Filming Schedule #11

Unfortunately, although my partner and I planned to begin filming during the weekend and avoid recording during the week due to school hours, our props aren't arriving on time. Luckily, tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6th, there is no school! It is the perfect opportunity for my partner and I to begin filming part of our 2 minute film opening. Its the real deal!

We will meet up tomorrow at our designated gas station recording location with our actress, Sienna Morel, to start filming the identity transformation process. I will bring the wig, a towel, sunglass, hat, the change of clothes (consists of baggy jeans, white tank top and sneakers), the heart necklace, hair pony tail extension, and makeup. Camila, my partner will bring scissors, a tote bag, conditioner and flour/starch to create the hair dye mix, and additional makeup. In order to create the illusion of the character cutting her hair, we will utilize and fake hair extension instead of cutting away the actresses real hair. Sienna will walk into the shooting with her mi-se-scene prepared. She will be wearing a sundress, light makeup, and pink heels. We will shot outside long shots of the gas station, tracking shots walking between the isles of the shop, and transformation scene inside the bathroom. My partner and I plan to over shoot just to make sure there is enough content in case some don't turn out the best. 

Today, I will take a photograph of the actress is her regular day to day life wearing the heart necklace. This picture will be captured in the photo frame during the funeral scene. I will send the photo to my partner where she will print it out and place it inside the frame and write out the characters name, date of birth, and date of passing.

Definitely this weekend, whether Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the team will rejoin at someone's house to begin filming the funeral scene. We will shoot outside and inside to determine and finalize preferred lighting. For the funeral scene we will need a male actors hands to carry the bible and rosery, a table to place all the arrangements, fake flowers, the picture frame, and a vase in replacement of an urn, 

Mi-Se-Scene + Locations #10

Original Outfit: Brunet hair color, Wearing heels, Summer dress, light makeup, heart necklace, carrying a handbag

New outfit: Blonde wig, baggy jeans, white tank top, darken eyes and lips makeup, sunglasses, sneakers, heart necklace, handbag

Creating grave stone for the funeral scene: use a vase as an urn, fake flowers, picture frame + picture of actress "in previous look", grave stone (made of Styrofoam colored in grey with name writing over it) bible, cross necklace, rosery in hand, priest outfit (black button up, white collar made out of paper, black pants, possibly white table cloth to make robe)

Narrowing down to the smallest details, my partner and I began electing detailed mi-se-scene elements, including props, costume design, colors. Starting with the main costume

Group meeting #9

Assembled into groups, today’s class consisted of collaborative reflection, pausing, listening and providing constructive criticism and feedback. Joining into groups of 5, each student shared their progress thus far into the project. Although some more advanced than others, there remained a general competition of a storyboarding and thorough analysis and research on selected genre and additional film opening. Each member discussing their 2 minute film opening plot, our group maintained super engaged and attracted to the stories being shared. 

One of the group members decided to create their plot based on a serial killer stalking friends leaving a party. The rest of the group recommended to redirect and re-navigate the plot towards avoiding the act of stalking and murdering to only highlight elements and details of such a psychotic persona. Additionally, creating a party environment is challenging due to gathering an excessive quantity of people and precise scheduling, therefore we encouraged a minimal and simpler route where three friends are presented leaving a party shot exterior from the house. Another students requested ideas and topics to discuss on his updating blogs. The group advised blog post researching additional film openings, themes, colors, fonts for titles, and a deep analysis on proceeding through storyboarding and screenplay writing. We encouraged to write both the successes and failures encountered. 

Outlining the plot of my personal 2 minute film opening, the group collaboratively encouraged and recommended to shorten or eliminate certain scenes and details of the story. Possibly removing the escaping car scene and reducing the female character entering her car, or simply throwing away the heart necklace into the trash bin, such a complex plot would successfully be narrowed down. Arriving to an agreement that we had many ideas and directions for creating a plot, however, emphasising the importance organized our ambitions within structured and realistic boundaries. I shared my concerns about editing and the group agreed and approved I begin filming this weekend to established and set enough time and energy to carefully completing the editing. Sharing my screenplay writing, they enjoyed reading the voiceover dialogue. 

Screenplay #8

Putting our thoughts into words, we create the written screenplay with a quick description of the actions conceding with the verbal narration. The 2 minute film opening doesn’t involve any interaction between characters, therefore the signal screenplay writing involved is dialogue from a voice over narrated from the perspective of the main female character. 

This is a draft of the dialogue. The characters name must be written in all capital letters and the dialogue or monologue recited by the character remain in the middle aligned structure of the page. The actions presented are located and organised on the left margin of the page. I am aware the actions aren’t clearly presented throughout the plot of the dialogue, however my partner and I are unfamiliar and uncertain how the outline and timing with correlate between the speech and follow through of physical actions. 

My partner and I designed a dialogue that drive deep the characters mind and indulges its profound and appalling thoughts. The character rejects her own self visually meanwhile rejecting the bullying comments later realized shared by friends and family she once believe truely loved her. Sharing the true thoughts and verbal passive aggression of others, the character shines light on her possible honest self, for once! 

Storyboarding #7

My partner and I designed the main storyline of our narrative. Throughout the last few previous brainstorming classes, today we outlined a more precise course of action utilizing a storyboard. My partner and I divided our planning outline into various scenes with a visual and descriptive approach. (Although we created a direct sequence, my partner and I will most likely organize and change our path during the filming process. For example, this includes scenes from how to shoot the funeral, types of shots capturing the getting ready scene, etc. We are mapping these sequences to determine which shots would work best together and which would work best together and which would best advance the plot.

We are arranging out shots in a manner that is effective and visually appealing, and the planning is simply assisting us in thinking through the specifics that will go into creating a slightly more focused opening. My partner and I noticed the possibility of running into a slight problem durning the “changing identity scene”. We understood we couldn’t reasonably dye our actors hair, so we figure a practical solution. To provide the effect of a bleach dye, we will mix conditioner with either flour or starch to create a paint like consistency. Additionally, capturing a realistic setting of a funeral is not easy task. Therefore, we will arrange a collection of close up shots to enhance the elements of a funeral. For example, instead of utilizing a casket, we will positions an urn surrounded by flowers and a picture frame to signify and represent the occasion. 

In order to create the illusion of dyed hair, my partner and I will purchase a blonde wig and capture a transition from previous hair to results of bleaching. Durning the identity transformation, we are still considering whether to record a voice over accompanying the theme and content of the plot, triggering curiosity through a poetic monologue. 

STORYBOARDING:

Titles, Fonts, and Colors #6

Brains to work because today we brainstormed several title ideas for the film opening. Receiving the first impression, the movie title must pique interest, set the tone, and hint at the genre. A memorable title becomes a part of the film industry, standing out in a crowded market. For example, "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings" remain instantly recognizable and have immersed cultural weight. Additionally,  titles serve artistic expressions, whether witty, metaphorical, cryptic, etc., thus reflecting the themes and creative vision.  Nevertheless, quite the challenge. Taking details, symbols, and elements from the mi-se-scene, character identity, and context of the plot, my partner and I formulated several examples:

- heart-fled ("Heart" from the necklace the female character carries around the neck and "fled" due to plot description of parting from her home and town. Leaving her past, her heart flees in search of something new to fulfill the vacancy)

- Golden escape ("Golden" references the color of the necklace worn by the actress and thrown away at the end and "escape" correlates to the act of vanishing her home, breaking free to the world beyond.)

- cut and run (Cutting her past to run for a better place)

Poster Grind Article, "Top 7 Fonts Used in Drama Movie Posters" mentions how drama is a form of fiction that prioritizes and revolves a serious tone to portray difficult and controversial subjects. Dramatic stories rather than science fiction or action movies tend to be more unique and complex. Depending on the context of the film, whether a drama about seeking oneself an earning a happy ending or doom to sad conclusions, understanding the messages of the film is essential to selecting the perfect font. Fonts with bold and thick shapes is commonly utilized. Angles and structures, whether straight or curved mirror the context of the movie. For example, "Daisy Jones and the Six" is illustrated in bolded, curved, and spiraled font referring to the 70s aesthetic and hippy atmosphere presented in the series. In contrast, the film "Pulp Fiction" remains bolded however with straight lines, resembling to a comic or cartoon font style. Going on Canva, my partner and I began testing out several font options resonating with both the plot description and thorough research conducted. 

   

Colors:

No Film School published an article, “The Psychology of Color in Film”. - The deliberate use of color to elicit particular emotional and psychological reactions from viewers is known as “color psychology” in films and television shows. Color selection improves narrative, fleshes out the character, and creates engrossing environments. Every hue has unique meanings and associations that affect how the observer perceives and feels. Color evokes strong feelings and tales in the audiences by appealing to their subconscious. 

RED - anger, passion, rage, desire, excitement, energy, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence

PINK - love, innocence, healthy, happy, content, romantic, charming, playfulness, soft, delicate, feminine

YELLOW - wisdom, knowledge, relaxation, joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard

ORANGE - humor, energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant

GREEN - healing, soothing, perseverance, tenacity, self-awareness, proud, unchanging nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy

BLUE - faith, spirituality, contentment, loyalty, fulfillment peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, sky, water, cold, technology, depression

PURPLE/VIOLET - erotic, royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning, power, sensitive, intimacy

BROWN - materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity

BLACK - No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger

BROWN - materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity

BLACK - No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger

WHITE - Yes, protection, love, reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile

SILVER - riches, glamorous, distinguished, earthy, natural, sleek, elegant, high-tech

GOLD - precious, riches, extravagance warm, wealth, prosperity, grandeur

Examples:

- Great Gatsby: Vibrant and rich colors are used to convey the grandeur of the Roaring Twenties. Lively greens and golds accentuate the opulence of the time, while darker blues and grays reflect the overarching themes of excess and disillusionment.

- Shindlers List: The red coat worn by the young girl stands out dramatically, even though the majority of the film is in black and white. This draws attention to the suffering amid the gloom and acts as a potent visual device.

Researching Drama Thriller Film Openings #5

American Beauty starts with a grainy and vintage capture camera recording of a young girl lying in bed. Conversing and dialogue between the young girl and the unidentified individual, the audience understands the female character is video calling a man. The young girl complains of her father and the man states: "Do you want me to kill him?" Replying, the young girl pauses as an element of suspense and replies, "Yeah. Would you?" The dialogue between the character and the undisclosed identity of the male figure provides the opening scene with an eerie, unsettling curiosity that engages further viewing. Following, in simple red straight-colored font, with a black screen behind, titles; "American Beauty". Introduced to a landscape-long shot of the setting from above addition to the monotone voice-over, the audience acknowledges the plainness and simplicity of the town. The meticulously manicured lawns and cookie-cutter houses paint a picture-perfect American life. However, the camera lingers on the cracks in the facade hinting at the dysfunction and unhappiness beneath the surface. "In less than a year, I'll be dead." The narrator mentions such a statement possibly correlating to the previous scene of intending to commit a murder. 

Girl Interrupted - The fogged window, architected in a jail-like structure, introduces the primary visual of the film's opening. The soft and somber music in the background reflects the sad expressions on the close-up shots of the young girl's faces. Shattered glass on the floor and almost updated sering are both symbolic features and details elevating the location's setting and environment. The voiceover of a young female during the film opening, questioning the audience, all announced in a meloncoly enunciation. Her dialogue is fragmented and cryptic, hinting at underlying mental struggles and a desire to resist authority. At the end of the voiceover, the female character refers to herself as a "Girl Interpreted". This scene is cold and sterile, dominated by its dim lighting. The grim environment emphasizes the clinical nature of the young girl's confinement and creates a sense of detachment from the outside world.