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!