October 22, 2015
Foreword (May 17, 2019)
For the sophomore project, we needed to specify goals “the criteria” for the project.
Okay, so here’s the official criteria for my project:
PRE- PRODUCTION
Must have at least 1+ inside scenes
Must Follow basic narrative plot structure:
Exposition > Conflict/ Consequence > Rising Action > Climax > Falling Action > Resolution
PRODUCTION
8 people must have some input on the film whether cast or crew or script critics
Some sound effects must be recorded by you (Foley)
POST PRODUCTION
The film should have a cinematic quality to it, like it came out of the movie theater (either with color or sound)
OVERALL PROJECT
A minimum of 7 minutes long
At least the original anyway. In advisement today, I discovered I don’t have as much time as I originally thought. The project is due February 25th, about a month in advance of my original trajectory. We would only have the sequence and some visual effects done. I may be able to adjust the calendar for the due date push up, but I like to be methodical with my work, plus, I accounted for being busy when I assumed this schedule.
Luckily, I just asked Ms. Keith- Ott* about it. She said I would be fine as long as I turn in evidence for my project. She said it was for people who weren’t doing anything. Phew! That’s a relief.
Met with Jack today at the square. It was only about a brief 15 minutes, but we ran down the timeline for the production. We were able to schedule some VFX Days and creating cast and crew wish lists. We decided to meet on Tuesday during Election Day (November 3). It would be the perfect time for a full, dedicated day to the Sophomore Project.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get to the final parts of the schedule, because Jack had to go to soccer practice. At least we’ve gotten to the events that will pop up soon.
I’ve been having trouble writing the script lately. It might be due to the fact I’ve been trying to complete school work and I’ve been generally distracted lately. The draft is due in about a week and I still only have about 3 pages done. If it’s supposed the meet the time frame we’re looking for, it’s got to be around 7-10 pages.
I think part of it was because I was having a couple of issues with the story, like who it was about (either Monty or Maddox) and the character ambitions. Monty’s plight seems kind of forced, creating the Vocelyne just to get to clubs. I talked to my Mom about it today and she told me it could work. She says it’s a satire about what we think it takes to get into college and how we can perceive life as a series of checkboxes. I have a feeling the story really is about Monty. He seems to be the character I know the most about and the one I can explain better. The story being about Maddox has potential, but his plot points always tie back to Monty in some way. The way we plan on telling it, his character is too dependent to be the main protagonist.
So that’s it. I’m going to make a story about a young ambitious prodigy’s struggle of trying to get into a competitive and prestigious college. Nothing he seems to do wows them.
I fear that I will be trying to incorporate too much into Monty’s character. I want him to be very intelligent and ambitious, but have a little bit of a meaner side to him. I also wanted him to be cocky and confident. I’m not sure it will work because it would mean conflicting character traits. How could one be a cocky and confident know it all if they were constantly paranoid that they weren’t going to succeed in their higher goal? On the other hand, taking the edge off of Monty would lessen the conflict between him and his brother, which begs the question, where is the problem of the story coming from. Lately I’ve been saying Monty and Maddox’s relationship would be the main conflict of the story, but now, it might be Monty fighting his own ambition and expectations. I’m just not sure if Maddox could play as big a role as I wanted him to if the picture is told this way. I’m seeing workarounds to this issue, but I haven’t mentally/ creatively gotten to it yet.
I need to get it done because the ball gets rolling in November.
*Ms. Keith-Ott is my sophomore project advisor