Narrative 1

The Junior Narrative projects taught us different ways of learning to tell a story. we would learn to communicate characters and their story arcs through descriptive storytelling and figurative language. In English class, we started off by reading the novel 1984 by George Orwell. Through this novel, we were able to learn about the function of language in political contexts. The book helped show how art and communication relate to your personal social responsibility. In film class we were able to demonstrate our artistic creativity through a film. The process involved brainstorming, storyboarding, filming, editing, and revising. We were able to further improve our film abilities through the use of Adobe Premiere Pro, lighting equipment, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. I really valued the Visual Narrative Project as it showed me how to manage my time and set priorities. It would mean working diligently every weekend rain or shine. I learned how to become a better storyteller and improved my editing skills working with video and audio clips.

We were assigned a short story for our English class. In this assignment we were prompted to create a short story that includes the development of a character so that the reader is able to bond with this character and follow their story arc. I created a story about a young boy who isn’t able to afford a pair of shoes and develops into him working hard to achieve his goal, buying the shoes. We’ve all had to work hard for something so I guess I would say that was my inspiration. Here is an example of an exercise we did to develop a characters story arc.

After finishing our short story, we were prompted to create a audio version of our short story. I used Adobe Audition to record and edit my voice. To make things more interesting, I added music and a few sound effects to add ambience to the story and place the reader in the story. Once I finished that, I used Adobe Illustrator to create a story cover. Here are both:

Below is the process of audio editing:

I was able to expand my horizons on illustrations using Adobe Illustrator. I learned how to properly shape, color, and edit any illustration I wanted. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to show my creativity in these illustrations:

This was called the exquisite corpse assignment, where me and 2 other students had to create a different part of the image. We had no clue what the others were creating and this was the result.

Here is the illustrator project where we had a wide variety of choices in which we would create a design for an item. I chose a sweater and I designed this 8 ball with waves. Once I finished it, I printed it out with special clothing ink. I would then iron on the design on the front and back.

This assignment pushed us to create a parody of a song. Each person would write a verse, and collectively we’d write the chorus. The melody and music were all completely the same. We then would go on to record our song and edit our voices to our liking. Our group decided to write a very important topic of interest. Chicken. We love it and that was enough to write about it.

Lyrics:

I ain’t get to mickey d’s, I ain’t get to eat no chicken

I was cooking up on Christmas, and I ate up all my chicken 

Ain’t get to fry my chicken, couldn’t even give it no kisses

Can’t even post on my Instagram ’cause these dudes gon eat my chicken

Everybody acting suspicious, might probably say that I’m tripping

When I’m all alone at my kitchen stove, I tend to get in my feelings

And all I eat is some chicken, don’t be handing me no veggies 

And I’ma eat all of my pain away, ’cause that’s the only thing that gon’ heal it

I don’t understand these chefs who go around pretending

As if they really mess with me, so I doordash from a distance

‘Cause the same dasher say she down to drive be the main one who switching

Got hungry when i went to sleep 

’cause every time

I wake up in the morning, I got chicken on my mind

Bacon and some lettuce, with a big mac, on the side

And all these crazy vegans hating, tryna knock me off my grind

But I can’t let ’em do it, I got chicken on my mind

bro, I got chicken on my mind (bro, I got murder on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind (on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind (I got murder on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind, I got chicken on my mind

Yellow dressing on my body, on my brand new collared tie

chicken face is on a T-shirt and these vegans traumatized

didn’t even mean to offend him, he just caught me by surprise

Reloaded my utensils, cocked em’ back, and cut the thighs

the juices dropped down to the floor, and he got teardrops in his eyes

He grabbed me by my hands and said he dont wanna see it die 

I told him, “It’s too late, my friend, it’s time to say goodbye”

And he fried inside my kitchen, grease all on the counter

I wake up in the morning, I got chicken on my mind

Bacon and some lettuce, with a big mac, on the side

And all these crazy vegans hating, tryna knock me off my grind

But I can’t let ’em do it, I got chicken on my mind

Bro, I got chicken on my mind (bro, I got chicken on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind (bro, I got chicken on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind

I got chicken on my mind, I got chicken on my mind

(I got chicken on my mind)

Bite on the leg, just like it’s chicken 

Berto a savage, no he not no amateur

Muckbang ina kitchen,, eat it on camera

Yeah I’m a murderer (yeah, yeah)

I might just kill the boy, don’t wanna kill the boy

Bake him up, say he want beef, boy here’s some chicken

(Grill the breast, we gonna grill the breast)

Its cooking so good, I might dip the leg in it and spill the soy

Haha, chicken on my mind, whoa, whoa i got chicken on my mind

I got chicken on my mind

I got chicken on my mind

Bacon and some lettuce, with a big mac, on the side

And all these crazy vegans hating, tryna knock me off my grind

But I can’t let ’em do it, I got chicken on my mind

bro, I got chicken on my mind (bro, I got murder on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind (on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind (I got murder on my mind)

I got chicken on my mind, I got chicken on my mind

Whoa oh oh

Whoa oh oh

Here is the audio editing process:

Film

In film class, we would use our abilities from all of our classes to form one big narrative. But before we got there, we needed some practice. We started by practicing our film skills doing a series of exercises, each one focusing on different skill sets necessary for producing a narrative film. Over the next few weeks, we’d learn to show exposition, emotion, and character development through our exercise films. Throughout this process, we’d also refine our filming, editing, and audio skills.

Griffith Scene

The Griffith Scene helped us learn to build a setting. As showed in the clip, we learned to include a wide variety of shots to help locate the viewer and help them completely understand where they are. This would later come in handy to build a recurring and recognizable environment for our viewer.

Suspense Scene

The Suspense Scene showed us how to show emotion in a film. Through camera placement, location, and character use we were able to create a scary scene.

Chase Scene

The Chase Scene showed us how screen direction works. You need to make sure you follow a set of rules regarding camera placement and what direction the subject is moving across the screen. This will keep continuity going and make the film flow more and help it not be confusing. We also learned how to maintain continuity through cuts, camera angles, and editing clips together in a cohesive manner. Continuity is vital in making a film that isn’t confusing to viewers.

Narrative Synopsis

The opening scene will show two best friends sharing their passion of biking down a hill at sunset. They will go zooming past the camera in a z-axis shot. The camera will cut to a wide shot of them laughing while going down the hill from left of the screen to the right. We’ll have one last shot of them together stopping at a stop sign shown from the front. The camera cuts to a close up medium shot and shows them talking for a bit, they say goodbye. They start parting ways and bike off in different directions. One friend, the “bad” friend, instead of biking home starts biking down a sketchy road. He eventually meets up with a new crowd in a dimly lit alley. These kids are seen drinking and don’t look like the best crowd. The “bad” friend is passed the bottle. He’s nervous and shakely takes a drink. The camera cuts to black, then fades into the next day. The next morning, the “good” friend shows up to their usual biking spot. The friend waits and looks around and doesn’t see his friend ever show up. The “good” friend texts the bad friend asking where he’s at. He doesn’t get an answer. He then calls his friend. The camera cuts to the “bad” friend in his room. He looks up in a close up shot looking very clapped, he reaches for his buzzing phone. He notices it’s his friend and remembers they were going to bike. He brushes it off and declines the call and he goes back to sleep. The camera cuts to the other friend looking at his phone all confused and upset. The “good” friend is seen biking around alone in a montage. There’s close ups of him upset and confused and zooming down, him pedaling faster. He reaches the bottom of the hill at a stop sign and turns into a road he has never been down. He starts biking around town as the sun is setting. He keeps going and eventually goes down a questionable alleyway. He sees a crowd of people in the alley. Upon closer inspection, the “good” friend notices the “bad” friend among the crowd. He comes to a complete stop and stares at him. The “bad” friend sees him. The camera cuts to a wide shot showing the entire road with them looking at each other. Cut to a medium shot of the shady friend group laughing and asking the “bad” friend who this person is. He stays silent with a blank stare on his face. The “good” friend is seen shaking his head and begins biking off. He only makes it so far when the “bad” friend pushes through the new group and starts running toward his friend, yelling at him. The “good” friend stops and looks back, noticing the worry and regret on the “bad” friend’s face. He gets off his bike, stands it up. The two friends are now face to face, staring at each other for a good moment. They then hug, showing the “good” friend being apologetic, and the “bad” friend feeling regretful. They release and the “good” friend signals the other to follow him. He picks his bike, and the final shot will be a wide shot and show the two friends walking beside each other and the bike, walking down the road into the sunset, just as they did in the start of the film.

This was the original plan for our narrative film. We went through many ideas and changes. Once we decided on a story with our partner, we’d pitch the idea to the class. That way, we’d receive feedback and helpful criticism to help develop our story in a more cohesive and appealing film. This part was super crucial to help us organize our ideas and really start to marry ourselves to an idea.

Storyboarding

This process included creating your entire film on notecards. Every single frame that would be shown in your film would be drawn out. We had a limit of 100 cards, which was a challenge as we had so many ideas to include in a small amount of cards. These cards weren’t just necessary for planning, but would later help us on set when we would forget what scene to film next. We’d pull out the part of the film we were at, and find the cards to help refresh us about what the next scene would include.

Narrative Trailer

Narrative Film

The narrative film was by far the hardest and most demanding project we produced in film class. The last few months were full of planning, creating, filming, and editing. I will say this project was difficult, but I learned valuable lessons. I learned how to stay focused and set priorities. I bettered my filming abilities. And I also value learning to work with my partner and have the difficulties we were able to work through. In the end, we were able to create Meet Me at our Spot:

Behind the Scenes Premiere Pro Editing