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

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. 

Short films need to be included as well

 For this research post, I focused on a short psychological thriller film linked below!

Short film

Since I’ve chosen to create a psychological thriller, I wanted to study examples of the genre in action. This short film was perfect because it shows how suspense can be created with simple filmmaking choices, without big sets, loud explosions, or heavy dialogue.

One of the first techniques that stood out was the film’s use of tight close-up shots, especially during key moments. For example, there’s a scene where the main character sits still and stares forward with nothing happening around them. The camera stays focused on their eyes and facial tension, and you feel the unease even though there is no action. This works because psychological thrillers often rely on internal conflict and subtle emotional cues. Instead of showing violence scenes, the audience is made to sit inside the character’s head, and that helps creates tension.

The lighting throughout the film is dim and shadowed, creating a mood that feels unsettling. One scene shows the character in a dark room, the light only illuminating part of their face while the rest fades into shadow. This technique makes the environment feel mysterious and unknown, a major convention of psychological thrillers. 

The editing style was a huge part of what kept me engaged. The film doesn’t rush but instead it alternates between long, lingering shots and quick cuts. For example, a shot may start on an empty hallway for several seconds, longer than expected, creating a feeling that something bad is about to happen. Then it quickly cuts to a close-up of the character’s face, making the viewer jump slightly because the quiet tension suddenly changes. This is seen across the whole film which was my favorite thing getting mini jump scares.

The sound design is subtle but plays an important role, there’s minimal dialogue, which means every sound choice matters. Background noises and moments of silence all contribute to the tension. In one scene, the character sits alone with only quiet room noise. The silence feels almost too quiet, and it makes the audience expect something to happen even though nothing does. Silence is a major tool in psychological thrillers because it forces the viewer to listen hard, and when they listen, they get uneasy. That anticipation creates anxiety, and anxiety builds tension without any loud music or dramatic sound effects.

Watching this short film actually made me excited because I realized I kind of want to do something similar. Not copy it obviously, but use the same idea of tension through atmosphere instead of action. I already have a rough idea forming in my head, something focused on one main character, internal conflict, and a slow build that makes the audience question what’s real. The simplicity of this film proved that I don’t need ten locations or huge production value, I just need good pacing and a strong social cues!!

Text #2- Delivery

For my second short film, I chose this because it creates suspense and uneasiness through very intentional filmmaking choices, without relying on a big budget, loud action, or dramatic dialogue. Since I’m planning on doing the same, I wanted to look closely at how this film does it.

One of the first things you notice in this film is the way the camera moves and frames the character. The shots are often close and tight, especially on the character’s face or upper body. This makes every small expression or movement feel important, and it forces the audience to focus on the character’s emotions. 

The lighting is also very intentional. There are lots of shadows and darker tones, which makes the environment feel mysterious and slightly off. For example, in one scene the character is lit mostly from one side, leaving the rest of the frame in darkness. That kind of lighting makes it feel like there’s something hidden, both visually and psychologically.

The editing in this film is subtle but very effective, there are moments where the film holds on a shot longer than expected,  like a still hallway or a lingering close-up, and that creates tension just by itself. Holding a shot instead of cutting immediately makes the audience wait. There are also quick cuts when something slightly unsettling happens. That contrast between slow, lingering shots and sudden quick cuts keeps you slightly off-balance , exactly what a psychological thriller wants. I specifically liked the note scene, where it shows pieces of the note on the screen with tense music and it accelerates. 

Joseph's ghost wants to run it back

After going back and forth between comedy, action, and everything in between… I’ve officially decided my genre. I’m doing a psychological thriller for my short film. Key word right there, "short film", I decided on the Short Film Package!! It was going to be easier for me to think of a solid idea compared to thinking of a movie idea, then think about key elements for the two DIFFERENT trailers, so overall, it was easier, anddd I have an idea on what I want to do, (stay tuned for that!).

Shocking? Not really.

I tried to brainstorm comedy ideas, they were ok I guess. I tried action. Cool in theory, stressful in actual developing. But every time I sat down to actually think, the ideas that came naturally were deeper, more emotional, and slightly concerning. So instead of fighting it, I’m embracing it!!

Psychological thrillers focus less on physical action and more on what’s happening inside the character’s mind. It’s about tension, paranoia, and identity, so basically making the audience question what’s real. That’s what I love, I love when a story makes you uncomfortable without even showing anything extreme and you want to know what's coming next.

I watched a YouTube video breaking down psychological thriller techniques, and it really emphasized how important mood, sound, and pacing are. It’s about cutting at the right moment and making the audience feel like something is off, even if they can’t explain why.

I also read an Article explaining what defines a psychological thriller, and here are some key characteristics that stood out to me:

1. Complex characters with internal struggles

2. Twists or unreliable perspectives

3. Emotional intensity

4. Suspense built through psychology rather than action

And that’s when it clicked.

This genre actually works perfectly for a short film. I don’t need crazy locations or big action scenes, I need strong storytelling, and good dialogue. Also, if we’re being honest, I connect to this genre the most. I like writing stories that are considered "different" and make people really start thinking, I want my story to have real emotions and make audiences connect with it. So instead of forcing myself into a genre that is cool but hard to execute, I’m choosing the genre that naturally sparks creativity for me. And since I’m doing the short film option, I can really dive into the character’s mind and build something serious and thought provoking.

Operation: Survive A Level Planning

 Now that I’m (almost) done choosing between the film promotion or the short film, it’s time to be realistic. This is not AS anymore, this is A Level. Which means more detailed planning and more pressure... So here’s my planned timeline for the next eight weeks and what I wish to accomplish each week. (Manifesting organization.)

Week One (2/17–2/22)

Goal: Lock in with what I want to do

- Finalize my project choice

- Pick my genre.

- Start thinking about target audience.

- Create a rough concept idea.

-  Establish the overall direction and tone of the project.

This week is about clarity, no filming yet. Just making sure my idea is strong enough to survive the next two months.

Week Two (2/23–3/1)

Goal: Research everything

- Deep genre research.

- Analyze at least 6 real media texts in my chosen genre.

- Break down conventions (camera work, editing, narrative structure, sound, pacing).

- See what I want to keep and what I want to challenge.

This week is basically me becoming a film critic, I want to really grasp how professionals structure trailers or short films so I’m not just guessing when I start creating.

Week Three (3/2–3/8)

Goal: Turn research into planning

- Research social media pages similar to my genre.

- Start drafting story outlines.

-  Create rough storyboards.

- Plan shooting schedule.

By the end of this week, I want a clear visual plan of what I’m filming and when.

Week Four (3/9–3/15)

Goal: Finalize pre-production

-  Complete detailed storyboards.

- Finalize scripts (if needed).

- Confirm locations.

- Confirm cast (if needed).

- Plan costume, props, and other technical needs.

This week is about planning everything correctly, I don’t want to go into filming unprepared like last time.

Week Five (3/16–3/22) – Spring Break

Goal: Start production, even though it’s spring break, I need to use it wisely.

- Begin filming major scenes (or trailer content).

-  Capture as much footage as possible.

-  Reflect on what’s working and what isn’t.

- Research print components (poster, postcard, digipak depending on final choice).

This week will set the tone for how stressful the rest of the project will be.

Week Six (3/23–3/29)

Goal: Continue production + start editing

- Finish filming.

- Start rough cut editing.

-  Make adjustments if scenes don’t work.

-  Begin brainstorming Critical Reflection 

Editing always takes longer than expected, so I want to start early.

Week Seven (3/30–4/5)

Goal: Refine everything

- Final editing.

- Add music and sound design.

- Adjust pacing.

- Work on social media page.

- Continue planning Critical Reflection.

This is polishing week, which means fix what needs to be fixed and improve quality. 

Week Eight (4/6–4/10)

Goal: Finish strong

- Final export of project.

- Complete print component.

- Finalize social media page.

- Write Critical Reflection.

- Reflect on the entire process.

This week is about presentation, for instance, how I'm portraying my entire project and no need for rushing. 

If I follow this timeline, I should stay on track and avoid last-minute panic editing at 2 a.m. (We’ll see if that actually happens.) Right now, the main priority is choosing my option and genre. Once that’s locked in, everything else will start falling into place.

We have officially began!

Which one of these choices is getting me my own Oscar?

For this year, our portfolio project consisted of 4 options we could choose from. That sounds easy right? Always pick the easiest one, well... there is no easy way out in this class, if you thought so, then have you learned nothing from last year???  I have to decide what my main production route is going to be, and I’ve officially entered my indecisive phase. I’m stuck between Option 2 (Film Promotion Package) and Option 4 (Short Film Package). In a way, they both feel like me by their own different characteristics and the ideas I have in mind.

When going down the Film Production Package lane, it sounds very fun and very tempting, making two trailers, plus a poster and social media page. That sounds so fun (I'm saying this because I have Canva Pro and I need to put it to USE!!). I’m not even exaggerating when I say I heavily judge movies based on their trailers. When I’m at the movie theater, the trailers beforehand literally determine if I’m booking my next movie date or If i'm going back to just watching Youtube videos for my source of entertainment. Trailers create the entire vibe of a movie, they set the tone, build suspense, and make you need to watch it. The idea of being the person who gets to make them now sounds very cool. I promise i'm going to make it to the big leagues. 

The only thing stressing me out is making two trailers for the same film. Like… how do you make them different enough but still cohesive? That’s something I’d have to figure out soon if I go with this option.

MEANWHILEEEEEE..

There’s Option 4, the short film package.

Complete. Creative. Freedom.

Writing stories has always been one of my favorite things to do, like even just imagining fun scenarios in my head is cool enough, but the opportunity to actually bring it to life and add characters and faces and share my ideas with other people feels like a reward. And if you know… you know… maybe Joseph finally discovers why he’s a ghost and we turn this into a full cinematic masterpiece. (Niche reference. If you’re new here, welcome!)

But here’s the thing, a five-minute short film sounds short. It is not short. If it took me forever to develop a film opening before, imagine a fully structured five-minute piece with rising action, climax, resolution, cinematography, sound design, everything. It’s giving stress for the next month, but it is also giving challenge accepted ONCE AGAIN. 

Right now, I think my final decision depends on genre. If I choose trailers, I would love to do something action packed or comedy driven. But if I choose the short film, I would probably take the opportunity to go deeper, something more serious and emotional. I recently saw the movie Wuthering Heights, and it inspired me to do like a tragic ending if I do the mini film. To help myself decide, I’ve been watching different action and comedy trailers, analyzing pacing and editing style. I’ve also been watching short films on YouTube to see how directors build complete stories in just a few minutes. 

For the trailers, I looked into my favorite movie which I watched recently to inspire me, it was "We're The Millers", when analyzing the Trailer, I looked into it's comedy film conventions which I liked, but it didn't compare to the Anaconda Movie Trailer, although I personally didn't like the film it's trailer perfectly highlighted and found a way to draw audiences in- AKA me.... As my last movie trailer I watched, I saw the Crime 101 Movie Trailer which I saw in theaters and it looked so goood, I added it to movies to watch because of it. 

 

In regards to the short films, doing a trailer seems 10x more fun based from what I have seen but I am going to keep comparing the two. I used this link to find some inspiration: 

YouTube: Five Minute Movies

This is just the beginning, I don’t have the final answer yet, but I know whatever I choose, it’s going to push me creatively in a way that feels bigger than last year. So for now we wait till next blog where I make a decision!

Critical Reflection: Group Documentary Project

Over the course of this documentary project, my group and I developed a 5–7 minute documentary that focused on the impact of the Latinos in Action (LIA) program and its recent news about a shutdown going to happen. Throughout the process, we went through multiple ideas, faced scheduling and production challenges, and made creative decisions based on research and time constraints. Despite the difficulties, we created a documentary that meaningfully represents a social issue within our school community and engages its audience through personal stories and documentary conventions.

Representation of Social Groups and Issues:

Our documentary represents the social group of Latino students, teachers, and families who were directly affected by the Latinos in Action program. LIA was a program that supported students academically and emotionally while also encouraging community involvement, tutoring, and leadership. Its shutdown, “due to orders from the U.S. Department of Education, which claimed the courses may be discriminating based on race and violating federal civil rights law”, became the central issue our documentary explored.

Rather than focusing on political arguments, our piece represents the human impact of the program and its removal. By interviewing LIA students, the LIA teacher, and a parent of a child who was tutored, we showed how the program affected different people within the community. Students spoke from the heart about how LIA gave them confidence, belonging, and a sense of purpose. The teacher provided insight into the program’s goals and long-term impact, while the parent interview highlighted how LIA helped improve her child’s confidence, even if academic results were not immediately noticeable. We aimed to keep the documentary unbiased, acknowledging that not every experience was perfect while still emphasizing the positive role LIA played. This balanced approach helped us represent the social group honestly and respectfully, allowing real people to tell their story instead of forcing a single biased narrative.

Audience Engagement:

Our target audience consists mainly of students, parents, and members of the school community, particularly those who may not have been familiar with LIA or understood its importance. We engaged the audience by using direct interviews, emotional testimonies, and relevant B-roll that showed real classroom interactions, tutoring moments, and students working together. Hearing students describe how LIA helped them feel supported and confident creates empathy and encourages viewers to emotionally connect with the issue. We also used B-roll to transition smoothly between interviews, keeping the pacing engaging while reinforcing what was being said. Music was used subtly to support emotional moments without overpowering the interviews. In some sections, we intentionally excluded music so the audience could focus fully on what the interviewees were saying, although we could have used some more background music in some scenes. This contrast helped maintain engagement and gave more attention to the most important moments.

Research, Conventions, and Creative Decisions:

Research played a major role in shaping our documentary and the way it followed documentary conventions. Before filming, we studied examples of documentaries and discussed common conventions in class, such as interviews, B-roll, sound, and the use of music to establish tone. We decided to use direct interviews, allowing subjects to speak naturally without including our voices as filmmakers, so the focus stayed on their experiences. Our research also influenced our editing choices. Editing a documentary is more complex than editing a regular video, especially when matching voiceovers with B-roll and transitioning back to interview footage. To manage this, I focused on pre-editing clips, organizing interview footage, and selecting fonts for interview titles. I chose fonts that were clean, professional, and classy, ensuring they matched the serious tone of the documentary without distracting the viewer.

We also learned that having too many people editing would be chaotic, so tasks were divided among each other. This decision helped maintain consistency and prevented conflicting creative choices. Although some conventions, like handheld footage, were not heavily used, this was a known choice to keep the documentary visually clean and organized.

To add on, after reviewing our footage, we realized we had too much of the same B-roll footage, or it was just lacking what we needed. My group needed to think quick due to time constraints, so what we did was fill up some gaps with pictures. This was a really creative idea as we got to show more real connection of the class with people from the community. It was all smiles, fun and an insight to what the program really is like. With a simple touch of music we turned some pictures into a magical moment of memories to share with others. 

Conclusion:

Overall, this project challenged me creatively and technically, especially during post-production. While editing was not my favorite part, it was essential to shaping the final product and making sure the documentary flowed smoothly. Through research, planning, and collaboration, my group and I created a documentary that thoughtfully represents a real issue in our school community.

Although the project was stressful at times, I am proud of the final outcome. It communicates the impact of Latinos in Action, engages the audience emotionally, and demonstrates our understanding of documentary conventions. This experience helped me better understand the responsibilities that come with telling real stories, and how powerful those stories can be when done right.

Surviving the Final Stretch: Editing

Post-production… easily the worst part for me. I don’t know what kind of editing warrior you have to be to enjoy cutting a documentary together, but it is definitely not me. I can edit a normal video just fine, but a documentary? With voiceovers, interviews, music, and B-roll? Yeah… no.

Editing this project was way harder than I expected. Every few seconds we had to make sure the voiceover matched the B-roll, and then we had to perfectly transition back to the interviewee talking without it looking awkward. It was like putting together a puzzle where half the pieces are missing and the other half don’t even fit. We also had to pick music and fonts, which sounds simple, but it’s actually a whole mission when you’re trying to keep the vibe serious, emotional, and not cheesy. I focused on fonts for the interviews and pre-editing clips so I could send everything to the rest of the group to assemble. Since we had a bigger group, not everyone needed to edit, otherwise the project would’ve turned into pure mess.

For the fonts, I wanted something classy but not too dramatic, something that actually matched the tone of our documentary. I went through so many options until I found one that fit perfectly with the piece. I made sure every interview clip was clean, organized, and ready to be placed into the timeline. It sounds small, but trust me… it took time, patience, and three mental breakdowns.

Picture of font choice:

And honestly, that was basically the whole post-production experience. Long hours, a lot of rewatching the same clips 500 times, fixing tiny mistakes, and trying to make everything flow together. And this was jut my tiny part, shoutout to my group for doing an excellent job to piece it all together. But what matters is we got it done.

This is my last blog regarding this project, and looking back, this whole process was a lot. From brainstorming to filming to editing, we really did everything we could to make this documentary look good. It was stressful, but we actually succeeded, and I’m proud of the work we put in.

Here is my full production log of this documentary:

Also guys side note..

Christmas is in less than 15 days!!!