Preproduction: Storyboards

 Introduction

Welcome Cambridge dream team! Today our group embarked on a series of storyboards linked and correlated to the previous blog post (shot list) and our group is now prepared to draw visual adaptations of  what we brainstormed. This assignment was completed by Peyton P and I, and our group members Marley B and Lexi M collaborated by sharing their opinions on the order of events in which each scene should occur. In the following storyboards, our group documents a brief description of each shot, the location, tone, composition, framing, camera angles, and movement, and shot size. 

REFLECTION:

Overall, our group gained a clear image on the bid picture that we envisioned for our film from the start, and our production team was ultimately satisfied with the results of these storyboards. To briefly sum up these images, in the first scene Christine wakes up next to her plushie with an image of Mercedes taped onto it, whilst wearing a bracelet that she stole from Mercedes (when they were younger and played the game "Trust Fall"), and then checking her laptop to watch videos of Mercedes. After the title slide, Mercedes vents to her best friend, Lizzy, about her worries about being around Christine and her speculation that Christine stole her bracelet, and Lizzy affirmed her suspicions. Lizzy, however, did not know that Christine heard their conversation while being in the same class as them. Later, Mercedes is followed by Christine to the bathroom, and then, left to go back to her classroom. Lastly, she horrifically discovered Christine torturing and threatening Lizzy with bloody fingers (getting caught red-handed) and Christine immediately dropped the scissors once she realized Mercedes saw her sinister deeds.

Preproduction: Shot List

Beat 1: Opening Image Opening image
Shot #	Description/Action Line	Camera Shot (Shot size and angle)	Composition of Shot and Camera Framing	Camera Movement	Sound (Music, Dialogue, sound effects.)
1	The camera defocuses the background and focuses on Christine as the camera approaches her. Christine chants “she loves me, she loves me not,” as her mother (Cherie) and Mercedes’ mother (Merlene) discuss their financial struggles and their daughters in the background, which is only heard faintly.	Shot Size: Master Shot/ Full Shot    Angle: High Angle  Composition: shallow depth of field (shallow focus)	Framing: One shot	Dolly Push-in	Music- subtly soft and melodic (incidental)    Dialogue- Christine chants, as Merlene and Cherie (the mothers) have a conversation in the background.    Sound Effects- none
2	On the final petal that Christine picks, she looks up at the camera in an extreme close-up shot, and says, “she better love me,” as Mercedes sneaks up and runs behind her to scare her.	Shot Size: Medium Close-Up and Extreme Close-Up.    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: Shallow Focus  Framing: Two-shot	Dolly Push-in followed by a static movement (no motion of the camera)	Music-ambient    Dialogue- Christine concludes her chant, as Mercedes slightly giggles behind her    Sound Effects- ambient noises, blank, low-pitched, thudding noise, feet shuffling through grass
3	Christine looks up at Mercedes and smiles (with a subtle sinister undertone), and Mercedes ask if she would like to play “Trust Fall.” Christine giggles and agrees.	Shot Size: Medium close-up shot of Christine laughing    Angle: High angle of Christine looking up a Mercedes (in which the camera is over Mercedes should show her Point of view)	Composition: Deep Focus    Framing: Over-the shoulder, two-shot	Static	Music- faintly, slow piano music/ subtle humming of a love song by Christine, which would follow and carry on to throughout the following scenes, up until the title cover of the film is shown.    Dialogue- Mercedes asks Christine to play “Trust Fall” with her    Sound Effects-  Trees blowing into the wind, grass ruffling, faint laughter/ conversations in the background, as well as their moms continuing their conversations
4	As Christine stood up with haste and ran behind Mercedes, Mercedes hesitated, questioning her ability to catch her, and the camera zooms out to a full shot of them taking. Then, through two over-the shoulder and 180-degree shots, their conversation before the trust fall was recorded.	Shot Size: Cowboy shot to Full Shot    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: Symmetrical balance    Framing: crowd shot (as the camera blurs other children in the background goofing off or walking)	Tilt up  (Camera follows Christine standing up)	Music- Christine hums a love song, with a slight whistling song plays in the background (whistles of a bird chirping)    Dialogue- Mercedes questions Christine and fears falling into her arms    Sound Effects- grass ruffling, knee slapping (Christine stands up and wipes the dirt from herself)
5	Christine rapidly grabs Mercedes’s shoulders, fake laughs, and consistently reassures her that she should trust her and that she should not worry. Mercedes reluctantly agrees, and smiles, and she falls into Christine’s arms, which transitions the following scene of Christine’s waking up in her picture-plastered room with images of Mercedes.	Shot Size: Medium full to Medium    Angle: Hip level	Composition: Size equals power/ rule-of thirds    Framing: Two-shot	Begins in a static shot of the camera in front of Mercedes (with Christine behind her), and then dolly-pushes in closer to them, while slightly moving the side of them, to fully show Christine’s grip on Mercedes (that was intentionally done to represent their early friendship).	Music- Deep, bass-boosted, soft music, with slight humming from Christine (however it begins to fade out in preparation for the shot to transition to the title cover)    Dialogue- Christine reassures Mercedes that she is safe.    Sound Effects- laughing, winds blowing through grass and trees, subtle wind howls (for an unsettling, horror touch), and stomping/ walking in the grass.

Beat 2: Theme Stated
Shot #	Description/Action Line	Camera Shot (Shot size and angle)	Composition of Shot and Camera Framing	Camera Movement	Sound
1	Christine follows Mercedes outside of the school gate (on 8000 northwest avenue/ the street nearby the school, where homes are) and subtle hides by putting on her hood and talking to a nearby stranger to not be noticed by Mercedes.	Shot Size: Master shot      Angle: High	Composition: Shallow Focus, Rule-of Thirds    Framing: Crowd Shot	Random Movement	Music- Disturbing, romantic incidental music    Dialogue-none    Sound Effects- school air conditioner vents, students talking indistinctively, walking/ shuffling sneakers, doors opening and closing
2	In between transitioning classes (in the cafeteria, near the stage), Christine stands still amongst busy students walking by, and Mercedes quickly notices her and walks faster towards the direction of her class.	Shot Size: Full shot    Angle: High	Composition: Shallow focus (to focus mostly on Mercedes and Christine)    Framing: Crowd	Static	Music- soft, upbeat ambient music    Dialogue- none (student chatting in the background)    Sound Effects- feet shuffling, shoes squeaking, loud chatter, laughter, air conditioning, doors opening and closing
3	Christine takes notice that Mercedes class that she walked towards was her advanced calculus class, and therefore decided that later that day, she would visit her school’s guidance counselor office to request a schedule change to her that class with the same period as Mercedes does.	Shot Size: Medium-Full Shot     Angle: Hip Level	Composition: Deep Focus (to highlight the direction Mercedes walks in)    Framing: Crowd	Pan to the left (the direction Mercedes walks in, in order to get to her class and away from Christine)	Music-Suspenseful, dramatic incidental music    Dialogue- Students conversating indistinctively (background chatter)    Sound Effects- Feet shuffling, sneakers squeaking, ambient silence
4	In a brightly lit, narrow school hallway, Mercedes walks to the bathroom, as Christine stares intensively, and lustfully at her, so Mercedes quickens her pace towards the bathroom.	Shot Size: Full shot    Angle: High	Composition: Vertical leading lines    Framing: Two-shot	Static, and then a pan shot to the right to show Christine leaning on a wall	Music- Subtle, slow-tempo, bass-boosted ambient music    Dialogue- none    Sound Effects- sneakers sweeping across the school’s tile, air conditioning, and sighing/ breathing
5	Upon Mercedes leaving the bathroom, Christine unknowingly leaves the bathroom stalls after Mercedes left, and checked her surroundings to ensure there were no witnesses around.	Shot Size: Cowboy shot    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: horizontal leading lines    Framing: Two-shot	Pan (to the right to how Mercedes leaving, and then to the left to show Christine following her)	Music- Eerie, suspenseful violin music, bass-boosted    Dialogue- Mercedes sighs, and then nervously says, “ok”    Sound Effects- air sharply, and fiercely blowing, walking, bathroom door creaks open, and ambience static noises

Beat 3: Set up
Shot #	Description/Action Line	Camera Shot (Shot size and angle)	Composition of Shot and Camera Framing	Camera Movement	Sound
1	The camera zooms in to a box full of crayons on a school classroom’s table. There are laptops and colored pencils surrounding the box.	Shot Size: Close Up    Angle: High Angle	Composition: Deep Focus    Framing: Insert Shot	-Dolly Push-In	Music- “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- *no dialogue is present*     Sound Effects-  *No sound effects, just music*
2	The camera then zooms in to focus on what is on the surrounding laptops. There are pictures of Mercedes in a school hallway. On the pictures, there are words that read “Her walk is PERFECT. She’s a model.”	Shot Size: Close Up    Angle: Eye-Level	Composition: Deep Focus    Framing: Insert Shot	-Dolly-Push In  -Pan	Music- “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- *no dialogue is present*     Sound Effects- The sound of Christine drawing.
3	The camera focuses on Christine drawing a beautiful picture of Mercedes.	Shot Size: Close-Up    Angle: High Angle	Composition: Deep Focus     Framing: Insert Shot, Over the Shoulder	-Dolly Push In	Music- “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- *no dialogue is present*     Sound Effects- The sound of Mercedes drawing a picture of Mercedes.
4	In this shot, the camera shows Christine’s facial expression as she draws Mercedes. She looks infatuated with her drawing creation.	Shot Size: Medium Close Up    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: Deep Focus    Framing: One-Shot	-Tilt	Music- “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- *no dialogue is present*    Sound Effects- The sound of Christine humming and drawing.
5	A secret closet door in the classroom is slightly open, as we hear cries for help and knocking noises.	Shot Size: Close Up    Angle: Eye-Level	Composition: Deep Focus     Framing: Insert-Shot	-Random Movement	Music- “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- ???: “Help me!”     Sound Effects- The sound of banging coming from inside the closet.
6	Christine is shown drawing peacefully in her school’s classroom. Then, she gets annoyed by the banging noises coming from out the closet. She slams on the desk as she gets up, grabbing her weapon (the scissors), and walking towards the closet in hopes of stopping the noises.	Shot Size: Medium Shot    Angle: Dutch Angle	Composition: Deep Focus, Asymmetrical Balance     Framing: One-Shot	-Dolly Push In  -Random Movement   -Pan	Music- The instrumental of the song “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- *no dialogue*    Sound Effects- The sound of Christine banging on the desk. The sound of her footsteps.
7	The camera zooms into Christine looking in the closet with her weapon in hand with intent of killing the person (Lizzy) screaming inside of the closet.	Shot Size: Medium Close Up    Angle: Dutch Angle	Composition: Deep Focus    Framing: One Shot, Over the Shoulder	-Dolly Push In	Music- The instrumental of the song “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- Lizzy: “I know this girl didn’t just lock me in this closet! HELLO?!!”    Sound Effects- The sound of Christine opening the closet door
8	Christine opens the door to reveal that she locked Lizzy in the closet with the intent to kill her.	Shot Size: Medium Shot    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: Deep Focus  Framing: Two-Shot	-Pan	Music- The instrumental of the song “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- *no dialogue*    Sound Effects-  The sound of the door opening
9	Lizzy is shown struggling inside of the closet, begging Christine to let her go.	Shot Size: Medium Shot    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: Shallow Focus, Symmetrical Balance     Framing: Two-Shot, Over the Shoulder	-pan	Music- The instrumental of the song “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- Lizzy: “Stop! This isn’t fair.”  Sound Effects- The sound of Lizzy struggling.
10	In response to Lizzy’s comment about this not being fair, Christine monologues about how Lizzy is so lucky to have Mercedes in her life. She implies that she is selfish for complaining about her life and wants it.	Shot Size: Extreme Close Up    Angle: Eye Level, Dutch angle	Composition: Shallow Focus    Framing: One-Shot	-Static	Music- The instrumental of the song “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- Christine: “You wanna know what’s not fair? Having the PERFECT life, PERFECT girl best friend, and still being like this!”   Sound Effects- Christine's monologue.
11	Mercedes has been looking for Lizzy, and she walks into the classroom in hopes of seeing her there. She sees the closet door opened, with Christine and Lizzy inside, so she rushes inside to see what’s going on. As she approaches them, she asks Christine about what she’s doing. Christine is startled that Mercedes found her, so she drops the scissors that were in her hand on the floor.	Shot Size: Medium Shot    Angle: Eye Level	Composition: Deep Focus    Framing: One-Shot to Three-Shot, Over-the Shoulder to Insert Shot	-Tracking  -Pan	Music- The instrumental of the song “She” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean    Dialogue- Mercedes: “What is going on?”  Lizzy: “Mercedes help me please!”  Christine: “Mercedes...”    Sound Effects- The sound of Mercedes walking, the sound of the scissors clanging on the floor as Christine drops it.

REFLECTION:

All of the tables above are a basic over overview of what our group will later outline in a storyboard to better visualize how the scenes would appear in our recordings and on screen. These tables were completed by Lexi M, Peyton P and I. All in all, this stage in our preproduction process allowed our group to creatively organize our thoughts on different outlets/ways that our film could be recorded in, and this stage acts as a place for reference in the future as our team records each scene for our film.

SOURCES: 

-Adobe (n.d.). Different types of transitions in film | Adobe. [online] www.adobe.com. Available at: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/video/discover/types-of-film-transitions.html.

‌-Heckmann, C. (2020). Types of Editing Transitions in Film — The Ultimate Guide. [online] StudioBinder. Available at: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/types-of-editing-transitions-in-film/.

‌-Deguzman, K. (2020). Types of Camera Movements in Film Explained: Definitive Guide. [online] StudioBinder. Available at: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/different-types-of-camera-movements-in-film/.

‌-dummies. (n.d.). Types of Shots in Filmmaking and How to Frame Them. [online] Available at: https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/performing-arts/film/types-of-shots-in-filmmaking-and-how-to-frame-them-256947/.

-‌Maio, A. (2019). Rules of Shot Composition in Film: A Definitive Guide. [online] StudioBinder. Available at: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/rules-of-shot-composition-in-film/.

‌-StudioBinder (2020). 50+ Types of Camera Shots & Angles. [online] StudioBinder. Available at: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-camera-shots/.

‌-Garageband (music producing application) 

-Voice Memos app (used for dialogue and automated dialogue replacement for less quiet scenes) 

-Adobe Premiere Pro, Cap Cut, and Video Star used for editing, ambient sounds, and sound effects