Portfolio Project Genre #1

GENRE:

I've thought a lot about what genre I wanted to, a lot of my favorite movies are Action movies and Comedy movies, however as of this last year I've began to dibble and dabble in Mystery movies. Mystery movies can create that suspenseful and not-knowing vibe that keeps you enticed to keep watching. It can also make you want to solve the problem while you watch it. Mystery movies in my opinion are very versatile — meaning there are so many different ways you can go about it, whether you want a Noir type of film or even a Thriller.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

 Mystery movies' target audience is usually a more mature audience; often ages 15-50 and I say 50 because older audiences tend to not be as active and engaged in attempting to solve a mystery themselves. Many sources also state that problem-solvers and people with logical thinking skills tend to like mystery movies because it challenges their intellectual limits.

CONVENTIONS WITH CONTENT:

Mystery movies can obviously have many different plots, however they can often be centralized as crime/whodunit films they can also be suspense films that don't necessarily have a crime its more about uncovering the truth of something. Just because these are the main types of mystery conventions doesn't mean that there aren't other types of mystery movies like locked-room mysteries or even historical mysteries. Heretic a movie that came out in late 2024 is an example of a locked-room mystery that uses psychological approaches to leave the audience reflecting.

 

A24. (2024, September 19). Heretic | Official Trailer HD | A24 [Video]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9i2vmFhSSY 

 

CONVENTIONS WITH TECHNIQUES: 

Different genres of movies use different thematic elements. For example, a Romantic Comedy film is going to include a failed relationship, or in a Superhero film an event occurs that alters the superhero's life, like a family member dying or something along those lines. Mystery movies like to include shocking turning points, viewers like these films because they like to be surprised. One method that is used in many movies is a time limit, because it's known to keep viewers scared and on their toes. Another tactic, that is used is the fear of not knowing. When you watch a slasher film you know when the killer is behind the character but you're in a first or third-person view of the character, suspense builds because you don't know what's going to happen next. 

INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS:

The narrative image and marketing of mystery films is just how you would probably imagine. Mystery films love to market low-key lighting because it builds off the "Mystery" theme. Another technique you see a lot when mystery films are marketed is throughout trailers or posters, they like to use minimal words because they want to keep the viewer curious and unsettled. 

A movie that I'd recommend is Knives Out (2019). It is almost like a remake of the movie Clue from (1985). 

IMDb. (n.d.). Title: tt8946378. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8946378/?ref_=fn_t_1

Citations:

A24. (2024, September 19). Heretic | Official Trailer HD | A24 [Video]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9i2vmFhSSY 

  

George Davison Studios. (n.d.). The keys to a mystery-thriller film. https://georgedavisonstudios.com/blog/the-keys-to-a-mystery-thriller-film/

Haros, D. (2023, October 14). Creating the right techniques for a good mystery. Medium. https://medium.com/@desireeharos/creating-the-right-techniques-for-a-good-mystery-87f776791d8c

Inkitt. (n.d.). What is the mystery-suspense genre? https://inkitt.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28175118060946--What-Is-the-Mystery-Suspense-Genre

Robinson, J. (2025, September 23). Demystifying the mystery genre in film and TV. Mandy Magazine. https://www.mandy.com/magazine/article/mystery-genre-in-film-and-tv-79307/

Webnovel. (n.d.). Question about mystery genre. https://www.webnovel.com/ask/q334012597335069

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Transitioning into the Cambridge Portfolio Project

🐊  So last week in class we learned about film openings for our upcoming Final Project(the portfolio project). From now to March 17th, I will be documenting my journey of completing my portfolio project.  To be honest, part of me is not too happy that we are starting this project because this project is gonna require a lot of time and effort for it to come out successful, but I am ready for the challenge and I will find a way to balance all my other work out to make sure this gets done. While I watched and jotted down notes about the different types of film openings, I learned that there are many different types of film openings. For example, a common film opening that is used is preparing to go somewhere, or getting out bed. This approach is called character development and its basically just as it sounds, you develop and introduce your character during the opening scene of a film. The movie Stranger Than Fiction (2006), is an example of how this film opening was used. 

Art of the Title. (n.d.). Stranger than Fiction (2006). https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/stranger-than-fiction/

  Here are some of the notes I took while I was doing the Nearpod about film openings.

     

I have some sort of an idea of what I want to do, I initially wanted to do a comedy opening scene, but I heard it was going to be very hard to execute well, so I'm now thinking about shifting into another genre that I'm not knowing of yet. I want to have fun making the project, I don't want to have to cram all of it in a couple of days like I've done in the past. The main thing I want to be on top of is my time management and my organization, because I don't want to forget that I have a Blog that's due on a specific day.

This is the end of today's blog, I hope you enjoyed. Thank you.

Blog Post - Music Marketing #2

 

Blog Posting - Music Marketing #1

     When we first got this project, I honestly didn’t know how to feel. It seemed interesting to try out a new genre, but heavy metal isn’t really my thing, so I had no idea where to begin or which bands to look at. I actually picked my topic in the last five minutes of class. The real work started the next day. I used AI to get a basic idea of what Roadrunner Records was all about, then checked out their website and some music sites to make sure I had the facts right. Once I got into it, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed learning about the bands and their marketing. I found out that Roadrunner Records started in 1980 in the Netherlands, mainly to bring North American heavy music to Europe. Later, they moved into the U.S. and signed some big names in heavy music. Their lineup has bands like Slipknot, Sepultura, Korn, Nickelback, Trivium, and Motionless in White. Even though they’re now part of a bigger company, they still stick to their heavy-music roots.

     For my two case studies, I chose Trivium and Motionless in White. Trivium formed in Orlando in 1999 and became known for their mix of metalcore, thrash, and melodic influences. Their target audience leans toward serious metal fans who appreciate technical skill. They use streaming, social media, YouTube, touring, merch, and festivals to get their music out there. Motionless in White came from Scranton in the mid-2000s and has a darker, more gothic style. Their fans are younger and like the horror-inspired look. They also use streaming and social media, but they do more to get fans involved, like art contests, plus touring and selling merch.

    Overall, the research process helped me understand how music marketing actually works — not just digitally, but also through tours, physical releases, and brand identity. Even though heavy metal isn’t my usual genre, I ended up learning something new and enjoying the process way more than I expected.

Mise-en-scene Multimedia Project Blog Post

Multimedia Mise-en-scène: Meet Samuel Samson

In our AICE Media Studies class, we did a project called Multimedia Mise-en-scène. The goal was to create a station that helped other groups learn about a fictional character using different media elements. It had to be interactive and show who the character was in a creative way. My group was assigned a character named Samuel Samson — a single dad who works as a community librarian. He’s super patient, thoughtful, and loves reading to kids. We wanted to show how storytelling is a big part of his life and how he uses it to connect with others.

To represent Sam, we made a mood board with pictures like him reading to children, a shelf full of kids’ books, a child holding her first library card, and the Stanford University logo to show that his son just left for college. We also created an interactive library setup with blankets and candy. People could sit down and listen to an audio recording of The Cat in the Hat while following along with a physical copy of the book. It was like stepping into Sam’s daily routine and seeing how he brings stories to life for the kids in his community.

We organized our station like a timeline of Sam’s day. First, people listened to an audio clip of Sam introducing himself and talking about his life — how he became a librarian, how his wife passed away, and how his son just moved away for college. Then they looked at the mood board to get a better idea of his personality. After that, they watched a video tour of the library where Sam works. At the end of the video, Sam invited everyone to join his story time, which led them to the cozy reading area we set up.

When we were building Sam’s character, we focused on construction — how we used different media elements to shape who he is. We chose to highlight his job as a librarian and left out most of his personal life to show that he might be feeling lonely. His son leaving for college added to that feeling. We also made sure the audience could experience what a day in Sam’s life feels like, which helped them understand him better. Our group worked really well together, and I think the station turned out great. If we could change one thing, I’d make the layout more organized instead of switching through tabs. Maybe something like a single webpage or a slideshow would’ve made it smoother. But overall, it was a fun and creative project!

                                                

Follow Me!.mp4 

Introducing Myself!.mp4 

Library Tour.MOV 

Samuel Samson Moodboard 

STORYTIME!.mp4 

 

Genre Research Blog Activity

Film Genre Database Entry: Comedy

Genre: Comedy

Genre Conventions – Content:

Comedy movies are all about making people laugh by taking normal situations and making them totally ridiculous. They show things we all go through, like friendship, love, or feeling left out, but flip them in ways that are stupid and funny. There are always misunderstandings, awkward moments, and characters who just can’t seem to get it right. Even though the people in these movies act wild or silly, we can still see ourselves in them—like adults who never really grew up or underdogs just trying to fit in. What really makes comedy work is the dialogue: quick jokes, sarcasm, and lines you remember long after the movie ends.

Genre Conventions – Production Techniques:

Comedy movies use everything they can to get a laugh, not just the words. Fast editing, funny faces, and physical jokes make awkward scenes even better. The lighting is usually bright to keep things light, and the costumes or sets are often wild, like crazy outfits or rooms that look like a tornado hit them. Even the sounds are part of the joke, whether it’s a silly noise, a sudden stop in the music, or just total silence at the perfect moment. The actors use their bodies and faces as much as their lines, and when they really click or start improvising, it makes the comedy feel even more real.

Institutional Conventions – How the Genre is Marketed:

Comedies are usually advertised with trailers and posters that show off the funniest moments, but don’t give away the whole story. The ads are upbeat and full of energy, with music or voiceovers that match the wild vibe of the movie. Posters often have actors making crazy faces or stuck in ridiculous situations, so you know right away it’s a comedy. If the movie stars someone like Will Ferrell or Jonah Hill, their names are front and center to get fans interested. These days, studios also use short clips and memes on social media to get people talking and sharing online.

 

Film Sample #1 – Step Brothers (2008):

Directed by Adam McKay, Step Brothers is a prime example of absurd and character-driven comedy. The film follows Brennan (Will Ferrell) and Dale (John C. Reilly), two immature middle-aged men forced to live together after their parents marry. The humor comes from their childish rivalry, exaggerated stupidity, and the chaos that follows their attempts to coexist. The film uses bright lighting, colorful set design, and close-up reaction shots to highlight awkwardness and absurdity. Dialogue plays a huge role, with many of the film’s funniest moments coming from improvisation between Ferrell and Reilly. The marketing for Step Brothers focused on the duo’s comedic chemistry, using posters that showed them posing like a family portrait and trailers packed with their most outrageous lines, targeting teens and young adults.

Link To Step Brothers Description And Trailer

Film Sample #2 – Project X (2012):

Directed by Nima Nourizadeh, Project X represents the chaotic 'party comedy' subgenre. The story follows three high school students—Thomas, Costa, and JB—who throw a massive house party that quickly spirals out of control. The film’s humor comes from extreme exaggeration, shock value, and the characters’ cluelessness as things go completely wrong. Shot in a found-footage style, the production uses handheld cameras to make the experience feel raw and realistic, pulling the audience into the chaos. The bright lighting, fast cuts, and high-energy soundtrack create a sense of nonstop motion and excitement. The marketing leaned heavily into its 'wild and forbidden' vibe, promoting the film through viral-style trailers, social media campaigns, and even fake party videos that blurred the line between fiction and reality.

Link To Project X Description And Trailer

Other Examples of Comedy Films:

Superbad (2007) – Directed by Greg Mottola

The Hangover (2009) – Directed by Todd Phillips

21 Jump Street (2012) – Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Napoleon Dynamite (2004) – Directed by Jared Hess

Bridesmaids (2011) – Directed by Paul Feig

Jojo Rabbit (2019) – Directed by Taika Waititi

Dumb and Dumber (1994) – Directed by Peter Farrelly

Blog posting - Sound Projects 1 and 2

Sound Project 1

Project Directions: For this project, me and Sofia had to create a short soundscape that told a story using only sound effects no visuals or dialogue. The goal was to capture a full scene and help the listener imagine what was happening just by hearing the sounds. We started by brainstorming a short 1-to-2-minute scene that could happen in real time. Then we planned out all the noises that would make the story clear, like footsteps, background sounds, or objects being used. 

My Approach: When we started brainstorming, we were very unsure of what we were going to do. Initially we thought of maybe doing a car crash but, after thoughtful consideration we decided on a Fire Drill that took place at school. We imagined a fire starting in class and a student noticing it and pulling the fire alarm, from there the students would leave the building and then one of the administrators would come and put the fire out and after they put it out they walked outside.

Outline and Organization: Writing out every second helped keep us organized. We planned which sounds went where and when to bring them in or fade them out. It also made recording faster since we already knew exactly what to capture, and how we wanted to layer.

 

Editing Resources Used: We used Clipchamp though Office 365 to cut fade and mix the clips. I adjusted the volume of certain effects to make them sound distant or close. 

Reflection: The beginning of our audio project came together well, with footsteps, dialogue, and ambient sounds blending naturally for a balanced and immersive effect. Next time, we'd create more of the Foley sounds ourselves—like we did with the footsteps and fire crackling—since we didn’t realize early on that we weren't allowed to do that. Knowing that now, I’d lean into more creative sound-making from the start.

LoburakAgudelo_soundscape_per2.mp4

Sound Project 2

Project Directions: For this project, we created a video that told a short story using sound. It was an expansion of an earlier project, and this time we focused on adding sound effects and music to match the visuals. We planned out all the noises, recorded some ourselves using Foley techniques, and layered them with other sounds to make the scene feel realistic. The goal was to make viewers better understand the story. 

 

My Approach: My story was about a school kid at lunch who gets really bad food. I wanted to make it serious but also relatable. While brainstorming, I thought about what sounds would make the scene feel real like, kids talking, footsteps, and school cafeteria noise. 

 

Outline and Organization: My outline helped me match each sound to what was happening in the video. For example, I planned when the kid with the smelly food banged his hand on the lunch table out of frustration and discomfort. 

 

Editing Resource Used: I used Clipchamp again for most of the sound editing, and I synced the audio with my video, I made sure to adjust timing and volume, so each effect matched the action. I also faded certain audios to help improve clarity and smoothness. 

 

Reflection: I think I did a great job capturing the word (Tolerant) of the scene and syncing the sounds with the video. The eating and reaction sounds made it come alive. One thing was that the video was not meant for sound, so me and Sam tried to make it, so it did not need sound, that was the only downside.

OWFSound_Agudelo.mp4