Casting

Our main character for this film is a girl named Lily. In the story, she is the hostess of the sleepover and the driver of the car home. Lily is described as a delighted person who likes to adventure with friends. To play this role, we chose a girl named Lily Sikorski because she is very outgoing, loud, and has a big personality. In this film, she is the teenage girl who is scared by a man in a black hoodie. We knew that Lily had a very projective voice and does not get stage fright in front of the camera or crowds. She was the perfect fit, us the directors, had in mind for our protagonist. Our next character was Lizzy, Lily's friend. We wanted to make it seem realistic, so we chose actual real-life friends of Lily's for the film. Lizzy was picked for this role because she is very social and is funny. Additionally, our next character, Annalise, is playing the role of Lily's friend. She was picked for this position because she is the quiet one of the group and looks out for us. Lastly, our mysterious figure is the "Black Hood". This figure is first shown at the mall following the group of teenage girls, who have no idea they are being followed. He then appears outside the house of the sleepover, still unknown to the girls.

Lily Sikorski

Lizzy Small

Annalise Grimmer

The Black Hood

Scout Locations

We choose this location of the mall because it is a fun place that girls like to hang out. This will be the starting location of the film. It also will feel realistic because there will be atmospheric sounds and people in the background, doing their everyday thing.

Out Door Locations

This location is outside of the University Town Center Mall. We decided to pick this location because it shows all of us entering, then leaving and heading back to the house. It also is a big tourist spot for visitors and just teens and adults living within Sarasota, Florida.

This is the front door where we will all enter the house. We picked this spot because the camera shot can fit the whole door and path as we walk in. One feature that might change as we get closer to filming is the addition of Christmas decorations, but I don't think it will affect the movie in any way.

This is an establishing shot of the house we will be in during the film. We chose this location because the tree in the front yard creates a creepy mood. This location also offers a variety of hiding spots. As we arrive at the house in the film we will have a quick walk inside the front door and a quick transition to the next scene.

Script

Film Genre Research- Mean Girls

My group is still not 100% sure about our film genre, so I decided to investigate another genre. The next movie I decided to look into was mean girls; it is a teen comedy. During the opening scene, incidental music is playing while the main character Katie says bye to her parents. Katie talks in the background while different photos were being shown of her in Africa, a voice-over. As Katie walks into her new school lots of props and action shots are taking place. A point of view shot is used to express her view on how different this place is from her old school. During the opening credits, the actor's names appear on the bottom of the screen and fade in and out. Lots of mid-shots are used to establish her reactions and whats going on in the background. Many close-ups are also used to show her different teacher's facial expressions as they yell at her. The introduction ends with using a fade-in on her eating lunch in the bathroom by herself; then transitions to her walking home. Overall, the first four minutes set up her background information and how she is new to the school and has no friends. The opening scene fails to introduce the three mean girls that set up the rest of the story.

This film's budget was 17 million USD and their box-office income was 129 million. Mean girls won many awards, including MTV Movie Award and the Teen Choice Award. 

Film Genre Research- Murder Mystery

With having a mystery genre in mind for our film, the next movie I decided to research was Murder Mystery. It starts out with the companies credits and the production company. The movie fades into an establishing shot of a city with incidental music playing. A mid shot is taken following the two actors down the street. A dolly is used to walk out their conversation during a long take. The next scene is in a hair salon with a lot of dialogue between the actors. The girls are all talking about their husbands and how they never do anything nice for their anniversary. It is her and her husband 15 year anniversary tomorrow, and she wants to go to Europe. This establishes their adventure that is going to take place during the film.
Overall the first couple of minutes sets up the characters but doesn't get into the action or mystery that you find later on in the film.

Murder mystery had a budget of 80 million and made 215 million dollars. Additionally, it won the Peoples Choice Award for favorite comedic movie.

Film Genre Research- Split

The next movie I decided to look into was Split. Split is considered a horror and thriller film. The film's budget for Split was 9 million and its total box office was 278.5 million US dollars. 

Split starts out with a long take mid-shot of a girl looking off in the distance, while people are her are talking and laughing. The girl doesn't have a ride, so her friend's dad offers her a ride home. As the girls get in the car someone approaches their dad. Suspense is built by an eye-line match of who the dad is looking at. Insert shots are used to view the car mirror and notice something is wrong. Close-ups are also used to describe their reactions. It ends by him spraying them all, then fades out black. This is all shown in the first four minutes and it sets off the main conflict in the story. Next, it comes up with the company name and picture credits, then it says the title. In 2017 Split won the Nominee Halfway Award for best actor. 

Film Genre Research- Home Alone

The next movie I will be studying is Home Alone. The genre for this movie is adventure and comedy. The film's budget was 15 million dollars. Overall, Home Alone made a whopping 476.7 million dollars. It held the highest box-office record for a live-action film for 27 years. With it being such a big hit four more Home Alone movies were made, for a total of 5 movies.

Home Alone starts out with a fade in and establishing shot of the house. Actors, costume designs, and producers names beginning appearing in the opening credits. Incidental Christmas music is playing with people talking in the background. A high angle is used on the top of the stairs to show how busy the house was with people moving all around from below. Kevin, the main character goes into his parent's room and complains no one will let him do anything. A long take is used when discussing their conversation. He discusses his uncle won't let him watch the movie. Kevin is told to go pack his suitcase and a close up is used to show his worried face; this portrays he is scared about what to pack. This is the end of the introduction scene then it fades to another scene in the house. The first scene sets up the location and craziness in the family.

Camera Shot Activity

During class, Mr. Elsbree gave us the assignment to go take photos of different photo angles and shots. We went as a group outside and discussed different shots and put them into action. By taking these photos ourselves, I feel I will better at determining them when watching a film.

Canted Angle

Extreme Close Up

Wide Shot

Mid Shot

Low Angle

High Angle

Film Genre Research- The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games genre is action and drama. The Hunger Games starts out with a black screen with writing that displays the scenario and what’s going on. When the words are shown incidental music is playing in the background to create suspense. A voice-over occurs of someone talking from the capital using a two-shot frame. Next, it transfers to a picture of district 12 with Prim screaming in the background, but we can't see her yet. Prim begins crying because she thinks she is going to get picked; Katniss is comforting her and saying she won't be picked. Katniss and Prim begin singing a song to calm down. The scene ends with Katniss leaving and saying she must go do something. Overall, the first two minutes set up a good plot of what’s going on and foreshadows something bad will happen.

The first Hunger Games received over 20 awards. Some of their big awards include: A Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award for best song, and Kids Choice Award.

The film budget for the first Hunger Games was 78 million. Worldwide, The Hunger Games made a total of $694.4 million. This became a popular movie and there became a total of four Hunger Games movies.