All the Bright Places
My main inspiration for my trailer was my favourite book: All the Bright Places. It is that story of two teenagers who are also struggling both with death and suicide, both themes I was inspired to based my film around.
What makes this book so special for me?
The book was perfect for the target audience of teens as it had very appropriate and relevant themes for the age group. Whilst it used the theme of teen romance, this was done in a very modest, honest and realistic way which allowed for me to relate to the story. I feel that the message behind the book was portrayed very well through the use of the emotional rollercoaster that it took me on as a reader, one I wish to emulate with my own piece. Another of the themes of mental disorders and suicide, fits perfectly into the teen age group and the book allowed for a deeper understanding that seemed more real and personal than what is usually published.
What makes this book so special for me?
The book was perfect for the target audience of teens as it had very appropriate and relevant themes for the age group. Whilst it used the theme of teen romance, this was done in a very modest, honest and realistic way which allowed for me to relate to the story. I feel that the message behind the book was portrayed very well through the use of the emotional rollercoaster that it took me on as a reader, one I wish to emulate with my own piece. Another of the themes of mental disorders and suicide, fits perfectly into the teen age group and the book allowed for a deeper understanding that seemed more real and personal than what is usually published.
The Fault in Our Stars
My secondary inspiration was The Fault in Our Stars, both the book and the film. Whilst I felt that the film was more cheesy and it was portrayed in a way that didn't seem to challenge as many conventions, the book seemed unique, relatable and again, brought awareness to true challenging issues. The main theme of the movie is cancer, looking at the struggles of terminal cancer as well as teen romance.
What makes this book and film adaptation special for me?
I noted that the themes, similarly to All the Bright Places, were very relevant to the teenage culture. The difficulties of struggling with terminal illness seemed to be put across in an honest yet still easily consumable way. Whilst I feel that some of the plot was a bit far-fetched in terms of realism, the relationship and struggles between the characters was shown in a genuine way. This is also genre specific to my in being a romantic/drama.
Specific Shot reference
Begins with one character talking in a voiceover, introducing one character to the audience first, shown in a lengthy crane shot zooming in of her looking up at the stars.
Second characters comes in as the couple are embracing and happy in a series of 3 shots, ending with them kissing and falling onto the bed as the music changes by dramatically increasing in pitch and sound perspex, voiceover continues and music is upbeat and positive piano.
Fade to black is common
Cuts back to character to finish voiceover
Music changes as different mood and atmosphere is create, becomes more upbeat and monotonous representing how she is describing her life
Male protagonist's introduced and they are shown first meeting
Shown scene of them getting to know each other
Titles splitting up scenes, yet shots are discontinuous and brought together by a voiceover with becomes diegetic in one clip
Keeps cutting back to this scene of the two characters talking about their lives and therefore the voiceovers become diegetic in these scenes
All is continuing on this path and seemingly going as well as it would for these teenagers before a dramatic change in music and the character uses her voiceover to introduce this
Scenes shown of things her voiceover from the past is describing as everything goes wrong
Titles come back up again and a build up of more positive soundtrack as male character begins a voiceover as clips are shown of him trying to convince her everything will be ok, in turn convincing the audience
Titles changing moods but maintaining soundtrack to imply the ups and downs they are experiencing are normal
Then both the characters sharing the voiceover
ends in the same way as it started
Barely any of the shots were static, most panning round giving it a fluid feel, conventional of romance. Cut in fade to blacks, more frequently towards the end.
What aspects from my inspirational products do I plan on using in my trailer?
The main features of my work that are inspired from these inspiration texts, are the themes. Whilst I will incorporate the theme of suicide/mental illness from All the Bright Places, I will use the theme of cancer from The Fault in Our Stars. With my film being called "Bright Side", I was also referencing the first book using the adjective "bright" , which I thought would pay tribute to the text and also link in with juxtaposition to my trailer.
I will use some of the personality traits of both sets of characters in order to create my own character profiles.
From Hazel (TFIOS):
-Being strong in the face of depression will be used for Flynn
-Dealing with the threat of death will be applied to Annabelle
-The fear of upsetting others (predominantly her parents) will also be used for Annabelle
From Gus (TFIOS):
-Acting as someone trying to be inspirational will be applied to Flynn
-Being an attractive young male who has had to deal with a lot of issues will also be applied to Flynn
-Over-appreciation of life despite previous experiences that would suggest otherwise- Flynn
From Violet (ATBP):
-Recovery from sister's accident- Bella
-Inability to fit in after the traumatic experience- Bella
-Post traumatic depression- Bella
From Finch (ATBP)P:
-Depression- Flynn
-Victim of bullying- Flynn
- Wants to engage with love interest- Flynn
-Often misunderstood- Flynn
I will also use a lot of the shots from the TFIOS trailer as inspiration for my own, allowing me to relate my trailer to the genre:
E.g. the shot reverse shot of the characters talking, allowing the audience to be a part of their conversation and relate to the two characters. This applies to the genre due to the intimacy felt between the two characters as well as to the audience.
I will use some of the personality traits of both sets of characters in order to create my own character profiles.
From Hazel (TFIOS):
-Being strong in the face of depression will be used for Flynn
-Dealing with the threat of death will be applied to Annabelle
-The fear of upsetting others (predominantly her parents) will also be used for Annabelle
From Gus (TFIOS):
-Acting as someone trying to be inspirational will be applied to Flynn
-Being an attractive young male who has had to deal with a lot of issues will also be applied to Flynn
-Over-appreciation of life despite previous experiences that would suggest otherwise- Flynn
From Violet (ATBP):
-Recovery from sister's accident- Bella
-Inability to fit in after the traumatic experience- Bella
-Post traumatic depression- Bella
From Finch (ATBP)P:
-Depression- Flynn
-Victim of bullying- Flynn
- Wants to engage with love interest- Flynn
-Often misunderstood- Flynn
I will also use a lot of the shots from the TFIOS trailer as inspiration for my own, allowing me to relate my trailer to the genre:
E.g. the shot reverse shot of the characters talking, allowing the audience to be a part of their conversation and relate to the two characters. This applies to the genre due to the intimacy felt between the two characters as well as to the audience.
Specific Shot Reference
Remember me
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fades in and out to black
fast pace of editing long media shots profile shots- static and dolly back to draw attention to what he is seeing focus pull from girl to boy watching her more fades to back when the characters are together keeps referring back to same scene low angle tilt up looking at girl in window connotes to Romeo and Juliet and represents her as an innocent princess shadow covering half of face creates tension dolly back as he rides bike Profile Silhouette of kissing Blowing out candles ends trailer |
Titanic
over the shoulder close up whispering in ear
shot reverse shot close up over the shoulder having a conversation long shot spinning cut to close up of female spinning mid shot holding hands mid shot running through steam female sins round to look at male close up shot holding hands |
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The Spectacular Now
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Profile mid shot on computer
low angle tilt down shot reverse shot conversation front on mid shot keeps being referred to close ups in sexual moments |
Love, Rosie
profile kissing silhouette against bright background
background of other character in mirror long shot sitting on hill profile shot reverse shot, mid and close-up fade in and out of black establishing shot of location over the computer mimmicking over the shouilder shot cut from location to location |
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