Hello!! This is my final blog although it is bittersweet coming to an end I learned valuable skills from this process, from editing to writing this project also gave me a new perspective on films and the immense amount of work put towards the production process. Thank you for reading my blog and being apart of my journey as I created my film opening!
CCR #1
CCR #2
CCR #3
CCR #4
Big reveal is finally here !!! After months of planning hope u enjoy, I wonder what happened....
Intro
Here is pictures retaining to some of the camera work I did and my team mates did as well. The story board provided a structure to the exact shots we needed and allowed us to have enough time to shoot and film.
Shots
This scene is the scene I filmed which is when the Main actress (Alejandra) is stirring the poison into the victims cup. We used a macro filter which is a type of lenses that allowed me to zoom into the object without disturbing with the quality of the video, it also brings attention to the audience warning them of what is occurring.
Diegetic Sounds: building Realism
The background sounds will ground the scene in a believable public space. For example the footsteps echoing on the floor, distant chatter of people going about their day, and subtle environmental noises like doors closing or the hum of cars. These ordinary sounds make our victim, Alejandra, feel like a regular person, which contrasts sharply with the tension created by our spy protagonist, Gianni Rodriguez. This contrast helps the audience feel suspense because the danger is invisible but imminent.
Music in spy thrillers often signals that something important or dangerous is about to happen. For our opening, we are considering Low pulsing beats to create unease, High-pitched notes to signal alertness or suspense, and minimalist electronic sounds like the phone to mimic the spy aesthetic. The music will rise and fall with the action on screen, guiding the audience’s emotions without overwhelming the scene.
Sound effects
Specific sound effects can emphasize important details and build tension such as the clicking of Gianni’s heels as she moves through a crowd, the subtle jingle of her suitcase handle, the phone vibrating after the job is finished, and the tiny clink of the “poison” bottle. These small, intentional sounds focus attention on key props and actions, heightening suspense and making the audience feel like they are part of the scene.
Reflection
Working on the sound for our opening scene helped me realize how much audio can shape a story. I learned that the contrast between ambient sounds of everyday life and suspenseful music can make the scene feel realistic but thrilling at the same time. It also showed me that sound doesn’t just support visuals bur supports costumes, props, and camera work.
References
https://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/film-audio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_design
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_score
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-ambient-sound-film/
https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/ultimate-guide-film-sound-effects/
https://www.ascap.com/news-events/articles/2019/10/how-music-in-film-impacts-storytelling
THE PUB
Scene 1
Dim lighting.
Click. Click. Click.
Her heels click across the floor as she walks to the restroom, stopping herself at the mirror.
She checks her reflection in the mirror carefully.
She fixes a wig, smoothing it into place.
She tilts her head and starts applying her makeup. Putting on some red lipstick.
Her face is calm as she puts on her leather jacket.
She lifts up her hand to check her watch. We zoom in on the ticks of the watch.
She waits until the second hand reaches a marked time.
Immediately after she turns toward the exit. She is seen walking as the door closes slowly behind her.
Her heels echo as she walks out.
Warm lighting.
The audience follows the spy as she walks from the bathroom to the bar
She's walking smoothly, not too fast or too slow.
She passes a stranger sitting at the very corner of the bar. Seating herself besides them.
Scene 3
The TARGET sits at the bar.
Focused on her laptop.
Typing quietly.
A glass of water is set beside her.
The Target pulls away from her focused posture, revealing the spy’s actions besides her that go unnoticed.
The spy grabs her drink ,sets it down ,spikes the stranger's drink, mixes it in and slides it back into its original position.
The Target stayed focused on her laptop, not noticing the change.
The Spy stands. Once done with the deed walks away without hesitation.
The Spy exits restaurant
As she walks she answers a phone call
Man says “Is it done yet?”
Spy responds “yes, It should be kicking in any second now…”
Man says “You never disappoint me Agent Valeria”
Spy responds but is cut short “yea-”
Target passes right by her
Spy is in shock
tick tick tick tick sound at the end
Black will be our dominant color in the opening. In color theory, black often represents power, authority, mystery, and sophistication. Since our female protagonist, Gianni Rodriguez, is dressed in black, this creates immediate genre recognition. Dark tones paired with high-contrast lighting will make her feel controlled and calculated. The shadows around her visually reinforce the idea that she belongs in a hidden world of espionage. We also plan to use low-key lighting, which creates strong shadows and dramatic contrast when filming the interaction between victim and the female protagonist. This technique is common in spy thrillers because it builds suspense and keeps the audience slightly
Other colors
While black will dominate, we may incorporate subtle accents of red in graphics. In color theory, red symbolizes danger, urgency, and violence. Even small touches of red such as in the title text or in the poison the female protagonist pours can subconsciously signal that something threatening is about to happen.
Font choice
The font for our film’s title is just as important as color. We plan to use a Panchang as our font which has a spy feel to it. We are considering white text on a black background for strong contrast, slight spacing between letters for a sophisticated look, and slow fade-ins and fade-outs to build suspense. The simplicity of the font will mirror the controlled personality of our protagonist.
How this helps our create our film opening?
By carefully applying color theory, we create genre recognition, emotional cues without dialogue, and a clear contrast between safety and danger. Dark tones will dominate the setting, black will define our protagonist, and red accents will hint at danger. The minimalist, bold font in our title sequence will reinforce the serious tone of the film. Through intentional color choices and typography, our opening will not just introduce characters it will also visually communicate suspense, secrecy, and control from the very first frame.
Props
Our protagonist, Gianni Rodriguez, carries a sleek black suitcase. It suggests a hidden mission or important contents, reinforcing her professionalism and authority while keeping the color palette sleek and mysterious. The audience will also wonder what's inside which adds mystery as well.
A tiny bottle containing the “poison” (represented safely as a fictional prop in our film) adds suspense and symbolism. Its small size makes it more unsettling, a tiny bottle that holds so much danger. This prop represents a concealed threat and silent danger. Instead of showing anything graphic, the bottle itself becomes the symbol of tension. We will then use a close-up shot of the vial in her hand will visually communicate that something serious is about to happen without needing dialogue.
The phone is a classic spy thriller prop. A simple phone call will signal instructions from a higher authority and trigger the next step in a mission. A close-up of the phone ringing or a whispered conversation can build suspense instantly which would be ideal for our film. The phone also reinforces realism in modern spy stories.
References
https://www.myfonts.com/pages/tags/spy-fonts/?srsltid=AfmBOoos87rqU37PJqTC14oLU0sC4-XuurUKochNudAHqhShAKYc7dxX
https://www.fontspace.com/category/thriller
https://fontmeme.com/mission-impossible-font/
https://www.colorpsychology.org/red/
https://aestheticsofjoy.com/the-science-behind-the-unexpected-red-theory/
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-black-2795814
https://www.typeform.com/blog/black-facts
https://sites.rutgers.edu/nb-senior-exhibits/wp-content/uploads/sites/442/2020/08/Chandana-Singathi-final-pdf.pdf
https://hbslick.com/7116/opinion/colorism-in-modern-media/
https://fiveable.me/key-terms/film-and-media-theory/props?
https://thedramateacher.com/symbolic-use-of-props-in-film/
https://www.csun.edu/~med61203/Film%20Art%20Mise-en-scene.pdf?utm_source
Reflection
Overall this activity helped us gather all our thoughts and properly write it down as well as we thought about the certain shots we wanted to include and how we would incoorprate them. I'm sure this will be helpful when we do film so that we don't have to reconsider shots or think on the spot we will already have the ideas formulated all we would have to do is film on the day we decide on.
In spy thrillers, every visual detail matters. Before a single word is spoken, the audience should already feel tension, secrecy, and danger. That’s why our costume design and mise-en-scene will play such an important role in the opening of our film.
The female protagonist : Gianni Rodriguez
Our protagonist, Gianni Rodriguez, will be dressed in a classic spy-inspired outfit: either a sleek black suit or a black skirt paired with a structured blazer and black heels. This look immediately signals professionalism, power, and control. The color black is especially important since in film black often represents mystery, authority, sophistication, and secrecy. By dressing Gianni entirely in black, we hope to visually communicate that she belongs in the world of covert operations. She blends into shadows, yet stands out in confidence. The sharp lines of the blazer and heels also reinforce her calculated, precise nature ensuring that everything about her appearance is intentional. This costuming choice reflects the traditional aesthetic seen in spy thrillers, where agents are polished, composed, and always one step ahead.
In contrast, the victim, Alejandra, will be dressed in a simple, casual outfit which is jeans and a regular top. Her clothing reflects realism and normalcy. She isn’t dressed dramatically or suspiciously. She looks like an everyday person simply going about her day. This contrast is intentional while Gianni’s dark, structured outfit symbolizes secrecy and control, Alejandra’s relaxed clothing communicates innocence, unawareness, vulnerability, and everyday realism. Her casual appearance strengthens the tension because the audience understands something she does not which is that she is being watched. That dramatic irony builds suspense in our opening scene.
In our film opening, we plan to incorporate these elements by placing Gianni in a public, crowded location. The busy environment increases tension because she must blend in while secretly tracking her target. The contrast in costumes will visually separate the two characters even within the same frame which allows the audience to immediately understand the power dynamic without dialogue. By carefully planning costume and mise-en-scene we create immediate genre recognition and clear character roles through visual contrast. The black spy outfit doesn’t just look stylish, it communicates character, theme, and tone. Meanwhile, Alejandra’s everyday clothing grounds the story in realism, making the situation feel more intense and believable.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mise-en-sc%C3%A8ne?
https://www.msfilms.org/what-is-mise-en-scene/?utm_sourc
https://nofilmschool.com/mise-en-scene?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Johnston?utm_source
https://iandrummondvintage.com/blogs/fashion-history/mission-impossible-film-series-costume-design?srsltid=AfmBOop6zr406Dcl9byR8Rfg8EtwxjLLO6nZhgCZBB2QTQN_OGmuQEw1
https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/blog-black-white-movie-color/
https://iconicalternatives.com/2022/06/23/spy-movie-style/
Alejandra Arratia
The Victim (Minor Role)
Jazmine Pozo
The Caller (Minor Role)
Alexander Barbosa
Cinematographer
Connie Di Marie
Film Editor
Jazmine Pozo
Reflection
Building our character casting allowed me to really visualize who are what are characters will look like and their personalities. As well as this makes it easier to create the script as I know what who are characters are and what roles they play. We also decided on who will edit and be the cinematographer for our film opening so that when production day roles around we can film seamlessly.
When planning the opening scene for our spy thriller, we knew one thing for sure: we wanted a public space with a crowd. Spy thrillers are all about tension, secrecy, and the feeling that someone is always watching and a busy location instantly creates that suspense. Our two main options for filming was Sawgrass Mall or Pembroke Gardens.
Sawgrass Mills
The mall had some clear advantages like it being fully indoors allows for controlled lighting and no worries about weather. The tight hallways, escalators, and multiple levels could create great high angle shots and over the shoulder moments to make it feel like someone is being followed. However, malls can feel visually repetitive, and filming permissions might be stricter due to stores and security. As well as the heavy crowd can make it difficult to film in a setting where the audience would need to hear the actors clearly without too much diegetic sound in the background.
Pembroke Gardens
On the other hand, Pembroke Gardens gave us a slightly more open feel while still keeping that crowded, public atmosphere. Even though it’s technically outdoors, it doesn’t feel completely exposed. The layout allows for smoother tracking shots and slow, steady movement shots that really build that secret agent vibe. Natural lighting also adds realism, which works well for a modern spy thriller. The downside is that weather and background noise can be harder to control so we would have to select a day that would add mood to our film like maybe a cloudy day or a sunny day to contrast the scenes that unfold and they also have alley ways in between stores that can add suspense to our spy thriller.
In the end, we chose Pembroke Gardens because it gave us the perfect balance: public, active, and cinematic without feeling too enclosed. The space allows us to create tension through movement, framing, and crowd interaction while still maintaining that dramatic spy atmosphere we’re aiming for.
Setting the Scene
When I started learning how to use the camera, I realized it wasn’t just about recording it also told a story with different shots. I practiced using an establishing shot first to set the scene which helped show where everything was happening before doing other clips.
Changing perspectives
I also experimented with a high angle shot, which is when the camera looks down on the subject. This makes the character seem smaller and more vulnerable which is important in showcasing in our film because it adds onto the storyline without any dialogue. Contrastingly, we also did a low angle shot, which makes the subject look more powerful and intense, we decided we can use these shots to compare our lead female protagonist to display her power in our spy thriller. It was interesting seeing how just changing the angle completely changed the mood and perspective our audience would have on the film.
Since I was inspired by spy thrillers, I also practiced using close-ups to capture serious facial expressions and build tension. I also tried over-the-shoulder shots during conversations to make it feel more dramatic, like someone was being watched. To create suspense, I experimented with slow, steady movement shots to give that secret agent vibe.
Reflection
Learning these camera shots helped me understand that filming isn’t random, every angle and movement adds meaning. Using techniques commonly found in spy thrillers made my project feel more intense and cinematic instead of just basic recording and it also helps the audience associate these commonly found shots with our film. I hope to use these camera skills towards my opening film so that each shot has purpose and meaning.
Reference
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/filmmaking-101-camera-shot-types?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-shoulder_shot?utm_
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-angle_shot?utm_
https://tbclassroomfrankenstein.weebly.com/uploads/3/0/3/7/30377401/glossary_of_film_terms.pdf?
https://www.adobe.com/gr_en/creativecloud/video/production/cinematography/camera-shots-and-angles.html?utm_source
https://tmff.net/basic-shots-in-filmmaking-the-five-essential-camera-shots/?utm_source
Importing the footage
When I started editing in Adobe Premiere Pro the first thing I did was import all my clips into the Media Browser Panel. After that I dragged everything into the Timeline Panel, which is basically where all the magic happens!!
Cutting and Trimming my clips
To put my video together, I used the Selection Tool to move my clips around and line them up in the order that I wanted. If there were parts I didn’t like or didn’t need, I used the Razor Tool which cuts them out. Once I did those steps I trimmed the clips so everything flowed better and made some understanding. I also used the Ripple Edit Tool to make sure there weren’t any awkward gaps between clips after cutting.
Adding Music
Once my clips were all in place, I added music. I imported the audio of my choice into the Project Panel and dragged it down onto the audio track in the Timeline. To make sure the music didn’t overpower the video, I adjusted the volume in the Effect Controls Panel. I also added a smooth fade using the Constant Power transition from the Effects Panel so the music didn’t just randomly start or stop making it sound more cohesive.
Exporting
After that, I watched everything back in the Program Monitor to see how it flowed. When I was happy with it, I exported it using File, Export, and Media.
Reflection
This practice editing run helped me understand how to properly use this editing software better which will prepare me for when i complete my actual film opening. I was able to learn how to flow clips together and adding music over clips that didn't seem abrupt or random, this is important to our opening film because I don't want there to be audio cuts which would remove that thriller aspect and suspense since it makes the film seem less realistic. In general I am excited to edit my film and I'm sure I can learn other things but I feel like my foundation has been set down to edit our opening film with confidence.
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO52Tx60Keg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDq3ij-oHJA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsxuSRBUTOM
Hello!! This is my final blog although it is bittersweet coming to an end I learned valuable skills from this process, from editing to...
