Portfolio Project Genre #2

 Fantasy (film genre)

    My connection to the fantasy genre runs very deep, as it was one of the first forms of media I remember engaging with. I chose to research this genre because of the limitless potential and huge range of stories it can encompass. Unlike some other genres, fantasy is unconstrained by the restrictions of the real world, allowing creators to imagine entirely new realms, systems, and possibilities. In this sense, fantasy is open to the extraordinary. Anything can happen. This gives me a lot of freedom as to what I can do with my film opening. However, that liberation also creates some challenges as not only is the wonderful and otherworldly possible in a fantasy, but it is expected. Even so, I trust in my own inventiveness enough to pull off such a task. 

    Fantasy films make the audience feel swept up in the wonder of a far away imaginary world where events are unlikely to occur in real life. The key element that ties all fantasy films together is that they feature magic, or some kind of thing that would otherwise be impossible. From there, the genre branches out into many iconic sub-genres that integrate components from other major genres and while there is overlap between them, fantasy films will always take place in a world unlike our own. They provide an escape from reality and the mundane by showing the viewer magical powers or fictitious creatures. Many of these films revolve around some kind of quest that the main character must embark on, following the typical narrative framework of the “Hero’s Journey,” and the character tropes that we see in many media texts. Regardless, fantasy stories can be exceptionally outstanding and memorable when quality writing meets the dramatic cinematography that films in this genre often have. Fantasy has a broad scope that can incorporate many facets of our world and imaginations. 

    Fantasy is a genre that is about as old as fiction itself. Our earliest recorded narratives contain elements of fantasy and it we can only assume that the stories passed down orally which inspired these ancient tales were full of fantasy as well. For example, fables, which historically feature talking animals (something that could not happen in the real world), are a type of fantasy. The imagination and creativity of the brain tempts you to create something that transcends the bounds of the real world when fabricating a made-up story. Indeed, this genre is the backbone of modern fiction. The earliest fantasy film dates all the way back to the late 19th century, in France. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s when fantasy films would become more frequent staples.

    By far the most recognizable and emblematic subgenre that has become a symbol of the genre as a whole is high fantasy or epic fantasy. It is likely what immediately comes to mind when you think of the genre. Sometimes based on books, these kinds of stories involve swords, spells, wizards, dragons, quests, princes and princesses, and of course, magic — generally all of the key elements you would associate with fantasy. The trademark of a high fantasy film is the presence of a secondary world, a setting that looks similar enough to Earth but operates by the standards of a fantasy. It is a place where anything can happen. With that said, a fantasy world should have basic rules as to how it and the magic within the world functions, to avoid inconsistency and gaping flaws in the plot. This requires a level of world building, and explain to the audience the ways in which this secondary world functions. For that reason, these films are usually more prone to over-exposition than most others. High fantasy is predominantly dramatic and serious, exploring a world-ending threat, high stakes, or a problem that will terribly disrupt life for the characters forever. The fate of everything is on the line in a high fantasy epic. Lord of the Rings is a perfect example of this. The scope of the story and the setting are huge. It often employs an internal character arc for the protagonist, incorporating the conventions of a coming-of-age story. 

Copyright: MovieWeb

    Typically speaking, a fantasy uses the dichotomy between good and evil as a central theme and pits the two against each other. The protagonists may be a small part of a greater force.

    These films are usually inspired by mythology or folklore. Another staple is the adaptation of fairy tales, which is commonly seen in Disney films. 

    On the opposite end of the spectrum is urban fantasy. Urban fantasy is modern, gritty, and nuanced. This sub-genre usually takes place on a version of Earth, though a secondary world setting can still be used, and typically based in the past. Though they still include fantastical elements, such as supernatural beings, the existence of magic, or something else otherworldly. That extraordinary element may exist in secret and hidden away from the rest of the world, allowing for it to exist alongside our reality. Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief are films that would be considered this type of urban fantasy. However, if the fantastic exists openly, then it is likely a blending between both the real world and fantasy elements. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a good example of that. Common conflicts of involve humans fighting against the supernatural or magical beings, and urban fantasy usually has more realistic themes than high fantasy.

    Horror is a genre that pairs quite well with fantasy, resulting in the dark fantasy sub-genre. Dark fantasy explores the horrific side of the genre by combining it with horror. They usually take place in a real world setting, but may be set in a secondary one. It takes the more wondrous and mystifying aspects found in fantasy films such as magic and fantastical creatures and twists them to be purely malicious, dangerous, or violent. Many horror films could be considered fantasy. Think of ghost and monster movies, which feature supernatural beings. Movies like Dracula and the Conjuring are dark fantasy. There are so many films that focus on vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts, and the occult, but they are often associated with only the horror genre and not always recognized as fantasy. 

    Technically, superhero films are also a sub-genre of fantasy, featuring human characters with incredible and unnatural powers. With that said, superhero movies are usually considered their own separate genre entirely. 

    Portal fantasy is a very particular sub-genre of fantasy, but also one that is famous and seen a lot in media. In this kind of story, the protagonist leaves our reality and enters a secondary world, a magical world. It differs from other sub-genres of fantasy in that both the real world and the secondary world coexist, but are completely separate from each other. And thus, the only way to traverse between them is through a “portal.” There is often a heavy contrast between scenes taking place in reality and in the secondary world. There is usually a quest or a mission awaiting the protagonist in the other world that they must complete with the help of characters native to the magical world. The main character’s primary end goal in a portal fantasy is typically to return to their own realm. The Wizard of Oz is a textbook example.  These films are perfect way to combine an epic journey with character growth.

    As stated before, fantasy films often incorporate different kinds of tropes depending on the sub-genre. The typical quest format is an especially pertinent one, along with numerous character tropes. Antagonists are usually powerful and domineering, with some kind of supernatural abilities or armies. There are also parental figures, love interests, mentors who train people in a skill, damsels in distress, big cities, and wise elders. One of the main tropes is setting the story in medieval times, or some time in the past. Crafting a character in a fantasy is exceptionally fun as there are endless possibilities. The genre allows for the existence of elves, ogres, princes and princesses, wizards, witches, shape-shifters, and talking animals. However, it is important that the story supports the character concepts in order for the narrative to be more cohesive, which is something I want to keep in mind when making my film opening. Despite the fantastical setting, the characters are still real people with wants, desires, goals and motives. 

    Fantasy films often use grandiose, orchestral music in the score to emphasize the intense plot and action. They also typically have very detailed set designs in order to better flesh out the fictional world in which the characters inhabit rather than through expository dialogue. As stated earlier, high fantasy films usually have a very large scope, and for this reason they mainly utilize wide shots, establishing shots, and long shots to capture just how big everything is. Fantasy movies also commonly use heavy, dramatic lighting as well to enhance emotion. I am going to strive to use these techniques in my film opening. Fantasy films rely very heavily on special effects. 

    The target audience for most fantasy movies is young adults, and the films give a feeling of escapism and magic. The dramatic plot lines and complex world-building appeals more to an older crowd, though fairy-tale inspired fantasy films are commonly marketed towards families and children with a more light-hearted and whimsical tone. Like I said before, many high fantasy stories are adapted from novels, and promotion of the films might lean into its faithfulness to the original source material to draw in old fans. Studios love fantasy films because their epic scale stories give them great potential to make a franchise out of it, especially when a film or TV show is based off of a preexisting series with multiple installments. 

    Trailers for fantasy movies typically show the general mood, style, and aesthetic rather than the plot. They are crafted to highlight the grand visuals, set pieces, stakes, and characters, creating a visual spectacle. Fantasy film marketing loves to utilize cross-media convergence, with tie-in books, video games, and other pieces of merchandise. 

Examples:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

    This is the first film in one of the most famous fantasy franchises that has ever hit the screens, and a perfect representation of the genre. The Harry Potter films hit almost every single major convention of a fantasy story. The films are all about wizards and witches and other magical creatures, with magic and spells being one of the most important elements in the series. It follows the typical “Chosen One” storyline, and a moral struggle between the forces of good and evil. The fantastical setting is fully developed, with the magic school of Hogwarts as a key location. Mise-en-scene elements such as the gothic architecture, robes, and magical symbols instantly communicate the fantasy genre. The films end up exploring personal themes such as friendship and loyalty, death, loss, and choice. 

Copyright: Movies Anywhere

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

    The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic example of escaping the real world into one of magic, Narnia. The titular wardrobe acts as the portal between the realms, as ordinary children are taken out of their plain reality into a land full of wonder, but also of evil and corruption. The film centers around a prophecy guiding the protagonists, and there is a clear battle between good and evil. Aslan, the lion, represents goodness and light, while the villainous White Witch is the embodiment of fear and control. Narnia is full of mythical creatures such as talking animals and centaurs, with a snowy enchanted forest landscape that the viewer will undoubtedly associate with fantasy. 

Copyright: justwatch.com

    This genre can be shaped to fit any situation. It is perfect for the blending of other genres, resulting in so many distinguishable sub-genres. Fantasy has many serviceable tropes that can be tools to craft a story or something to cleverly subvert, and allows the imagination to go anywhere. 

Sources for research:

Bradley, D. (2022, April 7). Making your own fantasy film: A field guide. PremiumBeat. https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/fantasy-film-field-guide/

Alter, N. (2015, February 16). The 10 popular types of fantasy movies. Thoughts on Fantasy. https://thoughtsonfantasy.com/2015/02/16/the-10-popular-types-of-fantasy-movies/

Hellerman, J. (2023, December 6). The fantasy genre in film and TV. No Film School. https://nofilmschool.com/fantasy-genre/

Portfolio Project Genre #1

 Coming-of-age

    This is a genre that has increasingly captivated my interest over time, it's not hard to understand why. Coming-of-age films depict a deeply formative yet complicated period of life, one that feels especially relevant to my life right now. But my fondness for this genre goes beyond relatability. I find it absolutely fascinating how this seemingly simple narrative framework can be transformed by personal themes, creative themes, and stylistic choices that often reflect the creator’s own lived experiences. This genre of stories has the potential to be a reflection of the person telling the story and offer a meaningful look into someone’s life at an important time. Truly, the coming-of-age genre is one of my favorites at the moment, and though that may change as I myself grow older, these kinds of movies currently hold a distinct appeal for me. For that reason, I was very eager to start doing research on it, even if I don’t intend to replicate it in my own film opening.

    The coming-of-age story is one of the most iconic types of narrative in the media, resulting in some beloved pieces. A staple of film, TV, and literature, these stories are popular because of their portrayal of the transition from childhood to adulthood, an experience that most everyone can relate to which gives the genre universal appeal embedded into its core. Initially appearing in the early 20th century, coming-of-age films were typically adapted from books. Teen dramas became widely popular in the 1980s because of films from director John Hughes, whose movies were critical and commercial hits. Today, coming-of-age films feature more diverse characters and development.

    Coming-of-age movies often center around a young protagonist, and chronicle their personal growth as they face significant life challenges and changes that are synonymous with growing up physically and emotionally. This type of story is one that is very realistic and relatable to the average human experience. Everyone can understand the feeling of facing new adult situations at a young age. These stories typically follow adolescents or younger characters as they struggle to confront the complexities of adult life, often through trauma or major life changes. Transitional periods are a common focal point for coming-of-age films as well as the awkwardness and uncertainty of youth. The process of growing up introduces huge, usually unexpected and difficult aspects to our lives, but it looks very different for many people depending on their circumstances and backgrounds. And that is what makes these kinds of stories so compelling to most people. They resonate deeply both with young audiences seeking relatability and adults reflecting on their own journeys.

Copyright: FatCamera

    Common themes found in coming-of-age include the loss of innocence, self-discovery, or the struggle to adapt to fit into society, with a heavy focus on a central character arc. The protagonist typically progresses into the next phase(s) of their life and grapples with a certain major conflict or realization for the first time. The genre often showcases big shifts or milestones. One of the biggest themes that links together all coming-of-age films and helps to define the genre is the theme of self-discovery and finding oneself. Even if the central story of the film is about something else entirely, this is the essence of every coming-of-age film. The protagonist, by way of the trademark narrative, inevitably has a revelation about themselves.

    Romance and drama are another very common aspect of the coming-of-age genre, introducing themes of first love and heartbreak. Though not all media that fall into this category will feature romance, most do to some degree. Romantic relationships between adolescent characters are often funny, complicated, passionate, and intense. Coming-of-age films always implement dramatic themes into the story, and because feelings of attraction are such a strong yet new and challenging part of growing up, elements from the Romance genre are often integrated into the narrative.

    A light-hearted coming-of-age film often focuses on the high-energy moments associated with teenagers and young adults, incorporating comedic elements into the film. Comedy is a genre that is commonly blended with coming-of-age.

    The tone of a coming-of-age film is usually mundane and “slice of life,” capturing the nuances of everyday life and the real drama that arises from it. These stories are a naturalistic representation of real life. They often lack massive stakes and big complicated plots in favor of a real-world setting and developing character relationships, interactions, feelings, and arcs. These films present more dialogue and moments of stillness than dramatic action or events, and tend to have slower and steadier pacing both in the script and the editing.

    The common themes and tone of coming-of-age films lend themselves well to highly personal stories. For this reason, many coming-of-age films take on an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical style, often going off the writer/director’s own personal life and experiences as the basis for the protagonist’s story. 

    Coming-of-age films tend to take place in familiar or relatable settings, with one of the most used settings being school. These films sometimes involve the excitement and/or struggles attributed with student life. Truly, high school is the most focused-on period of life that coming-of-age films like to explore. Another common setting for coming-of-age films is a character’s home, often set in a single city or town.

    There are a lot of visual motifs in coming-of-age films to represent the protagonist’s internal conflict visually rather than through spoken lines. This can be done through props or set design, and objects that are significant to the character or plot. 

    The soundtrack of a coming-of-age film often includes existing pop music. Pop songs are designed to have memorable catchy melodies and be instantly recognizable. This is done to evoke a reaction from the audience who are likely familiar with a well-known song, as well as set the tone for a scene. Popular songs can also be used to reinforce the time period in which the film takes place. For example, a song that was released in the 80s might play in a scene that takes place in the 1980s. This can give a sense of nostalgia to older audience members.

    Coming-of-age films will typically cast younger actors to portray the main characters, in order to better capture the experience of growing up into an adult, but also relate and appeal to adolescent audiences who are more likely to see themselves represented by the face of a real teenager or young adult.

    In many coming-of-age movies, the narrative will use an adult character who plays the role of a parental figure, mentor, or guardian in the protagonist’s life. They facilitate the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery by providing guidance or support. Alternatively, adult characters are opposing forces to the protagonist, deterring them from their goals and acting as an obstacle. They may be overly strict authority figures, playing into how people at a very young age might perceive adults.

    These types of films often like to provide some social commentary, with mental health being a very common topic in the coming-of-age genre. Other heavy topics that may be addressed in a coming-of-age film are drug and alcohol use, bullying, or sexual themes.

    Coming-of-age movies typically have a very wide audience because, despite what age range a person is in, everyone has experienced the transition from child to adult and knows what it’s like. Because of this, coming-of-age films are in that perfect area of relatability. These movies seamlessly connect with viewers. Whether you’re twenty or eighty years old, everyone enjoys a good coming-of-age film. Young adults and teens, are invested in these types of films because they resonate with them and reflect what they are currently going through. This age group is also usually the primary target audience for these films. Coming-of-age films give them a sense of understanding. Meanwhile, adults get a feeling of nostalgia, and these films take them back to a time when the troubles of growing up seemed so much bigger and when they experienced things for the first time.

    These films have to strike a difficult balance when it comes to marketing as to reach as large an audience as possible. Usually in trailers and promotional material, moments that are relatable to everyday life or teenage life specifically are shown the most. Along with displaying the emotion and heart of the movie, as coming-of-age films are typically more focused on that rather than action or high stakes. They often use social media as the main form of marketing, which many younger people and most people in general use nowadays. Almost all films in this genre feature licensed music, typically pop songs, in the movie and in the soundtrack (called “needle drops!”), relating to audiences who are familiar with or fans of a popular song. Another way coming-of-age films build an impactful image and aesthetic for themselves is by having a color palette that is prevalent in the movie and in the marketing.

    Examples:

Boyhood (2014)

    Boyhood is a perfect example of a coming-of-age film. The movie centers around a young boy named Mason, his family, and his experience growing up, and the entire film follows the character’s life from early childhood to the end of the movie, when he goes off to college. The transition from a kid to an adult is all there. It details the family’s ups and downs, changing dynamics, and complexities over the course of many years. The movie is famous for taking twelve years to film, providing a natural and exceptionally realistic portrayal of people evolving, growing, and changing with time. Though it is over three hours long, watching this movie is a testament to how quickly childhood goes by as it documents a boy’s growth into a man in just three hours. 

Copyright: Elon News Network 

Moonlight (2016)

    Moonlight is a movie that follows the very difficult life of the protagonist, who goes by different names with each stage of his life (which makes Moonlight very unique in that regard). It tells the story of a young African American man’s discovery of his sexuality in a world where he feels very alone and helpless. He struggles to navigate his identity and relationships, but befriends a drug dealer who helps to guide his journey to adulthood, acting as a mentor or a guardian for the protagonist. The film deals with intense subjects such as drug use, bullying, homophobia, and growing up in poverty. 

Copyright: IMDb

    Coming-of-age films serve as authentic voices for the adolescent experience. While many feature whimsical narratives and light-hearted treatments, the genre spans a wide emotional range, from comedic to dramatic. Their universal appeal makes them successful with diverse audiences, which explains their enduring popularity with studios and directors.

Sources for research:

Kench, S. (2023, September 24). What is a coming of age movie — Examples and characteristics. StudioBinder. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-coming-of-age-movie-definition/

Podder, S. (2025, May 20). What is a coming-of-age movie: Elements and examples. No Film School. https://nofilmschool.com/what-is-coming-of-age-movie

MasterClass. (2021, September 24). Coming-of-age movies: What is the coming-of-age genre? MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/coming-of-age-movies

Bauer, A. (2019, May 7). A look at coming-of-age stories: Why they are important and the films to watch. Medium. https://medium.com/cinenation-show/coming-of-age-stories-why-they-are-important-and-the-films-to-watch-84d90bb04387

Campfire Writing. (n.d.). Slice of life. Campfire Codex. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://www.campfirewriting.com/codex/slice-of-life

Music Marketing Project

 This week, the class was assigned to create an artist or band around a song and genre, and develop t' +g brand, style, and identity as well as formulate their marketing campaigns, in a group. I was given a country song, which aligned with the genre I was assigned to in my group.

So far, my group spent a lot of time talking about what our artist's backstory could be, and her aesthetic as a singer. Much of it has been centered around the genre of country, and what a typical country singer might look like. The people in my group discussed playing into that idea, but also adding other elements to her brand to make her unique. Basically, the concept is that she is a young woman from the Tennessee, whose southern U.S. origins are a part of her music. For her brand, she displays herself as a more version of a typical country singer who embraces her femininity with a very pink color scheme in her promotional material, while dressing in a hat and boots and flannel. A combination of country singer stereotypes and common trends among new, young, female artists.

 A loose concept of a music video for her debut single has already been made, and it is to tell the story of the artist herself, so to speak. This came from the idea that her first music video could be her introduction. Because the song we used was a more romantic in nature, we decided to make that part of her personal journey.

Mise-en-Scene

 For this project, I had to represent a character through props, sound, and setting. For this project, I was assigned to portray a middle school girl, who is shy, but loyal to her friends; and very tech-savvy and inventive. Because the presentation was meant to be interactive, I wanted to make it feel like you were looking through the bedroom of this teenage girl character. To do this, I made a website. The bedroom itself was the background for a desk, where my character would spend a lot of her time tinkering with gadgets, reading, or programming and coding. I designed and drew the desk and all of the objects/props around it myself in a digital art app. To further characterize her, I added a function where, when an object was clicked, a short description of it (including a fact about how it relates to the character) would pop up. 

With the required moodboard for the character, I used images that I knew would match the “vibe” of the character: quiet, calm, and soft. So I used desaturated warm shades and colors found generally in nature within the color palette. I included a lot of pictures of clothing items I think the character would wear, most of which were heavy or covering to reflect the shy nature of my character, as if she wanted to hide herself in long sleeves and thick fabric. For audio elements, I made a playlist of song that were of the chill lo-fi genre and sounded more soothing and sweet, again, to match the quiet yet smart personality of my character. I wanted the tangible props I had to use to seem like things that would be found in the bedroom desk setting I had created. So I used a robot to line up with my character’s love of “gadgets,” and wires and computer chips to show her tech-savvy abilities. 

I set up all of these things in a specific order. I put website I made for the setting in the middle, because that was the main interactive experience of my presentation. The objects I used were placed right in front of the computer, to seem like they were apart of my character’s space. I only used two computers because I worked independently, but I wanted to have the screen with the character’s picture and description on the left side (because you typically read from left to right, and so that would be the first thing someone sees), and the moodboard on the right. I also decided that the character should have glasses, which is a very typical convention in media for a smart character. The name I ultimately gave to my character was “Maya Whitlock,” which sounded very nice and elegant but not at all big and flashy.

I spent a lot of time trying to imagine what I should do. My first thought was that I was going to make a full tour of my character’s bedroom, but that ended up being to time consuming and I also struggled to find a suitable app to make a website like that in. In the end, I wish that I had found a solution earlier. I ended up using a website called ThingLink, which worked very well for the website I wanted to make to create the setting. At that point, I had decided to just limit it to my character’s personal work space, but use the items around the desk to convey her personality. It took me along time to draw and design the desk area in a realistic way, but the resulting website looks even better than I had hoped. I also drew the pict of my character, albeit, based on a real picture I found. I ordered most of my objects and props off of Amazon. I am also very happy with the moodboard I made. I wanted it to look a little unprofessional but still organized because I felt that it was a good fit for the character. And I used a lot of warmer shades in it.

Link to website: https://www.thinglink.com/view/scene/2037714147554099686

Link to playlist: https://spotify.link/rs8MPFTAOXb

Genre Research

 Sports:

The sports genre typically revolves around stories that are set within the world of sports,  like professional, amateur, or recreational. and focus on the physical and emotional challenges faced by the individuals or teams. The sporting environment serves both as the setting and as a metaphor for broader human struggles. Some of the most successful sports movies ate often about racing. Ex: “F1:The Movie

Sports productions are usually trying to accurately depict real sports, rules, and gameplay. The costume design may be designed to look like authentic uniforms, real teams or leagues, and accurate choreography of matches or training. This often involves consultation with athletes, coaches, and sports organizations, as they often want to appeal to fans of real sports to grab an audience.

Many sports stories follow an underdog, comeback, or rise-to-success narrative structure. Scriptwriting and production often emphasize motivational storytelling that appeals to wide audiences which is  a proven box office and TV formula.

Casting may feature real athletes or actors undergo extensive physical training to convincingly portray athletes. Production schedules and budgets accommodate athletic training, choreography, and coordination with sports consultants. 

Sports films and shows are marketed as uplifting, motivational stories appealing to broad demographics. Trailers emphasize perseverance, teamwork, and triumph. Marketing often includes tie-ins with real sporting events, endorsements, or merchandise for promotion and sponsorship.

One of the best example of this is Rocky (1976) a movie about boxing. In it, Rocky Balboa, an unknown boxer, gets the chance to fight the world champion, following the underdog convention. A classic training montage showing perseverance and physical struggle. The movie was celebrated for its authentic depiction of boxing and working-class life. The movie has a very inspirational tone and focuses on determination and believing in yourself.

In Rudy, 1993), real-life former football player Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, (played by Sean Astin)  gets to play football for the University of Notre Dame despite his small stature and academic struggles. Rudy is a true underdog:  too small, not athletic enough, and repeatedly told he’ll never make it. Much of the film focuses on Rudy’s relentless effort, which reinforces the inspirational element. Characters like Fortune, the stadium groundskeeper, and Coach Parseghian act as mentor figures. This reflects the coach-mentor convention, seen across many sports films like “The Karate Kid.” The film’s music, pacing, and cinematography heighten the motivational tone, inspiring audiences.

Other examples of sports movies:

Space Jam:

The Sandlot:

Coach Carter:

The Mighty Ducks:

Cool Runnings:

Sound Projects

 During this assignment I learned how sound, in film and tv, add emotion and dimension to a scene and work to advance it. The visuals are often paired with the sound using noises that are associated with what is happening onscreen, but not always. Sometimes the sound conflicts with the visuals for artistic purposes. The sounds can be diegetic or non diegetic (meaning the sound exist alongside and can be heard by the characters or not). Music is a very important part of filmmaking and a soundscape as it can set the tone and create emotional reaction.

For the first sound projects, I had to work with a partner to create a 2 minutes of realistic sounds (no music) that conveyed a story. At least 4 of the sounds had to be foley (meaning we had to record them ourselves). For the second, I was tasked with adding making a soundscape for the previous ONE WORD FILM assignment. 

With the first sound project, we made an attempt to create a big scale story of a knight who fights a dragon. Of course, we had a lot of ideas for sounds to use.  During brainstorming, we worked to come up with the sound effects for different scenes we could have and what the full story would be and how the sound would tell it. The outline was helpful in showing me what kinds of sounds should be there for soundscape to be realistic and what order it should be in. We used the editing software called Clipchamp to put everything together. I was amazed by the final result and am very proud of the work we did. I think the sounds were layered very well and timed perfectly. It clear as to what was happening in the scene without any visuals. I think the uniqueness and complexity of our idea is to our advantage here. I especially love how the sounds built up to a climax. The only thing I think could have been better was blending the sound of the fight between the knight and the dragon a bit better. 

For the One Word Film sound editing, I tried to come up with as many every day sounds as possible for the beginning. I attempted to make the soundscape slowly become less realistic as the short video went on. I used music and stings to better express the word “anxious” and even a few cues. The outline was useful because it separated the diegetic sounds from the nondiegetic sounds. Again, I used Clipchamp to edit the sound in the video. I think I did a good job of utilizing a few different sound editing techniques and  of course, showing the word that the film was supposed to be based off of. Still, the shots in the video itself were not the best and that reflected on the final sound project. Overall, I think that after sound was added, the entire film was enhanced a lot and it is the best part of the whole project.

One Word Film Sound

Sound Project 1

One Word Film

New project!!! This was a partner project where we had to film at least 15 shots and edit them together into a story that represents a single word.

The word we had to use was “ANXIOUS”

The concepts and descriptions were done by the other person. To draw the storyboards I visualized what I thought the shot would look like in a real film and with cinematic composition. I knew should use detail while drawing in order to provide a good visual reference. We often looked at storyboard while filming each shot and it helped a lot to get an idea of what they should look like. 

The resource we used to edit the shots together was called Adobe Express. 

I think we did well during the filming process and using different compositions and camera movements. My partner did a good job acting in the video! However, I think the story of the short film could have been conveyed better. And another thing — there wasn’t much of a story. Next time, I should definitely use more editing techniques and be mindful of them while filming and storyboarding so that I can do so. (ie: high angle). If I could have done it again, I think I would have used less complicated shots for the sake of efficiency and the type of camera we had to use.

Final Project: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_AVHfcoDHEPoEDrPzzGX_xqszANNLG3R/view?usp=sharing