All About Credits

Today, I'm going to talk to you about a critical piece of our film opening: credits. But first, I wanted to find out the difference between opening and closing credits (I know you're asking yourself the same question).

In simple terms, the best way to think about these are the following (Copple, 2024):

“Opening credits. In modern films, the opening credits typically run through the key creative forces behind a project, such as the production company, executive producers, the director, the lead actors, and the show creator, if applicable.”

“Closing credits. Closing credits are more comprehensive and may include all the individual crew members.”

So, essentially, all the creatives are listed up front. Detailed credits of everyone associated with the film are included in the closing. I learned that the reason that credits are so important is because there are so many people that are involved in making a film that work solely behind the scenes. They need to be acknowledged because it is their livelihood too and they need to be acknowledged and formally tied to the project. Production companies are contractually required to do this, which makes sense.

Not only does our opening have to convey some essential information to the audience about the film they are about to watch, but we have to also include credits. We have to pack quite a punch in just two short minutes.

It becomes clear that our credits should also fit into our overall theme and tone of the movie. Some examples of how other movies have done this are represented here:

Copple (2024) goes on to list the typical order of opening credits (keep in mind that some films include all, some or none of these – so we have some creative license as to how we want to approach these):

1. Production company (distributor)
2. Production company (producer)
3. Film title
4. Lead cast
5. Supporting cast
6. Casting director
7. Music composer
8. Costume designer
9. Associate producers
10. Editors
11. Production designer
12. Director of Photography
13. Executive producer
14. Producer
15. Writers
16. Director

In our case, many of these won’t apply since Alessandra and I are in charge of everything. Maybe we can credit someone else if they help us film or the Starbucks barista that will make our coffee. I think you will see our names pop up quite a bit.

All About Audio

Now it's time to focus on a critical element: audio. We can work hard to develop a great script, immersive framing techniques, standout props, and realistic set design, but without high-quality audio, the whole movie could fail. Audio isn't just about capturing clear dialogue; there's so much more to it. Let me walk you through how we're approaching our audio design plan:

First, we need to ensure we capture Davis and Alessandra's dialogue clearly. We plan to use our iPhones and will need to be creative. We might film and capture audio with one iPhone, but this may not work for every scene. We may have to use a second iPhone, hidden on us, to capture our dialogue up close. This could be important for the walking scene around Town Center. Audio should be easier when we're inside our rooms. We're striving to capture the dialogues with absolute clarity.

We'll also try to incorporate background noise where applicable (i.e. walking into Starbucks). This makes the scene seem more authentic. We can capture the natural sounds of Town Center like people in the background, footsteps, birds chirping, etc. The indoor portion of the film can include sounds like moving paper, adjusting the computer, shifting in the chair, and so on.

Some of these sounds will be captured naturally, but for others, we may need to create Foley sounds. This involves recreating sounds that might not get picked up by our phones, like keyboard typing or footsteps.

And, of course, we will need to test the audio before filming begins to ensure that dialogue and sounds are captured appropriately. Our goal is to make sure our audio complements our visuals and helps tell the story we've developed.

Mise-en-Scene Take Two: Props and Set Design

Our film opening is really starting to take shape. Yesterday, I shared our ideas on location and framing. Today, let's dive into two more elements of mise-en-scene: props and set design. These aspects support our storyline through visual cues. They might not be the main focus, but they enrich our narrative and help us communicate with the audience in subtle ways. Since props and set design are closely linked, it makes sense to discuss them together.

Props:

We're considering several props to highlight Davis and Alessandra's friendship and their shared dream of attending the University of Miami (UM):

• UM Memorabilia: We'll include items like UM t-shirts, banners, or desk accessories to emphasize their anticipation about the admission results.

• Desks: The spaces where they check their admission statuses will feature UM brochures and perhaps a framed photo of the two friends together.

• Other Items: A calendar marked with the decision release date and sticky notes with motivational quotes will add depth to their personal spaces.

• Starbucks Cups: Since they enjoy meeting up at Starbucks, these cups will serve as a reminder of their friendship and casual hangouts.

Set Design:

Our set design aims to create realistic settings that resonate with the audience and reflect our protagonists' personalities. We'll focus on their bedrooms or desk areas, where they're connected via FaceTime while awaiting their admission results.

• Personal Touches: Each room will showcase decor that mirrors individual tastes, allowing the audience to get to know each character more deeply through their personal spaces.
• UM Merchandise: Incorporating UM-themed items on their desks and in their rooms underscores their strong desire to attend UM.
• Lighting: We can use lighting to subtly foreshadow outcomes. For example, Davis might be in a dimly lit room with a glow coming from a desk lamp, while Alessandra could be in a brightly lit room. This hints that Davis may not get in, while Alessandra will.

By being thoughtful about which props to use and where to place them, we aim to immerse the audience in the lives of our protagonists in subtle ways - all in two minutes or less.

Location, Location, Location! Pt. 2

Today, I’m going to talk about mise-en-scene, which essentially means everything that goes into each shot or frame of a film. Every single detail, from props, costumes, framing, lighting and more, is carefully planned before shooting. Today, I’m focusing on location and framing which are two essential elements for setting the mood and theme of our story.

Town Center, Weston, FL.

First, let’s set the scene. For the initial 30 seconds of our two-minute opening, we’ve chosen Weston Town Center in Weston, Florida. This local hangout has everything from lakeside views, storefronts, a Starbucks, to plenty of open space. It’s the perfect backdrop to introduce our two best friends, Davis and Alessandra, nervously talking about the big news they are expecting next week. They are anticipating their University of Miami admissions decisions because that is where they have dreamt of going - together - for as long as they can remember.

So, Davis and Alessandra will walk through Town Center, discussing their shared dreams and fears about the future. They’ll grab their pre-ordered drinks from Starbucks and continue their conversation outside. This shows their everyday and gives the audience a feel for their relationship.

Next, we will capture them walking around the lake, We’ll start with a wide shot of the lake, showing them walking in the distance. We can start having the opening credits appear on the water – which might look really good. Then, we’ll gradually move in with medium and close-up shots, capturing our characters’ expressions and emotions as they talk.

Transition from public space to personal one

For the rest of the film’s opening, we shift to a private setting, our characters’ bedrooms. This transition highlights the personal significance of what’s about to happen. Instead of being side by side, Davis and Alessandra are waiting for their admissions decisions separately but together. They are connected only by a FaceTime call. Since this scene focuses on them at their desks while staring at their laptops, the framing of the shot will be everything.

• Frontal Shots - These will capture their faces as they read their screens. The audience will be able to see their immediate reactions.
• Over-the-Shoulder Shots - This shot will focus on the laptop screens, allowing the audience to see the admission results before the best friend does. This will build anticipation and will make the audience part of the story. We can ensure that they will experience and emotional reaction before a character does. This approach ties in perfectly with the Auteur Theory, which I discussed in an earlier blog. The goal with this media theory is to engage the audience by making them feel actively involved in the story.

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I’ll dive into props and set design and how they enhance our film’s mise-en-scene.

What A Character!

Hi everyone. Today I am going to do a deep dive on Davis’ character development. As you may recall, the film starts with two best friends, Davis and Alessandra, who are high school seniors and best friends. They are eager to start a new chapter together – one that they have been planning together for years: to attend University of Miami (UM) together. So, if you are ready, let’s explore who Davis is.

Davis is known for a few things: his math ability, his friendship with Alessandra, his quick sense of humor and his dream to attend the University of Miami (UM). He has always wanted to attend UM ever since he could remember. He is not sure if Alessandra got swept into his fanaticism or if she has always wanted to attend as well. Regardless, UM is the ONLY school they want to attend – together.

They've been through thick and thin together, from late-night study sessions to supporting each other during tough times. Davis often lightens the mood with jokes, especially during stressful times, while Alessandra is always quick to laugh. Something important to mention: Davis uses humor as a coping mechanism especially during stressful times. His close friendship with Alessandra has been a constant in his life, shaping who he has become and providing him with unwavering support. Despite Davis’ laid-back style, he's serious about his goals and works hard to achieve them. He has a fear of failure, so he has some insecurities. He wants to succeed and get into UM not just for himself but especially for Alessandra.

Finally, Davis prefers casual clothes, especially his UM t-shirt. Everyone can tell that Davis has a connection to his dream school and the way he dresses is seen as comfortable and very unpretentious personality.

First Attempt at Screenwriting

This is just a rough draft of the script that Alessandra and I are going to work to perfect over the next week or so:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VqMu6cEIvsJZWzvHTsCmP7e9BW89z_IU/view?usp=sharing

Plot

Our project is finally starting to take shape. Alessandra and I have worked on the main plot idea for our film project and have come up with a coming-of-age drama between two best friends that are forced onto different paths after high school. There are many ideas that will resonate with the audience, from getting accepted to a dream school to getting rejected by one too. There is also another reality that everyone faces: what happens when you and your friends are no longer on the same path? Can the friendship continue and if so, how will it change?

Without further ado, here's the plot:

Davis and Alessandra do everything together. They have the same classes, same grades and even the same SAT scores. For as long as they can remember they have had one plan - get into the University of Miami together. That’s all they want, so they don’t apply to any backup or "safety schools." It had to be just them, at UM, living their best lives.

When Decision Day comes, they agree to face time with each other so that they can find out their decisions together. They are each in their rooms, hyping each other up while also pretending like this wasn’t the biggest moment of their lives. Davis is making jokes and Alessandra is laughing too much.

They countdown, they click, and…only one of them gets in. Confetti bursts onto Alessandra’s screen. Davis gets a "Thanks for applying, try again never."

There is silence. The audience is aware of what happened, but the characters do not know each other’s fate just yet. Alessandra looks at Davis’ face and realizes he didn’t get in. She panics. Instead of just telling him she got in, she pretends she doesn’t know her decision. She says that she forgot her password and that her Wi-Fi just crashed. She even hints at possible identity theft.

Davis isn’t an idiot. He laughs, but not in the same way. He’s overly calm because he’s trying to shove his feelings into a deep, dark hole. Alessandra scrambles to come up with reasons why this happened to him. Maybe it’s a glitch? Maybe admissions made a mistake? Maybe Carol from the admissions office (running joke) has terrible judgment?

Davis just shakes his head and asks her to stop, and she does. The weight of what just happened finally sinks in. Davis then asks what they both know is coming: "So… are you going to accept?"

Alessandra hovers over the button. She doesn’t click…yet. Just like that, their whole plan, their whole friendship, everything they dreamed about is suddenly up in the air.

This is the plot of whole movie (basically what happens after the opening): At first, they pretend nothing’s changed - Alessandra acts like she’s fine going without him, and Davis plays it cool, like he never really cared. Little by little, things change. There are missed texts and awkward conversations. As college creeps closer, the real question isn’t whether they’ll end up at the same school, it’s whether their friendship can survive not ending up in the same place at all. In the end, she goes to UM and Davis doesn’t. The movie shows that this isn’t the end, just a new version of them.

Media Theories

Let's dive into the world of media theories and see which one fits our film opening concept. After going through all of them, the theory that most resonated with me best was Active Audience Theory.

Basically, it states that we, as the audience, are not just passive spectators glued to a screen. In reality, we are active participants in the film. We all have our own unique backgrounds, experiences, and personal filters through which we understand the world. Our brains are always engaging with the information it is presented with.

I've been to the movies with people several times, and typically, everyone leaves interpreting the movie a little differently than the others. One might have a few tears in their eyes, another is just serious, and another might be a little annoyed or mad. This is all due to how we each personally relate to the events on the screen.

In our "He Didn't Get In/She Got In" coming-of-age drama, we will try to not tell the audience what to think. Instead, we will develop the story so that the viewers can relate to the characters in their own personal way. We will be sure to include moments with open-ended plot situations.

So, I guess this is a long way to say (or remind you) that as we start to work on our two-minute film opening, remember something critically important: we're counting on you not just to sit back and watch, but to actively participate and bring your own experiences into our film. Active Audience Theory is all about engagement.

Group Meeting #1

Today, we had our first group meeting. However, it wasn't a meeting with my group, AKA Alessandra. It was a meeting with people from different projects. The goal of the meeting was to share our film ideas, give feedback, and maybe steal - just kidding, I mean, get inspired by - some of the creativity that was shared. I'd like to first say that my peers are a seriously talented and the ideas were diverse and, in some cases, very deep. Some projects were already well-developed, while others were still in the brainstorming phase, but everyone had something unique to share.

Here is a summary of who I met with and what they’re working on:

Joaquin: Psychological drama. The plot needs some tightening, but it starts with a guy waking up naked to a loud banging on a door. There is some sort of breakup and there is a drug addict involved. Inspiration is Breaking Bad.

Mia: Drama. Hers is about a recovering gambler trying to quit her addiction. The opening scene is interesting. She’s putting clothes into a laundromat machine, drops in a coin, and she starts to have flashbacks at a slot machine. I liked this and I automatically saw the scene in my mind. Just to add to the drama, we find out the protagonist is pregnant and wants to quit for her baby. Mia was playing with the title "Getting," but she’s not sure.

Maiya: Sci-fi, time-loop story. A girl in therapy finishes her session and as she is leaving, she takes her meds. She realizes she just has one left and as she gets into the car, she is suddenly back in therapy. It's an endless loop. Maiya also wants to experiment with color - make everything neutral or actually use colors to create an effect. I think this is a strong concept and look forward to seeing how they execute it.

 
Davis: Coming-of-age drama. Two best friends sit in a café or restaurant. They have done everything together and are even attending the same college. That is, until we find out that one of them has applied to transfer to another school. It's about friendships that grow, change and even fall apart for a while. It's dialogue-heavy and ends with them parting ways. The audience will want to see them reunite at some point. Potential title: See You Again.

Christian: Also coming-of-age, but more nostalgic. A group of teens who always vlog their adventures meet up the night before college. They’re reminiscing, watching old vlogs of their crazy times together. The final scene is when the camera zooms into the screen, showing a montage of their memories before they all go their separate ways.

Hearing everyone’s pitches made me reflect on our project. Alessandra and I are in a solid place, but I think we could add more depth to our opening scene. The next step is exploring a media theory to tie into our story, and then jumping into the real fun: storyboarding and scripting. It’s going to be a busy week, but I’m excited to see where this all leads.

Location, Location, Location!

As Alessandra and I gear up to create our two-minute film opening, we need to dive into scouting locations in the Weston/Miami/Fort Lauderdale areas. The right setting can take a good scene and make it feel real. Remember the opening of The Social Network (my favorite opening, as mentioned in my last blog)? Well, after researching it a bit more, I found out that Mark Zuckerberg’s walk/jog through Harvard after his breakup was actually filmed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. So, it’s logical to conclude that if Hollywood can swap locations to better fit their needs, so can we. I know that plenty of films do this to save money, cut down on travel, or just make filming and production easier and more convenient. Here are a few locations I’m considering for our project:

• University of Miami Campus: Scenic, full of energy, and packed with natural “extras” (students) in the background. 

• Ocean Drive, South Beach: The Art Deco buildings lit up at night would be visually striking.

• Las Olas Boulevard/Fort Lauderdale Beach: The beach is calm and open, great for introspective moments that dramas love, while Las Olas has a busier and more social energy.

• Weston Town Center: A solid local option, great for a dialogue-heavy opening.

• My backyard: It’s close, free, and gives us ultimate control over the setting.
• And more, but you’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

In addition to finding the perfect location, we need to consider a few other factors:

• Alignment: The setting has to make sense for the tone and feel of our opening.
• Logistics: If we need multiple days of shooting, we have to make sure getting there is easy.
• Sound: No unexpected background noises ruining our different takes.
• Lighting: We need to figure out what time of day will work best—morning, afternoon, or evening

We’ll take all of this into account and choose a location that not only enhances our drama but also makes the filming process smooth. More updates to come!

Schedule

So, this is the point of the project where I know it’s really happening. Alessandra and I pulled together a timeline of what the next six weeks will look like. We are at the beginning stages and all we know for certain is that we want to focus on creating a 2-minute film opening including credits for a drama. There are a lot of ideas swirling around and it will be interesting to see what our final film will look like. I will also be writing four blog posts a week so that I can detail what our process looks like. I will also share behind the scenes footage with you as well.

 
This is the timeline that we have locked down:


Week 3 (2/10 - 2/16) – Pre-production

• First group meeting (where we discuss media theory)
• Start to develop an overall idea for the film (brainstorming)
• Start and complete the script & storyboard for the opening scene

Blog Posts

1. Reflection post on group meeting #1
2. Media theory research and how it will be integrated into film
3. Summary of project idea
4. Script and/or storyboard

Week 4 (2/17 - 2/23) – Pre-production

• Refine characters
• Plan & find locations (determine what café/campus spots we want to go to)
• Plan mise-en-scène (decide on costume, props, sets and lighting)
• Plan the audio (dialogue, background music (if using), etc.)

Blog Posts

1. Character development
2. Mise-en-scène: Costume & Props
3. Mise-en-scène: Set & Lighting
4. Audio planning

Week 5 (2/24 - 3/2) – Production

• Film the movie (record all scenes at different locations)
• Complete the behind-the-scenes shots
• Make sure to document the filming process
• Organize the footage (will make editing easier)

Blog Posts

1. Planning post
2. Production post #1
3. Production post #2
4. Production post #3

Week 6 (3/3 - 3/9) – Post-production Reshoot if necessary.

1. Put together the first full version.
2. Create opening credits and know the correct placement for them.
3. First test screening - ask classmates on thoughts, advice, and even ideas on certain things we could fix.
4. Research and develop first question for CCR.

Blog Posts

1. Production post #4
2. Post-production process #1
3. Post-production process #2
4. Research post for question #1 of CCR

Week 7 (3/10 - 3/16) – Post-production & CCR Prep

• Revise final cut, fix errors and improve transitions.
• Prepare CCR and start brainstorming what we might respond.
• Research for CCR question #2
• Research for CCR question #3
• Research for CCR question #4
• Work on production ideas for CCR presentation

Blog Posts

1. Research for CCR question #2
2. Research for CCR question #3
3. Research for CCR question #4
4. CCR production ideas

Week 8 (3/17 - 3/25) – CCR & Film SubmissionFinalize our film

• Film & edit CCRs
• Submit CCR and final film

Blog Posts

1. CCR production post
2. Post-production of CCRs
3. Final reflection on the project
4. Post links to CCR & final film opening

We will obviously try to get in front of the schedule whenever possible. There is definitely a lot to do but it should be fun. Stay tuned!

Credit Sequences

Time to analyze some opening credits!

Now, we are starting to dissect the openings of films even further by looking at their credit sequences. In this blog, I will be looking into three very different credit sequences in the drama genre. I always thought credits were boring – however, when I started to pay attention to them, I realized that, when done well, they really add something to the introduction of the movie. They have the ability to capture the audience’s attention all while providing some clues about the theme and overall mood of the movie. They really do add to the storytelling. Again, I’m rating them in the order of my favorites (as I think about what I want our opening to look like).

The Social Network has the opening credits I like best for our project. The opening credits follow an intense conversation between Mark Zuckerberg and his girlfriend, Erica, in a bar. Mark's condescending attitude leads Erica to break up with him. After this five-minute dialogue, the scene shifts to Mark walking quickly and, at times jogging, through Harvard's campus at night. The credits are simple, with white text placed on the sides of the screen. The stands out against the dark screen and keeps the focus on Mark. There is subtle background music which just helps in setting the film's tone. It is simple and does not force the audience to cut away from the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvap4gEOC5I

Good Will Hunting begins with credits displayed over images of books and mathematical equations coming in and out of focus. This immediately introduces the audience to the fact that they will be dealing with some type of character that might be a mathematical genius or will be pursuing some type of academic journey in the film. Displaying the credits this way provides a foreshadowing of the theme. It’s worth mentioning that this is done with no dialogue or characters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P1QDCyMxhI

In Catch Me If You Can, the opening credits are displayed along with animated stick figures. It has the audience follow a man (assumed the protagonist) through many different settings like airports, hospitals, banks and so on. The audience gets an idea that they will be following him throughout the movie as he tries to evade something or someone. It has a retro feel with jazz music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaLDyrun_Cc

3 Film Openings (looking for some inspiration)

Hey everyone! As we dive deeper into our project, Alessandra and I have to analyze three film openings in the drama genre. Hopefully we can get some inspiration for our own two-minute film intro. I decided to choose and examine the openings of Good Will Hunting, The Dark Knight, and The Shawshank Redemption (I listed my favorite openings in order).

Good Will Hunting:

Description: In the opening scene of Good Will Hunting, the film begins with credits displayed over images of books and mathematical equations coming in and out of focus. Around the two-minute mark, Will Hunting (played by Matt Damon) appears, sitting in a small, cluttered room, fully engrossed in reading math books. The camera then zooms out and it reveals a very basic living space. There is only a mattress on the floor with books scattered everywhere. At this point his friend arrives to pick him up, and you can get a better sense of where he lives. It’s on the south side of Boston, where there is more poverty. The scene then shifts to MIT where we find Will dressed as a janitor. He watches a professor writing a difficult equation on a chalkboard as a challenge for his students...

Analysis: Since we only have two minutes for our own film opening, we would need to move through the titles and credits much faster to grab the audience's attention right away. One thing this opening does really well is immediately introducing the main character while showing us that he is a math genius. We also quickly learn that he is in a place like MIT, which can challenge his abilities and possibly offer him opportunities. This makes me wonder what will happen next - will he pursue his interest in math in some way? Did he take this janitor job on purpose so he could be close to some of the best math professors?
The challenge written on the board also acts as foreshadowing, hinting at the conflict and story to come. Overall, this opening is executed extremely well. The pacing, story development, and introduction of the character and setting are all established effectively in a short amount of time, which makes it a strong example of how to hook an audience early in a film.

The Dark Knight:
Description: In the opening scene of The Dark Knight, the film begins with a bank robbery led by the Joker. A group of criminals wearing clown masks carries out a well-planned heist. Each member is unaware that the Joker has a plan to eliminate them one by one. As the robbery takes place, the thieves keep discussing their mysterious leader. They are anxious to know who it is. Finally, the scene ends up with the Joker unmasking himself and delivering the line, "I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger."

Analysis: Again, given that we have only two minutes for our film opening, it's critical to establish the main character and set the tone quickly, just like this movie. The Dark Knight captivates the audience by immediately immersing them into action from the beginning. It quickly introduces the Joker's malicious nature. The bank robbery not only grabs attention but also provides insight into the Joker's character – he is smart, ruthless and unpredictable. This made me eager to understand how the rest of the movie would unfold.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994):
Description: In the opening scene is where we are introduced to Andy Dufresne, a banker. He is sitting alone in his car at night. He is drinking heavily and has a gun beside him. The scene then shifts to a courtroom where Andy is on trial for the murder of his wife and her lover. The prosecutor presents strong evidence against him, including his presence at the crime scene and fingerprints on bullets. Andy claims he is innocent, but the jury finds him guilty. The judge sentences him to two consecutive life terms at Shawshank State Penitentiary.

Analysis: This opening effectively sets up the story by introducing us to Andy and the serious charges against him. It quickly establishes the film's setting and central conflict, making viewers question whether Andy is truly guilty as well as understanding he will spend the rest of his life in prison. The use of lighting and music enhances the despair that Andy feels. The dark lighting is bleak just like his circumstances and future. Overall, the opening scene efficiently draws the audience into this Andy’s world and feeling a bit hopeless. This is done on purpose because the surprising part of the movie, later, is that life can still have a bit of hope, purpose and friendship in prison (but the audience does not know this yet).

Our First Decision

Hey everyone! My partner, Alessandra, and I are trying to decide between two genres for our two-minute film opening. I think it’s going to be either horror and drama. I’ve researched each to see which might be the better pick:

Horror:
Horror films are about providing the audience with fear, suspense and anticipation. In order to accomplish this, these movies will use elements like the supernatural, monsters, or even try and build fear through psychological twists. They also use techniques such as scary settings and low lighting to meet these goals. The audience comes in expecting the unexpected and expecting that they will be at the edge of their seats throughout their viewing experience.

A classic example of horror is Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). This is a story of a woman who ends up at the Bates motel after some unfortunate events. She then comes into contact with the owner of the hotel, Norman Bates. After this, the movie is a series of shocking events, and the suspense is unrelenting. The film is still considered a masterpiece due to its groundbreaking storytelling. The way it replaces the main character for another is unexpected and surprising.

 

Another, more recent, example of a popular horror film is A Quiet Place (2018), directed by John Krasinski. This film takes place in a time when the earth has been through some transformational shifts and where creatures with hypersensitive hearing have wiped out much of humanity. The film follows a family that has learned to live in complete silence in an attempt to avoid these creatures – they even have a baby, to make matters worse. What is interesting about this movie is that the opening is very tense, and the audience immediately learns about this family’s existence and about the constant threat of the creatures. The opening has little to no dialogue and the whole emphasis is on the lack of sound, making it gripping and original.

Drama:
Drama, on the other hand, focuses on character development, including their emotional narratives. The setting is more realistic, and drama films tend to deep dive into personal or relationship conflicts. They try to connect with the audience in a more honest way and they aim to get their audience emotionally invested in their characters.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994), directed by Frank Darabont, is a prime example of drama. It is the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker that claims he is innocent of killing his wife and her boyfriend. He is sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary where he develops a close bond with another inmate, Red. The film looks at the themes of hope and friendship in the most unlikely of all places. Prison becomes something more meaningful and purposeful due to this relationship.

Directed by Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting (1997), tells the story of Will, a janitor at MIT who is a self-taught mathematical genius who has a hard time coming to grips with his talent and potential. He runs into legal issues and agrees to go to school (study math) and therapy to avoid prosecution. Through professors, his therapist and others, the audience connects with Will as he grows, enters relationships and looks to his future. These themes are prevalent in life, so it is compelling.

Which one should we pick?

Considering our two-minute constraint, drama might be more effective given that there are fewer special effects and setting considerations. I feel that in our brief two-minute film we can introduce a character or two and hint at a conflict or relationship arc, all of which are hallmarks of drama. Again, horror often relies on a gradual buildup of tension, which can be difficult to accomplish in such a short time span.
So, while horror is tempting (especially since The Quiet Place's opening inspires me me), drama seems to be the smarter choice for creating a compelling storyline in our film opening.

Stay tuned as we dive deeper into this decision and start coming up with our story.

A Change In Direction...

I have big news for everyone following my blog, as it will now be dedicated to my final project for AICE Media Studies. It is a massive project that I’ll be working on for the rest of the school year. What is this huge project, you ask? Well, It’s a two-minute film opening that adheres to the institutional conventions of commercial cinema. It has to entail original visuals & sound, and titles that look like they belong in a theatre.

I’m not tackling this alone, however: my partner, Alessandra, and I are ready to apply everything we’ve learned to create something that we will be proud of. We have one mission – to make sure we hook our audience during that two-minute opening.

We completed an informational overview in class about what needs to be included in a film opening

…and how to develop purpose

After some initial conversations, we decided that while we will address all of these points, we need to get these three figured out quickly:

1. Introducing the Main Characters (us) – Who are they, and why should the audience care about them? First impressions matter here. We need to make sure our protagonist is relatable.
2. Establishing the Setting – We have to be strategic and make sure our story will benefit from the locations/settings around us. The setting we pick should reinforce our film's tone and themes. One idea we are floating is to incorporate some of the college campuses by us.
3. Alluding to Mystery or Conflict – In just two minutes, we need to include enough clues as to what the bigger story will be without giving it all away.

As we start with our brainstorming and pre-production processes, I'll be sharing every step of our journey. This includes storyboards, behind the scenes, and how we will pull this all together. There is a lot that goes into a 2-minute film opening, so we will have to be strategic. I hope you'll join me as we bring our vision to life!