social media

Hey so before I do my research, I already shot and edited my first 4 posts on Instagram. They are going to follow the countdown (Wake up in 5...4...etc). Here are the posts:

I put a vintage filter on all of the posts to make them feel nostalgic. All of them have the same feeling and they are each a representation of either waking up or one's childhood. They are specific enough to represent the main theme of the film, but broad enough to create suspense and anticipation. I still need to take one more picture for the last post of the countdown but I will figure that out soon. Now lets research... 

@Searchingmovie

https://www.instagram.com/searchingmovie?igsh=MTE3eDBpOHQzdzF0Yg==

The instagram page for the movie Missing combines a mixture of marketing for the film and actual online footage from the film. This film follows a girl named June whose mom disappears while on vacation with her new boyfriend in Columbia. She attempts to search for answers but she is hindered by international red tape. Because she is stuck in Los Angeles she uses all the latest technology to try to find her mom. The film utilizes a lot of footage that is supposed to be “inside the computer” so the audience can see what June is investigating on her computer. Because of this, the marketing on social media utilizes footage from the film that makes it seem like you are the one investigating the disappearance of June’s mom. 

This is relevant to my marketing because, I want to combine footage that my characters fictionally film for their vlog series and marketing for the film. Here are some pictures from their instagram account.

                               

Before researching this I was thinking of making my Instagram only reflect the fictional page that the girls would have but after seeing this I’ve realized that I can combine both and that way I can still market my film while also showing clips that are part of the vlog series. I am going to see if there is another film that does this.

@Unfriendedmovie

https://www.instagram.com/unfriendedmovie?igsh=YXRwemwzNTcwM2Zr

This movie does a similar thing with their Instagram account. This film follows teenagers Blaire, Mitch, Jess, Adam, Ken, and Val as they take part in an online group chat session, they are suddenly joined by a user known as “Billie227.” Thinking it’s a technical glitch the friends carry on their conversation until Blaire begins receiving messages from someone claiming ti be Laura Barns, a classmate who killed herself exactly one year prior. As Blaire tries to expose Billies  identity her friends are forced to confront their darkest secrets and lies. The majority of this Instagram page is clips from the movie where you only see the video chat that the teenagers are in, making it feel like the audience is part of the online chat. 

Here are some pictures from the account:

                               

Okay I think after all of this I’m on the right track when in comes to social media. I know what I want to do and I have two examples of what I’m aiming to achieve so I should be good. See you soon.

moving fast

Wow. I feel like everything is happening really fast and I feel overwhelmed if I'm being honest. I know what I want but then again I also don't. This week I should start posting on my social media platform of choice but how can I do that if I don't know 100% what I am doing. It's hard to market an idea that isn't fully solidified. That is why I am going to work on solidifying my idea by writing it out. Here is what I know:

-I want my film to be a coming-of-age film

-I want my film to center around 3 girls who are graduating from high school

-I want my film to be about grieving one's childhood and the bittersweet experience of growing up

-I want my film to follow these 3 girls and their creation of a "vlog series" called Wake Up where they can document their last few months as kids

-I want my film to capture the pain and the excitement the characters undergo (internal struggle aspect of coming of age film)

-I want one of the trailers to highlight the internal struggles aspect of the film and the other one to be about the documentation and fun part of the movie

-I want the trailers to contrast each other heavily but still be cohesive

-I have an idea for one really cool shot where one of the characters is looking down thinking and I overlap a shot of a fire burning over the character to symbolize the passion and fire she feels toward the subject.

-I know how I want to feel when I watch it which is conflicted. There are so many emotions I personally have with this idea and it is something that everyone has experienced in their life. 

Okay wow. I actually know a lot more than I thought I did. I feel like my brain has been spinning with ideas and I haven't been able to fully express these thoughts and put them on paper, but I think I just did a pretty good job of describing what I want.

One thing that I think is very important to mention is that this is based on a true story about, my two best friends and me, and how we attempted to start a vlog type of thing documenting our lives, especially during such a pivotal moment in our lives. That is why this story is very personal and demonstrates the "slice of life" aspect of a coming-of-age film. This vlog series never stuck as we got caught up in school and life but I want these characters to achieve what we weren't able to do. When we started our vlog series, the three of us created a shared Instagram account called "Wakeup54321" or something like that and our plan was to post 5 posts as a countdown to the vlogs. Ex: the first post would be a picture of something with the caption "wake up in 5", and then the next one would be "wake up in 4" and so on. The reason we named it Wake Up was because our intention behind the vlogs was to capture our memories on film to look back on but also to "wake up" other people and have them take a step back and realize that time is limited and things are finite. I want my characters to focus more on their own benefit and their relationship with the vlog series and less on other's people reactions to it. I want my film to be titled "Wake Up" to demonstrate how these characters are so aware or "awake" as they grieve the loss of their youth. I want this movie to also serve as a wake-up call for people who watch it, especially teenagers who are experiencing a similar thing, which makes this name even more fitting.

Here is a picture of the profile picture that my friends and I had for our account. There was a blue moon one-day last year and I got my camera and took pictures of it. I thought it was so cool that I took these pictures so we added some text, put a retro filter on it, and made it the profile picture.

As for social media, I think I want my Instagram promotion to mirror the fictional Instagram page that the characters have. I want to play around with the idea that my friends and I had to have a countdown before the vlog series. I am going to make the account today when I get home as I don't have Wi-fi here at school, and I know I want to do the countdown but I am not sure what I want the pictures on the post to be. I don't have any cover art yet because I haven't even casted my trailers or storyboarded them so I might just get my camera out and take some metaphorical, abstract, pictures of things that could represent either waking up like an alarm clock, or something about leaving childhood behind. 

I know this post was supposed to be about social media pages that are similar to what I want, but I truly felt like I couldn't start researching without solidifying my plan. I have decided to move my blog posts back one day. Here is what I mean:

Because I gave myself wiggle room during my planning, I can push this week's blog posts back a day and not mess up my entire schedule. My next blog post will be about my social media page, and the rest will follow as it is planned and now my shooting schedule will take the place of my planning post that didn't have a specific purpose. YAY, it works out and now I feel a lot more confident going into the rest of the week. This was a super productive blog post, I feel really inspired and happy. I will see you soon.

MUSIC

Hello, welcome back. Today I want to do some research on music. I have noticed after making two trailers this year for different assignments that sound is SUCH an important part of a trailer. In my opinion, the music used in a trailer carries the entire energy and vibe of the piece. This is why I believe it is very important to choose music that works well with your genre and story. Now, I know that we are not allowed to use copyrighted music without permission for this project and that is why I am going to take a long shot and reach out to a few artists who I am VERY DESPERATE to hear answers from. I have a very specific vision in my head and I feel like I need these songs in order to achieve my vision. If I do not hear an answer then I will find some weird copyright-free sound to use instead but I might as well try. Here is me texting "Smashing Pumpkins" and "The Backseat Lovers" on Instagram. I know its embarrassing, I don't really believe they'll answer but I can try. 

    

Anyways, don't judge me, let me dream. The Backseat Lovers is an independent band so I feel like there is a small chance they might get back to me, I don't know. In the meantime, while I wait for their responses I am going to do some research on copy-right free websites to see if I can find a song that emulates what I looking for. See you soon.

even more learning

Hello! This is probably my last genre research post. Today I am researching the films: The Breakfast Club and Juno. I also viewed these movies before writing this post.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club follows five high school students from different walks of life who endure Saturday detention under a power-hungry principle. Each kid has a chance to tell their story, making the others see them differently, and when the day ends, the kids question whether school will ever be the same again. Each kid represents a different stereotype (ex: jock, nerd, outcast).

Genre Conventions It follows:

-Revolves around Teenagers

-Utilizes music and comedy

-Highlights uncertainty of teenagers

-Emphasizes stereotypes and struggles of teenagers in society

Things I liked about the film:

-I like how stereotypes were used to show that people are more alike than we think

-I like the scenes when they're running around school (very playful)

-Music Choice

-Relationships were emphasized but not in a conventional way

-Even though the kids stay in the same area for most of the movie, you don't get bored

What I might take inspiration from:

-Simplicity production-wise

-Using music to shape production

-Possible use of stereotypes to convey a message

-Playful scenes

Juno

Juno follows a sixteen-year-old girl named Juno MacGuff who after a one-time sexual encounter with her best friend Paulie, finds out she is pregnant. Later, Juno decides to give her baby up for adoption. The movie explores love, internal struggle, societal purpose, and pro-adulthood. 

Genre Conventions:

-Revolves around a teenager

-Utilizes music and comedy

-Romantic relationship involved

-Highlights the uncertainty of a teenage girl

Things I liked about the film:

-Follows the same color scheme

-Strong characters (especially the protagonist)

-I like the comedy

-Took something that is shamed and made it a lighthearted movie

What I might take inspiration from (it is a very specific movie and although I liked it, it is very different from what I am trying to make):

-Strong Characters

-Some comedy

Okay! After all that research I think I have a very good idea of what I want my film to emulate and be like. Until next time!

more learning

Hello! So in my last blog post, we explored the genre of "coming of age" and I learned a lot throughout my research. Today I want to dive deeper into my learning and focus on two examples of "coming of age" films I mentioned in my last blog post: Lady Bird and Perks of Being A Wallflower. Before we begin, I want to preface that I have seen these two films entirely and hope to use them as inspiration for my upcoming trailer creation.

Lady Bird

Lady Bird follows a young girl Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson's journey to discover herself during her senior year of high school. Christine is loving, strong-willed, and deeply opinionated. After her mom makes her get a job, Christine starts working at a coffee shop where she meets an edgy musician named Kyle Scheible. He and Lady Bird begin a romantic relationship, and she begins to drift away from her best friend Julie in favor of a friendship with a popular girl named Jenna Walton. The movie emphasizes the complex relationship between a mother and daughter during this age and highlights themes of class struggle as Lady Bird's parents were struggling financially. 

Genre Conventions It follows:

-Romantic relationship involved in the movie

-Utilizes comedy and music throughout the film

-Highlights the uncertainty of a teenage girl

-Emphasizes the relationships and internal struggles of the character

Things I liked about the film:

-I liked how strong the protagonist was as a character. In my opinion, some protagonists can be quite boring but she really stood out to me and she made the movie very relatable

-Doesn't romanticize teenage years as much, it highlights the struggles and is realistic

-The film didn't revolve around a romantic relationship. Although it was involved in the plot, it was centered around it

-Does a great job of portraying relationships

-Visually aesthetic and nice to watch

What I might take inspiration from:

-Lady bird uses a grain filter over most of its shots to convey the complex relationship between Christine and her mother. I like this a lot.

-Strong characters (like Ladybird)

-I don't want to make my film revolve around a romantic relationship

-I want my work to be visually aesthetic

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Perks of being a Wallflower follows Charlie, an introverted teenage boy as he starts high school, falls in love, and faces his traumatic past. Charlie struggles with mental illness and has trouble discovering who he is and how he fits into the world. Charlie makes two friends Patrick and Sam who are step siblings. Patrick who is a closeted introduces Charlie to his step sister, Sam and Charlie develops a massive crush on her. This film follows the Charlie's romantic relationships and friendships as he experiences high school.

Genre Conventions is follows:

-Romantic relationships involved in film

-Revolves around teenagers

-Utilizes music and comedy

-Highlights the uncertainty of a teenage boy

-Emphasizes the relationships and internal struggles of the character

Things I liked about the film:

-I liked how the film contrasted Charlie's internal struggles with his lively social life and friends

-The scene with the tunnel UGH 

-It captures the feeling of being a teenager and being around people who make you feel alive

-Emphasis on friendship and the importance of it

-I like how the film shows how Charlie suppresses his emotions and how they all come rushing out at the end of the movie, it illustrates the real life consequences of burying emotions.

What I might take inspiration from:

-Three person (mainly) friend group 

-Shots like the tunnel scene 

-Emphasis on personal struggles/obstacles

-This film, in my opinion, is the definition of a coming of age film, it captures all of the things that I would want to achieve in my trailers

This concludes my research session on these two films, I really enjoyed watching these and I am excited to take the things that I like about these movies and turn it into something that is mine. Until next time.

learning.

Hello! Today I am doing something that is integral to the development of my project... research on my genre! If you've been paying attention you would know that I am leaning towards doing a coming-of-age film, and therefore I am going to research that. Let's get into it!!

What is a "coming of age" film?

This genre refers to any work of literature, film, or other media forms that focuses on the personal growth and transition of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood. This genre often highlights the emotional and social changes that the protagonist experiences during the process of maturing.

What are some characteristics of a "coming of age" film?

-Usually emphasizes the internal thoughts of the characters as opposed to just focusing on external action

-Centered around teenagers

-Centered around major life changes and milestones

What are some genre conventions of a "coming of age film"?

-These films include dramatic elements and often inject elements such as comedy and music

-Most films include a degree of romance, often the protagonist's first romantic experience

-Most films highlight the awkwardness and uncertainty of youth

-Coming of age films lend themselves well to slice of life narratives and highly personal stories

What are some examples of coming of age films? (Will expand on these movies in later blog posts)

                             Lady Bird                                     Perks Of Being a Wallflower    

                                        

                                                                                                            

                       The Breakfast Club                                             Juno

                                       

Target Audience?

-12-18 (teenagers-young adults)

-Female and Male

-People who are learning to navigate the world

-People in the midst of their adolescence

-Older audiences who wish to reminisce on their youth

-Use social media Instagram (for marketing)

Other Info:

-Coming age film comes from a broader genre of "Teen Films"

-In the early twentieth century, coming of age films were usually adaptations of books like Little Women (1933) and The Wizard of Oz (1939)

-Teen dramas started becoming a popular in the 1980's due in part to the influence of John Hughes releasing a series of these films throughout the decade such as Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), and Pretty in Pink (1986). These films became hits which likely affected the popularity of the genre

-A lot of films address issues that teens face today such as being open about your sexuality (Moonlight), teen pregnancy (Juno), or race(Boyz n the Hood).

After doing all of this research, I feel a lot more familiar with the genre and I think I have an idea of how I might want to approach this film. But we'll get into that later. See you soon.

Arguably the most important part...

Something that I did do very well last year was plan my blogging, filming, and editing. This year I aim to do the same, while also giving myself flexibility on what each blog post will be specifically about. Note that my blogging schedule is ideal and does not have to be followed day by day. Here is my schedule:

Something that I did last year that helped me stay motivated was add a checklist next to each blog/task that I had to complete that week, giving me something to look forward to when I complete a task. As you can see on some weeks I don't provide specific information for what each blog will contain I put "Production process" or "Critical Reflection" because right now I really don't know what my project will grow into, so the most I can do is just plan generally. Something that I want to include in this post (for me to look back on) are some reminders. Here they are:

-Don't overthink this process

-Don't get too stressed

-This is more for yourself than it is for the grade

-Prioritize the value of what you are making over the result

-Things happen all the time, how will you move on?

-Will you look back on this and be proud?

-Get out of your comfort zone

With that being said, this project feels like a fresh start and an opportunity for me to make something great. I am very excited. See you soon.

IM BACKKK

Did you miss me? Because I missed you. Hello and welcome back to my blog!! It's a new project with a new range of possibilities, which is super exciting to me. Before we get into the specifics I just want to do a short reflection on last year's project choice. In hindsight, I felt that the idea I chose to make my film opening about was very superficial and not important to me which is a mistake I want to avoid making this year. The story that I told last year, was not one that I wanted to tell, rather it was a story I thought others would enjoy seeing, and I craved that validation. This year, I want to create something meaningful and important to me and not some random thriller about cults. That being said, here is a little ramble I went on this weekend before being presented with the instructions for the project (Please ignore my grammar, my brain was going a thousand miles an hour)

I think this gives you an idea of where I am in terms of genre and general ideas about this project. I am aiming to create something I am truly proud of, not because I want it to look cool, but because I want this story to be told. I am still brainstorming the perfect way to translate my vision into film, but I have time. See you soon.