Mid Term submission

We chose this film because it kind of a reality check. In this film Mia plays the girl that hides her feelings from everyone because she doesn't want people to know she is struggling. This is something some kids and adults can relate to daily. This film is suppose to be a reminder that everyone goes through hard times but, that doesn't mean you should act like nothing is happening. The music and font was chosen to the movies theme, being sad but, still sort of happy. We used piano sounds as a way to express the happiness or sadness with the speed of the music. The shots we chose helped put the movie together to make it seem more smooth and played out better. This movie has a meaning behind it that we hope people will be able to understand and relate to.

Creating a story board

This story board outlines what Hope and i plan on filming during this short movie. There isn't going to be six scenes, since some will be longer, it will be about 3 or 4 scenes/shots. The first scene being a master shot will include Mia and her friends talking. With the drone the second scene will be an ariel shot of Mia walking home. The third scene, we probably won't have because it's so similar to the second. The fourth scene is going to include a shot of Mia's parents arguing, with an over the shoulder shot. Next shot includes Mia comforting her sister, just a basic shot. And the last shot shows Mia, writing in her journal being sad about her parents.

Creating a Shotlist

Over the shoulder shot- this shot includes Mia and her parents fighting, and the locker scene with all the girls.

Ariel shot- The area shot I will film with a DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone. This shot will just be an overview shot of The Meadows neighborhood and will include the character list. This shot will be around 15-30 seconds.

close-up- This shot will be of Mia. In this shot Mia is sitting on her bed writing in her journal. The close-up is of her and her journal.

Master shot- The master shot will be the will all the main girl character. This includes Mia, Kate, and Alyssa. Another master shot will be of Mia and her parents arguing. There will be two because it is such a short movie.

Piont of View- The point of view shot, is of Mia. The shot is Mia's point of view on her parents arguing. In this shot Mia is very sad and hides her emotions from her parents.

Establishing shot- This is one of the most important shots. The two establishing shots is Sarasota Highschool and Mia's home. This helps show Mia's "trapped" emotions between her friends and family.

schedule filming

The very first scene is where all the girls meet up to talk. In this scene Mia (Hope) is acting like her life is perfectly normal and her parents aren't at home constantly fighting. This scene is going to be filmed in the Sarasota High school locker hallways. this is the perfect location because it's an actual school, so it definitely gets the high school feels. We are going to film these scene December 19, 2019. I was out of town which is why it's filmed so late, and with the half days it will be easier to do it.

The second scene is the sidewalk scene. In this scene Mia is walking home, knowing she is coming back to her parents arguing. This shot will be done in my neighborhood because it's larger. This scene will be filmed December 8, 2019.

The last scene is when Mia comes home and sees her parents arguing and her dad drinking. She feels very sad and depressed at this point, but no one knows. And then we have a connecting scene of Mia sitting in her room all alone writing in her journal about her life, that she hates. We will film this on December 7, 2019.

These scenes will all be filmed at separate times but, Hope and I will work together to get the editing done in time.

Scouting locations

The first scene is at the lockers. Sarasota High's orange lockers is a perfect example to use in this film because it is a real high school therefor give it the real look of the girls being at school. We are using a local high school that i attend making it an easy location to access.

The sidewalk scene of Mia walking home will be captured by the drone, in my neighborhood. This shot is suppose to resemble Mia walking home. This shot will be used in the beginning to show the title and name the characters.

The house to be used as Mia's will be Sadie's house. The house is small but, has enough space for the filming to be done without any trouble. The layout of the house allows for easy shots. The parents acting in the film are also Sadie's parents, making it convenient for them to act in out film.

The pictures below shows the location we shot all the scenes at.
 

Casting

Characters:

Mia - Hope

Alyssa - Sadie

Kate - Sydney

Bella - Sandy

Emma - Sofia

Mom - Mary Jo

Dad - Craig

Mia, the main character is played by Hope Martin. I know Hope and she can hide her emtions really well, she would be really good at taking this role. As Mia she goes to school everyday happy as if nothing is going on at home, but truly she feels sad and depressed at her life at home. Hope and i considered Sadie for this role but she has a really happy and excited personalility where she might not take it seriously. Hope and I have decided that Hope would be able to best portray Mia as the character. I know that Hope will do the best for this character because has been through a lot in her life alone, so she can definitely act the character as if it was real.

Alyssa is  going to play one of the friends at the locker. This character is sort of an extra, just to show the group of friends that Mia has, and how their life compares to hers.

Kate is another friend at the locker. Once again, a small role but, a big impact on the feel of the movie. My friend Emma would do really good with this role, but unfortunately she goes to another school and I don't see her that much. She has a comforting personality but, still a basic popular girl.

Bella is the last friend at the lockers. Hope's friend, Sandy would be great for this role. I'm not very close to her but, I know her personality and she would be good acting as a friend in a group of girls.

Emma is the little sister. Hope's friend Sydney has a little sister which would be a great choice. Sofia is very small and looks very young. She would be able to portray a little girl, while understanding my instructions. Her curious personality would fit this role great.

As the mom, it will be played by Mary Jo, Sadie's mom. She plays the role of a fed up mom, because her husband wont stop drinking and her life feels like its fallen apart. To resemble the the characters needed to play in this film Sadie's parents would be great. . 

The father on Mia in the movie will be played by Craig (Sadie's dad). I don't know Craig very well but, Hope says he is buff and always keeps himself together but, he can play a role like the one we need in this film. With some accessories and props we could make Craig look like the mad, crazy, alcoholic he is. 

Creating a Script

Trapped                                                                                            Hope Martin and Alisa Zheleznyak 

Trapped is a short story about a teenage girl who hides her emotions, even though she is living a difficult life. At home her dad is an alcoholic who always fights with her mom. She goes to school everyday as if nothing bad is happening at home, but truly she feels miserable.

*Camera pans over to 3 girls leaning against lockers, talking and laughing as the title appears.

*As it does close ups to each character, their names appear on the screen.

 Mia: I am so excited to go ice skating this weekend! I already have my outfit picked out.

Kate: Ugh I hope I can go to! My stupid mom is making me babysit.

Bella: HAHAH that sucks.

*The girls shrug and frown.

Alyssa: At least you don"t have to worry about your grades.... I'm literally failing math!

Mia: Well, I love you guys and I'll see you tomorrow.

Kate, Bella, and Alyssa: Bye!!

Bella: Don't forget to send me the math homework!

*The camera catches the girls waving goodbye and Mia turning around laughing and then beggining to look nervous.

* A drone will capture Mia walking home on a long sidewalk, cutting in and out to emphasize time has passed.

*Mia takes a deep breath as she walks up the stairs of her house, already hearing the fighting.

Mom: I'm so tired of you being a bum! This is ridiculous!

Dad: Get out of my face! I hate you!

*Mia witnesses her parents furiously fighting with beer cans in the background.

*The camera pans to Mia walking down the hall trying to ignore the conflict.

*She knocks on her little sister's door and creeks it open.

Mia: (Sadly) Emma I'm home.

*As she walks in farther, she finds Emma in her closet on the floor.

Emma:(sobbing) I just want them to stop fighting.

Mia: I know, me too. Me too.

*Mia leans down on the floor to comfort her sister, then helps her up to the bed.

Mia: Here, why don't you listen to music so you wont hear mommy and daddy.

*Mia puts headphones on Emma's ears as she is sitting on the edge of the bed wiping her tears.

*Mia takes a deep breath and walks to her room.

*She puts down her bag and lays on her bed frustrated, grabbing her journal and pen.

*The camera pans onto the journal, Mia writes "I hate my life" on a blank page.