Writing the script

My father suggested me that I should write the script before creating any storyboard so I know better what is going to be said and more of the specifics.
I know that the script format doesn't have to be exact, but I like to be as precise as possible, so I looked up a tutorial in how to write movie scripts. https://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/. As I began writing the script, I felt creativity flow through me. I did not expect so many ideas to come to me so easily as I feared that doing this project alone would deprive me of creative ideas.
Thinking about my character's names wasn't so hard. Jane came to me because I just have a feeling that that should be the name. No reason at all, it just sounded right to me. Rosie Brooks came up because my classmate helped me pick a name out, and she said Josie Brooks, but since the main character's name already starts with a J, I modified it to be Rosie instead of Josie. I picked Richard for the evil step-father because Richard sounds to me like someone unlikable.
After thinking I was done with the script, I called my dad again so he could give me some advice on whether I should fix it or leave it how it is. He gave me many tips on scriptwriting. As we facetimed, he gave me tips and I was jotting down notes on my computer. He told me that the script doesn't have to be so technical (unless the teacher wants me to). That rather, I should leave the cinematic technicality to the storyboard. Things such as music, shot angles and directions, and pans should be put on the storyboard for more of a visual guide. Instead, the script should contain more poetic writing to guide the emotions of the characters for the actors, while still describing action and direction.
After taking about scripts for about an hour with my father, I modified the script and finally have it done. However, keep in mind I will probably modify the script again as ideas are always changing and flowing.

Here is my script before revision with my dad.

Afterwards:

Researching death penalty cases

With the story I have selected, I realized there is a big controversy that might agitate people. The controversial topic of the death penalty is something society has been bickering about for ages. The article Families of Murder Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty gave me an insight on how family members feel about this.

 "The death penalty solves nothing and may even perpetuate the suffering of the parents, children, or siblings left behind, the contributors to the booklet concur."

I have watched a few movies in relation to prison life and the death penalty, which have inspired me to make this psychological Drama including The Green Mile, which has a man who is convicted of murder and he is guilty. Shawshank Redemption, is also another crime the main character was innocent of, and Monster is a story about a serial killer.

Finally chose a story

My Story:
A story about a girl (Jane) who grows up in a poor environment. Her dad was killed in a car crash when she was just 1 years old. Her mother Marcy married another man who became her step dad. All up until Jane was 7 years old, her step father (Richard) sexually, emotionally, and physically abused Marcy, when suddenly Marcy dies of a heart attack. Then Jane legally left in the care of Richard, who is the only person in the world who could take care of her. From there on, Jane was also sexually, emotionally, and physically abused by her step-father. When Jane was 17 years old, she met a guy named Leo. They fell in love and he was her savior. One day, Richard accidentally walked in on Jane and Leo while they were in the bedroom. Richard, an alcoholic, had a drink in his hand and got so angry he went to get his gun. He drunkly shot Leo in the chest. Leo dies and Jane is in shock. Her step-father orders her to get out of bed and go make him something to eat. A week later, Jane plans to murder her step-father while he was asleep. She stabbed him 14 times. Jane is convicted and found guilty and put on death row. Jane tries to explain her true story but there is no evidence of Leo's murder, nor any evidence that her father was abusive. 30 years later, the day before she is put to death, a journalist comes in to question her about the real story. She tells the reporter the whole story. The next day she dies and is finally with Leo again.

Juan Pablo Gamboa, colombian actor

So this is my story. My dad, Juan Pablo Gamboa, who is a Colombian actor has been giving me advice on how to write a story for a movie. He also helped me with how to open this film. What I have in mind for opening is to start the story when Jane is already old, in her 40s or 50s, and she is sitting in an interview room, looking out the window and zoning out. Then comes in a reporter to ask her some questions about what truly happened. My dad suggested that before the journalist comes in, I should show a few quick flashbacks that Jane has of the love of her life as well as the horrible event that happened with her set-father. This is similar to Titanic, when Rose is old and asked to tell the story about the sinking of the ship, and flashbacks appear really quick of Jack Dawson.

Before this, I wanted to make a story board, but my dad suggested that it is better to first write the outline of the story, or the plot, the script and then do the storyboard last. He said making the storyboard is technically filming, so I have to have to know what I am going to have people say first, and what is going to happen.

Idea Pool

I realized that my brain was full of different ideas with different endings, so I decided to write down a pool of my ideas. The lead on my ideas is one about a girl protagonist of about 17 years of age, who has suffered emotional and physical abuse from her father and struggled with money. In the mist of her depression, she meets a guy who is 21 years old and who practically saves her life. The movie would be mostly the adventures of the two and how happy he makes her. However, towards the end of the movie the dad walks in on them as he is drunk and shoots her boyfriend. Out of anger, the girl kills her dad and is sentenced to death by the court. My dad, who is an actor, movie writer and producer, gave me advice on what can intrigue an audience. He explained that having something controversial that will have the opinions of the audience diverged and confused will make a good movie. He recommended me to look up famous controversial cases of the death penalty to do some research and I think I will. I still have some other ideas in mind, but this is the one that seems the most prominent.

Learning about Stories

I have still not come up with a set story for my movie. However, I do have certain ideas or pictures in my head on what I would like to do. Because I was so troubled with how stories work and their order, I decided to research how a story works and find some sort of formula so I can fit the pieces together. By watching the video "Writing 101: Story Structure" I was able to learn something I didn't know before and now it is hard not to see in every movie I watch or every story I hear. The video explains how Joseph Campbell's book "The Hero's Journey" makes a formula for story telling. The entirety of it has 3 acts. The first act contains the introduction of the hero and it's normal life, something that throws off the balance of the hero's world, a call to adventure, and then a refusal to the adventure. Next, act 2 consists of good trailer footage, "fun and games", secondary characters being introduced, midpoint or false victory, everything falling apart, and then a breakthrough to keep the hero going.

Finally, act 3 has the final battle which then leads the character to live its "new normal life." Watching this crash course and taking notes is really going to help me take pieces of all my ideas and fit into place. Because I am doing this project alone, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of work that is all carried by me, and I am my own boss. Now I am going to brainstorm my ideas on the film. As I was trying to understand how stories work, a lightbulb went off in my head that made me remember that my dad is an actor knows all about how movies work. I know who I'm getting advice from.

First Decisions

          As i've learned techniques on how to open a film, i still haven't figured out what exactly I want my movie to be about or what the genre is. By the way, throughout this little journey I decided to write all my ideas down on my notebook rather than save it up in my head until I blog. Every time something pops up, I can just quickly jot it down on my notebook and then have as a source when i'm blogging.
          Anyway, I believe that choosing a genre should should come out of my own very interest in movies. Instead of choosing a genre just because is it the easiest to do, I want to chose the genre based on my liking, even if it is hard to make. My favorite genre of movies are romance, comedy, drama, indie, and travel movies. Movies such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lady Bird, Garden State, Into The Wild, Captain Fantastic are part of my favorite movie list (let's not forget The Emperor's New Groove). All of these movies have evoked something in me that calls me to be a film maker when i'm older, and they all relate to me on a personal level because I feel like I have been through what the characters have been through. Therefore I want to make a film that makes people connect with the characters and relate to the story on a personal level; I want the audience to have sentimental or bittersweet feelings like these movies have made me feel. In "Choosing a Genre for your Film Project", Julian A. Leu explains that the genre is usually determined by the story line of the movie. "The content of your project should determine its genre. If it involves spaceships and time travel, it’s gonna be a sci-fi, loosely speaking. Genre is going to affect who your characters are, how they speak, what they talk about, as well as pacing considerations and content tropes."
          At this point I have only thought about some cool openings for my project, but I have not thought of the storyline of the actual movie, which is the most important aspect of this project. So far, my ideas for characters are a young female protagonist in her 20's focusing on the obstacles she has overcome in her life to get where she wants to be. Supporting characters would be her family, her friends, and her boyfriend. I believe my genre will be centered around a drama or coming of age movie.
Another suggestion this article gave me was to know my target audience. As i said, i want to target people who connect with a character and have gone through human experiences. Therefore my target audience will mainly be young adults or older. 

The Beginning

Research

This is only the beginning of it all and i've got to say, I'm a little overwhelmed. My initial plan of working with a partner didn't work out, so now i'm a lone wolf. Today in class we learned about how to blog and what exactly we are supposed to do for this project. I really like that I can use this as a type of diary for my journey. The first thing I thought of doing was researching a bit more of what makes a good opening scene in a film. By watching the video "Opening Shots Tell Us Everything" on Youtube,  I was able to learn that good film openings music is an important factor in a film opening because it sets the mood of the movie. Another thing that I found very interesting and is something I love when movies do is symbolism. A Space Odyssey does this in the beginning of its film by having the sun rise symbolize the journey that the character will go through and that the movie will be about overcoming something.

In addition, I also watched "How to Begin A Movie", which also taught me very important things about how to open a film. It explained how the best films such as the Matrix, The Shining, and Indiana Jones don't go straight to the beginning of the story, but instead start with something related to the theme. I really like this method of film opening because whenever I watch something that makes me ask questions in the beginning of the movie, it makes me want to watch more. It suggested to not tell the audience all of the information about the movie in a the first scene, but rather gives clues and hints. The best way to open a film is by establishing the elements of the story like characters, genre, and theme. I am taking all of this into consideration as I continue to think about my genre and what I want to do.