More Editing Updates

So for the motion media design of the words (that are going to appear on the black screen throughout the intervals), I have downloaded Adobe Aftereffects (the trial) to accomplish this. I also will use this to design the title of the film at the end of the trailer. I am going more into the technical aspects of creating the trailer; for example, the sound design. For the beginning of the trailer, I want a slow, suspenseful music that will introduce the setting and situation. Then, I also want music that crescendos and shows the high points of the film.

I am mainly using Free Music Archive to obtain music; yet, I am still looking for the best music. I also have to figure out a way to display some dialogue with the music in the background. I need to record my actor saying some words in order to have the sound clearer, since there has been so much background noise with the video shootings.

Also, I have started thinking about the teaser trailer. How will I portray it, and how different will it be from the main trailer? I think that for the teaser, there will be almost no black screen to narrate the events of the film. The teaser does not give the story or plot; it mainly shows the highlights of the film without making it look too choppy. So, I will change the sequence of the events slightly from the main trailer and show different shots of the same scene every now and then (even though I shouldn't incorporate too many different shots, if they are still portraying the same location and situation, then that isn't really giving too much of the film away as long as I place an adequate amount of shots from the main trailer.) I might show some landscape shots at the beginning, then the airport, then the Miami enjoyment (Wynwood then Lincoln again since Lincoln was shot at night, it would be strange to show night shots before day ones? But perhaps I can make it work when I begin working on it.)

So, for what I still need to film:

• My character finding out about the ban through a digital device
• My character viewing the Tumblr blog of art 
• My character creating art on a big paper while kneeling on the floor
• My character desperately trying to contact his family through Facebook after finding out about the ban

Possible Ideas to Fix

What I am still considering is filming some shots that highlight the difference between the character's background and the current place he lives in. For example, I have a vision of the character waking up at night to a thunder noise and having a flashback to him cowering at the sound of bomb explosions. I'm not sure if this is the message I want to convey, but it is pretty realistic to the Iraqi situation and helps establish that the character is, indeed, estranged and not completely familiar with the atmosphere around him.

Showing the character immediately adjusting to the environment and enjoying Miami might give off the wrong message, since I couldn't exactly get shots of the character being surprised. I tried to have my actor look astonished and murmur a "Wow!", but it honestly just sounds too cheesy and cliche. So, to fix this problem, I might shoot the scene that I have just described; yet, I am not sure if it will fit within the main trailer. Yet, since modern trailer have been becoming longer, I don't think it would be a huge obstacle if the trailer is around 3 minutes or a little bit less.

My problem with the scene is that I don't want to portray the character as generic or having the character only defined by the hardships of his life. The film is not just about the ban or the situation; it is about the character and his journey of voicing his opinion. It's about removing a misrepresentation and stereotype that people in third world countries have nothing to do except struggle and (be in a third world country.) People there, in fact, can be extremely intelligent and unique; like my character, who is fascinated with art and the skill of spreading collective purpose through art. It's a call for unification.

I have looked at some films that effectively make use of flashbacks. An article that his really helped me is on this link. One film that I have really enjoyed the flashbacks for include Big Fish (I have seen the trailer and how they incorporate the flashbacks). I am just unsure of whether this is something I want my film to be a part of. The flashbacks are not a recurring thing throughout, they are just there for a maximum of two times to narrate the difference and dislocation the character feels.

Update with Editing

For my first trailer, the main non-teaser one, I have had progress with editing in terms of placing the events in sequence and the black screen of the trailer descriptions. What I am first showing is the airport scenes that I shot; for example, snippets that reveal it's in a Miami airport and that the main character is of Iraqi origin (with the passport).

Then, I have incorporated several landscape shots establishing the setting as Miami; for example, a Miami shuttle bus and a shot that presents a landscape movement. This serves as a transition from the airport scene to the Wynwood scene: introducing the art and the lively atmosphere within Miami. This is to highlight the awe and beauty of Miami and how that contrasts with the character's background.

Then, there are snippets shot during the night in Lincoln Road. The transition to the conflict of the film is shown with the character discovering the ban, which will probably be read from a digital device. I want to portray the character's struggle as he desperately tries to connect with his family through Facebook; those recurring digital references reflect the tech-savvy reality of millennials as well as serving as an appealing factor to my target audience. Those so far are what I have edited for my main trailer; I think that I still need to consider some options (detailed in the following blog posts), but it sets a solid base for the sequence as well as the message I am trying to convey.

Independent vs Mainstream

I am still unsure of whether to marker my film as an independent film vs that of a mainstream film. Typically, independent films have reputations of being too low-budget and too disadvantaged to be considered worthy. The newly released independent films have had to combat this criticism; for example, social media accounts (including Youtube comments) are reflecting both a rejection and acceptance of the independent film trend.

Yet, even with the subject matter I have, I can still transform into a "mainstream" film. A lot of the subject matter and artistic vision that is usually characterized by independent films has moved into the mainstream field, with recent movies like La La Land, Moonlight, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Blue is the Warmest Color. This new trend is also accompanied by "mainstream" actors that have popularized the movie, with the case of Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman in Lion. To "mainstream" my film, there needs to be a component that is appealing to the public itself. The controversial subject matter is bound to attract individuals with any belief system; however, I am still looking for that one component. Maybe the actor? Or the location of Miami? Or the artistic content it spans?

It would be much easier to market this as an independent film, yes. The film would have already found a niche and been upraised by the younger, more socially aware groups; yet, the message of this film is broader than a mere niche. I can target this to a younger, Generation Z audience, yet I am hesitant about the independent film niche. It would not get as much reception or it wouldn't be taken as seriously: it would just be that "Arab movie" as opposed to that "Arab movie that everyone is talking about".

Update on Filming+ Artwork

I have filmed my main character protesting. I have previously mentioned how a highlight of the movie is his loneliness and his resort to art and the internet for comfort. Thus, I have been toying with the idea of emphasizing the transition of his protests from mere posters, alone, where he is not heard, to an evolution of art and how the reform movement grows beyond the traditional ways of protesting.

There is also a slight progress on the artwork to be incorporated within the Tumblr blog:

Those art pieces are on a smaller journal, yes, but they will be individually scanned and displayed on the blog as professional pieces. This is merely a sketch, and even though it is delayed, I am focusing on the artwork right now since it is essential in filming as well as in creating the movie website and the poster. I want to see what the final product for the artwork is and if that is satisfactory enough to incorporate into my whole marketing campaign. 

(Art by Alexis Sanchez)

Movie Posters

I am looking at movie posters to draw inspiration from. I have an idea to make the movie poster a drawing or art piece; however, I am still hesitant about this from a marketing perspective. From the research I have done, movies with artworks are either animation or old.

Casablanca, 1942

I have been looking for recent movies with artworks as movie posters yet have not found any. Even (the more successful) independent films utilize a digital form of art in some shape to market their films. Thus, I have decided that this most likely would be the safest route. However, utilizing a particularly vibrant art piece can also reflect the revolutionary content of the film: the movie poster breaking rules. Yet, I feel like that is stretching it (maybe just a little bit?) 

Some particular movie posters that have captured my attention include: 

I am unsure of what the Grand Budapest Hotel movie poster is made of, but it appears more as an art piece. This correlates most closely with my vision of a movie poster; perhaps I can ask a friend to draw and help me fulfill my vision of the art poster. However, since I am not an artist myself, my choices are limited. Yet, I want to try both and experiment until I decide which one represents my film on a wider scope. 

Website Research

Since I am still working on collecting a decent amount of artwork, I have resorted to researching about film websites and thoroughly considering how my film can be represented.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower website features a basic layout with "home", "movie reviews", "about the movie", "gallery", and "story" tabs. The background for the website is the lime green the movie is noted for; however, I think this is a poor choice considering that lime green is difficult to conceive.

The Dope website, however, was non-traditional and explicitly target the younger, Generation Z audience. It features a website with a playback of videos in the background and a song from the soundtrack. The pointer for the keypad and the website
imitated a video game style, and a large emphasis was placed on social media.

As seen from this screenshot, the three main tabs above are "share", "follow", and "dashboard'. I want to follow this trend of strictly appealing to the younger generation and placing emphasis on social media; however, I cannot market it in a similar, lively fashion as Dope is marketed since my film constitutes of a heavy, more dramatic subject matter. 

The Danish Girl is composed of a heavy subject matter. The website for it is under Focus Features and is not thoroughly detailed: it mostly markets the purchase of the film and the social media components. The content for "about the film" is fairly limited, yet the website remains presented in an elegant, beautiful design, reflecting the artistic presence of the film. I want to borrow from this artistic presence and place it in my website. 

As seen, this beautiful still shot is composed nicely with the font and the diamond shape in the middle. Now that I have a basis for what I want my website to look like, I can begin photographing still shots for the website, and to incorporate more behind the scenes shots as part of my marketing campaign. 

Artwork

The vision I have for the artwork in my trailer is not limited to explicit political statements or caricatures. I want the artworks to exhibit emotion and show the human condition of individuals living in countries plagued by war. There can be a display of devastation; yet, there should also be a resistant hope shown. I have stumbled upon articles (links below) that include art by Syrian refugees. The subject matter corresponds perfectly to my vision.

There is also an existing project similar to my vision called The Refugee Art Project. It showcases art from refugees to Australia who are stuck in detention centers. Artists are from: "Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Kurdish regions of the Middle East and Burma."

Mahmoud Salameh

Mahmoud Salameh

Syed Ruhollah Musavi, 'Religious Elegy', oil on canvas, 60x85cm.

H, H, 'Afghan landscape', oil on canvas, 21x16cm.

I will begin to lay the exact details for what the message should be for the artworks. They will not be completely polished; yet, they will suffice the purpose of being displayed on the blog and for a quick shot of my main character drawing.

  

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2017/01/18/PICTURES-Syrians-refugees-depict-their-pain-and-struggle-through-art.html
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/03/17/470809097/syrian-refugee-kids-were-told-to-draw-whatever-they-wanted
http://therefugeeartproject.com/home/the-cartoons-of-mahmoud-salameh/
http://therefugeeartproject.com/home/memories-of-home/

Editing

Hello!
I decided that it was time I begin editing, so I wanted a program that is accessible within the limited time I have. I chose Final Cut Pro and have acquired the trial for it, which is 30 days, more time than I need. I have begun editing my film trailer:

It's not much: I've been trimming my clips and perfecting the placement and sequence.

I have also filmed more for my trailer:


Yet, I still need artwork for my trailer, since it is a reform art movement. I have decided to display the artworks on a blog where anyone can submit or contribute. This feature is available on Tumblr, a fairly popular social media website.
I have started the blog: https://fightwithart.tumblr.com/

The blog will be shown subtly and quickly during the trailer, so I am not too worried about having it perfected or polished. I just need an outlet where supposed artists can contribute and where the movement can be effective. If this is done through social media, then I can hint at the growing power/popularity of the movement through manipulating the amount of followers. Plus, social media has become the most widely used tool of the younger generations.

Increasingly appealing to a population is extremely similar to marketing. This Forbes article details why social media is effective for marketing: higher authority (more validity), more opportunities for customers to interact and find you, and better search engine rankings. Since my film appeals to a younger generation (PG-13), a tech-savvy one, social media will definitely appeal to them.

PG vs PG 13

I've now decided that my film will not be rated R (there is no reason for it to be R; plus, that narrows my audience). However, I am researching films that are PG vs those that are PG 13.

PG:

The Little Prince (2015)

Genre: Adventure/Drama

Hidden Figures (2016)

Genre: Drama/History

 Inside Out (2015)

Genre: Fantasy/comedy-drama

BFG (2016)

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Hugo (2011)

Genre: Fantasy/ Mystery

PG-13

The Salesman (2016)

Genre: Drama/Thriller

 The Help (2011)

Genre: Drama/Romance

 Fences (2016)

Genre: Drama

 Lion (2016)

Genre: Drama

 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Genre: Fantasy/Action

Thus, as seen, PG films are mostly animation and geared towards younger children. Their themes are more condensed and not as complex as PG-13 films, as seen with The Salesman and Lion. My theme corresponds to the complexity of those two movies that are rated PG-13. Both movies were extremely successful and won numerous awards in the year 2016. Thus, they are fairly new and are both drama films. 

PG rated drama films are almost impossible to find. The Little Prince was more of an adventure movie, yet it had the themes of a drama film. Hidden Figures is the only movie that is fairly recent and that is both PG rated and the drama genre. However, my film is mostly controversial and cannot be shown to PG audiences. It contains political statements that cannot be understood by younger audiences. Even though I am considering the rate of R, I shall stick to PG-13. R means 17 and above; yet, I have met and known various individuals under the age of 17 that will fully appreciate and understand the movie. I don't want to underestimate the power and capacity to understand of Generation Z since they closely follow the media and have been savvy of the newest election. 

Thus, PG-13 it is!

http://www.imdb.com/

Trailer Intro

I've been thinking about how my trailer is going to look and I decided to incorporate the green screen introduction within my trailer. Thus, I researched for templates and found a user who has already crafted one as a photoshop file (included the link below.)

So this file opens in Photoshop; yet, there are various fonts that I need to acquire by myself to fulfill the original green screen introduction. I've been trying to download the fonts but they need to be purchased.

That's not a huge obstacle, since I can approximate the font. Yet, this search for the trailer intro brought to my mind a very important topic: film ratings. How do I want to rate my film? Do I even want to rate my film?
I have researched film ratings and am conflicted between the PG-13 and R ratings.
PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned, nudity (but not in a sexual content), bloodless violence, some strong language
R: Restricted, No one under 17 years of age, strong frequent language, and nudity.

 Those rating descriptions do not correspond to my film; the theme is advanced and mature but it does not contain nudity or strong language. In order to fully grasp the meaning, though, one has to be of an older audience (13+). Yet, I have also considered that rating my film will create a narrower audience.  I eventually need to rate my film since I am creating an entire film promotion campaign, including a website. Yet, I'm not sure I want to rate my preview. There are various previews that are not rated: Marvel has become particularly proficient with this.

My trailer cannot include strong language; yet, I think the content and the message of the piece itself appropriates it to the PG-13 age range. I shall be conducting further research to finally decide on which rating to go with. Yet, the trailer itself will be approved for appropriate audiences.

I Filmed!!

So I filmed yesterday the intro!! And these are some sneak peeks of how it turned out. I'm not 100% satisfied with the quality (since it's an old camera) but I'm relatively happy with how it came out!!

Getting Ready to Film

So I decided that I will begin filming tomorrow. I have chosen a close friend of mine to be the main actor since we are often together and my initial to-be-actor, Homero Argiro, has a busy schedule (so it will be extremely difficult to maneuver around it).

My actor doesn't exactly look Arab, but many people who are Middle Eastern don't, so it's okay. Plus, it's more about the message and the production of the piece vs the looks: if I make it convincing enough, it will be.

I have invested in a tripod today. It is a basic one but it will do the job!

I am also going to use my sister's old digital camera to film. It's not much, but it's definitely better than a smartphone. 

Before today, I have never used a tripod. So to help me with this process, I have researched various videos to help me learn, the best of which: 

Link for Video

This guy was honestly so helpful. Thank you, Jean-Pierre!!

Beginning of Outline

I have a very clear vision for the introduction of my trailer and have detailed it below. I plan on filming this portion extremely soon since I want a head start: this project is due April 4th for me and considering my position as a busy high school senior, I have no time. I have started an outline for the introduction of my trailer, but because of time constraints, I will develop it for the whole trailer as time progresses.

OUTLINE

I. INTRO
   A. Airport Scene: The character has just arrived in Miami International Airport. He is shown alone and speaks on the phone with his mother. There will be shots of him sitting alone at the airport, as well as an emphasis on his Iraqi passport. He walks through the airport alone and is also shown outside.

B. The character is now in Miami. He is astounded by how grand and beautiful it is. He is shown in Wynwood, where he sits drawing. He is also shown walking the busy streets of Miami Beach, in Lincoln Rd. He is also shown contacting his mother.