AICE Media Studies

  I met with my group to brainstorm ideas for our short film, and after a long discussion, we finally settled on a mystery thriller. I took on the responsibility of writing the script, making sure the dialogue felt natural and the pacing kept the tension high. After several drafts and feedback sessions, I was satisfied with the final version. I created a storyboard to map out every shot and ensure we had a clear visual plan before filming began. I also put together a shot list to keep production organized and make the most of our limited time. We spent a day scouting locations, looking for settings that matched the eerie tone of our film. Some spots looked perfect but had too much background noise, forcing us to reconsider. Once we locked in our locations, we held auditions and cast the roles, selecting actors who could bring our characters to life. I helped run rehearsals so the actors could familiarize themselves with their lines and movements before the cameras rolled. On the fi...

  Panic set in for a moment as I stared at the error message. I tried restarting the software, hoping it was just a minor glitch, but when I reopened the project, half of my timeline was missing. My heart sank. Hours of editing seemed to have disappeared. I took a deep breath and reminded myself to stay calm. First, I checked the autosave folder, hoping the software had backed up my progress. Luckily, there was a version from about 15 minutes before the crash. It wasn’t perfect, but at least I hadn’t lost everything. I immediately saved a duplicate copy of the project in case anything else went wrong. After restoring what I could, I tried exporting again, but the render still wouldn’t complete. I suspected a corrupted file might be causing the issue, so I carefully scanned the timeline for any clips that looked off. Sure enough, one of the video files refused to play properly. I replaced it with a backup version, adjusted the edits, and tried rendering again. This time, the progres...

  After wrapping up filming, I dove straight into editing. The first step was organizing all the footage, labeling each clip, and sorting through the takes to find the best ones. It was a time-consuming process, but having everything properly labeled made the editing much smoother. I started by assembling a rough cut, placing the scenes in order and trimming unnecessary parts to improve pacing. Watching the film take shape for the first time was both exciting and overwhelming—I could already see what worked and what needed adjusting. Once the rough cut was complete, I focused on refining transitions, ensuring each cut flowed seamlessly into the next. Some scenes needed tighter edits to maintain tension, while others required a few extra frames to let moments breathe. I spent hours tweaking the timing, playing scenes back over and over until they felt just right. Next came color correction. Some shots were slightly overexposed, while others had inconsistent lighting due to changing ...

  I started brainstorming ideas with my group, and we finally settled on a mystery thriller concept. I took charge of writing the script, making sure the dialogue was sharp and engaging. I sketched out a storyboard to visualize each scene before we started filming. I worked on the shot list to ensure we captured everything efficiently. I visited different locations with my team to find the perfect setting for our short film. I helped cast the roles, making sure each actor fit their character perfectly. I arrived early to set up the camera and check the lighting for our first scene.  I handled the boom mic for some takes to capture crisp audio. I helped guide the actors through their performances, making sure their emotions felt authentic. I had to adjust our shooting schedule when unexpected rain disrupted an outdoor scene. I improvised with lighting when one of our lamps stopped working. I made sure we got enough B-roll footage to add depth to the final edit. I focused on get...

  No matter how well I planned, technical limitations became one of the biggest challenges during production. The first issue I faced was camera equipment—while I wanted to shoot in 4K, my camera could only handle 1080p, so I adjusted my framing to maximize quality. Low lighting in certain locations forced me to rely on practical lights and reflectors instead of the professional lighting setup I originally envisioned. Some shots required smooth movement, but without a stabilizer, I had to get creative with handheld techniques and makeshift rigs.  Audio was another hurdle—I didn’t have access to a boom pole, so I had to position the mic strategically to capture clear dialogue without getting in the shot. My memory cards filled up faster than expected, so I had to constantly back up footage and delete unnecessary takes to make room. Battery life was another issue, especially during outdoor shoots, so I planned scenes around available power sources and brought extra batteries whe...

  Writing the script was just the beginning, and I quickly realized that revisions were inevitable. As I started planning the shoot, I noticed some dialogue felt unnatural, so I made adjustments to make it sound more authentic. After discussing the script with my cast, I took their feedback into account and tweaked certain lines to better fit their delivery styles.  Some scenes felt too long, so I trimmed unnecessary dialogue to keep the pacing tight. During rehearsals, I saw that a few moments didn’t translate well from the page to performance, forcing me to rethink how they played out. I also had to adjust scenes to accommodate location limitations, rewriting parts that weren’t feasible given our available spaces.  One major change came when I realized a certain subplot wasn’t adding much to the overall story, so I decided to cut it completely. Some of my favorite lines ended up being removed, but I knew the film would be stronger without them. I also restructured a few...

  Casting was one of the most important steps in bringing my film to life, so I started by making a list of roles and the qualities I needed for each character. Since I wanted to work with people I trusted, I decided to cast from my group of friends. I reached out to those who had acting experience first, but I also encouraged others who were interested in trying it out.  After explaining the project, I held a casual read-through to see who fit each role best. Some of my friends surprised me with their performances, making the casting decisions harder than I expected. I made sure to consider reliability just as much as acting ability since I needed people who would commit to the schedule. Once I finalized the cast, I created a group chat to keep everyone updated and organized. Scheduling was tricky, but I found a way to balance everyone’s availability with the production timeline. To help my cast feel prepared, I shared the script early and set up rehearsal sessions.  Dur...

  Securing the right film equipment is one of the most exciting and challenging parts of production. I started by making a detailed list of everything I needed, from cameras to lighting gear. After researching rental options, I reached out to a few local film equipment rental houses to compare prices. Budgeting was a huge factor, so I had to be strategic about what I could afford. Luckily, I managed to borrow some gear from friends who had extra equipment. Picking up the camera felt like a major milestone, making the whole production feel real. I also had to think about sound, so I rented a high-quality shotgun mic for clear dialogue. Lighting was another challenge, but I found an affordable LED panel kit that worked perfectly for my scenes. Transporting all the equipment took some planning, especially with tripods and light stands taking up space. I made sure to double-check all the gear before leaving the rental shop to avoid last-minute surprises.  Testing the equipment bef...