Shotta Code

  At one point, I was seriously worried about whether I’d be able to finish my movie on time. Between script changes, filming challenges, and editing struggles, it felt like everything was taking longer than expected. But after some late nights, problem-solving, and adjusting my workflow, I can finally say we’re back on track!

  One of the most important aspects of editing my movie was getting the transitions right. Since my film is only two minutes long, every cut needed to be intentional. The way scenes flow from one to the next can make or break the pacing, and I quickly learned that good transitions are essential for keeping the audience engaged. At first I thought I needed fancy transitions, but then I later on realized that simple cuts work the best, especially since my movie is fast paced and intense  Transitions aren’t just about moving from one scene to the next ,  they shape the way the audience experiences the story. By carefully choosing when to cut, fade, or jump, I was able to create a film that feels smooth, intense, and engaging from start to finish. Now, with the transitions locked in, my movie is one step closer to being complete!

 We are currently on a crunch for time because this movie is due in 2 weeks and I barely have any film, Ive been pushing my partner to give me the shots so I can edit them! I'm stressed!

 Props play a huge role in making a film feel real, and for my AICE Media Studies project, I needed items that would enhance the intensity and authenticity of the story. Since my movie revolves around crime, tension, and retaliation, every prop had to look convincing while still being safe and manageable on set. For scenes involving confrontation and threats, I used a Splat Gun to stand in for a real weapon. Since my movie involves a drug deal gone wrong, I needed a realistic-looking bag of drugs. To achieve this, I used a small plastic bag filled with grass as a prop. One of the most effective props in the film was the ski mask, worn by the robber during the crime scene. Even though these props were simple, they played a huge role in making the movie feel real. The Splat Gun, fake drug bag, and ski mask each added authenticity to the crime elements of my story. By using the right angles, movements, and sound effects, I was able to sell the illusion without needing expensive or dan...

  One of the biggest challenges in making my AICE Media Studies project feel authentic was finding actors with real Jamaican accents. Since my film has a strong Jamaican influence, I knew that the dialogue and delivery had to sound natural. Forced accents or unrealistic speech would take away from the story, so I made it a priority to cast the right people. Getting the right actors with real Jamaican accents made a huge difference in the overall quality of my film. It brought authenticity to the story and made the characters feel more believable. Instead of just watching a movie, the audience will feel like they’re stepping into a real, lived-in world. Now, with the right cast and powerful performances, my film has the voice it needs to leave an impact!

  After three days of intense filming, we finally reached the last day of production! This was the most crucial day because we needed to finish the final scenes and make sure everything looked and felt right before moving into editing. Filming this movie was one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences I’ve had. Three days of non-stop shooting, problem-solving, and pushing through setbacks made this project feel real and professional. Now, with all the footage in hand, the next step is editing where I’ll bring everything together into the final film. For now, I’m just celebrating the fact that we did it. Filming is officially complete!

  One of the key elements that helped bring authenticity to my movie was the clothing. Since my film has a Jamaican influence, I wanted to make sure the characters outfits reflected the culture while also fitting the gritty, urban crime theme of the story. From colors to accessories, every detail was carefully chosen to add realism and depth to each character. The clothing in my movie wasn’t just about style, it was about telling a story. By blending Jamaican culture with a gritty, urban look, I was able to create characters that felt real and visually engaging. Every outfit helped define the personalities on screen while staying true to the films theme. Now, with the costumes locked in, my movie not only sounds Jamaican, it looks it too.

  After all the planning, script revisions, and casting challenges, we continued filming the movie. Day 2 of 3 filming was both exciting and stressful, I knew that setting the right pace from the start would be crucial to staying on track. After wrapping up Day 2,  I felt both relieved and motivated. The movie was finally coming to life, and while there were challenges, we pushed through and got some solid footage. Now, onto Day 3!

  One of the most unique aspects of my movie  was the audio. Since my film is centered around crime and intensity, I wanted the sound to feel raw and immersive. But beyond just making it sound real, I wanted to bring a Jamaican influence into the mix through accents, dialogue, and even the background music. The audio in my movie wasn’t just an after thought, it played a huge role in shaping the mood and authenticity of the film. From the Jamaican-style dialogue to the music and sound effects, every detail helped bring the story to life. Now that the audio is fully mixed, the film feels more immersive than ever. The vibes are real, the tension is strong, and the sound? Pure fire.

  Filming the first scene of my movie was an exciting but challenging experience. After all the planning, script changes, and pre-production work, it was finally time to bring my story to life on camera. Setting the Scene Since my movie is now focused on a drug deal gone wrong, the first scene had to establish the gritty tone right away. We chose a location that felt isolated and sketchy enough to fit the vibe, an alleyway at night. The scene involved the main character meeting up with someone to sell drugs, setting the stage for the robbery that would follow.

When I first started working on my movie I had a clear vision: a high-stakes football movie centered around the pressure of a big game. My script followed a star player struggling under immense pressure, dealing with expectations from his coach, teammates, and family. The story was set to capture the emotional weight of sports and how athletes cope with stress. But as I worked through the script, something didn’t feel right. While the concept had potential, I started questioning whether it was the most engaging story I could tell in just two minutes. I needed something with more tension, more unpredictability. That’s when I decided to make a major script change one that took my film in a completely different direction.

 The TikTok ban has messed with my production because CapCut is a sister company of TikTok so it also got banned along with Tiktok. Since that happened, my movie has been deleted so now I have to restart my editing process 

 We decided to experiment some sound. Sounds like the wind, people running, and the crowd going absolutely wild. Since this is based on South Florida football, we incorporated the sound "Blurr" once someone catches the ball deep down field. This would make my movie fit close to home

 I can relate to this movie because for a fun fact I do play football! Football can be a lot to handle sometimes, having people rely on you to make a big moment when its your time to shine, any issues outside of football, school, etc. All of that can really weigh on your mental and especially when you are in the biggest game of your life and everyone is depending on you. This is really why I decided to make this film 

 Today is my birthday! But I still have to work on this movie, unfortunately. The plot behind my movie was to really be the star player dealing with some issues at home or mental issues, the moments leading up to the game, the big game, the high school championship. I feel like its a great idea.