AICE Media Portfolio

    While doing research on my top three picks of genre, I was able to bring it down to two choices. However, this created a dilemma for me so now I have to decide which one would be best for my Portfolio project. To make my selection a bit easier I decided to dig deep and take an extensive look at both comedy and horror.

GENRE- Comedy 

    What makes comedy good-

Comedy is such a famous genre because well of course its funny… but more then that comedy has values that make it relatable. By adding issues that people battle with on the daily and making it a sense of humor it allows the viewers to see a reflection of themselves or their experiences being funny. This helps people not overthink every little thing and enjoy everything the world throws at them. While watching comedy movies, it is easier to create stronger bonds with the people you’re with by having the same sense of humor.

(Hangover- 2009)

Hangover, for example, is one of the biggest comedy movies ever. It’s about a group of friends and one of them is getting married, before the marriage they throw a bachelors party. Everything and I mean everything goes wrong but despite this they have a blast and it created an even bigger bond between them. 

   

GENRE- Horror

What is scary about horror films? 

Horror movies can have an exhilarating and a rewarding experience. This is because they provide a thrilling escape of reality while still being in their own home or in a safe place. Many people enjoy horror, whether it’s because of the storytelling or because of the insane adrenaline rush you get while watching the movie. Although scary, horror movies can help build a resilience for things that give them anxiety and allow them to learn how to cope. Like comedy, horror allows for friends and family to create a bigger bond by experiencing these insane moments and emotions all together.

(Smile- 2022)

Smile, for instance, is a crazy horror movie that seems all normal until it doesn’t. While watching this movie people tend to feel scared, excited, confused and so many other emotions at once. While watching this movie with other people they tend to become closer together due to the emotions drawn from the film. The unsettling atmosphere builds tension and confusion to what’s going on. The movie was a commercial success, resonating with audiences who appreciated its mixture of psychological depth and supernatural horror.

 

I chose to follow through with Horror. I decided this because horror has unique film openings filled with suspense, fear, thrill, and tension. Horror films in general offer a unique and compelling form of entertainment and are a great way to bond with other individuals on a different level that comedy can’t compare with. 

Transitioning into the Cambridge Portfolio project

     Hello Cambridge, in my AICE Media Studies class we are reaching the end of the year. This being said, from this point on all of my blogs will be a documentation of my process in completing the Portfolio project. I intend to keep a realistic timeline of what I'm going to be doing from a week to week basis. 

    My initial plan is to dig deep into a few genres and decide which suits me best, I want my research to be pristine, making my choice slightly easier. In class we were learning about film opening through an interactive NEARPOD, which was really interesting and helped me understand how to develop characters along with background and context. The only way I can do this is by staying on task, therefore, I will be following this approach…

        1) Start to establish tone of production

        2) illustrate genre

        3) Include title

        4) Develop purpose

        5) Make it engaging to audience

       

    Some of the genres that have been intriguing for me to use have been…

Horror

Drama

Comedy 

Behind The Scenes BLOG #2

 While working on our midterm and class project we also created a funny and engaging vlog of everything we did. We also included bloopers:) ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX6xhvGRvyQ

Music Marketing Project

 We started our research on country music by deep diving into its origin, evolution and cultural importance. The roots of this sub genre had us exploring its roots in Appalachian folk traditions, and its transformation into sub genres such as bluegrass, honky tonk and country-pop. Streaming data, social media and music charts showed a deep cross sectional appeal of country music amongst the demographics of age 18-45 who have a shared love of the spoken word about personal stories and shared memories of their youth in a niche centered on authenticity. The stories and community values of the genre resonated with fans through focus groups and surveys and created an emotional connection that fans wouldn’t want to pass up.

To celebrate and expand the genre’s reach, we developed the "Roots and Rhythm: The Heart of Country Music campaign. It’s a multifaceted project covering the genre’s history and new audiences through digital storytelling, social media, and live events. Teaser videos, artist Q&A sessions, a TikTok remix challenge, and a grand finale concert with both established and emerging artists round out the key elements of Performance Space NYC's annual crazyboycamp. The campaign will create a stronger bond between fans and the music, by crossing the legacy with innovation.

A music video that essentially serves as a central component of the campaign is one that embodies the spirit of country music. It’s going to feel like small town moments of the heart, filmed performance shots with a cinematic narrative of community, love, and resilience. The video was shot over several days at real rural locations and showcases such iconic images as barn dances, acoustic sessions and sweeping landscapes. The YouTube video will be distributed on YouTube and social channels, and will drive fans in emotional storytelling anchored in the campaign and engage new audiences to experience the genre's timeless appeal.

Genre research

 Why is comedy funny?

Genre Conventions – Content

Humor is characteristic of this category as it is genre that aimed at crossing the thick line between entertaining and amusing spectators. Such features as considered, foolish, and ironic plots and main characters, and the typical content conventions associated with comedies comprise the depicted generalizations of everyday life. There are often believable plots with certain characters chasing after each other, misunderstandings of society andfst rivalry and friendship. Some characters in comedies have some general roles including the fool, the clumsy or innocent chap who acts irresponsibly, the straight man who is involved in a role that responds to the comedy or comedy in a comedy show and the rogue who may be a villain, but is amiable rogue. They produce an architectural framework that makes laughter erupt out of the characters’ interactions and incidents. Production Techniques – Genres Comedies are important in the amusement industry since the production techniques places heavy importance in bringing out the humour of the play to the spectators. Timing and pacing are critical aspects of comedies in effort to achieve outstanding and warranted comedy. For example, two people laughing can be used as a brief montage to shrink down the tension of a joke, or a punchline can tessellate with the blow delivered using immediate close-ups. Another aspect is the sound effects that include silly noises such as slippery floor sounds or any falling sounds – positives and upbeat music. Musical qualities refer to the use of bright light and the use of vibrant colors to lighten the mood of comedies, physical comedy may involve walk and move, slapstick comedy and jokes, and PV Games that highlight the talents of the performers together with their good timing.

Institutional Conventions – How is Genre Marketed It is expected that the advertisements for comedy films are funny and have the brightness that depict the movie. Using bright colors and unstoppable humor as well as smart and striking slogans and jingle posters and billboards target the audience in the quest of funny movies. Trailers often feature the amusing parts, always with the intention to make a potential viewer laugh and feel curious. Social media marketing applies best when promoting comedies; fragments of the film containing some humor are shared to create the buzz. Star power is another important factor; product promotion usually involves stressing the fact that the show features one or another well-known comedian or actor. In general, the approach to comedies is a call to create anticipation and desire to enjoy the humor. Film Sample # 1 – Superbad (2007)  

Superbad – is a kind of movies which are familiar to every fan of teen comedies showing the best moments of school years and friendship. It depicts extended teenage friendship of two boys, Seth and Evan who are trying to buy some alcohol to use in a party so as to attract the attention of their girl friends. The drama is crammed with humorous mishaps as it takes young viewers through the fun and frenzy of teenage experience. The show has lots of sharp and obscene language that’s kind of appropriate when used in a context that the young generation would relate to. There is proper coordination between various scenes with jokes, and proper coordination of speeding up or slowing down the pace when necessary to add humor of a film. Incorporating laughter with earnest feelings, Superbad does more than simply making people laugh while growing up is actually more like the feel of this comedy film.

Film Sample #2 – The Grand Budapest Hotel (1)

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a subtle comedy with enchanting prenderness and an artistic setting and feel to it. An American film of exquisite storyline and stunning visual was released helping under the direction of Wes Anderson: it tells the story of a Hotel concierge, M. Gustave, and his lobby boy, Zero. All these goofy scenes are funny and the entire film is seasoned with a good dose of humor and; furthermore, the color contrast and camera positioning which are inherent to Anderson’s works are also here. The comedy is primarily situational with the peculiar characters holding the plots’ appeal as it folds dark comedy into charming oddities. But the arching concept of having what is essentially four stories within one makes it richer and unique out of which both comedy can be derived and deep sentimentality. Through the use of Benny’s musical comedy and the grand visuals, The Grand Budapest Hotel fits into the comedy bucket while accepting the general and art-house reception. Other Film Examples Bridesmaids (2011) – a feel-good comedy about friendship and – of course – a wedding fiasco.

Groundhog Day (1993) – A good example of time loops combined with finding oneself with a funny spin.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) The best oldie new-age movie filled with warmth and humor about love and relationships.

Mean Girls (2004) I would best describe it as a smart high school culture and status system spoof.

This could have been done in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). An off-beat comedy-drama that uses parodies of history and forms elements of absurd comedy.

Dumb and Dumber (1994) – An auto trip comedy with two friends who mean well but are quite stupid.

21 Jump Street (2012) A cop comedy where two detectives get back to high school in order to portray a criminal.

Representation

    One show that really outdoes the rest in terms of layered, complex representation is Breaking Bad. The series narrates the story of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a methamphetamine kingpin, and Jesse Pinkman, his former student and partner. With these two characters driving the show, Breaking Bad plumbed deep into the transformation of identities, toxic masculinity, and class struggles-all while challenging stereotypical portrayals of anti-heroes. Conversely, this balance between the two leading actors is explicitly revealed in the way the show handles the power dynamic between them and everything that surrounds their decisions in spirals of downfall.

    Walter White's arc is informative on the ways in which the show will negotiate power, control, and identity. At the outset of the series, he is powerless, innocuous even, meek-a loving father and teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer. Early episodes detail the ways in which he has become marginalized in every sphere of life: the shadow cast by his brother-in-law Hank, his humiliation in the job. However, when Walter transforms into "Heisenberg," he is an avatar of toxic masculinity and disintegration of morality. To that extent, such a transformation underlines a critique of patriarchal structures in the show, along with the destructive nature of unruly ambition. This is visually reflected by Walter's change of attire from soft pastel-colored clothes to the symbolic black hat and sunglasses, part of his dive into the darker dimension of his character.

    On the other hand, Jesse Pinkman stands in pretty stark contrast to Walter: from "junkie" stereotype and low-tier crook to one of the most complex morally and sympathetic characters. His struggles mirror much greater issues of disparity between classes and a systemic failure. Unlike Walter, who has the means and privilege of choice, Jesse is imprisoned by his socioeconomic background. The show also dramatizes Jesse's desire for redemption most poignantly regarding his relations with children and his growing discomfort with the violent world that he has been dragged into. His arc is a counterpoint to Walter's moral descent, as Jesse strives-and oft succumbs to-attempts to flee the darkness now surrounding him.

    The duality between Walter and Jesse is pivotal to how the show tackles the concepts of power, morality, and the complexity of humans. Where Walter becomes more corrupt and hungry for power, Jesse clings to the need to feel redemption. These interwoven narratives create a dense exploration of how individual free will and structural pressures can corrupt an individual or force one to grow. Breaking Bad is not a show based on clear-cut heroes versus villains; rather, it deals with multidimensional characters who constantly ask the audience for a shift in allegiance.

Sound project

 Summary of the Sound Lesson and Assigned Videos

During the sound lesson, I learned about the various aspects of sound, including how it is produced, transmitted, and perceived. The lesson emphasized the importance of sound design in creating an immersive experience, whether in film, music, or other media. The assigned videos covered topics such as the physics of sound waves, the role of pitch, volume, and timbre, and how different sounds can evoke emotions or create specific atmospheres. These videos also highlighted the technical side of sound editing, demonstrating how software can be used to manipulate sound for creative purposes.

Summary of Directions for the Sound Project

For the Soundscape project, students are tasked with creating a 1-2 minute audio scene using sound effects to convey a narrative without visuals. The project cannot include common scenes like getting ready for school or cooking and allows only seven spoken words. Students will brainstorm a scene that takes place in real-time and identify key sounds to communicate the plot. They are required to use online sound databases and everyday items to create at least four “foley stage” sound effects, recording their process and editing the sounds together. In addition to the final soundscape, students must submit a video of the foley sounds and images of their editing timeline.

Summary of My Approach to Completing the Project

During brainstorming, I focused on the theme I wanted to convey and the types of sounds that would support it. I considered different scenarios and stories, thinking about how sound alone could communicate mood or narrative without visual elements. I listed out possible sound sources, such as natural sounds, voiceovers, or sound effects, and mapped out how they could interact to form a cohesive soundscape. Creating an outline helped me to organize my project by breaking down the soundscape into sections. I identified key moments where certain sounds would need to be emphasized and how they would transition from one to another. This made it easier to visualize the flow of the piece and ensured that there was a clear progression throughout the project. For editing, I used Adobe premiere pro to arrange and manipulate the sounds. I utilized techniques like crossfading, adjusting volume levels, and applying effects to create a polished final product. These tools helped me enhance the audio quality and fine-tune the timing of each sound.

Analysis of What Was Done Well and What to Improve Next Time

In reflecting on the project, what was done well includes effectively layering sounds to create a cohesive and immersive soundscape. The choice of sounds successfully conveyed the intended mood and narrative without relying on visuals. Additionally, the use of foley sounds added authenticity and creativity to the piece. However, there is room for improvement in refining the transitions between sounds to ensure smoother shifts and a more natural flow. In future projects, experimenting with a wider variety of sound sources and further enhancing the complexity of the sound design could also be areas to improve.

Link to the Project

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cvTvuWKprVKHFijXm9A13s6GNm-mf_MQ/view?pli=1