My Multimedia Mise-en-Scène Project: Josefina!

 

My Multimedia Mise-en-Scène Project: Josefina!

This project was about making a character named Josefina feel real just by looking at her stuff. She's a super famous Latin jazz singer who lives in a fancy New York apartment. Our goal was to show she's both a big star and just a regular person who loves her family and culture. We had to use her physical look, her room, and her music. Josefina always wears red lipstick and nice clothes which shows she's confident and successful. Her apartment is modern, but we put in some little figurines from her home country to show she's still connected to her roots. We picked music, like some old-school Jazz and some cool Latin music like Selena. That mix is the sound of her own music.

How We Set Up Her Station

We organized Josefina's station to make it look like she just stepped away. Everything was arranged to show  her life. Her love for baking and a platinum record were right next to her listening area. But right nearby, there were hints of her personal life, like a nice kitchen area and the cozy hammock. This contrast helped us tell her story. We used different signs to communicate things. For example, the platinum record is an iconic sign it means success. The red lipstick and the blend of music styles are symbolic codes because they stand for her passion and her unique sound. Everything worked together to make her world feel real.

What I Learned

Our group worked really well together. We first decided she had a big heartbreak that made her music better, and then we picked visuals that fit that story. It was challenging to make sure every single thing we put in the room actually told part of her story. But when we finished, everyone could immediately tell she was a successful Latin jazz singer who was also a real person with feelings. The project showed me that you don't need someone talking to tell a story; you can use multimedia to make a character come to life. It was a successful project, and the character came out exactly as complex as we planned.

Genre Research- Action

The Thrill of Action

Genre: Action

Action films are some of the most exciting and fast paced movies out there. They’re built around energy, danger, and physical challenges that keep audiences fully engaged from start to finish. Whether it’s a hero saving the world, a spy on a dangerous mission, or an underdog fighting against impossible odds of winning, the action genre is truly designed to thrill viewers and leave them with an adrenaline rush.

Genre Conventions – Content

Action movies usually focus on a main hero or group of heroes who face dangerous obstacles and villains. These stories often center around survival, justice, revenge, or saving others from harm. The main character is usually strong, brave, and determined which is someone who pushes through tough challenges no matter what. The plots move quickly and are filled with fights, chases, and big stunts. Weapons, cars, explosions, and hand to hand combat are all common in this genre. Even though the stories are often larger than life, they still have emotional moments that make the audience basically root for the hero or care about what’s at stake.

Genre Conventions – Production Techniques

Action movies are all about energy, intensity, and excitement, so the production techniques are designed to keep audiences on like the edge of their seats. Fast paced editing and quick cuts are used during fight scenes, car chases, and explosions to make the action feel more chaotic or even thrilling. I would say the camera work is dynamic, with handheld shots, zooms, and wide angles that bring viewers right into the middle of the action. Sound design plays a huge part too, from the loud impact of punches and gunfire to the deep rumble of explosions that shake the screen. Music tends to build tension and adrenaline, with strong drum beats or orchestral matching the rhythm of the scenes. Lighting usually would change depending on the tone like darker, grittier lighting for intense battles or bright, high-contrast shots for big scenes. Most action films also rely heavily on stunt coordination, special effects, and CGI to bring the most exciting moments to life and make the impossible feel real.

Institutional Conventions – How the Genre is Marketed

Action movies are usually marketed using high-energy trailers that show off the most intense and dramatic moments like explosions, fight scenes, and cool one-liners from the main character. Posters often feature the hero front and center, usually holding a weapon or standing in a powerful pose, surrounded by chaos or destruction. Marketing campaigns also use dramatic music and fast editing to match the excitement of the movie. Many big action films are released during the summer or holidays, when more people go to the theater. These movies often have huge budgets and are promoted with merchandise, social media ads, and even video game sometimes join in.

Film Sample #1 – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road is a perfect example of the action genre because it never slows down. The movie is basically one long chase across a desert wasteland, filled with wild stunts, explosions, and intense fights. The story follows Max and Furiosa as they try to escape from a warlord, and it’s packed with danger and chaos from beginning to end. The cinematography uses fast camera movements and powerful visuals to make the audience feel like they’re part of the chase. The sound and music build tension the whole way through, and the use of practical effects instead of too much CGI makes it even more thrilling and real.

Film Sample #2 – John Wick (2014)

John Wick shows the more personal side of action films. It follows a retired hitman who goes on a violent mission for revenge, but it’s not just about the fighting, it’s more about emotion too. The choreography of the combat scenes is just very precise and clean, making every move look intense and believable. The lighting is dark and stylish, sometimes but often with neon colors that make it visually unique. The music and sound design work together to make each fight feel rhythmic and impactful. John Wick balances emotion and high energy perfectly, which is why it’s become one of the most recognizable action movies of the last decade.

Sound

 For both Sound Project #1 and Sound Project #2, my main approach was to really sit and think about what sounds were necessary to include in my project. I feel that sound is unappreciated, so I made it a point to close my eyes, listen carefully, and imagine what I wanted the audience to feel or even visualize through the sound alone. This helped me focus on the details that truly bring a story to life.

During brainstorming, my partner and I explored a variety of sound options by using the URL links you provided us to look at, and also searching for specific effects that matched our ideas. Not only did we use pre-recorded sounds, we decided to create our own. We recorded natural sounds such as a door closing, a car turning on, and even the sound of someone falling on stage. Making our own sounds gives more of a better connection toward what we are creating because every detail in sound counts. When you make your own sound you are in more control.

Creating an outline was extremely helpful, it set the foundation and base for how the project would come together. I used primary and secondary sounds, wrote detailed descriptions, and broke down my stages of foley work. This made it easier to visualize the final project and stay on track throughout the process.

The main editing tool I used was Clipchamp. Clipchamp allowed me to cut, layer, and adjust sounds to the best I can and it also helps you control the volume levels and overlap sounds so they flowed naturally. The visual editing timeline also helped me align the audio perfectly with timing and rhythm, which made the final product sound more polished.

One thing that went really well was collecting and recording the right sounds needed for the projects. Each sound served a clear purpose and added to the story I wanted to create. The most challenging part was making all the sounds flow together naturally.  However, adjusting levels like lowering or raising certain clips or overlapping effects requires patience and practice. However, by the time I worked on the second project, I felt much more confident. I learned to listen to determine whether each sound flowed well with the visuals and overall concept.

If you would like to see-

Sound project 1- https://browardcountyschools-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/0612119801_my_browardschools_com/EuZ1cArXQM9EjhW8m5Zf4HEBaQMSSEYiq50mUp7sl4fKZQ?tdid=427b5bbc-fdbf-44e1-8836-87b5ce9b239c 

Sound project 2- https://1drv.ms/v/c/376048d5f8603485/EZRPRpX6KNNEifuus7K9CscBWmjilvFF9KJ4yRDHJu2PzQ