AICE Media Studies

  How do your products represent social groups or issues? With Burnt Out, I wanted to tell a story that felt personal, not just to me but to so many students who are constantly overwhelmed by schoolwork and responsibilities. The film follows a young Black student who is completely exhausted—every day feels like an endless cycle of assignments, studying, and stress. No matter how much work she finishes, there’s always more waiting for her. She can’t catch a break, and the weight of it all is taking a toll on her. I chose to focus on burnout because it’s something so many students experience but don’t always talk about. The pressure to keep going, to push through exhaustion and pretend everything is fine, is especially common among young Black women. There’s this unspoken expectation to be strong no matter what, to never let up, and that mindset can make it even harder to recognize when enough is enough. Throughout the film, the protagonist’s exhaustion is shown in the smallest...

  https://youtu.be/AqGwxevf87I?si=UURjpw8lZ0I-oCRi

  Website for my short film Burnt Out: https://leeamiya026.wixsite.com/burnt-out

 My post card for my short film Burnt Out:

  Blog 11: February 28th – Adjusting the Lighting for Emotional Contrast           As I dive deeper into the final stages of editing, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the lighting can amplify the emotional journey of my character in Burnt Out . A major shift I’ve made in the post-production process is changing the overall color grading to reflect the character’s inner turmoil. At the beginning of the film, I wanted to convey a sense of warmth and optimism to mirror the character’s happier moments before the weight of her burnout starts to take over. For the opening scenes, I kept the lighting warm and golden, with a soft yellow hue that feels comforting and energetic. These initial shots are meant to showcase the character’s enthusiasm and ambition, when everything feels achievable, and life still feels full of potential. It’s a simple visual cue to indicate that she is starting from a place of hope and determination. But as the story progresses, ...

               With all the filming wrapped up, the editing process is in full swing, and I’m officially working on the final cut of Burnt Out. It’s been a long road to get to this point, and now I’m focused on stitching everything together to create a seamless story. The first step in this stage was organizing all the footage, which was a bit overwhelming considering the amount of takes I have to sift through. I’ve been watching each scene closely, making decisions about pacing, performance, and timing. Since the film is so intimate and reflective, I’m focusing a lot on the emotional beats and making sure they land correctly. Editing has really allowed me to fine-tune the pacing of the film, adjusting how long I hold on certain moments to build tension or give the audience space to process the character’s emotions. The hardest part has been trimming some of the footage that I really liked but ultimately doesn’t serve the story. It’s been tou...

Today marks the end of my filming process for Burnt Out. It’s surreal to think about how much has been accomplished over the past few weeks. I spent the last few days filming the final scenes, and it’s been a mix of excitement and relief. These last shots are crucial to tie the story together, so I want to make sure everything feels authentic and impactful. The final scene takes place in my character’s bedroom, reflecting her internal struggle and exhaustion. I wanted to make sure that the lighting was just right to convey the overwhelming feelings she’s experiencing. I used a combination of low-key lighting and some harsh overhead lamps to create shadows that symbolize her mental fatigue. The bedroom setting allowed me to show a more intimate side of the character as she reflects on her situation. I had to adjust the camera angles a bit to make sure everything was framed correctly for the emotional moments I want to highlight. Since I’m shooting alone, getting the timing and performan...

  This week, I decided to take a short break from filming. Between schoolwork and the pressures of working on Burnt Out, I found myself getting a bit overwhelmed. I needed time to recharge, and I think it’s important to recognize when you need a pause. Taking this break also gave me the opportunity to think about the film from a new perspective. I’ve been adjusting parts of the script, trying to make it even more personal and reflective of my own experiences. It’s been a bit of a challenge balancing everything, but I think stepping away for a bit will make the final product stronger. During this time, I’ve also been focusing on post-production and watching the footage I’ve gathered so far. I’m looking at how each scene connects to the next and thinking about the emotional arc of the film. I’m feeling a little behind on my filming schedule, but it’s important to stay patient and trust the process. When I come back to shooting, I’ll be more energized and ready to tackle the next scen...

Lighting has been one of the most important aspects of filming Burnt Out. Since I’m shooting a lot of intimate, personal moments, I need to make sure the lighting reflects the emotional tone of the scene. Today, I spent a few hours experimenting with different lighting setups. I’ve learned that the smallest changes in lighting can dramatically shift the mood of a scene. For example, I tried using natural light during the day to create a softer, more relaxed feeling. But when it came time for the evening shots, I realized I needed harsher lighting to reflect the character’s exhaustion. I’m using some overhead lamps and a desk lamp to cast more dramatic shadows on my face, making it look like the character is sinking deeper into her workload. The contrasts between light and dark will symbolize her internal conflict—trying to stay focused while feeling overwhelmed. I also experimented with backlighting to create a more cinematic look. The lighting not only affects how the character is por...

 Blog 5: February 10th – A Little Change of Plans Today, I had to make some adjustments to my shooting schedule. I had originally planned to film a scene in my backyard, but due to unexpected timing issues with natural light, I realized I had to rethink the whole setup. The sun sets earlier now, which means I can’t rely on daylight as much for my outdoor shots. I had to quickly come up with an alternative. Instead of shooting outside, I decided to move the scene indoors. The scene was supposed to be a transition where the character steps outside to take a break, but now I’ll have to shift the context. It’s a bit of a challenge, but it also opens up new creative possibilities. I’m reworking the scene to take place inside the character’s bedroom, where she continues to overwork herself. I think this new direction will add more depth to her feelings of confinement and stress. The change in plans is a reminder that filmmaking is rarely a straight path. Even when you have a vision, you ...

  Now that I’ve captured several scenes, I’ve started the editing process. At first, I was nervous about how to piece everything together since I’m not a professional editor. But the more I get into it, the more excited I am about how the film is shaping up. I’ve been experimenting with how long to hold certain shots to create tension and pacing. Since the character’s internal conflict is so important, I want the audience to really feel her sense of burnout. I’m playing with the contrast between fast cuts and long pauses, trying to find the right balance. The music is another aspect I’m focusing on, as it’ll be essential in creating the right mood. I’m considering using a mix of ambient sounds and a few subtle instrumental tracks to reflect the character’s mental state. The editing process is taking longer than I expected, but it’s rewarding to see how each piece fits together. I’ve also been thinking about color grading, as I want the film to have a somewhat muted, tired look. I’v...

The weather has been unpredictable, and it’s impacting my filming schedule. I had planned to shoot some outdoor scenes in my neighborhood today, but it started raining heavily. Originally, I had planned a scene where the character walks outside to clear her mind, which would have been a nice contrast to the indoor scenes. However, with the rain, that scene will have to wait. I’m trying not to let it get to me, but it’s a bit frustrating when the weather throws a wrench in your plans. I could have filmed inside today, but I really wanted to get the outdoor shots, especially since they’re an important part of the film’s pacing. I’ve learned that in filmmaking, flexibility is key. I’m going to reschedule the outdoor scenes and focus on indoor shots for now. The rain actually works well for certain scenes, so I’m planning to incorporate it into a later sequence. Even though I’m not filming outside today, I can still make use of the time by working on other parts of the film, like editing. ...

  I originally had pans to film in places outside of my home but I soon realized with the current weather that it may just not be possible. I had to change my plans and adjust all of the scenes to fit at home.  Originally, Burnout was supposed to include a variety of locations, like a park and a coffee shop, but due to unexpected changes, I had to rethink my approach and film everything at home and in my neighborhood. At first, I was worried this would limit the storytelling, but after brainstorming, I realized that this change actually makes the film feel even more personal—burnout often happens in isolation, so filming in familiar, confined spaces enhances that feeling. Filming Setup & Adjustments • Instead of a park bench for study scenes, I used my front porch and a quiet corner of my neighborhood. • My bedroom became the main setting, transforming from a workspace to a symbol of exhaustion. • I used my living room for certain shots to create variation while still main...

Date: January 23, 2025 Today marked the first official day of filming Burnout! After weeks of planning, scripting, and preparing, it felt surreal to finally bring this project to life. Since the park is standing in for school locations, I had to get creative with framing and camera angles to make it feel like a place where a student might study or feel overwhelmed. Filming Setup & Challenges My mom helped set up the camera and ensured everything was stable. I started with shots of myself sitting in my room, surrounded by notebooks, a laptop, and crumbled up paper to emphasize the stress and exhaustion of the main character. The biggest challenge was dealing with background noise from my family and setting up my camera . I had to time my shots carefully to minimize distractions. Highlights of the Day Captured some really strong close-ups of me looking drained and overwhelmed. Used LED yellow lighting to create a warm yet slightly somber mood.  Managed to get a great...