Boards: Both Story and Mood

     Ta-da! I know, I’m a great drawer.

    This is a storyboard that roughly demonstrates the scenes and the order that I have in mind. Specific descriptions of the scenes aren't included because most of them will consist of a long shot of whatever is the focal point of that shot (picture frame, books, poster, etc.). However, below, the scenes display the movement of the main character in his room. This is to better help me to visualize how I want the framing to look when I'm actually filming the shots. All of these scenes will occur early in the morning, as high school graduations (having been to two myself) are typically early in the morning, especially for the graduates who have to arrive earlier. Keeping this in mind, I imagine for the scenes to be lit with a lot of natural light coming in from the window. I'm also planning for the first playing of the mother's voicemail to play during the compilation of the objects in his bedroom, with the first unobstructed shot of the main character being him tapping on his phone to play the recording again.

(QUICK INTERMISSION BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I'VE DECIDED ON THE TITLE!!!)

    This storyboard is a more detailed example of how the character will be moving around and interacting with his environment. Showing his urgency to play the voicemail again as well as his struggle to ensure his father doesn't catch him listening to it, helps to develops some background on how the main character is missing his mother and still mourning her, even when he is probably expected to be moving on. That brings me to the good news that the title of my movie is... drum roll please... don't look at the storyboard because that's just a filler... LIFE GOES ON. I felt like this was a strong title that depicted the character's struggles and his moving into adulthood.

    To further help me with my filming process and in organizing my ideas, I also created a mood board to help myself (and the readers of this blog) visualize what the colors and tones of the opening scene will look like. As blue is a color representative of sadness, I want the mise-en-scene elements to have some element of blue. I'm also thinking to keep the lights of the room off and only use the light coming in from the window to create a serene setting. I'm also visualizing the light from the window as a metaphor that life is happening outside of the main character's bedroom and he hasn't yet joined that world. But hopefully the lack of overhead light will still allow the frames to be clear and good-quality.

(I do not own the right to these pictures. Origin: Pinterest)