And So It Begins

With only five weeks left until the project deadline, my partner Nicole and I have decided to start our (terrifying) exciting journey towards producing a two-minute film opening. Nicole and I have worked together multiple times in other projects, and we know our faults and virtues pretty well; Nicole's forte is in editing, while my strengths are in the pre-production/visual development process. Luckily, our skills complement each other.

Because we truly believe that a great film is based on story, and a good story is one with well-developed character, our first step to developing the plot is character research. Once we have established the type of character we want to portray, and what tropes/conventions of representation we want to challenge(or adhere to), our character's story will essentially tell itself. A definite story will then facilitate us choosing a genre that best fits the tone and theme of the plot.

Well that's enough snob talk for a day, let's get into the fun stuff. What can you expect? Well I claimed to have an interest in visual development, so here are some of my favorite productions regarding art direction.

Amélie (2001)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet





Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Directed by Wes Anderson






The Get Down (2016)

Directed by Baz Lurhmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis

All these pieces have an emphasis on color and formalistic techniques that enhance the film's meaning through various symbols and visual metaphors. As our plot and character develop, I will be discussing the specific techniques borrowed from productions like these in relation to the overall theme of the story. 

Four and a half weeks to go! 

Let's hope I make it out alive. 

Jeunet, J. (Director). (2001). Amélie [Motion picture]. France: UGC-Fox Distribution.

Luhrmann, B., & Guirgis, S. A. (Directors). (2016, August 12). The Get Down [Television series]. Netflix. Retrieved March 8, 2017, from http://www.netflix.com

Anderson, W. (Director). (2012). Moonrise kingdom [Motion picture]. United States: Universal.