Embedded Files
l u m i e r é project
l u m i e r é project
In class, we studied the origins of film and who we credit for its creation. This led us to the story of the Lumière brothers — two French men who developed the Cinématographe, a camera and projector. They would use this invention to create videos and arrange public screenings. The nature of their films was short, single-take videos in black and white, often depicting real-life scenes. For our assignment, we were asked to create a one-minute film in the format and style of a Lumière film. I created a film that follows a woman in her mirror, trying her hardest to perfect her makeup to achieve a look that makes her feel most beautiful. As she adds layer after layer, she begins to feel more and more unsatisfied, eventually taking it all off, arriving at a more natural look — one she ultimately feels the best in.
Final Sequence.MP4Recreate a scene project
Recreate a scene project
To get real-life experience in different roles on a film set, we were tasked with finding a movie that we wanted to recreate a scene for. My group decided on the notorious 4-way call between Gretchen, Cady, Regina, and Karen from "Mean Girls." Our first task was to create the script, which consisted of playing back the scene and putting it into script format word for word. We then conducted table reads with the actors we cast from our class. The next step in the process was establishing a shot list, meaning a list of all the shots, their descriptions, and compositions to prepare for shooting. Once that was completed, we began production and filmed each character in front of a green screen. As assigned editor, my job was to create the 4-way call effect as well as edit out the green screen to make them appear in their respective bedrooms. This part was probably the most tedious given how many moving parts were involved in the scene.
Screenwriting & Filmmaking Residency
Screenwriting & Filmmaking Residency
The Acting Production Film class had the opportunity to partake in a screenwriting and filmmaking residency in partnership with the National Black Arts Festival. For 6 weeks in the fall of 11th grade, a screenwriter from the label Damn Write Originals came in and taught us the fundamentals of screenwriting as well as how to do so ourselves. By the end of the first residency, each student had their own script based on a story they came up with. My script was inspired by the book that I wrote for the Y Write project. We performed table reads for each student's scripts as our last assignment. The following spring, the residency continued with us learning about the production aspect of film. A producer, also from Damn Write Originals, came in and lead us through the production process in filmmaking. We chose two scripts from the semester before, one of them being mine, to practice producing. As director, I practiced creating script breakdowns and shot lists, I learned about framing and shot composition, as well as lighting and sound. I also acted as editor for my film. Overall, this was a very insightful experience, although quite stressful at times. The following school year, I would get the chance to present the film at the Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival in addition to speaking on a panel with other student filmmakers.
Page updated
Report abuse