Production props- Mise en Scene

Hey!
   So when it comes to props I need for my film they are actually quite minimal. To begin with the coffee shop scene, I need 2 drinks for my actors to be drinking. I also need a computer and a cellphone for the female role. The male role can have a cellphone as well. Besides that, the coffee shop itself will have the rest such as a place to sit and the proper scenery.
   Once the actors leave the coffee shop they will need vehicles to get to the final filming location. That is all that is needed for my film. It is relatively minimal as the film itself is more based on a realistic occurrence and doesn't require any out of the ordinary props.
    I want to ensure that the movie reflects the current time period so new popular cellphones such as the iPhone XS Max will be used. In addition, the computer that the female role will be using will be a modern laptop. I want to ensure this movie has a as realistic feel as possible so it resonates with those who watch.
Catch you later!
Larissa Sallowicz

Costume Design- Mise En Scene

Hello, my fellow bloggers!

    So I'm here laying in bed just thinking about how I'm going to actually pull of this film introduction. I don't know exactly who I even want to be my actors or what exactly I want them to say, a mess I know. But! the one thing I do know for certain is what I want them to wear.

    For my actors to be able to blend in and play a natural role of being average individuals getting coffee they must dress that way as well. I want my actors to be wearing jeans and a casual top. The female may have on light natural makeup and her hair would be done in a downward manner. Basically, my actors are going to be wearing what is considered a generic outfit for young adults in 2019. I will be attaching some images below of what they would be wearing.

Happy blogging!

Larissa Sallowicz

Titles... Harder Than I Thought

Now,
   What to call this film opening. Something I would think would be relatively easy to come up with, boy was I wrong. I needed something which would represent the intensity and concept of the film. In order to get a better idea of what a film which involves stalking I looked into other films which did as well. Some names of popular stalking films were Unsane, Obsessed, The boy next door, Fear, and The perfect guy. I noticed that most of the titles were based on either adjectives or a description of who the guy was or where he was from. Focusing on this concept I began to juggle around ideas in my mind.
    I started googling synonyms for words such as stalker and began looking into other ways to say words which I felt were too generic to capture anyone's attention. During this, I looked up the word synonym for robber due to the fact the man enters the girls home without an invitation. Then I  thought to myself, he is not necessary a robber since he isn't stealing anything but he is indeed uninvited. AND BOOM! The title clicked. Uninvited.
     I thought that Uninvited would make a great title because it embodies everything that the film is going to be based on, a man who from the start partook in discussion with the female which she did not want to be a part of. I also thought it was a good title because like other stalking films it has a one-word title that makes a large impact. The one word uninvited already gives the idea that there is going to be a conflict and as soon as the viewer hits play he able to tell that the man is the one who is not invited to partake in the women's coffee break or be invited to her home later on. The word also makes it clear that he is intruding whether it be in her personal life with his persistent questioning or it is physically when he enters her home UNINVITED.

SEE you soon,
Larissa Sallowicz

Time to find some helping hands!

Hey there again!
     Now don't get the wrong idea from the title now... I am all up for the challenge of creating this alone. However, some teamwork may help me. I want to gather together a group of trustworthy friends who have prior film knowledge that will be able to help me when it comes to when I blank on what I want to happen on screen and how I want it shown. Just like last class when a student gave me the suggestion to make the film in the perspective of the male I want to be able to have a few numbers a call away to inspire me and make sure my project turns out the best it can.
    I also want to talk to one of my close friends who is highly skilled in editing. I will, of course, be doing the film editing myself as I already have prior knowledge on how to, I would just like to her see take on it. I want to see what she would want to add and where. I would also want to see what type of new fun edits we could incorporate which would make the film that much better.
   Lastly, I plan to talk to my cousin about this film. My cousin and uncle are both renowned photographers who travel the world taking images and creating 3-D art and edits. I feel safe knowing that I have someone a phone call away which could help me figure out how to focus a camera perfectly and play with lighting in order to create the best shot. I also am happy to know that I have a cousin who knows how to mess with those challenging software and he would be able to teach me in order for me to excel with this film opening.
Very excited!
Larissa Sallowicz

Location, Location, Location

Good Morning!
    The fresh smell of coffee beans and the sound of keyboards typing away as individuals work like the gills of a fish. A coffee shop, you guessed it. I had made some mentions in my outline and storyboard regarding my desire to film in a coffee shop. I would like to confirm that is not a false alarm, coffee shop it is.
     I plan to film in a more empty coffee shop or at least a coffee shop during the off hours... if that even exists as everyone is always trying to get their daily dosage of caffeine. According to the Starbucks film policy, they do not condone the filming inside their coffee shops without permission. I attempt to get permission to film, however, if I cannot I will film in a location which offers an outdoor setting in order to avoid any problematic confrontations.
     However, if I am unable to film at Starbucks at all, I plan to choose another local coffee shop. I am stern on the coffee shop idea as that is where I feel confrontations like these often happen. It's just an ordinary day drinking coffee for my female role even though her day will change forever later on.       Who's excited? I am, talk to you soon!
Larissa Sallowicz

Deciphering Characters

Welcome back!
      So on today's blog post, I wanted to focus on my main character of the story and who I plan them to be. In my last post, I told you about my revelation about how I wanted the scenes to play out in the perspective of the male. Sticking to this concept requires a strong male role who can handle such a deed. I want to ensure whoever plays my male character is able to convey the delusion and obsession properly.
      Now just to fantasize for a second, if I were to choose ANY male to play this role one comes to mind immediately.  Micheal C. Hall. You may know him from "Dexter" the American Television Series which first aired in 2006. The reason I believe he is so perfect for the role is because of his charisma, whits, and downright creepiness. He would be the perfect actor if of course, I had an unlimited budget with some impressive Hollywood connections. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Therefore, my actor will just be the embodiment of him... the best he can as it is hard to compare. I plan to find a lead male role who will be able to convey his emotions through a subtle voice that will be showing what he is thinking throughout. I plan for my main male role to be a teen to young adult as the female in the coffee shop will be around that age range as well.
      Let's fantasize once more, shall we? If I could choose ANY female to play the damsel in distress at the coffee shop in my opening film it would have to be Chloe Grace Moretz. I would want her to play the female as she has an innocent look to her as if she is angelic and of course she is beautiful. This beauty in conjunction with the innocence would be the perfect combination to portray the image in my head. But, of course, we must be realistic. I am to find a female actress who is beautiful as well as sweet. I want a female that those who watch the film opening would want to help and immediately dislike the male role for his stalking behavior.
Happy blogging!
Larissa Sallowicz

 

Post Peer Feedback

Good Afternoon,
        Today in class today I walked in ready to work on my project and to further it even more. However, instead of today being a work day, today was a day for peer review with our fellow classmates. At first, I was a little weary to this as I prefer to get my work done independently, however, I'm glad I was given the opportunity to run through my film introduction with my fellow classmates.
          I say this because I feel now more than ever I know exactly what I want to do for my introduction and how I want to approach it. I finally have an image in my head that I believe in my heart I can reproduce exactly how I desire. Thanks to Vanessa one of the girls who were in my peer review group, I am able to create a more enticing and mind-boggling version of my original concept.
Instead of the story being told through the girl's side, I want the story to be told through the lens of the stalker. This way the mind of the deranged man can be conveyed through what he is thinking and saying.
          This new revelation of a simple change in perspective may seem minor to most, but to me... it got me excited to begin the film production process. I believe my excitement stems from my taking of Ap and A level AICE psychology courses which focus on the mental health of humans. I have always been a fanatic for all things psychology and am even considering double-majoring in college with Biology and Psychology on a pre-medical track to set me apart later on for Medical School. So to say I am psychology geek is an understatement. I am now to create the mind of a deranged man as he tracks his soon to be prey, the female from Starbucks.
Buckle Up and get ready for the ride!
Larissa Sallowicz