So, after using Canva for about the 3rd - 4th time to curate videos, I noticed that the quality is –excuse my language – TRASH. I apologize to any Canva supervisors, workers, who happen to see this for some reason, but when it comes to putting together live action videos, Canva is not even the top five choice. When I was using Canva for my past projects in media studies, the video would be glitchy, audio would repeat, and it would take so long to put the videos together, just for it to be low quality...
For my final project, this cannot be happening, it is time for a change (to the salon! ~ reference to the Barbie meme)
We need something new…
When researching for options, an article came about (linked here: https://createandgo.com/video-editing-software), that stated the best editing software for certain people such as professionals or beginners or even filmmakers. Also, in the article states clear about which programs are free, and what must be paid for, and the author's opinion on the software. This is essential to learn because it is not easy to dive in an editing software willy nilly or try to produce something without the means to do so.
A couple of contenders beside Canva: 1) would’ve been Cap Cut, but that's banned (uh oh) 2) Adobe Express, 3) Final Cut Pro (if I am trying to spend 299 dollars, which I am not), 4) Movavi (strictly for beginners, like me) and 5) IMOVIE. Seeing the mass of productions/short films done on iMovie is impressive and its free and easily accessible because I have an iPhone.
Final thoughts
Although editing software were at the back of my mind, especially since thinking I can place it into Canva and hope for the best, it is now clear how software varies and provide a different experience, resulting in different products for the audience. It is all about choosing the right one for me and determining whether it is worth the big bucks and is it legible.
Marketing is essential for a film, to get its name out. It comes in the forms of press tours, merchandise, advertising, interviews, social media, and much more!
What is marketing?
According to the American Marketing Association, marketing is defined as "the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large." Marketing is popularly known for products and services, like insurance, makeup, fast food, etc. Although, films and TV shows utilize these same techniques.
What are types?
Some types of marketing, especially for the films, come in the form of posters, merchandise, social media posts, and most importantly, teaser TRAILERS. Having a trailer gives the audience a sneak peak to the film/show, but also gets your name out there on different platforms.
The benefit to this technology age, marketing has become so much easier. (Not the easiest, because it takes a while trying to get people interested in your posts…like it takes some specific camera angles…whatever you know what I mean). It is basically free advertising. To meet the LIAR criteria, a filmmaker, or whereas the marketing team, can spread the word to different countries (aka different languages). The industry, or where the film/show is being produced from can also market on their websites, their social media, and get larger advertisement company to create marketing campaigns. For the audience aspect, gaining a large audience [with the right technique] is essential for productions and marketing towards a certain demographic is easy. If your target audience is thriller/horror fans, create a social media post/video surrounding your thriller/horror production that will put it on their “for you page”. (meaning there it is more likely to get likes rather than dislikes…you don’t want that). Lastly, for representation, [i’m trying to hit these marks for the portfolio bear with me], marketing can include representation of different demographics or people that the audience can resonate with. If they see their favorite celebrity or interviews in their hometown about the movie, they are more likely to be interested in the production.
movie poster for Psycho (1960)
Movie poster for Funny Face (1957) ft. Audrey Hepburn
Official Trailer to Love at First Sight (2023)
I chose these three because I am an old soul, and since I am doing a "rom-com~ish" film intro, it made sense to include these.
A Prominent Example...
A famous and recent example of this is the Wicked (2024) movie. Everywhere you walked, even your hometown's CVS had Wicked products. There were even filters on Snapchat and –I believe– YouTube Shorts based on the movie. There were ads including Cynthia Erivo's iconic Defying Gravity riff, and constant memes going about the two stars who play Galinda and Elphaba, especially about their close friendship. All around you saw Wicked, whether through memes on social media or in Forever 21 (true story, I literally saw green Louboutin look alike shoes in Forever 21 in the WICKED SECTION), I mean the team who were working on this, went ALL OUT. They did a great job every time I see green and pink, Wicked is all I could think of. Honestly it is what they say: All press, whether positive or negative, is good press. (something like that...)
My Own Marketing!
For my own film intro, I decided to create a couple social media posts and a poster, to show how it’s done (aka an excuse to use Canva).
This takes me back to freshman year...when my class was tasked with annotating a short story, so obviously my mind went to the first paragraph, but when my teacher began going over our annotations, guess where she started: the TITLE. I initially though it was a waste of time to spend more than 15 minutes analyzing a title, but fast forward to now, they are more important than ever.
Why titles are important...
So why? The title is the first thing that catches an audience's/reader's eye, and what describes a story, without describing a whole story... It not only sets the tone for the media text but also reflects the style in which the director/author has when it comes to storytelling.
A title can be a character's name such as Harry Potter or the Sherlock Holmes. Or it can be an important object such as The Notebook or The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. These are more straightforward in meaning, whereas some titles take more time to understand, such as John Dies at the End. This movie gives a presumed spoiler at the end, although seeming like a straightforward movie, it follows a non-linear narrative while distorting time and reality. So instead of John dying at the end, he dies in the middle. The title drew audiences in and had them expecting a certain plot, yet the moviemakers delivered a different one. So, titles can be used in various of ways.
short and sweet?
Not the Sabrina Carpenter album (although that is smart marketing because when you see those two words, you instantly think of her), but is something most films/shows/books stick to, so people remember those pieces easily. Such as Avengers or Squid Game or Gladiator or Flight Risk. Normally, with longer titles --or longer anything because people's attention span has been seriously depleting-- it is more difficult to connect with an audience.
Some more disadvantages of having a long title: they sound "generic" or "unappealing", and the audience will simply skim through it, most likely remembering the first and last word (most like just the first and be like: "do you know that movie The Rise of the blah blah blah, like elves or something"). With the impact of the digital age, like I mentioned before, the overall attention span of humans is decreasing to SECONDS (for example, at this point as writing this blog, I at least picked up my phone 3 times). To reach an AUDIENCE, certain choices must be done, like shortening a title, using certain songs, edit in a way that keeps the audience intrigued for longer.
What is my title?
For my film intro, I have a couple ideas on the title...To keep them short n' sweet here they are:
1.Is it Love?
2.Unrequited.
3.She and He.
4.It's a Game Of?
5.So Close yet So Far.
Again, these are simply ideas [that I came up with on the spot], they can change as soon as I post this blog, or after I film, or even days before the submission date. Depending on a title, it can alter a storyline, bring in/turn away audiences or it can have no meaning to a story (because Hollywood can do what it wants, I guess). Catch my blog next time when I post on the complications of editing.
The definition of copyright is the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same. [Oxford Languages]
In simple terms, it is the right to something you own. Copyright is there to ensure the authors of that work/text is credited and rewarded for their work.
Although, there are different forms of copyright apart from songs, such as business names, titles of movies, and slogans.
So, what can I do?
For projects such as these, almost all songs are available, due to the Fair Use Doctrine. [Hehe I can use my favorite songs]. One benefit I have is that I enjoy particular vintage songs, so some of my favorites are most likely in public domain. (you can call me a grandma I don't mind).
Apart from that, the easy way to go is use copyright- free music. (but I do not feel like having my final project feel like a Youtube kids unboxing video...so we are going work).
If I feel like spending some cash (that I do not have), to use certain songs, I can buy specific licenses that pertain to how I want to use the copyrighted music. This is a plan C (or more like Z...), since I am sure I would not be arrested for my song choice, but in the event needed, I will purchase a license to use the song (because I neeed my Temptations -- the BAND, not SINS)
How will these songs be utilized in my video?
One song that has been in my mind to use is "I Know I'm Losing You" by the Temptations. Its upbeat nature shields the lyrics of the song, which are genuinely sad. The theme of this song is love unrequited/knowing the love between the two is slipping. The collision of positive and negative is exactly what I am trying to portray in my film intro, the stringing of your heart.
One younger song, that is lovey "dovey", is a Wink and A Smile by Harry Connick Jr. (1993), it has recently sparked my interest, because it resonates with myself (and my relationship). It all started because of a joke my boyfriend made on our 1-year celebration that I cannot wink for my life. (I sadly tried and ended up blinking thinking I actually did wink); but I have a great smile [:)]. So, in conclusion, he is the "wink" and I am the "smile". Leading to the song being a perfect second choice for the intro.
Ok now for the actual use, it will be used throughout the film intro, initially in the first minute the song is purely in the background in the montage of the couple having great fun (with some clips of the girl by herself), then as the video transitions/cuts to the girl on the bed, she gets up and cuts off the song from her radio (another idea: she says Alexa stop). So instead of the song encapsulating her life, she despises the song because of what it reminds her of. (dang :(, no more smile...)
Just a quick one for today...But this is the blog of the season. (I am kidding).
Posted below is my drafted production schedule. (any updates will be posted soon after).
Initially, I already had a mental schedule and planned to do filming on the day of my anniversary; although, I figured to take time to enjoy myself, so on Valentine's Day (notorious for love and being distracted by flowers and chocolate, but I will LOCK IN.)
Overall, my schedule will consist of at least 2 and 1/2 weeks of planning to get secure, and then filming for 2 separate days, with a week in between. Although just in case (because I know myself), I have a day planned specifically for extra filming or refilming. After that, it is straight to the editing process and the CCR. (I want to do it either as a popular news interview or film tour).
After rewatching (for the second time) Ugly Betty (2006-2009), I particularly noticed their transition shots, used throughout the show. They were quirky and unique, such as the next scene being transitioned through columns coming down. Overall, the way the show was edited nods to the main character Betty Suarez, as she herself is quirky, different and fun; although, later in the show as she becomes more mature, you notice the editing/transitions shift into more general transitions, reflecting the difference in Betty herself.
That is why I found the show way more interesting, because you can tell how ALL aspects of production and post, relay the theme of a show/film. Down below is an example of how the show did their "columns coming down" or CCD (I just made that up, it is a bit of a tongue twister without the acronym) transition shots.
Another transition the show did is using what the characters had in their hand or in their surrounding and make it apparent in the next scene, or to close off a scene. For example in the episode "Bananas for Betty", it has a scene between Betty's boss (Daniel Meade) and Daniel's sister (Alexis Meade - who was once a man, but had a fake death to transition, to get back at their father, but Alexis and Daniel get into an accident, leading her to lose her memory and slightly get it back, now is more sympathetic with their dad, but then dad passes away - ok wow that was a lot). Due to the passing of their father (Bradford Meade), one of them was able to get the role of president of the magazine company [Meade publications] through a video (that cut out, coincidently). So, they decided that the role will be fought for, through a paintball war. Ultimately, Alexis won and the ending to that scene was not just a black screen, but rather the paintball splatter all around it as it closed off on Daniel's defeat.
[that paragraph was kind of an excuse to ramble about the show, just like how some people accidently use their business card for a simple purchase and have to film a video to write it off on tax reports.]
(POV: This is me looking at the homework I need to complete)^^
Why it's so cool...
Certain shots can reflect different genres. Again, I am going to use the paintball scene example, during the montage prior to the fight, it makes the comedy look like an action movie, with the close up shots in the "getting ready" portion and the slow-Mo with stare down. Or when show does certain scenes in the style of Spanish telenovelas, the quick zoom-ins and dramatic close ups, conveys the show to be as such. That is another reason as to why concocting films/tv shows is so difficult and requires much detail. All aspects of a shot, setting, story, makeup, costume, lighting, editing, make a film/show are needed to be convincing and entertaining. Making Ugly Betty a very unique show for its time (and now, it's really timeless).
some more examples on transition shots Ugly Betty used, is having one scene transition to a photo album in a next scene; having the NYC landscape wide shot transition to being part of Daniel Meade's coffee mug in a next scene; instead of a black screen, the scene ends through hearts all around the scene to portray Betty's emotion. And there is sooo much more, I really recommend this show for those interested in media analysis.
In my video...
All in all, this enabled me to think about transition shots I would like to use for my 2-minute film intro. At some points in the show (Ugly Betty), the camera represents the person for example, in the first/second episode, when Betty gets lunch from the Mode cafeteria, the camera is in her POV, with the plate in hand, while also seeing the reactions of her coworkers (which was combined of side eyes and stare downs because the girls at Mode do not eat much to "preserve their figure"). This will be incorporated into my video by having shots of the two characters looking into the camera as if they were looking at each other, and the important transition from positive to negative will be the characters holding the camera/phone looking into it as if they were to take picture, and when the flash occurs the female lead in the next scene will be holding a physical picture "taken" from the scene prior.
Hopefully I can masterfully achieve that. Tune in next time for the schedule of my 2-minute film intro and any updates. Thanks for reading!
