Storyboard

 A storyboard really helped me last year when making my portfolio project, so I have decided that I want to make one again for this year's portfolio project!

Trailer #1 outline

 Hey blog! Soooo it's time to start creating the outline for my two trailers... very exciting!! 

First, I am going to explain the basic premise of the first trailer. (I have not yet decided what my exact outline of trailer #2 is so stay tuned!!!)

A high school girl struggles with severe anxiety, and she finally gets the urge to talk to a group of classmates, but her own thoughts begin to overwhelm her. The trailer will overall introduce the idea that her mind creates exaggerated fears that make simple social interactions feel impossible.

Trailer #1 Outline

1. Opening scene

• Establishing shot of school
• Wide shot of busy hallway 
• Mid shot of girl sitting alone in class.
• Close-up of pen tapping on desk

*Bell rings

 "Alright class it's lunchtime."

2. Intro of conflict

• Establishing shot of lunch area
• Girl notices group of people talking and laughing
• Close-up of foot tapping
• Girl considers approaching them
• Girl takes a few steps toward people

3. Anxiety builds

• Zoom-in to girl's face

*Muffled voices begin

*Heartbeat noise

*Heavy breathing

• Close-up of girl's face (nervous)

-Black Screen-

"I've been told that my thoughts are louder than reality."

4. Thoughts

(So for this part, I have not decided if I want to continue with the animation route, or if this will be actually filmed just with some sort of filter that makes the audience understand we are seeing what is going on inside the subject's mind.)

• Scribbles/chaotic visuals 
• People laughing
• Quick cuts between the real hallway and animated thoughts
• People judging

(Overall, this scene will exaggerate her fears, showing how sometimes anxiety exaggerates reality.)

5. "Peak" moment

• Girl finally reaches group
• Girl opens her mouth

-Fast paced shots begin to play while voiceover plays

^Worst possible scenarios 

*Voiceover: "Sometimes the loudest voice..." *pause* "...is the one inside your head."

(A sample of the voiceover: *click here*)

6. Title

(I am not completely sure if I will stick with this title, but it is just an idea)

In big letters: "Almost Spoke"

Research - Print

Hey blog! It's time to start doing research on the print component for my portfolio project! Since I am pursuing the film promo package, I need to create a poster for the film. The release can either be theatrical or streaming, here are the differences!!

Theatrical Release:

• Title
• Key art
• Production credits
• Tagline

Streaming Release:

• Multiple thumbnails
• Title
• Few production credits

Something that is important to note is that if I do the streaming release, all of the thumbnails need to have the same font for the title and same coloring overall. The reason for making the different thumbnails is to attract different audiences. 

I think that for my specific genre, a streaming release makes more sense. 

One of my favorite films ever is The Perks of Being a Wallflower I think that it really resonates with the idea that I have for my portfolio project because it follows a teenager and their struggles throughout their life. My project won't have nearly as much of trauma in it because The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a VERY heavy film/book, but it will have a similar idea. This film was originally a theatrical release but then was later on moved to streaming services. I think that for one of my thumbnails, I want to create something similar to this one where there are multiple characters in it. I also really like how the background behind the characters is very bright because it stands out rather than if it was just a plain white or black background. I will probably also do something like that because it is just something different!!

I have never heard of the film, Eighth Grade but after doing research on films about mental health and anxiety, I stumbled across this one. I really like how for this poster, it is an extreme close-up so that the audience knows that the film will mainly focus on that one specific character. I also really like how the title is very bold and stands out. I think that if I do something similar where the poster is pretty much just an extreme close up of a character, then I will also make the title bold, and vibrant so that it stands out. I have yet to actually watch Eighth Grade but after doing research on it, I think that it has some sort of a similar concept to what I'm thinking of doing. The film follows a young girl and how she navigates through the last week of middle school, the catch is... she struggles with self-image and social media pressures. I honestly think I might watch it to possibly get some inspiration!!

Research on anxiety

Hi blog! So, for today's blog post, I have decided to do some research on anxiety as it is a very real thing, and I want to make sure that the character is portrayed realistically while still being respectful!!

____________________________________________________________________

To begin with, what is anxiety?

According to, Anxiety.org "Anxiety is a physiological and psychological response that occurs when the mind and body encounter stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It manifests as a feeling of discomfort, distress, or apprehension before a significant event." While anxiety is mostly common, people with anxiety disorders experience these feelings not only more often, but also more intensely. According to What is anxiety disorder? and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a common type is Generalized Anxiety disorder, and it is where a person constantly is worrying about everyday situations. Another common type is Social Anxiety Disorder, which is when someone feels extreme fear of being judged in social situations. One more type is called panic disorder which involves sudden panic attacks.

____________________________________________________________________

I also need to know the basic psychological and physical symptoms so when I am creating my character, I can make sure to portray anxiety correctly.

Psychological symptoms:

• Feeling overwhelmed easily
• Constant worrying (overthinking)
• Difficult time concentrating
• Fear of social situations
• Idea that something bad will happen

Physical symptoms:

• Sweating
• Shaking
• Fast heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Feeling dizzy

Symptoms & Causes

____________________________________________________________________

Now, because the character that will be having anxiety is going to be a teenager, I need to do specific research on anxiety in teenagers because it could be very different from anxiety in adults.

Anxiety in teenagers:

According to GAD in children & teens, anxiety is very common among teenagers because adolescence is a time when people experience social expectations, academic pressure, and identity development. School environments are known to increase anxiety because of pressure to succeed socially and academically.

Teenagers with anxiety often avoid speaking in class, isolate themselves from friends, heavily fear of being judged or embarrassed, and overthink conversations.

Brainstorming

 Hey blog! It's officially time to decide what I want my story to be about. Meeting with Mrs. Stoklosa really helped me get the basic idea of what I want my portfolio project to be about, but I was not able to actually get the full idea. ... Ok I wrote that like 10 minutes ago and I just sat here in class and completely changed my story... yay!

So, because I am creating two trailers, I first need to create an outline for the actual film. This is the part that I struggle with the most because unlike the distribution project we did, I actually have to create the outline and idea of the film, and then from there, I create the trailers.

Sooo, let's start with what we know...

The film (trailers) will mainly focus on a girl that suffers from severe anxiety. I really want to do some sort of animation for when she is having these anxiety moments/attacks, but my problem is, I have NO IDEA how to do animations!!! I am going to have to do a tonnnn of research if I really want to execute this. 

An example of this would be the girl sitting at a desk and she is tapping her foot non-stop, fidgeting with her pen, and breathing heavily. There would be animations surrounding her that basically describe what is going on in her brain

Here is a picture I drew to represent the vision that I have!! 

Sooo that's my idea but I obviously have to add much more to it in order to make this idea become actually entertaining. I also need to have some sort of plot to it. It can't just be about a girl with anxiety. It has to have a deep meaning and message. So, what will that message be?                        

Social Media Research

 Media text: 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Social media tool:

Instagram

Description of types of posts:

The posts for @toalltheboysuvelovedbefore revolve around visuals tied to the To All the Boys fandom. For example, there are fan edits + art, scene screenshots, behind the scenes reels + pictures, and posts that focus on a specific character. The Instagram account uses hashtags like #alwaysandforever and #psistillloveyou because there are 3 different To All the Boys films. This helps the audience know what posts are focused on which film. The account also posted the soundtrack that lists all the popular songs that the film used. The caption says, "the soundtrack is finally now streaming on all streaming platforms! which song is your fav?" 

Description of how branding is developed (or not):

The branding is heavily fandom-driven, focusing on emotional, nostalgic, and romantic elements from the To All the Boys franchise. The branding stays consistent with the use of visuals, character names, and series hashtags. The use of all that builds an identity that aligns with the actual film, and it all as a whole strengthens audience engagement.

Analysis of how you will use this to develop your own social media presence:

I can use the @toalltheboysivelovedbefore Instagram by using similar consistent visuals that are on theme, as well as relevant hashtags that directly tie to my content's theme. By posting content that resonates with a specific audience, I can build emotional connection. For example, audience-focused captions and engaging visuals.

______________________________________________________________________________

 Media text: 

Eternity

Social media tool: 

Instagram

Description of types of posts:

The posts for @eternitymov are mainly promotional based content that is tied directly to the Eternity movie. For example, character highlights, release announcements, cast photos, reeks from promotional videos, and captions about the film's theme and narrative moments. The posts also include scenes from the film and interactive questions to followers. An example is, "Which Eternity would you choose?"

Description of how branding is developed (or not):

The branding for the Eternity Instagram page is professional. It uses high-quality visuals, a consistent tone, and promotional materials (posters and movie clips). The account reinforces the film's theme of love, the afterlife, and making decisions.

Analysis of how you will use this to develop your own social media presence:

I can use the "professional promotional strategy" that @eternitymov used when I am creating my own social media page. I will do this by releasing behind the scenes photos, character introductions, and because I am creating trailers as my project, I can release teasers! I will also use consistent visuals just like the account for Eternity did by using on-theme colors, logos, and taglines.

______________________________________________________________________________

 Media text:

Stranger Things

Social media tool:

Instagram

Description of types of posts:

The posts on @strangerthings.things are overall just show-related content. There is a wide variety of content like images, fan edits, clips from the show, polls, merch, etc. Overall, the account posts content regularly, and it all appeals to the fans of the Stranger Things series. 

Description of how branding is developed (or not):

The branding is very consistent and highly recognizable. Every single post on @strangerthings.things relates back to the Stranger Things universe. The accounts' visual style leans into 80s style vibes and creepy suspense. A common branding technique that the account does is interactive content. This engages the audience and attracts a large crowd to the show.

Analysis of how you will use this to develop your own social media presence:

I will use this account when making my own social media page by creating a clear theme for my Instagram. I can do this by consistently posting visuals and interactive content that directly relates to my project's identity (the scenes, characters, & behind the scenes clips). Overall, I will just stay very consistent with a specific theme the same way the Stranger Things Instagram does.

Romantic Comedies Research #3

 Romantic comedy trailers use specific visual techniques and editing styles to communicate the genre to audiences. These techniques often highlight both romantic and comedic moments to attract viewers.

The trailer for To All the Boys I've Loved Before illustrates a lighthearted and youthful tone through bright colors and playful editing. Key techniques include: 

• Montage editing showing both romantic and humorous moments
• Pop music soundtrack to create an upbeat mood
• Close-ups that highlight the characters' emotional reactions

The fake relationship idea is also clearly introduced in the trailer to establish the main storyline.

You've Got Mail focuses more on emotional connection and romantic tension. The trailer highlights the relationship developing through anonymous online messages. Techniques used include:

• Establishing shots of New York City to create a romantic setting
• Dialogue clips that reveal the characters' personalities
• Slower pacing to emphasize the emotional storyline

Both trailers show common rom-com visual elements like warm lighting, comedic & romantic scenes, and music that reflects the lighthearted tone.

In my own trailer, I plan to use similar techniques such as upbeat music, montage editing, and close-up shots to highlight emotional reactions.