During the narrative unit at Freestyle Academy, I learned the basics on writing stories and turning them into movies. 3 act structure, suspense, and line of action are few of many techniques I learned from this unit.
Film
For film, I was taught the basics on creating compelling stories with story techniques such as 3 act structure, as well as important film techniques such as line of action, continuity, blocking, rule of thirds, and more. We would practice all these techniques is smaller projects, but most of the narrative unit would be spent on our narrative film.
Griffith’s Pattern (building a scene)
The first technique we learned was to use the Griffith pattern on beginning new scenes. The Griffith pattern includes: Establishing shot to introduce setting, long shot to set the scene, medium shot to introduce characters, and close ups to feel the emotion of the characters. I was tasked with a group to shot a scene using Griffith’s pattern. Since it was my group and I’s first time practicing the technique, it came out a little rough, but I still learned a lot from the experience and further refined my film making techniques.
Suspense Practice
After our film teacher taught us how to build examples and showed examples from movies of suspenseful scenes, we were tasked with creating a suspenseful scene for the first time.
Chase Scene
During this mini project, everyone was assigned by themselves to film a chase scene practicing line of action. I found this as an opportunity to have complete creative control over my movie, and I wanted to create something truly entertaining. With my limited film expertise, I filmed and edited a chase scene in a single day. By the end, it came out more of a story than just a chase scene. I had lots of fun with my actors and shooting the scenes on set. The end product ended up being one of my film teacher’s favorite chase scenes, which I am very proud of.
Iron Tiger – Narrative Film
My film teacher then gave me my last assignment for the unit; The narrative film. I would use all the techniques we had previously learn to create our own short movie. Just like how I like to write all my stories, I wanted to create an interesting and unique story. I settled on creating a martial arts film set in ancient japan, complete with ninjas, senseis, and a samurai.
Inspiration
I would look up online film techniques to improve as well as watching many old Japanese samurai movies, such as Yojimbo and Seven Samurai to get a good feel for the genre. An unexpected inspiration for me was Kill Bill. I loved the style, mood, and emotions it gave during the fight scenes, so I tried to replicate many of the different techniques it used.
Preparation
Most of the time spent in the narrative unit was the planning and preparation for the story. I created a storyboard that detailed the entire story. We made sure that the story had a 3 act structure, with each act taking around the same amount of screen time.
Costumes
Since my story is set in ancient Japan, I needed to make sure that all the costumes would not break the suspension of disbelief. Given that my budget was effectively zero, I had to put together costumes from what I had at home as well as spend as little money as possible in buying the things I didn’t have such as the straw hat and ninja masks.
The hardest costume to create was the samurai armor as well as the sword. I 3d printed and then painted the mask and sword. For the armor, I cut out the entire samurai armor out of cardboard and weaved it together with rope I had laying around the house. I then painted everything together in a fitting dark red.
Once I had everything together, I began filming. My actors all had their own schedules that were tough to work around, but we were able to finish the movie by the deadline by filming on the weekends.
Overall, I had learned a lot from this unit in terms of both film making techniques as well as writing compelling stories. I never knew how hard it was to create good stories, and I plan on creating even better ones for the future.
Although my idea was highly ambitious, I was committed and I ended up having my favorite film I have made so far. Given, I haven’t made that many movies yet, but from the very moment I started working on this project I gave it my all, and I had an absolute blast doing so. This my first time dipping my toes into the art of movie making, and it has only made me more intrigued to learn more, improve more and tell even better stories.
English Short Story
In the beginning of the narrative unit, I was tasked in writing a short story for english class. It took me a long time to come up with an idea that compelled me that I could also write in a relatively short amount of time. I eventually settled on a western themed story, about an old law breaking gunslinger who learns compassion once again after a lifetime of social outcasting.
In english, I learned efficient ways to plan out a story, and especially the characters. I planned out many aspects of my main character, Jack Sinner, to get a strong idea of how I could write him into the story.
After we finished writing our stories, I was tasked with recording myself reading my story as well as adding in sound effects to immerse the listener into the story. I used Pro Tools to combine all the sounds together to create an immersive story. Knowing how to use pro tools and other audio editing software like it is a valuable skill that I can use in the future if I ever have a personal project that requires audio editing.
The Outcast’s Redemption
It was hot. Blisteringly hot.
That’s all Jack could feel on every inch of his leathered, scar-laced face. He could taste nothing but dry sand on his tongue. His black hat and black clothes were dusted a lightish brown. A bandolier jangled in synchronization with his horse’s steps. Strong wind wildly blew around the thick leather poncho curled around his neck.
Jack tugged back on the lead of his midnight black horse, easing the beast to a stop. He patted the horse on the side of its neck. Jack looked down upon a seemingly abandoned town. The sun cast a harsh silhouette of him and his horseThe wind howled as Jack narrowed his eyes upon the desolate town surrounded by an endless desert.
Jack rode into the old town. The clops from the horse’s steps echoed throughout the seemingly empty settlement. Jack’s face remained in a shroud of darkness overcast from his wide brimmed cowboy hat. A young boy hid behind a barrel as he watched the mysterious figure ride along the road. Jack stopped his horse in front of one of the old buildings, which t had the word “SALOON” nailed across the wall in big, bold. He slid off the side of his horse, then walked towards the building before stopping in front of the front porch. He spat onto the doorstep, wiped his chapped lips with his coat sleeve, promptly swung the door open and walked in.
Dusty winds breathed through the building as his dark silhouette cast a shadow inside on the aged wooden floor boards. The few figures in the bar stopped their business to look at him. A lone bartender cleaning a shot cup looked upon Jack with terrified eyes. A woman, in a faded brown dress leaning on the counter top, and an old man with a long white scruffy beard sleeping on a wheelchair in the corner. After surveying the room, Jack walked toward the bartender and the woman. Each step creaked the old decaying floorboards beneath their feet. Jack leaned on the bar.
“One shot of Devil John’s whiskey.”
The frightened bartender reluctantly nodded. He grabbed a bottle from beneath the bar and poured it into a small shot cup. The woman in the brown dress looked upon Jack with a face of disgust. It seemed she knew who he was. Jack noticed the woman.
“The hell’s that face for, miss? Jack rudely asked.
“I know who you are, and you are not welcome here Mr Sinner.”
The bartender passed Jack his drink, and the woman’s face grimaced as she watched him take a swift gulp from the shot glass. Jack then looked at the man in the corner of the room, silent and asleep on a wheelchair. Jack walked up toward the old man on the rocking chair and stopped right in front of him. Jack notices bandages wrapped around Lenny’s eyes.
“What’s with the bandages?”Jack asked.
He heard a timid voice from behind him.
“He-… he’s blind.” The bartender replied.
“Ah… Blind.”
Jack inspects Lenny. The man had ragged brown clothes, an old torn hat, and abnormally white skin for living in the west. He lightly nudged the rocking chair, which swayed it back and forth. The man remained completely motionless. Jack pauses for a moment, contemplating his next action. He bends down his head closer to Lenny’s face.
“HELLO?”
The man suddenly jerked up from his rocking chair.
“Huh? Who goes there? Michael? Michael, is that you?”
Lenny inquired.
“No, it’s not Michael. I’m Jack. Jack Sinner.”
Jack replied, “Never heard of ya!”
Lenny chuckled. Jack was surprised.
“The name’s Lenny. Blind eyes Lenny. What brings you to our humble town?”
“I’m here to kill your sheriff.”
“Our Sheriff? And why may that be?”
“It’s personal…”
Lenny stands up from his rocking chair with his walking stick probing what’s in front of him. Jack steps back to let Lenny through.
“Say, why don’t we talk over a bottle of whiskey, Jack Sinner?”
Jack shaked his head.
“No, I’m fine. I just want to know where your sheriff is.”
Lenny chuckled to himself.
“I know nothing of any Sheriffs! Now how about a walk around town?”
“I guess I have time.”
Jack begrudgingly replied.
“C’mon boy, hup ya!”
An old dog stood up from the side of the ancient rocking chair and walked toward Lenny, slowly wagging its tail. Lenny pets the old, white dog with his free hand.
“I thought that thing was a floor mat”
Jack stated in surprise. Lenny chuckled.
“We may be old, but we ain’t dead! Now let’s head on our way!”
Jack, Lenny, and the old white dog walked down the sandy dirt road as a light wind blew dust around them.
“So what’s your story, Jack? You Mexican?”
“My parents are Mexican but I’m not.”
Lenny nodded.
“What you do for a living?”
“I save the weak from being exploited by the corrupt.”
Lenny paused.
“You mean by killing sheriffs.”
Lenny’s change in tone caught Jack off guard.
“It’s not as simple as that.”
Jack rolled his eyes in annoyance. He contemplated leaving that man right then and there.
“Ya know, even though I can’t see, you seem like a good man.”
Lenny’s statement made Jack stop walking. Lenny kept walking with his white dog by his side down the road. The orange sunset glow faded to darkness as the sun crept behind the distant mountains. Jack stood there, pondering to himself.
“Jack? Jack? Where’d you go?”
Lenny called while he tapped the ground around him with his walking stick. Jack didn’t respond. Lenny’s dog barked, and jogged towards Jack, sniffing his boots. Jack stood still.
“Thanks.” Jack said under his breath.
“WHAT?” Lenny called again.
Jack walked up to Lenny, standing right in front of him.
“Thank you.”
“Huh? For what?”
“Nobody has said something like that to me in a very long time.”
“Well, you’re welcome!”
Lenny chuckled.
“You’re a very strange man, you know that Jack?
Jack cracked a smirk, his face seemed to glow. They continued on their stroll around town until the sun hid behind the dark mountains. After they got back to the Saloon, they stood outside next to Jack’s black horse being illuminated by yellow lantern light.
“Well, I think I’ll be heading on my way now. It was good talking to somebody, it’s been a longtime.”
“Don’t mention it, Jack!”
Jack unattached the lead to his horse from a wooden post, but when he turned around he noticed a faded mark of sheriff’s badge on Lenny’s coat. Jack was surprised and instinctively reached for his revolver, but stopped himself when he saw Lenny’s cheerful smile. Jack couldn’t bring himself to harm his new friend.
“Say, Jack. There is one more thing I needed to tell you.”
“And what might that be?”
Lenny paused himself.
“I- … nevermind.”
Jack smiled, although Lenny couldn’t see it. Maybe this time, Jack can make an exception.
Behind the scenes
I used Adobe Illustrator to produce the album cover art for my short story audio. It is supposed to be Jack’s black leather hat on a sheet of faded green paper.
Illustrations
After learning the basics on how to use Adobe Illustrator, I was tasked with creating an original illustration. I decided to combine 2 characters from my 2 favorite pieces of entertainment. Asuka and the Joker (the one played by Joaquin Phoenix). Although the final design came out very simplistic, I’m happy with it. After finishing my design, I decided to put my design onto a T shirt.
Music Production
To further solidify my grasp on using Pro Tools, I was assigned to create a parody song with a group of friends. I decided to write a song about fortnite that was a parody of the amazing song “all star”. After I wrote it, I pitched it to my group and they agreed to sing it with me. After recorded our singing, we edited it together in Pro Tools, overlaying the instrumental to All Star with our audio of us singing. My inspiration for the lyrics came from my undying love for fortnite and the hundreds of thousands of hours of fun it gave me.
Fortnite Star Lyrics – written by me
Sky
Pablo
Somebody once told me tryhard are gonna troll me
I ain’t the smartest gamer in the world
He was looking kind of scary with his finger and his thumb
In the shape of an “L” on her forehead
Well the noobs start coming and they don’t stop coming
I use my umbrella then I hit the ground running
Didn’t make sense not to live for fortnite
Your brain gets melted but you still have fun
So much to do, so much to see
So what’s wrong with taking the launch pad?
You’ll never know if you don’t try
You’ll never win if you don’t camp
Hey now, you’re an fortnite star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a pro gamer, get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters are legendaries
Only fortnite stars break the mold
It’s a hard game and they say it gets harder
You really suck up, wait ’til you get older
But the roblox kids beg to differ
Judging by trash games in their fixture
The 90’s we Built is getting pretty thin
The storm’s getting close so you might as well dip
My builds getting fired, how about yours?
That’s the way I like it and I’ll never get bored
Hey now, you’re an fortnite star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a pro gamer, get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters are legendaries
Only fortnite stars break the mold
Hey now, you’re an fortnite star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a pro gamer, get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters are legendaries
Only fortnite stars break the mold
Somebody once asked if I could spare some wood for builds?
I need to get myself away from this place
I said, “Yup” what a concept
I could use a little builds myself
And we could all use a little wood
Well the noobs start coming and they don’t stop coming
I use my umbrella then I hit the ground running
Didn’t make sense not to live for fortnite
Your brain gets melted but you still have fun
So much to do, so much to see
So what’s wrong with taking the launch pad?
You’ll never know if you don’t try
You’ll never win if you don’t camp
Hey now, you’re an fortnite star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a pro gamer, get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters are legendaries
Only fortnite stars break the mold
And all that glitters are legendaries
Only fortnite stars break the mold
Narrative Unit Summary
Overall, I have never learned more things that I want to use in my future. I feel accomplished and excited to learn more about creating stories.