Portfolio Project Genre #1

opening

Hello, the fist genre I will be researching for my portfolio project is drama. Drama is all about real people dealing with real life problems. It focuses on emotions, relations and personal struggles as showing moments that feel honest and relatable. My personal favorite movies are war dramas sadly they are super expansive to make, and I won't be able to do that for my 2-minute film opening but that is mostly the only prior knowledge on that. I have a blog posted about war dramas. One of the reasons I choose to research dramas is because of the freedom you have with them.

beautiful boy 2018 and Manchester by the sea 2016

typical target audience

Dramas mostly appeal to people over 15 because the stories deal with real life problems and emotions that younger kids don’t always get. The audience is usually people who like character stories and want something that feels real and personal instead of action.

Genre conventions

Dramas use realistic settings, natural acting, and slower pacing to make everything feel real. There’s a lot of close ups to show emotion and scenes that focus more on talking and reactions. This helps the audience connect with the characters and understand what they’re going through. 

instructional conventions

Dramas are usually released in theaters or on streaming platforms. Alot people like to watch drams at home because its more comfortable and if the viewer wants to cry, they can and don't have to hold in emotions. Marketing for dramas usually focuses on the actors, especially if they’re well known, like in Beautiful Boy. Posters normally show the main characters in emotional moments instead of action scenes like the in the pictures I put above.

Two films

Two good examples of the drama genre are Beautiful Boy, which shows a father and son dealing with addiction, (one of my favorite movies in the genre) and The Pursuit of Happiness, which follows a man struggling through real life challenges while trying to take care of his son has a big emotional impact.

Reflection 

Working on this genre helped me understand how drama relies more on emotion and realism than big effects or action. (not including war dramas) I realized that the way a drama is distributed can affect how people experience it, especially since many viewers prefer watching emotional stories at home, this may be the genera I chose for my film opening I am still deciding but I like the depth that dramas bring.

Thanks so much for reading today blog!

Citation

Sørup, Jan. 2025. “What Is Drama? Definition, Subgenres, and Themes.” FilmDaft. Retrieved January 22, 2026 (https://filmdaft.com/what-is-drama-definition-subgenres-and-themes/).

transition to portfolio project

 We are known transitioning to the portfolio project this is a brand-new chapter of the year I am very excited to create a 2-minute film opening where I can express my creativity! From now on my blogs will be showing you the development of this project throughout the weeks, from research to the actual filming process. This project feels different from what we have done before because it allows more freedom and personal style, which makes it more meaningful to me.

This blog will show all aspects of the project from progression, challenges, and choices me and my group make and see how it effects the project over time. At this early stage I am focusing on research by themes trying to narrow down what theme the film opening will be also looking at other film openings for inspiration. Especially how producers introduce charter's themes and atmometer in such a short time. I am not an expert in film making but I have learned a lot about media and films this past year, I am going into this project with an open mind knowing I will make mistakes and try to learn from them and not let that affect the quality of this project. For example in the last project we did there were many road bumps like thinking we were not going to get the filming done on time or that no one was going to show up to filming and that didn't stop us and I think the film came out great, yes It was a little dark but we actually put a lot of effort forward and we saw good results. So in conclusion I am excited for this 2-minute opening, and I am ready to put effort into it and make it amazing. 

Blog Posting - Music Marketing #2

Blog.mp4

Music Marketing #1

 

Music Marketing Project Heavy Metal  For this project, my group got assigned the heavy metal genre and the song we’re using is called Blind. We’re still in the planning stage right now, so this is mainly about what we’ve researched so far and how we’re getting ready for the full project. 

 

Research So far, we’ve been looking into how heavy metal bands market their music. Metal feels different from other genres because it’s not just about chasing trends, it’s more about having a strong fanbase and a specific image. We’ve been watching music videos and social media from metal bands to see how they present themselves. Most of them use darker visuals and a lot of energy, especially in their performances. That helped us get a better idea of how we want our band to look and feel. 

 

Our Artist and Brand We're building our artist, but we already know we want them to have a heavy and intense vibe. Since the song is called Blind, were thinking of ideas connected to that, like themes of feeling lost, anger, or not seeing the truth. We’re trying to keep the style dark and raw so it actually feels like a real metal band instead of something fake. 

 

Marketing Plan So Far Right now, we’re planning to use: 

Instagram for pictures, posters, and updates 

TikTok for short clips and behind-the-scenes stuff 

YouTube for the music video and performance videos 

 

Music Video Planning We haven’t filmed yet, but we’re starting our storyboard. We need at least 20 slides, so right now we’re planning out the type of shots we want, the angles, and how we want the video to look. Since it’s heavy metal, we want it to feel loud, and real. but intense enough to match the song. 

What I’m Learning Even though we’re not done yet, this project is already showing me that marketing an artist is more than just putting out a song. You really have to think about the image, the vibe, and how people are going to connect with it. 

Mise-en-scene project blog post.

 

Meet Robert Williams

For our Multimedia Mise en scene project, we created a character named Robert Williams. He’s a 46 year old investment banker who lives in San Francisco. Robert works hard but also knows how to have fun. He lives alone in a modern apartment and loves taking his dog Bella to the park, going to the gym, watching TV, and throwing parties for friends and family.

What We Made

We made a mood board with pictures of dog parks, gym gear, party scenes, and TV shows. We set up a space that looked like Robert’s apartment, with props like a gym bag, dog toys, and party cups. We added music Robert would play at home chill beats and pop songs. Visitors could touch things like a dog leash, Italian snacks, and a fake investment folder.

Here’s the link to our folder with Robert’s mood board, music, and photos: 

Multimedia Mise-en-scene - Robert Williams

How We Built His Personality

We showed Robert’s fun and caring side with things like dog clothes and party decorations. His music and apartment setup helped show his style. We used colors like blue and forest green to match his vibe. His quirks like watching love island made him feel more real.

Working Together

Our group worked well as a team. Everyone helped with different parts music, props, and design. We had fun coming up with Robert’s personality and setting up his station. People liked how real he felt and his tinder account, and we were proud of how it all came together.

Genre Research Blog Activity

 

Genre Conventions Content

War movies show what it’s like to be in battle and how it affects people. They usually focus on soldiers, bravery, brotherhood, and the cost of fighting.
Common things you see:

Soldiers trying to survive or finish a mission

Loyalty and teamwork between troops

Loss, trauma, and the emotional side of war

Real or inspired by true events

The idea of doing your duty even when it’s hard

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Genre Conventions Production Techniques

War films try to look and feel as real as possible.
Some common techniques are:

Realistic uniforms, weapons, and vehicles=in some movies they pay big attention to detail. 

Shaky handheld cameras to make it feel like you’re there

Loud sound effects guns, explosions, yelling

Gritty, dark color tones to match the mood

Big battle scenes mixed with close-ups of emotion

Heavy use of smoke, dirt, and lighting to show chaos

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Institutional Conventions How the Genre Is Marketed

War movies are often promoted as powerful and emotional. Trailers usually show big battle scenes mixed with quiet, sad moments.
Studios use things like:

“Based on a true story” to make it feel real

Big actors or famous directors

Posters showing soldiers, flags, or destroyed cities

Release dates around Veterans Day or awards season

They appeal to people who like action but also stories about courage and sacrifice.

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Film Sample #1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie changed how war films are made. The opening D-Day scene is one of the most realistic battle scenes ever filmed. The camera work and sound make you feel like you’re on the beach.
It’s about a group of soldiers risking their lives to save one man, showing the value of life and friendship in a brutal situation. The movie shows both the horror and humanity of war.

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Film Sample #2 Fury (2014)

Directed by David Ayer, Fury follows a tank crew during the final days of World War II. The film focuses on how close the men become and how the war changes them.
Real tanks and authentic sets make it look very real. The movie mixes intense action with emotional moments, showing how war pushes people to their limits.
It fits the war genre because it’s about survival, loyalty, and the heavy cost of fighting.

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Other Examples of War Films

1. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) A young German soldier sees how brutal WWI really is.

2. Inglourious Basterds (2009) A wild WWII story full of revenge and dark humor.

3. Hacksaw Ridge (2016) True story of a medic who saves lives without using a gun.

4. 1917 (2019) – A WWI story filmed to look like one long shot.

5. Black Hawk Down (2001) A mission in Somalia that turns into a fight for survival.

6. The Thin Red Line (1998) Shows the emotional and mental side of soldiers in war.

7. Dunkirk (2017) – Tells the story of soldiers trying to escape under fire.

Me

I’m so happy we got to do an assignment like this. In the past year, I’ve completely become a nerd for war movies, and I love them. I’ve watched almost all of the ones on this list except the last three, and they really interest me. I think it’s so cool and fascinating that there were millions of soldiers in World War I and World War II, each with their own stories. When I watch these movies, I learn so much and feel so many different emotions. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I laugh, and sometimes I feel like jumping out of my seat because the Germans are coming after the Americans and the soldiers do something brave to pull off the victory. I really hope they keep making more war movies because in my opinion, there should be many more since there are still so many untold stories out there.

images

1.This is my favorite WW1 movie

2.the second picture is from Inglourious Basterds it's not historically accurate at all but it's a good movie.

3.Hacksaw Ridge is an amazing movie my 3rd favored from WW2 and my favorite from the pacific theater, I heard from actual veterans that letter from ewojima was also good.

4.1917 was good because it was filmed in all one shot. But the actual story was not very good the plot was hard to keep up with and a the end you had no idea if they actually called of the attack.

Sound project #1 and #2:

 Project Directions:

For this project, we had to create a short soundscape that told a story using only sound effects no visuals or dialogue. The goal was to capture a full scene and help the listener imagine what was happening just by hearing the sounds. We started by brainstorming a short 1 to 2 minute scene that could happen in real time. Then we planned out all the noises that would make the story clear, like footsteps, background sounds, or objects being used.

My Approach:
When I started brainstorming, I decided on a “Volcano Eruption and Jungle Escape” theme. I pictured a calm jungle that suddenly erupts into chaos when a volcano awakens. I made a list of every sound I needed, from birds and wind to rumbling lava and footsteps.

Outline and Organization:
My outline helped me break the story into three parts:

1. Calm before the eruption

2. The volcano awakening

3. The escape scene

This structure made it easier to record and layer the right sounds in order.

Editing Resources Used:
I used clip champ to cut fade and mix the clips. I adjusted the volume of certain effects to make them sound distant or close.

Reflection:
I think we did well with blending different sound layers smoothly. The timing between the rumble and the eruption felt natural. I’d like to improve my foley but overall, it was cool I liked the plot a lot.

ArangoRosario_foley_per2

Project Directions:
For this project, we created a video that told a short story using sound. It was an expansion of an earlier project, and this time we focused on adding sound effects and music to match the visuals. We planned out all the noises, recorded some ourselves using Foley techniques, and layered them with other sounds to make the scene feel realistic. The goal was to make viewers better understand the story.

My Approach:
My story was about a school kid at lunch who gets really bad food. I wanted to make it serious but also relatable. During brainstorming, I thought about what sounds would make the scene feel real like, kids talking, footsteps, and school cafeteria noise.

Outline and Organization:
My outline helped me match each sound to what was happening in the video. For example, I planned when the lunch tray hit the table, and when the sniffing reaction happened. This organization helped me line up the sounds with perfect timing.

Editing Resource Used:
I used clip cham again for most of the sound editing, and I synced the audio with my video, I made sure to adjust timing and volume, so each effect matched the action.

Reflection:
I think I did a great job capturing the word of the scene and syncing the sounds with the video. The eating and reaction sounds made it come alive. one thing was that the video was not meant for sound so me and Jalin tried to make it, so it did not need sound that was the only downside.

OWFSound_Arango