The Test

            I must acquire the most important prop for the movie soon, so it can arrive on time for me to begin filming. If you are somehow wondering which prop that would be, it would be the pregnancy test. It’s obviously vital to the story, meaning I should get it as soon as possible. 

            I was counting on a friend giving me a leftover test their family had from a while ago, but they don’t have it anymore so I have to buy one myself. 

            A small concern I have is my parents, if I’m being honest. I have to explain to them that I’m buying a pregnancy test not because I need it, but for a film opening. They’ll believe me, but it definitely won’t be a fun conversation. 

            I’m leaning towards buying them online since the pregnancy tests are cheaper on Amazon than in drug stores. The cheapest are about $7 without tax.

            I could also buy a fake pregnancy test. They’re more expensive, but only by around $2.

 

I like the classic look of the first set (see the first picture) and the prank set, but after much consideration, I’ve decided to go with the joke one. The tests look real and it would help calm my parents’ possible anxiety about me buying a pregnancy test. Besides, I could prank my friends. XD

Thanks for reading.

Michelle

I Found a Set!

            After looking around my city for possible filming locations, I found a bathroom in a local supermarket that may work. It’s open from 7 AM-10 PM everyday, and it isn’t as busy as other supermarkets nearby, meaning it won’t be a hassle to film there with so many people leaving and entering. Here is what the bathroom looks like:

            As you can see, the bathroom has plenty of brown colors. I feel that this works perfectly, given that brown represents feelings of loneliness, sadness, and isolation. Andrea is going to be feeling these negative emotions as she is going through such a difficult time in her life, so this bathroom aids the audience to establish themselves in the world, and it promotes the tone the opening will have. 

            I also like the amount of space the bathroom has. It has enough for me to properly film the actor and have an assistant, but it isn’t too big. It’ll look like a small space in the movie, which will contribute to how Andrea feels crammed and trapped during this moment. 

Until my next blog post,

Michelle

References: 

Cherry, Kendra. “How Does the Color Brown Affect Your Mood?” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 26 June 2020, https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-brown-2795816. 

Lighting and Coloring

            My last blog post focused on the costume design aspect of mise-en-scene, but to truly develop my film opening through production design, I must also think about how lighting and coloring will affect the movie’s tone. 

            As of now, my setting is a public bathroom, meaning the lighting is going to be fluorescent, which efficiently contributes to the film’s negative tone. Fluorescent lighting can have the following effects on people: 

• Difficulty focusing or seeing

• Lightheadedness or nausea 

• Anxiety or symptoms of depression 

These symptoms reflect what Andrea is going to be feeling as she is taking the test, especially in such an uncomfortable location. 

            The colors of the location will also impact the tone of the film. The setting should have dull colors to invoke the depressing feeling. 

            With both of these factors in mind, I envision a bathroom similar to these: 

I’ll try scouting for a bathroom this weekend, hopefully I can find one that matches what I have in mind. 

            Furthermore, I’m thinking of editing a dull tint/filter on the movie in post. This would add to the depressing nature of the tone. Pieces that utilize this technique to dramatize include: 

Unbelievable (2019) 

Eternal Summer (2006) 

Twilight (2008)

Not only do I love the indie look the filter gives these movies, but it really works to further the edgy tone and feeling the audience should be feeling while watching.  This is why I plan to utilize it in my film opening.   :)

As always, thanks for reading,

Michelle

References: 

“Fluorescent Light Sensitivity: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions.” TheraSpecs, https://www.theraspecs.com/blog/fluorescent-light-sensitivity-causes-symptoms-solutions/. 

Meet Andrea! + Costuming Options

            My main character is going to be Andrea Castro, a 16 year old high schooler who finds herself in a difficult situation when she has to take a pregnancy test. In the scene, she is incredibly anxious and shaky. She and her family are religious, which has an impact on her as she is taking the test and gets the positive results. 

So, how am I going to demonstrate this through mise-en-scene? More specifically, through her costume? 

            Andrea is going to be wearing a gray sweater to show depression, dullness, and frightfulness. Usually characters wear this article of clothing when they don’t really care about how they look because they have greater issues to worry about (such as being pregnant).  For example, Eddie Brock from Venom (2018) wears a gray hoodie, which helps illustrate the conflict and hardships he is going through: 

            For the audience to be able to see the accessory Andrea is going to be wearing, she’s going to use a zip up sweater instead of a hoodie. 

            The aforementioned accessory Andrea is going to be wearing is a cross necklace. This is to add conflict to the fact that she had premarital sex, which resulted in her getting pregnant. This contributes to the tension as Christianity disapproves of this, and since her parents are also religious (which can be inferred), she could be in even more trouble. As she is waiting for the results, she is going to be fiddling with the necklace, demonstrating the larger, internal conflict in her mind. I want it to be a subtle, casual necklace to indicate that she wears this cross everyday, meaning it holds significance to her. 

            Andrea is going to be wearing plain jeans without a design to contribute to the sense of her not putting a lot of effort into her outfit. 

 

            Her nails are going to be in a bad state; they’ll either be bitten because of nerves or have chipped nail polish to show she hasn’t bothered to take care of them. The audience will be able to see this when the shots focus on the pregnancy test in her hands. 

            All of this is going to help establish the serious tone of the film and aid the audience see that there is more conflict in the story than what meets the eye. 

Until my next blog post,

Michelle

References: 

Ferreira, Nicole Martins. “Color Psychology: How Color Meanings Affect You & Your Brand.” Oberlo, Oberlo, 4 Jan. 2022, https://www.oberlo.com/blog/color-psychology-color-meanings. 

Descriptions and More Research

            My film opening so far is a young girl taking a store-bought pregnancy test in a public bathroom. She’s incredibly anxious as she takes the test and waits for the results. I’m either going to have her talking to herself as she tries to calm herself down, or have her be on a phone call with her best friend as she waits for the test to develop. If I do the latter, I want to edit the scene in a way that it starts off as a voice over, and then the audience sees that she’s on a phone call with her friend. I think I may film both options and decide in post, based on which one is more dramatic, and which one I like best. 

            I don’t think I want to show the audience the positive test results. The way I envision it is: the main character is waiting for the results, the camera shows the test before it says positive, it cuts to a low angle close up of her reacting to the positive results after it shows up, she curses, and then the film title comes up on screen.

            The fact that I mentioned which one is “more dramatic” when describing how I’ll decide what to include is important, as drama stories need to feature high stakes and conflict. Dramas illustrate stories that happen in real life and extreme situations with emotional characters. 

Some conventions and techniques I can use to emphasize the drama: 

• Narration (As I mentioned before, I’m considering doing a voice over.)

• Music or chorus that amplifies the conflict 

• Close ups on characters’ faces to highlight the emotion (I can utilize this when my main character is anxiously waiting for the test results.)

• Observations/showing the audience how events affect the characters (I can do this by stressing the importance of the pregnancy test. This Film Editing Pro article advises to do this with an eye shot, POV shot, and then back to the character’s face.)  

• Lingering shots/slowing the pace momentarily (I can use this to build up the tension as the character waits for the results.) 

  
  

  Thanks for reading,

  Michelle

  
  

  References:

Film Editing Pro. “4 Editing Techniques to Add Drama to a Cut.” Film Editing Pro, 7 Aug. 2021, https://www.filmeditingpro.com/4-editing-techniques-to-add-drama-to-a-cut/. 

“How to Identify Film Genres: Beginner's Guide to 13 Film Genres - 2022.” MasterClass, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-identify-film-genres#13-classic-movie-genres. 

A Decision Has Been Made

            After thinking about my ideas long and hard, I’ve reached a conclusion. The film opening I want to make is… drum roll please… the pregnancy one! How exciting. I’m serious, I’m excited. 

            How did I reach this decision? Well, I described the situation to each of my friends and realized the “doubts” I had about this idea were honestly challenges that I’m looking forward to solving. I stated in my last blog post that I would have to find a filming location, which may be a little difficult, but I’m very excited to look around town for places that will let me film there. Also, I think this idea is much more original than the party, and it has more of a storyline. I feel like this film opening really introduces the conflict of a larger story to be told, which I think is awesome. Additionally, I’m so excited to produce the ideas I have for this film opening. 

            This idea does mean that I have to do research into the drama genre, seeing as my ideas for this opening fall more into the drama genre than the coming of age one. Two movies that I must consider are Juno (2007) and Unpregnant (2020). Although they are similar in that they are about teen pregnancy, both have various plotlines that are visible from the film opening. Their intros are completely different from each other and what mine will be.

            Take a look at Juno’s intro (PG-13 sex scene, viewer discretion is advised): 

I absolutely adore it. It’s not similar to what I want to do, since my opening is going to be the main character receiving the pregnancy test results, but it’s still such a wonderful opening. I love the colors, the music, and the animation. 

            Unpregnant’s opening is a little closer to what I’m envisioning, but it’s still very different. It feels much more light-hearted than what I have in mind, and the opening begins the plot of the two main characters interacting with each other, even though they hate each other. I will be referring back to Unpregnant in the future, especially for shots I find interesting. 

            Referring to movies with similar premises will aid me in communicating my story, as well as stray away from anything too alike. This, along with the drama conventions I plan to utilize, will help to make this film opening as perfect as I can make it. 

Until my next post,

Michelle

My Ideas

        It was ridiculous to think I could simply decide on one storyline to pursue. I have two ideas of stories I want to tell. My original idea was a coming of age story where the main character, a teenager, is getting ready for a party, sneaks out, goes to the party, and gets in trouble with her parents. There was more to it than that, but that’s the premise. My new idea leans more towards a dramatic coming of age where the main character, a teenager, finds out she’s pregnant. 

        I can see both scenes so clearly, and I already have shot and angle ideas for both.

        I’ve been considering the challenges for both, but I genuinely haven’t been able to decide. For example, for the party scene, I’d need many actors. For the pregnancy opening, I’d have to find a set where I can properly film and compose a girl taking the test (without showing anything inappropriate of course).  

        Thinking about filming both excites me, meaning I am willing to power through these challenges to produce the story I am most passionate about. 

        I’m going to continue thinking about it tonight, decide by tomorrow, and begin strategizing and planning. 

Thanks for reading,

Michelle

A Deep Dive into my Genre + Target Audience

Coming of Age

            We all know them, most of us love them, the coming of age movie has been popular among young audiences for their ability to resonate with teens. I’m interested in doing this genre because of this very reason. I relate to the characters and storylines portrayed in this genre, meaning I feel confident in creating a story that captivates its target audience (A.K.A. my peers and I). 

        A coming of age story is one that illustrates an adolescent growing up, either by adult experiences or simply mentally progressing into an adult. These stories demonstrate a character’s “bildungsroman,” or their evolution from being innocent to experienced.  The main character is a teen, which allows for the target audience to see themselves on screen. This is incredibly important, considering these stories rely on teens seeing themselves represented correctly. The target audience is 13-19 year old girls with ordinary interests (such as music and reading). Females are more interested in the drama, romance, and subject matters represented in coming of age stories.

Some coming of age subject matters and tropes include: 

• Self discovery and finding one’s identity 

• The main character realizes they’re different from their peers.

• EX: Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Queer romance is largely included, as the realization of one’s sexual identity is a part of growing up in the real world.

• Difficult relationship with parents

• Coming of age movies include disagreements between the main character and their parents. Then they eventually grow to see them as people.

• Parties

• Teens in this movie genre often attend parties where they officially transition from being innocent to more experienced. The parties typically include alcohol and drugs. 

•  Romance

• Unrequited love is common within the genre. This trope sometimes involves the main character having to move on from their unattainable childhood crush.

• Friendship

• Running away or sneaking out

• Questioning societal or religious customs

• Losing their innocence

• Graduating high school

Coming of age content usually gravitates towards being comedic or dramatic. Let’s look at some examples for each, as well as their openings:  

Comedic Coming of Age Story: Booksmart (2019)

            Directed by Olivia Wilde, Booksmart (2019) follows overachievers and best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) as they try to participate in missed high school experiences on the eve of their graduation. The movie includes most of the aforementioned tropes, such as self discovery, parties, romance and unrequited love, friendship, sneaking out, and graduating high school. 

            Its comedic tone is established in the film’s opening by the funky song choice and the enjoyable interactions between the friends. Additionally, most of the characters are introduced in the opening, which I personally found so interesting because it is done in a captivating way without it feeling overwhelming. The audience gets a feel for the characters through their interactions with the protagonists (for example, Molly and the theater kid’s rivalry) and through the mise-en-scene, such as Molly’s room littered with trophies or Jared’s costume.  The editing, although simple and consisting mainly of cuts, keeps the audience engaged. 

(PS: I know the clip I included extends further past the opening, but the content continues to build on what I wanted to mention, so I kept it in. Besides, it's a good movie; it can never hurt to watch a longer clip.)

Dramatic Coming of Age Story: Lady Bird (2017)

Now, I’m not saying Lady Bird isn’t funny (because it has some hilarious moments), but I definitely think it leans more towards the dramatic spectrum since it includes very personal, deep topics. Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Beanie Feldstein (yes, I am now realizing she is in both of my examples), the movie follows Lady Bird as she is navigating her senior year while having a difficult home life. Its coming of age conventions include: self discovery, having a difficult relationship with your parents, romance, friendship, and graduating high school. 

Not only is the opening scene beautiful (I love the colors and lighting), but it establishes the characters and their relationship right away. The audience sees how Lady Bird and her mom begin to argue after having shared such an intimate moment, demonstrating the conflict. Gerwig describes in this Awards Daily article that she wanted to set up the entire film in just the first few lines, which I think she accomplished doing. The relatability of the scene is also of note, since, as I mentioned before, being able to resonate and represent the target audience in a coming of age film is imperative. Fighting with your parent is relatable, and so is the desire to jump out of the car when it gets too intense. Actually doing so isn’t as relatable but it makes for a great ending to a film opening! 

So. How am I going to use all this research for my own film opening? Well, investigating the genre’s conventions gave me ideas on where to start for the storyline. Additionally, analyzing case studies from the genre and how they exemplify these conventions is going to help me utilize them in my own work. To be quite honest, all this research really calmed my nerves about the project, since now I have much more knowledge I can put to use. 

Until my next post,

Michelle

References: 

“Coming-of-Age Story.” TV Tropes, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ComingOfAgeStory. 

Dominik, et al. “The Art of the Scene: Greta Gerwig Discusses the Opening of Lady Bird.” Awardsdaily, 7 Jan. 2018, https://www.awardsdaily.com/2018/01/06/art-scene-greta-gerwig-discusses-opening-lady-bird/. 

Iyer, Shobini. “The Evolution of the Coming-of-Age Genre in Film.” Spartan Shield, https://spartanshield.org/29522/arts-entertainment/the-evolution-of-the-coming-of-age-genre-in-film/. 

Kathryn ButtKathryn is an MA graduate in Film and Television from The University of Bristol. After moving from the depths of the countryside. “What Makes a Coming-of-Age Film? (Genre Series).” Raindance, 13 July 2021, https://raindance.org/coming-of-age-genre/. 

The Inception of a Film Opening

            I feel like my head is overflowing with ideas, but I can only perfectly envision a few. I know I want to create a coming of age film opening, and I’m so excited to start filming it, but I’m also very intimidated by the process that awaits me. 

I know my target audience for a coming of age film is young adults/teens, so I have to make sure I produce a film opening that this demographic can relate to. It has to be something that keeps them hooked; I have to cast actors that represent them and they can see themselves as, develop a plot they identify with, and have costumes they would also wear or would want to wear.

 Furthermore, I have a clear vision for some of the shots and techniques I want to use, but I don’t know exactly what I want to do with the project as a whole. For example, I don’t know the entire plot yet, but I know I want to utilize a genre convention that will get the target audience interested in the film. I’m thinking it could be something like the main character getting in a fight with their parents or even running away or sneaking out. Additionally, I also know I want to use quirky fonts for the title and credits. 

My next blog post will include more research into the genre and how I may be able to utilize the techniques and conventions I find to create the best coming of age film opening I can. 

Until then,

Michelle

“Coming-of-Age Story.” TV Tropes, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ComingOfAgeStory. 

Music Marketing Project, in Retrospect

            As I mentioned in my last blog post about the music project, my group and I got off to a slow start. The research took us much longer than it should have, and we only finished the music research chart the day before it was due. Nevertheless, we did it well, and the research and information we found is very specific; I felt confident using it in my media contexts essay. I focused on Columbia Records’ history, its artists, and the first case study-- The Neighborhood’s Chip Chrome and the Mono-Tones. I really enjoyed this part of the project and was interested in the material. 

The next step was to create the artist whose song we would market. We chose the name “Spark Plug” for the band, as “The Man” is an energizing, empowering song. Then we defined our target audience, and which marketing strategies we would utilize to have a reach into the group. Since the target audience is teenagers to young adults, we decided to focus on social media, especially TikTok and Instagram. I knew our social media presence would be essential to the campaign after having read How TikTok Is Changing the Music Industry: Marketing, Discovery and How Digital Marketing Is Transforming The Music Industry. Additionally, I examined the Google Slides presentation the entire class worked on to learn more about music marketing and brand development. Many of our ideas for the project were based on this research, which is reflected through the brainstorming document our group used. 

 

In the middle of discussing ideas for marketing, I had the idea of a collaboration with a food company, like Taylor Swift did with Starbucks to promote Red (Taylor’s Version) and many other artists have done with McDonald’s meals (BTS and Saweetie). We decided to do a collaboration with Monster Energy, since it corresponds with the band’s indie fan base, and it also relates to the song and Spark Plug’s theme of energy. Furthermore, we decided to collaborate with Vans, as the skate shoe company ties in well with our target audience. Originally, we were going to create simple skateboard stickers inspired by the band and music video, but then decided to create shoes instead. The shoes’ design reflects energy with the lightning bolt design, and the back of them say the band’s name, which will result in more exposure. Additionally, the colors of both the shoes and the Monster can match the band’s logo. 

We also decided to make merch, which we knew would be essential after we found out that alternative music fans purchase more than any other genre fanbase. 

After defining all of our ideas on our doc, we began to work on our Google Slides for the presentation. We tried to divide the specific work each of us would do, but ended up exchanging the work throughout, depending on who had ideas for certain portions. I focused on providing the information for the first two bullets we needed (“overview of genre marketing/distribution trends and target audience,” and “marketing and distribution plan for your artist/group”). I wrote all of the information out on the doc, and then I summarized it in bullet points to place on the Slides presentation. I also defined the specific marketing steps, as well as helped other members with anything they needed. I think the hardest slide was the marketing and distribution trends, simply because of all the information I had to condense onto one slide.

(The slide, my script, and the references we would include on the next slides with the case study information.) 

We finished the project just in time, and I was confident about the information we included. We weren’t able to practice presenting as a group, but we each individually worked on our parts and kept each other updated. We timed ourselves and made sure each of our parts made sense and flowed with the other members’ presentations. I was a little concerned about this, but it all worked out in the end.

The presentation went really well for me, all things considered. I knew all of my information and had practiced a million times over, so the only obstacle that worried me about presenting was the anxiety I’d get in the actual moment. My voice definitely shook a little and the nerves had me stuttering, but I tried to keep calm to the best of my ability. 

I feel that I learned a lot from this project. It gave me necessary experience for a long term-project, meaning I feel much more prepared for the Cambridge portfolio now. Thinking of ideas for the music video as a group also helped me develop a creative brainstorming ability that I’ll be able to utilize for the portfolio. I feel much more calm going into the portfolio project after having completed this one.

-Michelle