Project Proposal

    My name is Matthew Fuentes, and I have decided on a two-minute film opening. I'm working alone, and my blog will show my research, decisions, and developments as I approach making the film, and updates on my production.

    For this project, I have chosen to make a melodrama. For me, melodramas are appealing as they allow me to work with emotional realism and character-driven narratives rather than quick-paced action-based films. Intrigued by melodramas, during my research on films like Moonlight, Hament, Past Lives, and Call Me by Your Name, I have been attracted to the emotional depth that can be conveyed through subtle performances and the tone of the film. In a melodrama, I have ample scope to work around vulnerabilities and interpersonal conflict realistically.

    My intended target group would be between the ages of 15 and 25 years. This is because this age category tends to respond well to emotionally charged stories and primarily relates to narratives driven by the characters. Although my assignment does not require me to target any specific gender, I believe most gender groups would be able to relate to the potential themes and narratives presented in emotionally charged, character-driven storytelling.

  While representation-wise, as far as themes are concerned, I would like to explore emotional vulnerability and strained relationships in a more realistic sense. Modern melodramatic works may deal with stereotypes in different ways, such as stereotypes related to masculinity. I would like my characters not to be exaggerated, ensuring that representation is honest instead of performative.

   To make my brief, I will be using a camera that is actively available to me and Premiere Pro to edit. Though I have basic knowledge in film and editing, I want to take this experience as an opportunity to expand my skills. Considering the genre of melodrama and the importance of emotional descriptions within the genre, I intend to enhance my knowledge of using light and setting to convey certain moods to the audience effectively.

    I think I will start by simply bringing in the main character, suggesting that something might be wrong without necessarily tackling everything that will happen. I will focus on tone, performance, and look, rather than telling too much. In preparation, I will simply look at completing set exercises like checking the dialogue scene, color, and possibly making a simple storyboard to check the speed of it all.