Location Scouting

I started looking for locations to film my movie opening. My two major locations are dining rooms that are part of both my main character's houses. London's dining room needs to be a more common, basic dining room. It should look a bit more messy since it is regularly used. I want the dining room to have dishes and utensils everywhere. A TV running in the background . Her family is close and involved so they are all present. They atmosphere should be noisy and hectic. Alisha's dining room should be more extravagant and large. There needs to be large paintings and chandeliers so that everything seems big and fancy. All the furniture is white and shiny. She is the only one there since her family isn't present. The atmosphere should be kind of empty and cold.

This is the location I want to use to film Alisha. I think it works pretty well with what I'm going for and its easily accessible since its at my house.

This is the location I want to use to film London. I'm not 100% sure that I'm going to be able to film here, but its a possible location that I'm keeping in mind.

Target Audience

The target audience of my film are teenage girls as well as couples. Both of my main characters are teenage girls that are finding themselves and their love for each other while overcoming family struggles. My film is allowing the target audience to connect with my characters on a personal level by being able to relate to them in some way. Most teenage girls face some sort of obstacle in their day-to-day lives. By showing similar obstacles that my main characters must face, teen girls can understand and care for these characters that feel the same frustration in their lives. Couples who are experiencing love themselves are able to appreciate a film that explores love. They can relate to the movie which reminds them of the people they love. They understand the struggles that come from relationships and will root for the main characters to find their own happy ending. 

Update: After talking with some of my classmates during a group discussion about our projects, I realized that I have to make it really obvious that my main characters are part of 2 different rival crime families. My film opening is going to start with a TV news report that shows a reporter discussing the gangs and a recent fight that occurred between the 2 of them. The report will show pictures of the heads of each crime family, who are also the main characters' parents. For London, her parents will be shown right after the news report while they are having a family meal, so the audience understands that London is their daughter. However, Alisha's parents won't be present during her family meal. I decided that I will make the background of her phone a picture of her whole family. When she looks at the time on her phone, the audience will see her parents, who were shown earlier on the news as the other rival gang. This will make it easier for the audience to understand that the main 2 characters are the kids of 2 rival crime families. 

Storyboard

     I finished creating the storyboard for my film opening. I thought about all the different film and editing techniques I want to include in my scenes and drew it out, so I can have a visual representation to look back at while I am filming. My storyboard shows the details I'm including to properly introduce both of the main characters.

    Take a look:

I also created a list of possible titles for my movie. These are some of my top options:

Character Mood Boards

 

    London is a creative and artistic character. She is a calm, hard-working, and responsible person. She is very passionate about what she wants. Her dream is to go to art school, but her parents are against the idea and want her to focus on their family business. Throughout the movie, she is trying to overcome this obstacle in her life so she can be happy and achieve her dream.

    Alisha is a dark and lonely character. She is a quiet, reserved, and pessimistic person. She is scared to pursue her dreams. Her family is very neglectful of her, so she has a hard time trusting others. She doesn't have any close friends or people she can rely on. Throughout the movie, she is trying to find herself with the help of others.

    London and Alisha meet in the middle of the movie and become very curious about each other. As they slowly get to know one another, they form an inseparable bond. They learn to trust and help each other so that they can get through their individual struggles. While this is occurring, they start to fall in love and realize just how much they need the other.

Ideas While Brainstorming

    I watched more drama film openings and decided to start brainstorming for my project. My first idea had to do with a character traveling between the real world and a false one, almost like traveling between dimensions. This idea required animations, which I have no idea how to do. The entire film opening would rely on the animations and I can't gaurantee that I would be able to learn how to animate in the next 8 weeks. This was a very risky choice to make, so I kept brainstorming while considering other options. 

    My second idea was more of a romantic drama. This would center around 2 characters that are part of rival gangs. They both have struggles in their individual families and are able to connect with each other about them. I thought it would be a good idea to make this an LGBTQ+ romance where both the characters would be girls. This would allow me to properly represent the LGBTQ+ community in my movie. I really liked this idea and started planning a general outline for it.

Title: (unknown)

Characters: London Merciar and Alisha Dayes

Scene 1: (at London's home)

• establishing shot
• we see news report on TV (diagetic sound)
• reporters discussing gang fight between 2 rivals
• zooms out to entire living room
• London walks in and greets everyone
  

Scene 2: (at Alisha's home)

• establishing shot
• a large, extravagant home that's empty
• Alisha walks in but no one is there
• She quietly eats alone

Scene 3: (cuts back to London)

• London eats with her family
• her parents pressure her with family business
• they start arguing and tension rises

Scene 4: (cuts back to Alisa)

• Alisha is eating when she gets a call
• her parents tell her they can't make it
• they tell her they won't be back for a while
• call ends

Scene 5: (cuts back to London)

• London runs out of her house
• her parents are yelling in the background
• she loudly slams the door

Scene 6: (cuts back to Alisha)

• Alisha gets frustated and throws her plate
• she storms out her house 
• she loudly slams the door

Scene 7: (on the streets)

• London is running through the streets 
• Alisha is walking through the streets
• they pass each other without noticing

My Schedule

    

    I have decided to create a schedule of the full 8 weeks ahead of me. This will help me keep track of what I need to do, so I can finish the project on time. During my music marketing project, my group members and I made a schedule and it turned out to be very beneficial. We were organized and knew exactly what we needed to do every day. I've noticed that planning at the beginning helps a lot in the future so hopefully that will be the case now.

All About Drama

Techniques Used in Dramas

Camera Shots:

A close-up is often used to emphasize the expression of a character. The character usually takes up most of the frame so that the audience can understand this moment is significant to the plot. A long shot allows the audience to view the entire body of a character as well as their surroundings. The over-the shoulder shot is often used in conversations so you can use a character's perspective to view another character's emotions. A medium shot shows a character from the waist up so you can understand their body language or intentions.

   

                   Close-up shot                                                            Long shot

         
 

               Over-the-shoulder shot                                                     Medium shot

Camera Angles: 

A bird's eye view shot is when a high angle is used to make a shot. This allows the audience to experience a different perspective from above. The Dutch angle is a stylistic approach in film. This camera movement creates a dramatic effect that evokes a strong sense of emotions from the audience. This technique is effective when trying to create suspense. The audience can even feel a sense of thrill or uneasiness. These camera angles are helpful when trying to convey a message in the drama genre.  

       

                            High angle                                                                   Dutch angle

Sound:

Sounds allow you to create different effects such as tension. You can also use them to create a certain mood and change it just as easily. Sounds allow you to develop a setting or character. For example, a typical teenager that can be heard yawning. Sounds are very useful when trying to get the audience to visualize a scene. It is equally effective to use no sounds (silence) in a drama. You can create sounds with heavy breathing/sighing, objects, or even your own body.

Editing Techniques: 

Open scenes with the faces of the main characters. This allows the audience to fully experience the character's perspectives and understand their feelings/actions. Allow the audience to observe how certain scenes affect a character. This will help them understand the character's future thoughts and actions. When characters react immediately to a scene, cut back to some kind of reaction instead of their face. For example, a frustrated character may clench their hands into fists. Showing vulnerabilities garners empathy from the audience. You can reestablish the audiences' connection with a character by reminding them of the character's weaknesses. 

Mise en Scene: 

Mise en scene means "the action of putting onto the stage". It plays an important role in developing the setting and characters of a film. The positioning of a character is significant since it can tell a story all on its own. The set and props are all meaningful and add details to the story you are trying to tell. Costume design and make-up helps demonstrate the characters in a visual way. The lighting helps emphasize the tone you are trying to set for the scene. The composition of the shot and how you display the characters/setting have the power to change the entire meaning of a scene.

    

Sources:

https://www.slideshare.net/Altk2501/camera-shots-for-drama-genre-film

https://www.polarprofilters.com/blogs/polarpro/filmmaking-101-types-of-camera-shots-and-angles

https://www.filmeditingpro.com/4-editing-techniques-to-add-drama-to-a-cut/

https://www.careersinfilm.com/mise-en-scene/#:~:text=Anna%20Keizer-,Mise%20en%20sc%C3%A8ne%20refers%20to%20everything%20you%20see%20in%20a,composition%20of%20the%20shot%20itself.

https://thedramateacher.com/elements-of-drama-sound/

Genre Research

DRAMA

The drama film genre has a lot to do with emotional and relational development among realistic characters. It relies heavily on dramatic themes that play a large role in the plot of the film. These dramatic themes often come from realistic problems that intensely impact our lives. Usually, dramas are used to represent common struggles that humans face. A great drama can illustrate a universal truth that connects the world in a meaningful way. 

    Conflict: 

Conflicts will force the protagonist to take action. The decisions that the characters make drive the story forward. Each choice they make to act against the conflict shows what type of person they are. 

    Characters:

You want to create memorable characters that the audience can connect with on a deeper level. You want the audience to care about your characters and their story. Characters should not remain stagnant and must show some sort of character development throughout the film. The more obstacles that your characters overcome, the more gratifying the ending will be.

    Blend Genres:

An amazing part of storytelling is being able to manipulate your audience's emotions. Storytelling allows you the chance to make your audience cry, laugh, or get scared whenever you desire. It's your job to bring out people's emotions so they can experience the story along with the characters.

    Authenticity:

The best stories are based on reality, no matter how strange they are. People want to witness stories that are real. You should allow yourself to be vulnerable with your audience so that they can connect with you on a personal level. This allows your characters to be more relatable and your story to be more meaningful.

    Relevance: 

Consider why your story has to be told right now. History is always relevant and drama is everywhere. Ensure that the story you are trying to share is relevant to your audience.

    Example Drama Films:

The Shawshank Redemption - A former banker forms a close bond with another prisoner after being convicted of the murder of his wife. He tries to keep hope alive while inside prison walls.

The Godfather - A powerful don of the Italian American mob must leave his empire in the hands of his son in order to secure his empire.

Casablanca - A nightclub owner has to decide whether he will help an old lover and her husband who are trying to escape the Nazis in Moracco.

    

Sources:
https://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/952-drama/#:~:text=Drama%20film%20is%20a%20genre,from%20intense%2C%20real%20life%20issues.

https://screencraft.org/blog/6-essential-traits-of-a-great-drama-screenplay/#:~:text=A%20great%20drama%20has%20the,because%20of%20their%20humanistic%20nature.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-identify-film-genres

Starting My Cambridge Portfolio Project

 

My Initial Plans to Begin:

    I have 8 weeks to complete my film opening, so I will begin by creating a schedule to keep track of what I need to do. This schedule will ensure that I complete the project on time with all the requirements fulfilled. 

    I need to choose a genre for my film, which I will research extensively so I can completely understand it. My film needs a purpose which is the message I am trying to send to my audience. Once I have decided on a purpose, I can then start brainstorming ideas for my movie opening. These ideas will incorporate the genre conventions that I have previously reasearched as well as the purpose of my film. 

    I will choose my best idea and create a storyboard where I establish my characters, setting, and plotline. This will also allow me to visualize all the different film and editing techniques I decide to include in my film opening. If I want to use any copyright free music, I'll plan how to obtain it.

    These are only my intial plans on how I plan to take on this project. After I start working on this process, I'll be able to focus on other areas of my film opening.

Music Marketing #2

     We researched 4 different bands/artists in the indie pop genre and studied the techniques they used to market and distribute their music. Vampire Weekend and Declan McKenna are a part of Columbia Records while MARINA and Vance Joy are a part of Atlantic Records. The indie pop genre originated from indie rock music but it has a softer and more melodic tone. They care about their audience's opinions and strive to be fully engaged with them. Indie pop has a lot to do with independent freedom since that's what a lot of their target audience, males and females from ages 16-22, are trying to achieve. 

    They use social media, especially Instagram and Twitter, to engage with their audience. For example, Vance Joy has profiles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook that allows him to post his album covers, upcoming tour dates, and behind-the-scenes photos. Many also have their own official online website that includes access to their music videos, albums, merch and more. MARINA's website has a theme that reflects her music style and mirrors her image. Vampire Weekend has created merch such as beanies, shirts, and bags that help promote their brand name and music. 

    We decided to use these same techniques to market our brand, Phoenix. Phoenix represents rebirth and rising from the ashes since we are trying to send the message to our audience that they should embrace who they are and be themselves. We created accounts on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter with polls and quizzes so we can ask our audience's thoughts on where we should tour, what are themes should be, etc. We made a website that presents our phoenix logo and allows access to our music videos, tour dates, and merch. Our merch includes our logo which is an outline of a phoenix in order to promote our brand name and albums.

    We are unable to fully base our brand after the audience's opinions, so this idea is a facade that allows the audience to believe that they are the ones in control. We are actually taking the demographics data available on Spotify and other streaming services about our audience's preferences. We will then use this data to make our decisions so it will fit with what the majority of our audience wants. The polls are quizzes will allow the fans to feel like they are truly connected to our music by being able to make important decisions that will influence the brand.

    We wanted to make our music video fun, comedic, artistic, and a bit homemade. This was to ensure that the audience felt comfortable and could connect with our music on a personal level. We decided to brainstorm ideas that would include these factors and spread our message of embracing your true nature. We came across the idea that we should emphasize that our music relaxes people and allows them to be their real selves. 

    This would be done by including 2 perspectives of different people where one would be lively and fun while listening to our music and the other would be stressed and overwhelmed by work. The former character's perspective would be shown in a fish lens with warm tones while the latter character's perspective would be shown in a normal lenses with cool tones. Character 1 would then come across Character 2 at the end of our video and decide to share their music so they can both be relaxed and have fun. Both perspectives turn colorful as the characters dance together to the music. Little doodle animations pop in and out throughout the music video to create a cheerful feeling.

    This was all represented in our storyboard so we would have an idea of all the shots, angles, and editing techniques that we would need to incorporate into our music video. We created a schedule so that we would be able to stay on task and finish the project on time. We split up our roles based on what each of our strengths were. Some of us worked on filming/editing while others worked on developing the presentation/social media posts.

    I learned how to create a successful marketing campaign and the proper steps it takes to achieve that. I believe I will use a similar planning process to help me when I am developing my Cambridge portfolio. I'll make a schedule to follow so I can stay on track and finish my portfolio on time. I will spend time researching my genre so I can fully understand it and then I will create a purpose for my story to follow. I will also find ways to incorporate genre conventions into my film. I'll brainstorm ideas that will allow me to include genre conventions and illustrate the purpose of my film in a creative manner. I'll then draw out a storyboard so I can visualize all the film and editing techniques that I will be using to create my piece.