Brainstorming My Script

It's time to get writing. I have a strong idea for how I want to begin my film, but... I haven't even begun the script yet! It's been exactly a week since I made the document, and not a single word has been written.

(Yikes!)

So, I'll finally be planning the script today. This is just gonna be a rough draft. It doesn't have to be perfect, and Lihi and I can just do improv for our characters when it feels right. This script is mainly just so I have an outline of how I want the plot to go. We don't have to follow our lines word-for-word, and there's always room for changes on the day of the shoot.

Let's get into it!

1. Beginning

I have a firm grasp of how I want my film to begin. I've mentioned in my shot list blog post that I want it to start with a montage of both characters getting ready to polar-opposite songs. I'll do this to enunciate their conflicting personalities.

I think montages are a culturally-significant aspect of coming-of-age films. Many of the ones I adore, a key example being Freaky Friday, use this unique way of presenting scenes. The character (Jillian) I play in the film is also heavily based off the main character Anna Coleman!

However, one thing I didn't mention in the shot list is how I plan to include a character monologue over the getting-ready sequence. I want to add this to provide viewers with a glimpse into her personality. I think this makes the opening more memorable and engaging compared to only playing music by itself. A production that I've seen do this is the 2023 TV-show adaption of Percy Jackson. 

His introduction of himself is an iconic part of both the books and TV-series. It's allows the audience members to see Percy's personality early-on, helping them form an attachment to the character faster. In his monologue, he paints himself as a rebellious, but interesting kid--which I think also aligns with the personality of my own character. I plan to take inspiration from this monologue and include one for my own character in the script! 

2. Middle

Here is where things get a little foggy. I only have a vague idea of how I want my movie to progress. I might carry the monologue in the start out to other scenes that show Jillian's morning routine. These scenes may consist of her entering the car to get to school and entering her classroom. 

I'll try to use the middle of the film opening to emphasize the character's age and environment. She is going to be in a highschool setting, so I might record a POV-shot of me in my school's crowded hallway to evoke a sense of hecticness and familiarity. I think this also circles back to elements of coming-of-age movies. Staple films like To All The Boys I've Loved Before and Clueless take place with the characters in highschool. So, by having my main character be of a similar age in a similar school, I hope the audience is able to identify my film's genre faster!

3. End

For the film's ending, I'm probably going to have my main character bump into the second protagonist Lily. I have a fun idea for how I want this to play out. I'll have my character be late to her first class of the day. Already stressed and in a hurry, she navigates the now-empty school hallway, to which Lily and her friend walk by. And, Lily's friend elbows her! She trips, and Lily's friend looks back, scoffs, and walks away. However, then Lily looks back. Her expression is almost soft and pitiful as she looks at the main character. But, she walks off with her friend without saying anything. The camera pans to my character's reaction, and then the bell rings. The scene fades out after that.

Highschool bullies are also common antagonists of coming-of-age films. Mean Girls does a really good job of portraying them! I hope including this same character archetype will help my viewers identify my film's genre. However, using the "mean girl trope" to create climax. Lihi isn't necessarily a bully. In truth, she's a pure-hearted person who stumbled into the wrong clique. This resembles a film character I really like, which is Cady Heron from Mean Girls!

The trajectory of the movie after the opening will follow Lily's journey to true self-discovery. She reconnects with her childhood friend, the protagonist, and the protagonist learns to embrace people that are different from her. Both of them end up learning important life lessons.

Takeaway

This exercise put me into the shoes of a true filmmaker. Despite initially struggling in the beginning, I think I crafted a solid plot for my film opening! It feels like something I would watch.