Month: February 2019

Today I storyboarded a few scenes from my title sequence. Rather than using a computer-generated storyboarding application, I decided to hand draw my storyboard images. Well, at least some of them. For others, I actually went to my shooting location and practiced the way I want my shots to look. This allowed me to gain a more in-depth understanding of how I want my shots to look.

Traditional Storyboarding

Here is one of my storyboard images that I drew. This is the shot where my main character, Aspen, is leaving her house. It is an extreme long shot that will give my audience a clear view of the front of Aspen’s house. In this scene, she will be frantically opening the door and shutting it. She will fumble with her keys and eventually lock the door. I chose to use an extreme long shot in order to show the contrast between Aspen’s rapid movements and the calm, suburban neighborhood.

These images are ideas for the montage of tracking shots I want to include when Aspen is walking to class. In order to create a montage when editing, I will have to film lots of different shots in various locations. I want these tracking shots to use center framing and focus on the back of Aspen’s head.

On Location Storyboarding

I’m a hands-on and visual learner, so drawing things out doesn’t always cut it for me. I need to actually do the things. So for some of my shots, I went to my shooting location and practiced the angles I would be shooting from.

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Here is an example of the method I described above. The left image is mine. This is from the scene where Aspen just wakes up, checks her phone, and realizes she overslept. It is inspired by the shot on the right from Eighth Grade (2018). Below are some of the camera angles I will be using during the bathroom scenes

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Conclusion

I’m shooting this upcoming weekend, and I’m super excited/nervous! I’ve done a lot of work in planning my title sequence and now it’s finally going to actually happen! However, I’m nervous that I haven’t planned enough shots and won’t film enough. I’m going to do my best to overshoot and make sure I have everything I can control in order. It’s going to be fun!

Sources

• I used various IMDB links throughout this post. Their specific URLs can be found when clicking on them.
• https://www.dummies.com/art-center/performing-arts/filmmaking/storyboarding-your-film/

Cameras

A while back, I worked with a group of my friends to film part of a music video. We used a Canon Rebel T3i and a rolling tripod. I wasn’t responsible for the cinematography aspect of that video, and therefore did not get to handle the camera very much. However, I was present every time my group was filming, so I was able to see the struggles our cinematographer (Ryan) faced. He struggled a lot with the camera maintaining focus; it kept going in and out of focus, even with the slightest movement. It was also difficult to see what he filmed immediately after filming it because the screen with the camera was so small. Our video (see below) still turned out great, however the process would have been much smoother without these complications.

This is why I’ve chosen to film my title sequence using my iPhone 8. My iPhone camera autofocuses, which will be a huge help during the filming process. iPhone cameras are also compact, so transporting them to and from shooting locations will not be a challenge. Here’s a list of some other benefits an iPhone camera includes:

• 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
• 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
• 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
• Optical image stabilization for video
• Quad-LED True Tone flash
• Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps and 240 fps
• Time‑lapse video with stabilization
• Cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p)
• Continuous autofocus video
• Take 8MP still photos while recording 4K video
• Playback zoom
• Video formats recorded: HEVC and H.264

Sound

I plan to use my iPhone camera to record as much sound as I possibly can, but I will definitely go back during post production and record more sound. My title sequence has no dialogue, so I don’t have to worry about recording that. I will mostly have ambient sound.

Sources

• https://www.apple.com/iphone-8/specs/
• https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t3i-ef-s-18-55mm-is-ii-lens-kit-with-ef-75-300mm-f-4-56-iii

Here are my production design ideas for my project.

Lighting

Most of my title sequence will be high-key lighting. However, at the beginning when she is just waking up, I want to use low-key lighting. Not in a creepy way, but in a it’s-the-morning-and-my-room-is-dark way. Here’s a screenshot from Eighth Grade (2018) that shows the sort of lighting I’m talking about. Notice how it’s only dark because it’s early, not because it’s scary. Other aspects of mise-en-scene will help with this as well.

Costuming

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I want my main character to dress sort of in a “funky” way. I want her to look disheveled and mismatched. This will add to the comedy element of the sequence. I’ve included images of Nadine from The Edge Of Seventeen (2016) to show the sort of vibe I’m looking for.

Decor

In an earlier blog post (found here), I discussed where I will be shooting and also included some images. I will be including lots of posters/wall decor, scattered clothes, hair products, jewelry, and other random objects in the scenes that take place in my character’s bedroom.

When she is in the bathroom, I will have a bunch of hair products, makeup, and soaps everywhere. I want it to look like a mess because that will add to the chaotic nature of the title sequence. I also enjoy the blue patterns on the shower curtain, as they tie in with the blue sheets and comforter on her bed.

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When she is in the living room/ kitchen, It will look similar to the way it looks in these images. I don’t feel the need to change much, since my character will only be here for a short period of time. The only changes will be the placement of the props.

I won’t be manipulating the school setting either. I will be including our student parking lot, stairs, hallways, and our of our classrooms. Lockers, desks, and the styles of our classrooms will be effective decor elements for my title sequence.

Props

Here is a list of the props I will be using and their purposes. It is possible that I will change these out or eliminate some.

• Phone: used as alarm.
• Toothbrush, face wash, hairbrush, mascara, sneakers: to show the panicked state she is in by using these props in a frantic manner.
• Granola bar, car keys, backpack, car: to show she is on-the-go.

Sources

• I used various IMDB links throughout this post. Their specific URLs can be found when clicking on them.

Shooting Location

For my film opening, I am going to need two separate settings. I’m going to need a home setting and a school setting. I will need to include a teenager’s bedroom, a bathroom, kitchen, and driveway, as well as a school parking lot, various hallways (for my montage), and a classroom. I will be using my friend Taylor’s house for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and driveway scenes. Her house has a lot of the mise-en-scene that I want already there, which means less work for me when it comes to production design. Below are some images from Tay’s house that I plan to use.

For the school scenes, I will use my high school. I’m familiar with the lay out of the school and I’ve filmed here before when I had to create a music video. I have experience working in this environment and see it as a great setting for my film.

Actress

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I’ve selected my BEST FRIEND Taylor Moore to be my actress. She will be the perfect lead actress because she’s ADORABLE and fits the vibe of my film really well. I mean just LOOK AT HER.

Scheduling

Since I’m heavily relying on Taylor and her house, I need my filming schedule around her life schedule. Taylor is also taking Media Studies, so she also has to film a title sequence. She has asked me to be in it, which means we will have to schedule around each other, or come up with a way to work with each other. We’ve decided to film at her house this upcoming weekend (2/23-2/24). This will provide us with plenty of time to complete both of our projects. I will get the school scenes filmed throughout the week of 2/25-3/1. I will complete my rough cut by 3/4 and THEN I will begin the editing process!

After conducting all this research and beginning the outline for my project, I wanted to take a breather and reflect on what the past month has taught me and how I feel about what is to come.

Deadlines

One of the biggest things I’ve learned throughout this process is that deadlines creep up fast. I began this project in January and I’ve struggled to remain on-pace. In my introduction blog post, I set out a schedule for when I wanted things to be completed. I wanted my research done by 2/3, however I didn’t complete this until 2/7. Scriptwriting and funding was supposed to have been completed by 2/10, but I didn’t finish it until 2/15. My preproduction completion date is 2/24, however because of my working shooting schedule it will have to be completed earlier. Because I am basically 5 days behind schedule, this is going to be a very difficult deadline to meet. It’s doable, but it’s not going to be fun. I also have to keep in mind that my rough cut is due by 3/3.

Shooting Stress

I HAVE TO SHOOT MY TITLE SEQUENCE NEXT WEEKEND. I AM FREAKING OUT. Like I said before, I haven’t completed my preproduction phase, which includes storyboarding, aspects of mise-en-scene, determining a shooting location, finding an actress, and so much more. I have ideas for all of these things, but I haven’t actually done it yet. Scheduling is going to be a big problem for me when it comes to my actress and my shooting location, but I will go more into that in future blog posts. I am super nervous something is going to go wrong when it’s time to film, but I guess that’s part of the process.

Overall, I’m nervous and excited for what is to come in the following weeks. I want my project to look great, which is going to require hard work and lots of time. Wish me luck in the coming weeks!

I’ve started to shape my idea for my final title sequence. Like I said in my film pitch, A Lot To Learn is a comedy/coming-of-age story that will follow seventeen year old Aspen through the worst week of her life. It is set in Wesley Chapel, Florida and will focus on her desire to leave town. A central part of the story arc is the comedic dynamic between Aspen and her math teacher, Ms. Jennifer Graves. Below is an outline for what shots, editing techniques, and sounds I want to include. Astricks (*) indicate shots that I want to try and film, but I am not sure if including them will work.

• Fade in close-up shot of the main character, Aspen. The sound of an alarm clock is also fading in to represent her regaining consciousness. Her eyes open slowly to show she is waking up. The sun needs to be up; she slept through her alarm.
• The shot switched to an eye level/slightly low angle shot of her grabbing her phone, checking the time, and turning off her alarm. Her eyes widen.
• ***Long shot of her falling out of bed.
• Long shot of her opening her door and running to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready. Her hair is disheveled and she looks like she just woke up (because she did). *Debating whether or not I want to do this as a tracking shot instead of a stationary shot.
• Close up shot of her brushing her teeth OR over the shoulder shot with the mirror in focus.
• ***Extra Shot: Her washing her face.
• Mirror POV shot, center framing, of Aspen frantically brushing her hair and looking concerned.
• Close up of her putting on mascara frantically. Possibly leave a glob of mascara on her lid for the rest of the clip.
• Medium close up shot of Aspen putting on a sweater (?) over a tank top.
• Close of of her shoving her feet into sneakers OR long shot of her pulling them on and hopping around.
• If I use the last shot described, I will also film her snatching up her keys. If not, I will film her running through the kitchen, grabbing a granola bar and and her keys. There will be insert close up shots of her hand grabbing the keys and the granola bar and her backpack.
• Long shot of her exiting her house in a hurry. Shows her fumbling with and dropping her keys. Would need to record sound of keys falling.
• ***Insert shot of her dropping keys and locking door frantically.
• ***Tracking shot of her running to her car?
• Ground level shot of her car tires pulling out of the driveway. This is hard to explain, so in future blog posts, I will include examples of what I mean by this.
• ***Possibly include crosscutting between a red traffic light and Aspen in her car looking impatient and desperate for it to turn green? This might be too much to accomplish.
• The same sort of ground level shot will be used in the school parking lot when Aspen arrives. She will pull into the parking space; I may add the sound of tires squealing?
• Montage of tracking shots of her walking to class through hallways, doors, and upstairs.
• Final shot will be an eye-level shot. At first just part if the desk and the chair will be in focus. The classroom door opening will be out of focus but still visible. Aspen will not be in focus until she sits down in her chair. She should seem out of breath.

As of right now, I don’t know if I want her to be on time for class or late. This decision will effect whether or not there are other people in the hallways at the same time as her and whether or not I have to record ambient sound of other people in the hallways. I feel generally confident with my outline, however I am concerned I don’t have enough shots to keep up with the fast pace I have in mind. We’ll see!