Shooting Schedule - W/C 2nd November

Casting Documents

Concept Development - Production Logo Research and Ideas

These production company logos are ones that have been used in other romance films that we have already researched. Because we want to make sure our own production logo is one that looks realistic and as professional as possible, as well as making sure it's one that will be used for our genre of film, I decided to research these company logos to get some ideas.



By researching these production company logos, I discovered that the company name is included on the logo as well as normally some kind of picture, most often something that is related to the company name. For example this can be seen in the logo for Focus Features where the image is out of focus as well as the 'o' in the name.

Below is the production logo that I made and designed for our trailer.

Further Wardrobe Research in Other Romance Films

Prop Sourcing

Wardrobe for Vanity

Wardrobe Vanity Updated

Script for Vanity

Location Report

Animatic Storyboard for Vanity

Storyboard for 'Vanity'

The first shot shown in the trailer is a long establishing shot showing Zac and Florence seated in a café talking. We decided to use this shot to establish the area and atmosphere that they're in, as well as to show their relationship towards each other.

Extreme close up of the key that Zac sets down onto the table in front of him and Florence. This is to make it clear that he wants to move in with her because he's giving her a key to his apartment.

Close up of Zac's face to show how his emotions towards Florence and that he's happy to move in with her and that he's happy in general.

We then have a close up of Florence's face in order to show her emotions to what Zac has just asked her as well and that she's happy.

Next there's a mid shot to show the two characters body language and emotions towards each other and how Florence is accepting the key from Zac  

Close up of Zac's face again to show how he feels about Florence accepting the key

There's then an over the shoulder shot showing Zac washing his hands at the bathroom sink, which will then cut to a close up of his hands in the sink. After this, there will be a close up of Zac's face where he'll look up. It will then go back to an over the shoulder shot to him looking up at the small mirror in front him.

There's a closer over the shoulder shot where we just see the back of the characters head and the mirror in front of him. We can see Zac looking at himself in the mirror.

The next couple of shots are supposed to act as sort of a montage of Zac falling in love with himself, or just simply starting to notice himself and his face more. In this first shot of the montage there's a mid shot from behind Zac were he's working on the computer.

Over the shoulder shot. When Zac turns his computer screen off, we see his reflection in the screen and Zac is looking at it with awe.

Next there's a mid shot directly in front of Zac of him on the phone with Florence, he looks quite happy as he's laughing.

Over the shoulder shot showing Zac's phone screen that he was on the phone to Florence, we can see Zac's reflection in the phone.

Tracking mid shot behind Zac walking down the hall towards the kitchen. There's a mirror in the hall that he passes and sees himself in.

Over the shoulder shot of Zac looking at himself in the mirror

Mid shot of Zac and Florence sitting at the dining room table, talking. The idea of this shot was to contrast with the first shot of the trailer, in order to show the distance that has now been created due to the relationship that Zac has formed with himself

Close up of the size of Florence's face, in order to show her body language and her emotions towards Zac as she's talking to him

There's then a low angle shot looking up at Zac where we can see him looking at the knife in front of him, he looks happy while doing this

There's then another front on close up of Florence who's calling Zac's name - he isn't replying to her as he's too infatuated with his reflection. This is again to show her emotions 

Over the shoulder shot showing Zac looking at the reflection in the knife

Close up of Zac's face finally realising that Florence is talking to him and she's trying to get his attention - he looks confused

We then see Zac breaking down and there's a long shot of him in the corner of a dark room crying.

Audition Tapes for 'Vanity'

We did these auditions after we decided what kind of character types we wanted for our film. Francesca and George Coates got the roles of Florence and Zac, we felt like they fit the characters well as they gave good reasons for our questions at the end of their auditions.

Concept Development: Mood Board

This is our mood board for our film idea Vanity. The mood board includes the colour palette we are aiming to have in our trailer, the main themes of our storyline and the lighting we are striving towards. 

Concept Development: Character Outline

Florence Anderson

Florence is a sweet, outgoing and responsible young woman who is supportive and in love with her husband. With the couple being newly weds they have hardly had any bumps in the road so the hardship that she has to go through with Zak is the hardest one yet. She isn't one to give up but because she is young she's also very vulnerable and almost reaches her breaking point when her husband can't seem to get over the obsession he has with his reflection. In terms of Propp’s character type Florence is a modern day "hero", there isn't a clear cut villain but her husband’s reflection can be classed as that. She needs to rescue her husband from himself and she's the only one that can do this. 

Zac Jones

Zac is a humble and honest family man who is loved by all. He's never been superficial or materialistic in anyway so the he's caught off guard by these new feelings he's experiencing. Zac is also very independent and doesn't take help from others as graciously as others, despite the kind of help it is. This a down fall in his personality when he refuses to accept help from outsiders and his own family. In terms of props character types Zac is a modern 'damsel in distress" who needs rescuing from himself.

Audience Profile: Vanity

Audience Profile: Her

Her Audience Profile

Target Audience Interviews

As part of our target audience research we have interviewed members of our primary and secondary target audience in order to find out more about the particular things they would like to see in a romantic film and whether they would prefer to see the typical romantic film or a subverted version of a romantic film would be in preference. This research has enabled us to come to some final decisions in terms of the plot of our film and making sure it appeals to our intended target audience.

Marketing Campaign: Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies Marketing Campaign

Iconic Imagery from 'Vanity'

Rough Narrative Thread of 'Vanity'

Zac and Florence are having a romantic meal out, enjoying their time after moving in with each other.
The trailer fades to black with a female voiceover saying: "I know that we're not supposed to say this, but you're very handsome." 

Zac is washing in the bathroom, and then looks up to the mirror, staring at his reflection with the comment in mind. Voice over with "you're very handsome" over again. 

(Man in the Mirror starts playing slowly)

Montage of relationship developing with shots of Zac looking in any reflection available.

"We need to find a way of telling her."

Zac and Florence sit at the dinner table "how was work?" Zac doesn't hear as he is staring at himself in the knife/spoon. 

(Man in the Mirror finishes - "CHANGE")

"Take these, you'll feel better soon."

Smashes mirrors in anger because he can't communicate with his reflection anymore and doesn't understand what is happening.

He becomes withdrawn. 

Four Iconic Images

Codes and Conventions of Romantic Comedy Trailer Documentary

Narrative of a Trailer - The Vow

Narrative of a Trailer - About Time

Narrative of a Trailer - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Narrative of a Trailer

Tsvetan Todorov
Believed stories start in a state of equilibrium, which is disrupted, setting in motion a chain of events. The resolution of the story is the creation of a new or different equilibrium. He summed the journey up in five stages:

1. Equilibrium
2. Disruption of equilibrium by event or person
3. Realisation that disruption has occurred
4. Attempt to repair damage of disruption
5. Restoration of equilibrium (usually a new equilibrium) 

Examples of films that the theory can be applied to are Titanic, The King's Speech and Die Hard.

The Narrative Structure of Vanity

1. Equilibrium: Zac and Florence are newly moved in with each other in a society where vanity is not a main focus, people are more concerned with personality. 
2. Disruption: Someone in the street tells Zac that he is very handsome - something that is forbidden to say. Zac then finds himself in the bathroom when he realises his reflection for the first time, thinking about the comment. 
3. Realisation: Zac soon becomes obsessed and infatuated with himself - even though he knows it is him in the reflection. His marriage slowly falls apart due to this obsession with a 'new lover'. 
4. Attempt to repair: Florence takes Zac to the doctors because she is worried about him. The doctor cures him of his infatuation with his reflection.
5. New equilibrium: Zac is incredibly unhappy now whereas Florence is happy now she's 'fixed' Zac.

Film Treatment

Title: Vanity
Characters: Zac and Florence
Logline: In a world without vanity, Zac notices himself in the mirror for the first time and begins a journey into self-admiriation whilst his marriage spirals out of control.

Synopsis: Zac and Florence are happy being newly moved in with each other in a world without vanity, when someone tells Zac that he is very handsome - a statement in itself which is banned. Zac finds himself in the bathroom and fully notices his reflection for the first time, thinking about the comment.
Zac soon becomes obsessed and infatuated with himself - even though he knows it is him in the reflection. This therefore enables the downfall of his marriage due to his new obsession. Florence gets sick and tired of him looking at himself in the mirror at any available opportunity, and takes him to the doctors. The psychiatrist cures him of his love for himself, and Florence is happy even though Zac is not.

Analysing Survey Results

Analysing Survey Results from fbjorkegren09

In conclusion, we have chosen to create the pitch Vanity as our trailer as it was quite popular with the respondents and most thought it was the best out of the three choices. The respondents said that the pitch was interesting and something that hasn't been done before - which we aimed to do. The other pitches seem to be not as successful as perhaps they were too complicated and not easy to understand.
We, as a group, also preferred the Vanity pitch as we could envisage ourselves filming it and we already had ideas as to what we wanted the trailer to look like.