Screenplay

I have finished my screenplay for the project. It is only 2 scenes, and it was written on Celtx.

I decided to focus less on specific details here such as camera angles and movement, because I focused on that in the storyboard. I decided to include Max as the love interest as a male, for terms for representation.

The majority of the screenplay is in italics, to indicate it is the singing part. I describe the details of the opening shots in small detail, stating that the credits are appearing. I describe character actions through parentheses so that we can remember specific movements and factors to include.

Storyboard- Creative Process- Scene 2

This scene will be planned out very shortly, as it would only serve to reach the time limit, but would be what the film would be. Basically, it would be the main character meeting with his ex in the car, as he asked if he could meet them (haven't decided gender, as A) I have to see who would be willing to play this character and B) it's not an important detail to the narrative). They would basically go over why their relationship ended and how they each feel about the situation. Again, I am over-planning to make sure I have enough footage.

This scene would be about 30 seconds long. First, the character would be shown at an OSS walking to the car. The next shot would be the character entering the car. The shot would be filmed from inside the car. Next, the ex will enter the car from the other side, and they would begin talking. In order create an awkward feeling in this scene, I would leave the same mid shot from the dashboard throughout the whole scene. The dialogue will be developed more when I do my screenplay, which I am starting next.

(Sorry this post is so late, I made a draft and forgot to post :/)

Storyboarding- Creative Process- Scene 1

Today, I am starting the storyboard. Since I want to be able to properly write my screenplay, I will be documenting, in detail, what I want to do in each shot for the scene.

The scene opens in a fade in at an extreme long shot of the subject. The lighting is high key to convey that the setting is in a parking lot, and the subject is in the middle third of the screen. The character is wearing a dark blue shirt with a black leather jacket, as well as black pants and black shoes. The camera then cuts to a shot of the beginning of the credits and then back to the film. The next shot is a long shot of the character. The character is looking straight into the camera, and the camera cuts to more credits. The next shot is at a mid shot. Each cut, closer each time, is used to help build the feeling of heaviness that the character is feeling. The camera cuts to an extreme close up on the character's mouth, and the title appears.

The camera then cuts again to an extreme long shot, in order to show how empty the parking lot it. This helps to build the feeling of emptiness I am trying to convey. The character then begins to sing again, but at an extreme long shot. I plan on repeating this cycle of zooming in and out. This is in order to show that the feeling I try to create is a cycle- things begin to get better, and then they go back to the way that they were.

The chorus begins, and it goes from an XLS to a long shot. The long shot is a profile to make sure the camera movement is not too boring and the same throughout. The chorus begins again, and this time at the mid shot and close up. Once the singing is done, the camera cuts to an extreme long shot with a slow zoom out with the character walking off to show the plot is moving somewhere else.

In my next post, I will be storyboarding for the second scene, in case I am unable to meet the time limit with the first scene.

Group Meeting

Today, I met with some fellow students to discuss my progress on my project and ways I can improve my project. It was unanimous- my project will be very difficult to complete and pull off. But, if I do so, they said it could turn out very well. I did receive some very good feedback on my ideas. The thing I have been struggling with most is the music production, especially with the violin. One student mentioned someone who could help with the violin aspect, so I will be looking into that.

The focus of any film opening is to introduce the main character, and a student mentioned that I have to focus my attention to that. They suggested that to create the feeling of the growing emotion through the opening, I should have the music be soft in the beginning, and then have it build up louder and louder. In case I do not want to do my project a cappella, I can use the same instruments from the songs I want to with the same chords, and just change the melody to make it my own. To develop this as an opening, I could have the music only be present for a minute to 90 seconds, and then have the opening end with the character walking away, and then introducing the next scene.

Most of my technique will be coming from the set design. The set here will be an empty parking lot, which will not be difficult to do. I can shoot in a specific area that has low key lighting to create the feeling of sadness. I can also focus on the costume design by using dark and dull colors, such as dark blue, black, and grey.

Song is Done!!!

I have finished my song. I have decided that I will follow a cappella, for two reasons. One, I am very behind and need to start on my storyboarding and script writing. Two, it will help me develop my feeling of emptiness. Having the music missing will make it feel as if an aspect of the film is missing, like something is not right. That is the feeling that I am trying to evoke. This is what I have.

Love has always been a street that I cannot follow

I turn and turn at every intersection

And I feel as if maybe for some reason

I'm not meant to follow

And I took your hand in mine and led it through my soul

Until you took and settled on every nerve

But now, even in my dreaming

I wish your hands on my own

And I gave my heart

To you with will

Now everything is gone

I have nothing left to feel

I will be the one singing, as I feel my voice naturally has a feeling of unhappiness. Yes, that sounds weird, but I also feel like only I can portray the emotion I need to portray. The lyrics came to me naturally in a moment of inspiration, and I feel as if it is perfect. I drew inspiration from Florence + the Machine's "The End of Love" and Sam Smith's "Nothing Left For You". Next post, I will be discussing how I plan on using the cinematography to develop the mood.

Backup Plans

Writing the song has posed many challenges for me. The violin is very different to control on GarageBand, so I have requested permission to use songs from other artists such as Florence + the Machine and Troye Sivan. If I am able to do this, then I will be able to start storyboarding and script-writing much sooner.

I started writing this post on Wednesday, and am yet to hear from either production company. I tried requesting acmes for a song by Bleachers, but Sony does not license songs for commercial use for free. I am still working on the same pieces of music I had from last time, but it is not going very well. I am becoming very frustrated, as I do not truly know how to express my feelings through the music. Yes what I am creating sounds fine, but it doesn't truly create the feeling I want it to. It creates a feeling of just pure heartbreak, which is not what I am trying to do. I am trying to really involve that feelings of emptiness and being sick and tired, and I don't know how to do that. Actually, I just had an idea in my rambling.

I may try doing the whole opening a cappella. It would really create that feeling of emptiness if the singing is unaccompanied by instruments. I may try this for the opening, but it would truly have to vary on whether I used a song I licensed or that I wrote myself. But I really do feel that the use of a cappella would create that feelings of emptiness I am striving for.

God, I'm a genius.

Experimenting with Fonts For Title

I have decided that, due to time constraints, I should start working on the early production aspects of my blog. I want the title to be "The End of Love", but I also want a font that can adequately represent the mood I am going for. I decided to strikethrough the first three letters of the title because it develops the plot of what the whole film would end up being- the character believing a heartbreak was the end of love, but it later is proved to not be.

This is the first font I have in mind:

I like the fact that it appears to be more handwritten because it adds a more personal feel to the tone that the opening establishes. It is also simple, and not too elegant, which represents how I am trying to express a simple emotion.

WeVideo does not have many fonts available, so I am trying some in Final Cut Pro. Here are some of my ideas.

This one has a handwritten feel that feels elegant, but also feels personal. It conveys a feeling of personal emotions of not sadness, but emptiness.

This one is similar to the last, but it feels like it takes up more space and is more spaced out, which makes one feel as if the feeling completely takes over one's personal lives. This indicates that the movie will be exploring a person's full experience, that is spread out. However, the font is not very bold, which I feel would be very important, as the bold helps to establish a feeling of strength and passion.

Between these two, they are very similar. They have more elegance than the last two, and appear as more formal. This indicates that the tone set for this film will be serious. The last one seems more serious, as opposed to the first, which, honestly, feels cliche. The second feels unique, yet common, as is the experience that I am trying to create for my character.

I am still working on trying to get the strikethrough, but I will mostly focus on the effects of the font.