CCR Question #3 Research

Hey blog!

Today I'll be breaking down my Question #3 research. Like with Q1 & Q2, let's break it down into subquestions. 

The question is "How did your production skills develop throughout the project?"

Here goes!

1. How did your process evolve from pre-production to post-production?

Initially, we wanted to do a thriller film, researching openings like Se7en, No Country for Old Men, and The Dark Knight. I explored how thrillers build suspense and considered incorporating non-linear storytelling and in media res openings.

However, after a group discussion and feedback from my teacher, I pivoted to a sports comedy, using my research on CoA films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Coach Carter to inform my ideation.

I used Arc Studio Pro, a professional scriptwriting website and learned the proper screenplay format, which is reflected in our script.

I researched sound design and decided to integrate semi-diegetic music in the song that plays during the gym sequence. 

We originally planned to shoot at the school gym, but had to pivot to using a public gym (LA Fitness). We had to adapt and replace certain shots when others didn't work - replacing squats with treadmill/cycling shots. We also had to frame shots strategically to protect other people's privacy and remove distractions, both in the gym sequence and in the basketball sequence.

We used Audacity for voiceovers, and in post I learned how to clean up background noise and use VST plugins (the compressor and equalizer). 

2. What unexpected challenges did you face, and how did you adapt?

Filming in a public gym was unexpected, and we had to deal with background noise and people in frame. We adapted our shots and angles and even replaced the squat shot with a treadmill/cycling one. 

We also had to change locations for the coach scene to stay on schedule; we initially planned to film at school but conflicting study hall periods and some failed attempts at getting permission led to us changing it to the office at Abe's house.

3. How did working within limitations shape your learning experience? 

The biggest lesson wasn’t about creating a high quality product but about learning how to adapt and solve problems within limitations. Being forced to adapt improved my ability to think on my feet and it showed me that there's much more to production than just filmin
g. It's also about finding the right location and adapting to real world limitations. 

I initially assumed that once we had a plan in place, execution would be straightforward. But I quickly realized that filmmaking is as much about problem solving as it is about creativity.

Also, working with a limited equipment setup made me more conscious about how small adjustments make a big difference - especially with things like camera stability. Efficiency was also important when working on a scene like the basketball scene; people were waiting to play ball and so we had to work under time constraints. 

It was about making the most of the resources available. 

4. Where did you start, and where did you end up?

To start, I had little experience with real-world filmmaking challenges (location issues, sound problems, shot planning).

In the end, I developed skills in adapting to problems, making effective creative decisions under constraints, and using tech/software to enhance low-budget productions.

That should be enough to answer Question 3, see you next time with Question 4!