Blog 63: RESEARCH: Epsiode Watching (The Rookie)

 Episode Watching (The Rookie)

Welcome back, now let’s drive straight in! For this research entry, my partner and I kept going with the same idea we had earlier: studying how different government-style police shows handle action, tension, and teamwork. After breaking down three episodes of SWAT, we wanted to see how another show approaches the same kind of situations. So we sat down and watched three episodes of The Rookie to look for patterns, similarities, and anything we kept seeing pop up across multiple episodes.

Right away we noticed that The Rookie has its own way of pulling characters into chaos. Every episode starts pretty normal, but something always goes wrong fast. A call turns unpredictable, a suspect does something unexpected, or a routine situation turns into a problem. It’s not instant action like SWAT, but it still gets the tension started early.

Another thing my partner and I caught was how much the show focuses on character reactions. The camera always stays on the rookie officers when they’re overwhelmed or trying to figure out what to do next. That reaction based style showed up in every episode we watched. It adds more emotion and makes the situation feel more personal. It’s a different kind of intensity compared to the tactical, mission driven vibe in SWAT.

We also noticed how The Rookie mixes seriousness with humor. Even in tough situations, someone throws a quick comment or a sarcastic line, which makes the characters feel more real. That blend of light and heavy moments kept showing up in all three episodes. It’s something you don’t really see in SWAT, since SWAT stays straight-focused and mission-ready the whole time. Another recurring thing was how the characters move and operate under pressure. In The Rookie, they’re not perfectly coordinated or flawlessly trained. They hesitate, they look unsure, and they make mistakes. That makes the action feel more grounded. SWAT, on the other hand, moves as a clean unit. Everyone has a position, everyone has a job, and the communication is tight. Seeing both styles back to back gave us a better understanding of how different types of police shows create their own rhythm.

Comparing SWAT and The Rookie

This was the part of the research that stood out the most. Watching both shows side by side showed us just how different government-style police shows can be while still sharing some of the same basic structure.

Here’s what we noticed:

Both shows start conflicts early.

- SWAT does it with action. The Rookie does it with unexpected problems. Different approaches, same goal.

Both shows rely on teamwork, but in different ways.

- SWAT uses military style coordination.

- The Rookie focuses more on partner to partner communication and personal growth.

Both shows care about tension, but they build it differently.

- SWAT builds tension with speed and precision.

- The Rookie builds tension with uncertainty and character reactions.

Both shows use POV-style moments, but for different effects.

- SWAT uses it to intensify the mission.

- The Rookie uses it to show stress, confusion, or mistakes.

Seeing all these differences and similarities helped us understand how action scenes can be shaped depending on the tone you want. SWAT feels sharp and tactical. The Rookie feels human and unpredictable. But both still create strong intensity in their own way.

Overall, breaking down The Rookie right after studying SWAT gave me and my partner a way clearer picture of how government style shows structure their scenes. Even though the styles are different, you can tell they follow certain patterns that keep the viewer locked in.

We’re keeping all this research in mind as we keep testing ideas and building out more small practice clips. More research entries coming soon, so stay tuned!

Cited Sources

Blog 62: RESEARCH: Episode watching (SWAT)

 Episode Watching (SWAT)

Hello everyone and welcome back! For this research entry, my partner and I decided to switch things up and look at how shows like SWAT handle action, pacing, and team movement. We sat down together and watched three different episodes back to back, just to see if there were any patterns or reoccurring choices the show makes that could help us understand how to build stronger scenes in our own project. And honestly, we ended up noticing a lot more similarities than we expected.

Jumping straight in

The first thing that stood out in all three episodes was how fast SWAT jumps into the mission. There’s almost never a slow intro. Every episode starts with either a quick situation update, a chase, or some kind of threat right away. It reminded us a lot of the video game style openings we were studying earlier, and it confirmed that fast pacing really does grab the audience immediately.

Another thing we kept seeing was how the show uses team communication. Every episode had nonstop callouts, updates, and quick decisions between the characters. The way they talk feels realistic, but it also helps the viewer understand what’s going on without long explanations. That’s something my partner and I both realized we need to bring into our own scenes: short, direct communication instead of dragging things out.

The third big pattern we caught was how SWAT blends POV and wide shots to make the action feel more intense. They switch between close, over the shoulder views during tight moments and wider shots whenever the team moves together. That mix makes everything feel fast but still easy to follow. It actually ties in perfectly with the first person test clip we made earlier, because we saw how they use POV moments to pull the viewer into the scene but don’t overuse it.

We also noticed how every episode throws the characters into situations where timing matters. There’s always someone covering, someone advancing, and someone giving orders. It’s a rhythm the show uses over and over, and it keeps everything moving without feeling repetitive. Watching that helped us see how important team formation is, even in short scenes.

Overall, breaking down these episodes helped us understand how professional shows build structure into their action scenes. The research we got from SWAT lines up with what we already tested in our video game style clip: fast entry, clear movement, strong communication, and shots that help the viewer stay locked in. Me and my partner walked away with a clearer idea of how to take those techniques and shape them into something that fits our own project.

We’re going to keep studying more scenes and comparing how different shows handle similar moments. More research updates soon.

Cited Sources

Blog 61: RESEARCH: Pre-testing video game hooks

 Testing out video game hooks

Hello everyone and welcome back! For this research entry, my partner and I wanted to try something different. We spent some time looking into how video games hook you in the first few seconds and how that same style could work in film. After watching a bunch of clips, breaking down some gameplay intros, and talking it out as a team, we decided to run a quick test to see what we could pull off ourselves.

One thing we kept noticing in our research is how games throw you straight into the action with no warning. So we tried that. In our test clip, the whole thing starts in first person. You’re already in the middle of a mission, no explanation, just chaos. The character gets tackled, questioned, refuses to talk, and boom, he gets taken out. The screen cuts to black with a “Click square to respawn” message. We added that because all the game intros we looked at do this fast failure/instant reset type thing, and we wanted to see if it hits the same when filmed.

Another part of our research showed how games mix the “in game” world with the “real” world to push the story forward. So right after the respawn moment, we zoom the camera out and reveal that the whole scene was playing on a monitor being watched by the actual main character. That idea came straight from what we saw in our research, so we wanted to try it ourselves and see if the transition felt smooth. The fifteen second clip we made was just a quick test Adrian and his cousin filmed outside. His cousin played the first person character, and Adrian jumped in as a random guy for the scene so we could test the movement. No audio, no serious acting, nothing fancy. We weren’t trying to make a full scene yet, just testing the stuff we learned. It’s rough, but that’s exactly what we expected from a research test.

What mattered was seeing what actually worked. And honestly, running this test helped us understand how first person shots feel, how fast the pacing should be, and how game inspired moments can blend into a normal film without looking weird. Now we have a better idea of how to use all this research for the real project. Here is the finished test! 

My partner and the rest of my group are still digging through more examples and trying out more ideas. We’ll keep experimenting, filming little tests, and figuring out what fits our style.

Blog 60: RESEARCH: Costume Research (Tati’s Costume)

 Costume Research (my costume)

Hello everyone and welcome back! Today we are talking about my costume now! After wrapping up the first stage of planning for my partner’s loadout, our group moved straight into the next layer of the costume. MY part! This phase shifted from pure tactical accuracy into something that mixes personality, style, and on-screen presence. We wanted this second part to feel like a natural continuation of the first, but with its own identity. “A touch of me” is what I like to call it.

Costume Talk

The biggest creative shift came with the mask. Instead of staying fully tactical, we gave the character a half skeleton mask, pulling inspiration from Call of Duty’s Ghost while giving it our own twist. It keeps that intimidating, iconic skeleton vibe while still blending with the rest of the wardrobe. To keep the theme consistent, we added skeleton gloves so the hands match the mask and carry that COD energy throughout the whole look. The video from last time was still a major information source, so I will link it here for you to double back on.

Introducing our new influence

The hair is where we added a completely different influence. I’m wearing pigtails, which pulls inspiration from Harley Quinn, but done in a darker, more grounded way that fits the tone of our project. It gives the character personality, movement, and attitude without clashing with the tactical elements.

Costume Details

Underneath everything, I am wearing a tight black jumpsuit. This piece gives us a clean base and lets the upper-body gear sit exactly the way we want. Over that, we kept a tactical vest to tie back to the original loadout. It stays within that COD Ghost direction while allowing the Harley-inspired hair and skeleton theme to coexist within the same character design.

Now onto the rest of the upper body

The tactical vest is the main anchor point that keeps the COD influence alive in this stage. Even though this version of the outfit is more ”trendy”, we didn’t want to lose that grounded Ghost feel completely. The vest is fitted, compact, and has real structure to it so it doesn’t look like a costume piece. It brings back that professional, ready-for-combat silhouette that Ghost has, but we’re using it in a more creative way.

Visually, the vest adds weight to the upper body. Without it, the skeleton theme might look too lightweight or too costume-like. With the vest, everything tightens up. It makes the character feel tactical, deliberate, and controlled. The vest also breaks up the all-black jumpsuit underneath by adding panels, straps, and texture. Even though I’m not carrying full magazines or equipment in this version, the vest still helps sell the realism while letting the rest of the outfit lean into a darker, more trendy look. It’s basically the bridge between Ghost’s realism and Harley’s chaotic, unfiltered energy. The vest itself also isn’t very heavy, so it will be wearable during filming.

One of the biggest upgrades in this stage is the half skeleton mask. We wanted something that brought in that classic Ghost intimidation factor without copying the original look directly. The mask has deep cheek cuts, strong contrast lines, and a clean skull pattern that reads instantly on camera. It hides emotion in the perfect way while still giving me a strong silhouette. It also fits tight to the face, which is important because we don’t want it shifting during movement or action scenes.

The gloves tie into this perfectly. They’re skeleton gloves with bone detailing that actually lines up along the fingers and back of the hand. What we liked the most is how the gloves give the character expression even without showing skin. Every hand movement becomes sharper. Every gesture pops. Under certain lighting, the bones on the gloves stand out almost like they’re glowing. And when paired with the mask, the whole upper-body presence becomes way more intense. This is where the Harley inspiration blends in. The mask brings the Ghost energy. The gloves reinforce the skeleton theme. But the pigtails create that sharp contrast that makes the character feel unpredictable. It’s a mix of chaos and crazy, which works exactly how we want.

Lower Body 

For the lower body, we chose black sweatpants that look like cargo pants on camera. They’re way more comfortable, way easier to move in, and still hold the tactical illusion we need. It’s the same method we used in the first part of the costume which was to keep the realism visually, but make it wearable for real filming. To finish the outfit, we added black and white Jordan Pandas. They match the black-and-white skeleton theme perfectly and give the character a modern, street-level edge. It makes the character feel lived-in, not just “costumed.” 

General

This entire second phase has become one of our group’s main priorities. We want everything delivered and organized quickly so we can jump into test fitting as soon as both versions of the costume are complete. Watching my partner’s character evolve from tactical realism in Part One into this hybrid Ghost-meets-Harley look in Part Two has made the project even more exciting for all of us. 

With each stage, the character becomes more developed, and building these costumes has turned into one of the best parts of working together. Stay tuned for more updates, including the next steps in my outfit, are coming soon.

Blog 59: RESEARCH: Costume Research (Adrian’s Costume)

 Costume Research (Adrian’s costume)

Hello everyone and welcome back! Today we are going to be talking about costume design and research for both costumes. In this blog, we are focusing in on Adrian’s costume. This part of the project has turned into one of the biggest planning phases for my group so far. We’ve been digging through references, gear breakdowns, and real life examples to shape my partner’s full Ghost-inspired loadout. The YouTube video Ghost MW2 Loadout in Real Life basically became our main roadmap for building everything out. 

The creator in that video walks through every part of Ghost’s outfit from Modern Warfare in real life. He explains how the mask sits, how the clothing layers, and even smaller touches like adding black face paint around the eyes so the mask blends in more naturally. My partner is doing that for sure because it adds a lot of realism when we shoot. Here is the video in question! 

After watching the video several times, we built a full visual layout using screenshots and Amazon product links. It lets us keep track of every item and see how my partner’s whole outfit will come together once everything arrives. Here is the layout in question! 

Helmet

For the helmet setup, we went with a Bump Army Tactical Helmet paired with replica GPNVG eighteen night vision goggles. We also added a helmet mounted flashlight. The helmet will have a British Union Jack patch to match the SAS style Ghost is known for. We’re also adding a custom name patch that says SAS to keep it close to the reference.

Upper Body

For the upper body, my partner is using a ReFire Gear tactical fleece jacket. It matches the darker loadouts Ghost wears. Over that, we chose a tactical vest with magazine panels and a triple magazine pouch on the front. To fill out the vest visually, we’re adding two prop airsoft mags. The video also recommended glow sticks, so we included those to keep everything accurate.

Lower Body

For the lower body, my partner will be using a MOLLE thigh holster for a prop pistol and a tactical duty belt. These pieces match the simple but effective belt system shown in the breakdown video. It carries just enough gear to look real on camera without overdoing it.

Gloves

For gloves, we picked tactical skeleton gloves because they fit the vibe and add some personality to the character. Everything was chosen based on how accurate it is and how it will look on screen. The goal is to make sure my partner’s costume matches the reference closely while still fitting the style of our film.

General

The video also mentioned the tape stripes on the helmet, so we are recreating Ghost’s signature white tape and weathering it so it looks worn once we start filming.

Right now, this entire loadout for my partner is our top priority. We want all the gear ordered and delivered by the end of the month so we can move into scriptwriting and heavier story development without getting slowed down. The mask should be arriving on Monday, and my partner is excited to test it out.

Once the full setup is built, we will test fit everything and post an update. We already made a diagram with all the items laid out so our group stays organized throughout the build. This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, and having an actual project that requires building this costume makes it way more rewarding.

We’ll also be revealing more details about my outfit very soon in a separate blog, so stay tuned for that.

Blog 58: RESEARCH: Regulation Project (Part 2)

 Regulation Project (Part 2)

If you are keeping up, you probably already read the last blog where we talked about the research for the presentation. Today, I will be showing you the finished products for not only the presentation but the video as well!

Attached above, is the finished video explaining the whole presentation! Enjoy!

The Presentation

The reason I did “The Rookie” instead of SWAT was because everyone had to have a different movie they were regulating even if you were in the same group. So, I took the jump and went to regulate another police-action filled show, and did The Rookie. My group partner ,Adrian Diaz, did SWAT. 

I feel this was a good work method so we could both gain information of police and action films while still following the rules of the assignment. We also compared our information at the end and found a lot of similarities between the show. For one, they’re both filmed in LA! Although I had fun researching The Rookie (as it’s one of my favorite series) after this project, we both have to zero in on SWAT and start planning scenes. Below, I will attach all presentation slides, as not all of them are in the video. 

The reason not all of them are in the video, is because I was loosing storage filming this video. So I had to pick and choose which slides to show. I also realized that I had run out of storage half way through filming the first video I took and you could imagine how annoyed I was after that. I had to delete a total of 15 apps just to be able to film this video. I also had to film me talking about each slide in separate videos. Each video clip was about a minute long. 

In the end, I had to match the video to the slide in CapCut and export the video into YouTube. Here are all the slides! 

I hope you enjoyed reading and watching! Stay tuned for some more research on our main topic..SWAT!

Blog 57: RESEARCH: Regulation Project (Part 1)

 Regulation Project

Today in media, our teacher introduced us to our new project. This project is especially for regulation. We had to find a Goliath and a David in media, and make PowerPoint presentation with a video to go along with it explaining what is on the presentation. Here is my outline for the presentation!

Outline

Part 1: Company Profiles: A "Goliath" and a "David"

1. Choose Your Companies:

Select two companies that produce content in your chosen industry:

- The "Goliath": A large, mainstream, well-known company

- The "David": A small, independent producer or creator

Goliath: ABC / Disney Television Studios

David: Entertainment One (eOne) - originally produced the series before Disney

acquired the distribution rights in partnership with ABC

2. Compare Their Ownership and Goals:

Who owns your "Goliath"? Is it part of a massive conglomerate? What does this suggest

about its main goal? 

ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company, which is a massive global

media conglomerate. Disney controls multiple major networks, streaming platforms like

Hulu and Disney+, and production studios. I think their main goal is to maximize their

profit through mass distribution, cross - platform synergy, merchandising, and global

branding. The content is designed to appeal to wide audiences and generate high ad

revenue and streaming subscriptions.

Who owns your "David"? Is it privately owned or crowdfunded? What does this suggest

about its goals? 

Entertainment One (eOne) started as an Independent media and

distribution company in Canada. It focused on scripted dramas and international licensing

before being acquired by Hasbro and later selling parts to Lionsgate. I think the original

goal was creative storytelling and licensing for profit through partnerships, but with more

niche and flexible creative control compared to Disney.

Research Notes:

- The Rookie is produced and distributed through ABC/Disney

- The show was co-produced with eOne in early seasons

- Disney uses its network and streaming reach to push the show globally

- eOne handled early production logistics and international sales

3. Applying Theory: Comparing Their Content (Curran and Seaton)

The Idea: Curran and Seaton argued that concentrated ownership by a few powerful

companies leads to safer, more formulaic content designed for maximum profit.

Your Task: Compare the typical media products from your "Goliath" and your "David."

(specific movies or music albums/songs)

Does the Goliath's content seem "safe," with broad appeal? Yes

Does the David's content seem more creative, niche, or risky? Yes

How does this comparison support or challenge Curran and Seaton's ideas?

It supports their ideas. Goliath plays it safe for profit and reach while David adds creativity but has less control. Big companies focus on money, small ones focus on storytelling.

Your Analysis:

The comparison between ABC/Disney and eOne supports Curran and Seaton’s theory. ABC, as

the Goliath, creates safe content like The Rookie that appeals to a wide audience and avoids

anything too controversial, ensuring steady ratings and advertiser satisfaction. In contrast,

eOne, as the David, tends to support more flexible and creative storytelling, especially in the

early stages of production. However, its influence is limited once the larger network takes

control. This reflects how concentrated media ownership pushes content toward predictable,

risk-free formats, while smaller producers focus on more creative ideas and niche audiences but

lack the power to fully control the final product.

Part 2: The Rules and the Regulators

4. Who Are the Referees? (The Regulators)

What is the official organization responsible for regulating this media industry in your country?

Their role is to regulate broadcast television in the United States. It sets guidelines on indecency,

language, violence, and advertising to ensure TV content meets federal standards, especially

during prime-time hours.

Regulatory Body: Official Regulatory Body(U.S.): Federal Communication Commission (FCC).

Do their rules seem to affect your "Goliath" and "David" in the same way? 

No. ABC/Disney must follow FCC rules strictly since it's a major network. EOne has more flexibility during production but must adapt to ABC’S standards to air.

Example of Regulation: Find a specific example of this regulator taking action. Did it

involve a product from a large or a small company? Describe what happened. 

ABC has faced FCC complaints for language and sensitive content during prime-time. Independent producers like eOne must adjust scripts or scenes to meet the rules before airing.

5. How Have the Rules Changed Over Time?

Were the rules for your media industry different in the past (10, 20, or 50 years ago)? Were

they stricter or more relaxed? 

Yes. FCC rules used to stricter, especially with language, violence, and nudity on TV. Certain words and scenes weren’t allowed at all during prime-time.

What big event or new technology caused the rules to change? 

The rise of cable and streaming platforms loosened restrictions. Streaming isn’t regulated the same way as broadcast TV, which gives more creative freedom.

Research Notes on Changes: 

TV went from tight broadcast control to looser standards as more content moved online. Now, networks still follow FCC rules, but streaming allows edgier content without the same limits.

Part 3: Modern Challenges to Regulation

6. The Impact of the Internet and Global Culture

How does the internet help both your "Goliath" and your "David"? 

It lets both reach global audiences fast. ABC/Disney uses streaming and social media to push The Rookie worldwide. EOne can sell or license shows internationally more easily.

How does this global reach make it hard for a single country's regulator to enforce its rules

on both types of companies?

Different countries have different media laws. One country's rules can't control how content is shared or viewed online worldwide.

Your Analysis:

The internet gives both big and small companies more power to reach audiences outside the U.S. regulation. This makes it harder for the FCC to control content compared to the past, which means more creative freedom.

7. Applying Theory: Protection vs. Choice (Livingstone and Lunt)

The Idea: Livingstone and Lunt highlight the regulator's struggle between protecting

citizens from harm and giving consumers freedom of choice.

Your Task: Think about your two companies. Does the regulator's challenge change when

dealing with a "Goliath's" blockbuster product versus a "David's" niche online content? 

Yes. With ABC/Disney (Goliath), the FCC enforces stricter rules since it reaches millions of

viewers. With eOne (David), there’s less direct pressure because niche online content targets smaller audiences.

Your Analysis: 

Regulators focus more on big companies to protect the public from harmful content. Smaller producers get more freedom because their reach is limited which makes enforcement less strict.

8. Applying Theory: Power to the People? (Dan Gillmor)

The Idea: Dan Gillmor saw user-generated content ("we the media") as a way for ordinary

people to challenge big media.

Your Task: Does user-generated content seem to challenge your "Goliath" more, or does it

primarily help your "David" build a community?

It mainly helps David. EOne can use fan reactions, online discussions, and social media buzz to help build stronger communities and keep the show relevant.

Your Analysis:

User-generated content gives smaller producers more visibility and loyal audiences. It doesn’t hurt big networks like ABC much, but it helps smaller companies grow their presence and engagement.

9. The Downsides of User-Generated Content

What are the problems that come with user-generated content?

Misinformation, lack of regulation, copyright issues, and harmful or offensive content.

How do these problems make regulation almost impossible for both large and small-scale

content?

There’s too much content for regulators to control. It spreads fast and globally, making it hard to monitor or enforce rules.

List of Disadvantages:

Hard to fact-check everything easy to spread harmful content- copyright violations little accountability overload of unverified information

Part 4: Case Study in Action: A Specific Example

10. Pick a specific contemporary (2021 or later) media product from either your "Goliath" or

your "David." (Choose one you have less information on so far)

Your Chosen Media Product & Company: The Rookie: Feds - ABC/Disney

11. How was this product regulated? Since it aired on network television, it had to follow FCC

content guidelines. This includes restrictions on language, sexual content, and violence during

prime-time.

What rating or classification did it receive? TV-14 due to moderate violence, language, and mature themes.

Was there any controversy surrounding its content? Did the company's size influence the

public or regulatory response? 

There was some critism around its portrayal of law enforcement and since ABC is a major network, it faced stronger public scrutiny, but Disney’s influence allowed them to manage and control the narrative effectively.

Your Analysis:

Big companies like ABC/Disney face tighter regulation and public attention because of their large reach. Even mild controversy attracts headlines and requires quick response. Smaller companies wouldn’t face the same level of pressure since they’re less popular.

Overview

As you probably already knew, my answers are in red and the questions are in black. The questions that we were asked, correlate directly towards regulation. I have to say, some of these theories I didn’t know about so the internet was a lovely resource that was heavily needed for this project. I did use a little bit of AI to find other information too, more about how “The Rookie” followed into some of the theories above. Other than that, I’m really happy about how my outline turned out and I’m excited to talk next about the video and presentation. Stay tuned!