Official Film Opening and Creative Critical Reflection Videos

Hey there Cambridge!

My Film Opening, CCR Video One, and CCR Video Two are linked below as a file stored in Google Drive.

Film Opening:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkK8IZ_Jd1Eg27DzcQoEtEby81UJ33uG/view?usp=sharing

Creative Critical Reflection #1: 

• Question 1: How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
• Question 2: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vQIZj2Zerd4kmHIhXwQHLYQw0FMfW8LD/view?usp=sharing

Creative Critical Reflection #2:

• Question 3: How did your production skills develop throughout this project?
• Question 4: How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ntjpebQYXOrnqVgemP_qlIgETeQptzES/view?usp=sharing

It Comes to an End

Hey there Cambridge!

The day I have finally been waiting for... to be finished with this long, very long, project.

My thoughts about this project have changed so much over the last few weeks. At first, I was lost at what my idea will be, then I hit a peak where I was super devoted and excited for this project. From there, I slowly began getting more stressed and exhausted from this project. Now, in Week 8 (the final week 🎉) I genuinely could not even pull myself to produce the creative critical reflection.

It's not like I hate this project; it just feels like three projects in one and procrastination is beginning to hit, yet I must move forward.

I really like my film opening plot, it is pretty creative and I love the shots I took. For my creative critical reflection videos, I worked with what I have, so it did not turn out exactly as I imagined, but watching the final product made me smile.

The most enjoyable part of this project for me was definitely coming back to my blog to talk about everything that I researched and how everything played out. I love research and talking in detail, and my blog posts almost acted like a journal for AICE Media.

Thanks to my friends who helped out in the production of Focus on the Past and my CCR videos. Including, Ethan (my boyfriend) who opened up his time to be an actor in my film opening and first CCR video, Marisa (my sister) who recorded videos of me filming for my blog and even stood around with me in the behind-the-scenes, and Bryan (my boyfriend's brother) who also acted in my film opening even though that scene never made it to the completed product. I am grateful they all worked with me and devoted lots of time to being here for me and my production.

Knowing that I am about to submit my film opening and creative critical reflection feels genuinely unreal. For past weeks, the idea of this being done was so far away and I never thought this day would come. 

____________________

#throwbacks 

Join me in reflecting on the production of my film opening below!

Feb 01: Gaining a Deeper Understanding of the Thriller Genre
Feb 03: Reflection from Group Meeting #1
Feb 14: Costume + Schedule Update
Feb 15: The Set/Location
Feb 21: Filming Day 1
Feb 27: Foley Sounds + Downloading my Background Music

____________________

Yours Truly, 

Macie 💗

Post-Production of CCR Videos

Hey there Cambridge!

Now that I have filmed and moved all my videos for filming to OneDrive, I have begun the editing process for my CCR videos!

CCR VIDEO ONE - questions one, two

I first began by sorting out all my shots to groups like questions, answers, short lines, the first few shots, and the part when the waiter comes.

This is how all my files looked when I first opened all of them:

And this is how they were once organized:

This organization allowed me to feel much better about tackling all the files and led me to easily search for them when it was time to move it to my editing software.

My process would look like going to the script to check what the next line is, then searching for the file to download and move to my editing software.

I came across an issue... I did not record me saying a whole part of a paragraph. I have a video where I began to say it but then messed up and I forgot to refilm it. There is not much I can do about it now; thankfully, it was somewhat summing up or concluding what I was saying before that, so it is not that big of an issue (still not good though). I went back to my script and highlighted red anything that was never said in the CCR video, just for personal notes.

Once I added in all my shots, I played it while looking at my script to ensure everything is in my CCR. Then, I went to look for background videos or pictures to include in the video so that it is not just some talking heads. I would look back at my response to the CCR questions in the script and would use that to remind me of a moment to show in the CCR video as well. For example, I mentioned some platforms at one point and included their logos:

Finally, I almost forgot to add my sounds! I saved the background restaurant ambiance and jazz music in my document about this CCR video. For the background sounds of people talking and utensils and general restaurant sounds, I lowered the volume so my actor and I can be heard. For the jazz music though, I lowered its volume to 1% so that the noise is not too busy and only hints of it are heard. 

Here is my final timeline after all that editing:

CCR VIDEO TWO - questions three, four

Yay! Almost done! I began editing the same way I did with CCR Video 1, opening all the files and reorganizing them. This time, I organized the videos into extra shots I took and shots of current me (which I even reordered into the order they should appear). I recorded younger me's lines in one video, so I never put it into a group.

Before

After

To begin editing, I first moved the video of younger me saying all her lines. I split the video between each of her lines, so the timeline ended up looking like this:

So, it is like I have a base for where current me's lines should go.

Eventually, I noticed how I forgot to record another part of a paragraph (I do not know why I keep doing that). It was easy to bypass this time since I can just put a voice recording of me saying it over a shot of younger me listening to my answer. Thankfully, I am able to do this since I got extra shots of her listening on the phone.

Once I added in the lines from both younger and current me and rewatched the product to make sure all lines are said, I once again looked through the script to find images to show in my CCR video. Questions 3 and 4 are more reflective, so there were many images I could bring in.

My line, "After I truly understood the thriller genre..." reminded me of the blog post I wrote to gain a deeper understanding of the thriller genre, so I decided to screenshot the blog post to include in my CCR video. So this...

Turned into this...

I continued adding in pictures throughout my entire video. Images of my storyboard and magazine ended up in the final product. Check out some images I already collected in my previous blog posts (CCR3, CCR4) to include in this CCR video.

Reflection

I feel so relieved knowing I finished editing everything. I feel like the shots I got were not totally the best and the background at the restaurant was not the best either, but I worked with what I have to make some good CCR videos. Now, I just need to make sure I am all set to share my final film opening and CCR videos! 

Yours Truly, 
Macie 💗

Production of CCR Videos

Hey there Cambridge!

I finally finished filming my CCR videos!!

The obstacles came immediately. Filming was supposed to begin on Monday, but I was so stressed and burnt out that I literally could not even try to do any work Monday after school. So, I decided to film Tuesday, but my sister did not want me using her room anymore, especially since she needed it to get ready for an important event. I had to find a new location space, which became my room as long as I move my closet, desk, and nightstand out of the way. Finally, Wednesday I was finally able to begin filming. By this point, production has been delayed twice, and I genuinely do not feel like filming anymore, but I know I have to continue. My schedule I created for my CCR production looks a lot different now.

On Monday, when I was setting up to film CCR Vid 1, I realize I forgot about the menu prop. I found a menu template online to print twice and use as a prop.

Later, on Wednesday, when preparing for CCR Video 1, I realized the set did not look much like a restaurant, so I taped on images of food onto the walls.

When filming CCR Video 2, I did not like the dark, poor lighting in my room. I used the main light in my room (ceiling light) and placed a lamp in front of me for much better lighting. This time, I used my phone to film which led to a good five messages saying I ran out of storage. Each time it happened, I had to airdrop the videos to my iPad, delete the videos off my phone, and restart my phone in order for me to continue recording. This was not an issue when filming Video 1 since I used my actor's phone to film that day, and his phone has lots of storage space. I would place the camera on a ladder, my makeshift tripod, to get a steady shot when filming.

Behind-the-Scenes Videos:

CCR 1 Behind-the-Scenes: https://new.express.adobe.com/publishedV2/urn:aaid:sc:US:e9536931-53a4-4ef4-bd29-7fd93f7ad03b?promoid=Y69SGM5H&mv=other

CCR 2 Behind-the-Scenes:

Citations:

Korinek, R. (2022, July 19). Black and white food photography like you’ve never seen before! Two Loves Studio. https://twolovesstudio.com/blog/black-and-white-food-photography/

Lim, H. (2023, June 29). 50 Creative Restaurant Food & Drinks Menu Design Ideas. Hongkiat. https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/beautifully-designed-food-menus/

Victor. (2015, February 3). FOOD. Pinterest. https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/403775922817096866/

Pngtree. (n.d.). Italian food photography black and white background and picture [Stock image]. https://pngtree.com/freepng/italian-food-photography-black-and-white-background-and-picture_8692795.html

Yours Truly, 

Macie 💗

CCR Production Ideas

Hey there Cambridge!

Now that I have planned the script for both my CCR videos, it is time to make a detailed plan and schedule for production as we are now getting into WEEK EIGHT of my portfolio project, meaning this project is coming to an end.

As you have seen in my previous blogs, I have been collecting my script and a basic note on the context, mise-en-scene, and audio for my videos in a document (linked below).

• CCR Video for Q1-2 - Google Docs
• CCR Video for Q3-4 - Google Docs

This blog will go deeper into the production process (what exactly to wear, where exactly will I film) to make a clear projection for how production will be like.

CCR VIDEO ONE

The dinner restaurant will be at my house, placing a table and two chairs against a wall (in my sister's room since that will allow for the most space and room to film this video). There will be a dark tablecloth on the table, as well as plates and silverware wrapped in cloth. I will use fake candles (on table) and my LED lamp (not on camera) to foster a dim-lit, romantic atmosphere.

I will wear the outfit pictured below (a), and my actor will wear a dark red polo and blue jeans. The waiter will wear a white, long sleeve top and long, black pants (b).

a

b

CCR VIDEO TWO

Younger me will be sitting in bed (c) and current me will be sitting on the living room couch (d).

c

d

Younger me will wear the pink top pictured below (e) and jeans, while current me wears the white top (f) and jeans.

e

f

Scheduling: 

Monday 3/9: Film CCR video one

Tuesday 3/10: Edit CCR video one

Wednesday 3/11: Film CCR video two

Thursday 3/12: Edit CCR video two

Reflection:

This detailed plan gave me a much clearer idea for how this week will look. I feel much calmer knowing I planned production, although this sounds like a whole other project to complete. The outfits that I described are saved in my closet, so I do not lose them, while I notified my actor to take care of his outfit for Monday's filming day. Just like for my film opening, I will be using my actor's phone to film.

CCR #4 Research/Planning

Hey there Cambridge!

It is time to research and plan out my script for CCR #4!

Question: How did you integrate technologies - software, hardware, and online - in this project?

Answer: Using Canva, I created the cover and two article pages for my magazine. Then I used my phone camera to take images of my actor, Ethan, in the middle of preserving his life. My led lamp made the room look blue and like Ethan was actually frozen. I moved these images to an app called Peachy to smooth out any wrinkles and impurities in the photo, so that it looks more unrealistic. That is when I finally completed the image and placed it in Canva to finish off my magazine. I printed the pages with the colored printer I have at home and glued it onto a LifeExtension magazine.

 To film, I used my actor's iPhone camera since my phone has barely any storage and I did not have access to a professional camera to film with. Once I airdropped all my videos from his phone to my iPad, I moved the videos to my OneDrive folder to begin the post-production process, where I edited my film opening using Adobe Express. I also used the graphic design tool Canva to create my production company logo.

Using my actor's iPhone was much more beneficial than using my phone camera. His iPhone seems to have much better video quality than mine, and I did not need to worry about my phone storage. An obstacle I often faced while post-production was my editing software. Since I was using it online, it would frequently slow down and say I have editing issues, which must have been because the internet. I have never used a professional editing software before, but Adobe Express's simplified look made editing an easy process.

Idea: This question is a part of CCR video two, where I am on a call with myself from the beginning of this school year.

Script: The script below is the full, complete script for CCR #3-4's video.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SXWCbGwn1NFC7JxvNdLwCIWbk5KCkoIhzVn96wbme24/edit?usp=sharing

Yours Truly, 

Macie 💗

CCR #3 Research/Planning

Hey there Cambridge!

It is time to research and plan out my script for CCR #3!

Question: 

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Answer: 

This whole process for creating my film opening was definitely super long, it took eight weeks. At first, I had no idea what I will do for it. The more I researched and the more I planned my project, the more I could see it coming together. I was originally interested in the thriller and satire genre, and I took time to look into its genre conventions. I really liked the tension and suspense built in thriller films, so it seemed like an easy decision for me to choose thrillers. After I truly understood the thriller genre, I had to create an idea. I made a one sentence madlib and filled in each blank with the first word that came to my head. That is how I got my baseline idea of doing something regarding a magazine and life preservation.

This idea was originally about a truck driver who finds a magazine from 1979 that had undergone life preservation, but then I realized there is no way I can find a truck to film with, so I changed it to a janitor at a furniture warehouse. Then, finally, since I had access to a garage with auto repair items, it became a janitor of an auto repair shop. My plot had undergone so much change, like with that and also when I changed the magazine to be from 2001, just so I can make a successful production. 

Once I had my idea, I storyboarded and wrote a script. Eventually, I got to see my drawings come to life when I began filming. I learned how important mise-en-scene is, especially costume design as it depicts someone's character and is how the audience makes an impression of them. Even though I already had a storyboard, I got ideas while filming for taking an extra, different shot of the same moment since it may work better than I originally planned. Like, when I took a high angle of the janitor sweeping, that was unplanned, but I figured it may work better than just a regular long shot. I did in fact end up using the high angle instead. So, this process also taught me how important it is to remain creative and keep your mind open for new ideas.

Of course, this process began before I began my film opening and was simply learning and applying what I learned in my AICE media class, with projects like our music video project and when we had to create a detailed soundscape with no video. My portfolio project tested me on what I learned, while also being a great way for me to truly understand what a production process feels like. 

Along the way, there were so many challenges, like how I was so confused when getting a music license from Epidemic Sound, but it all made me rethink the process that goes into movies. I was only filming the first two minutes to a film, imagine filming an hour-long film! I can see so much growth whenever I look back at my first blogs, when I was just blogging about projects I was doing in AICE Media. My past experiences in this class, and my process through my own production, set me up to think more about any film.

In the beginning, I was so stressed and lost with how my film opening will turn out, but in the end it all worked out and it turned out to be a big learning experience for me.

Idea: 

As you may recall, I planned to do a video where I am at the nail salon, and I am reflecting on my portfolio project with my nail technician. That idea, though, brings up some questions, like where will the set be and who will be my nail tech. My sister has nail tools since her hobby is creating nail designs. However, she looks a bit too much like me (twins) for the audience to differentiate us as nail tech and client more distinctly. She could wear no makeup, and I could do my makeup differently maybe. Either way, I have no clue as to where the nail salon would be located. Nowadays, you can just go to someone's nail practice in their garage, but my garage has no space for that. Overall, I really think that this whole spa day video is just not working out. Before officially sticking to this idea, I would like to consider at least one more idea.

Inspired by the current social media trend of asking little you questions about how much has changed and if future them reached their goals, I could make my CCR video about younger me (maybe from the beginning of the school year) asking about how my film opening turned out. CCR Q3-4 sound pretty reflective, so answering younger me's questions makes sense here. Having a twin works out here, instead of acting as both younger and current me, I could ask my sister to act the younger version of me (in the case younger and current me are reuniting, not calling each other).

After reflecting and thinking out this new idea, answering younger me's questions about my portfolio project works well for my second CCR video (Q3-4). It could be current and me from the beginning of the school year on a phone call or us reuniting in person and sitting down to talk (although, that looks more like a podcast so probably not that one).

Script: 

Yours Truly, 

Macie 💗

CCR #2 Research/Planning

Hey there Cambridge!

It is time to research and plan out my script for CCR #2!

Question: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

Answer: My audience is 15-50 year old males and females who love suspense, excitement, being scared, and who love films with plot twists and surprises. Usually, the target audience for thriller films is known to be a mature adult, but more young adults nowadays are exposed to violence and thrillers. For that reason, and since my film has no violence, the age range is much lowered to 15 years old and continues up to around 50 years old as that is a common age group interested in the thriller genre. Of course, my audience watches thrillers because they want to watch a nail-biting, suspenseful film. My film does not target any certain gender as it does not do anything super girly or boyish; I wanted to attract both boy and girl viewers to have a more diverse audience.

The beginning of my film, where the conflict is not explicitly shown, makes the audience work harder to figure out the issue. Since the setting is in a regular place, an auto repair shop, I purposefully chose suspenseful music so that the audience gets the feeling that something bad is about to happen. This is meant to give the audience the suspense and mystery they are looking for in a thriller.

My film will be posted on YouTube, and clips of it on Instagram to target teenagers and FaceBook to target adults. As an amateur filmmaker, I can premier my film at my school's lightning film festival or even submit my movie to Filmhub to potentially have my film distributed by them, in order to promote reach.

Idea: From my CCR #1 blog post, this will be a part of the first date video. This question will be the second one the guy asks. I will be playing the girl, and my boyfriend will act as the guy.

Script: Check below for the FULL, COMPLETED script for CCR #1 + #2

Citation: 

• Thye, L. L. (2017, June 22). Crime thrillers are like the Pied Piper to the young and the impressionable of the society. Encyclopedia of Opinions. https://encyclopedia-of-opinion.org/a/young-audience
  
• Piolo. (2025b, March 17). The target audience for thriller films: Who enjoys thrillers? | AMPLIFY XL. AMPLIFY XL. https://amplifyxl.com/target-audience-for-thriller-films/
  
• Walla indoors restaurant kitchenware Dutch Zuilen 2017.wav. (2019, March 17). [Video]. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/hz37/
  
• Romantic Love Jazz. (2025, July 29). [Video]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/music/smooth-jazz-romantic-love-jazz-348895/

This document linked here...

• Outlines the context of my first Creative Critical Reflection video
• Describes its mise-en-scene
• Links the sounds to be playing in the background
• Includes my full script for my first Creative Critical Reflection video

Using a Fake Tinder Profile Generator, I created this Tinder profile card. The guy will use it to bring up Focus on the Past, as it is mentioned in the description of 'my' profile.

Yours Truly, 

Macie 💗

CCR ideas + CCR 1 Research/Planning + Update in Schedule

Hey there Cambridge!

Now that I finished creating my film opening, I have two weeks left to do the CCRs. This post is divided into 3 sections: CCR ideas, CCR #1 planning, and my schedule.

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CCR IDEAS

I have been aware this post was coming soon. So, over the past few days, I have come up with a list of ideas to present my answers for the CCRs. They are written below with a brief description:

- Continue my Film: Continue the spies' (from my film) role into my CCR video. Someone finds the spy (me) ready to ask the CCR questions, but has to do so while spying on a life preservation participant.

- First Date: On a first date but the date asks questions about the CCR.

- Spa/Nail Salon: The nail technician asks me about my film opening (asking CCR qs) during my appointment.

- Jeopardy: The contestant (me) gets CCR questions to answer.

- Reacting to old YouTube videos: This is common among YouTubers that have been filming for 5+ years. The YouTuber (me) could be looking back at old YouTube videos (vlogs from filming days) and answering questions (CCR) about it. Click here for inspiration.

- Who's the Imposter: Inspired by Jubilee's videos, there will be 4-5 contestants all claiming to be the director of Focus on the Past and they need to figure out who the real director is based on their CCR answer. 

- Answering the Web's Most Searched Questions: Popular interview format where celebrities search their name and see what search results are suggested. I can do this with my movie title and CCR questions following after. Click here for inspiration.

I think I will go for the first date and spa day idea.

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CCR #1

Question: How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Answer: Focus on the Past has many thriller genre conventions, such as high and low angles, close-ups, rapid tempos, and fast-paced editing. It also challenges the thriller genre conventions, such as how the setting is in a not-so-scary place (an auto-repair shop and janitor's house), scary orchestral music while just simply sweeping, and by only giving clues (close-ups of words in the magazine) as to what the janitor is concerned about. I chose to challenge the genre conventions of having a creepy, isolated setting, utilize intimidating music in a normal situation, and not reveal the conflict immediately, so that I can foreshadow tension and fear and make the audience try harder to figure out why the janitor is feeling so concerned. Ultimately, it aids in building the suspense and tension I am aiming for. This film represents how bigger powers and institutions control the youth as the janitor entered this procedure at 17-18 years, and how this control can be negative to the youth, just like how the procedure limits memory and weakens brainpower. My film basically critiques how those with lots of influence can prey on or abuse young lives.

Idea: For my first CCR video (questions 1 and 2), I plan on doing the first date idea, my boyfriend and I can be the actors. The girl would arrive to the first date at a dinner, and the guy will bring up how he noticed I mentioned my film on my Tinder page. That will lead him to ask questions about my film (CCR Q#1-2).

Script: The script will go something like...

Setting is a dim-lit dinner restaurant. The girl arrives and the guy is already at the table.

Girl: [Arrives] Hi

Guy: Hello. It's nice to meet you!

Girl: It's nice to meet you too!

[Awkward silence]

Guy: So! I saw on your Tinder profile that you directed Focus on the Past.

Girl: Oh, yea I did.

Guy: I was just wondering about it as I am a HUGE thriller fan and film buff, how does your film use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Girl: [Answers with my answer I wrote above]

Guy: WOW well that's awesome. I watched it so long ago, but now that I am here with you, I feel like watching it all over again.

... The video continues to CCR Q2.

Citation: Whitaker, M. (2025, April 14). The Role of Cinematic Techniques in Creating Tension in Thrillers • imaginarycinema.com. WordPress. https://imaginarycinema.com/the-role-of-cinematic-techniques-in-creating-tension-in-thrillers/#what-types-of-camera-angles-are-most-effective-in-building-suspense

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SCHEDULE

I am super proud I stuck to the schedule! Since my previous schedule was pretty vague for the final two weeks, here is an updated version:

Weeks 1-6: ✅

Week 7 (3/2-3/8):

    Research CCRs

    Plan production

    Possibly start filming?

Week 8 (3/9-3/15):

    Film CCRs

    Edit CCRs

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Yours Truly, 
Macie 💗