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
Invictus
Warrior
Karate Kid

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 friends.

How will we show his struggle?

Panic Attacks: - Shaky camera,
Starting off with blurry cam
and then focusing.
Possibly failing school?
Flashback to diagnosis with
parents?

Individual overcoming some struggle?

Inspirational drama.
Possible struggles:
Some sort of disorder?
Panic attacks?
Medical condition?

Possible Plot:

New Equilibrium:
Friend / coach takes protagonist under their wing,
helps him to find boxing as an outlet.
Overcomes panic attacks

How will he overcome the

struggle?
Some form of outlet?
Sport
Boxing

Inspiration:
Paralympics, Steven Hawking, Me before you, The fault in
our stars, We need to talk about 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?
What is Theos background?
Will Elliott succeed in boxing?
How will boxing effect Elliotts life?

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=PL60R3lHKrHNTGgvX8sxuyMew02eOK5X83
&index=9
Pirates of The Caribbean [Theme Song- FuLL]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nox-xs61dmU&list=PL60R3lHKrHNTGgvX8sxuyMew02eOK5X83
&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.