From the beginning of the project, I was assigned the role of Audio Manager, with my assistant, Irvin Castro under the direction of Donovan Campos Valdez and Ysenia Cardenas, working alongside cinematographer Evan James, for the benefit of our client, Producer, Alan Marsala.
At the beginning of the project, Irvin and I were tasked with recording as much audio as we could record while the others worked on the filming the commercial itself. We scouted out while on location in order to record the best audio we could get during our limited time at the filming locations, being Myrtle Creek in Fallbrook, Orange Street in Redlands, and Laguna Beach. My role evolved during the post production phase where I was tasked with searching sound effects that could not be easily replicated and music for the commercial, though this phase of the project turned into a group effort, as we all had different music preferences for the direction of the commercial.
What I took away from this project was that I still have a lot to learn in terms of the technical aspects of filming. I am not very good with a camera, and technologically illiterate when it comes to operating one. But seeing my far more experienced team working so fluidly on site and in post production only pushed me to seek out help and learning on my own, what it takes to make a great shot. I also learned how radically different our ideas can evolve from my own storyboards to the final cut. It was exhilarating seeing what we collaborated on turn into something realistic to that of an actual commercial.
My biggest challenge was again, being technologically illiterate. During the filming process, I felt so lost and confused due to the terminology being thrown around. And It was a hurdle trying to commit it to memory. My biggest growth was picking up pointers from my teammates and an improvement in my editing time management.
Something I would immediately do differently is ask more questions rather than blindly work. Seek out help when needed. But I am proud of what we were able to accomplish.
