Sticks and Stones CCR

Here is the link to my CCR!


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https://youtu.be/GDCdAsjT0Ak

Sticks and Stones Movie Opening!

This is the final draft for my movie opening! Hope you guys like it!!!!

https://youtu.be/jgUWIWH-EY0

Project Reflection

This movie was really somewhat of a look into my past. The bullying situation in which Andrea is in, was what happened to me. I know it may look like a dumb reason why basically ruin someones perspective of themselves, and I wonder whether or not the person who affected me this much ever realized it. Bullying affected my life for 5 excruciating years of my life, and while I am able to talk freely about my past, others find it extremely hard and specially so if they are currently going through it. Two years ago I had reached the point where I really thought there was no way to get better, which is luckily around the same time my parents realized something was wrong. I ended up being hospitalized, where I realized there really is so much to live for, and people have no right to ruin that nor the way you think about yourself.
When the assignment was first given to us, we watched a TED talk video that said to focus on what you know, and there is nothing I know more about than bullying and mental health. Although I never committed suicide, the thought was always in my mind, which is why I decided to start the film with the suicide scene. Many people know bullying is wrong, but most haven't experienced someone they loved commit suicide due to bullying. By including the suicide as the first scene I'm letting the viewer see first the consequence, then the actions.
The movie as a whole will focus more on the reactions. After Andrea's suicide, her parents will go to extreme lengths to find out what it is that happened to their daughter that her only solution was that. While her parents try to find the truth, Albany realizes the extent of what she did and feels guilty for the months of being so rude to Andrea. The movie will also be going back to the different times Albany bullied Andrea as her parents figure out the cause of her daughter's pain. 
No bully's intentions include their victim committing suicide, at least it could be hoped not, and bullying always has a root, but no past or present trauma is excuse enough to bully someone, to no extent.

CCR Production

↖FINISHED PUPPETS↗

 For my CCR, I decided I wanted to be creative and have fun with sock puppet interview. The CCR will be enacted by two sock poppets, an interviewer (right) and my "representative" (left.) I did not have many things to create great sock puppets, so I had to settle for the things I had here at home. I was able to find two different fluffy socks that I barely used anymore to build to bodies of the puppets. The mouths are red paper on the outside and cardboard on the inside for my hand not to be the whole mouth. The hair I cut from a mop, then dyeing it two different colors in order for them to be different. I wasn't able to find two more googly eyes, so I had to use the eyes from a stuffed animal I no longer cared for. I also added a bow on the black one in order to cover the hot glue was showing.

I think this will be a really fun video to make, and to watch, because it is something different. It will be seen as a YouTube interview to talk about the movie that just came out.



↑Hot gluing the cardboard onto the inside of the sock.

Here are pictures of the process of making the puppets. It was frustrating not to have enough materials, but I think I made the most of the items I did have.





←Mouth of "representative"

Media While Quarantine

During the quarantine, social media has been a huge benefactor in remaining connected to the world outside of the house.  Social medias like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook allow us to get informed about situations worldwide, as well as locally. Many are using their platforms to inform others about regulations, advises, and activities to entertain ourselves with.
A very good thing that came out of the quarantine is NetflixParty. Due to people not being able to be in groups, Netflix came up with a Chrome extension which allows a certain amount of users to watch the movie as a group. I loved this idea because it allows me to watch movies with my friends, and also talk to each other through the texting box.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are also very big benefactors since they allow the sharing of information almost worldwide. Some of the people affected by this virus have used their Instagram and Facebook accounts to share information about the virus and the symptoms, many others are just using their platforms to advice people to stay inside.
This virus has scared many people, understandably so, but many others believe it is not so bad and are going outside, hanging out in groups, etc. not understanding that they might have the virus, even if they do not feel any symptoms, and might be transferring it to the people they care about. The virus might not be as bad as they say, but even so, it has killed many people and is being spread in an insane velocity, making it at least a little bit dangerous.

Quarantine :/

Due to the quarantine, I wasn't able to find a male to play Evan so I decided to include slow motion effects on 2 different shots that were already included in the film.
The first shot in which I included the slow motion effect was the shot in which Andrea looking down at the pill bottle, while the camera tilts with her. I think this is a great shot to include this effect in because it makes the situation dramatic and lets the viewer feel the tension and understand what is happening. I did not want to include a suicide scene that may be triggering to some people, which is why it is important to me to make sure the viewer can really understand and feel the situation.
The second shot in which I decided to include the slow motion effect was the ending shot. This shot includes Andrea walking away, after her encounter with Albany, feeling very upset and distressed. I believe this is also a great shot to include the slow motion effect in because it makes the shot more emotional. letting the viewer understand how she feels.

I also realized that my credits have to go at the beginning of the film (duh) and not at the end, which I have to fix. I wasn't really sure how to add a text while the film was playing, but eventually I figured it out. They begin after the title scene, and extend until Andrea is about to finish writing in her journal.

CCR answer-thinking

Drama films have characters with whom the audience can relate to, which doesn't necessarily apply in my movie because not everyone gotten bullied, bullied someone, or has a child whose being bullied but even though some part of the audience wouldn't be able to relate to Andrea's character, the audience would be able to empathize with the situation. 

In drama films, there is always some sort of realization at the end of the movie which leads the character to a form of journey or happily ever after. I challenged this in every way, Andrea's suicide at the beginning of the film indicates the viewer that that was the main event surrounding the film, and that there was not a happy ending for Andrea nor her family. Drama films, however, need to keep the viewer's attention on the plot of the movie, which I am doing by showing the viewer Andrea's suicide and then transitioning to the bullying scene.

In recent years, female protagonist roles have risen to more than 40%, which is considered a "historic high", according to "It's a Man's (Celluloid) World." In 2019, female protagonists appeared in 45% studio productions and in 55% independent productions, and only 5% of these women were Latina. My movie follows a Latina's suicide and the story behind it and after it. It'll represent the people with mental illness' and highlight the struggle of living while getting bullied, while also showing the consequences that bullying someone can lead to.  The majority of people who are bullied are ages 12-18, 23% of them being female and are 2.6 times more likely to attempt suicide, according to "PACER'S National Bullying Prevention Center". My movie will also represent those who are doing the bullying, people who engage in bullying are likely to have experienced a type of stress or trauma, or have been bullied themselves before. Bullies are also likely to have a low self-esteem, and instead of directing positive energy to themselves, they choose to direct negative energy to others. Major reasons as to why some kids engage in bullying behaviors comes from a difficult home/personal life and a personal issue with falling relationships with friends and family. 

Bullying is never okay, but people do have their reasons for acting in certain ways, and bullies are no different. Even though no one should direct that kind of negative energy to someone, it is important to represent the individual issues that the bullies have, which I will be doing for my movie. 

Sources ↘

"It's a Man's (Celluloid) World." - Dr. Martha M. Lauzen: https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019_Its_a_Mans_Celluloid_World_Report_REV.pdf

"PACER'S National Bullying Prevention Center": https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp