LINKS!!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az4ulLRp9iY

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JQItXJHF6kM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7G5Eg9qFpk

Reflection

Hi, blog!

It’s so crazy to think that this project is officially done. Looking back, it’s been a wild ride full of ups, downs, and so many lessons. From brainstorming my film opening to filming my baking show CCR, I honestly think I've grown so much as a creator. I want to take this post to reflect on everything I’ve learned, not just from making my CCR, but also from my entire film opening project. Let’s start with the film opening. Creating it was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. My film focuses on a teenage gymnast named Gianna, who struggles to balance school, family expectations, and her passion for gymnastics. I really wanted to create something that felt real, something that other teenagers especially student-athletes could relate to. Writing the story and planning the scenes took me and my team mates a lot of thought. I had to think about how to show Gianna’s struggles without just saying it all in dialogue. For example, I filmed scenes that showed her doing homework late at night, wrapping her bruised knee , and getting frustrated after a bad gymnastics practice. Little details like those were really important because they helped bring her story to life.

Filming was a mix of fun and stress. I had to think about camera angles, lighting, and how to make each shot look natural. I also learned how important it is to have a plan. There were times when I didn’t storyboard a scene, and it ended up taking way longer than it should have. After that, I made sure to sketch out my ideas before filming anything else. Editing was another huge part of this process. My team mates  used jump cuts to keep the pacing fast. Watching the film come together during editing was such an amazing feeling. I realized how much power editing has to tell a story it’s not just about cutting clips, it’s about creating a mood and connecting with your audience.

Now, let’s talk about the CCR. For my creative critical reflection, I decided to make a fun baking show where I talked about the project while making cinnamon sugar muffins. Honestly, I chose the baking show idea because I wanted to do something creative and a little different. It was such a fun way to reflect on the project, even though filming it was harder than I thought. I had to make sure my explanations about the project were clear while also showing the steps for the muffins. It took a few tries to get it right, but I’m proud of how it turned out. In post-production for the CCR, I kept things super simple. I didn’t use any filters, transitions, or music, I just cut the clips so everything flowed naturally. I wanted the focus to be on what I was saying and the muffins I was baking. Even though it was simple, I think it worked really well because it felt personal and real.

Reflecting on the whole project, I’ve learned so much. I’ve learned about storytelling, planning, and time management. I’ve learned how to use editing to create emotion and how to bring characters to life through small details. I’ve also learned how to step out of my comfort zone, whether it’s filming a baking show or trying to represent something as complicated as teenage struggles in a short film opening. More than anything, I’m proud of how much effort I put into this project. From the film opening to the CCR, I worked really hard to make something meaningful, and I think that shows. Even though there were times when I felt stuck or overwhelmed, I kept pushing forward.

 It’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. By the end, you’ll feel so proud of what you’ve accomplished. Thanks for sticking with me on this journey. I can’t wait to see what creative adventures come next!

Until next time,

Arianna <3

CCR post- production

Hello Cambridge friends! Let’s talk about the post-production process for my CCR baking show. After filming myself making boxed cinnamon muffins (because let’s be real, boxed mixes are a lifesaver), I had to take all the footage and turn it into a fun and smooth video that explained my project. Spoiler alert... It was harder than I thought, but also super rewarding.

First, I uploaded all my clips into my editing software. Since I didn’t use anything fancy like filters, transitions, or music, I wanted to keep it simple and clean. My goal was to make sure my voice and message were the stars of the show, not all the flashy extras. I started by trimming each clip so that the video flowed naturally. For example, I cut out the moments where I fumbled with the box or forgot what I was saying (yes, that happened a lot!). Sometimes I had to read from a fiece of paper that I had behind my recording device because I would forget what i had to say since I get nervous sometimes when I'm on camera. While I was mixing the batter, I talked about how my film opening came together, and while the muffins were baking, I discussed how my project reflects themes like student athlete pressure. I also had to carefully time my clips. Even though I kept the editing simple, I made sure the video was clear and easy to follow. I wanted my audience to feel like they were watching an actual baking show, but instead of just learning how to make muffins, they’d also learn about the process behind my film opening.

The final step was reviewing the whole video from start to finish. I watched it a couple of times to make sure there were no awkward pauses or mistakes. Once I was happy with how it looked and sounded, I exported the video. Watching the finished product felt amazing because I could see all the hard work come together. This experience taught me a lot about editing and how important it is to keep your audience in mind. Plus, it was a lot of fun combining baking with filmmaking!

Now my CCR baking show is ready to share, and I’m really proud of how it turned out. If you ever want to try a creative CCR idea, I totally recommend doing something fun like this. 

CCR production

 Hey, Blog!

This week, I filmed my CCR, and let me tell you, it was so much fun! Instead of just sitting and talking, I decided to turn my CCR into a mini baking show. Why? Because who doesn’t love watching people bake while learning something new? In my "CCR Baking Show," I used baking to explain all the parts of my project. For example, I compared choosing my target audience to picking the right ingredients for a recipe. You have to know who you’re cooking (or filming) for! Then, while I mixed some dough, I explained how our film represents teenagers, especially student-athletes like Gianna, our main character.

I also talked about our editing choices, like adding jump cuts and slow-motion effects, while pouring the dough into the mini cupcake molds. Each part of the process connected back to the film. The best part? I got to eat delicious muffins when I was done filming!

Filming this CCR was definitely a creative challenge, but it was worth it. Now I just need to edit the video to make it look polished. Can’t wait to share it with you soon!

CCR #3

 Hi Cambridge people!!

Today, I’m diving into the third CCR question: How did your production skills develop throughout this project? This is a really cool question because it makes me look back and see how much I’ve learned since starting this whole process. At first, I honestly felt a little lost, especially with editing and making everything look professional. But over time, I started picking up new skills that helped bring our film together. One of the biggest ways my skills improved was in planning and organization. In the beginning, I didn’t realize how much work goes into just getting ready to film. I had to learn how to manage time wisely, schedule filming days, and make sure everyone was on the same page. It wasn’t always easy, but by working with my group and staying on top of deadlines, I got way better at organizing everything. Another huge improvement was my editing skills. At first, Premiere Pro looked so confusing compared to iMovie, which is what I used before. I had to watch tutorials, ask friends for help, and just practice a lot. Now, I actually understand how to cut clips smoothly, add cool effects, and use sound properly to make scenes more interesting. I also got better at using jump cuts and inserts to keep the story moving without making it feel choppy. I also improved my teamwork and communication skills. Since filmmaking is a group project, I had to learn how to share my ideas while also listening to my teammates. There were times when we disagreed on certain shots or edits, but we worked through it by talking things out and trying different options. I realized how important it is to be flexible and open to feedback. 

here's another picture of the editing!

Finally, I learned how to problem solve under pressure. Things didn’t always go as planned sometimes we had tech issues, sometimes an actor couldn’t show up, and sometimes we had to change things last minute. Instead of freaking out, I started thinking of solutions and adjusting to whatever challenges came up. Overall, this project has helped me grow a lot as a filmmaker. I feel way more confident in my skills now, and I know that even if something goes wrong, I have the tools to fix it. I still have a lot to learn, but looking back, I can definitely see how far I’ve come!

That’s all for today, see you in the next post!

Group meeting #2

Hey friends, welcome back!

Wednesday’s group meeting was super productive, and honestly, I think we all needed it. Sometimes, just talking things out helps so much, and that’s exactly what we did. First, Samira shared a big problem, one of her main characters canceled on her last minute! That’s a huge challenge, especially when filming is already planned. We all jumped in to help her figure out some solutions. She thought about recasting the role or maybe even changing the scene a little so it could work without that character. It was a stressful situation, but I think she lef the meeting feeling a little better about her options.

Then, my other teammates helped me with my CCR. They gave me some really good ideas on how to explain the choices we made in our film, especially about how we used certain editing techniques and why our story connects with teenagers. Their suggestions helped me see things in a different way, and I feel way more confident about my answers now!!! Of course, I also wanted to help, so I spent some time brainstorming ideas for their film openings. We talked about ways to make their stories more engaging and what small details could add more depth to their characters. It was cool seeing everyone bounce ideas off each other it really felt like a team effort. This meeting reminded me how important it is to have people who support and challenge you. We all helped each other solve problems and come up with stronger ideas. I left feeling way more motivated and ready to tackle the next part of the project!

 

March 8th, 2025

 Hey everyone!

Since I’m working on my Creative Critical Reflection (CCR), I’ve been doing some research for the first question:
How does my film use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues? To answer this, I started looking into sports drama films and how they usually follow a similar pattern. Most of them focus on an athlete’s journey to success, showing their struggles, hard work, and victories. Our film definitely follows some of these conventions, like including intense training scenes and personal challenges.

But we also wanted to challenge some expectations. In a lot of sports movies, the main character is super disciplined and has everything under control. Instead, we made Gianna struggle with balancing school, family, and gymnastics. This is way more realistic because real athletes don’t have perfect lives—there’s always pressure from different areas. We also wanted to make sure our film had real diversity. That’s why we made Gianna’s family Venezuelan-American to reflect the experiences of many kids who feel caught between two cultures. A lot of movies focus on the "American Dream" storyline, but we wanted to highlight what it’s like to feel like you don’t fully belong in either place. This is something I can personally relate to, and I think it makes the film feel more authentic.

I still have a lot more thinking and reflecting to do for my CCR, but this research has helped me understand how our film fits into (and changes) the usual sports drama formula. Can’t wait to dive into the other questions soon!