HELLO EVEYBODY!!! I wanted to give a special thank you to all the people who helped and supported me throughout the journey of developing this portfolio project. I cant believe that we are approaching the end of the road with this AICE Mediastudies AS class... It has been quite the journey for sure.
This will be my last post, concluding the making of this project. I hope you all enjoy!
Film Opening "Barely Beautiful"
Hi everyone! Today I will be sharing my script for the last two CCR questions! I can't wait for you to see the finished product, enjoy! :))
Reflecting on My Film-Making Experience with "Barely Beautiful"
INT. BEDROOM– DAY
(The setting is casual but clean. I’m sitting comfortable on my bed. I’ll “scroll” through fictional comments as I talk to my viewers along with my "editor" Amanda Lakeworth.
ME
(smiling warmly)
Hey guys, welcome back to my YouTube channel! For those of you who are new, I’m a film producer, and since I just released a teaser for my upcoming film "Barely Beautiful,” I thought it’d be cool to sit down and reflect on the whole experience, from the creative process to some challenges I faced along the way while I read some of your comments!
(glances at screen)
I wanted to start off saying that I’ve been reading some of the feedback people have left… and wow. You guys definitively did not hold back on the critizism.
(pretend to read comment)
“Why does she keep touching her glasses? It’s so annoying.”
(laughs lightly)
Yeah, well, that part of Camila’s character was fully intentional! I wanted her glasses to be symbolic and kind of like a security she keeps clinging to. Every time they are seen on screen, it reflects her identity, and the loss of it when she chooses not to wear them. Small details like that helped me subtly build her character.
(scroll again)
“The lighting is too dim. I can barely see what’s going on, was that necessary?”
(leaning forward slightly)
Okay, that one made me rethink things a bit. But the dim lighting was actually an important choice I made. I used ring lights and played with shadows to reflect Camila’s emotional state. The darker, moodier tones represent her insecurity and isolation, meanwhile the brightness during the first scene represented not just hospital lighting, but the idea that she was surrounded by family. The rest wasn’t supposed to look bright and cheery, instead it was meant to feel heavy and personal.
Honestly, making this film taught me a lot about planning and adaptability. I started out with this super clear vision in my head, but I quickly realized that not everything goes as planned.
For example, I originally wanted to shoot in my sister’s room, but once I started setting up, I realized the layout didn’t match what I had storyboarded. It would’ve made some of the shots look awkward or messy. So, I had to switch to my own room. That meant removing all my personal decorations to create the plain, structured look I wanted for Camila’s environment. It took way longer than expected, but it actually made the space feel more connected to her persona.
(smiling slightly)
I also learned that improvising is a big part of the process. Since my room had a different layout, some of the shots I planned didn’t work as well. I had to adjust my camera angles and rethink certain movements. It was a reminder that film making isn’t just about executing a plan, infact, it’s about problem-solving on the spot.
(Now, let’s talk about the tech side of my production. I kept it simple but effective. For editing, I used Adobe Premiere Pro, which made the whole post-production process a lot smoother. I found it really straightforward, and when I didn’t know how to do something, I relied on YouTube tutorials. It saved me so much time and helped me quickly learn new editing tricks I hadn’t known before.
(pretend to scroll through another comment)
“The cuts are too choppy—it doesn’t flow properly.”
(raising an eyebrow)
I get why someone might say that, but honestly, the slightly abrupt cuts were intentional. I wanted the editing to feel a bit disjointed at times, mirroring Camila’s sort of fragmented mental state. The uneven pacing during some sequences reflects her growing internal struggle.
I also wanted to add that for filming, I used my phone camera, which actually worked really well. I paired it with a handheld stabilizer for smoother movement and ring lights to control the shadows and highlights. Many people think you need a fancy camera to make a good production, but I learned that with good lighting and framing, even a simple phone can create great cinematic visuals when using all its features smartly.
(pretend to read another comment)
“The sound effects were super basic. You could’ve done more.”
(nod thoughtfully)
Fair point. I kept the sound design minimal on purpose because I didn’t want the film to feel overwhelming. I pulled sound effects from Pixabay and used the intro music from Free To Use, an excellent website for finding free music that doesn’t have any copyrighting, and I made sure the audio was subtle, letting the visual storytelling take the lead.
(leaning slightly forward)
Beyond the tech, making this film taught me so much about patience and flexibility. I had this super clear vision going in, but as I started filming, I realized that sometimes, you just have to let the story evolve naturally on its own.
(pretends to read another comment)
“The pacing is way too slow. It drags.”
(raises an eyebrow playfully)
Yeah, I get that. It’s definitely not a fast-paced film, but that was intentional. I wanted the slow, deliberate pacing to reflect Camila’s internal struggle. The repetition of her routine—getting ready, walking, adjusting her glasses—was meant to feel a bit monotonous, symbolizing the emptiness of her daily life.
(smiling softly)
One of the biggest things I learned is that small details matter. Whether it was Camila’s glasses, the gradual mess of her schedule, or the subtle lighting shifts, these small elements added depth to the story without needing a lot of dialogue.
(pretends to read a positive comment)
“I loved the symbolism of the glasses! Such a clever detail.”
(grinning)
See? Not all the comments were mean! It’s really cool when people pick up on the little details you intentionally include. It made me realize how much power there is in visual storytelling—you don’t always have to say things out loud for them to resonate.
(pretend to read another comment)
“Camila’s struggle with her appearance felt so real. I could totally relate.”
(smiling slightly)
That’s honestly one of the best comments to get because relatability was the whole point. When developing Camila, I wanted her story to reflect real struggles that many teenage girls face, especially in places like Colombia, where plastic surgery is often seen as a casual solution for self-image issues.
It’s interesting because this aspect of the film actually ties into David Gauntlett’s identity theory, which I used as a reference point for my story. Gauntlett argues that media doesn’t create identity but reflects it, and that’s exactly what I aimed for. Rather than inventing an unrealistic story, I tried to mirror real experiences including but definitely not limited to constant self-comparison, the desire to fit in, and the pressure to conform to beauty standards.
So, when people say that they can see themselves in Camila, it shows that the film successfully captured a genuine social issue, making it feel authentic and relatable.
(leaning back slightly)
Overall, this project was a huge learning experience. It taught me how to adapt, problem-solve, and use technology creatively, even with limited resources. I’m super proud of how "Barely Beautiful" turned out, and I can’t wait to apply everything I’ve learned to some of my future projects!
(smiling genuinely)
Thank you so much for those of you who stayed here this far, and I’ll see you all next time! Don’t forget to stay creative every day, and most importantly, stay inspired every step of the way in this life. Bye guys!
Hi again! For my post today, I will introduce my idea for the last two CCR questions (which I will develop onto a singular video).
These two questions are:
Hello readers! This post is a follow up on my response to the first two CCR questions. I have created a script that I believe will be engaging for the audience to watch.
INT. SURGEON'S OFFICE - DAY
The setting is clean and professional. The surgeon, dressed in scrubs, is sitting on a chair at her desk. A small sign with the surgeon’s name is visible on the desk. The interviewer is off-camera.
INTERVIEWER (O.C.)
Doctor, thank you for your time today. To start things up, I must ask: how do you manage balancing your work as a surgeon with being a producer for the hit film “Barely Beautiful"? That sounds like a tough combination of jobs.
SURGEON
Oh, it definitely keeps me busy! Surgery is my day job, but film making has always been a hobby I am very passionate about. It’s surprisingly similar, though. Both require precision, attention to detail, and a lot of patience. Producing "Barely Beautiful" was personal for me because it reflects some of the struggles I’ve seen firsthand in the OR.
INTERVIEWER (O.C.)
How often are these nose jobs seen?
SURGEON
Well, these nose jobs, formally known as rhinoplasty procedures, are performed over 48 hundred times a year on individuals under the age of 18. Its most commonly seen to be done for cosmetic purposes rather than for serious issues where the surgery is necessary.
INTERVIEWER (O.C.)
That’s fascinating. Let’s talk about the film itself. How does "Barely Beautiful" use or challenge conventions, and how does it represent social groups or issues?
SURGEON
(nods thoughtfully)
Well, the film plays with conventions by starting at the end which is a technique you don’t often see in many coming-of-age dramas. We open with Camila, the main character, lying in a hospital bed with her face wrapped up in bandages. This immediately makes the audience wonder how she got there, which challenges the typical chronological storytelling style.
CUT TO A CLOSER SHOT OF SURGEON
(leaning slightly forward)
In terms of social groups, "Barely Beautiful" focuses on teenage girls, especially in Colombia, where there is growing pressure to meet certain beauty standards. The film highlights how these pressures can push young women toward extreme measures, like plastic surgery, just to feel accepted. That’s why Camila’s journey is a reflection of the emotional and social struggles many teenagers face when trying to fit in.
INTERVIEWER (O.C.)
Wow. That’s such a touching and important message. How else do you think the film engages with audiences, and how would it be distributed as a real media text?
SURGEON
(smiling slightly)
I think the film connects with audiences because it’s very raw and emotional. It doesn’t rely heavily on dialogue, therefore it uses subtle visual storytelling, like the gradual breakdown of Camila’s structured schedule on her wall. The sound design also draws viewers in, with small but powerful details like the dependency of using diegetic sounds like her glasses clicking or her heavy sighs, making them feel her isolation.
Oh! And for distribution, if this were a real media text, I’d picture it starting as an independent festival film. It has a strong social message, which makes it perfect for these smaller events to start catching people’s attention. From there, it could be picked up by some popular streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime, where socially relevant films often bloom.
On another spectrum, this film could even be used in schools to spark discussions about self-image and societal pressures.
INTERVIEWER (O.C)
That’s incredible insight. With such a powerful project under your belt, do you ever miss being part of the film industry full-time?
SURGEON
(grinning)
Sometimes. There’s definitely something magical about seeing a story come to life. But in a way, I’m still telling stories, just in a different form. Every patient has their own journey, and I get to help them feel more confident, hopefully without the drastic lengths Camila had to go through.
INTERVIEWER (O.C)
(Reaching out his hand)
Incredible. Thanks so much for your time, Dr. C.
SURGEON
(smiling genuinely and shaking the interviewer’s hand)
It is truly my pleasure.
Hey guys! As we approach the last days of the Cambridge portfolio project, we must answer 4 questions in a test portion called CCR (creative critical reflection).
My teacher suggested that we make two videos, each incorporating two of the CCR questions together at a time.
These questions are:
Hi everyone! In class today we had a group meeting to help each other out with ideas for our CCR videos.
First up, Emi introduced her two beginning ideas. For one video she wants to pretend to be a super famous actress who will unbox fan mail like gifts, letters, and more. For her other one, she has the base idea that she wants to make it an interview, but she doesn’t have the idea developed all the way yet.
Next, Jano mentioned how he wants to make his video of him self being interviewed in the car and getting asked what he does for a living, where he will incorporate his two questions. For the other one, he will make a YouTube vlog of him talking about his film on-set and showing a behind the scenes video of his process.
Later, Mariana mentioned that she wants to do a Vogue: What’s in my Purse Challenge where she either takes out props from her film or CCR questions. She is still struggling to find a second idea for her CCR.
After, Isa thinks that her CCR ideas can be a fake mock trial where she will be the witness as the producer. Her second CCR idea was to be interviewed as a football player after defeating their opposing theme. She planned to dress up with football gear
Lastly, Sofia was thinking of making a breaking news report, where she will be interviewed, which she said would go along well with her film opening. For her second CCR video, she wants to bake something food related to answer questions and the idea is that what she bakes is a symbol of her film and the hard work.
Overall, this group meeting helped me develop my final ideas for my CCR posts, which i will mention on my next post.
Hi readers! I have been off of posting for the past week due to not having any content filmed, which has set me back on my project.
The set for my movie is my sister's room, as I explained earlier in my posts, but it has been a bit conflictive because neither one of us have been home (due to both of our different extracurriculars) at the same time so that she can clean and we can film together. We talked it out, and tomorrow we are taking the day off and dedicating it to the filming process.
We had to come to an agreement and concluded that I would help her clean so that we can film quickly and still have time to do any other homework assignments. We are going to spend around an hour filming so that I can have at least 2/3 of my filming needed so I can also start to edit.
Hi guys! Here’s a quick little post about what equipment i will be using to record.
First, I would have to ask my teacher for permission to borrow these things, but I would like to use a stabilizer and a tripod.
At home I already have my own tripod, but its very old, so if I have any issues with it I will most likely have to borrow one from class. I would use the tripod for shots where Camila is looking at herself in front of her mirror.
I would most likely use the handheld stabilizer for all my other shots, since I want to make the film opening look as organic as possible in comparison to any similar situations in actuality. I would provide this look with smoother movements and natural moving so that the shots flow together and aren’t entirely still the whole time.
Hello readers! Small post today, but I will be speaking of who my cast will be for this film opening.
To fit the Hispanic physical traits, I will use my own sister to act for the character of Camila. She has the traditional thick black hair, she has dark eyes and relatively tan skin.
For the voice that speaks during the end of the hospital scene, I will ask my mom to say it, since she speaks fluent English, but still has a small accent whenever she speaks, which many Hispanic teenagers’ parents have. She won’t have any on-screen time, which will make it easier for us to take as many shots as needed to make the fit exactly like how I had it in mind.
Hey everyone! Today I'll be talking about some of the issues I faced while developing my project.
One major obstacle I faced while developing my film opening was figuring out how to show Camila’s struggles without using too much dialogue. Since the story is about her changing herself to fit in, I had to rely a lot on facial expressions, body language, and small details in her environment to get the message across. This was difficult because I wanted to make sure the audience could understand her emotions without making it too obvious or exaggerated. I asked a friend what she thought I should do and she suggested I change her rooms appearance to reflect how she feels inside by making it messier.
Another issue I faced was planning the setting and props to match Camila’s personality and struggles. I wanted her bedroom to feel plain and structured at first, but I had to think about how to make that look interesting on camera. Making sure her environment reflected her transformation also took a lot of planning, like deciding which objects would stay the same and which would change over time. Since I was working with limited resources, I had to get creative with what I already had instead of buying new decorations. In the end, I think these challenges helped me improve my storytelling skills and pay attention to small details that make a big impact on my storyline.
HELLO EVEYBODY!!! I wanted to give a special thank you to all the people who helped and supported me throughout the journey of developing t...
