Planning: Crew list, props, and locations

Hello and welcome back to my blog! Today I will be making the crew list, a prop list, and choosing filming locations.

Filming Locations

Setting is a very important part of film that must be chosen carefully in order to match the theme and situation of the scene. You wouldn't want to have a first date at a landfill unless it were for comedic purposes, and you wouldn't have a funeral at trampoline park. For our film, there are a total of three different locations: Jessi's house, Jackson's house, and the school. For the school we'll obviously use our school cause that's what we have access too. For Jackson's house, I think I want use my house. This is because, Jackson is supposed to come from a family of wealth and Me and Joseph both agree that my house fit that narrative. For Jessi's house, we could definitely use my guest house since it would also fit the idea of a small apartment. Using these locations makes filming a lot easier since it is only two locations and we have easy access to both of them.

Props

When it comes to props, I really mean costume design and thigs that pertain to the character. For Jackson, me and Joseph both agree that a quarter zip with jeans would fit the "look" of a rich popular jock. For Jessi, I will be tapping into my own closet, using my lace stockings with a black leather skirt, knee high boots, and a grunge style graphic T. Jessi will also wear elaborate makeup including dramatic eyeliner to add to her character. Her hair will have colored extensions that will fit the vibe we're trying to go for.

Quarter zip.                                            

 Jeans     

 Stockings

Crew List

For our crew list we are typically going to be using drama kids and tv kids so that we can get the best performances. Jessi will be played by me. Jackson will be played by on of the main actors in tv, Alejandro Bennet. As for the teacher, he will be played by an actual teacher at our school, Mr. Sheets. For Jackson's friends we will use a few of the drama kids that are willing to volunteer. For Jessi's grandmother, that could honestly still be played by me if I just wear a wig since the audience never sees the grandmothers face. Obviously cinematography, editing, and directing will be done by both me and Joseph.

I got a lot done today and figured out a lot of important things for the film! That you so much for reading, see you next time! 

Planning: Script

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog. Now that my research is finished it is finally time to start planning! Today I will be starting my script with m partner. Typically when it comes to writing scripts, each page is about a minute long so realistically it should only have 2 pages. Therefor, hopefully we finish it today. Lets get started!

The basis of our story is a girl who is an outcast and a guy who is a popular jock that both judge each other for their social cliques but eventually fall in love due to their differences. For the opening, we really only need to include their run in with each other while also giving background on who each character is. I start writing the script by opening a word document and describing the scene. For the names of our two main characters, we decided to go with Jessi and Jackson. The name of our film is going to be different worlds since the whole story is about how two kids from completely different backgrounds and personalities that meet each other and fall in love.

The first half of the script, there was no dialogue. This was because it was mainly actions done by the characters, which gave the audience background knowledge as to who they are. After that first scene of no dialogue, the second scene is where all the talking happens.

Of course I had written scripts before due to my involvement with the tv-production production program at my school, but writing this script still bettered my skills in being more detailed oriented and also including types of editing in the script.

Overall writing the script was really fun as I got to write the clear story and give the characters names a as well!

Different worlds.pdf

Here is our script for you to read! Bye see you in the next blog!

Project Proposal

Hi! Welcome back to my blog! Today's blog will be a little different because this is my project proposal. I will be going into  who I'm working with, the software I'll be using, my potential target audience, and potential social issues the film will be addressing

Group members

To start. I am not the only one working on this project. I will also be working with my good partner Joseph Araujo, therefor the people working on this project are Tejal Donkor and Joseph Araujo. Together we have decided to make the opening for a film. We both have experience in this field as we are both deeply involved with the tv production program at our school. Both of us have made short films before and have delt with cameras and story building so this project will be very fun for us!

Potential Target Audience

Our target audience will mostly be young adult females. This is because the story will take place in school and will have a lot of situations that are relatable to kids of that age. Romance dramas are also typically watched by women that's why it would most likely appeal to females.

Potential Social Issues and/or Representation

Social issues that will most likely be addressed in our film opening are the ideas of social classes since the male lead is coming from a richer background which adds a barrier between the two characters. Our film opening will also address themes of the stereotypical popular jock and the "different" outcast, while showing that they aren't as stereotypical as the audience would think at first and that there is more to them then what they show on the outside. We plan to go against these typical conventions to create more drama and add depth to the characters. For example, the "popular jock" might now enjoy his friends and feel isolated and alone because he feels like he is putting on a act everyday. The "different" outcast female lead might want to experience the things that she's supposed to be against because she doesn't stand for what the "popular facade." This would allow for both characters to met in the middle and find comfort in each other since they both have a wanting to change their lives. The ideas of family's role in who choosing who each character can date will also be explored. Each family will have an idea of who their daughter or son should be dating and eventually not approve of the relationship adding drama and conflict to the story.

Hardware/Software

Since me and Joseph are in the tv program, we have access to a lot of equipment and resources to help us make this film. As for hardware, we plane to use a Sony fx30. This camera is one of the best cameras we have access too making it the most plausible. 

As for lenses, we plan to use a Cannon 24-70mm, and a Rokinon 35mm. The 24-70mm is good for getting wide shots and shots with a lot of movement. This is because it can zoom in and out and has a wider scope. The 35mm is good for close up shots will a shallow focus. The background on this lens creates a beautiful blur that adds to the shot. 

Rokinon 35mm

Cannon 24-70mm

We will also be using a tripod to make sure the shots are steady and stable. A diffuser may be needed if we film outside so just incase we will include it in our equipment list. Light kits will also be used to create certain types of lighting that go with the mood of the the shot. As for mics, we will use a boom mic to capture the sounds we need. We may also use clip on mics incase we need clearer audio of the a conversation.

For software we are going to edit on Premiere Pro. Joseph and I are already familiar with this platform because of tv production so we have a pretty good understanding of how it works. We will most likely be editing on one of the school computers because it's compatible with premiere. 

That's it for my project proposal! See you in the next blog, bye!

Research: Target audience and more conventions of a Romantic drama

Hi and welcome back to my blog! Today I will be talking about my target audience and also covering more of genre conventions in a Romantic drama. Lets get started!

Target audience

Romantic dramas are mostly watched by women. The audience is made up of about 85% women with ages 18-49 who typically watch this genre. I find this quite surprising since I know a lot of kids my age who watch romance dramas as much as I do. Around 55% of the women who watch this genre do not have kids though romantic dramas generally target family and relationship oriented women who dream of a perfect fairytale ending. Romance films have really shaped their target audiences view on relationships. Dramatic films where the man does whatever he can for the woman to please her just because he cares has made an unrealistic ideology in women who watch these films, of finding the perfect man with not flaws who will do whatever  it takes for her. Creating that sense of wanting to find that type of love in the audience is crucial to making a good romantic drama. Every time I watch a good romantic drama, I am left with that feeling of wishing I had that with someone which is what makes me continue to watch more of this genre so that I can experience what is completely unrealistic. It is important that I portray the genre conventions correctly so that evoking this emotion of romanticism in the audience is possible.

App, Carmella. Romantic Movies and Their Influence on the Audience’s Ideals of Real-Life Relationships. 2014.

‌Romantic Comedies Shape Our Expectations, Not Realities. 3 Nov. 2013, www.statepress.com/article/2013/11/romantic-comedies-shape-our-expectations-not-realities.

‌Genre conventions

Romantic dramas also typically focus on how romance can cause characters to make decisions they normally wouldn't make. It's important to include how a character starts changing and developing based on the new feelings they are facing.

Typical characters that you will find in a romantic drama include the male and female lead, their best friends, and their family. I'm thinking of making the family of the main characters a big part of the story that influence their decisions and add to the drama of the story.

Romantic dramas typically use piano solos that can transform melancholy to happiness. They also use love songs as well to add to the romantic effect. Narration can also be used to further drive the story and add an inside look on what a character is thinking.

Cinematic techniques like soft lighting, close ups, and flashbacks are frequently employed to evoke 

feelings of nostalgia and intimacy. 

 

It is also very important to look at the story circle when creating the full story. The story circle helps to create a story with no plot holes making sure that all the information a story needs is there.

Well that's all I have for today! Thank you so much for reading see you next time!

“Romantic Drama Code and Conventions.” MindMeister, www.mindmeister.com/487895066/romantic-drama-code-and-conventions.

Research: Cinematography

Hi and welcome back! Cinematography is a very important part of film making and that's what I'm going to be researching today so let's get right into it! 

Framing

First I learned about framing which has a lot more importance than I originally thought. The framing of a shot itself can be used to tell a story. When framing, you have to take into consideration the subject and the background and the type of relationship they have. Most shots can be broken down into 2 components: the subject which the eye is most drawn to and the background which the subject is up against. The background can convey information in a shot, whether you want certain details to be shown or hidden. A background can either be flat or have depth, shots with more depth are typically considered more cinematic. In framing you can also use rule of thirds which is a grid that helps you to decide where to place the subject of the shot. Rule of thirds can enhance the composition of a shot and create a balance. It also directs focus tot he subject by placing it in a position where it is seen.

5 Techniques For Framing Cinematic Shots

Previsualization

This is something I had never heard before but it sounds very important and like it could be very help full. It's the process of planning out all the shots before hand so that there isn't any confusion. Previsualization helps to make sure everything runs smoothly by mapping out a visual style, framing, movements. It can give you a clear understanding of how to tell the story visually and can help to save time. 

4 MUST Know Cinematography Tips - YouTube

Composition

Composition is the arrangement of elements in a frame which is very important for telling a story. Focal points: points of interest that can be used to draw the interest of the viewer to a specific point. Commonly used in wide shots with minimal distractions. Focal points can be used along with the rule of thirds to draw attention to the subject. Leading lines: Natural lines in a frame that will lead the audience's attention to the subject. Used to show where a character is going but can be broken to add confusion and chaos t a scene. Negative space: Empty space around the subject. If the subject is larger it shows how important the subject is, when there is an abundance of negative space and the subject is smaller in the frame, this can create a sense of isolation and vulnerability. In extreme close ups where there is little to no negative space, the shot can show the subjects power but also focus in on there emotions.

This still shows an abundance of negative space making the subject seem lonely and small.

The Art of Cinematic Composition - YouTube 

This image shows leading lines creating depth. It leads the audience to where the motorcycle is going.

This image shows a focal point and how all your attention is drawn to that one point.

Well that's all I have for the blog today! Tank you so much for reading see you next time!

“How to Use (& Break) the Rule of Thirds in Photography | Adobe.” Adobe.com, 2025, www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/technique/rule-of-thirds.html.

Research: Editing

One of the most difficult and tedious things this project is going to have is editing. But, it is also one of the most important. There won't be a film opening if I can never edit the clips together, so today I am researching different editing techniques that are common in romance dramas and that will also make the process of editing easier.

Sound

The first video I watched was about sound effects and sound mixing. I learned how adding a variety of sounds to a scene can pull the audience in and out of different worlds when watching. Sound is very important in creating the world that you see on screen. It adds depth and can make a scene more realistic. Sound can also include background music, which for a romantic drama you would most likely hear intense, suspenseful, or sad music and sometimes light cute music for those romantic scenes. Overall a variety of sounds can be put together that influence how the audience perceives that scene.

The Art of Dramatic Editing: Free Tutorial (Feature or Short Films)

Film Editing Techniques: Timing Your Cut to Enhance the Drama

Different Types of Cuts

The next video I watched was on different type of cuts in films. One of the examples that stood out to me was cross cutting. It got me thinking that I could use this for before my two main characters meet each other. Cross cutting is matching two scenes that are happening at the same time and cutting back and forth between them. For my film I could have both of them getting ready for school and since they both have very different lives it would create a cool parallel of both worlds. In dramas it is also very common to include longer cuts to emphasize the emotion of that scene. I learned about J-cuts and L-cuts as well which I believe is crucial for having smooth transitions between cuts. It simply consists of either making the audio start before you see that shot or the shot start before you hear the audio.

6 Ways to Edit Any Scene — Essential Film & Video Editing Techniques Explained [Shot List Ep. 10]

Platform

The platform me and my partner will be using to edit the film opening is adobe premiere pro. Luckily I have some experience in working with this app but not as much as I would like, and I'm definitely not an expert therefore I also looked at a video giving me the basic rundown of adobe premiere pro so that I could be better informed for when I start editing.

Everything You Need to Know to Edit a Short Film | Premiere Pro Tutorial w/ Cinecom | Adobe Video

Overall I learned a lot today about the how editing can effect a film and how it can add drama to a scene. It's given me a lot of  ideas on what editing techniques I am going to use and even what shots I want to have. Thank you so much for reading see you next time!

Research: Character types

 Hi welcome back! Again, I have a lot to talk about today so let's get started! Character types are a crucial element that go into making films. It's important to know which character types fit my genre most, so for today's blog I will be exploring different character types found in film!

The Protagonist

The first and one of the most important character types that I researched was the protagonist. The protagonist is the main character. The whole story is centered around this person. The audience will usually know what this person is thinking and will know certain situations that are hidden from other characters in the film. It's important to make sure you're protagonist is relatable and has problems they can overcome throughout the film. Without a protagonist there isn't plot which is why it is the most important character. For my short film the protagonist will most likely be the "grunge girl."

Examples:  Noah in the notebook, Tyler in Waves, and Solene in The Idea of You

The Antagonist  

This character is the villain of the story. They are what make a lot of the problems that the antagonist has to overcome adding drama to the plot. Believe it or not the antagonist doesn't have to be a person. Things like nature, internal struggles, societal/systemic forces, technology/objects, and situations/circumstances can all be the antagonist of a story. In this case the antagonist is probably going to be a mixture of societal forces and internal struggles of how it's hard for them to except each other.

Example: In Waves the antagonist was an internal antagonist, in The Notebook and The Idea of You the antagonist was societal/systemic forces. 

The Deuteragonist

This character is the close second to the protagonist. They don't have all the spotlight like the protagonist and they aren't the main character, but the story focuses on them as well and they are crucial to the plot. In a romance the deuteragonist is usually the love interest. In the film opening I'm making, the deuteragonist will be the "rich guy" as he is the love interest of the story.

Example: August Moon- The Idea of You, Allie Hamilton- The Notebook, Alexis Lopez- Waves

Confidant

The "confidant" is the character that is very important in the main character's life. Usually the best friend, the confidant is someone that the main character shares their thoughts and emotions with even though they wouldn't want anyone else to know. Can also be someone the MC turns too not just because they want to but because they feel like have too. I think that both the protagonist and deuteragonist of my story will have a confidant.

After going through all of those character types, I finally have an idea of what characters will be included, and what type of characters they'll be! Thank you so much for reading, see you next time!

“12 Types of Characters Every Writer Should Know.” Reedsy Studio, 2025, reedsy.com/studio/resources/types-of-characters.

“The 7 Main Character Roles in Film: Ultimate Guide to Archetypes - Arc Studio Blog.” Www.arcstudiopro.com, www.arcstudiopro.com/blog/the-7-main-character-roles-in-film-ultimate-guide-to-archetypes.

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Research: script-writing

Hi welcome back! I have a lot to talk about today so let's get right into it. A very important thing for me to know to make the opener for a short film, is how to write a script. So today I will be discussing the elements that go into scriptwriting.

Writing a script includes a certain format that you have to follow. One of the first elements is the slug line. This is found at the beginning of a scene and includes the location and time of day of that scene. here are some examples of different slug lines found in scripts. The slug line is important because it creates the setting of the scene and lets you know what lighting you'll need and what tings you will need to prepare. If the scene is outside then you will probably need a diffuser and will need to check the weather of that day. If it's at a certain place then you'll need to make sure that place is free to film and look at the lighting of the place to see what light kits you'll need to bring. The slug line will include short abbreviations like "INT" or "EXT" These stand for interior and exterior and let you know if you will be inside or outside.                     

Next in a script you have the action lines. These lines give more detail on what's happening in the scene. These lines are like an introduction of the scene to give background knowledge of what was happening before the dialogue or why the dialogue is happening. Action lines are super important because they let the actors know what to act out and also the type of mood they're in. Here's an example.

Next is the dialogue. This is one of the most important parts of the script. Dialogue is what the actors will be saying to each other and is usually not bolded to help it stand out from everything else. If nothing else is on the script it is crucial that at least dialogue is there so that the actors know what to say. Sometimes the dialogue can be improvised on the spot to make it feel more realistic and less staged, but dialogue is still written so that there is a general idea of what's being said.

That's all I will be discussing about scripts today! Thank you so much for reading, you can found my resources down below! Bye!

Lannom, SC. “How to Write a Better Screenplay.” StudioBinder, 1 Sept. 2019, www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-write-a-screenplay/.

Basic Elements of a Film Script for BEGINNERS! (How To Format, Read and Write a Screenplay!)

Research: Conventions of a Romance-Drama

Hi and welcome back! Today I will be diving further into the Romance-Drama genre to help me decide where I want to go with the story.

Now that I know what genre and sub-genre I wanted to do it was important for me to look at what things are typical of that genre.  

While researching I found that what really separates and Romantic drama from other romance films is exploring the complexity and problems that come with the love at hand. It's important to think of why love might not work out or can't work out for the two characters in the relationships. That's why a lot of common tropes for this genre include forbidden love, family disapproval, and opposite personalities. These tropes create problems for the characters adding emotion and drama making it more serious. Knowing this, I think it would be really fun to do the trope of opposite personalities combined with family disapproval. A grunge teenage girl and a rich, to the book, boy who meet each other at school.

In my last blog-post I mentioned having a meet-cute in my film opening. Since the two characters are meeting at school, I was thinking they could run into each other and both their books fall. During this interaction they will both be hostile towards each other since they already have their minds made up about one another regarding who they are as a person.

Now that I had the emotional and story part of a romantic drama down it was time to look at the technical part of it. This includes camera shots and angels, mis-en-scene, lighting, and editing. I found this video on camera lighting commonly found in romance.

The Cinematography of Romance | 3 Cinematic Lighting Setups

Lighting is important to portray the mood of the scene. For a romantic drama, since it is a more serious and dramatic film, darker lighting that highlights the character's emotions is commonly used in this genre. For the Mis-en-scene of the film opening I think it'll be important to focus on costume design. Since I'm going with a grunge girl she would most likely be wearing dark clothes and maybe have colored hair. here are some examples of what that may look like.

For the guy, I was thinking a posh, rich look so that he fits the role of the character.

Well that's all the research I have for this post thank you so much for reading! See you next time!

“Romantic/ Drama Genre Conventions and Audience Pleasures.” Prezi.com, 2016, prezi.com/yaxtu1rz9ma1/romantic-drama-genre-conventions-and-audience-pleasures/.

Chanel. “Romantic Drama - Codes and Conventions.” Scribd, 2026, www.scribd.com/presentation/335517333/Romantic-Drama-Codes-and-Conventions. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

“Romantic Drama Code and Conventions.” MindMeister, www.mindmeister.com/487895066/romantic-drama-code-and-conventions.