So… I changed my idea

     Originally, my idea was to create an opening about these two skater friends who are growing apart… but I have rethought and I think my new idea is better.

    My nerd idea is going to be dramedy/coming-of-age (same genre as the last idea) about a girl who wants to run away. While she is “packing” to run away- for example, putting clothes in her bag, getting money, etc.- she sees a couple objects that hint at the reason she is running away. For instance, there would be empty bottles of alcohol by the sink, which would flashback to a scene where her parent is passed out on the counter. Thus, my film opening would rely heavily on mise-en-scene. I would include pictures of her family too, to solidify the idea that these are her parents, and make the story clearer to the audience. 

    Originally, my thoughts for this opening idea were wayyyy to much. I was thinking about having flashbacks all the way to the beginning of her life (her mom walking down the aisle, and the whole marriage). I also thought of starting the opening with a 911 call, which would have been kinda cheesy and overwhelming. After talking to some peers and my teacher, I realized that I shouldn’t reveal too much in the opening- there shouldn’t be an insane amount of flashbacks because that would be overwhelming.

Here were my thoughts before the I edited them: (I had to make the picture really big so the words would be readable)

    The key kind of shot here should be the eyeline match. The girls sees an object, the object is seen by the audience, and she has a flashback revealing why she is running away. I read this article about the eyeline match and I found it really helpful. Some notes that I took about it were:

1. If done correctly, it should go completely un-noticed to the general audience.

2. The camera should be place on the same side of the 180 degree line, creating a harmonious blend between two shots. 

3. It keeps the audience engaged in the story.

These photos are taken from The Stendhal System(1996)

    The last and my favorite part of my story would be when she finally tries to escape… THE ALARM GOES OFF. This scene would pertain to the “comedy” part of the genre. Despite the serious parts of the film (substance abuse, child neglect), there will still be funny moments that would balance it out.