Scripts out West

 As I started to write my open, I wanted to look at a few examples of famous Western movie scripts to inspire my choices in writing. Luckily, this great website let me access scripts from history's greatest Westerns. Here are a few examples that I loved, and how they opened their films.

Dances with Wolves (1990)

What I find most intriguing about this opening is the use of diegetic sound before anything is seen on screen. I'm a big fan of this style of storytelling, as it keeps the audience engaged from the get-go, and enthralls them in the scene before anything is seen. The dialogue is informal, highlighting the unprofessional and wild nature of those out west. The opening introduces the characters amid a crisis, allowing the viewer to immediately be launched into the movie's action. 

Tombstone (1993) 

In this opening, the use of narration gives context behind what is shown on screen. Through a series of old photographs, showing the film setting, the opening establishes the story's theme of self-described "opulence". It is a simplistic opening and can be a good model for a low-budget (0 bucks) film like I am creating.

These 2 examples highlight the type of stylistic, creative scriptwriting I intend to have for my opening. They're great examples for me to follow, and a scene like the 2 I described are easily replicable for a student filmmaker like myself 

HI ENGLAND, HERE'S MY SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE:

-PLANNING UNTIL FRIDAY

COSTUMES, EQUIPMENT, SCRIPT FINALIZED BY WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY, FEB 8TH

LOCATION SCOUTING, STARTING ON STORY

SUNDAY, FEB 9TH

START ON COSTUMES, DEVELOP THEMES AND GENERAL VIBE AND OR AURA

MONDAY, FEB 10TH

SCRIPT WRITING/ SHOT LIST

TUESDAY, FEB 11TH

SCRIPT WRITING/SHOT LIST

WEDNESDAY, FEB 12TH

SCRIPT WRITING/ SHOT LIST

THURSDAY, FEB 13TH

FINAL EDITS FOR SCRIPT AND SHOT LIST-FINALIZE ALL PRE-PROD PLANNING

FRIDAY, FEB 14TH

LOCATION RUN THROUGH

SATURDAY, FEB 15TH

REVISE

SUNDAY, FEB 16TH

FILM WITH REVISIONS IN MIND, BULK OF FILMING DONE

MONDAY, FEB 17TH

ANY ADDITIONAL FILMING DONE

TUESDAY, FEB 18TH- SUNDAY, FEB 26TH

EDITING 

YOU'RE WELCOME ENGLAND, G'DAY BRUV

A closer look into openings

     Hello Again! As part of my ongoing production, I'm here to lay out my research on 3 different film openings from a genre. My group is at a sort of crossroads, choosing between Western, Sci-fi, or a Western/Sci-fi combo. My research will reflect that as I do my best to combine both genres.

Nope

Jordan Peele's widely acclaimed 2022 film "Nope" is a sci-fi thriller with Western elements. Peele begins his film with a bible quote.

"I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile, and make you a spectacle. —Nahum 3:6"

The quote reflects the movie's overall message of an alien creature being used as a spectacle, lashing out and retaliating. Peele then shows viewers a scene from a 90's sitcom, one that stars the movie's 'human' antagonist. The opening serves to give us background knowledge of the trauma the character feels, as well as creating the unsettling vibe felt constantly throughout the film. The scene shows Gordy the chimp going manic after hitting a breaking point in his torturous entertainment 'career'. This mirrors the actions of the alien later on in the story, lashing out after the antagonists attempt to control it.

Gordy the Monkey in "Nope" (2022)

For a deeper look, consider reading this article! 

2001: A Space Odyssey

Perhaps the titular "sci-fi" film, Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film features one of, if not the most iconic opening scene in cinema history. Although no dialogue is spoken for more than 10 minutes, a clear message is received. Featuring a group of early human-like apes, the scene finds them at the precipice of a great discovery. A monolith, a representation of the future, appears in front of the apes, causing distress and in-fighting. As the monkeys growl about, one picks up a bone, realizing he can use it as a weapon. The moment is celebrated as the first step in human evolution, the ability to control technology, as an important step in the creation of tech that the movie posits could one day control us.  The primitive weapon is tossed in the air at the end of the scene, transitioning into a spaceship, a reminder of how far our species has come. 

Kubrick relies on the spectacle of the scene, the audience mesmerized by our ancestors first figuring out what we know so well. I hope to portray the same kind of spectacle if my group were to choose sci-fi, as the grandeur of an opening is what truly makes it special. 

An ape discovers weaponry in Stanley Kubrick's

1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey"

For more info on the ingenuity of the opening, click here!

Interstellar

A modern classic, touted for its heartfelt core message and awe-inspiring space scenes, Christopher Nolan's 2014 masterpiece 'Interstellar" has perhaps some of its best moments first. Featuring interviews from who we later find out to be Cooper's daughter, Murph, the scene portrays Cooper waking from a nightmare of a past crash. Murph comes to check on him, all while her older self explains the plight of their lives at the moment. The scene gives a bit of context as to the state of the world at the time, as well as building a character around Cooper. 

     I love Nolan's attention to realism, postering the interviews as real accounts of a past tragedy akin to the Dust Bowl in the 1920's. He modeled the interviews after a real Ken Burns documentary on the Dust Bowl. It's Nolan's commitment to realism that sells the opening and makes it so enticing as an audience. 

A frame from the opening of Christopher Nolan's film "Interstellar" (2014) t

hat foreshadows the climax of the film

For a closer look at how Interstellar's open mirrors its end, read this!

Some genres to consider

 Coming of age

 

Hello again! As a I "Layed Out" in my last post, some of the genres my group hope to emulate is the teen comedy genre or the horror genre. Here's a deeper look at some if the common themes within the genres. 

 

                                           Teen Comedy

 Plot

     A simple plot structure is almost always found in the teen comedy genre. Due to the nature of the audience's age (that being teenagers), the structure is slimmed down to its basics as to not confuse the audience. 

    A teen comedy movie usually starts by introducing a character(s) as one of the following stereotypes: The Loner, The Popular kid, The quirky kid, The nerd, or The hopeless romantic. Directors can play around with these tropes, but they serve as guidelines that most films follow in the genre. These archetypes of characters provide the groundwork for common themes and arcs found in teen movies. Some common arcs are the quest of popularity, searching for love, making new friends, or seeking new experiences.

 

The Vibe

  Teen Comedies are commonly lit naturally so the audience can resonate with it more. They are also lit with bright, warm colors to reflect the whimsical wonder and joy that comes with experiencing new things. By using these warmer tones, it creates a sense of nostalgia that draws audiences to the production across generations.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) is the epitome of teenage comedy. 

Through it's absurd premise that somehow feels relatable, and it's 

unique editing style, we would love to emulate this special film

                                              Horror

Plot

Usually started by a scary inciting incident, horror follows a cascading series of events that lead to the protagonist solving a problem. 

    Tropes include a dumb character, a killer, a group of teens, and a smart character who figures it out. These tropes serve as guidelines for a potential horror production of ours. 

The Vibe

Scenes are lit dark and blue to give off a mysterious vibe, masking what's truly going on. It serves a purpose to unsettle the audience, making it easier to scare. 

Fear Street (2021) exemplifies the aspects of the

 horror genre we would want to 

emulate if we chose to follow the genre for our open

Starting my Portfolio

 Hello! I am about to embark on an exciting journey by starting my Portfolio for the Aice Media Exam. From now on, I will be updating you all on my progress! 

    I want to really engulf myself in this project. I'm working with a group of 3 others, and we love the genres of teen comedy, mystery, or horror. We love the reliability teen comedy brings, and the surprise that horror and mystery can bring us all. Films like "Scott Pilgrim" and "It" are some of our "go-to's" that we'd love to emulate in our opening. We're currently working on a calendar as we're busy, having other obligations we must commit to. We are devising how to best split our time so we can do right by this project. 

                                           

"It" (2017) exemplifies the attention

 to detail we hope to follow

    The film opening is a culmination of what we've learned this year, and we strive to implement as much if what we learned into it. From proper lighting to setting a vibe, we'll take everything into account. I hope to meticulously plan the film opening, ensuring that we hit everything we need to. Paying close attention to every aspect of the opening is the only way we can get full marks, and guarantee a great final product. 

Music marketing BTS

 

Music Marketing

    Hey! Welcome back to "London Lays it Out"! I am currently working on a large project encompassing the many aspects of marketing in music and, today, I will be detailing my research that went into this project.

     My group was tasked to delve into Country Music, a genre the four of us knew little about. We started by picking two country labels and researching two artists under their media umbrella. I chose up-and-comer Jelly Roll, represented by Broken Bow Records, to be the focus of my research. I selected the artist because I had heard his songs on the radio and was interested in his preachy performance style. Sufficed to say that wasn't the only thing Jelly Roll had to offer.

    First, I had to research the history of the label. I surfed their website and went to their all about me page. I found the necessary info and marked it down on my paper. Next, I needed a brief history of Jelly Roll, and there was a lot to condense. I searched the web and found articles about his early life on biographical websites and all the modern drama he's caught up in from pop culture sites. I wrote what I found and moved to the next section: His brand identity and target audience. Jelly Roll's target audience and identity aren't exactly "hidden".  Through his social media, I was able to find he preaches about redemption through religion, a theme the young male adults (especially white) respond too. From there, I covered his digital marketing and distribution. I visited his website, streaming service platforms, and youtube to take note of his music videos. I found a common theme of revival through religion, and noted it in my research. Finally, I had to look at his non-digital marketing. For this, I took an interest in his vinyls. Covered in ornate flowers and gold plating, they're indicative of the man behind them, one marked renewed and holy by his journey, inspiring others to do the same.