Props

There are a bunch of props we need for our filming process. So let's go through them!

As seen on the storyboard, our film opening starts with inserts of random props and scenes of the home that reflect the Alea's poor state of living.

Used scratch off lottery tickets will be shown. This is our way of hinting that this is a story about poor finances and a person desperate for some luck. The reason the scratch offs will be "used' is to add a lived-in feeling to the setting. 

Contributing to the lived-in feeling, dirty dishes will be left in the sink. This reflects Alea's laziness and the pause she puts on her life. 

Microwave popcorn will be the snack Alea eats during the film opening. We chose it because it is a lazy and unhealthy food option. This reflects Alea's need to have quick solutions (microwave popcorn is a made fast), her laziness to cook, and how she has fallen down a tunnel of despair and quit taking care of her heath.

To create the fancy invite to the risky game for money, my partner created a red envelope and I created the gold "won%" and wax seal that we will put on the evenlope. Showing the envelope on camera is our way of presenting the title of the film. We chose red for the envelope because it symbolizes danger, risk, and power and we chose gold because it shows wealth.

To create the envelope, my partner used a stencil and cut out the desired shape. Then, she cut out the envelope and folded and glued each end together.

Here are the steps I took to make the gold "won%." I do nail art a lot so I used tools from that to create it. 

1. Print the title in the font New Icon Script.

2. Use solid builder nail gel to trace the words on the paper. First, I rolled the gel into a thin worm and then I used my spatula tool to mold it into shape. 

3. Put the builder gel under the UV light for 40 seconds.

4. Add gold chrome nail powder to the cured builder gel.

5. Continue this process for every letter.

6. Remove the finished product from the paper. Use a nail dotting tool and scissors to cut off excess paper. I added some more gold chrome nail powder to touch it up some more too.

To create the wax seal, we had to get creative since we do not have the supplies for that! I created it using a similar process to the title. 

1. I rolled up my builder gel into a ball and used the chrome nail powder jar to stamp it into a wax seal shape.

2. I flattened out the center with my finger a bit since the builder gel lifted when I removed the jar. 

3. I used a dotting tool to emboss a % symbol into the "wax."

4. I cured the gel under a UV light for 40 seconds.

5. I removed the seal from the paper, removed any excess paper stuck to the seal, and put on the gold chrome nail powder. 

6. This is the final result!

Here is the letter my partner typed to put in the red envelope. The cursive font reinforces the idea of wealth and status that is contrasted with Alea's state of living.

To create some fake debt collection bills, we found a website that offers free tempates. I edited it and the final result is in the picture. For the address, I put "Albatross Street" because an albatross is a bird that can symbolize debt and a hinderance to success.

I made a custom document the size of the envelopes we have and used the Rustic Printed Stamp font in red to create warning notices. Then, I put the envelopes in my printer and this is the final result!

Sources: 

- Reddit user. (2023). And nothing… 4 in a row nothing not even a 10 [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Lottery/comments/11ce9vd/and_nothing4_in_a_row_nothing_not_even_a_10/

- Henderson, A. (2023). How long should you let dishes soak? Southern Living. https://www.southernliving.com/how-long-should-you-let-dishes-soak-11844524

- Delish Editors. (2024). Reasons not to eat microwave popcorn. Delish. https://www.delish.com/food-news/a62718777/reasons-not-to-eat-microwave-popcorn/

- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (n.d.). Debt collection model validation notice [PDF]. https://github.com/cfpb/debt-collection-files/blob/gh-pages/print/cfpb_debt-collection_model-validation-notice_en.pdf