Production -- Camera

 As if I couldn't be more excited for filming, I was debating what camera I wanted to utilize to make this film come out in better quality. An iPhone camera isn't too bad, but if you were to compare it to that of a professional camera, the professional camera wins every time.

Last night, I was interested in buying a point-and-shoot film camera when I thought to ask my mom if she had any. She gave me a quick answer, saying she'd have to look tomorrow since it was so late at night, but I was eager. With a quick look in the garage, we discovered her camera that she used to take pictures and videos of my childhood memories.

The Nikon D5000

We discovered her Nikon D5000, which came across as complex at first, but she gave me a quick guide on how to use it, and it's pretty simple. It offers good image and video quality for beginners, and it's been around for a while.

Plus, the camera has an SD card, which makes the uploading process seamless when applying it to uploading to Premiere Pro. It has a 12.3-mega pixel image quality, which makes things professional when comparing it to an iPhone.

Source: Nikon D5000  

Nikon D5000 

Nikon D5000 video

Production -- Diary entry #2

 With having to reschedule our filming days, we have finally locked in the first 2 dates. I won't be here for spring break and leave on March 11th, so we don't have much time to work. We still have to factor in editing, which takes a lot of time, and see how we'll divide the workload in that sense. 

We utilized the production schedule template to lock in some dates that we hope will follow through. Weekdays besides Friday dosent work for my group as both Gabriella and Gabriella have sports after school, and including filming in that schedule is too tiring.

To film on Friday, we'll be carpooling after school, and on Sunday, we'll be meeting up at Gabriella's house in the afternoon. I'm very eager to film, as I know the editing process will be long and hard, just from personal experience with Premiere Pro. So far, I want to dedicate time to editing each day after filming, as I know how I want my clips to line up. 

Production -- Diary entry #1

 With the deadline coming up to get our 2 minute film opening in, its safe to say our production process begins now. Working with 3 people does have some complications like trying to work around everyones schedules. 

Our initial plan was to go home together after school and be carpooled by Gabriella's friend to her house so we could film. We wanted to at least get the bathroom scene done as that would be one thing to check off our checklist. 

However, at the last minute, we encountered a dilemma: Gabriella has a lacrosse game. As unfortunate as it is that we can't begin production, it's okay because that's one of the factors that take part in working with a group. 

Since we are all busy the rest of the weekend with other plans we are hoping to change our first filming shoot to the following weekend--most likely Friday. 

We still have yet to order the alarm clock from Amazon and pick our possible outfits for our main characters. Both Jocelyn and I are going take a look in our closets this weekend and decide what we're going to bring clothes-wise for our main girls. 

Planning -- Title

 A major part of a film is its title. While I am focusing more on the filming aspect I left it up to my teammates to come up with a title for our soon to be masterpiece. A title acts as the main component of a film and gives viewers an overview of what the film entails.

The films title is inserted somewhat within the first two minutes of the film which means its a must when it comes to the editing process. Films like The Batman (2022) had a very dramatically placed title card at the end his beatdown of a subway gang on Halloween night. 

Source: The Batman (2022)

However I am going to have to conduct the complete opposite for my coming-of-age film as I need to create a more uplifting and light approach. I'm not sure where I want to place it yet or if I even want to include it in the first 2 minutes but having the title is an important step for further production.

Title Idea 1: Beautiful Life

My teammates came up with this idea as a title. Honestly, I don't mind it as the rest of the film is not included in the opening, and it leaves it up to the viewer's imagination. The title 'Beautiful Life' gives off the impression that the girls are exploring their teenage years further on this one particular day.

This title reminds me of the film 'Little Miss Sunshine', which is also a coming-of-age film, and going off the title alone, you could infer that there are notes of simplicity and happiness. I really enjoyed this film as it touched on all elements of unity and redefining success

Source: Little Miss Sunshine poster

Title Idea 2: Off Script

Personally, I was more fond of this title as lots could be depicted from the title alone. However, part of working with a group includes hearing the thoughts of my teammates as well. To which they preferred 'Beautiful Life' more, which didn't bother me.

However, I do like the title 'Off Script' as it gives me more wiggle room to change the contents of my film opening if need be. It suggests that the main characters aren't going to be following the typical narrative and be 'off script'.

Source: Film Titles

Through my own research on film titles, I've found that they tend to be quite vague, which piques the curiosity of their audience. Short and catchy titles can be remembered easily and give the film its identity

Final Thoughts

After conversing with my teammates we came to the conclusion that our film opening will be called 'Beautiful Life'. While I may prefer the other option it, 'Beautiful Life' gives the film a positive outlook and leaves viewers to think that the whole film will end off on a good note.

My next step to ensure that production runs smoothly is to further develop my script. This process will involve lots of conversing with my teammates to make sure they're on board and comfortable with the films they'll have to be acting out. 

Planning -- Prop List

Since I already have a good idea of my film openings aesthetic, I now know what types of props I need in order to convey a 2000's theme. To further push the 2000's narrative me and my teammates looked for things that we own that could fit with this theme. While searching I found some things I think would be cute to include!

Set Props

I don't want my props to take away from my characters, however I know what is necessary to convey the 2000's plot line. The 2000's is filled with plenty of different print patterns and tacky colors like bright purple, green, and pink. 

Alarm Clock

One of our first few scenes includes the main character Alejandra being awoken by her alarm clock. The sound is loud and blaring which only adds to the idea that teenagers don't like to wake up early. The alarm clock we picked fits in with our 2000's theme as it has a 'Snooze' button and isn't anything that draws too much attention. 

The time displays the dramatic bright red that is typically featured in coming-of-age films. Plus it helps that you can adjust the time so even if its mid day while we're shooting we can change the clock to an earlier time. 

Source: Alarm Clock

Makeup Pouch

A makeup bag is a big part of a girl's routine. Especially in our film's opening, as our main character, Alejandra, is getting ready for the day. I plan on having her use this pouch in one of the first few scenes of my film. My teammate Jocelyn suggested using her makeup pouch as it somewhat fits the aesthetic, and I immediately agreed. The cheetah print pattern was a staple of the era and is pretty cute if you ask me! 

IPhone 6 

While the IPhone 6 was released in 2014 its still small enough that there is a visual difference between the phones from the 2000s to 2020. These phones are small enough that they add to the 2000's aesthetic and add a more realistic viewpoint to the film

Source: IPhone 6

Luckily my other teammate, Gabriella has an old phone that will pair good with the one I currently have. I really like the look of these phones and would be a perfect addition to this film. Plus the Tinker Bell case that fosters the phone adds onto the appeal. The phones don't work but the screen wont be featured long enough to show the blank screen.

Planning -- Production Timeline

In terms of planning, I want to get a good grasp of how the next 3 weeks will look now that the deadline for my film opening is coming up. I don't want things to be last-minute and have to stress over the little things. I want to focus on telling a compelling visual story that also clearly displays my genre.

Week 1 - Concept Planning

This first week includes getting a concept of how I want to base my film. Because I only have two minutes to portray the future events of my film, I want it to stick to the coming-of-age genre. My research has already been a tremendous help, as it helped me understand general concepts of the genre.

TO DO: 

• create a story board
• plan shots I'll be using
• choose cast
• write a script rough draft
• figure out props

Week 2 - Filming

The second week will be purely dedicated to shooting the footage for my opening. This is one of the most crucial steps, as I'll have to take multiple takes with a variety of shots. While I do have amazing teammates who are going to be the main cast, it's always a bit harder to work with other people, as I have to direct them in the vision I see.

I also want to take some B-Roll shots that I could include in the opening to take up some time. This will help guide the plot and create continuity between clips. 

TO DO: 

• film main scenes
• take multiple B-Roll shots
• review footage
• reshoot if need be

Week 3: Rough draft editing

This week, I will be taking the clips and importing them into Premiere Pro, a software that, at this point, I consider myself to be familiar with. It's always good to have a rough draft, so far, I am just going to be cutting some clips and adding them together and mixing with the sound.

I don't want to put too much emphasis on having a final product in week 3, as I want my film opening to be the best that I can deliver. 

TO DO: 

• import clips
• arrange clips
• trim clips
• get around a 2 minute pace

Conclusion

While I may not get around to everything like how I planned in this blog post its good that I at least have a guide. I'm not all the best at following things step by step but if I put my mind and energy to it, it seems plausible.

To gain more confidence in myself I searched the wide web of youtube to see how others first started their short film productions. Just like me they also start off with an idea and then create a script. Youtube is going to be a big help when it comes to finding out more ideas and seeing inspiration stories from others around the world. 

Planning -- Storyboard

Research:

In doing some research on storyboards, I feel more comfortable with creating one of my own. Storyboards save time and money by giving directors an easy vision of what they want to portray. While I do have somewhat of an idea of what a storyboard is its always good to do some further research.

Source: Storyboard example

Storyboards don't have to be anything complicated. Doodles work just fine as long as you have an idea of what is occurring. 

One thing I for sure wanted to include when it comes to planning my film is a storyboard. Like a script, a storyboard will give me a visual on how my scenes will play out. While the actual scenes of my film could be changed later, I think it's better to have a grip now than be at a loss later. Scene 1 is going to establish where one of our main characters is. It's a simple scene, yet it falls into the coming-of-age stereotype perfectly.

Sound is going to be of the main importance in the first scene as it only features an alarm clock, which tells the audience that the main character is soon to be shown. While I can't portray sound in my storyboard, it could be gathered with the alarm clock. The actions done in the first scene will allow the audience to gain a perception of the typical occurrence of not wanting to wake up so early. 

When I film these scenes I want to use my story board as a guide. While these scenes are not set in stone because I want to make sure my cast members/teammates are on board I think its good to have a rough idea. 

Concluding thoughts

From here on out I'm going to make more story boards and speak about them with my teammates so we can actually visualize scenes. At the same time I kinda enjoy doing them because I like art and doing them is partially soothing. My next step is to look at the props and audio I'll be including 

Film Research -- Distribution studios & practices

 Distribution Research

Coming-of-age films are often crafted by indie studios as the stories are interpersonal and can have all types of plot lines. Despite low budgets, plenty of coming-of-age films have risen to fame from how diverse the themes in the movie are. Nowadays, theatrical releases for the coming-of-age genre have declined and have instead been released to film fest's or streaming platforms.

Film Festivals

Film Festivals have been very popular as a setting ground for coming of age films. They allow for independent films to showcase their artwork and could land them important networking oppurtunites to further expand their reach. Moreover, these film festivals often have diverse films that aren't typically shown in theaters. 

Sundance Film Festival 

The Sundance Film Festival is one of the more well known festivals as it has premiered plenty of A24 films like The Moment & The Invite which has sparked them million dollar deals. Sundance specializes in raw talent and values those films that feel authentic rather than generic.

What I think could be appreciated about this film festival is how it gives a platform to over 80+ films and film fans a place enjoy all types of movies. While it could be considered out of the way, as it's in Utah and not a major city, it still gains traction each year. The Sundance Film Festival is supported by the Sundance Institute which has COA scripts being developed a year before they actually air.

The Sundance Film Festival has premiered classic films like Whiplash, Napoleon Dynamite, and Little Miss Sunshine. Partaking in a major film festival like Sundance is the pathway from 'Indie' to 'Mainstream'. 

In order for your film to be eligible, features have to be at least 50 minutes and have 50% of its financing from the United States. Plus, partaking in this festival would make it the first time the film sees the public's eye, as only films that have not had a public release can be broadcast. 

Sources: Sundance Film Festival

2025 Winners

Local SEO

Local SEO is a way to increase audience visibility on a more local scale. Filmmakers include their film on a website and google business profile to increase its "near me" searches. By using SEO, residents in the area nearby will be informed as to how they could see the film. 

It connects local audiences to see a film that was probably filmed in areas they know personally. Plus its cost effective as all it takes is a quick google search.

Source: Example of local SEO

Streaming Giants

Streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, and Prime Video have been the major entertainment hubs for the coming-of-age genre. Members of the platforms have a wide range of films to pick from, and in terms of the coming-of-age genre, plenty of plot lines.

Netflix serves as one of the main leaders with popular films like Incoming, Forever, and You Are SO NOT Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. All their films have a 45-day window for viewers to watch--all types of ages, too. Netflix aims to have films that engage teenagers and adults who want to watch 'relatable' films.

Sources: You are SO NOT Invited to My Bat Mitzvah film

FOREVER film

Netflix also serves as a global distribution platform as it partners with ZOO Digital and Deluxe Entertainment. By reaching global audiences, these films are able to get a global reach and allow films to be enjoyed by many. ZOO digital gives these films captions and dubbing so all audiences can enjoy, rather than being selective. 

Conclusion

There are plenty of platforms out there to distribute film media texts. Distributing film work allows filmmakers to earn revenue from their work and share it with audiences. For my film, I'm thinking about releasing it to a film festival, as they have all types of films and diverse plotlines, which won't make mine stand out too much. Plus, with a big audience its a definite yes that someone besides me and my cast will enjoy the film. 

Project Proposal

 Project Proposal 

  Now that I have finished up my research, my next step is to plan my film. Luckily, I have chosen great teammates who are also on board with the ideas that I have put out there. For my genre, I went with the teenage coming-of-age genre due to how much I favor these films. I'm very big on connection, and seeing on-screen characters go through relatable things makes me feel heard. I can't wait to add my own spin on the sub-genre as I've been inspired by films like DiDi, Big Time Adolescence, and Booksmart. I chose this genre as I already had certain themes of what I want to incorporate in my film. For example, plenty of my favorite teenage films stem from the 2000's. 

Story Elements

In terms of the story I want to tell, I want it to reach teenage audiences specifically, as I myself am a teenager, and I can pinpoint specific experiences. I plan for my characters to be in their senior year of high school which means that school isn't as important as it was in previous years. However, I want Arianna to possess a quieter strength of the duo. She is going to be the 'go along' type with her best friend's ideas, but keeps the peace at the same time.

Alejandra, on the other hand, tends to be more impulsive, especially since it's the end of their senior year. While both of the girls counterbalance each other, I want their personalities to shine in this film. Alejandra can be considered 'Type B,' which means she's easy going to a switch of plans and goes with the flow. 

Senior year often calls for the 'finality' of things which makes students more reckless. While I could predict and write a whole script for the story I have to remember that I have to limit it down to 2 minutes. I want my storyline to follow two girls who skip school and go on an adventure as their time is limited but I know I can't do the whole movie in only two minutes. 

Technological Elements

While I have no experience with a professional camera, I have done my own personal projects with second-hand cameras. Although I plan on trying to use the cameras my teacher offers, as they're higher quality, I feel as if using an iPhone camera ruins the experience of making my own film. In my personal projects for fun, I edited them on Premiere Pro, which is an editing software my school provides for free for students. This allows me to have far more options than I would with Capcut or IMovie which are very limited.

I am going to talk to my teacher about whether these cameras can be used for filming and the uploading process. Moreover, I have friends in the TV Class that my school offers, and they often have to film, which means they have plenty of experience. A close friend of mine is very familiar with editing on Premiere Pro, which means I could easily ask him for tips and tricks. 

My Plan

I have not figured out the specific dates for when I want to film and when my teammates are available; however, I have a clear concept of the things I need to get done in preparation. I'm going to research the lingo during the 2000's so I can create in tune dialoggue between my characters as I develop new drafts of scripts.

In terms of practice, I'm going to speak to my friends in TV class and ask them what preparations they have to do before they film. Even down to the microphones, they recommend hearing their cast smoothly. They have a good idea of certain genres and camera shots that they use to showcase how their characters feel. I want my story to flow fluently and still have its relatable aspects. 

Sources: Comic photo

'

Film Planning: Script (First Draft)

 Now that I have an official cast my next step is making a draft of the script. I already have a brief overview of how I want the first scene to go. I'm sticking to to the traditional scenes of a coming of age film so the first scene starts with Alejandra being awoken by her alarm. By creating a draft of the soon to be official script I'll be able to analyze my thoughts and visualize the film better. 

Research

This is my first time making a movie film let alone writing a script so I definetly searched the internet for resources to help me. While I am no master, youtube videos were a big help on how to format certain cuts and dialogue in the script. 

Source: How to write a script

Sure, I knew a script was a major part of a movie, but I wasn't aware of how much planning went into it. Because, yeah, you could have a rough idea of how you want your film to go, but when you put it on paper, the ideas seem so scattered and need adjustments. For example, something new I learned was that 'O.S' stands for 'Off Screen', which calls for a voiceover as the character is not present in the scene but still has dialogue. 

First draft of my script

   While this is only my first script, as I said, the only issue I faced was writing my ideas down while making a conscious effort to use my time effectively and not go overboard. The coming-of-age genre, with the films I researched, often has dialogue within the first 30 seconds, so I had to develop the plot while also including it.

 While this is only the opening, I want to establish the characters and their connection right off the bat. For example, by having Arianna call Alejadra 'Ale', viewers can easily pick up on the fact that they're close friends. Viewers also have some sense of how the girls share different personalities as well.

   I have a good idea of where I want the plot to develop from here and how to end my 2-minutes however, I know I can't develop the plot too rapidly. This is only my first draft, so the story could be tweaked further.

  My next step is to find props for my film as they make a big part of a film. I'm going to be focusing my search on Alejandra's morning routine. This includes makeup, the alarm clock, a backpack, and other things I think would fit best within the first 30 seconds.

Conclusion

I have a lot more research to do in terms of how other coming-of-age films start. I'm going to do a personal survey to see other people's personal favorite coming-of-age films. With this research, I'll look further into the opening 2 minutes of those films and try to think of recurring themes. 

Film Planning: Casting

 While I already have a good idea of the plot line of my film opening the most important piece of my project is getting the actors. I want my audience to be able to relate to the characters in order to really emphasize the message of being a teenage girl. Luckily, my own teammates were willing enough to be filmed to deliver this piece.

After relaying my ideas to them, they were automatically on board. They really liked the idea, and I know them well enough that I could make the script around their own personalities. While they're considered to be 'amateurs' in the acting field, that's a part of the coming of age genre. The awkwardness of being a teenager. 

Alejandra's Actress - Gabriella Offrendi 

Arianna's Actress - Jocelyn Villa

     Now that I have my actors casted my next step is to go over the script I'm working on and ensure that they are fully comfortable with their roles. I'm going to emphasize the traits I want them to embody with the characters they're going to become. In order to avoid any plausible weaknesses, I'm going to look at my calender and come up with possible dates to film.

Moreover, I'm going to look further into the outfits I want them to wear. I want to portray the 2000's aesthetic the best I can, so their outfits play a major role. While I'm not picky as to who wears what colors, I want them to embody the 2000's aesthetic by wearing certain pieces from that era. I have thrifted lots of iconic vintage pieces from that time, so I'm going to experiment with different outfits. My next step is to create a script and look into filming locations.