Switching up
To sum up everything that I thought about after writing my blog post last night, it's that I switched up the whole story outline and kind of my genre. I've officially CHANGED my genre to mystery but also a thriller. Least to say, I'm super indecisive. I've been thinking daily of different approaches I want to take. When I looked at the recommended blog schedule, and saw that we should write about our chosen film opening approach, my mind went blank. So I scratched all the ideas I had and came up with a new one that I genuinely like and have set my mind on. Before I go into that, let me tell you what my other ideas were.
Idea 1:
To start off, I wanted to make my film about a deaf person who lives in a rural area where she is unknowingly being stalked. I had the mask planned, the ending, and the way I wanted to approach the film. When I explained this idea to another girl from my global class, Divya Mohan, who had taken this class in past years, she told me it followed almost the same concept of a film called "Hush." So I watched the opening clip and did some research on the film's aim. After that, I scratched that idea, but I still liked some of the ways they established certain shots and lighting, so I took those into consideration for my next idea. Certain parts I liked about the film was the idea of having the woman deaf, enabling her limitations to only being able to speak in sign language. Then when I pondered thoroughly about this, I realized I, nor any of the characters in my film know sign language. So basically, this idea was completely erased.
Idea 2:
The second idea I had was about a young woman, home alone on a rainy night. I liked the thought of filming when there was heavy rain since it builds a more eerie atmosphere. My thought process through this was contradicting. I would think one thing about something, but switch up later saying another. For example, as I was researching similar films to my idea, I would stumble across different films with different approaches and say I liked it more. But I found myself doing that with every Idea I had, and I knew I had to just stick with ONE. To ensure that my thought process maintained, I attempted to visualize each scene in my mind. The 1996 film "SCREAM" profoundly impacted me. I loved the idea of concentrating on a single character while maintaining audience interest throughout. The film's depiction of popcorn as a symbol inspired me to designate a Polaroid camera as my personal emblem. I considered writing a scene in which the woman leaves a section of the door to her backyard unlocked and open so that her dog is able to come back inside (while she is showering)... However, that would transform into an eerie nightmare for her, as it was at that moment that the "killer" would enter the home and leave photographs of the woman, each featuring a letter that represented a specific word or sentence. As she attempts to decipher this, she would receive a harrowing phone call during which the man (the murderer) would repeat everything she has just read. After thinking about this for two or three days, I decided I didn't like it. It seemed too much and too long to me. There was so much going on, it wouldn't flow nicely.
These two ideas were the main ones I thought would work most well with my genre. I also liked that this idea can easily be filmed at a home and nowhere else that is hard to get to or around.
After some more extensive research, I came upon a film that REALLY captivated my interest. The films "Reviving Ophelia" and "Girl Fight" follow a similar storyline, in which has inspired me to come up with the approach I wish to take. These films both have a concept about abuse or assault caused by friends or family and it helped me brainstorm a few things. I thought to make things more interesting and not boring you can say, I decided to make my new setting at a diner/restaurant. I don't want to explain further details because I don't have my story completely straight yet. Although, what I can tell you is that I have a friend, Rasheli Daluwatta, whose parents JUST opened up a restaurant a few months ago, and I asked her if we can use it on a weekend. I even told her she can be apart of it, since we need another actor anyways. She said yes and this fixed a lot of issues I thought I'd have. We have our main setting available and even my costume design already made (the clothes from the restaurant). And if anybody wants to check the restaurant out its called 'FireFly' located in Cooper City - 4718 S Flamingo Rd, Cooper City, FL 33330
Now, I know this is quite a long post, but let's get into the real thing, my chosen film opening approach. I've researched a total of 4 different films, all somewhat contributing different ideas. So, finally, for the actual purpose of this blog post.
My chosen opening approach for the film is to create a sense of suspense and mystery. The opening scene will introduce the young girl working at the diner, establishing her daily routine. As she walks or bikes back home, the atmosphere shifts, and she becomes aware of a strange car following her, instilling fear and uncertainty. Through a flashback, the audience is given a glimpse into the girl's troubled past, specifically her abusive relationship with her boyfriend. This approach aims to engage the audience emotionally, eager to uncover the girl's story and what will happen next.
Analyzing how the films "Gone Girl" and "Black Swan" correlate to my chosen approach:
In "Gone Girl," directed by David Fincher, the film opens with a seemingly normal married couple, Nick and Amy Dunne. As the story unfolds, the audience gradually discovers the dark secrets and hidden motivations behind their relationship. The film expertly uses flashbacks and unreliable narration to create suspense and keep the viewers guessing. This aligns with my approach of utilizing flashbacks to reveal the young girl's abusive past, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the narrative.
As I mentioned previously, I also researched these two other films, which correlated with the kind of approach I want to take.
"Reviving Ophelia" is a TV movie based on the book by Mary Pipher. It explores the story of a teenage girl named Ophelia, who falls victim to an abusive relationship. The film sheds light on the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse, as well as the journey towards healing and self-discovery. This film aligns with my approach of addressing the issue of abuse and its effects on young girls, even these days, showcasing the importance of raising awareness and promoting empowerment.
"Girl Fight," directed by Karyn Kusama, tells the story of Diana, a troubled young woman who finds solace and purpose in boxing. The film explores themes of self-empowerment, resilience, and breaking free from societal expectations. While the focus of "Girlfight" may not directly correlate to the abuse aspect of my film, it still provides inspiration in terms of portraying a strong and determined young female protagonist who overcomes challenges.
Both "Reviving Ophelia" and "Girl fight" touch upon important issues faced by young women, highlighting their struggles and resilience. In my film, I also want to capture a sense of reality in our present days, of the struggles young women face towards adversity. While they may not align perfectly with my approach, they serve as references to explore different aspects of my narrative, such as the emotional journey of the young girl protagonist and the strength she finds within herself.
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