Some Quick Changes

 Hey Blog! It's been a while so it's time to catch up! Every day I keep thinking of what I want to do for my opening, therefore I had in mind some quick changes. The recently revised storyboard explains my thoughts.

Once more, I apologize for my sketching abilities. Lilly begins the story by discussing the first day of high school tomorrow with the therapist who had previously diagnosed her with depression. We can see Lilly's emotions because of the way her body language behaves, such as when she fidgets with her hands. The scene that follows Lilly's therapy session is the anticipated day when her adolescence officially begins. Lilly is typically notorious for being quiet, but her new teacher wasn't going to let that stop her. According to the teacher's assignment, students had to communicate with their partners at tables designed for two. To help students get to know one another, the teacher assigned a task. Valerie enters at this time. Lilly is seated next to Valerie, and Valerie initiates communication with Lilly. After spending some time together, Valerie gives Lilly her phone number so they can talk outside of the classroom. Continuing on, the movie's title appears before the opening ends with a text message from Valerie asking Lilly to hang out, which makes Lilly smile.

About the movie's name, I believe I succeeded in doing so! The movie's working title will be "Beautiful Disruption." As Lilly doesn't have many friends, the oxymoron implies that Valerie is the one disrupting her life. This is really beneficial for Lilly because Valerie ends up being a positive influence on her. Therefore, the disruption's beauty.

Storyboarding!

 My very first storyboard is finished! I have already chosen exactly how I want the opening to unfold, at least until I reconsider. Please excuse my sketching skills since this is my first storyboard. I won't major in art, we can say with certainty now.

With each scene I have put in the desired shot I would like to incorporate it with as well as the meaning behind it. From the beginning, it will show a zoom-out shot viewing Lilly talking to her laptop diary and as the opening progresses, it will show the moments of her life from what she explains throughout. We will see Lilly at her worst moments as well as her finest moments when we get to see Valerie. Towards the middle, we see the downfall of Lilly as she explains with a voice crack throughout the voiceover. Valerie does everything she can to help out Lilly because that shows the importance of friendship. Towards the end, we see Lilly smiling with a side of being nervous and saying her final goodbye as she is off to college. The film's opening finishes with a fade into the black moment. 

I have put the title as "Hope" however I am unsure if it is to be finalized yet. I will have one for certain the following week, but for now "Hope" will do. The screenplay's completion and the start of filming are the next processes after this. Doing the filming stage alongside one of my closest friends who can connect to this narrative is one part I am most excited about.

Developing the Story

I am prepared to give a concise outline of the plot taking into account the factors of knowing who my protagonist is and what genre I will be using. Creating a good storyline requires a detailed sequence of events. Therefore, I shall apply Freytag's pyramid.

Freytag's Pyramid

Exposition

Since Lilly was a little kid, she always made little videos on cameras and phones. As she got older she makes video diaries on her laptop as it helps to let her feelings and thoughts out. Talking to a video camera has always been her thing because she never had someone to talk to her on a deeper level. Lilly was average in academics, however, she always tries to achieve the best. Over her 4 years of high school, she has been diagnosed with depression. Her parents may think it is her not having friends, but it was because of school affecting her mental health. Lilly's education has been difficult for her since she pushes herself to take challenging classes because she is from a low-income Hispanic family. She feels guilty because she wants to make her parents proud. 

Inciting Incident

During Lilly's senior year, she meets Valerie when they were assigned to do a duo project in class together. Lilly was hesitant at first because her walls has always been up. It is unusual for someone to talk to her because students already were aware that Lilly is not an approachable person. However, Valerie made that change. 

Rising Action

For a while, because of this assignment, Lilly slowly tears her walls down for Valerie because Valerie puts in effort in trying to communicate with Lilly and they quickly got along to talk about their likes and dislikes. After the assignment, they continued to hang out and become best friends. This decreases her depression, therefore her parents were happy to see her like this. Lilly documents this on her laptop with excitement. 

Climax

Lilly's life has slowly been improving since Valerie has been in her life completely. It is relieving for Lilly to have someone to listen to and talk to. Sadly, as college acceptance letters come in for other students, Lilly has been receiving nothing but rejection letters. This puts Lilly back at her starting point for her depression and shuts Valerie out of her life. 

Falling Action

Lilly's parents and Valerie join together to support Lilly as she caged herself in her room and decreases her motivation in her academics. Lilly talks to Valerie and makes up as Valerie promises Lilly she will do everything she can to help her physically and mentally. Valerie and Lilly would do study sessions together and Lilly's confidence slowly rises. 

Resolution

Lilly is fulfilled with joy as she graduates with her now best friend that she has always wanted. Valerie has helped her reapply to her dream school asking for another chance and they said yes. Lilly has changed from being an introverted quiet person to a friendly approachable individual because of the influence of Valerie. Lilly marks this day as the best day of her life in her laptop diary and ends the series as she finally doesn't need to continue to make them since she has friends she feels comfortable talking to.

Creating the Protagonist

Naming

It was challenging to find a good name for my main character as I wanted it to blend with the opening theme which I have mentioned before that which was personal growth. I have searched through lists of the most common names according to statistics and simply thought about the names of friends that I know of. I narrowed my idea to what I wanted my characters name to be a type of flower as a flower blooms and lose its innocence

Then, I came across a list on a blog and saw the name "Lilly." Lilly is defined as innocence and purity which is what I was exactly looking for. I also have read books that have the name Lilly, so I am familiar with the name and I believe it is perfect for the story I am trying to create.

Who is Lilly? 

In order to have a better understanding of who she is as a person and the significant events in her life, I have constructed a mood board. To help her with her depression, I've also created a Spotify playlist that responds to her mood swings. Lilly's life would not be complete without music because it is a constant source of solace and support for her. Her escape from the outside world is through music.

Lilly deviates from the stereotype of the popular teen girl. She is one of those students who you might observe in the back wearing headphones and not interacting with other students. She is a minimalist despite not doing the best job of keeping up with her studies due to senioritis. In other words, she keeps her room tidy and does not frequently ask for lovely things.

Planning

Schedule

Hey, blog! I have decided for my film opening to be about a high schooler ending her senior year and talking about her 4 years as a whole talking to her laptop diary. 

I've always used the Notes app on my phone to keep track of my after-school activities and schoolwork before this project. This keeps me occupied and ensures that I always know what to expect the following day. Likewise, since I always have my phone with me despite the fact that I know it is unhealthy, it is convenient to not have to carry a paper planner with me everywhere. To each their own right?

For this task, I have 2 separate note pages. In order for me to remember, one lists the weeks and the desired completion date, and the other lists my other homework assignments.  For the separate note page for the weeks, I started by summarizing the upcoming weeks' work on this project for me. I listed what week I wanted to start filming, the editing schedule, some potential research topics, and the primary goals I wanted to accomplish during these weeks. I'm not sure if I'll adhere to this timetable strictly, but it was a helpful exercise in picturing what needs to be done and how much time I have left to complete it.

About the other note page with my other homework, I go into detail on exactly what I will blog about and how I will handle it in conjunction with my other tasks. For instance, I create a mental note for myself at the end of the day to write a blog post about what I have been doing and what I want to communicate. 

I constantly update and make adjustments to each note page to reflect unforeseen or unplanned happenings. This is all I have planned for this project as of now. I will publish more shots of my notebook as I go along because it is practically my thoughts in a made-up calendar for myself.

Location Scouting

 The Panera restaurant, the library, and my bedroom are the places I had been seeking locally.

Several kids frequently go to Panera to complete their schoolwork. It is conveniently located next to Cypress Bay High School, my local school, and offers a choice of dining alternatives if you're hungry. Some may claim that they enjoy working on their assignments there since they find it easier to concentrate away from home. I can film early sequences at Panera that show how my main character is an outcast and dislikes social interaction. You'll see my main character hanging out with their new best friend toward the conclusion.

Panera is located in Weston, Florida

My local library is another place that I've visited before. My neighborhood library is close to my school and is a popular hangout for students. Another option for doing homework is the library, but its hours are shorter than Panera's. The library can be depicted in sequences where my main character is by herself, engaging in extracurricular activities like reading alone, and observing how everyone else has a conversation partner.

Weston Branch Library located in Weston, Florida

Since this is where my main characters' perspectives will change when their special someone enters their lives, my room will serve as the primary setting for most of the introduction. Also, this location will display their preferred pastimes and leisure-related items. Their personality will be scattered all over the place. Also, my primary character will confess that they are stepping outside of their comfort zone and feeling happier by letting their new acquaintance into their home.

Target Audience

Teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 make up a large portion of the target audience for coming-of-age movies. The coming-of-age genre has changed significantly since its emergence in the 1980s, partly as a result of "society's changing perceptions of inclusivity." Over time, coming-of-age films have gotten better at portraying "diversity in society." Characters from various socioeconomic and racial backgrounds are more prevalent than they were in late 1980s films.

The coming-of-age genre is extremely recognizable as a genre because it adheres to so many stereotyped norms. The iconography utilized in "coming of age" movies is very important in establishing the genre because it quickly establishes that the protagonist will be a teenager struggling to transition into adulthood by adding typical teenage objects and icons. The target audience will find this appealing since they can relate to the film's protagonist and may even draw comparisons between the protagonist and themselves.

Although this group enjoys viewing these kinds of movies, the producers of these kinds of movies specifically target female teenagers as their target audience because romance is a subgenre that almost always appeals to women. Coming-of-age movies often have entertaining subjects as well, like music and sports, for example. These themes typically pique the curiosity of the audience and encourage them to watch the movie. The main character in a movie is typically given a personality and appearance that the intended audience can identify with and empathize with.

Coming-of-age movies have maintained their popularity over the years and continue to be enjoyed by viewers for many years to come.

Citations

 Iyer, S. (2021, September 20). The evolution of the coming-of-age genre in film. Spartan Shield. Retrieved from https://spartanshield.org/29522/arts-entertainment/the-evolution-of-the-coming-of-age-genre-in-film/#:~:text=The%20subject%20matter%20of%20coming,transition%20from%20innocence%20to%20experience.

Inspiration

 

My aice media instructor recently showed us this TED presentation given by Andrew Stanton, who wrote many of my favorite movies from childhood, including Finding Nemo and Toy Story. I was incredibly inspired by this film and it made me consider how I could improve my opening scene. I figured out how to use storytelling to pique the interest of the audience on an emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic level. 

Also, he discussed how a theme in a novel is like a road map or a constant that all routes inevitably lead to. And that's how I'm going to project my planning so that I always have a reminder to keep my opening theme constant: I want my theme to be personal progress. I think keeping one thing the same will help my theme stand out and make it clear what is going on.

He emphasized that narrative should keep the audience intrigued, and that thought keeps running through my head. And I'm finding it difficult to design anything mysterious that fits with my concept, so that's something else I'm struggling with. This guidance was quite helpful to me as I work to create my plot as continued to consider how I will keep the audience interested.

Genre

 The transition from childhood to young adulthood for a kid or teenager is the subject of the coming-of-age genre of films. A protagonist typically encounters a new difficulty that causes them to start losing their youthful innocence. I am currently going through a growth phase and discovering my identity, as I previously said in my last post. For most people, this step can be challenging because it requires reflection on your goals and life's purpose. I can most easily identify with this genre because I am now struggling with the idea of graduating next year and must take into account becoming independent.

Films of Coming of Age Analysis 

In the movie The Edge of Seventeen, Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine, a high school junior who suffers academically and is not your usual popular student in the class. She feels alone, but an unexpected connection develops when Hayden Szeto's gentle character gives her a ray of hope that perhaps things aren't as bad as they seem. The opening scene reveals Nadine talking about her thoughts to her teacher and she feels emotionally unavailable as she is close to ending her life. This movie, in particular, appeals to me because it illustrates the difficulties of being a high school student and how they affect mental health. 

The beautiful movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower tells the story of socially shy youngster Charlie, played by Logan Lerman, who is a wallflower and spends his time observing life from a distance until two dynamic students step in and become his mentors. Although a teacher inspires Charlie's hopes of becoming a writer, free-spirited Sam, played by Emma Watson, and her stepbrother Patrick Ezra Miller help Charlie learn the joys of friendship, first love, music, and more. Charlie's inner unhappiness, nevertheless, poses a threat to his newly acquired confidence as his new pals get ready to head off to college. Charlie's soft-spoken manner and fake grin, which conceal a chasm of childhood trauma, loss, and pain, made for excellent acting from Logan. This movie is one of my favorites because the main character has a strong desire to set things right and patch up damaged connections, whether they be with his family or his new circle of friends.

Research

 Brainstorming

Hey, blog! This week marks the beginning of the brainstorming process for the genre I want to stick with for my opening. I've been thinking about picking a genre all day because I want to choose the one that I can identify with the most. Since I am 17 years old, I have been drawn to the coming-of-age genre because that is the time period I am currently experiencing.

I personally adore coming-of-age films because they demonstrate how young characters believe that while growth may be challenging and at times seem insufferable, they can overcome it. I'm aiming for a subject of personal development. Students in schools often struggle with this, which can be stressful. Sometimes we lose sight of the necessity of lifelong learning and development. My intention is to discuss both the road to discovering who you want to be and the emotional complexity in my opening.

The image I have in mind is of a young person struggling to turn in assignments on time and falling into a black hole with nowhere to escape. This person is extremely vulnerable and anxious. But on this particular day, the person approached the person who was sitting next to them in the library. They click right away, and the vulnerable young person was able to improve her spirits and excel academically as a result of someone reaching out to them.

TBD

Although the concept is still incomplete to me, I am the most certain about the genre.

Here are some of my sources of inspiration.

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig

Eighth Grade (2018)
Directed by: Bo Burnham

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky

Music Marketing Part 2

Hello! Here is an update on the music marketing project that my team and I have been working on. We were given the song, 9th at Pine by Less than Jake which is related to ska-punk. My friends Ryan, Mia, Bailey, Ivette, and I have been striving on this project to relate it to our genre, punk. We all set in roles for ourselves to the positions that we are most talented at.

BRAINSTORMING

 Throughout researching, Ryan and I have discovered trends and target audiences that we were able to utilize for our project while creating our band. Likewise, we used our knowledge of our case studies on artists such as the Destroy Boys and The Killers.  We used these bands to influence our band, NRV. The Destroy Boys' music embraced fast tempos and shouting lyrics, and their music videos made it look very homemade. This is one of the marketing trends we founded and wanted to use it for our band, NRV. We were able to get an inside look at what punk is like as one of my teammates, Mia, knew so much about the genre. As a group, we planned what kind of mise-en-scene elements such as the costumes and props we would like to incorporate for our music video as well as where we would like to locate our setting of it. Below is one of our case studies to get a better idea of the genre and its history of it.

PRODUCTION

The production was going swell. We wanted the music video to have the appearance of being made on a small budget, with few shots and a focus on editing. Our goal for making the music video was for it to relate to the lyrics from the song we chose. In the song, 9th at pine, it continuously replays the chorus saying, "When it all came down on that Saturday night, should I choose a side at 9th at Pine?" We embedded that lyric by making our music video about two girls of polar opposites encouraging one of them to reveal their true self.  I was the one creating the content, while my other teammates, Ivette and Mia were the two girls. It was best to have our location of the filmmaking to do it at our school, Cypress Bay High School because that is where the characters mainly interact. For costumes, Ivette was the preppy cute girl with light colors, whereas Mia was the polar opposite wearing. leather jacket and dark clothing. We wanted to use a variety of different shots such as over-the-shoulder shots and medium shots to get a clear view of the main characters. The video represents the artist and punk values by denouncing social norms. 

POST-PRODUCTION

Mia was in charge of the editing as she had experience in Adobe Premiere Pro, while others were giving advice and communicating on what kind of cuts and lighting expose should we use based on the history we know from other punk music videos. The lighting throughout our music video was to show the mood of the preppy girl as it goes from low to very high exposure as we were trying to portray the unhappiness of the preppy girl to being fulfilled. Towards the end, the music video reveals the credits of the roles that we have given to ourselves. 

PRESENTATION

 While we were working on our video, we were also planning and developing our band's identity. We chose a deep purple color and bold black fonts for the background of the slides to achieve the dark vibe of punk and make it appear "grungy" or "filthy," which is how punk is typically perceived. Since the band will be quite active on social media, we also made sure that fan connection was one of the main selling elements. TikTok is our key platform since here is where our primary audience appears and where users on the app find music they may be interested in. By publishing short promotional videos on Tiktok, for instance, we may draw attention to our campaign. We listed explicitly what social media platforms we especially want to use to target our market.

My teammates and I wanted our project to be centered on the connection with the band that we wanted our target audience to feel, and to do this, we wanted to make a ton of merchandise. By producing products, NRV will build its name awareness through fan promotion.

I found this project intriguing because it helped me better grasp the music industry. For me personally, making my own brand and being able to recognize the process of starting a band is fascinating because I enjoy listening to music constantly. Although the timing was the main issue, my team and I were able to finish by working together and being patient.