We understand that comedy's are hard to make, but the idea of breaking an unspoken rule in itself evokes a humorous aspect, at least in our interpretation.
If we go with the hand-shaking idea, we believe that would have to be marketed by showcasing an office environment, a dull, lackluster place in which co-workers hardly interact except for the daily greeting: a handshake.
We can start by showcasing our character, Tom, and his awkwardness and reluctance to handshakes themselves. We can put quotes next to the character poster, to get people kind of introduced to this conformist office, and then there's Tom.
For further inspiration, we want to really "branch out" hehe, and find other student films in the past that have worked with the marketing aspect of their film, and we found a page that does a really great job at conveying the mood, and tone of their film, without overtly giving so much of the plot away.
This is a student film social media page from the University of Michigan, and I really love the way they make use of their marketing strategy. Through color, aesthetics, and purpose, this social media was able to achieve a consistent brand identity that made audiences curious about what the film entails.
If they had a particular song in the film, they made sure to also bring attention to that in one of their posts, to further create awareness of their film but also help out the actors themselves, which serves both creators.
They had the Michigan Daily Review their film, which is a very unique way of advertising the film by also showcasing a nuanced perspective from consumers/critics outside of the project on their page. We could get some of the students that run the newspaper or yearbook, to write a report on our film so we can also have that perspective showcased in a different media text, for more people to see.
I am so excited to share what I've learned about marketing and apply it to this project by creating a social media platform that would showcase all of our work behind-the-scenes, as well as branding aspects of the film.
At the beginning of the year, we started a branding project where we primarily focused on branding ourselves, and what that would look like in terms of our relationships, our culture, our purpose, etc.
So while marketing a short film is something completely new to me, the concept of marketing is something I have loved to explore throughout my time at places like Inside Out Theatre Company, a non-profit organization that I'm grateful to have been a part of from a young age.
As I got older, and started experimenting with editing, graphics, visual effects, and motion graphics, marketing quickly became a huge passion of mine when paired with these skills.
These are some of the visuals I made to tease the viewers about what's to come, and then I posted the trailer on the top right corner to quench some of that anticipation.
“Just too unreal, all this” we are proud to present Spring Awakening* with student ASL interpretation. Tickets now on sale 💜🌿 link in bio"
I love to use captions that have a play on words and make references to the actual show, so that people can get a better understanding of the word play and the vibe through our caption. The purple emoji gives off the vibe of one of the last songs, a song of purple summer, and the leaf is super grounded, mellow. I also used the red in the back because this musical holds so much passion, and teenage angst, that this was a way of still communicating that angst to the target audience, which was generally local (people from our county), ages 14 and up (mature audiences), who enjoy artistic, serious, art.
I also handle the tik tok for Inside Out closely, but the vibe on that platform for content is much more intimate, and personable. My target and goal in that account is to get a wider net of exposure from younger audiences who prefer to consume video content, and who prefer to actually experience something in a video almost vicariously, as if they wre there getting to watch snippets of the show and rehearsals themselves.
On tik tok, I make it really about building a community and making the followers feel intrigued by the company and what the students are rehearsing and how they're practicing. So here's an example.
What's the point of this?
Well, for marketing my short film, I want to take a similar approach only I understand that it would be more BTS centered for the tik tok, and for the instagram I would include more professionalized images to communicate what the film is really about. I would like to think of how to get into different media texts and help our target audience discover the film in different ways other than just through social media... so here's what I'm thinking.
This next blog is a visual representation of how my mind gets from one idea to another... First, we were drawn between two ideas: Self-growth and unspoken rules.
For self-growth, I definitely feel that we can have a contrast between someone who has a growth mindset, and someone who is fixed in their mental set. They may be just having a conversation about a conflict or issue that they have with each other. One is willing to grow, the other wants to believe things will never change and focus on trying to change somebody else instead of changing themselves.
Then, I felt like doing more research on story structure, just to have a layout or framework to start at as a beginner in short films.
Philosophical Conflict- moral, ethical beliefs in conflict within story, its the backbone of storytelling. Viewpoint vs. Viewpoint conflict Self-constructed example: Group project
control, power, assert dominance. VS. just create, collaborate, initiative, do whats going to look right.
Character needs a want
need (what the character must discover about himself or the world to become complete, balanced, and whole)
character pursues outer goal, but then subconsciously then consciously pursues actual goal)
Character: believes "action"
include EMPATHY
Character overcomes lie, and accepts the truth
Character's who have differing beliefs may actually end up taking precedent over the initial person.
Moral Dilemma
1. a character in a zone of comfort
2. but they want something
3. they enter an unfamiliar situation
4. adapt to it / make it right
5. Get what he wants
6. pay a heavy price
7. they enter their familiar question
8. having changed
"knowing the right thing to do isn't as clear as we realize, its more difficult than we can imagine."
MAIN CHARACTER:
Unspoken rules
Unspoken Rule Idea 1:
Feminist woman, who is working in an office, very traditional and conformist everybody is kind of doing the same thing and then we are following this inner monologue in her head that says, "I don't wanna do this anymore." She wants to make it feel more entertaining, more lively. S
She spills a coffee, everyone looks at her, and looks away. She wants to get out of this routine, she wants
This simple scenario of breaking an unspoken rule, (sitting next to someone on public transport) turns into a story about embracing discomfort, connecting with others, and challenging the invisible barriers that keep us isolated. It's a short but powerful reflection on how small actions can create meaningful moments, and how breaking even the most minor unspoken rule can lead to positive change.
Woman is looking to sit on a bus with someone, unspoken rule that if you see someone with a seat empty you shouldn't just sit there.
A protagonist who is fed up with giving out aggressive handshakes, fed-up with having to just go in for the initial handshake and shake a hand, there's too much spreading of the germs... more than he can take.
"Why do we even do this?" He thinks to himself, after having shaken hands with someone and he wipes his own hands down.
He decides to start greeting his co-workers differently, as one puts out there hand to shake it, he refuses to accept without saying anything but just holds this inner monologue in his head. "They should get that I don't want to shake hands that's not my problem that's theres.
First co-worker holds her hand out to shake his and he waves his hand awkwardly.
At lunch, Tom is offered a handshake by a colleague who’s known for being overly friendly. Tom, refuses to hand shake again and instead tries a high-five. Steve looks confused, then tries to high-five back, but Tom pulls his hand away at the last second, leaving Steve hanging. The awkwardness is palpable.
As Tom keeps breaking this simple rule, the consequences become more extreme. His colleagues are starting to get really uncomfortable. Some even start offering him fist bumps, but Tom refuses, offering a weird elbow knock instead.
Tom can start to think to himself, "maybe I should stop, I'm making a mistake, how could I do this to myself, I've ruined my social standing because I hate germs oh I'm such a prick!"
This behavior spreads... soon, everyone in the office is offering him increasingly bizarre gestures instead of handshakes: thumbs-up, jazz hands, foot taps, and even a head nod with an exaggerated wink.
Tom attempts to make amends with his boss and awkwardly approaching the boss as he finally is seen extending his hand out once again
His boss instead, responds by giving him a weird handshake. They both stand there, confused about what happened, and start bursting out into laughter.
General Theme
Overall, the film would have larger implications, at first Tom was just consciously trying to find a way to break a norm/unspoken rule that makes him uncomfortable. His reluctance to the handshake and inclination to try a new, unique, nuanced way of greeting people at first has an awkward effect, but it later translates into creating an office community where people are more comfortable with each other, and comfortable expressing themselves with each other.
Overall some little titles that came into mind that might be able to conjure up some new ideas, but right now, this is what I have! (These are just some loosely strewn ideas).
This video way of introducing a topic I wanted to learn more about which was story structure. After consuming several articles and videos to help educate myself on the process, my perspective on the film project changed slightly. I now realize that this concept does not have to be a huge political work or insane social commentary, especially not as we're just starting out. The beauty is in the simplicity.
1. establish a concept, let people imagine potential, deliver potential, and then surpass it.
This is the biggest takeaway I got from that video, and it makes perfect sense to me
The biggest takeaway from this video is the “measure twice, cut once” approach. It's a great metaphor because it emphasizes the importance of planning and structuring your narrative first to ensure a smoother, more focused filmmaking process.
The two-act structure is common in short films because of the shorter runtime; typically 10 to 20 minutes (in our case 5 minutes). It provides just enough time for a character to undergo a transformation or for a conflict to be introduced and resolved, while maintaining a simple, direct narrative.
When you're a new filmmaker, having a clear limitation or rule is extremely helpful. It keeps the project manageable, guides your creativity, and prevents you from getting overwhelmed. Rules help you make decisions quickly because you're working within a clear framework. They can also push you to think more creatively within boundaries, which is a great way to refine your skills as a storyteller.
For example, if you limit your story to one location or a very small cast of characters, it forces you to develop the story's depth through dialogue, performance, and visual storytelling rather than relying on multiple locations or a large ensemble cast. It also gives you the chance to focus on perfecting specific aspects of filmmaking; lighting, camera angles, or sound design—rather than trying to juggle too many elements.
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a 21st century film and came out in 2022, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The theme of existential choices reflects the growing cultural awareness of life's unpredictability and the search for purpose. Now that many things such as transportation, communication, and technology have advanced, our generations have much more freetime, leading to the exploration of the complexities of identity, purpose, and connection.
EEAAO explores many different subgenres, and holds a lot of versatility amongst other films. It can be categorized under comedy, surrealism, action, drama, science fiction you name it!
I love how effortlessly this film weaves into other genres, and how it finds a way to incorporate "insignificant" objects such as bagels and googly eyes, and giving them a profound, deep meaning.
With this film in mind, I've also thought long and hard about how we can make our own version of that similar concept of trying to find meaning and the purpose of life. I'm really drawn to the idea of a 'collective unconscious' and exploring telepathy and how our thoughts make up our reality.
All of the films exhibited on my blog used some sort of object as a symbol of something larger; in the case of the spiritual idea, I thought it'd be cool to take the approach with cable wires connected to a plug on the wall, but there's an undeniable energy/undercurrent between the protagonist and the cable, and then we see how it holds her and her relationships together.
I had another idea to make this short film on admiration for a person; when you barely know someone, you start to create this ideal image in your mind of the kind of person you THINK they are based on previous behaviors to match up what you want them to be overall. This happens a lot in influencer culture, oftentimes online we look for someone to admire, someone who is going to add substance to our life and guide us. The antagonist would want to make themselves appear favorable and likeable in front of other humans, but in reality, the more you get to know him/her, the more you understand why they detach from people in the first place.
This is a really interesting concept to me and one that I think would be worth exploring.
Protagonist: “How do you stay so focused when life keeps pulling you in different directions?”
Antagonist: “You have to let go of distractions. People, emotions... they just get in the way. If you stay focused on the goal, nothing can stop you.”
There’s an undeniable, electric moment between them. Lena, feeling both challenged and intrigued, holds his gaze a little longer, her curiosity piqued. Tyler, trying to keep his composure, feels drawn to her intensity, but hides it behind a confident, stoic mask.
Lena: “Right. Sounds easy enough. I’ll try to remember that.”
Coming up with a film concept for a short is not easy... but thankfully the research is alleviating some of that writers block!
BLACK HOLE (2008)
This short is so clever and so minimal, focused primarily on show don't tell. I love how it connects to larger themes of greed and as he gets more ambitious, the hole gets bigger and he is eventually consumed by it. The visual metaphor of the hole also speaks to the idea of the futility of greed. The more you dig, the more you sink, the deeper you go. Ultimately, the character becomes overwhelmed, even swallowed whole by the hole they created. This suggests that no matter how much one gains through greed, it can never truly satisfy them and, in the end, might even destroy them. It’s a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of constantly trying to fill an insatiable void.
These creations really get me thinking about how everyday objects can be worked into a film in such a clever way to represent larger themes. It’s a creative way of telling a story, utilizing products/services that feel familiar to us but transforming them in the film and giving them a whole new depth. Instead of relying on big explanations or speeches, the film lets these small details speak for themselves, and that makes the message feel even more impactful.
It’s such a clever way to build a narrative that feels simple on the surface but has a lot going on underneath. It makes you look at the world around you in a different way, wondering what everyday objects might have a deeper meaning in your own life. It’s not just creative, it’s really cool how it makes you think in a whole new way.
This video changed my perspective on comedy in film insurmountably, because it talks about how techniques in film are used to gain laughs from people, and I saw the genre through an entirely different perspective. I used to believe that comedy was etched primarily by the script and delivery of a line, nothing more. The more frequently I learned to analyze films and their techniques, the more I believe there's more ways to get a laugh than that. Edgar Wright is brilliant for having introduced new ways to be a part of this genre such as the stylistic graphics and sound effects in Scott Pilgrim, or the unexpected subjects popping into frame.
After watching this video, I believe comedy plays such an important role in any genre, and learning how to get a laugh from your audience is important. Even if we don't decide to take the comedy route and choose to do something serious, understanding how to add moments of levity is imperative to maintaining a balanced, and non-linear piece with dynamics in the story.
My partner Zain Vidal helped us set up a tentative schedule as well (see below), that may also work however given the amount of time and quantity of tasks we are required to do, I thought it would be favorable to have a more accelerated version to ensure we really nail the end result of our short film.
Last year when I made my tentative project schedule I felt that I didn't allot enough room for mistakes or changes that may occur as the process evolves, so I gave myself a few more days and a breathing period so I can focus on the thespians competition trip coming up. We have lots of work to do!
I'm back again, and I'm so ecstatic to be here. This has been one crazy last senior year... but I'm ready to get started on this project! I've been waiting to experiment and explore, so I'm taking a risk and choosing to make a short film.
My primary goal for this project, since there's only 5 minutes, is to keep it short, simple, and clever. As I may have stated previously, I'm a content creator and I love storytelling in different forms but I've never experimented with the creation of a short film. I believed my movie had to have some "complex" storyline and "intricate" storytelling but as I started to research and dive deeper into the topic, I soon realized that most of them don't have to be that way.
This first short film is a student film that I really enjoyed because most of the conflict was happening in the protagonists head. The story starts with the boy and the girl traveling together, and they encounter several trials and tribulations down the line. Most of the conflict there is either proving or disproving his belief that "she doesn't love [him]."
So on the outside, his girlfriend seems to love him and show him through her actions, ex: cooking/caring for him, she just doesn't outwardly say it. We are viewing the film through his inner voice's perspective, but the irony lies in the fact that we see so many things going right in this relationship that it's hard to believe he's getting so in his head about the relationship.
The film drags on and is guided by his inner monologue, until the very end when he recites in his mind "I'm going to break up with her, before she can break my heart." Then when it was finally time to say what was on his mind, he says "I LOVE YOU!!!!" She replies with, "I love you too!"
What makes this film clever in my eyes is the fact that it commenced with the boy's assertion that his girlfriend "doesn't love him." It was clever because it taught us that our reality may not always be the truth, and we musn't let those destructive thoughts consume our mind.
This next short film quickly became one of the best short films I've seen, because it immediately checks off all the marks; short, simple, and clever. It has two locations, (the restaurant and the office) and the storyline is short yet clever and creative.
In sum, the story begins at a Chinese Restaurant where a couple is having dinner on the brink of a breakup. What they don't know is their whole conversation is being carefully listened to. Towards the end, we realize there's a whole system created in order to successfully deliver the right message within a fortune cookie. This is absolutely unethical and an invasion of privacy, but it holds a more positive effect and results in securing the welfare and satisfaction of their customers.
