To Begin Again

Now that we have completed our AS project, Lisa and I have begun work on our A-level project. In order to ensure we have enough time, we decided that we should spend our class time writing the scripts for our two trailers so that we can start filming as soon as possible. We have completed the script for the first trailer, which will be uplifting and inspirational. Our script (which, if our opening was any indication, will probably need to be cut down) is as follows:

Black screen. As REPORTER voice is heard, the screen fades into an image of ELEANORA making eggs in the kitchen.

REPORTER

In other news, 17-year-old Alma Rodriguez committed suicide last night.

ELEANORA whips around, dropping the egg-y whisk on the ground. Report takes over the screen.

REPORTER

The Harrison High school junior was reportedly being bullied at school for being gay and died from drowning herself in her bathtub.

ELEANORA

Oh my God.

Fade to black. Cut back in to see Eleanora, flyers in hand, walking from door to door, handing out flyers and giving speeches.

ELEANORA

I thought Alma was really brave. She put up with a lot of shit just for being gay, and I always admired her. I’m bi, and I never really told anyone and she just… I dunno. It’s my last year, and I want to make sure that what happened to your sister never happens to anyone again.

Cut to ELEANORA’s face, pleading with RAINA.

ELEANORA

Or, y’know, at least try.

RAINA

I appreciate that, but now isn’t the time.

ELEANORA

I understand. I’ll go. I just wanted you to know.

Fade to black. Cut to ELEANORA opening her door to RAINA, the two of them working on Photoshop, RAINA passing out flyers on campus. While this is happening, ELEANORA’s doing a voiceover.

ELEANORA

There is no difference between us. Gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, demisexual, transgender, and all the rest: we’re all just people trying to make it in the world, trying to find our joy and our pleasures.There is no need to be cruel to each other. There is no need to belittle those who are different from us.

Life gives us enough troubles.

Cut to ELEANORA on a stage.

ELEANORA

Why do we need to help it along the way? Sign the pledge, join Alma’s Angels, and together, we can make a difference in lives across the city, across the nation, and maybe even across the world.

First Filming Fiesta

Note: This video was made on Friday, March 14.

Finding Inspiration

As all creators know, the creative process is like both a search party and waiting to fall asleep: sometimes creators need to be active, going out and looking around other media in order to find it, and sometimes creators need to just lie down and wait for inspiration to find them. My partner, Lisa, and I have been hoping for a little bit of both.

With faith, trust, and pixie dust, we have been given inspiration and were able to determine pretty much the entire outline for the film. However, we hadn't been so lucky with our style of filming, the mood for the opening scenes, or how to present the information. Since the impetus for our main character's actions is another character's death, we know we will need to be sensitive, but do we want a "rip off the band-aid" kind of scene or a "slow and ambiguous" kind of scene?

So, like many people our age, we turned to the Internet.

The first example is a short film called My Name is Lisa. It has a "home video" feel, despite it's fictitious narrative, which Lisa and I both enjoy for at least part of our film. Except we don't want to use this style for the first part when the character kills herself because it doesn't fit the mood. 

The second media we have looked at is the first four minutes of the movie Harold and Maude. We like the understated feel of this scene, and I kind of like that you never see the person's face, but I'm not sure that's the best option.

But, hey, we're making progress.