Introduction
Starting with the exploration of prose fiction and graphic novels, we practiced building characters and successful story arcs by using descriptive storytelling, storyboards and films. We deepened our technical communication skills by learning to use new professional equipment and applications. These include Wacom Digital Drawing Pads, lighting equipment, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Pro Tools, HTML/CSS, and Google Apps.
The Narrative Project taught me a lot about how to tell stories creatively. Although there were a lot of challenges within this unit I learned a lot about collaboration, constructive criticism and problem solving. From this project I valued the experience I got in learning how to direct actors and make decisions on what to cut out from the film depending on how it fit in the story and not how much I liked it.
Story
English
For English we were expected to write a Flash Fiction using the skills we learned on character building and story arcs. I had a lot of fun when trying to think of a character to write about and their story as I enjoy bringing awareness on a lot of subjects that people don’t talk about, so I wanted to give my character a lot of tragic backstory and show them trying to overcome their challenges.
Illustrations
For Digital Media we learned how to use Adobe Illustrator in order to draw digitally. Some exercises we did included learning how to use symbols, the pen tool, make the Album Cover, Exquisite Corpse and our final product (stickers.)
Exquisite Corpse
Illustrator Project
For the Illustrator project we had a choice to make stickers, puzzles, mugs, shirts, etc. I decided that I wanted to make stickers based off of the show/book Heartstopper. I am not the best at drawing so I decided to stick with something more simple but something that had a lot of symbolism in the series. The Heartstopper leaves are seen everywhere and are meant to represent love and compassion. For months I had seen people on social media put the Heartstopper leaf stickers around their rooms and I wanted something similar. Although this wasn’t the most creative project I am still happy that I did it, as it means a lot to many people.
Artist Statement
The reason I decided to make stickers based off of the show and books, “Heartstopper”‘ is because the show has so much meaning to the lgbtqia+ community. The show is one of the first shows to have great representation in, age, ethnicity, sexuality and gender identity (it’s also very heartwarming.) These leaves are used many times throughout the series as a way to represent love, kindness and compassion. These principles are all very important to me as I aim to help spread, representation in media, empathy and kindness. This is why i decided to draw the Heartstopper leaves.
Music
For the music part of this project we spent some time making a parody. In this project we had to pick a song, remove the vocals, and create new lyrics. I decided to use the song “911” by Lady Gaga for my parody. While I was biking home from school one day, I realized that I could make the parody about biking to somewhere. After a while, the story became about a crashing while on your bike.
Verse:
Bikin’ up to my friends house
We’re going to play “Cat and Mouse”
I have played enough of these games
Almost like I have no choice
This is going to bore me to death
My brains looking at my surroundings
Wish I looked sooner, now I am dead
Watch left, here I go again
Pre-chorus:
I look to my left,
look to my right, there is a car
I look to my left,
Look to my right, this is the end
Chorus:
My biggest enemy is me please call 911
My biggest enemy is me please call 911
My biggest enemy is me ever since day one
Call 911 then help another one
Mash-up of Songs
Leading up to the parody, to get more practice using Pro Tools, we made a mash-up of songs. I decided to take some songs from the Chromatica album by Lady Gaga and put them together. Originally I was just going to put together some of my favorite songs, however as time went on I started to make more of a story. I started to make it sound like Lady Gaga was going crazy and then dying. It was fun even though I hate Pro Tools and it is my least favorite application we have learned so far.
Film
In Film we made a narrative short film. To start this project we learned about Griffith’s pattern and how to make a suspense scene. After that we were challenged to make a chase scene where the teacher would critique our work as if we were professionals. This was to help us learn the 180 degree rule as well as the other film before we make those mistakes in our real narrative Film. To start the Narrative Film we had pitches, then we partnered up, made shot lists and storyboards, got green lit, shot the film and finally we edited the film. This project was definitely an experience, a mostly positive but extremely stressful project. I learned a lot about collaboration and the mechanics of film throughout this project, as well as scheduling, directing and editing.
Griffith’s Pattern
This was the very first assignment in the Narrative Unit. For this we had to go down to the roots of film to DW Griffith and copy his signature pattern that we still use today. This was a rather chill scene as it was just supposed to practice the wide, medium, closeup shot sequence.
Suspense Scene
We started this exercise by watching some of Alfred Hitchcock’s films and analyzing the patterns that we saw. After that we had to get into small groups of three where we had to make a suspenseful scene.
Chase Scene
The Chase Scene was meant to put all of our skills to the test in an individual assessment. This was the project in which Mr. Taylor went the hardest on everyone so that we could improve all of our film skills before the actual Narrative Film.
Narrative Film
After all of this preparation and learning we finally got to the Narrative Film Project. My partner, Sierra, and I faced a LOT of challenges with this project. Overall I think that we made five different versions of our story all with different shot lists. While shooting the final scenes of our fourth story we realized that something vital to the story logistically did not work. We decided to go on without it, but after our rough cut and discussing with our teacher and classmates we decided it would be better to make a completely different story. Since the Final Cut deadline was due one week later we had to film and edit as quickly as possible, but I am still proud of how it turned out.