For Roland's costume we kept simple but quite typical in terms of what a teen boy would wear. The playful impression of the mickey mouse jumper over the school boy like polo shirt, ties in nicely with the brown chino's. His coat suggests he perhaps is on his way out, which eventually does happen as he storms out after their argument.
Jennie
For Jennie's costume, we wanted to keep it simple with some aspects of colour; the scarf. Natural looking make-up and dark nail polish; we think this subtly suggest she takes some effort in her appearance. With her coat, we again wanted to give the impression both characters were on their way out before the argument flared up.
Another main scene in our opening is to be set on a street or road. Using a road or street allows the audience to quickly put two and two together and realise the death presumably was caused by a road accident.
We decided after our male character engages in the argument with the protagonist is when he storms out of the house (above) and comes head on with death on the road ahead.
We intend to get close up shots of our protagonist cradling the lifeless body of the male character in the middle of the road.
The location of the park and especially the bench is a casual setting which represents the comfortable nature of the couple. An open space like a park, we feel is a great place to reflect the couple's open playful and fun nature towards each other. Suggesting just how great things were before the tragic event.
The scenery with the fresh grass and the general outdoors, we feel would suggest the calm relationship between the couple because nature typically connotes serenity and gentleness but the leaves, changing seasons, could also symbolizes that although they may go through harsh times they will still have a stable relationship. A casual place like this we think adds a sense of realism without making the characters chemistry seem plain.
This room may be considered as for the cluttered room scene as there is a sence of unorganisation and no structure of the room which is what we want to be reflected in the scene. However, this room hastoo much of a boy-ish ora which is not what we are going towards even though there is a lesbian couple involved.
As there is a calm structured feeling to this room, it will be considered as the structure needed in our film, opening. Although there is a sereen feeling, it may be too structured and basic for the idea we are going for as although they are happy there is almost an emotional wall blocking one of our charactors because of the loss and suffering she has gone through.
This is an ideal setting of a cluttered room we are aiming for as in the scene we are creating, the clutter will not be overwhelming but will have a particular unplanned organisation feel to it. As the camera is tilting this will also give a good effect as we will be able to see the details of what is on the floor and will then explain why it has been placed there.
Our actual choice of Bedrooms
As mentioned above, we intend the room to be not too feminine and not too orderly. We feel that the above two options for our bedroom scene are plain enough, sort of a blank canvas, ready and suitable for us to add certain props (clothes and extras to make the clutter) that we feel will reflect the protagonist and create a more personal feel.
We want collectively the room and mise en scene to slightly reflect the character in a way that can maybe not be immediate know through speech or action.
This video is an easy step by step way to show how to create an scar which we can use in our film opening for the injury scene.
This would be suitable for the effect of the injury we are trying to create and I think we would use this, however, we would need to add fake blood to keep the injury fresh and more sudden. This would also contribute to make a more realistic scene.
If we do not purchase the fake blood from a store, then we can produce it ourselves using : Red food colouring, water and cornflour.
I also tried different techniques using make-up to create an bruise. I used different eye shadows to create the effect shown in the picture below and have discovered that a red/brown coloured lipstick provides a nice subtle sheen to the bruise, emphasising it even more.
Other Make-up
Girls Make-up : Bed Scene
Clear Mascara
Lip Balm
Minimal Foundation to cover blemishes (If needed)
Main Girl's Make-up : Montage Scene
Blusher
Lipstick/Gloss to draw attention to the lips
Black Mascara to define eyes and bring out the eye colour
Eye-liner (Optional)
Foundation (If needed)
*** Upon actually filming the death scene, we decided it would be more effective to simply use a large amount of fake blood, rather than scars or bruises etc, scattered on the pavement where the male character dies. -Tosin
Our film opening will introduce two gay protagonists who effectively we want to portray in the best possible way that stays in theme with common conventions of a romance film, in terms of costume. Our research into costume of both straight and lesbian woman stereotypically in romance films shows the following aspects:
- revealing clothes, sometimes sexualised (shows or represents their feminity or vulnerability) - depending on the character but widely used in bright coloured costumes, majorly white or red (could represent their pure love and affection) - lesbian woman in films costume can normally go to ways feminine with an edgy twist to complete that tom-boyish look or simply masculine and sometimes unflattering. (Chunky jewelerry, bold hairstyles, etc)
We intend to adapt the more 'feminine with an edgy twist' type representation in terms of costume for our film opening, because we feel it will still portray the theme properly while giving the characters some depth to them, through the connotations of their costume choices.
Examples:
The colour choice, white, of this costume could still reflect feminity but even the fact its a shirt could also highlight that minor element of masculinity. The dark beaded jewellery and dark eye make up adds to the whole edgy look.
Revealing pastel coloured costume again reflects feminity and even their vulnerability but yet openess with each other in every aspect; physically etc.
Similar to the first example, the chunky jewlerry, short plaid skirt all ties into creating the impression this character is bold in her costume choice.
