Pre-Production Planning
Outlines
Layout Drawings
Storyboard
Script
Music plays with an opening establishing shot and opening credits
Shows of the room, panning. Reveals Anastasia in her pajamas, sleeping on her computer. Sudden knocking sounds, and there’s a close-up of her face as the camera rolls, and she suddenly wakes up. Lisa stands at the door frame with a stack of mail in her hands.
Anastasia: Rubbing her eyes, “What is it, Lisa?”
Lisa: “You know the water is off right now? I can’t even fully get ready for school.”
Anastasia: Sighs. “Seriously? I had to restart my whole paper when the power was shut off last night.”
Lisa: Smiles suddenly. “You’ve got mail.” She walks over to Anastasia and hands her a crisp envelope: “Everdale University of Prestige and Innovation” in big letters, with her name on it.
Close-up of the envelope, then the camera moves to show Anastasia’s astonished expression.
Lisa encourages Anastasia that she will get into her dream school shown through reverse OTSs:
Anastasia: “You’re telling me this, is it? The big letter?”
Lisa: Excitedly: “Yes! This is it! Your college acceptance letter!”
Anastasia: Worried tone: “Will you calm down? We don’t know if I got in yet.”
Lisa: Annoyed, rolls her eyes and sighs. “Oh, come on now. All those sleepless nights working on your amazing writing piece-” Lisa motions towards her computer and messy desk, “All of this talent-” Motions towards all the awards around the room, “and you still have no confidence in yourself?”
Anastasia: “Just give it to me.” She snatches the letter.
Tears up the envelope and stares at the page. The next shot shows her eyes darting over the page and widening. Cut to the words, “Welcome to your future at Everdale University of Prestige and Innovation!” Printed on the page. Returning to eye level shot as her eyes slowly lift to Lisa.
Lisa: Smirking with her arms crossed: “I knew it. You did get in.”
Anastasia: Tosses the letter on the floor. The next shot is a low angle on the floor far from the sisters, where the letter lands on the floor. The background is blurred slightly. The sisters are both staring at the letter. “So, what?”
Lisa: Lisa whips her head from looking at the letter back to Anastasia, bewildered. “What in the world do you mean, so what? This is big!”
Anastasia: “Lisa, it’s only big if I can actually attend. You know we could never afford for me to go.”
Lisa: “Oh my goodness, Anastasia, you’re being insufferable. If you could just-”
Anastasia: Cuts her off: “No. Lisa, I’m not in the mood for your insufferable optimism right now. Stop trying to be delusional and start being realistic please. Now leave.” She shoots an arm out, pointing to the door.
Lisa: Tightens her jaw and swiftly walks out of the room.
Anastasia: Groans. “Close my door when you leave my room, Lisa!” Shot of her storming to the door, then a POV shot showing her hand slamming the door shut.
Cut to a black screen. “A few months later...”
Anastasia is shown in her room again, this time in an even messier room, stressed as she types with dark lighting. There’s a tentative knock on her door.
Anastasia: “Yes?” In a defeated tone.
Lisa: Slowly opens the door. A silhouette of her standing at the door is shown.
Anastasia: “What do you want?”
Lisa: Walks over and drops an envelope on her computer, the screen light illuminating the Everdale print on it.
Anastasia: Stares at the envelope with defeat. “I don’t want this. I already know I can’t go. Why are they sending me another one?”
Lisa: “Open it. I have a good feeling about this one.”
Anastasia: Scoffs, “Of course you do. If it’ll make you leave me alone, I’ll open it.”
She tears it open unceremoniously.
A close-up of the letter with the information of a big scholarship for her to attend.
A close-up of her eyes widening. A light suddenly clicks on as the camera is still focused on her eyes.
Cut to Lisa standing by her lamp, her hand over the light switch (or handle or whatever you use to turn on the light in Eden’s room) smiling subtly.
Anastasia: “I got a scholarship.”
Lisa: Crosses her arms with sass. “So, what?”
Anastasia: “So... I can go to Everdale.”
Cut to a suitcase zipping
Cut to a trunk slamming
Airport scene is filmed
Shot List
Establishing shot tracking to the right
Profile shot
360 degree shot
Single shot
Tilt
Two shot
OTS
POV
Back shot
Reverse OTS
Two shot
Match cut
Back shot
Low angle
Tracking
Film Schedule
2/12 – Sarasota Airport
Exterior establishing shot (country road)
Airport interior scenes
Ambient sound and plane capture
2/18 – My House
Bedroom scenes
Close‑ups of props
Dialogue and character interaction shots
Equipment List
Camera
Microphone
Lights
Tripod/Camera Stand
Location Scouting
Sarasota Airport:
Checked lighting conditions (bright, natural, realistic)
Selected areas with visible signage to establish setting
House Location:
Evaluated bedrooms for space, lighting, and visual storytelling potential
Chose the room that best communicates Anastasia’s identity as a writer
Identified areas for prop placement and camera movement
Props Needed
Books and journals
Writing awards/certificates
Backpack
School polo shirts/Khaki pants
Laptop or notebook
Airport‑related items (Luggage)
Letters from school
Set Design
Anastasia’s bedroom arranged to look organized but full
Books stacked or displayed to show ambition
Awards placed visibly but naturally
Desk setup with writing materials
Neutral, realistic décor to reflect modest socioeconomic status
Costume/Wardrobe
Simple school uniforms: polo shirts and khaki pants
Backpacks for both sisters
Neutral, everyday clothing to reflect financial limitations
Classic comfy clothes for airport (sweatpants)
Makeup/Hair
Minimal makeup
Simple, practical hairstyles (make sure hair is out of face)
Natural look to reinforce class representation
Lighting
Natural lighting for country‑road establishing shot
Soft, ambient lighting inside the house
Realistic airport lighting to maintain authenticity
Avoid dramatic shadows
Consistent lighting inside the house (possible colors added in post-production)
Sound Effects
Typical background noises to make realistic
Plane Takeoff
Dialogue from Characters
Suitcase shutting
Car trunk closing
Theme/Incidental Music
Music during the establishing shot to set emotional tone
Music resumes in the airport to unify transitions
Limited quiet instrumental music inside the house to emphasize intimacy and realism
No comments:
Post a Comment