Imam Mahdi Mastery Journal Full Sail University: CREATIVE writing mfa
Imam Mahdi
MFA Master’s in Film Producing, Full Sail University
FPR620-L Section 00
Professor – Luke Leonard
December 03, 2023.
I am now in my Film Production Thesis-II class. At this point in film school, I have learned so much. I just love the way Full Sail University has its Film Master’s Producing degree program established. The process of learning gives students the assuredly of academic and techniques on film producing and directing. After this month I have two months left to achieve my Master’s in Film Producing, for it has been a beautiful experience thus far. However, I would like to write about my experience with the camera from the perspective of the Dramatic Triangle: Cinematography, Lighting, and Sound. Cinematography takes its start with the four Galloping Horses by Eadweard Muybridge: Who Created the First 'Motion Picture' (By Lucas Reilly | Feb 1, 2019 | Updated: Jul 28, 2022, 4:46 PM EDT) and reference at (Ref. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/570646/animated-gif-forefather-eadweard-muybridge). Then film take a deep turn into the true story of man and woman in the genre of violence, sex, and crime in the film “Bonnie and Clyde is a 1967 American biographical neo-noir crime film directed by Arthur Penn and starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway” (Ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_and_Clyde_(film). Now we are looking at film from many great filmmakers, such as one Martin Scorsese with films as “Mean Streets”, “Casino” “Silence”, etc. are just a few of many films that of the film producer, director, scriptwriter Martin Scorsese. Last, directors like “Sam Mendes: 25 Ways to Be a Better Director | Charlie Rose” “learn to take the blame for everything” (Ref. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkqhXbrwP3M). With the above outlook on Cinematography, we can clearly see that filmmaking is not only a profession and an art, but filmmaking shapes society to behave in certain way. Watching the motion picture is such an inviter when the filmmaker uses the Dramatic Triangle lenses to capture great Cinematography, Lighting, and Sound.
Today is December 2, 2023, Friday night. Yesterday I was out doing my Adam and Eve scene-one shots. It went will, but I am in my hometown shooting my Thesis-II film myself, without the help of anyone who is train professionally to assist. So, in doing a film you have to make sure your Lighting is correct. My film is shot outside in the day, I start last weekend, but the sun was very bright during those shots, and I did not have my ND Filters with me, I had to re-shoot those shots. On Friday, it was a little cloudy and I used the ISO for bringing up and down the light that I needed. It was getting dark outside, so I used my car light to light my subject a little. Consequently, when I got home that night I did not like the lighting, and I did not use the proper lighting in the ISO. Therefore, I re-shot Eve giving the apple to Adam today on Saturday. It came out good, and I had my ND Filters with me. Earlier today, I went out by myself to get all my B-roll. It was nice because it gave me a lot of time to use various ISO levels. I started filming my B-roll at noon, as I previous stated, it was cloudy, so it was okay. My talent came out onset at 3:30pm. It gets night at 5:15pm. It was all good, until the people start coming to the park, because they heard someone was shooting a film. They brought the noise.
Today, I finished up all my Adam and Eve shots, and I finished up my Abraham shots. My Abraham shots was a challenge. The people that came to the park was coming and leaving the park with their loud cars and loud mouths. I had to do a lot of takes with my Abraham shots, but I remembered, I just really needed the visual and not the audio, because I am going to read the scriptures on those shots as Voice Over (VO). So, I got my shots and left. Tomorrow, I will finish up my film shots with Jacob, in which I got all of Jacob B-roll today too.
I have been going to school for Film, Communication (Religious, Political, and Science), and International Relation for a while now. Film is a tool to express Attitude, Influence, and Persuasion in the behavior of people. Film is important to every society, but it is up to that society to use the lenses for good or evil, as that society shapes and forms the behavior of its people. Therefore, when I practice filmmaking, I use the Dramatic Triangle of the lenses in Cinematography, Lighting, and Sound to invite people to what is good and righteous and warn what is bad and evil. This is why my film is named “Abraham Revenge Against Satan”. Imam Mahdi, (12/02/2023).
Cited Works
• Mental Floss. (Ref. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/570646/animated-gif-forefather-eadweard-muybridge). December 2, 2023.
• Wikipedia. (Ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_and_Clyde_(film). December 2, 2023.
• Wikipedia. (Ref. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkqhXbrwP3M). December 2, 2023.
Imam Mahdi
My name is Imam Mahdi. This is my Film Thesis 610 class at Full Sail University in Winter Park - Florida. My professor is Professor - Andrew Byrd.
Logline: Abraham inherited the covenant of his forefathers and he saw the enslavement of his descendant children in a strange land for 400 years, after they shall come out of that suffering under the authority of The Holy One – ‘Isa-Messiah by the permission of The God Who created him.
Synopsis: My name is Imam Mahdi. I am an independent film Producer, Director, Scriptwriter, and Motion Picture Editor. My film is titled “Abraham Revenge Against Satan”, in which the genre is Religious-Political. Abraham inherited the covenant of his forefathers and he saw the enslavement of his descendant children in a strange land for 400 years, after they shall come out of that suffering under the authority of The Holy One – ‘Isa-Messiah by the permission of The God Who created him. In this film “Abraham Revenge Against Satan”, my audience will be overwhelmed by the implementation of Truth and Valid-Justice on earth by ‘Isa-Messiah Sword through the Absolute – Nineteen Kinetical Behavioral Sciences – Formula (A-19KBS-F). Imam Mahdi, here is my YouTube video I have in representation of some things I learned in Film Producing class. Please click this link: https://youtu.be/hQTb3HHq2fw
Professor – Van Manson
October 22, 2023.
YouTube video link. https://youtu.be/Qt5X5NEZF1E?si=7xUNbC50w0DFJcfE
Greetings, my name is Imam Mahdi. I will be analyzing two films in this paper: Nature Of Love - Romance; and Clever Family Reunion - Comedy. The Nature Of Love is a romance film that takes a look at the environment love relations, and business. The Nature Of Love was released in 2023. KATTIE and WILL are the main characters in Nature Of Love. Nature Of Love had 1.1M views as of October 22, 2023, on YouTube. At this date, Nature Of Love has only been on YouTube only 3 months. However, I shall analyze these two films in the outlined of the editing, cinematography, color, production design, set, composition, lighting, transition, characters, story arcs, location, tone, focus, space, rhythm, pacing, audio, music, costumes, props, special effects (practical), and special effects (visual).
Imam Mahdi
MFA Master’s in Film Producing, Full Sail University
FPR680-L
Professor – Peter Gordon
September 13, 2023
“Master Journal”
The Business Of Film, like every class at Full Sail University, it is a necessary and skill strengthening in your field of study. My undergraduate degree was a bachelor’s degree in communication, in which it included filmmaking, multimedia production, science, religion, sociology, politics, and the study of terrorism. I received my B.A. from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in 2005. Since then, I have been doing independent motion pictures productions. However, after taking Business of Film at Full Sail University by Professor – Peter Gordon, I have learned so much on how to do film business: Presentation in distribution; Film Business in film festival and resume; and Independent Filmmaking in professional portfolio.
In my Business Of Film class, the Presentation in distribution was a very valuable education, due to I have been working on projects before attending Full Sail University. There were opportunities I had with film businessmen producers, not knowing what I was missing to do business. After being in my Business Of Film class, I learn to properly write and place the synopsis. I learned when to make the Pitch. I learned to introduce myself for who I am as a film Producer, Director, Scriptwriter, and Motion Picture Editor. And I learned to attach my film project to my Distribution Plan as a reflection of who and what I say I am, as a sample of my works. Further, I learned to research other films like my film in presenting their budget and profit, in order to give my potential investor examples on why they should invest in my film. Even further, I learned other aspect of doing business with major film companies in contracting Distribution Agreements: (1) Foreign Pre-Sales or Territorial Distribution Agreements, (2) Negative Pickup, (3) Television Syndication, (4) Domestic Co-production, (5) New Media / Video-On-Demand [VOD] Distribution, (6) Foreign Co-production, (7) First-Look Deals, (8) Output Deals, and (9) Production-Financing-Distribution Agreements.
Second, in getting your film work viewed by an audience, we learned to research Film Festivals. In the Film Festival research process, I learned to find festivals that fit the genre of my film. There are so many film festivals, with most of them requires an entrance fee. Therefore, it is wise to find film festivals your film work fit, and you can possibly attend. Film Festivals can be a beautiful thing on your journey to a successful professional career in the film industry. There are awards at the film festival. Cash prizes are presented most film festival. You can get film contract deal at film festivals. Most of all, you can contact other filmmakers may assist you in your professional career as a filmmaker. Film Festivals are just another avenue to put on your resume to better establish your credential as a filmmaker.
Third, in Independent Filmmaking in professional portfolio is where your work is always on display, it is your website. I learned in class if we want our film works to always be available for personal and professional reasons, we must have a website to be our representative. Your website is your best representative of you. Regardless of what people say of you, it is what you say of yourself. Your work speaks for you and your objective(s) in life. We learned in the Business Of Film class in Tax Laws, Contract Laws, Constitutional Laws, Criminal Laws, and Civil Procedures that governs our behaviors as a filmmaker.
Inconclusion, it is a beautiful situation when you have someone teaching you the thing professionally what you need to know in your career. I have learned Presentation in distribution; Film Business in film festival and resume; and Independent Filmmaking in professional portfolio by Professor – Peter Gordon in my Business Of Film class. It is to strive to be the best in the film business. Therefore, the above education objectives are just a few things I learned in class, thanks.
How will I implement topics learned in my 5th month Story Development class in my upcoming class? It will be a skill task achieved. In my Story Development class, I have obtained professional skills that will allow me to approach scriptwriting very professionally. Not only scriptwriting from spec-script to contract-script, but even further, students know how to approach the filming industry with sound information on the best way to do business that matches your personal objective in the filming industry.
When it comes to learning, I love to learn from people skilled and professional at what they claim to teach, I have found that in Professor – George Hartmann's class. All my missing elements of scriptwriting were found in Story Development. I learned to write a one-minute action film, in which in one minute my audience will experience a beginning, middle, and end. For one minute, it was a major achievement in the filming industry. It makes you a focused scriptwriter. Even more, adding scene numbers, transitions, and camera directions continue to carry your film at your desired pace of the film in a more professional manner. I learned to write a synopsis of a film, which allows brings my perspective investor to come near the purpose of my film and what it is about. Then we learned to apply our skills to two types of films: the narrative film form, and the documentary film form.
The character in a film is always one of the attractions. People go to see a film for a few reasons: Storyline, Actor playing the character, and the Genre just to name a few. In the storyline, it could be one storyline. I learned in story development that more than one storyline makes the film more interesting, and so do the chosen actor(s). Your actor going to reflect your character grid, knowing the behaviors of the character, which your chosen actor imitating carries the film. People will go and view a film if people are playing the character role. Still, when it comes to the genre, which we learned in story development, the genre or topic of a film is of great interest to the audience. People like to watch certain things. Therefore, in my presentation of my script, I will apply these skills to my next class to become a better filmmaker.
In a narrative film, I learned in story development, are two types: Fiction and non-fiction. In both genres of films, each carries the character in what he does, what he needs, what he wants, and what is the agenda of the character. These formulas in story development make your script stronger and more attractive to buy and produce by major film companies. So, in fiction films, there are so many genres to point to, while the audience knows this motion picture is not a true depiction of a person or things in society. Still, non-fiction film still has an impression on its viewers, even to the point the viewer may act out what he viewed in the film. I guess it goes back to say, “Art imitates life, and life imitates art,” whoever first said or wrote it. Whereas it differs from a non-fiction film. Continuing in narrative form, there is the non-fiction. People tend to write true stories of life events and experiences. Typically, you do not need much evidence or research for writing a script for true life experiences, because they are your or somebody else experience. Again, when casting, we learned in Story Development, if you cast a well-known actor to play the main character or supporting character, it will bring people to watch you film. It makes it more pleasurable to watch your film, unlike in the Documentary form. Some people like to say that Documentaries are over rate, I beg to differ, they like to say what they hear other people say. Some people are not interested in the betterment of people, they just want to make money and say they in the film business, to each it on. But, for me, if you do a documentary, do your research, know your subject matter from all sides. And after learning what you know, and if you experience the truth, would you change if that truth proves your beliefs wrong, if you do not change, then you should not shoot that documentary, because you would have witnessed in yourself that you are not a truthful person. So, when it comes to documentaries, I can clearly see all those who are unsheathed to do documentaries, even though they are going to still do them, long as money is involved. Therefore, the skills I learned in story development in documentary filmmaking, which I will carry into my next class in operating and assembling the camera will be to produce a film that reflects my learning experience in Documentary genre filmmaking. As a filmmaker, my chosen film format is Documentary with many sub-genres attached to it, such as Documentary-dramas, Documentary-action, Documentary-political, and Documentary-political-religious, just to name a few genres on how I am incorporating my filmmaking projects.
Approaching the filming industry is not an easy task. You must have some avenue of connection to get into the filming industry. You know someone, and/or be in the environment of filmmaking, and/or know the business of filmmaking, with a matching project that will get the attention of film companies wanting to do business with you. As a result, for me taking the Story Development class has been of great value to me. I learned so much about Scriptwriting with its software, I learn about the two types of storytelling in narrative and documentary forms. And I learned about the nature of business in the filming industry. These are a few of the above takeaways in the Story Development class I have surely benefited from. Now, I can take this information to be a benefit to some major film companies and give them the type of product that they can professionally and personally benefit. Or, I can take this information and build my own company, because others may not appreciate what I have to offer, in which I will benefit professionally and personally; thanks, Imam Mahdi.
Greetings, again to my audience. I am now in my class Directing Talenty (DT). Directing Talent, I learned so much about a wide range of skills that go along with DT. from adjustments with the people acting to scriptwriting engagement, from leadership types to genre and subgenre, from costumes set design to set design budget. These were just a few starting points in Directing Talent. However, exploring additional learning in various topics and issues opens so many paths of learning, but I will start with reading more books on producing, directing, film financing, and acting. Directing talent, I am sure, will be a career path. Here is the link to my posted video directing talent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhYB_XbMguY
Greetings, to all my viewers, today is about scriptwriting. There were 7 questions put to me in my scriptwriting class at Full Sail University, that I will share with you. These answers are beneficial to you if you consider yourself a scriptwriter. Click on the video below.
Imam Mahdi
MFA Master’s in Film Producing, Full Sail University FPR520-L
Professor, Redman.
April 16th, 2023
WHIPLASH
In the First Act of the Drama Action film “Whiplash” is a short 17 minutes and 56 seconds film about music, or should I say a music fraternity. Whiplash starts off in visual extreme shot of the skin of the drum, then a tightening bolt at the top of a symbol. Then a young student set at the drum set in an empty music classroom. He tightens the skin on the drum and touches the symbol. Students begin to come in the class and fill all the seats. The student gradually begins to play in tuning their instruments. When the clock hit 9:00 o’clock one student shout out “Milk The Cut.” Silence covers the atmosphere. The instructor enters the room with all black clothing, short sleeve shirt and black shoes. The instructor is a Caucasian male with a bold head. The student is at attention as if they are in the military. One student, who was the first student to enter the classroom is confused by the behaviors of the other student who gradually entered the classroom after him. The instructor points to certain students to check their instrument for tune. Instructor says, “you are squeakers today people.” Then the instructor says, “Neiman, you are nineteen years old, isn’t he cute?” Neiman and Andrew are the same person. “Okay gang, Whiplash,” the instructor says. Neiman has a close-up shot with his head facing the instructor, but his eyes are cut to the corner showing disapproval of the statement the instructor. Students begin to play. Instructor says stop, “Barker this is not your boyfriends dick, you do not need to come early.” They begin to play again as the cinematography truck zooming in and out with different shots from close-up to wide full shots to extreme close-up shots. The instructor stops the band again, someone is out of tune, “tell me it is not you Elmer Fudd?” He dismisses Elmer Fudd, “Matts get the Fuck out, for the record Matts was not playing out of tune, you were Wallack.” Wallack silently nods his head in agreement while closing his eyes. The instructor said Matts didn’t know and that’s bad enough. Take 10 when we get back the squeakers are on.
Now, Whiplash has been escalated into the Second Act. Andrew is setting in the hallway, as he writes notes there are in and out dirty shots of people passing him. The instructor walks in front of Neiman. You see the instructor from the waist down with a full shot of Andrew seated. Long two shot of Andrew and the instructor walking down an empty hallway. Instructor says, “listen Andrew, what you saw in ther? This is your first day. Matts hog been dragging for two years, besides your no Elmer Fudd. This is a huge opportunity for you. You know that right?” Andrew, “ya!” Instructor, “you are here for a reason, you believe that right? Andrew say, “I am here for a reason.” In the conversing of Andrew and the instructor, the instructor asks Andrew personal information about his family. The instructor is a very manipulate person. He is sex driven with the same sex gender. The instructor behavior makes you wonder if he had sex with every member of musician in the practicing music section.
In the Third Act the instructor asks Andrew to play, but he did not play to the instructor’s satisfaction. The instructor threw a chair at Andrew that flew over the heads of one-third of the musician’s head in the room to over behind Andrew almost hitting him. Andrew was the drummer near the back wall. The instructor ask Andrew, “were you rushing or were you dragging?” The instructor repeated himself by say, “were you rushing or were you dragging?” He slaps Andrew and asked Andrew two more times, “were you rushing or were you dragging?” Instructor says to Andrew, “you worthless faggit piece of shit who mommies ran out on daddy, find out he was not Gene O’Neil. Who is now weeping and sloping all over my drum kit. Say I am up set. So, for the last father fucking time say it louder.” Andrew says, “I am up set.” Instructor says, “Carl, Andrew, start practicing harder Neiman. Okay, gang, Whiplash, bar 1/15 to the end. So, with the review of the film “Whiplash,” we look to the premise of the film, the basic dramatic structure, production design, cinematography, sound, and editing.
Premise Of The Film
Stage One Short-term goal: IMAM MAHDI, Film Media Group, LLC. Optional Name of Business: I. M., Film Media Group, LLC., Post Office Box 966, Cheraw South Carolina 29520 USA. Purpose / Services of Business: IMAM MAHDI, Media Film Group, LLC. (I. M., Film Media Group, LLC.) is a Film Production Company and more. I. M., Film Media Group, LLC. is a complete communication network system in development: Television, Radio, Filmmaking, Motion Pictures, Internet and Cyber Security, Master Website Design and Server Supply, Music Recording Studios, Book Authoring and Publishing, and satellite Connection.
Stage Two Short-term goal: ABSOLUTE'KINGDOM, film cost is a vision of four online productions. One, online production is "THE HOLY WAR STRUGGLE" a feature Film Documentary--drama at the cost of $500,000 -- for completion. It is a true story action/thriller documentary/drama with Debut-talent online production.
Stage Three Medium-term goal: THE HOLY ONE. It is a feature film at the cost of $7,000,000. It is for major cinemas.
Stage Four Long-term goal: THE HOLY ONE. It is an online production Film Spin-off weekly episode television show with 100 plus episodes at the cost of $1,000,000 -- per episode.
Stage Five Short or Long-term goal: ABSOLUTE'KINGDOM, it is the film ABSOLUTE'KINGDOM. Star A-list talent for ABSOLUTE'KINGDOM Film will cost $200 million to produce. My talent with list: PRODUCER, Steven Spielberg; DIRECTOR, Spike Lee; PRODUCER / DIRECTOR / PROTAGONIST, Imam Mahdi; ANTAGONIST, Woody Harrison; and Supporting Actors and Actresses or people at this professional level.
Organization To Support: IMAM MAHDI, Film Media Group, LLC. is the Black Filmmaker's Academy:
Imam Mahdi: YouTube video.
ABOUT ME: My name is Imam Mahdi. I am from Cheraw, South Carolina, United States of America. Like everybody in the world, I have many dimensions to myself. Dimensionally many people do not understand the power they have and how blessed they are. Here is where I come in. The Creator has given me Nineteen Tools that move as One Tool. In this, any person can use these tools to achieve their most sought goal(s). However, the Nineteenth Tool I can only teach you about it, The Creator of the Heavens and earth can only give it to you. Still the other eighteen Tools I can teach you to master them. But know that I strive not opposing with the Nineteen Tools in accordance with the Law of The Absolute. Any who use any of the Eighteen Tools opposing The Absolute will be brought to an Eternal end that is not favorable to their earthly end. I would like to share more, but I will let my books and films speak for me.
INTENTION STATEMENT: My Intention Statement at Full Sail University in the next 12 months is first to pass all my classes, thus earning my Master’s Fine Arts degree. Second, I strive to learn all that is possible as a Film Producer to produce and direct the most powerful films that will help people in the right direction. Next, I have been working on a film project for a few years now. I am near finished. Being at Full Sail University with its talent in administration and students, within 12 months period will allow me to finish my film if it is the Will of The Absolute. Last, I hope to meet and participate and partner with great people who would like to work on the most important film of all time. ABSOLUTE’KINGDOM Costs is a vision of four online productions. One, online production is “THE HOLY WAR” Documentary/Drama at the cost of $500,000 – for completion. Two, “THE HOLY ONE” true story action/thriller documentary/drama with Debut-talent online production. THE HOLY ONE is a feature film at the cost of $7,000,000 – for major cinemas. And third, THE HOLY ONE is an online production Film Spin-off weekly episode television show with 100 plus episodes at the cost of $1,000,000 – per episode. And fourth, it is the film ABSOLUTE’KINGDOM. Star A-list talent for ABSOLUTE’KINGDOM Film will cost $200 million to produce. My talent wish list: PRODUCER, Steven Spielberg; DIRECTOR, Spike Lee; PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/PROTAGONIST, Imam Mahdi; ANTAGONIST, Woody Harrison; and Supporting Actors and Actresses or people at this level. ABSOLUTE’KINGDOM will easily bring in $1 billion at the box office with this all-star cast. Why? The people of the United States of America have no survival direction without the production of the film ABSOLUTE’KINGDOM. Except for a few others and me, money can buy anything. Treat this document as copyright © of Imam Mahdi
INSPIRATIONAL: Ashford & Simpson were great artists together. Their song Solid is a very inspirational song, it is about love and forgiveness. I seek to teach people through my books and films how to have love and forgiveness for each other.
INSPIRATIONAL: God's Grace is a powerful song by Rev. Luther Barnes. At some point in every person's life, he must be reminded that there is a God who created them and they must acknowledge Him. And if God is not acknowledged, then your life is whatever it is.