brainstorming

 Thursday, February 22, 2024

Brainstorming/Outline

Thus far into this project, I'm finally feeling confident with my ideas. After just three weeks of working on this project, I have a lot of ideas on how the movie's plot and overview are currently planned and carried out. I've encountered quite an amount of issues during implementation since my preparation was not perfect. Overall, I think I was able to overcome the circumstances and come out on top. 

As I mentioned in my last blog, I set a clear vision on how I want to approach my film. I made a chronological order of notes and ideas including costume, props, and little details about how the film will go. 

These notes depict brief bullet points of what will be seen in my film and other important details like theme, setting, motifs, costume, genre characteristics, etc. After I made this sheet during class, the next day, Feb. 21, I started thinking more rigorously of how I can meticulously develop these scenes. 

Now that I've showed sweet, short notes, I will be explaining them in utter detail. My film incorporates several genre characteristics to create a compelling narrative. Suspense is a crucial element, as the unknown car follows the young teenage girl, heightening tension. The story revolves around the girl’s struggles, particularly with abuse and alcoholism, portrayed through her abusive boyfriend and the flashbacks to their tumultuous relationship. Themes of power, relationships, and obsession are woven throughout, adding depth to the narrative and exploring complex human dynamics. Set primarily in a diner and a dimly lit street, these settings enhance the atmosphere of mystery and danger. Additionally, motifs such as flashbacks and environmental sounds of the restaurant serve to immerse the audience in the protagonist’s world, enhancing the storytelling experience and emphasizing key emotional beats. 

The story outline effectively utilizes visual storytelling techniques and narrative elements to create a concise and compelling short film within the 2 minutes timeframe. Since I have so many shots and techniques I want to implement, I’m afraid I won’t be able to fit all of it in (but i think i’ll be fine…). By seamlessly integrating flashbacks and present-day scenes, I’m establishing depth to the protagonist’s character and the central conflict of escaping from an abusive relationship. The use of symbolism, such as the watch, adds layers to the story while maintaining a sense of urgency and suspense. Each scene transition is carefully crafted to maximize impact and pacing, ensuring that the narrative unfolds smoothly within the time constraints. Additionally, the inclusion of various shots and visual motifs enhances the overall cinematic experience and keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

Here’s a breakdown and analysis of my story outline:

1. Establishing Shot: Starting with an establishing shot of the restaurant sets the scene and gives viewers a sense of place (btw the restaurant is small and is placed right at the end of all the other stores and buildings beside it, which is great for capturing a more creepy setting) 

2. Interaction: The interaction between the protagonist and the customer establishes the protagonist’s character and potentially sets up themes or motifs for the rest of the film

3. Flashback: Introducing a flashback to the protagonist’s abusive relationship adds depth to her character and provides context for her actions and emotions

4. Co-worker’s Request: The co-worker asking the protagonist to cover her shift introduces a potential conflict or complication for the protagonist, adding tension to the narrative

5. Title Sequence: Inserting the title of the film after this scene (the interaction with customer) break helps to establish the overall theme or message of the film (although I might change it to placing it right after her co-worker asks her to cover her shift, hence being able to go straight to the scene at night without having to shoot unnecessary elements) 

6. Transition to Night: Transitioning to nighttime with the bright 24-hour sign sets a new tone and atmosphere for the next part of the story

7. Biking Sequence: The sequence of the protagonist biking away adds movement and visual interest to the narrative, and the introduction of the mysterious car adds suspense and danger

8. Flashback Integration: Integrating flashbacks throughout the narrative helps to reveal the protagonist’s backstory and motivations in a non-sequential way, keeping the audience engaged

9. Symbolism: The use of the watch as a symbol of the abusive boyfriend’s control and violence adds depth to the story and reinforces the theme of escaping from a toxic relationship

10. Foreshadowing: Hinting at the abusive boyfriend’s intentions with the duct tape and rope builds tension and foreshadows potential danger for the protagonist