Time for Some Drama!

Drama Film Openings 

My partner and I have officially decided on the drama film genre! So, let's check out some film openings from drama films!

Trainspotting (1996)

Director: Danny Boyle

Heroin addict Mark Renton moves to London from Edinburgh to try achieving sobriety but has a hard time doing so because of his unreliable friends.

This film opening jumps straight into the action by showing Mark running from the cops. This drew me in because I immediately started wondering why he was running away. The action-packed, chaotic film opening paired with the upbeat nondiegetic music illustrates the rush Mark feels when taking drugs. There was parallelisms of Mark falling backwards while comsuming drugs to him falling backwards during a soccer game. This relates the ecstasy of real-life events to the ecstasy he tries reaching with drugs. What I found interesting about this opening is that certain parts of the voiceover is juxtaposed with the scene. For example, at the time stamp 0:27, Mark says " Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home." while clearly not taking care of his health and standing in an unfurnished, damaged home. This is a strong way of hinting that his addiction is the reason he makes that suggestion. Asking "But why would I want to do a thing like that?" once officially falling to the floor reveals his saracasm as he clearly has an answer to that question and regrets becoming a heroin addict. You can even hear the arrogance he feels towards his younger self and his decisions when he says it. This moment, along with the juxtapositions between the voiceover and scenes, confirms that Mark regrets being a heroin addict and not choosing a mundane, "normal" lifestyle. 

A quick establishing shot at the beginning of the film opening reveals that Mark lives in a crowded city and freezing the shots and displaying the characters' names introduces each character. So, it is clear that the purpose of this film opening is to introduce the characters and setting of the film. There is a really well-done job of introducing the main character (Mark Mark) with a voiceover and clips of him in a police chase and having a drug addiction because it gives key insight into who he was by using visual techniques and who he is now through auditory techniques (voiceover) while making it clear what the main issue of the film is about. This is a creative way to lead into the rest of the film because it shows why he wants to achieve sobriety. What I wonder the most about this film opening is how a serious drug addict gained the self-awareness to realize he no longer wants to do drugs.

The Social Network (2010)

Director: David Fincher

Mark Zuckerburg, a Harvard undergraduate student, works on a social networking site that later becomes Facebook. His success leads to him becoming a billionaire, but he also faces personal issues and lawsuits. 

This opening scene jumps straight into the action as Mark Zuckerburg and his girlfriend are out eating and have an arguement about Mark's pride and insults. Of course, audiences can imagine the outcome of this movie as today Mark Zuckerburg is the billiionaire owner of Facebook. The arguement is extremely fast-paced and forces you to pay attention to keep up. It finally slows down once Erica tells Mark:

"You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. You're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true."

This ends up being the trigger that really makes Mark mad and start working on building his social networking site. I love how the actress spoke at a slower pace for these lines because it makes it clear that this is a major moment and the trigger that leads into the rest of the movie. 

The yellow, lowkey lighting makes it hard to clearly see both characters. I like how the lighting is used to hint towards how Erica's assumption about Mark is wrong and she cannot clearly see his potential and the potential in his idea.

This arguement is a really good way of introducing the characters, specifically through dialogue that is developed through shot/countershots and over-the-shoulder shots. Erica is portrayed as the girlfriend and now ex-girlfriend who does not believe in her boyfriend's potential and is not willing to wait for it because of his disrespect towards her. Mark is portrayed as someone who does not think before they speak as he blindly insults his girlfriend. He is someone with an idea and potential and has confidence in it too.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Director: Kenneth Lonergan

Lee Chandler's moves back to Manchester-by-the-Sea where he lived for many years to raise his nephew Patrick after his older brother passesd away. While in his hometown, he has to deal with his past life that separated him from his wife, Randi.

The film opens with a flashback of Lee, his brother Joe, and his nephew Patrick on a boat. This part is not shown in the clip above, but it cuts to present-day when Lee is working as a janitor and continues on with the plot when he finds out his brother died and he is moving back home to take care of his nephew. 

The establishing shots of the sea make the setting clear. I love how the characters' voices slowly and slowly become more clear. You can tell the producers wants audiences to hear the conversation as they made it clear to here when in reality the boat is far away and one should not be able to hear their voices. They did this so audiences can identify the loving and playful relationship between Lee and Chandler and understand why Patrick was left in Lee's hands. The way it is still slightly difficult to hear the conversation forces audiences to pay attention. 

The bluish-gray hue and calm music paired together creates a sense of depression. That signaled to me that there is something off about this clip or that will happen later in the film. Despite it there being music and quiet dialogue, the sense of "peace before the storm" added emotionality to the film opening.

Although the characters are not identified, the relationship between them is. I really like the thinking behind this film opening for a drama that begins with a character's normal life then shows the character face a major obstacle, especially emotional ones.

Reflection

After researching these film openings, I noticed that dramas have some sort of establishing shot to define the setting of the film. If there is no establishing shot, the setting is revealed with mise-en-scene. For example, The Social Network had booths, waiters walking with food, a lot of talking, and lowkey lighting to make it clear that Mark and Erica are in a restaurant at night. Mark even mentioned Erica goes to "BU" which is Boston University, so audiences know they are at a restaurant at night in Boston. They also introduce the characters. Trainspotting did this quite explicitly while The Social Network revealed their personalities and names by subtley revealing them through an arguement. For film openings that don't reveal characters' identities, they reveal the relationship between two characters, like in Manchester by the Sea. Also, all the film openings immediately introduced some kind of issue that would be examined throughout the plot.

What I love the most about the film openings is the parallelism in Trainspotting because it makes me appreciate the thought that went into making the film. I love how dramas match the music and lighting to the character's emotional state or hint what to expect in the film. Like in Trainspotting, the upbeat music showed the rush that Mark felt and in Manchester by the Sea the soft music and bluish-gray hue hinted that something unexpected and depressing was to come. These are all techniques I want to look into when developing my film opening.

Sources:

-Film4. (1996). *Trainspotting – Opening scene* [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaP7qmsQbSI

-Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *Trainspotting – Cast & crew*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/trainspotting#cast-and-crew

-Sony Pictures Classics. (2016). *Manchester by the Sea – Opening scene* [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVzqzNzPGM4

-Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *Manchester by the Sea*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/manchester_by_the_sea

-Columbia Pictures. (2010). *The Social Network – Opening scene* [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUFqhChmHCc

-Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Social Network*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the-social-network

Drama vs. Thriller

 The First Obstacle

We Still Can't Decide on a Genre.

UPDATE! My partner and I have been debating on if we should do a drama or thriller and now, we are stuck. Here are our thoughts:

Drama vs. Thriller

We like how broad drama is and there is a lot we can do with it but are stuck on what the story should be about/what path to take. Thrillers have more of a set plan on how to develop the plot. This makes it less broad than dramas, but we still don't know what the big question that the film opening introduces should be.

 

We decided to do some more research on dramas and thrillers to see if we get inspiration for a narrative that we can develop a film opening for. Today, I will be checking out the screenplays of different films from each genre.

Drama

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Joel finds out his ex-girlfriend Clementine erased her memories of him, so he undergoes the same procedure to erase his memories of her. 

Screenplay by Charlie Kaufmann:

I love the muted, depressive tone set in this screenplay (by using a colorless palette) because it is very raw, real, and exposed. I love the only thing of color being the "red heart-shaped box" because, even though we don't know anything about the movie yet, this is a subtle message from Kaufmann that this is about romance. The costuming fits perfectly for the setting with the vintage or old suit in a subway and I can clearly see that Joel fits in with this city environment. What I also love is how I am already thinking about where the man is going and why he is in a hurry. I suddenly need to know more and keep watching. This is something I would really enjoy incorporating into my film opening.

The Fabelmans (2022)

Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he grows up in America's post-World War II era, but discovers a family secret while growing up and uses film to see truth.

Screenplay by Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner:

I love how there are screen titles that give the date and location of the scene. I've always found that unique in films and it makes audiences really think about the stage of life the characters are in. Here, audiences stay in the present as they start thinking about how it is cold outside because it is January and are imagining the life of a New Jerseyan. I also love how they have Burt talking off screen while the camera pans down the line towards him and slowly introduces the main character Sammy. It would be cool to incorporate that into my film opening. There is a clear obstacle already presented that makes audiences wonder how Sammy will behave during the movie.

The Visitor (2007)

Walter Vale visits New York and finds illegal immigrants living in his apartment. He lets them stay because he feels sorry for them and tries everything he can to prevent one of them from getting deported after being accused to comit a crime.

Screenplay by Tom McCarthy:

To be honest, this screenplay did not interest me like the other two did. To me, looking out the window and watching an unknown person pull up to the house is a common scene in films. It is a good way to get audiences to wonder who is in the car, because they clearly have some significance. That is why I like that technique, because it tunes people in trying to find out who the character is.

Thriller

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Rachel Watson passes by Scott and Megan's home daily on the train and may be in trouble after involving herself in Megan's missing person/potential death investigation.

Screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson:

The mysterious tone developled with "mournful clatter" and "silvery streak" paired with the question about what the lives of those around us is like is a subtle way of sharing that Rachel's interest in other people's lives will not lead to something good. This helps develop thrill. Like all thrillers, this one has a question introduced in the film opening. I love the question this thriller is centered around because it's a very "I've never thought about it like that" kind of question. The voice over reveals a lot about Rachel's curiosity.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

People from Osage Nation Land (1920s Oklahoma) start getting murdered one-by-one after oil is discovered there. FBI investigates the mystery.

Screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese:

This screenplay has very chaotic imagery that probably reflects the rest of the film. This reminds me of The Visitor film opening the way a character's role is undefined and their identity is suddenly revealed by another character. It makes me wonder what is special about Ernest, but I do not feel as thrilled as I felt when reading The Girl on the Train.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

An explosion in San Pedro Harbor kills many people and con man Kint tries convincing the authorities that that a crime lord lured Kint and his four partners into a million dollar heist that ended with that explosion.

Screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie:

It is clear that a lot of attention was spent on costuming. The cut on Dean's face and his cigarette paired with the "water or sweat" on his face is a subtle way to get audiences to create their own idea of his backstory before acutally finding it out. The way the audience slowly gets more hints about who he is, like discovering he is on a boat deck, keeps us drawn. The techniqe of revealing an unidentified character and slowly revealing who they are interests me.

Final Thoughts

After conducting this research, I am more drawn to dramas because they address an issue/question that I can relate to more than with a thriller. Thrillers seem to focus on more unusual questions while dramas focus more on questions that I can try to answer based of my experiences. Also, creativity-wise, I feel that my partner and I will be more successful at coming up with a film opening idea for a drama than a thriller. So it's time to talk to my partner about officializing our genre! Look out for an update!👀

Sources:

- Script Reader Pro. (2024). *50 best screenplays to read in every genre [2024 update]*. -https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-screenplays-to-read/ 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind 

- Spielberg, S., & Kushner, T. (2022). *The Fabelmans* [Screenplay]. Universal Pictures. https://awards.universalpictures.com/the-fabelmans/screenplay/The_Fabelmans.pdf 

- IMDb. (n.d.). *The Fabelmans (2022)*. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14208870/ 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Visitor (2008)*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10008820-visitor 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Girl on the Train (2016)*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_girl_on_the_train_2016 

- IMDb. (n.d.). *Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)*. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5537002/ 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Usual Suspects (1995)*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/usual_suspects 

Portfolio Project Timeline

 Timeline

Welcome back! My partner and I have discussed our timeline for our portfolio project so here it is! Scheduling this stresses me out because sometimes timing can be unpredictable, so we decided to add a buffer week in case we get off track. Thankfully, organizing our tasks into a schedule will calm me down about how much there is to be done!

The time range of each task is not exact, but we ae breaking down everything one week at a time!

Week 1 (1/16-1/23) 

• Research genres

Week 2 (1/26-2/1)

• Decide on genre
• Research film openings and credit sequences
• Brainstorm potential plots and find inspiration
• Start storyboard
• Decide on filming location(s), dates, times

Week 3 (2/2-2/8)

• Officialize storyboard
• Confirm filming location, time, and date
• Start researching/ brainstorming mise-en-scene, purchase needed items
• Research music/ sound effects in needed
• Decide on film name and production company name/logo
• Potentially start filming

Week 4 (2/9-2/15)

• Start filming
• Start editing
• Film behind the scenes

Week 5 (2/16-2/22)

• Film missing parts (if any)
• Still editing

Week 6 (2/23-3/1)

• Finish editing
• Start CCR research

Week 7 (3/2-3/8)

• Review final film opening
• CCR research

Week 8 (3/9-3/17)

• Buffer week to finish anything that is missing
• Look over final portfolio
• CCR

Time to begin...

There is a lot of work to be done, especially these upcoming weeks. This is when I start questioning the scheduling. Fortunately, my partner and I are a strong team so I know we can get the work done! Time management can be an issue sometimes, but it is something I am getting better at. This project can help me manage it.

Portfolio Project Genre #2 

Thriller

Thrillers are plot-driven films with plot twists and mysteries. They are filled with tension, fear, and suspense. Usually, there is a character in danger or with a lot of pressure on them. There are many types of thrillers, such as psychological, political, crime/spy, and sci-fi thrillers.

Who Likes the Thrill?

The typical target audience of thrillers is adults ages 18-25. This audience is 18+ due to disturbing, violent scenes. However, young adults starting at age 16 do find the plots interesting. Males are usually attracted to the action-packed plots while females are drawn to the questions and psychology behind the plot. For this reason, different subgenres attract different audiences. Action thrillers have a majority male audience ages 15-30 while female audiences dominate romantic thrillers. 

Genre Conventions

Content

Thrillers usually have villian-driven plots with red herrings (distraction from reality/clue), plot twists, and cliff hangers. Common characters include, criminals, stalkers, innocent victims, and murderers. They are typically set in an urban city. Thriller writer Dan Brown says there are "Three C's" to thrillers: contract, crucible, and clock. Contract is the promise to the audience that you will answer the big question the plot is centered around by the end of the film or book. Crucible means you need to make it hard for the protagonist to escape their situation. Clock is the pressure from time running out; it turns the obstable into a high stakes situation. Mirrors are often used to illustrate a character's inner self or a villain approaching the victim. Flashbacks are used to show the protagonist's life before the incident, so audiences can connect that insight to the current circumstance. It also allows audiences to connect with the protagonist. The narratives usually hold suspnense and adventure too.

                                                               Black Swan psychological horror thriller mirror scene.                                                       

Techniques

Thrillers use many techniques like low key and high key lighting and shadows. Low key lighting puts a harsh shadow on the antagonist's face to make them look sinister or mysterious. It also develops uneasiness in viewers as it is harder to see detail in the scene. Color palettes are often associated with the characters. So, the antagonist usually has dark colors, like black, gray, and red. Nondiegetic sound, specifically high tension music, is used when approaching a climax to add tension. Pacing is usually manipulated with quick cuts to increase suspense and anticipation and a variety of angles are filmed, such as dutch angles and extreme close-ups.

Institutional Conventions

Narrative Image

Iconography is used to identify thrillers. This usually includes a hero protagonist, villain, and victims. Low key lighting tells audiences that danger is involved. Other iconography includes weapons, like guns and knives, to indicate violence and confined spaces to suggest something major will happen. Low-key lighting is used for a mysterious mood and black, gray, and red color palettes are common.

Marketing

Thriller posters usually have the color palette of black, gray, red, white, blue, yellow, and orange. An image of the main character takes up majority of the poster. The title of the film is in bold, all capital letters in a clear, simple font often in white, red, yellow, or orange. The posters feautre low key lighting and have a tagline on the poster that hints to what the film is about. These conventions are also used in thriller film trailers. Tense music, stings, low key lighting, and dutch angles scenes are all used in the trailers. The trailer usually begins slow paced to signal normality then follows with a screen fading back to indicate something is about to happen and develop tension. Then, the pacing may speed up with fast cuts. Iconography is included in both the poster and trailer. 

Secret Window psychological thriller movie poster.

Thriller Films

Inception (2010)

Dom Cobb is able to steal people's secrets while they dream and is know given the task to do the opposite and plant an idea in a CEO's mind. Just like most thrillers, the "Three C's" are followed. The contract is that by the end of the movie,  Cobb will perform the inception to clear his criminal record. There is a time constraint as the team has the length of a flight to fulfill their task. The crucible is that the team cannot leave the dream until they finish the task. The setting is also in urban cities, such as Tokyo and Paris, and utilizes low key lighting, confined spaces, violence, and weapons. The movie poster also follows that of a typical thriller with low-key lighting, a blue and black color palette, and a red, all capital title. There is also the tagline "Your mind is the scene of the crime."

Mercy (2026)

A detective is on trial after being accused of murdering his wife and has to prove his innocence to an AI judge. This film follows the "Three C's" of thrillers. The contract is that by the end of the film, audiences will find out if the detective is proven guilty or innocent. The clock is that he has 90 minutes to prove his innocence. The crucible is that he is restrained to a chair in a courtroom and physically cannot escape. The setting is in an urban city of Los Angeles in 2029 and continues to use other thriller conventions, such as low key lighting. The poster has a common color palette for thrillers, features the movie title in a bold, all capital white font, and has an image of the main character taking up most of the poster, as do most thriller posters. The poster even includes a tagline "The future of criminal justice is artificial intelligence."

After conducting some research, thriller films are definetly a genre I am interested in. I love how there is already a set format for creating the plot ("Three C's" of thrillers). It helps narrow down the brainstorming process. What looks intimidating is coming up with a question to introduce in the film opening.

Sources:
- Dukes, J. (n.d.). *What is a thriller?* Celadon Books. https://celadonbooks.com/what-is-a-thriller/

- Ethan. (n.d.). *Audience expectations from thrillers*. Ejaz Film. https://redherringproducti4.wixsite.com/ejazfilm/audience-expectations-from-thrillers

- lydiakate. (2016). *Audience for a thriller genre* [SlideShare]. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/audience-for-a-thriller-genre/59075605

- Schwaar, C. (2020, November 24). *Dan Brown’s three C’s*. Chris Schwaar. https://www.chrisschwaar.com/2020/11/24/dan-browns-three-cs/

- Robertson, L. (n.d.). *Codes and conventions of thriller films* [SlideShare]. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/codes-and-conventions-of-thriller-films-67915457/67915457

- Harrison, L. (n.d.). *Thriller poster conventions* [SlideShare]. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/thriller-poster-conventions/26540804

- Palacio, I. (2020, January 16). *Codes and conventions of the horror-thriller genre*. Ignacio Palacio Media Blog. https://ignaciopalaciomediablog.home.blog/2020/01/16/codes-and-conventions-of-the-horror-thriller-genre/

- IMDb. (n.d.). *Inception (2010)*. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/

- IMDb. (n.d.). *Plot summary for The Watchers (2024)*. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31050594/plotsummary/

- MoviePosters.com. (n.d.). *Inception poster*. https://www.movieposters.com/products/inception-mpw-123396

- Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). *Secret Window*. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Window

- Scott, R. (2023). *Black Swan ending explained*. MovieWeb. https://movieweb.com/black-swan-ending/

 Portfolio Project Genre #1

Drama

Debating on what genre to research was not easy! Drama ended up being one of my top choices because there is a lot you can do with it and many different approaches to take! So here is what I researched about drama!

What is Drama?

Dramas feature a main character who undergoes an obstacle. These obstacles can range from emotional to social challenges and are centered around real-life situations. Once overcome, the character usually has experienced a transformation. This genre conveys a strong message too.

Who Enjoys Drama?

Dramas are intriguing and suspenseful to keep audiences engaged. The typical target audience includes people who love the suspense and feeling emotion. Audiences who enjoy thought-provoking stories and ones with a strong message are also attracted o genres. Dramas are favored mostly by females. As for age, all age groups enjoy dramas. However, people ages 40 and older are seen to take up a majority of their target audience. Depending on what kind of drama it is indicates what ages are more attracted to it. Teens enjoy teen dramas with young characters they can relate to or that focus on identity while adults enjoy ones about relationships and career struggles.

Drama Conventions

Content

Dramas have complex characters with a protagonist who is flawed in some way and will undergo a transformation by the end of the film. These characters are dealing with struggles of daily life and have a group of people they spend time with day-to-day. There is always some conflict. It can be internal or external conflict, and usually both. Internal conflicts can be about morality and internal emotions while external conflict is about societal pressures and outside cicumstances. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin claims that the obstacle a character faces helps develop them and that usually "somebody wants something, something's standing in their way of getting it." Tension and emotional stakes are also key conventions.

Technique

Dramas tend to have static camera movement, with some subtle movement as they avoid use of pans and tilts as they make use of the shot composition. They feature many close-ups, shallow depth of field, and tight aspect ratios that focus on characters' emotions. Dramas have muted palettes and low-key lighting. They also manipulate pacing and rhythm to build tension.

                                                     From Small Things Like These drama movie

Institutional Conventions

Narrative Image

Dramas are expected to follow character development after overcoming emotional obstacles. They are also expected to include intense social interaction and a strong message that moves audiences. This genre is heavily seen to have a "happily ever after" rather than a tragic ending.

Marketing

Drama posters feauture the main character or main group of characters. Most of the time the poster has a close-up of the character's face to highlight an intense facial expression. The setting of the film is shown in the background and usually features a muted or high-contrast color palette. Trailers include dramatic music in the background and include many emotional scenes. The trailers start with the exposition of the plot then is quickly disrupted at the beginning of the trailer to show the climax of the plot. They also post a central question that forces audiences to watch the film to get the answer.

<- F1 movie poster. Sports Drama/Action

Drama Films

Hidden Figures (2017)

This drama is a true story about three African American women who made significant contributions at NASA during the 1960s Space Race. Following conventions of a drama, they faced the external conflict of racial and gender discrimination as their worth and hardwork was undermined. The movie also followed a strong message of overcoming discrimination with perserverance and did have a happily ever after when discrimination in their workplace was cancelled.

Titanic (1997)

This drama is about a romance between 2 passengers aboard the Titanic. There is some internal conflict as Rose, who comes from a rich family, feels trapped with societal expectations and Jack, who is poor, feels free. This is balanced with external conflict as the lovers risk separation when the ship crashes. The central message was that life can be unpredicatable. This drama managed to go against institutional conventions and did not have a happy ending.

Drama is definetly a potenial genre for my portfolio project! I love how there is a lot of storylines I can brainstorm before deciding on the official one. Before choosing drama, I still want to explore another genre. Talk to you soon!

Sources:

- Robinson, J. (2025, July 21). A guide to the drama genre in film and TV. Mandy Magazine.

https://www.mandy.com/magazine/article/a-guide-to-the-drama-genre-79021/

- AMPLIFY XL. (n.d.). The target audience for drama films: Who loves drama? AMPLIFY XL Marketing.

https://amplifyxl.com/target-audience-for-drama-films/

- Paolo. (2023, December 21). *Cinematic consumers: A study of movie audience demographics*. Gruvi. https://gruvi.tv/post/movie-audience-demographics/

- Backstage. (2021, August 23). *Drama: A complete guide to the genre*. Backstage Magazine. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/drama-genre-guide-78027/

- CrashCourse. (2014, October 15). *Film history: Drama* [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ETDTXUnB0

- Fiveable. (n.d.). *Cinematography: Genres and styles*. Fiveable. https://fiveable.me/production-ii/unit-1/cinematography-genres-styles/study-guide/DbTIyB1mfovgQXsc

- FarjanaTahmin. (n.d.). *Conventions of drama films* [SlideShare presentation]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/conventions-of-drama-films/9837149

- Cooper, M. (n.d.). *Codes and conventions of drama* [SlideShare presentation]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/codes-and-conventions-of-drama/15481222

- Ask The Man. (2021). *Kitchen faucet features – Which type of kitchen faucet is right for you?* AskTheMan.xyz. https://asktheman.xyz/

- The Movie Database. (n.d.). *Hidden Figures (2016) – Posters*. TMDB. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/381284-hidden-figures/images/posters

- MSN Entertainment. (n.d.). *Brad Pitt stars in trailer for F1 movie produced by Lewis Hamilton*. MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/movies/brad-pitt-stars-in-trailer-for-f1-movie-produced-by-lewis-hamilton/ar-AA1ASjVW

- O’Malley, S. (2024, November 8). *Small Things Like These: Film review*. RogerEbert.com. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/small-things-like-these-film-review

Transitioning!!

Transitioning into the Portfolio Project!

What's up Cambridge! I am officially beginning my portfolio project and will be publishing A LOT of blogs to take you with me! Not gonna lie, I am a little scared because there are so many directions to take this project and I don't know which one to chose. So, there is definitely a lot of research that must be done!

If you check out some of my earlier blogs, you can see the activities I have done to prep me for this project. In class, we did some more prep and learned about film openings! Check out the pictures below of the notes I took! At the top of my notebook I listed some film openings we were shown that I was interested at looking back at later!

                    

There are so many aspects to account in a film that seamlessly tie into its purpose together. There's tone, setting, characters, background, conflict, and vibe. This list stresses me out but after diving deeper into each one I became more at ease with the approach I want to take!

To me, background is the most important (along with character which I will build with/off of the background). I feel it defines what direction I need to take with the tone and setting, and overall mise-en-scene too! 

Naturally when I think of background, character comes to mind! So once I get a solid idea of the background/context of the film, it is likely I will start developing the character and their costuming and story. Then, I'll use my 2 pillars to inspire setting and tone. This is just like what my group did in our mise-en-scene project where we had to create a character and their background based off of a description we were randomly assigned. (I have a blog posted about it: go check it out!

Before any of this can happen I need to decide on a genre with my partner! I'm not sure what genre I would like to do so it's time for the research to begin! Talk to you soon!👀