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Showing posts from January, 2026

Movie Research: Baby Driver

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Baby Driver- The movie Baby Driver shares multiple similarities among conventions with my movie. Conventions shared between the two is the narrative, editing, and additionally, an incident that affects both characters severely. Both movies are based around the main character and he drives the plot. In Baby Driver there are lots of jump cuts and many edits that affect the speed of the movie which is shared in ours. In an oddly similar fashion, both movies share a life altering event that affects the story tremendously. The editing conventions in the movie were very well produced. I believe that trying to mimic the quick paced editing will work wonders on our film. If we are able to make it fast paced it would make our movie much more intriguing and interesting to watch. Baby Driver is based around heist plots. Involving heist plots in our movie will not be beneficial because it is not what it is based around. The heist plots work well with Baby Driver because the movies is primarily bas...

Movie Research: F1

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F1- In "F1: The Movie" there are many different conventions used that are shared with our movie. Conventions shared between both movies is the narrative, visual language, editing, drama, and character performance. Like our movie, in "F1: The Movie" the main character drives the plot and focuses on the journey. In "F1: The Movie" there are many different cuts and creates a thrill, In our movie we include quick cuts between scenes.  The character performance is the primary factor between moth movies, if the character is acting poorly it will not be good because it is based around them. I thought that the main character driving the plot was very cool. I believe that when the main character drives the plot it creates a greater thrill and makes you much more connected to the movie. I think that us sharing the character driving the plot will make the introduction to the movie far more interesting. I believe that the sound in "F1: The Movie" will not co...

Movie Research: Sinners

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Sinners-  The movie sinners share many different conventions that relate to the introduction to our movie. The movie Sinners include things like narrative, cinematic, editing, and drama conventions. In Sinners, both Stack and Smoke’s personal decisions drive the plot, like this, the plot is driven by actions done by the teenager. In Sinners, as the movie goes on it feels mysterious and suspenseful, similarly, our movies final scene creates suspense and involves shock. The movie Sinners share many similarities with our movie although it is not only a Drama film but also a horror and thriller. I personally found that the cinematic conventions were superb. I believe that the movies suspense was good. Throughout watching Sinners I always was questioning what happen next, keeping me on my toes. In the movie I disliked how dark and eerie it was. Although the dark eerie scenes combined with the suspense highlighted the consequences of sin, which matched the plot, I found that it wouldn’t ...

Title Research: Catch Me If You Can

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  -What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? The opening of Catch Me If You Can shows credits like " DreamWorks Pictures presents" , production credits for the director, producers, editor and many others, plus some of the main actors names like Leonardo DiCaprio,  Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken and more . - What images are prioritized in the opening sequence and why do you think they were chosen? It features basic animated versions of a man running, trying to escape, airports, planes, a hotel, and other traveling related situations, all chosen to highlight how the story is one of running, identity, and deceit. - How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outset?  This makes it seem like a drama because it establishes a dramatic chase scene and portrays the main character as living a life on the run. - Why did you see that made you feel that way?  The pursuit, the lone figure of the runner, and fast travel graphics make the scene look ten...

Title Research: Se7en

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-What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? The opening shows  the film title Se7en  and credits like  “A film by David Fincher”  and  casting and production credits . - What images are prioritized in the opening sequence and why do you think they were chosen? The opening focuses on close-ups of hands, books/journals, razor blades, cutting and writing, and dark messy pages. These scenes were likely chosen because they show that the character is being careful, disturbed, and planning something these characteristics help to build tension. - How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outset?  It feels like a drama because the opening is serious, intense, and uncomfortable the opening focuses on violence and psychological darkness rather than action or comedy.  - Why did you see that made you feel that way? The heavy, emotional mood with a dark vibe, rough handwriting, sharp tools, and disturbing close ups gives it a dramatic ...

Title Research: Little Woman

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-What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? In the opening sequences the actors', director's and editor's names along with mentioning that the movie is based off of a book. - What images are prioritized in the opening sequence and why do you think they were chosen? The opening focuses on dark blue title cards, swirling designs, and quiet winter scenes: snow, houses, wreath. These were chosen to show the movie will be tranquil, emotional, and family-focused, or more importantly, character-focused. - How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outset?  It feels much more like a drama since the opening is slow, serious, and coldly colored rather than an exciting action. - Why did you see that made you feel that way? The snowy surroundings, the still shots, and just some simple, elegantly designed credits create a quiet, emotional mood, one fitting for a drama.

Genre Research: Decision

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Genre Decision- For our opening sequence of the final task, our group decided to use the drama genre, because it allows us to create an emotional and realistic story. We want our audience to have a connection with the characters straight away. The drama genre focuses strongly on character development, which is a very strong match for our idea. This genre allows us to show emotions through our character's dialogue, facial expressions, and body language. We were inspired by drama films that use close-up shots to show feelings of characters. The genre also supports serious and meaningful themes which we would like to implement. Compared to the other genres we have researched, drama felt more relatable and believable. Our group felt confident using drama conventions, for example, the natural lighting and realistic settings. This genre gives us more freedom to focus on storytelling rather than special effects. Overall, choosing drama will help us create a strong and engaging opening se...

Genre Research: Horror

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Genre Blog- Horror The horror genre is designed to evoke fear, tension, and unease in its audience. It usually captures the unknown, turning ordinary situations into terrifying experiences. Horror stories rely on suspense, atmosphere, and psychological pressure rather than constant action. Many horror stories feature supernatural elements such as ghosts, demons, or curses. Others stories use realistic fears, including violence, isolation, or loss of control. The genre constantly reflects societal anxieties and hidden cultural fears. The main tools used to engage the audience are darkness, silence, or unsettling imagery. Horror characters often face forces they do not fully understand. The genre uses unpredictability and sudden shocks like jump scares. This gives the audience an intense emotional reaction. Settings like abandoned houses, forests, or small towns are common in horror. Sound design and visuals play a major role in horror films and games. Many horror movies actually start o...

Genre Research: Horror

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Genre Blog- Horror Common CAMS: Close-ups, extreme close-ups, low-angle shots, POV shots and a handheld camera. Common CLAMPS: Low-key lighting, dark or isolated locations, simple or distressed costumes, intense acting and desaturated or dark color palettes. Common Editing: Fast cuts during scares, slow pacing to build tension and jump cuts. Common Sound: Sudden loud noises, eerie music, silence for tension and ambient sounds. Example Films of the Genre: The Conjuring , Get Out , Halloween and   A Quiet Place . Elements I Like and Would Use: Building suspense, psychological horror, atmosphere and tension. Elements I Don’t Like and Wouldn’t Use: Excessive gore, predictable jump scares and unrealistic character decisions.

Genre Research: Comedy

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Genre Blog- Comedy Comedy is a genre that is designed to entertain and make its audience laugh. This genre usually uses humour to explore everyday situations. Many characters in comedy films are often exaggerated or quirky. The genre depends heavily on timing and delivery of jokes. Comedy films can include verbal jokes, physical humour, or visual gags to intrigue the audience. The stories are usually light-hearted and humorous. Usually these films are faster paced in order to keep the energy high for the audience. Bright lighting and colourful settings are often used in these types of films. Usually most dialogue in comedies is witty and playful. Sometimes the directors can include sound effects are sometimes used to enhance jokes. The music used is mostly upbeat or playful. Comedy films can usually exaggerate real life problems for humour. The conflicts are usually resolved in a positive way. The genre often includes misunderstandings or awkward situations. Comedy can also be combined...

Genre Research: Comedy

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Genre Blog- Comedy Common CAMS: Medium shots, wide shots, reaction shots and quick zooms or pans for jokes. Common CLAMPS: Bright lighting, everyday or exaggerated locations, expressive costumes, lively actors and vibrant colours. Common Editing: Fast pacing, sharp cuts and timely edits to enhance punchlines. Common Sound: Upbeat music, sound effects for humour, clear dialogue and laughter or exaggerated audio cues. Example Films of the Genre: Superbad ,  Mean Girls ,  The Hangover and  Home Alone . Elements I Like and Would Use: Visual gags, strong comedic timing and exaggerated characters. Elements I Don’t Like and Wouldn’t Use: Overused jokes, offensive humour and also jokes that rely too heavily on stereotypes.

Genre Research: Drama

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Genre Blog- Drama Drama is a genre that focuses on realistic stories and the characters emotional depth. It shows human relationships, personal struggles, and moral conflicts within the characters. Most characters in drama films are usually complex and well developed. The genre uses pathos to make the audience sympathise or become attached to characters. Drama commonly uses naturalistic acting styles. The dialogue is an important storytelling tool in drama. Drama stories are usually based on real-life situations. Specific themes are used in these type of films. Some common drama themes are love, loss, family, and identity. The pacing of these films are usually slower so that the audience becomes more emotionally attached to specific characters or even relationships. The cinematography includes many close-up shots to show a characters feelings and emotion after a certain event or scene. Usually the lighting is soft or natural to create realism for the audience. These films use music sub...

Genre Research: Drama

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Genre Blog- Drama Common CAMS: Close-ups, medium shots, over-the-shoulder shots and slow camera movement. Common CLAMPS: Naturalistic lighting, realistic locations, simple costumes, expressive actors and muted color palettes. Common Editing: Continuity editing, longer takes, slow pacing and straight cuts. Common Sound: Dialogue-driven, soft background music and natural/ambient sounds. Example Films of the Genre: Sinners, F1, Carry on and Good Will Hunting . Elements We Like and Would Use: Strong character development, emotional storytelling and realistic performances. Elements We Don’t Like and Wouldn’t Use: Overly slow pacing, excessive melodrama and some unrealistic dialogue.

Our Pitch

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Our Pitch -January 19th, 2026 Pitch 1: A fast-paced montage following a teenager rushing through their daily routine in a quiet town, subtly revealing personal struggles through visuals like unread messages, unfinished homework, and tense interactions at home. The video ends with a shocking event that disrupts their normal life and sets the main conflict into motion. We would be interested in filming this pitch because it immediately pulls the audience in and creates an emotional connection with the main character through both visuals and dialogue. There could be short and realistic conversations that help reveal the character’s emotions and personal struggles, making the story feel more authentic. The dialogue, strong visuals and sound, sets up mystery and tension early, encouraging our audience to keep watching. This pitch is realistic to film and allows for creativity with camera angles, pacing, music, and meaningful dialogue. Pitch 2: The movie begins with an action sequence wh...

Group Blog

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Today, I'll discuss the final project. For this project I decided to work with my three friends. Their names are Parker, Hunter and Lincoln. It will be easy for us to record since we all frequently see eachother outside of school and have similar schedules from school activities. This project will be a good learning experience and will determine how well we can work together. I've collaborated with these friends numerous amounts of times in the past and previously in this class. Group work has always helped extend my knowledge on the topic. I believe it is helpful and somewhat necessary to discuss and provide insights from different perspectives. In my opinion this helps develop my understanding. There are some downsides to group work. For example, I have to trust that my group members will do their part and make sure to complete their work in a timely manner. Also, I need to make sure my group members are in agreeance with the proposed topic/idea. In contrast, the benefits act...

Intro Blog

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Hello, my name is Daegan O'Brien. I am a student at Fort Lauderdale Highschool. Here is a quick introduction about me. I am fifteen years old, my birthday is on February 14th, 2010. This is the start to my sophomore year and my second year of being in the Cambridge program. Currently I am taking four AICE classes, such as Media Studies, English Language, Thinking Skills, and Information Technology. Last year I took three AICE classes which were Marine Science, Global Perspectives, and General Paper. I passed all three exams with good scores. A few of my main interests are baseball, spending time with friends, and going to the gym. I have been playing baseball since I was three years old. Baseball has been a huge part of my life. I've made many new friends and developed many friendships through this sport. Over this time I have played for many different teams alongside my brother who is two years older than me. I also have a younger sister who has just started middle school. Las...