Gulp

 So… first day of filming is officially DONE.

Wait side note I think it's bad 99% of my blogs now have ... I promise I am not that negative!

Anywayssss, it actually went pretty well, but of course, nothing can ever go 100% smooth. We got to the location, got everything ready, set up the camera, and right when we were about to start… the mics were broken. Of course. Like actually of course. At that moment I was like okay great this is how we’re starting.

So obviouslyyy I had to improvise and figure out how to hide them and still make it work. I ended up placing them in ways that wouldn’t be visible on camera but could still (hopefully) pick up sound. It wasn’t ideal, but it was one of those moments where I had to just adapt and move on instead of wasting time. Did I test it? Yes. Did I make sure every scene worked well with the audio? Next question. 

For this first day, I decided to film the beginning of the film, the flashback of the crash. This is literally one of the most important parts of the whole story. No pressure tho!

And I’m gonna be honest… I don’t know how I feel about it. This post is very negative I'm sorry.

Kyle (my main actor) actually did really good. Like I was genuinely happy with his performance, especially in the scene where he’s arguing on the phone, that one came out good. BUT… my beautiful best friend Gaby… yeah… acting is not her calling  (I love her though). It just didn’t come out as natural as I wanted, and I think that’s part of what’s making me second guess the scene.

Let's take a looky look!

Not the best party girl..

Also the lighting was kind of weird, and I can’t tell if I’m overthinking it or if it actually looks off. I feel like last year my film worked so well because I didn’t rely on other people as much, and now I am, so it’s kind of stressing me out because I can’t control everything the same way.

BUT I’m trying not to panic. I’m just going to edit the footage first and see how it looks, because sometimes things look way better once it’s all put together. And the good thing is I still have time, so if I really hate it… I can re-film.

Now for the good parts, because there WERE good parts. And to try to be a little more positive!

Trust the process, cause I certainly am trying too!

The crash scene actually came out good, I just need to edit the end and add sound. Like I was scared it was going to look fake, but it ended up being really convincing. Kyle literally did a break check that almost gave me a heart attack, I genuinely thought he was going to mess up my car for a second. But it worked perfectly for the scene, so I can’t even be mad.

'

Filming itself was actually really fun, but it was SO cold. Like painfully cold. I get cold super easily, so I was freezing the entire time. And Gaby was in a dress… so honestly I feel worse for her because that must have been brutal.

Overall though, I would say it was a successful first day. Not perfect, definitely some things I’m unsure about, but we got important scenes done, I learned what I need to fix, and now I know what to improve for the next filming days.

So yeah… slight stress, slight doubt, but also excited to see how it turns out once I start editing. I plan on doing this as soon as possible just in case it doesn't go my way.

I promise guys next blog I am going to be like this: 

Becoming an influencer is harder than I thought

Starting my social media page was honestly harder than I expected. If I havn't made it clear, I’m really picky with how I like things to look, not just with school but overall a lot of things, especially when it comes to my projects. So I didn’t want to just throw something up and call it a day. I wanted the first post to actually feel intentional and match the vibe of my film, which made it kind of stressful to even start.

At first, I knew I wanted to do some type of "coming soon" post, because that just makes sense as a first introduction. But then I got stuck on what it should actually look like. My first idea was doing a picture from the POV of a driver looking at the road, like headlights hitting the street. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it felt kind of basic and not really memorable. Then I thought about using the clock, since it’s such an important part of my story. But realistically… I was not about to give this clock a full photoshoot just for one Instagram post. That was not happening. So then I thought of something way better, a heel in the middle of the road. Just think about it.. It connects to the story, it’s simple, and it’s actually kind of creepy without showing too much. It gives just enough information to make people curious.

I ended up designing the post on Canva, but the only thing I was a little unsure about was that the heel I used was an element from Canva, not a real shoe. I didn’t know if that would be okay, so I asked Mrs. Stoklosa, and she said it was fine, so that worked out perfectly.

Here is my reveal 

1

2

3

Go follow me now pls

For my second post, I decided to keep it simple and do a “Meet the Director” post. I haven’t filmed anything major yet, so I didn’t have a lot of actual footage to use, and this felt like an easy way to still build the page and introduce myself as the creator behind the film (doing filler posts but shhhhh who's paying attention). I found a nice picture of me and just typed a little summary of the film and something for people to go wow she's so cool and like I'm going to follow and watch this as soon it comes. Another reveal:

Looking ahead, I’m planning to do posts like:

- Meet the cast

- Behind-the-scenes content

- Small clips from filming once I have more footage

- And cool highlights like that one page I mentioned

Right now, I’m just trying to build the page step by step while keeping everything consistent with the tone of my film. This process made me realize that social media for film isn’t just posting random pictures, it actually takes planning. Every post has to connect to the story and the overall aesthetic, which is lowkey stressful… but also kind of fun once you figure it out. Don't expect another update on my social media soon...

Stressing over a clock

 So before I could even start filming, I had to figure out all the props, equipment, and locations… which sounds simple until you actually have to do it.

The MOST important thing in my film is the clock. Like everything revolves around it, so if it looked bad the whole film would look bad. So I went on Amazon and started searching for clocks and at first I was going to get a normal small one, but it just didn’t feel right. I was thinking like a full on clock you use when you are waking up and going to sleep...Then I found one that was like a pocket clock with a chain, and immediately I was like wait this is perfect. It looks way more realistic and it’s small enough to fit inside a box, which is exactly what I needed for the opening scene. 

Something like this!

Then I made the newspaper article that goes inside the box with the clock. This part was actually kind of fun because I got to design it to look real, like an actual article about the hit-and-run. The idea is when Ethan opens the box, he sees the clock and then the article and that’s what starts everything. So even though it’s a small prop, it’s actually really important for the story. I wrote a quick little story and added a picture of my actress in the side to give context.

After that I realized I needed my own tripod because the one I was using before was borrowed, and I didn’t want to deal with that anymore. So I just bought one. Lowkey best decision because filming handheld for everything would have been a mess.

Now… locations.

I was fully convinced I could just film on a random road at night. Like in my head it made PERFECT sense. Dark road, no cars, and easy. Yeah… my mom did not agree with that idea at all. So that plan was shut down very quickly. I even took pictures for my blog because i was excited to show my cool random road I found :(

So last minute I had to go location scouting again, which was stressful, but I actually found something better. I found a park that has a road inside it, so it still gives that empty road vibe but it’s way safer and more controlled. It ended up being perfect like my own little vip road for filming.

For the house scenes, I’m using my main actor’s house, which made life so much easier because we didn’t have to worry about permissions or anything. 

For casting, I kept it simple. For the girl I literally recruited my best friend, and for my main actor "Ethan" I recruited my best friend's boyfriend. Very professional. I also told them if they do good they get a pizza party, so that’s my directing method.

After all of that, I am ready to start filming. The only issue now would be making sure all of our schedules align and we can film smoothly. 

Butttt... I didn't keep my promise.. I did not check if they can act. I do not have the connections to find actual good actors so I am trusting their commitment to a pizza party.

This whole process made me realize filmmaking is not just have an idea and press record, I need to actually plan everything out! Anddd I am excited to start. 

Postcards!

For my print component, I have to create a film festival postcard, so before jumping into designing mine, I wanted to look at real examples and understand what actually makes them effective. I looked at a few film postcards (not a lot available online apparently...) and also one regular advertisement postcard just to compare layouts and see how information is organized. I actually had fun with this one because I love like designing stuff and using my baby Canva so you know I locked in for this one!

One thing I noticed right away from researching examples is that postcards are meant to be quick and easy. No one has time to read a whole paragraph on what it is about or how to contact. The design has to grab attention in like 2 seconds, and the information has to be easy to scan. Most film postcards follow a similar structure where the front is visual and emotional, and the back is clean and informative with usually information on how to contact.

Film Postcard Example 1: "Empty Box of Wine"

What I immediately noticed about this postcard is how the front and back are very clearly separated in purpose. The front is all about visuals and showcasing the mood, while the back is strictly informational.

On the front, there’s a strong animated image of a pier with lighting and reflections, plus the title placed clearly at the top. There’s also a drawn figure added on top, which makes it feel more artistic and unique. I like how the title is big enough to stand out but doesn’t overpower the image. And also by just adding the "Film by:" I thought it was nice to show just the design and nothing else. 

On the back, it switches completely to information but it keeps the original design just very faintly which is always an option. There’s a short description of the film, the director’s name, showtimes, and even a QR code. I also noticed they included contact info and a link, which makes it feel more professional. It’s not overly crowded, but it still gives enough information for someone to understand what the film is about and how to access it.

What I like about this one is that it clearly follows a structure:

front is to attract attention, back is to inform.

It’s simple, but it works really well. 

Film Postcard Example 2: "Barking Water"

- Before starting I really like the name of that, It's cool.

This one feels more like a film poster turned into a postcard, which is interesting. The design uses strong colors like reds and yellows, which immediately grab attention. The characters are placed on one side, while the text fills the other. I also noticed a lot of festival laurels and awards, which make the film seem more official and recognized. I want to do that I just have to first make sure if we are allowed..

However, compared to the first postcard, this one feels more crowded. There’s a lot of text, names, and awards all in one space, which can be overwhelming. It still works because it looks professional, but it’s harder to quickly read. And there is no back from what I could find so It was all compacted to one side which would automatically make me not as engaged as simplier ones. 

From this, I learned:

awards and laurels are important for credibility, but too much information can make the design feel messy, so there needs to be a balance between design and readability.

Regular Postcard Example: "Explore the World" (Back Side)

Lastly, I also looked at a regular advertisement postcard (not film-related) to understand layout and structure better. This one is very clean and organized because it separates information into sections like:

"Our Service"

"About Us"

"Contact information"

Everything is spaced out, and nothing feels cramped. Your eyes naturally move through the design without getting confused.

Even though it’s not for a film, it helped me understand:

how to organize information clearly, how to use spacing to make things easier to read and how to avoid making the back look too busy.

This is important because postcards are small, so if everything is crammed together, people won’t even bother reading it.

Applying This to My Postcard (Draft):

After looking at these examples, I started planning my own postcard design for my film Residual. Before I explain everything, you most absolutely not judge my creative choices IN PROCESS!!

For the front, I followed what I saw in the film postcards and decided to do a simple black screen as the background and have the side profile shot of both my main character Ethan and the girl he runs over in the other side facing other away. I also chose to add a clock in the middle like a transparent one because in my opinion, that is the symbolic element in the film, highlighting past mistakes and time left overall. You need to start seeing the vision guys I promise it will look better! At the bottom I wanted to add a few like film festivals and awards to show I bring no funny business into this and then have the tittle and a nice tagline under it. And at the very top put the obvious "Film by" credits. 

For the back, I combined ideas from both the film postcards and the regular advertisement layout by adding a short simple description of the film, easy for people to know what it is about but still be engaging. While on the other side, I have all the contact information like emails and I am going to add the showing times such as where and what time (I just remembered about that, oopss..) Overall, I want to have a clean layout with sections so it is easy to read and space for a stamp to make it look like a real postcard. 

I tried to keep it simple and not overcrowded, because that was one of the biggest issues I noticed in some of the examples.

From this research, I learned that a good postcard isn’t just about making something look nice, it’s about making it effective. The front should immediately grab attention and show the tone of the film, while the back should be clear, organized, and easy to read. Too much information can ruin the design, so small details like layout, spacing, and consistent font choices actually matter a lot.

Credits:

- Empty Box of Wine Postcard

- Barking Water Postcard

- Explore The World Postcard

Becoming a marketing team of one...

After researching different film Instagram pages and stalking a few other blogs for inspiration, I realized something important: promoting a film isn’t just about randomly posting pictures from the movie. A lot of filmmakers actually think about branding and how their project is presented online. Because of that, I decided I want to create a brand identity prism for my film’s social media page to help guide how everything will look and feel.

The brand identity prism is basically a way of understanding how a brand (or in this case, a film) communicates with its audience. It focuses on six parts: physique, personality, relationship, culture, reflection, and self-image. Even though this concept is often used for businesses or companies, it can also apply to media projects because films also have identities and communicate ideas to their audience.

Right now I’m still figuring out if this prism will apply more to the film itself or to the social media page that promotes the film, but it kind of works for both. Since the Instagram page will represent the story and tone of the movie, the two things will probably end up being connected anyway.

Physique:

Physique focuses on the visual identity of the project. For my film, this will mostly come through the style of the images I post on the social media page. Since my story is a psychological thriller, the visuals will likely include darker lighting, nighttime settings, and dramatic close-ups of the main character. I want the page to feel tense and mysterious even before someone knows the plot of the film.

For example, I might post things like:

- shots of the road at night

- close-ups of the clock prop

- blurry or shadowy images of the main character

- teaser visuals that hint at the accident or the past

The goal is that someone could open the Instagram page and immediately understand the mood of the story.

Personality:

The personality of the project describes the tone and voice of the film. My film’s personality is definitely going to feel dark, tense,  and psychological. It’s not meant to be loud or overly dramatic, it’s more about subtle tension and discomfort.

That personality will show up in things like:

- The captions I write on posts

- The pacing of teaser clips

- The types of images I choose

For example, instead of giving away information directly, the captions might be vague or cryptic to build curiosity.

Relationship:

Relationship refers to how the brand (or film) interacts with its audience. Since this is a short film project, the relationship will mainly come from behind-the-scenes posts and updates during production. Showing parts of the filmmaking process can help people feel more connected to the project.

For example, I might post:

- Behind-the-scenes photos from filming

- Pictures of the storyboard

- Prop design or location scouting

- Small updates about the production

This helps the audience feel like they’re watching the film come to life rather than just seeing the final product.

Culture:

Culture represents the ideas or values that influence the project. My film is heavily influenced by psychological thrillers and suspense films that focus on guilt, tension, and internal conflict rather than action. The culture behind the project is rooted in storytelling that explores the human mind and how people deal with mistakes or trauma.

This will influence the overall tone of the social media page and the types of references or inspiration I share.

Reflection:

Reflection describes the type of audience the film might attract. For my project, the audience will likely be people who enjoy psychological thrillers, suspense stories, or films that make them think rather than just entertain them. These viewers are usually interested in mysteries, darker themes, and stories that slowly reveal information.

So the social media page should appeal to people who enjoy that type of storytelling.

Self-Image:

Self-image refers to how the audience might see themselves when engaging with the film. For example, viewers might feel like they are observant, curious, and interested in solving mysteries. Psychological thriller audiences often enjoy trying to figure out what is happening before the story reveals the answer.

Because of that, the social media page should encourage curiosity and interpretation rather than giving away the whole story.

Overall thoughts: 

Creating this brand identity prism actually helped me think more clearly about how I want my film to be presented online. Instead of randomly posting things during production, I can now think about how each post contributes to the overall identity of the project.

The next step will be turning these ideas into actual content for the page, such as teaser images, behind-the-scenes posts, and visuals that match the tone of the story. If everything works well together, the Instagram page should feel like an extension of the film itself rather than just a place to upload pictures.

I decided I want to post on Instagram!

Two directions for my film (aka me overthinking my own plot)

Hi my friends at this point I finally feel like my story idea is coming together, but I’m still deciding between two slightly different directions for how the film will unfold. At first I had like one solid idea but after my group meeting they gave me such cool upgrades it made me rethink everything. Both versions follow the same main concept: a man who committed a hit and run years ago is forced to confront the guilt he buried when strange and unsettling things start happening around him.

It’s called Residual, and it basically begins with a flashback to the night of the accident. It’s late, the road is empty, and the main character is driving while distracted and upset. In just a few seconds, everything changes. The moment is chaotic and unclear, but we understand that something terrible happened. Instead of facing it, he panics and leaves the scene (I can not spoil what I am scheming so I have to be broad, sorry!!) The film then jumps to the present day, where he has built a normal life and tried to forget the past.

That’s when things start to change, one day he receives a mysterious package containing an old clock with a message that seems directed at him. From there, strange events begin happening that seem connected to the accident he tried to bury. The clock continues ticking as he becomes more anxious and paranoid, slowly realizing that his past might be catching up to him.

From that point, the story can go in two different directions...

In the first version, the psychological pressure pushes him toward doing the one thing he has avoided for years.. confessing. The mysterious events begin to feel like they are forcing him to confront the truth, and he eventually decides to go somewhere where he believes he can finally admit what he did, which is the police station (very very scary). This version focuses more on the idea that guilt itself can push someone to reveal the truth, even if no one else knows what happened.

In the second version, the story leans more into the unsettling atmosphere and mystery. Instead of focusing on confession, the film builds tension through strange and unexplained events that make the main character question what is real. The audience is left wondering whether what he is experiencing is supernatural, psychological, or simply the result of years of suppressed guilt. This version I came up with after my group meeting and they told me I could make my main character have an illness, like be bipolar or schizophrenic so he doesn't remember the real version of what happened.  

Both directions explore the same theme, how guilt can follow someone long after they think they have escaped it, but they create slightly different interpretations of the story.

One challenge with the First version is that it would involve filming in a location like a police station, which might be difficult to arrange. Because of that, the second version may end up being more realistic to produce while still keeping the psychological tension that I want the film to have.

My next step is creating a storyboard so I can plan out the visual structure of the film and decide which direction works best on screen. I am uploading Version 2 since it is what I am most likely going to do. But I just realized in my storyboard it reveals everything so what is the point of being secretive... Since this story relies heavily on atmosphere and tension, planning the shots ahead of time will help me understand how the scenes should flow. 

To be honest I have a lot to go so I will finish my story board soon!! 

Along with that, I created a mood board and visual references for the character and overall tone of the film.

I found all these pictures on pinterest.com and now I'm scared. All my feed is now creepy stuff when I had it perfectly crafted to my preferences and now I'm mad, but whateverrr. I decided to find pictures representing important scenes or props I want to incorporate such as the clock, the dead girl, and the main character's internal struggles. I like it because I feel it really captures the vibe I am trying to go for. 

My pinterest pins

I am also starting to look for an actor for the main character. Ideally I want someone in their mid-20s to early 30s who looks like a regular person. The character should feel believable, because the story depends on the audience understanding that this is someone who has tried to live a normal life despite what he did in the past. And I CANNOT repeat the same mistake as last year and pick the first older person I can find, so this time I'm running auditions!

Storyboard picture references: 

- Scene 1, Guy driving using a phone

- Scene 1, dark road

- Scene 1, Girl walking on road

- Scene 1, Flashing headlights

- Scene 2, Man stepping out of car

- Scene 2, Broken phone

- Scene 2, Man close up

- Scene 2, Man hiding something in bush

- Scene 3, Package outside door

- Scene 3, Man opening package

- Scene 3, clock ticking

- Scene 3, Unknown Caller

- Scene 3, Phone screen

- Scene 3, Man in distraught

- Scene 4, Grabbing the keys

- Scene 4, Man in car

- Scene 4, Inside of car

- Scene 5, Car in lonely road

- Scene 5, Pale man

- Scene 5, Man stepping out of car

- Scene 6, Man trying to start engine

- Scene 6, Car headlights

- Scene 6, Car passing

First group meeting!

For our first group meeting this year, I worked with Emi, Adriana, Aneesa, Vicky, Mariana, and Daniela. The goal of the meeting was for everyone to present their project ideas, explain their concerns, and then get feedback and suggestions from the rest of the group. We went one by one so each person had time to explain what they were planning and what they were unsure about.

First up went Emi, which I secretly think is so cool,and her idea was like wow.. I'm showing the notes I wrote first!

Notes:

Emi working with Joaquin and Andrew

- Dark comedy short film

- Critique of power struggles

- Gorey

- Makes a deal to get power

- Statement about joining religions for power

- Completes task for devil, loses humanity at the end

- Script is finished

Concerns:

- Location filming

- How to differentiate and make a nice symbol 

Suggestions:

- 1 death (instead of 3)

- Film at Markham Park

- Make your own symbol (instead of the pentagram)

Summary:

Emi presented a dark comedy short film that critiques the idea of power struggles, especially in relation to religion and manipulation. The story follows a character who makes a deal in order to gain power, but as the story progresses they slowly lose their humanity while completing tasks for this deal. By the end of the story, the character sacrifices something extremely important but still never receives the power they were promised. Emi already has the script completed, which is really impressive this early in the process. The main concerns they had were about filming locations and how to stage certain scenes. Our group suggested filming in Markham Park, which could provide a darker forest environment for the climax of the story. Another suggestion was to reduce the number of deaths in the film so the story could stay focused and impactful within the amount of time we have. I'm excited to see this! 

After that came Adriana, 

Notes:

Adriana is working with David

- Comedy short film

- Guy teleports by flipping a penny

- Every time he goes somewhere new he tries to do a kind act and it backfires

- Researched other short films

- Interested in using fast cuts

Concerns:

- Scheduling

- Ending 

Suggestions:

End with David completing a kind act but when he tries to teleport again he drops the penny down a drain/sewer

Summary:

Adriana’s idea is a comedy short film about a character who can teleport by flipping a penny. Every time he teleports somewhere, he tries to perform a good deed, but things end up going wrong in funny ways. The project focuses heavily on comedic timing and editing, especially with fast cuts to create the teleportation effect. Adriana mentioned that scheduling might be a challenge because her partner David has a busy schedule. One suggestion from the group was to end the film with the character finally completing a kind act successfully, but when he tries to teleport again he accidentally drops the penny down a drain, leaving him stuck where he is. 

I personally thought this idea was very cute in a way and I can't wait to see how they film the process. 

Now came Aneesa and her idea was just like how do people think of these things, I'm absolutely stunned.

Notes:

Aneesa working with Quinn, Nico, and Zach

- Meta dark comedy

- Heavy on breaking the fourth wall

- Camera starts on initial subject and falls in love with another subject

- Subject 1 tries to win back its attention

Concerns:

- Developing storyline and making it make sense

Suggestions:

- Spotlight turning off on main subject

- Mic turning off on main subject

- Give context to studio setting

- Casting call (actor desperate to get role)

Summary:

Aneesa’s project is a meta dark comedy that plays with the idea of breaking the fourth wall. The concept revolves around a camera that starts by focusing on one subject but eventually becomes more interested in another person. The original subject then tries to win back the camera’s attention. The film is meant to be very self-aware and funny, almost like the audience is watching a production unfold. One challenge they mentioned was making sure the storyline stays clear and understandable. Our group suggested creating a studio or casting call setting, which would help explain why the camera and spotlight behave the way they do. Other ideas included using visual cues like a spotlight or microphone turning off when the focus shifts.

Vicky's turn!

Notes:

- Victoria is working with Kenna and Renn

- Coming of age

- Message: even through fears and stress, you keep growing

- Girl plants seed, life gets stressful, she forgets about it

- Using a sign to show day 1 day 2 etc

- Plant = metaphor

- Friendship breakup (friend gave her the plant)

Suggestions:

- End with voice over

- Buy 3 different plants to show growth

- Focus pulls

- Use calendar to show days passing

- Weeks instead of days

- Camera is calendar – writing on camera

Summary:

Vicky’s film is a coming-of-age story centered around growth and personal change. The story follows a girl who plants a seed and takes care of it at first, but as life becomes stressful she forgets about it. The plant becomes a metaphor for how people grow even during difficult moments. The story also involves a friendship conflict connected to the person who originally gave her the plant. Some concerns were about how to visually show the plant growing within the short film. The group suggested using multiple plants at different growth stages and using visual techniques like calendars or time markers to show time passing. A voiceover at the end was also suggested to help reinforce the theme.

I think this film idea is super meaningful to teenagers today and I want to see how it is executed!

After that, came Mariana 

Notes:

- Mariana is working with Audrey

- Drama short film

- Boy has older sister who is excited to go to college

- Boy is very laid back

- Starts with a therapy session

Suggestions:

- Quick death

- Ideally have an adult play therapist

- Maybe car crash

- Younger sibling instead

- Therapy session a year later

- Put date on bottom of screen

Summary:

Mariana’s project is a drama short film that explores grief and family relationships. The story focuses on a boy dealing with the loss of his sister and reflecting on their relationship during a therapy session. The film will likely include flashbacks showing moments between the siblings before the tragedy happened. Mariana mentioned they were still deciding exactly how the sister’s death occurs. The group suggested keeping the event sudden so it fits the short film format and focusing more on the emotional impact rather than the cause. Other suggestions included having an adult actor play the therapist and adding time periods to help show that the therapy session takes place sometime after the loss.

And last but not least, Daniela 

Notes:

- Daniela working with Gaby

- Music promo

- Annie Lemasters

- Taylor Swift / Olivia Rodrigo vibe

- Dramatic story based

- Artist in Nashville

- Story fully acted out

- Builds up to running on the beach at the end

Suggestions:

- Film at sunrise instead of sunset

- Plan everything before filming because of limited time

Summary:

Daniela’s project is a story-based music video for a song by Annie LeMasters. The tone of the video is inspired by artists like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, focusing on emotional storytelling and relationship drama. The story follows a relationship that begins happily but slowly becomes more toxic over time. The video builds toward a final scene at the beach that represents emotional release. Daniela mentioned wanting a sunset look for the visuals, but one suggestion from the group was filming at sunrise instead, since it would give more time to capture the shots and avoid rushing the scene.

Hearing it was going to be a music video was exciting and the concept is cool, I can't wait to watch it!

Overall, this meeting was really helpful. Everyone had unique and creative ideas across different genres like comedy, drama, dark comedy, and music video storytelling. Listening to everyone’s concepts and the feedback they received helped me think more critically about storytelling, production planning, and problem solving. The suggestions people gave each other were thoughtful and practical, especially when it came to locations, editing techniques, and visual storytelling. Hearing everyone else’s ideas and solutions also inspired me and made me feel more excited about developing my own project.

Instagram stalking but make it research

Since part of my project requires creating a social media page to promote my short film, I wanted to research how other short films and filmmakers present themselves online. Instagram seems to be the most common platform for this because it is very visual and works well for sharing posters, teasers, and behind-the-scenes content. I looked at four different accounts:   @thepullfilm, @meowshortfilm,  @still.life.short.film, and @livbfilm. Each one showed a slightly different approach to promoting a film and building a recognizable visual identity.

Media text: The Pull

Social media tool: Instagram (@thepullfilm)

This instagram account posts a mix of shots from the film, promotional posters, historical imagery, and behind-the-scenes production photos. One of the most noticeable posts is a bold black-and-white poster featuring a hand gripping a rope with the title The Pull and the phrase “A Short Film Coming Soon.” This type of post works as an announcement and immediately introduces the tone of the project. I liked it because it was simple, the tittle is ironic based on the content the account has, showcasing multiple scenes of pulling a rope. Other posts include images of the camera crew filming scenes, actors on set, and location images that relate to the film’s historical setting in 1987. The page also shows group photos of extras and background actors, which helps give a sense of the film’s scale and environment.

The branding here is actually really strong because everything looks consistent. A lot of the images are darker or black and white, which makes the page feel serious and cinematic. Even the fonts used in the poster match the tone of the story they are trying to tell. The feed feels like it belongs to the same project rather than random photos thrown together. The darker color palette and dramatic imagery help communicate the mood of the film immediately and time period they wanted to base it on. 

This page helped me realize that consistency is important. For my own film page, I want everything to match the tone of my psychological thriller. That probably means darker lighting, dramatic shots, and a poster that introduces the concept early on. If someone opens the page, they should instantly understand the vibe of the film. I feel like it should also be very like clear shots, I want to make my protagonist mysterious and high end like a classy guy (please tell me you see the vision). Something like this:

Photo credits: @longmondays

Media text: MEOW

Social media tool: Instagram (@meowshortfilm)

The MEOW account posts a lot of teaser clips, close-up shots of characters, and behind-the-scenes photos from filming. Many of their posts highlight the main character with dramatic lighting and strong emotions, like an indie look. They also share small moments from the film that tease the story without fully revealing what happens through some reels which I thought was cool. Some posts even talk about the casting process or show moments from production. One thing I noticed on the page was that not every post is just a scene from the film. Some posts include random-looking text graphics, like the one that says “From the Yard to the Arthouse.” At first I didn’t really understand what they meant because they look different from the actual film shots. But after looking at more of the posts, I realized these are probably articles, reviews, or features about the film.

         

Feed:                                                   Reels dedicated to teasers: 

This page stands out because of its bold color scheme. A lot of the posts use strong yellows, reds, and darker tones that match the emotional and dramatic style of the film. The lighting and color grading stay consistent across the posts, which makes the whole feed feel connected. Even when they post behind-the-scenes content, it still matches the aesthetic of the film.

What I liked about this account is how the visual aesthetic matches the film’s style, the images feel intentional instead of random shots put together. For my own page, I want to post things like teaser shots, close-ups of the character, and visuals that match the mood of the story. This also helps build curiosity without giving away the whole plot. For my own page, I might not have articles written about my film, but I could do something similar by posting updates about the production process, announcements, or milestones during filming.

Media text: Still Life

Social media tool: Instagram (@still.life.short.film)

This account was honestly the most helpful and coolest to look at for me because it shows a lot of behind-the-scenes content and the development process of the film, which is exactly what I have to do. Some posts include cinematic shots  from the film, while others show filming days, camera setups, and production moments. What really stood out were the story highlights labeled “poster,” “on set,” “prep,” and “inspiration.” These show things like designing the poster, location scouting, and planning scenes before filming even started. I thought this was such a fun add and it's like getting personal in away documenting the whole process behind the scenes. Butttt If I want to go for a professional look I don't know if this can still be applied...

 

- look how cute these highlights areeee

The branding here focuses on showing the filmmaking journey. The page still keeps a consistent cinematic look with soft lighting and natural tones, but it also shows the creative process behind the film. Instead of only posting finished visuals, they show preparation, design work, and filming moments.  

This account gave me a lot of ideas because it shows things I could actually post while making my film. For example, I could share my storyboard, pictures from location scouting, or props that appear in the film. Showing these steps makes the project feel more real and lets people see how the film is coming together. YAYY!!!

Looking at these accounts helped me realize that promoting a film on social media isn’t just about posting the finished product. It’s about building a visual identity and showing the process of making the film. Most of these pages combine shots from the film, teaser visuals, behind-the-scenes content, and updates about the project.

For my own Instagram page, I want to combine these ideas by posting teaser images, character shots, behind the scenes photos, and production updates. Since my film is a psychological thriller, I’ll probably keep the visuals darker and more dramatic so the mood of the page matches the mood of the story. I'm still deciding if adding a story like location scouting would ruin the aesthetic I am going for, but we will see! I need to start my page soon, so stay tuned!

 

 

My two media texts are VERY valid!

For my final media text research post, I’m analyzing two films that connect to the psychological thriller genre in different ways, Fall and Five Nights at Freddy’s. They’re very different movies, but both use tension, sound, and character perspective in ways that inspire me for my own short film.

Text #1 – Fall

Fall is technically more of a survival thriller, but psychologically, it does a lot. The entire movie centers around two girls climbing a 2,000-foot tower, which already makes you uncomfortable. But what makes it more than just “heights are scary” is how it focuses on isolation and mental strain. As the situation gets worse, the tension becomes less about the physical danger and more about the psychological breakdown. There’s a major twist later in the film that completely shifts your understanding of what you’ve been watching. That twist element is something I really admire, It makes the audience question reality, which is a key part of psychological thrillers.

The cinematography also plays a big role, wide shots emphasize how small and helpless the characters are, while close-ups capture fear and desperation. The pacing stretches moments out, forcing the audience to sit in anxiety as they see the girls surroundings. Even when nothing dramatic is happening, the height alone creates constant tension.

Sound design is subtle but effective, the film focuses on using foley sounds like the wind, metal creaking, and silence at extreme heights to make everything feel fragile. Instead of loud background music constantly playing, there are moments where natural sound dominates, which makes the danger feel realistic.

What I take from Fall is the idea that environment can become psychological pressure. You don’t just need tension from characters, sometimes the setting itself is enough.

Text #2 – Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Okay. Yes. I know. People might judge this choice... But this is my excuse to talk about it because I genuinely loved it and found it scary in ways I didn’t expect soooo i don't care what people think. 

What stood out to me the most was the sound design during jump scares. The film builds tension through silence first. There are quiet hallways, faint mechanical noises, and slow camera movements. Then suddenly, a loud sharp sound hits. That unpredictability makes the scare more effective because you genuinely don’t know when it’s coming.

The editing supports that too, the camera often lingers on empty spaces or slightly off-centered frames, making you expect something to move. Sometimes it cuts quickly right before something appears, which disrupts your sense of comfort.

 - You can't tell me that is not creepy

The movie also focuses on the main character’s trauma and memories. There are scenes where dreams and reality blend together, using softer lighting and slower pacing to show emotional vulnerability. That blur between reality and memory fits perfectly with psychological thriller conventions.

Even if people critique the film, I think it does something well, it shows how tension can come from timing and sound rather than constant action.

Both films taught me different but important lessons: Fall shows how pacing, isolation, and perspective shifts can build psychological tension. Meanwhile, Five Nights at Freddy’s shows how sound and unpredictability control fear.

Today's Special: TV shows

 For this research post, I decided to analyze Thirteen Reasons Why. I know it’s technically a TV series and not a short film, and it’s not labeled strictly as a psychological thriller, butttt it has so many elements that connect to the genre, especially in terms of emotion, mental state, and perspective.

What makes Thirteen Reasons Why so powerful is how deeply it focuses on characters and their internal struggles. The story centers around Hannah Baker and Clay Jensen, but instead of just showing events, it shows how those events affect them mentally and emotionally. That psychological focus is something I really want to incorporate into my own short film, focusing on my main characters emotion's instead of what is actually happening. On a side note I am between 2 ideas right now and it is so hard to pick one I just know there is a lot of emotions present!

One of the strongest techniques the show uses is point of view. A lot of the story unfolds through Hannah’s tapes, which means we experience events through her perspective. That automatically creates bias and emotional intensity. We aren’t seeing a neutral version of events, we’re seeing how she felt. That idea of  reality is very common in psychological thrillers, where the audience questions whether what they’re seeing is fully reliable. 

The show also uses editing and transitions in interesting ways, it often blends past and present together, cutting between timelines to show how memories and current emotions connect. Something I definitely know I will be using in my film. That layering makes the story feel heavier because the past constantly influences the present, I think that technique could work really well in a short film if done carefully.

Sound design is another important element in the show, It uses music to build emotion rather than action. In emotional scenes, the music is soft and slow, making the moment feel intimate and raw. In more intense scenes, the sound becomes sharper and more tense. It’s not about jump scares, it’s about making the audience feel uncomfortable or emotional. That’s something I want to focus on heavily in my own project, so finding the right music is key. 

The most important part, though, is how the characters are portrayed internally. Hannah isn’t shown as just “sad.” We see her different emotions, especially her vulnerability. Clay’s reactions show guilt, frustration, and helplessness. The show spends time inside their heads, showing how small moments build into larger emotional consequences. Even though Thirteen Reasons Why isn’t a traditional psychological thriller, it deals with psychological tension constantly. The suspense doesn’t come from physical danger, it comes from emotional weight and that intensity is what I connect to most.

For my short film, I want to focus heavily on one main character and their internal state, similar to how this show does. I want the audience to feel what the character feels, not just observe it. If I can portray emotion in a way that feels raw and real, like this show does, then I know I’m heading in the right direction!

Show numero 2 - Baby Reindeer

The second TV show I’m analyzing is Baby Reindeer.... (Those who know) And honestly… I don’t even know how I feel about this show. I binge watched the entire thing in one day, and the only word I can confidently use to describe it is peculiar.

It’s not a traditional psychological thriller, but it absolutely lives in that psychological sphere. The tension doesn’t come from physical danger the way action does, it comes from discomfort and emotional instability the show portrays, that for sureee got me.

What makes Baby Reindeer so strong is how deeply it puts you inside the main character’s mind. We’re not just watching events happen to him, we’re watching how he processes them. His internal conflict,  confusion, and self-destructive tendencies are constantly present. The show doesn’t try to make him perfect or heroic, It makes him human, with complicated emotions and feelings he does not know how to deal with.

The editing style in Baby Reindeer also stands out, It uses voiceovers to let us hear the main character’s thoughts, which adds a psychological layer to every scene. It makes audiences not just guess his thoughts but also hear them. But at the same time, the way events unfold makes you question reliability, you start wondering what’s reality and what’s shaped by his perception.

Sound and tone are subtle but effective, they aren’t loud or dramatic every five minutes. Instead, there’s a constant subtle discomfort. Sometimes it’s in the pauses during conversations or it’s in the silence after something awkward happens. 

Emotionally, this show is heavy, It deals with trauma, shame, and obsession in a way that feels raw and almost invasive. Watching it feels personal, like you’re not supposed to be there, but you are. I like this for my film.