Reflection post about group meeting #1

 intro

today we had a group meeting with all the different groups, and we talked about how our portfolio projects are going and the ideas everyone has. we also talked about any small improvements or tweaks people want to make, and honestly it was good to hear what everyone else is doing and kind of get inspo from it.

Christian he’s doing a thriller about 4 friends and 3 of them get caught in a trance after seeing some portal thing and the 4th friend finds them but the other 3 close the bag after seeing the portal. it's like a mystery vibe. I am not going to lie Chris is my friend, but I found his project a little confusing and i gave him some constrictive criticism.

Trisha hers is a paranormal thriller and it starts with a girl on a call and a bunch of weird stuff is happening with technology. like her ring camera says someone is there but no one is. she leaves to go to her friend's house because she’s freaked out and she’s going to edit in the notifications to show the weird things happening. I want to say Trisha did a very good job in this meeting contributing and helping out, giving good ideas to everyone.

Avery hers is like a thriller or drama in a normal high school. she’s a cheerleader and there’s no romance but she’s actually a drug dealer and the basketball player is the one she sells to. they’re both the opposite of what people expect. she’s using the cheer outfit for costume mise-en-scene.

Ethan he’s doing a sci fi stop motion animation with an astronaut on a rocket and it gets destroyed. his second idea is also on a rocket, but its harder to produce we had a good conversation with him about what's the best option for him and he ended up going with the first one. his problem is he needs multiple sets and the lighting will have to change. he’s using stick bots and said filming might take like 2 weeks.

Meliyah she’s doing a psychological thriller about a girl talking to her sister, but the sister is actually dead and she doesn’t believe it. she said she might change it more into a drama. We also helped Meliyah tweak something in her project for the better helping her chose how to edit the deid sister.

Selena

she’s doing a thriller, but she doesn’t know what supernatural creature she wants yet. leaning more into horror and she’s going to use music to build the mood. But overall, she doesn't have a concrete idea set almost like me at the time of the meeting.

Sonakshi hers is about overwhelming feelings and using diegetic sounds She is still also brainstorming but she wants to do something with that.

refection

this group meeting was important because it helped us see where everyone is at with their projects. I liked it because I got to help my classmates with their ideas and everyone had really good concepts. It gave me more motivation and inspo for my own project too.

image link

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/641090456/vector/collaboration-infographic-with-8-steps-parts-options.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=g5oQL38J9lxvgaCGEOZ4LpRmE6oesEEYVYTg7qYJ0Ic=

script

intro

This is going to be the script for the portfolio project 2-minute fill opening.

Interviewer: Welcome to the Daily Updates Show. I am your host David Litman and I am thrilled to have the highly distinguished clinician and researcher Doctor Mueller.

(Claps in background)

Mueller: Thank you so much for having me here today. It is an honor to be on the big stage.

Interviewer: Well, let's get started. As many of you know, Dr. Mueller requested to be here today.

Mueller: Yes, I did, and the reason for that is a big announcement regarding my newest medicine released just 3 days ago. All 2 million of you who bought it will likely want to hear this...i know after announcing this many consequences will come that will derail the rest of my life.

Mueller: With that being said...You all have 48 hours to live.

Patient: WHAT?!

Interviewer: Laughs sarcastically* Ok let's get serious now

Mueller: I am being serious... I’m so sorry, I will work endlessly to find a cure ASAP.

Patient: This mother fuu

Interviewer: 5 hours later* I know nobody was expecting me to be back so soon but I must inform everybody doctor Mueller is no longer with us. He took his own life moments after his announcement.

Close up of patients face on the computer

Over the shoulder* of both moms looking up ways to cure this

reflection

Overall, I like this script I feel like it fits the mystery/drama very well am excited to executed in the actual film, every day we get closer to filming.

image link

 https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaVfJsguTkxWNunkouUImxR6zLwXY4RkzEeA&s

Research blog on post of your choice

research post

For this research post I looked at another student’s blog about credit scenes and how they planned theirs. I still don't have a sold idea about what me and my group will do with the credit scenes but hopefully researching there can help. Their idea was putting the credits on random things inside a car which I thought was kind of smart and unique because it doesn’t pull your eyes away. Before they did it they looked at a couple movies to see how credits can match the vibe of a film, so I went through their blog to see what they were talking about.

One movie they used was Fahrenheit 451 (1966). The credits aren’t even on the screen; they just say them out loud. It sounds weird but they say it fits the no reading allowed thing in the movie. So even the audience isn’t reading. It shows how credits can be part of the world instead of just names. I liked that it was interesting.

They also talked about Raging Bull (1980). The credits are super plain, just white text, but the shot behind it is what makes it good. It’s the boxer warming up alone and the lighting makes him look kinda trapped. The blog explained that it doesn't distract them from the shot and that the shot sets the whole mood. It made sense when I read it.

After reading their blog I get what they were trying to do. They want their credits to feel natural like Raging Bull but also kind creative like Fahrenheit 451. Putting the credits on trash and objects in the car actually fits. It doesn’t feel random after seeing the examples they used.

reflection

Overall, this helped me see how other students think about credit scenes and how the opening titles can change the whole vibe of a film. It also connects to my own project since I want my credits to match the mystery tone and not feel out of place or boring the goal for me is to build suspense keep it so you can build on the opening and last make it fun and creative.

credits

Stephanie's AICE Media Blog: Credit Scene

three credit sequences

 

Intro

I picked the mystery genre because it always gives that weird feeling that something is off even when nothing has happened yet.my project is going to have real film opening with real titles and all that I wanted to see how mystery films use their credits to set the mood. Doing this helps connect professional movies with the portfolio project and it's a good way to get inspiration, and it shows me how the opening titles are not just names but part of the tension.

1. sorry wrong number 1948

This is my personal favorite mystery movie and for my portfolio project me and my group were thing about doing something with inspiration two this. The credits start with dark lighting and heavy shadows, and the music feels stressful right away. The title comes in strong, and the whole thing feels like someone is hiding something. It fits the mystery genre because it uses darkness and dramatic sound to pull you into the tension before the plot even begins.

2. a simple favor

The credits in a simple favor look bright and fast, but it still feels like something is wrong. The objects they show feel like clues and the upbeat music feels fake on purpose. The bold font pops up quick, almost like it wants to distract you. It fits the mystery vibe because it makes you pay attention to everything even stuff that looks random.

3. north by the northwest

The credits use moving lines and shapes that look like puzzle pieces sliding around. The green background and sharp angles make everything feel tense before the story even starts. The simple font works because the movement makes it feel like something is already chasing the main character. It builds suspense without showing any scenes.

reflection

Doing this helped me understand how important the credits in my portfolio project and take inspo for how I should do them. They set the tone before anything happens, and they make you watch everything closely. Since the project needs real titles like production company, actors, and all that this research helps me see how to make my own opening feel like a mystery from the first second. I want my film opening to build tension even if nothing big is happening yet.

(Mainstream, easy to verify)

• A Simple Favor info: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7040874/

• North by Northwest credit breakdown: https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/north-by-northwest/ (artofthetitle.com in Bing)

• Sorry, Wrong Number film info: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040823/

• General film credit structure: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/film-credits-order-guide/ (studiobinder.com in Bing)

calendar-schedule

intro

This is the calendar for my project. I actually want to do good on it, but I keep dragging things out and then getting frustrated later when everything piles up. I’m trying to stay on track this time and actually follow the calendar I made instead of ignoring it, because I know I can do better if I just stick to it. It’s just me doing this, so I got to stop messing around and actually lock in for real.

Week One (1/16-1/23)

• three postings
• and into to portfolio project ✅ 
• transition posting to portfolio project.  Discuss initial plans, approach to project, etc.✅ 
• posting about two possible genre choices for project .✅ 

 Week Two (1/26-2/1)

• four postings
• research/analyze/discuss three film openings from chosen genre✅
• research/analyze/discuss three credit sequences from films within chosen genre
• Post illustrating the schedule you have created for your project completion ✅
• Research post of your choice 

Week Three (2/2-2/8)

• Four postings
• Reflection post about group meeting #1
• Research post about one media theory that you wish to integrate into your project 
• Post summarizing your project idea and major inspiration
• Post including your script or storyboard

Week Four (2/9-2/15)

• four postings
• planning post focusing on character development
• planning post focusing on mise-en-scene element.
• planning post focusing on mise-en-scene element.
• Planning post focusing on audio

Week Five (2/16-2/22)

• Four postings
• Planning post of your choice
• Production post for creation of your production company logo 
• Production post of your choice
• Production post of your choice 

Week Six (2/23-3/1)

• Four postings
• Production post of your choice
• Post-production (editing) process post
• Post-production (editing) process post
• Research for #1 question of CCR post

Week Seven (3/2-3/8)

• Four postings  
• Research for #2 question of CCR post
• Research for #3 question of CCR post
• Research for #4 question of CCR post
• Post discussing CCR production ideas

Week Eight (3/9-3/17)

• Four postings
  • Post about production of CCRs
  • Post about post-production (editing) of CCRs
  • Post with final reflection on project
  • Post with links to CCR’s and film opening

I will be putting checks next to all the actives when I am done with them

three film research/analyze/discuss

 1. The godfather 1972

When I watched the opening of the godfather, I noticed it starts really slow and quiet and that is one of the reasons I like it so much. It does not try to grab you with action; it just puts you in a dark room with a man explaining how the law failed him and why he is asking don Corleone for justice. I like this scene a lot because it makes everything feel serious as sone as the movie opens, like every word actually matters. The lighting is low and the camera moves slow, and it builds a heavy feeling that shows don Corleone's power without him even having to talk much at first. It is one of my favorite movies overall, and this opening is a big reason why, because it pulls you in by mood and emotion instead of big effects. It makes the world feel real and intense from the very beginning and I feel like it sets the rest of the movie up well, that's what I want to do with my opening. 

2. moonlight 2016

The opening of Moonlight stood out to me because it starts with the sound of the ocean, which feels calm at first, but then you see kids running and bullying someone, and the mood changes fast. I felt like that contrast shows right away that the world can be harsh even when it seems peaceful. The camera feels close to the people, which makes everything feel personal, and you can already tell someone is feeling alone. That opening made me understand early that the movie is about emotions and identity not big action and that is why it stuck with me.

3. Manchester by the sea

The opening surprised me because it shows a calm and normal moment with people together, joking and interacting. I expected drama right away, but instead it was simple and peaceful. Later the story becomes sad and because of the opening I could feel how much was lost, which made the rest hit harder. I liked how the opening used a happy moment to set  the theme of loss and show the emotional stakes from the start. 

reflection

 I would like to do all of this in my project because show how an opening can quickly set the mood introduce relationships and hint at the story, I want a big emotional impact and help guide how I plan my shots, sound, and pacing, these openings helped me see what a drama opening looked like and its helped me for inspiration.

citations

1Greenlight Coverage 2024 Expert Analysis Of The Godfather Opening Scene https coverage com the godfather opening scene analysis

2The Film Blog 2017 Analysis of the opening sequence of Moonlight https thefilmblog222 wordpress com an analysis focussed on the sound cinematography and mise en scene used in the opening sequence of barry jenkins moonlight

3You Call Yourself A Film Critic 2019 What I like About Moonlight And The Metaphor Of Water https youcallyourselfafilmcritic wordpress com what i like about moonlight and the metaphor of water

Portfolio Project Genre #2

 

intro

Personally, I don't know a lot about mystery movies one of the things I most like about them is the mystery you can leave. I wanted to leave the Cambridge grader on the edge of his seat. But all jokes a side drama and mystery to me were the best fitting for the task at hand. For example, looking at some movie opening for mystery something big always happens at the begging, and the entry movie is them just trying to figure out what happened at the begging. And to me it sounds like a good genre just like drama it can have depth and not like drama we add mystery. 

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

jaw (1975)

typical target audiences

Mystery movies are mostly made for teens and adults who like trying to figure things out while they watch. It's for people that like to guess and pay attention to small details, at the same time and trying to solve the case before the characters do.

genre conventions and content

Most mystery plots start with a crime or something weird happening, then there’s a main detective and a few suspects who all seem like they could have done it. The story mixes real clues with fake ones so the audience keeps asking questions, and there’s usually a twist at the end that explains everything.

genre convention

Mystery films use darker lighting, close ups and to emphasize important clues, flashbacks also tense sounds to build suspense. also, a lot of focus on small details that may have an impact latter on, so the viewer feels like they are part of the investigation.

institution conventions

Marketing for mystery movies are usually posters with the main suspects, and lines that make you wonder what happened. Trailers tease the setup without spoiling the ending. These movies also do good on streaming because people like watching at their own pace and pausing to think about clues.

Two film

Two good examples of the mystery genre are the silence of the lambs, which follows an investigator trying to catch a killer, and jaws, which starts as a mystery because nobody knows what’s attacking people or how to stop it.

closing

Today we researched on mystery, a new topic for me I learned a lot from it, the research that I conduced was good and it opened my eyes to the possible opening that I could do researching these genres. In the end, mystery sticks around because people like trying to solve things on their own instead of just watching a story play out. It makes you pay attention. That's why I choose to do researched on it and this may be the genre I use.

The Short Reads. 2023. “Mystery Genre Explained.” Retrieved January 22, 2026 (https://theshortreads.com/mystery-genre-explained/).

Thanks everyone for reading!!!