Research and Planning

Presentation
Summer, Noah and Niha

NOAH
Inspirational trailers & draft synopsis & Soundtrack research
key questions

SUMMER:
genre analysis & moodboard & storyboard

NIHA:
Initial ideas mind-map & Actors/Locations/Costume/Props;
target audience decision, definition and relevant film
analysis;

- BBFC research; Together

Inspirational Trailers
To inspire our own film, we focused on famous drama films that are
notorious for their powerful and captivating narratives, such as:

Million Dollar Baby

Southpaw

Forest Gump

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

The Blind Side

Precious

Creed

Rocky

The Fighter
Trailer analysis
Million Dollar Baby
https://youtu.be/IH7gQqpw7ok
Karate Kid
 Genre Analysis

Drama film is a genre that relies on the emotional and relational development of
realistic characters. While Drama film relies heavily on this kind of development,
dramatic themes play a large role in the plot as well. Often, these dramatic themes
are taken from intense, real life issues. Whether heroes or heroines are facing a
conflict from the outside or a conflict within themselves, Drama film aims to tell an
honest story of human struggles (The Script Lab).
 Genre Analysis
As a collective, we decided to create a film under the genre of sports drama. We wanted to create a film in which a
person overcomes a deeply personal challenge by partaking in some form of activity, that changes his life. The genre
of drama is attributed to some of the most powerful films such as Precious, Forrest Gump and Million Dollar Baby,
all of which follow the sequence of overcoming a great challenge.

Typical Drama conventions showcase characters living in intense or extraordinary situations, that depict their
personal journey and progression as they conquer or demise. Drama films often draw inspiration from true stories
or real events.
Conventions of a sports drama film:
True inspirational story
Todorovs theory: equilibrium, disequilibrium, new equilibrium
Emotionally connecting the audience
Complete focus on the protagonist and their journey
Personal development/ transformations

Technical codes: sports dramas often use specific camera shots such as; point of view, establishing shots, tilted or
angled, extreme close ups, tracking shots. Furthermore, audio and sound is used to heighten emotions during tense
or extreme scenes in the film, to help connect the audience with what they see on screen. Sports drama often chose a
key track or piece of music, that is often powerful and inspirational to help tell their story e.g. eye of the tiger, rocky
soundtrack.

Symbolic codes:filmmakers and actors create convincing dramatic moments through dialogue, gestures and actions.
In sports dramas these gestures and actions might be heightened to reflect the level of movement and action present
in a sport or match. E.g. rocky is famous for their montage of sylvester stallone training and practicing his boxing
skills, coat routine from the Karate Kid

 Initial Ideas
Protagonists characteristics:
Timid, quiet, difficulties fitting in, not many
Individual overcoming some
friends.
struggle? Inspirational
drama.
Possible struggles:
- Some sort of disorder?
- Panic attacks?
How will we show his - Medical condition?
struggle?
- Panic Attacks: - Shaky
camera, Starting off with Possible
blurry cam and then Plot: How will he overcome
focusing.
the struggle?
- Possibly failing school?
- Some form of
- Flashback to diagnosis
outlet?
with parents?
- Sport
- Boxing

New Equilibrium:
- Friend / coach takes protagonist under their Inspiration:
wing, Paralympics, Steven Hawking, Me before you,
- helps him to find boxing as an outlet. The fault in our stars, We need to talk about
- Overcomes panic attacks kevin, forrest gump, Drama genre
 Draft Synopsis
Draft Synopsis: Elliot has severe social anxiety, resulting in him
suffering from panic attacks. As a young boy, his teachers knew
Elliot was different and tried to provide the right support to help
him, until Coach Dustin takes him under his wing and introduces
him to the world of boxing.

After deciding on the genre sports drama, as a group we made

the decision to create a trailer about a young boy who suffers from
anxiety attacks, but has a dream that he will no longer be held
back by his condition. Under the watchful eye and support of his
new found friend Theo, who takes Elliot under his wing and trains
him to be a boxer creating an outlet and form of therapy for the
young boy who he can see is struggling with the common
adolescencent battle of anxiety.
target audience decision, definition and relevant film
analysis
Target audience will be families, the movie will be a feel good movie. The genre will be a sports
drama but we do not want to aim it directly at a young audience but do not want to specifically
target it at an older audience. We want it to relatable to a large target audience as it is a movie
with a positive message that many age groups can benefit from.

Films such as Forest Gump draw an audience of families - it is a feel good movie and we are
aiming to generate the same kind of audience this film has.
Family audience is defined as -
Family film contains appropriate content for younger viewers. Family film aims to appeal not only to children,
but to a wide range of ages. While the storyline may appeal to a younger audience, there are components of
the film that are geared towards adults- such as witty jokes and humor. This genre may fall into many other
genres, including comedy, adventure, fantasy, and animated film.
Our movie genre will be a hybrid of a sports drama and a family film.
Similar films that we will draw inspiration from in terms of codes and conventions are:

Southpaw: We will follow the storyline of an equilibrium, desiquilibrium andnew equilibrium. The movie shows
how boxing is used to the protaganists advantage allows him to overcome his struggle, one of which effects
his family life and his young child, this is what allows the film to relate to a wide range of audiences as it has
the protaganist whom is middle age so older audiences can relate to him, and a young child so the younger
audience can relate to her.

The Blind side: A child with a drug addict mother with a very hard life that struggles fitting in is taken in by a
rich family whom nurture him and allow him to overcome his struggles through playing football, making him
one of the best football players of his time.
Inspirational storyline which could inspire all ages.
Key Questions
What holds Elliott back?
Does elliots condition stem from previous
experiences?
Where does Eliots talent come from?
What involvement does elliots family have in his
life?
Why does Elliott get into fights?
Who picks on Elliot?
Why does elliot have enemies?
Why has Theo decided to help Eliot?
Draft Storyboard
Actors, locations, Costume, Props
Actors: Following Propps character roles theory -
1) Protagonist: Elliot - (Need to cast)
2) Hero - Coach / Friend: Noah Landes
3) Villain - Bullies? (Need to cast)
4) Princess - Possible love interest (Need to cast)
Locations:
School
(To relate to the young target audience - will help them to empathise with the story helping to
evoke desired emotion)
May look un professional however as although based on a school kid, will have to deal with
disturbances in school such as lessons, people around etc.
Gym
For Training / boxing to occur in - will make it the trailer seem more realistic if real boxing
related mise en scene such as a boxing ring or punching bag is included
Costume:
Normal clothing teenagers would wear.
For boxing scenes, boxing gear including gloves, possibly mouthguard etc - to make it seem
realistic.
Props:
Boxing ring, boxing gloves, Tables, chairs, computers.
 Soundtrack research
Rocky Balboa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I33u_EHLI3w

The eye of the tiger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4

Your the best- karate kid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIYqtkdMxQg

Hans Zimmer - Time (Inception)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxabLA7UQ9k&list=PL60R3lHKrHNTGgvX8sxuyMew
02eOK5X83&index=9

Pirates of The Caribbean [Theme Song- FuLL]

h
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nox-xs61dmU&list=PL60R3lHKrHNTGgvX8sxuyMew0
2eOK5X83&index=
2
 BBFC Research

Our film will fit into the category of 12 rather than a 15 as although we will have some violence in our
film, we do not want it to be very explicit. A 12 states that there may be moderate violence whilst a 15
lists violence may be strong. We want our film to relate to relatively young audiences and by making it
a 15, we would miss out key elements of the demographic it is aimed at.