camera movements and actor blocking.

 With motivation, a director can complete the pieces of a story and make the transition from page to screen, effortlessly. Using the appropriate verbs and action lines to evoke an honest portrayal from an actor, is a tidbit that I will also carry with me.

 I appreciate the opportunity to direct scenes. The activities provided a practical understanding of directing rather than reading and observing videos. The best part of directing scenes was being on a sound stage and being on both sides of the camera. The complete experience helped shape a newfound respect that I have for actors.

 Taking direction teaches an individual the importance of giving the concise instruction that works. Giving direction prepares an individual to develop an appropriate word choice to evoke an honest performance from the people being directed.  

 My new goal is now to become a better editor and camera operator. If I continue to develop my directing skills and grow better at operating technical aspects of a film, I can become a skillful, independent storyteller. Until then, I’ve learned so much about honest performances, dialogue, directing comedy, the definition of acting, rehearsals, and obtaining knowledge from watching movies and refining my skills.

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FCP Mastery Journal

The film “Plateaus” is a short film by independent filmmaker Lamont Pierre released in 2012. The film tells the story of a self-driven young man named Jason who interacts with people around him who aren’t as motivated about life as he is.

I would consider the logline of this film to be: Stay or Go. The logline refers to a person’s will to stay complacent or make the decision with move forward with the progression of his/her life. The theme of this film is awareness which complements the serious tone of the film. Jason introduces new characters throughout the film. From his interaction, Jason’s disdain with their stagnancy with their lives becomes evident. With this realization, Jason questions his strong will on being ambitious with life.

The music, tone, and continuity of the story complimented the mood of the film. The movie used depth of field and camera positions effectively to emphasis shifts in characters and motivation. This technique is one I would employ for my filmmaking as it is expressive. What I’ve learned from viewing this film to apply as a creative solution is not to use establishing shots for locations. For example, a school was a setting for the film, but through tighter shots, sound effects, and the use of school-related insignia (swings, playground), we were able to believe the character was at a school.

The film used natural light and used a lot of outside shots for its entirety. These shots brought on a sense of symbolism as the characters are brought in on a tighter shot while standing in a copious world.

The inciting incident of the film begins when Jason, a college graduate, leaves his hometown to pursue a life of independence as a screenwriter in California. As he leaves his family (mother and sister), his mother questions his urgency to move while Jason encourages his indecisive sister to attend college. From this scene, we are introduced to the character of Jason stands out from his family. He has a goal and is motivated and confident in comparison to those around him. Jason works at a high school. We are introduced to his co-worker, Wes, who seems to be in a relationship with a woman who has control over him. We can infer this as she drives the car and she is dominant in her interactions with Wes. The plot at this point is, our main character has left his familiar environment in search of something new, only to find that the people he encounters are no different than the people he has left behind.

As the film continues, Jason learns that his sister isn’t planning to attend college. She has become pregnant and decided to put college on the backburner. Jason is infuriated and question his mother’s presence. His mother states that she is here for advice and doesn’t have an influence over the decision of her daughter’s life.

At this time, one of the students at the school gets counseled by Jason. Jason asks the girl what her purpose is in life. He states that you aspire to have a goal in life otherwise life would be purposeless. I find this interaction with the girl to be the climax of the story because it is here the character affirms his goals, motivations, and his drive behind his decisions.

We later are introduced to two more characters (Jason’s dad and ex-girlfriend). Jason’s father is now an elder who lives alone (divorced from Jason’s mother). Jason mentions that his father used to be passionate about achieving goals in life and now he has become complacent.

His ex-girlfriend visits him, and Jason becomes disgusted by her desire to have a meal at a restaurant that she has access to at home as opposed to trying something new. He later questions her decision to live in California with him or remain where she is, Georgia. She chooses to stay in Georgia. Jason questions why she couldn’t take the opportunity to move in with him as she hasn’t lived anywhere else before.

The denouement of the film comes when Jason questions himself about the people around him. With a conversation with his mother, she asks about his screenwriting. Jason responds to her and says that work is a harboring factor to why he hasn’t begun his screenwriting. At this point, Jason realizes he is no different from the people around him.

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This quote comes from Academy Award-Winning Actor Denzel Washington. 

This quote reminds us to be proactive and assure in our wants and desires as it pertains to our dreams. It is important to know that those who call themselves, “lucky” are those who prepare for the opportunities to become their best selves at any given moment.

Addicted2success. (2017). Denzel Washington Quote [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://addicted2success.com/quotes/37-noteworthy-denzel-washington-quotes/

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Mastery Strategies for Success

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My inspirational quote of the week comes from the beautiful and talented actress, Kerry Washington. Kerry Washington is best known for portraying Olivia Pope on the hit ABC Series, “Scandal”.

“You can be the lead in you own life,” means you don’t have to take the path prescribed by someone else. I believe we were all meant to have our own individual paths. Taking charge and creating our own opportunities are part of this journey.

Quotefancy. (2017). “Kerry Washington Quote: You can be the lead in your own life [Photograph].” Retrieved from https://quotefancy.com/quote/1460268/Kerry-Washington-You-can-be-the-lead-in-your-own-life

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LinkedIn.com Profile.

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My Mastery Journal Logo.

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My new profile on Feedly reader. Feedly Reader will provide RSS feeds to new sources of information

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Here is a screen shot of my Papaly.com profile. Papaly is a social bookmarking website which will enable me to bookmark and tag web pages that I feel can aid in my Mastery Journey.