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.