my props!

 My romantic comedy short film relies heavily on props to create a realistic and relatable environment. Since text messages are used for most interactions, the phone is one of the most important props. Close-up shots of the phone will be used to show the audience the messages sent by the mystery sender to the main character. A computer, calculator, and notebook will be on the bed, suggesting that the character was working on her schoolwork before receiving the unexpected text. These props help set up a normal, everyday scene, making it seem more realistic when the conversation with the mystery texting starts. 

Later, when the character goes downstairs in the middle of the film for a change in environment to calm her nerves, she goes on the couch, surrounded by pillows and a blanket, which will help show her trying to be as comfortable as possible in stressful yet intriguing situations. She may move the pillows or pull the blanket over herself while thinking, showing that she feels both nervous and excited. The cozy setting contrasts with the mystery of the messages, making the scene feel more balanced. As the character moves around in the kitchen after sitting down on the couch, props like the refrigerator full of food and snacks and water on the kitchen counter will help the scene feel more natural. These minor details will help the audience relate to the story and give the film a more authentic feel. 

a example of the water bottle that will be on the kitchen counter

my finalized shot list!

 SHOT LIST 

 

Shot Type  

Notes 

 

Establishing Shot 

 

The exterior of Addie’s house at night, dim outside garage lights on. 

Sets the scene and introduces the setting. 

 

Medium Shot 

 

 

Addie is sitting on her bed, looking bored, tapping her pencil on her notebook. 

Establishes her mood. 

 

Close-Up 

 

Phone screen lights up with "PING!" notification. 

Draws attention to the mysterious text. 

 

Close-Up 

 

Addie’s confused reaction. 

Captures her emotions. 

 

POV shot

 looking at her phone, reading the message. 

Puts the audience in her perspective. 

 

Medium Shot 

Addie typing back hesitantly. 

Shows her response to give audience context. 

 

 

Close-Up 

Phone screen: Typing bubble appears, disappears, then reappears. 

Builds anticipation. 

 

Close-Up 

Addie's eyes widening as she reads the confession. 

Emphasizes shock and curiosity. 

 

 

Medium Shot 

Addie sits up, holding the phone tighter, looking intrigued. 

Shows her growing interest. 

 

 

 

POV shot

Looking down at the math book, scanning for clues. 

Puts the audience in her shoes. 

 

 

Close-Up 

Addie biting her lip, debating. 

Subtle nervousness and anticipation. 

 

 

Medium Shot 

Addie gets up and walks into the kitchen. 

Adds realism and movement. 

 

 

Close-Up 

She opens the fridge and stares inside. 

Subtly shows her thinking. 

 

 

Close-Up 

Another phone "PING!" She looks down. 

Emphasizes message importance. 

 

 

Close-Up 

She smiles, rolling her eyes at the message. 

Shows her reaction. 

 

 

Medium Shot 

She dials a number and lifts the phone to her ear. 

Introduces new action. 

 

 

Split-Screen 

Phone call interrupted: Sky on one side, her friend unseen. 

Shows conversation while keeping the mystery. 

 

 

 POV shot

Looking at the phone, reading "Your move." 

Immerses audience in her perspective. 

 

 

Medium Shot 

Addie's flops back onto the couch, staring at the phone. 

Shows she’s invested in the game. 

 

 

Fade to Black 

The phone screen glows in the dark as we fade out. 

Ends on a mysterious note. 

what helped me create my shot list was a pdf i found online to organize everything  and also using my script to see how i would use different shots to make my project as good as possible

final audio!

 Hii Cambridge So for my project, sound was especially important, and I wanted to focus on realistic sounds over a lot of background music. I created sounds like nails tapping on a phone screen and an incoming text ringing using foley to give the scenes a more realistic feel. The story felt more authentic and realistic because of these small details. I used these sounds to create tension and express the character's emotions during the film rather than constantly using music throughout the whole thing. This way, the audience could focus on the moment without being distracted by too much background music. 

When I did incorporate music, I was careful to keep it subtle and only use it when I thought it was appropriate. I selected soft instrumental music that I created off the app Garage Band using sounds from a piano. These sounds that I made will be used when a surprising yet interesting moment takes place, highlighting important plot points. I also am thinking of adding a soft ticking clock sound to create a feeling of waiting and nervousness when she waits for the boy in her class to respond to her texts. By keeping the music minimal and focusing on more realistic sounds using foley, I can make the film feel more natural while keeping it interesting for the audience.

heres me making my audio in garage band trying my first sample

here is me trying my second sample to see which one i think would fit better with my film

audio for my project!

 My project's audio will focus on subtle, realistic noises that strengthen the film. I'll use foley sounds, such as Addie tapping her fingernails on her phone and the soft ping of incoming texts, since texting is the main form of communication. The audience will feel as though they are there with her, feeling both her excitement and nervousness because of these sounds. Tension will also be increased by the phone's ringer, especially if she is nervous to answer. With minimal dialogue, every sound will be carefully created to sound natural and help tell the story.

I want to keep the music simple and use music that sets the right mood by using instrumental pieces. When Addie first receives the message, a gentle tune could play to show her excitement and curiosity. Her nervousness may cause the music to fade or slow down. This will make the moment feel more intimate by pointing out the little sounds surrounding her. The story will feel more real and engaging if there is a balance between quiet parts and background music. 

set ideas!

 Addie's home really represents who she is; it is cozy, familiar, and full of little things that give the audience a sense of who she is. With a vanity covered with beauty products, perfumes, and decorations that show her creative and expressive side, her bedroom serves as her private safe space. The warm lighting from her mirror gives the room a cozy, soft vibe, while her slightly messy bed with an open laptop implies she spends a lot of time online, whether doing homework, watching shows, or just relaxing. Her open closet, with the neatly hung clothes and storage bins, shows how she is a little organized but still has a natural lived-in mess vibe to her room. The mix of soft colors, like pink and white, adds to the romantic comedy feel, which shows off this is where she feels most like herself.

Outside her bedroom, the rest of the house continues to build on who Addie's character really is. The living room is warm and cozy, with a dark brown couch covered in soft, neutral throw pillows, making it a perfect spot for her to relax and contemplate all the events happening to her. She can take a break to think about her feelings in the brightly lit kitchen with its clean white marble countertops and mutilple appliances everywhere. The open cabinets and food on the counter give the kitchen a genuine, lived-in vibe. 

a picture of addies room where most of the filming will be done

costume ideas!

 I want to pick an outfit for Addie that both fits the romantic comedy genre and expresses her personality. I want her to stand out while still being comfortable by wearing a bright pink hoodie with gray sweatpants or black leggings. The pink hoodie represents warmth, excitement, and a little bit of romance, which aligns with the emotions she is going to feel throughout the film. The Gray sweatpants help her feel even more at home, while black leggings give off a stylish yet also comftorbale vibe that shows her simple and lack of energy in her outfits while shes at home. This outfit helps her look like an everyday teenager in the comfort of her own home while also fitting the bright and fun style often seen in romantic comedies.

Addie's clothing choices also highlight her emotions and character growth. At the start of the film, she is just a teenage girl relaxing at home, not expecting anything exciting to happen. The pink in her hoodie symbolizes her curiosity and excitement about the situation when she receives the mysterious text. Pink is often connected to love and fun, which fits the theme of the movie perfectly, while black leggings and gray sweatpants keep her in a more comfortable, everyday life vibe. The combination of coziness and vibrant colors shows that Addie is a girl who values her own space but also likes to experience new things, even if they make her anxious. Her outfit helps tell her story without using words but by letting the audience get how she feels in the film just by looking at her. 

inspo for a hoodie she might wear

an idea of her sweat pants 

a picture of leggings she might wear

My characters development!

 Hiii Cambridge I'm so excited to show you guys all my character development for my project. I hope you like it! So, for my character Addie, she is an average teenage girl who likes to be by herself but also likes new experiences and likes to be with her friends. She prefers relaxing at home rather than going out most of the time, which is why her costume and setting are very important in creating her character. She wears casual clothes like leggings and a hoodie or sweatpants and a hoodie, never anything too fancy unless she's out with friends, but usually just something cozy that is really comfortable. These decisions reflect her character and her personality a lot. She is very easygoing, a little reserved, but still interested in normal teenage girl activities. She doesn't try too hard to impress people but still has her little group of friends, but that does not mean she is not interested in romance like the rest of them. Her interactions with the mystery text reveal that she is both anxious and excited. She really wants to know who this person is, but she is afraid of being disappointed by who is actually behind the screen. The thought of not knowing who's texting her excites her, but it also makes her second guess if this is a prank or if this is real and the guy actually likes her.

Her house also plays a big role in showing how she feels throughout the entire film. In her room is where she feels the safest, but as the conversation with the mystery guy continues, she moves, possibly pacing up and down the stairs when she is anxious or sitting in the living room when she is deep in her thoughts about what's happening. She might stop in the kitchen to eat a snack or to rest against the counter while she contemplates what's going on in her situation. The long tracking shots and zoom-ins on her phone and facial expressions show her emotions without needing much dialogue to portray how she's feeling. The scene feels realistic and more relatable because of the background noise, like her nails tapping on her phone and the buzz of a new text.

my script!

 Hiii Cambridge im so excited to show you my final script so here it is! 

EXT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 

A dim lamp lights the room. A TV hums in the background, but the screen is off. 

MAIN CHARACTER, a teenage girl, sits on the couch in leggings and a hoodie. A textbook and notebook are on the coffee table. She taps her pencil, looking bored doing her homework. 

PING! 

Her phone lights up. 

CLOSE UP: PHONE SCREEN 

                          UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Hey. 
 

She looks confused, then types back. 

                          SKY  
                                 Uh… hi? Who is this? 
 

A moment passes. The typing bubble appears… disappears… then appears again. 

                          UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Someone in your math class. 
 

She sits up, looking at her math book. 

                             SKY
                                 Okay…? And you just randomly decided to text me? 
 
                           UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Not random. I  really like you. 
 

Her eyes get really big. She grabs the phone, very nervous but curious. 

                        SKY   

                                 This feels like a prank. 
 
                           UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 It’s not. Let’s play a game. 
 

CLOSE UP: HER FACE—confused but interested. 

                          SKY   

                                 What game? 
 
                           UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 20 Questions. You ask, I answer. If you guess right, I’ll tell you who I am. 
 

She bites her lip, thinking. 

                          SKY  

                                 Fine. First question: Are you in my math class? 
 
                           UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Yes. 
 

She exhales, playing with her hair. 

                         SKY  

                                 Okay… are you a sophomore? 
 
                           UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Yes. 
 

She frowns, now more curious. 

She stands up, walking into the KITCHEN. She opens the fridge, stares inside, then shuts it. 

PING! NEW MESSAGE. 

                          UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Your turn. Tell me something about you. 
 

She rolls her eyes, smiling. 

                           SKY   

                                 You already know stuff if you like me. 
 
                           UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 True. Okay, next question. 
 

She sighs, thinking. Then— 

She dials a number. 

SPLIT SCREEN: PHONE CALL INTERCUT 

We hear only her side. 

                         SKY 

                                 Hey, so, um… some guy in our math class has a crush on me? 
 

(Pause.) 

                       SKY
                                 No idea who. He’s making me guess. 
 

(Pause.) 

                          SKY   

                                 It’s weird, but kinda exciting? 
 

She paces. 

                      SKY
                                 If this is a prank, I’m switching schools. 
 

She laughs nervously, then looks at her phone. 

NEW MESSAGE: 

                          UNKNOWN NUMBER   
                                 Your move. 
 

She flops back onto the couch. 

THE GAME IS ON. 

FADE TO BLACK.