Final Reflection

 Hi blog! This blog is about my final reflection on this project. I hope you like it!

Personal Growth and Development: 

This portfolio project was my first long-term project, and it definitely was a little overwhelming at first. As for my technical skills, throughout this project, I was able to combine all of my skills together into one project. From shots and angles to sound to mice-en-scene elements, it definitely was an experience. I got to showcase all of these skills while learning at the same time. I really enjoyed putting all these elements together to tell a story. It was very fun to just unleash my creativity, which I typically do not do often in school. I made new friends through my group meetings and became closer for sure with my group mates. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for everyone, including my very supportive teacher. My biggest takeaways are for sure time management and trusting my creativity. Without proper time management, you could very easily fall behind and it is difficult to get back up and continue. In addition, it was stressful to have just a big white canvas with only yourself painting it. But, in the end, everything came together and I ended up with a beautiful painting!

Challenges:

For sure, my hardest challenge to overcome was the scheduling conflicts. I worked with three others so during the filming week, all of our schedules had to align. Not only that, but we needed permission from the owner of the gym to be able to film. We only had two days to pick from and my group mate Arianna asked our boss (the owner of the gym) and we had to make the decision right then and there. Thankfully, everyone was able to come and film at the gym so it all went well! As for editing, I struggled slightly with the layout, but by the end, I became a pro! It was definitely worth the patience and practice! My new editing skills will definitely be a useful tool in my future academic courses. 

Impact: 

I feel like my project stands out. The main reason why is because of the premise of the plot being about gymnastics. I am not saying that people do not know what gymnastics is and that it is a new and improved invented idea. But what I mean is that who actually has access to a gym and gymnasts to film a film opening? The second my teacher proposed the project to us, my mind began running through ideas and I loved the idea of being related to gymnastics. I had the connection to secure the setting and characters so it was a perfect match! Not only this, but my plot goes beyond the average injury story. She is already injured before the film begins so we do not see Gianna injuring herself and having to quit. What we see instead is the perseverance of the individual, and her learning to trust those around her to heal. I hope my audience will be able to see this as well. 

Technology: 

Without Adobe, iMovie, Google Drive, and Pixabay, I do not know where I would be. These tools worked together to bring my vision to life. Without Adobe, where would I have used the masking effect for the fonts? Where would have all my footage gone without Google Drive? What about my CCRs without iMovie as a backup? And let's not forget about Pixabay, for helping me gain tons of sounds and music which played a significant role in my film. Through this project, I gained a better understanding of using all of these platforms to enhance my projects. 

Final Verdict: 

All in all, I am most proud of my film opening. All of the elements worked together to make my vision come true. Yes, I changed certain things midway during filming, etc, but it was still what I envisioned. I am very proud of my commitment to this project as well, and not let the conflicts I faced hold my project back from its potential. Maybe I dislike editing a tiny bit less thanks to this project, but it still is a tedious task I'd rather avoid. Thanks to this project, I will definitely appreciate films more, since it took me roughly a month to only create two minutes of content. The dedication to creating a film is mind-blowing and amazing. This project has also awakened my possible interest in studying media in the future since I am a sophomore at the moment. I am glad I was able to take you on this journey with me and I hope you enjoyed! Goodbye.