Hi, blog!
Well, this has certainly been a hectic week.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, aka Coronavirus, we are not in school for the next two weeks. While this does give me a lot of time to work on my project, it also presents new setbacks. A lot of people I know don't even want to leave their house, which may cause me problems when trying to gather my actors for filming. I know a lot of people in the class ar freaking out because they have nothing to film now or none of their actors can leave the house.
If worst comes to worst, I can always star in my own movie.
Yeah, no.
I apologize for the short blog post but I just wanted to give an update on what's going on right now.
Stay safe everyone!
- Rachel
Friday, March 13, 2020
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Reading Other Screenplays
Hi, blog!
So I've been doing more research in between drawing and writing out my scenes and I read a few screenplays but there's one that I liked in particular.
Behind every great movie is a great screenplay, and that can definitely be said for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010). In Black Swan, Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As the rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge.
While this film doesn't deal with an obsessed fan, I love the way it captures Nina's obsession with her craft, which is ballet. Nina's obsession with being the best overcomes her life and in the process, she experiences many bizarre things.
I read a bit of the script for Black Swan and just loved it. It is very well written and I think captures the essence of what I want for my film very well.
Here are a few pages of the screenplay from the opening scene that I liked in particular:
So I've been doing more research in between drawing and writing out my scenes and I read a few screenplays but there's one that I liked in particular.
Behind every great movie is a great screenplay, and that can definitely be said for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010). In Black Swan, Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As the rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge.
While this film doesn't deal with an obsessed fan, I love the way it captures Nina's obsession with her craft, which is ballet. Nina's obsession with being the best overcomes her life and in the process, she experiences many bizarre things.
I read a bit of the script for Black Swan and just loved it. It is very well written and I think captures the essence of what I want for my film very well.
Here are a few pages of the screenplay from the opening scene that I liked in particular:
Well, that's all for now!
- Rachel
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Mini Storyboard
Hi blog!
So I’ve started thinking of some of the shots that I want to incorporate into my short film. It seems like
I've come up with a lot of close up shots.
I've come up with a lot of close up shots.
I made a mini storyboard with some of the shots that I want to be included in the opening scene. I really want the opening scene to give off a suspenseful vibe and kind of have the audience guessing what the main girl is doing or why she seems uptight, or so drawn into what she is doing. Therefore, as you can see in the storyboard, I included various close-ups to try to achieve that feel.
Here’s the mini storyboard:
I’m going to come up with a larger storyboard for some of the other scenes but this is just my idea for the
opening scene. I don't like using any kind of software for the storyboard because I feel like drawing it out
myself gives me more freedom to make it look exactly how I want it to.
opening scene. I don't like using any kind of software for the storyboard because I feel like drawing it out
myself gives me more freedom to make it look exactly how I want it to.
Hopefully, I’ll have an updated storyboard for some of the other scenes in some of my future blogs.
Well, that’s all for now!
-Rachel
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Screenplay
Hi blog!
As of now, I’ve been playing around with the Celtx screenwriting software. It’s pretty practical and easy to
use so I think this is the software I am going to stick with. It’s also the software Mrs. Stoklosa
recommended for us to use. I also like that I can edit from my phone.
use so I think this is the software I am going to stick with. It’s also the software Mrs. Stoklosa
recommended for us to use. I also like that I can edit from my phone.
While I’m still coming up with shots and lines, I kind of have an idea of what I want to do in regards to
these aspects. I think I am going to do a monologue with the main character’s voice as a voiceover in
order to let the audience know what she is thinking. Or, I could do no monologue at all and have the
audience see what she is thinking solely through her actions, but I think the voiceover idea might be
more effective in reaching the goal I am trying to achieve.
these aspects. I think I am going to do a monologue with the main character’s voice as a voiceover in
order to let the audience know what she is thinking. Or, I could do no monologue at all and have the
audience see what she is thinking solely through her actions, but I think the voiceover idea might be
more effective in reaching the goal I am trying to achieve.
I am going to watch some movies that have to do with obsession ants look at their screenplays. I plan on
looking at films such as Black Swan, The Fanatic, and The Fan.
looking at films such as Black Swan, The Fanatic, and The Fan.
Well, that’s all for now!
-Rachel
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Casting
Hi blog!
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I am doing my short film on the idea of an obsessive fangirl that
wants to be just like the person she is admiring,
wants to be just like the person she is admiring,
As of now, I must get an idea and come up with who I want as my cast.
I have juggled with the idea of whether I want my main character to be a boy or a girl. After thinking about
it more, I think it might be easier for me to use a girl as the obsessive character as I can do more with
that I think. I also feel like girls tend to be more fanatic-like when it comes to their favorite celebrities.
it more, I think it might be easier for me to use a girl as the obsessive character as I can do more with
that I think. I also feel like girls tend to be more fanatic-like when it comes to their favorite celebrities.
With that being said, here is an idea of what my cast will look like:
Main character- girl in her late teens-early 20s who is obsessed with female celebrity
Main character’s mother- becomes concerned about her daughter’s behavior/or is completely oblivious
to this behavior and thinks nothing of it
to this behavior and thinks nothing of it
Main character’s friend/or boyfriend- notices their behavior is excessive and attempts to try to stop
their behavior/encourage the main character to stop their behavior as they are getting out of hand
their behavior/encourage the main character to stop their behavior as they are getting out of hand
Celebrity that main character is obsessed with- singer/actor that main character is obsessed with (still
deciding if I want them to have a legitimate role in the film)
deciding if I want them to have a legitimate role in the film)
So, I’m still struggling with what I want to happen at the end of the film. One of my ideas is that the girl, in
the end, ends up trying to look just like the celebrity. My other idea is that the girl ends up kidnapping the
celebrity or something and it ends on a thrilling kind of note. I’m still kind of deciding.
the end, ends up trying to look just like the celebrity. My other idea is that the girl ends up kidnapping the
celebrity or something and it ends on a thrilling kind of note. I’m still kind of deciding.
Well, that’s all for now!
- Rachel
Monday, March 2, 2020
Finally have an idea!
Hi, blog!
Today in class we continued our Socratic seminar group meeting and I presented a few of my ideas to the
class. Eventually, I came to the conclusion of creating my short film focused around the idea of an
obssesed fan. I knew I wanted to make a short film focused on someone’s mental state and how
something in their life consumes them, so I think the idea of obsession is the perfect way to go about
creating my short film.
class. Eventually, I came to the conclusion of creating my short film focused around the idea of an
obssesed fan. I knew I wanted to make a short film focused on someone’s mental state and how
something in their life consumes them, so I think the idea of obsession is the perfect way to go about
creating my short film.
These were some of the ideas I was given during the Socratic seminar:
Social media
Paranoia about sickness
Obsessive fangirl
Roommate
Eventually, as I mentioned above, I decided to go down the obsessive fangirl route because I also feel
like I can do a lot with this in terms of creating a suspenseful kind of piece. I have the opportunity to use
a lot of different/interesting shots that I believe can aid me in creating a nice piece.
like I can do a lot with this in terms of creating a suspenseful kind of piece. I have the opportunity to use
a lot of different/interesting shots that I believe can aid me in creating a nice piece.
As of now, I need to start coming up with some of the shots I wan to use in my film as well as the
characters. My next blog post will more than likely have to do with casting, I’m still trying to figure that out
though.
characters. My next blog post will more than likely have to do with casting, I’m still trying to figure that out
though.
Well, that’s all for now!
- Rachel
Sunday, March 1, 2020
I Thought of Something New
Hi, blog!
So I've thought of yet ANOTHER idea.
I mentioned in one of my previous blog posts that I want to explore someone's mental state in my short film. I believe doing this will give me a lot of things to do with my piece and will give me a lot of ideas. I really enjoy pieces that have something to do with this idea. Some of these pieces include:
Shutter Island (2010): "The implausible escape of a brilliant murderess brings U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner (Mark Ruffalo) to Ashecliffe Hospital, a fortress-like insane asylum located on a remote, windswept island. The woman appears to have vanished from a locked room, and there are hints of terrible deeds committed within the hospital walls. As the investigation deepens, Teddy realizes he will have to confront his own dark fears if he hopes to make it off the island alive."
Suspiria (1977): "Suzy (Jessica Harper) travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night, no one lets her in, and she sees Pat (Eva Axén), another student, fleeing from the school. When Pat reaches her apartment, she is murdered. The next day, Suzy is admitted to her new school but has a difficult time settling in. She hears noises and often feels ill. As more people die, Suzy uncovers the terrifying secret history of the place."
Black Swan (2010): "Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As the rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge."
Each of these pieces includes someone's descent into madness or the exploration of their mental state ad how their surroundings affect them. I really like how these pieces portray that idea and I really want to do something similar.
Well, that's all for now!
- Rachel
So I've thought of yet ANOTHER idea.
I mentioned in one of my previous blog posts that I want to explore someone's mental state in my short film. I believe doing this will give me a lot of things to do with my piece and will give me a lot of ideas. I really enjoy pieces that have something to do with this idea. Some of these pieces include:
Shutter Island (2010): "The implausible escape of a brilliant murderess brings U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner (Mark Ruffalo) to Ashecliffe Hospital, a fortress-like insane asylum located on a remote, windswept island. The woman appears to have vanished from a locked room, and there are hints of terrible deeds committed within the hospital walls. As the investigation deepens, Teddy realizes he will have to confront his own dark fears if he hopes to make it off the island alive."
Suspiria (1977): "Suzy (Jessica Harper) travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night, no one lets her in, and she sees Pat (Eva Axén), another student, fleeing from the school. When Pat reaches her apartment, she is murdered. The next day, Suzy is admitted to her new school but has a difficult time settling in. She hears noises and often feels ill. As more people die, Suzy uncovers the terrifying secret history of the place."
Black Swan (2010): "Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As the rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge."
Each of these pieces includes someone's descent into madness or the exploration of their mental state ad how their surroundings affect them. I really like how these pieces portray that idea and I really want to do something similar.
Well, that's all for now!
- Rachel
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