AICE media blog: January 2026

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Film opening reaserch

So the genre I decided on was family drama, which is just a subgenre of drama that focuses on the conflicts and relationships between family members. For this post I want to focus on the drama genre as a whole because these openings might not have the same content as the story I want to create, but they follow all of the same genre conventions.

Research:

All opening scenes, though varied, have the goal of captivating the audience and giving them some insight into the movie they're watching. They can do this in a variety of ways including developing the characters, establishing the background, and establishing setting. An opening scene should also establish the main conflict, the purpose, and the tone of the film. Though these things are important, they shouldn't be over explained. There should be elements that create mystery to hook the audience and to get them to watch the rest of the movie.

"Spotlight" (2015) immediately starts out by establishing the setting and the main conflict. The audience is also introduced to a few characters, but the main focus of this opening was to show viewers that there was a crime committed involving this mother, her kids, and the church. This creates mystery and incites the audience to watch more. In this opening the dialogue and mise-en-scene develop the background and setting. These techniques show the audience the information they need to know rather than just telling them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWC6Abnqwok

"Encanto" (2021) starts with a focus on a younger version the main character listening to a story. This story establishes the background and setting. This is accomplished by a voiceover which is a different approach than "Spotlight" (2015) had, but still conveys what it wants to, leaving room for mystery. This opening makes the audience mirror Mirabel (the main character) because they are listening to this story along with her and know just as much as she does. This works well with the movie because the audience can not only get an idea of how the magic works, but they also see how close Mirabel is with her grandmother and how family itself works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSnFZtrS6Co

"Cheaper by the dozen" (2003) doesn't really get into the conflict that the characters will be facing but it tells the audience who two of the main characters are and establishes the background through a voiceover. This immediately shows the grounded nature of this movie and lets the audience know what the rest of the movie will be about. It also hooks the audience by introducing so many characters in the first two minutes of the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GgRdkpxKs8

Conclusions:

After researching it, I want my film opening to show the context rater than a voiceover like in "Spotlight" and to hook the audience with the mystery of the dynamics between characters, like in "Encanto". I also want to showcase a friendly tone like in "Cheaper by the dozen".

Calum. (n.d.). The art of the opening scene in film. Medium. https://medium.com/@calum.45/the-art-of-the-opening-scene-in-film-3ab33fbb6977

No Film School. (n.d.). Drama genre. https://nofilmschool.com/drama-genre

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Portfolio research: editing techniques

Okay so, I have a genre in mind and an idea for the plot. Now I just need to figure out how to make my ideas real. I wanted to start this project knowing that I can create the effect I have in mind. I want to do scenes that clearly take place in the past; I haven't really explored much with editing video, so I want this to look good. My first thought to create this effect is to visibly change the mise-en-scene and add a pink overlay on the video. I also have an idea, I could put the videos on top of each other instead of cutting to one another, but I'll just have to see what looks better when I’m editing.

Research:

Scenes like this need to be obvious that they don't take pace in our time. I can accomplish this in a few different ways. I could decrease the shutter speed on my camera, I could do cross processing, I could use a color tint, or I could use a defused glow. These all tell the audience that this scene is happening in the past. I'm going to focus on the ones I'm considering for the opening that I'm creating.

"Old timey" defused glow:

I found a YouTube video that talks about how to add a VHS effect to video in editing. In this, the man changes the colors, the horizontal and vertical blocks, and the aspect ratio. All this creates an effect that would rely on the audience knowing that this is the past because of the camera quality at the time. However, after seeing how this effect looks and how to achieve it I don't believe it will be best for my opening. My main goal in these shots are to showcase them like they're memories. Making the camera obviously different does not line up with this vision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9AB0YyRdP8

Color tint:

This was my original vision for this opening and after researching it I think that I like this idea best. I tried to figure out how to make this happen by going into "Clipchamp" and editing an old video how I want these scenes to look. This idea matches with how I want the audience to see these scenes. The color of pink specifically has a lot of meaning to the opening I'm creating because It symbolizes the past and the relationship the two main characters used to have with each other. In the shots with everyday lighting and color, I want it to look like there is something missing.

Conclusions

After looking over all my options I want to stick to my idea of editing specific scenes with a pink overlay to contrast from the bleakness of the scenes that take place in the present. I want my scenes to show the setting, and the main conflict (the two main characters are not close anymore) wile not actually showing the main characters as they are at this moment.

Filmstro. (n.d.). Everything you need to know about creating flashback sequences. https://filmstro.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-creating-flashback-sequences/

StudioBinder. (n.d.). Color grading vs. color correction: What’s the difference? https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/color-grading-vs-color-correction-process/

Color Meanings. (n.d.). Pink color meaning: The color pink. https://www.color-meanings.com/pink-color-meaning-the-color-pink/

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Portfolio Project Schedule

Hello! This post is dedicated to what I want to get accomplished and when. I know myself and I know this class. I need to know what's happening and when. This is what I will be referring to for my activities on my portfolio project during the week.

Overview:

Initial research:

Research film openings in my chosen genre
Research movie plots in my chosen genre

Planning:

Come up with the plot of the movie
Plan what I want to include in just the opening
script and make a story board
Find actors
Find music (if I need to)
buy and create items to immerse a viewer in the film opening (find things to decorate the set so the mise-en-scene makes sense)
Choose dates for filming
Choose location to film

production:

Film scenes
record audio
record foley

Editing:

Edit scenes together
include all necessary names and titles

Production company with logo
Main actors
Editor
Production design
Director of photography (cinematographer)
Producer
Writer
Director

Edit specific scenes to fit vision for project
Rerecord foley and audio if needed

Revisions:

Review the video
Make edits as necessary

Critical Creative Reflection (CCR):

Research information that would help with completing the CCR
Complete all the components of the CCR
edit and review CCR to make sure it fits guidelines and looks good overall

From the time I'm writing this, The week one of the project has already passed. In order to be prepared for any delays, I want the opening itself to be done one week before the due date. I would also like to try and finish the CCR early, just incase something comes up and there is some sort of problem

Timeline:

Week 1: 1/22/26 - 1/25/26

Choose the genre
Start planning the intro
Complete blog posts (three)
Get actors to agree to be in it

Week 2: 1/26/26 - 2/1/26

Research and complete the blog posts (four)
Complete schedule

Set days to film

Start storyboard
Buy some things for the mise-en-scene
Write out who the characters are
Start planning and recording audio
Decide on title of movie

Week 3: 2/2/26 - 2/8/26

Research and complete the blog posts (four)
Finish storyboard
Write script
Start filming

try to invite the girls over on the weekend to film the scene in K’s room

Start brainstorming how I can show who the characters grew up to be with the mis-en-scene in the scenes that take place in the present.

Week 4: 2/9-2/25

Research and complete the blog posts (four)
AUDIO (this needs to be DONE by this week)
Finish filming the scenes at my house at LEAST

If you can go to the girl's house this weekend to film with them

Start editing

You want to have at least the pink done by now
Audio on video would be ideal though (doesn't need to be perfect yet, keep working on it)

Week 5: 2/16/26 - 2/22/26

Research and complete the blog posts (four)
Start and finish the production company logo
Continue editing

Try to have the names, the production company, and the title edited in

Start looking at the CCR and doing a rough draft on how to answer the questions

Week 6: 2/23 - 3/1

Research and complete the blog posts (four)
Finalize project

Make sure it's up to Cambridge standards and everything looks good

Do at least the first CCR and try to finish all the questions

Week 7: 3/2 - 3/8

If you didn't finish CCR, finish it
Do the post reflection
Extra week for editing in case of delays

Next steps:

I will follow this schedule to the best of my ability and update my progress on this blog. I know that I like to wait until things are almost due to actually get them done, and I know that I cant do that with this project. I want my film opening to be the best that I can make it, and the way to make that happen is by following this schedule and making sure my work gets done. I know that things could happen, so I've given myself ample time to finish this project, and do it well.

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Portfolio project Genre 2

Genre:

Another genre I'm considering for my portfolio project is family drama. These movie could consist of a wide variety of things but focus on the conflict between family members. I think this genre could be exciting for me to do and most of the filming could take place in my house. Considering I don't have a license yet this is ideal. There are also a lot of family drama movies that I watched and absolutely loved, so I think I would enjoy working with this genre. I also have a lot of ideas that could fit this genre and I feel like I could have a lot of fun exploring the setting and background in an intro of a family drama. This would this would be fitting of the genre conventions because many family drama movies start with a focus on the family, the setting or establish the background.

Target audiences and Institutional conventions:

Family dramas target audiences are families with older kids (around 10-15) but are appropriate for all ages. They use a wide range of shots to establish relationships between characters and move the plot forward. Many rely on mid shots because there are so many main characters that are all an integral part of each other's stories, but other shot types, like two shots are common. Many family dramas also use the family itself as a marketing strategy. Movie posters commonly show all the main characters and market the film as something to view with your family.

Genre conventions:

There are many different types of family dramas, but most of them share common content and techniques. The content of these movies focus on the relationships between family members. Main plot points are either the conflict or the resolution of conflict between the main characters (the family). The climax of a family drama is also most likely going to be the conflict that has been building between members of the family finally becoming too much. This main conflict could be between parents and children or siblings, both are common and fit the genre conventions. Movies also take place in or around the time they were released, making them feel relatable to audiences, and give nostalgia upon rewatches. Techniques that are used in family drama can be greatly varied, but many use non-diegetic music as a way to show emotions and bright colors to help audiences see them as light hearted and comforting.

Examples:

"Cheaper by the dozen (2022)" opens by showing photos the family had taken over the years, while "The Family Plan (2023)" opens by showing the city the main characters live in while Dan, the father in the movie has a voice over. These are both good examples of family drama movies because they both deal with the relationships and conflict between family members. Even though the main plot of "Cheaper by the dozen (2022)" is more focused on these relationships as the main conflict, "The family plan (2023)" relies heavily on this type of conflict as well. They both also follow the convention of having multiple main characters and a story that is in reality many stories woven together. Both movies also show every day life, and therefore have mise-en-scene that reflects this. There is natural lighting and characters wear clothing that is appropriate for the era the movie is set in, there is also many refences to the family in the set design. Some other movies that fit these genre conventions are "the Parent Trap (1998)" and "Invisible Sister (2015)." All these examples also the main characters (the family) on the main posters for marketing purposes. They also all have the same target audience of families watching a movie together so they are suited for all ages and genders.