Day of the Zombie - Weeks 9-11

In making up for the 3 weeks I've forgotten to blog:
     In the past weeks my group has gotten much accomplished. Our script has been finished and touched up to the best we can make it (out of what we have), We're currently looking for a replacement for my old part (Cole). Reason for this being that due to me having moved to Alabama from Georgia I visit home on the holidays and it conflicts with out filming schedule. Extras were contacted and and replied to, while Bailey has tested out the makeup for the zombies and it works out quite well. Our presentation given before Thanksgiving break went well and I did my part to explain the editing process. For editing, I will need to take the clips filmed and load them into my software I use (Camtasia Studio 8/SOny Vegas 9) and put it together, add transitions (maybe filters), score, and Alissa's prologue. The update presentation seemed enjoyable for the audience and I think it was well received.

Day of the Zombie - Week 8

     On Friday my group had some dysfunctional issues. I think we all had been annoyed with each other from filming, writing, and who was doing what work. It started off with us all writing the script; at some point or another we all ended up off topic. Eventually, we decided to split up into smaller groups: Heidi and I doing story boarding, and Bailey and Alissa finishing the script. We had to get serious and discuss when we could get together and have our zombie extras there too. No plans were made, although we discussed what we had planned for the next two or three weekends. It seems as if our film won't be finished. All of us have things we are obligated to do like spending time with family or commitments to grades or friends.

Day of the Zombie - Week 7

     We gained access to the black box today and it helped exponentially with figuring out shots,  how we'll express our characters in scenes. A zombie sign up sheet was put up in the hallway outside of Mr. Trione's classroom for extas. We decided to not let anyone in our Leadership class be an extra, as we don't want anyone to let out spoilers. Later we all gathered at Bailey's and started rehearsing (like, legitimately. I'm serious.) Today we were only able to film a scene or two outside due to the rain. Consequently we did most of our scenes that take place inside or close to the house.

Day of the Zombie - Week 6

     Today, we began to rehearse in class. Not only that, but I have begun a story board using our script/outline. Edits to our script are being made including an opening monologue, changed opening scene, and an epilogue. We all brought in money to help pay for the cost for makeup and FX. We plan to begin filming either this weekend or the next.

Day of the Zombie - Week 5

     No progress made other than finishing up the script and discussing costs. Filming has been planned to start.

Day of the Zombie - Week 4

     Continuing our work on the script today, we made some progress. We are substantially behind on our schedule for Day of the Zombie and decided it was time to get it together. Developments were made throughout the day on our characters and their individual relationships with each other. Plot elements like loss of loved ones (to drive another character) and suspense have been created in our script as we went along. We discussed wether we should or should not include the idea that Cole and Brittany are together in the film. We thought about removing it because including that will make the story too involved for a short film. Thinking of how scenes went the script is being molded and changed as we go becoming a better film with more elements of film making. Scheduling when we can get together and work on the script (not at school) became a problem, because me and  Alissa have plans for the next two weekends.

Day of the Zombie - Week 3

     We spent today in class evaluating not only our other group members, but ourselves as well.  Mr. Trione helped us start on the script for DOTZ by showing us celtx.com, a website that allows us to all make edits and touches to the script as we write it.  My group decided that the story needed to drop some aspects and take it back a few steps in the outline, due to it being a SHORT film (too much complex stories within a short amount of time). Some of the side plots like the “love story” between Cole (me) and Brittany (Alissa). Because of the loss of these side plots, we added just a little more to the main story, but that would be spoilers.

20% Blog - Week 2

 Today my group managed to finish up the outline of our film (Day of the Zombie) then proceeded to start work on the next step in our process. We looked into Mr. Trione's Producing and Directing a Short Film textbook for help in what our next step would actually be (Reason being...we're amateurs). Writing the script turns out not to be as easy we had originally thought. 

Character Backstory:

Brittany is a young and preppy teenager. Brittany is oblivious to the troubles and negative aspects of the world. She likes to only see the positive in all people and all situations. Brittany was raised with her little sister Paige and her two loving parents. Her childhood was more than a little sheltered, her biggest problems were Paige borrowing her clothes or using her laptop. Her parents did all they could to protect her gentle spirit from seeing the cruelty of the world. As Brittany grew up she realized not everything was rainbows and butterflies but part of her never stopped seeing the positive in people. She always puts way too much faith and love into the people around her. Brittany adopted a strange little group of misfits as her entourage. Paige, her little sister, awkward and hyper, didn’t have many friends of her own so Brittany lets her tag along. Amber is a country tomboy. Almost the exact opposite of Brittany but they became best friends after an all out girl war in the 6th grade. They’ve been there for each other every since, sharing secrets and giving support. Last but not least is Brittany’s boyfriend Cole. Cole came to the school about 2 years ago and was a total outcast. Anti-social and a little bit troubled Cole never really made friends. Brittany, as always, is quick to see the possibility of good in Cole. She befriends him and it slowly grows into more. Cole is protective and doesn’t let anything harm Brittany and her naturally trusting personality. Brittany isn’t oblivious to Cole’s protective aspects. She’s grown almost dependent on them in the past year or so that they’ve been together. 

20% Project: Blog 1

    Today, September 20th, my group worked on the script outline for our movie (Day of the Zombie).  Throughout the class we discussed several large plot points, and how to get from point A to point B, C, D, etc.  Our characters development were worked on as well, fleshing out what each of our characters motivations, morals, and relationships were like.  So far it seems as if we are on track for our schedule and benchmarks for when we want to move through stages in producing our short film. One member in our group, Bailey, also managed to get us someone to produce music for us to use in marketing and the movie itself.  This having gotten us past the road block of not being able to use licensed music, and making our film feel much more authentic than it might have before.

The cast, and producers can be seen above working on the script, and still having fun.

HEY YOU GUYYYYYSSS.