Script Blog: Writing the outline

 Welcome back! In today's blog, we've outlined the script for our film opening below to ensure that we have a clear idea of sound cues, the places where we would like to insert editing, the dialogue, and the shots used within our film so that we are able to film more efficiently and not have to worry about coming up with ideas on the spot. With that being said, I hope that our script gives you a detailed and entertaining insight into our upcoming opening. Enjoy! 

Script:

1  EXT. HOUSE - DAY

An establishing wide shot is used to show that the RONNIE's house has dead and sickly-looking grass in its yard, and the weather outside seems to be overcast and gloomy. A dissolve is used to cut to the next scene.

2  INT. KITCHEN - DAY

A long, full-body shot is used to show as RONNIE walks over to and sits down at the dining table. CANNED FRUITS are scattered about the room. A cut then occurs to a medium close-up shot of the dining table upon which a BOWL OF MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS sits to the right of RONNIE and a PLATE with an APPLE lies next to RONNIE'S LAPTOP on the left.  The diegetic sound of television is heard playing in the background. RONNIE is shown wearing casual clothing and sitting in a CHAIR in the middle of the table using his laptop to write an article on Word. RONNIE grabs the APPLE from the PLATE and takes a bite out of it.   

                        RONNIE

                      (disgust)

    Eugh! What's with these nasty fake apples? 

                   (beat)

    Mom, where'd you get these from?

Silence.

RONNIE throws APPLE into the garbage can. A point of view shot is used within the trashcan which shows a blurred-out ELECTRICAL BILL. Once the APPLE falls in, it will "hit" the camera and cut to the next shot. A shot-reverse-shot is used during the first three lines of the following exchange. It begins with a medium close-up shot framing pointing from behind RONNIE's LAPTOP facing him and switches to an over-the-shoulder shot behind RONNIE facing towards the rest of the kitchen. After that, the camera settles on a close-up medium shot framing facing from behind the LAPTOP towards RONNIE.

                         MOM

                   (distant)

Are you ready?

                        RONNIE

                    (irritated)

Ready for what?

                         MOM 

We need to spend some time with your uncle.

                        RONNIE

                (inconsiderate)

Who cares? He's going to die soon anyway!

                        MOM

                     (angry)

Don't say things like that. 

                   (beat)

RONNIE hits the table with his hand in frustration.                       

                       RONNIE

                    (defeated)

Man!

                        MOM

Go get your jacket; we're leaving right now! 

An over-the-shoulder shot is used to show the title of the film on the LAPTOP's screen and RONNIE as he shuts his LAPTOP, grabs it, and leaves the dining table.

3 INT. STAIRS - DAY

A close-up, stationary shot is used to show RONNIE's feet as he walks up the stairs towards his room. The non-diegetic sound of suspenseful music plays in the background and continues to play up until the end of Scene 7.

4 INT. HOUSE - DAY

A medium shot angling from the back towards the left-side of RONNIE's profile is used to show him against a blurred background as he stands in front of his bedroom doorway holding his LAPTOP.

                        RONNIE

                      (annoyed)

Man, it sucks living here!

RONNIE then angrily opens and shuts his bedroom door, where the camera tracks to the right and focuses for a moment on the NAME SIGN on his door. At the same time, the diegetic sound of his bedroom door slamming shut is heard.

5 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

A wide shot is used to show that RONNIE's bedroom is messy, with various articles of clothing littered around the room. There are a few posters up and a guitar leaning against the nightstand. The bed is lined with satin grey sheets. A high-angle, tracking shot is used to show as RONNIE walks into the room, drops his LAPTOP on the bed, and walks towards his closet, where he grabs the door handle. 

6 INT. CLOSET - DAY

An action match-cut showing RONNIE from a low angle as he walks into the closet and tries to turn on the light switch.

                         RONNIE

                       (mutters)

When is dad going to fix this dang light? 

The same low-angle shot is used to show RONNIE as he looks around the closet in search of his RED JACKET.

                                RONNIE (CONT'D)

                       (yells)

Mom! Where is my red jacket?

                         MOM

All the way in the back!

RONNIE moves further into the closet over the camera which is still using a low-angle shot. The camera then cuts to a medium-long shot outside of the closet door where the LIGHTS flicker five times.

7 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

RONNIE then emerges from the closet holding the jacket. The camera then cuts to a point-of-view shot as RONNIE walks into the center of his room. RONNIE stops abruptly and the camera begins to pan around the room, still using a point-of-view shot. The bedroom is now clean, and lacking a guitar and LAPTOP. Moreover, one of the posters around the room is different and the bed is now covered in white sheets.

                       RONNIE

What the-?

The camera then cuts to RONNIE using a medium-long shot as he opens his bedroom door from the inside and looks out. RONNIE notices that things look different outside of his room as well.

                       RONNIE(CONT'D)

                       (yells)

Mom!

                         MOM 

What RICKY?

RONNIE leans out the door and looks to find that the NAME SIGN has changed to RICKY's name.

                       RONNIE

What in the world is going on?

The camera cuts back to RONNIE in the room using medium-shot framing. RONNIE thinks about his situation for a moment before a tracking shot is used to follow him back to the outside of the closet. The camera stops outside of the closet as RONNIE walks all the way to the back and shuts the door. The LIGHTS flicker three times. The non-diegetic quickens. RONNIE exits the closet, still holding his jacket, and using another point-of-view shot, he sees that his room has returned back to its usual state, including his LAPTOP being on his bed. The non-diegetic music softens. The camera then cuts to a medium shot with RONNIE still in his bedroom.

                       RONNIE

              (uncertainly)

Mom?

Silence.

A medium shot is used once more alongside a tracking shot as RONNIE walks towards his bedroom door. 

8 INT. HALLWAY - DAY

The camera then cuts to a hallway as he walks towards the living room and the camera is facing him.

                      RONNIE(CONT'D)

                  (unease)

Mom?

The camera zooms in and settles on a medium-close-up shot of RONNIE.

Silence.

9 INT. LIVING ROOM- DAY

RONNIE walks quickly into the living room where the camera is still facing him and where he sees something behind the camera. 

                     RONNIE(CONT'D)

                  (extreme panic)

Mom‽

                                                       FADE OUT

THE END

Closing Remarks:

Overall, I'd say that this script is certainly a great basis for the creation of our opening and that it will certainly be helpful once we get into the hands-on portion of our production process. Hence why I do believe that our opening is sure to be "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke).

____________________________________________________________________________

   

Title: Planning Blog: Additional Information- Ironing Out The Edges

Hello, I'm glad to see that you've returned for our official planning blog, regarding the way in which we will keep things running smoothly, no matter what challenges we may face. Below you'll find that I've divided our plan up into five different sections so that everything is easier to understand and visualize. 

Participants:

    In order to ensure that the participants and each of their roles for this particular project are clear, I've broken down each of their "positions" below:

*Actors-

• Anthony as "Ronnie"

• Tanya as "Mom"

Filming-

• Jordyn Minnis

• Nicole Kimmick

• Julissa Espinal

• Yaneli Zelaya

Editing-

• Jordyn Minnis

Directing-

• Jordyn Minnis

* Regarding our official actors, our finalizations will be made within the coming week; however, we are currently putting in one of our groupmates' friends as he was interested in the role. When it comes to the role of Mom, one of our teammate's parents has also agreed to play that role. Additionally, for privacy reasons, we've excluded the last names of our actors.

Location, 

    At this time, we will likely be filming at one of our candidate's family members' homes, for which we did receive permission to do so. As seen in our script, we will be utilizing the kitchen and living room, as well as one of the home's bedrooms and hallways. We plan on using stairs within our film; however, that will depend entirely on how much time we have and whether or not we are able to fit the scene in.

Filming Schedule:

    To make our filming schedule more digestible and easy to understand, I've divided it up into the dates we need to have certain components of our project started and completed by:

On Monday, February 28th, 2022, my group and I will begin storyboarding for our two-minute long film opening; we will have it finished by Friday, March 4th, 2022. 

On Sunday, March 6th, 2022, my group and I will begin filming for our opening sequence, if we have not started to do so already, and will ensure to have this completed by Monday, March 28th, 2022.

On Monday, March 7th, 2022, my group and I will also begin editing for our opening and have that step of our project done by Sunday, April 10th, 2022 at the latest, to ensure that our final product is complete by April 15th, 2022.

Health and Safety:

    We will ensure to have an adult present at all times who is capable of administering first aid in the case of an emergency. If we need to stand on something in order to obtain a higher shot, we will see to it that the platform is stable and, if not, look for another means of filming the scene. Since our scenes require the utilization of electricity, particularly when it comes to the flickering of the lights, we will be sure to keep all metal items away from any electrical sockets so that we can avoid being shocked. In addition, we will also have a fire extinguisher handy, so we can use it if necessary.

Backup Plan:

    As previously stated, there is the possibility that we may not be able to use a staircase in our film; therefore, if need be, we could refrain from using that shot as one of our scenes and instead use a shot of a hallway, or none at all. Additionally, if one of us is unable to drive to our teammate's family member's home, we will convene at an alternative location, that being a fellow group member's home. Moreover, since we are filming indoors for the majority of our opening, the weather is not one of our major concerns, except for the fact that it may lead to the triggering of loud noises, such as thunder, which may interfere with our film's audio. In the case that this was to occur, we'd need to reschedule to shoot on another day; hence why we created a schedule to provide ourselves with about two weeks of leeway to make up for any filming setbacks. As for what we would do in the case that one of our groupmates were to catch COVID-19, we'd ensure to keep them updated via technological means and simply have another one of our team members fill in for their position.  Furthermore, as with our previous project, the subject of our film will not be any one of the members of our group, so if one of us were to be exposed to the virus, we would not be pushed back when it comes to filming. As for the music in our film, whilst I did reach out to a few artists and their music corporations through various social media accounts, emails, and phone numbers, I have had yet to receive a response. That being the case, my group and I have decided that if we do not receive a response within a month (the lengthy period of time being permissible as the audio would be added during the editing phase of our production), we would either resort to creating our own music with Garageband or using royalty-free music online or perhaps even a combination of the two.

Concluding Remarks:

    As this blog comes to a close, I'd like to say that there really "Ain't no stoppin' us now, we're on the move; ain't no stoppin' us now, we've got the groove" (McFadden & Whitehead).