My Critical Reflection

https://youtu.be/YH1KkWe4cQk

The Day Has Finally Arrived

I finally finished. Those three words are heaven to my ears. After working on this for countless hours, I can finally look at the end form of media and be proud. Of course, as with practically anything, it could be improved. If I had more time and less restrictions on what I can and cannot use or do, I would have loved to develop the intro even more. However, I'm satisfied with the way it turned out. I hope you all enjoy my film, Just Breathe.

https://youtu.be/TywTS7GmFLo

Progress and Posters

Something has occurred that I would've have never guessed: I have gone way over the time limit. In my odd way of first editing the beginning and ending, I've realized that I have left myself no time for the middle. The intro to the intro of the film involves showing the house and the room of the main character, while the ending presents the character covering her puffy eyes with makeup and leaving the room. In order to have enough time for the mid section, I might have to get rid of the makeup scene and some establishing shots. These shots are important to the further understanding the film but, time is not permitting it. I just hope that even without these scenes, the rest of the project can stand well on its own. For now, I need to edit like a mad man.
Other than that, I worked on creating a poster for the movie. By taking one of the more aesthetically pleasing shots from the intro, I modeled the poster after some that I saw online. Of course, I don't have as many credits to put on it as professional movies do. With the poster, I thought of a title. A title that's been bouncing around my head includes a major element to the intro of the film: sound. More specifically, the sound of the main character breathing. A large symptom of panic attacks is shortness of breath. Thus, the title "Just Breathe" was born.

An Extremely Unfinished Preview

Editing will be the death of me. It's killing me slowly on the inside like some sort of supreme cancer that involves growing tumors out of every single one of my body parts. My plan of attack regarding editing is to line up all the video shots creating the full film and then work on audio. I think this will be effective because with this method, I can focus on one aspect of the project at one rather than scrambling with multiple.

So far, I've been editing in a rather unconventional way; instead of working from beginning to end, I've been creating the intro and the ending yet not the middle part. The middle being the most difficult part to edit is the reason for my avoidance of it. Yet, I have somewhat finished the intro to the intro, which is basically just the first thirty seconds. Here is a small preview of the intro to the intro. There are still some things that I'd like to perfect with this clip. One of which is the coloring. The shades of the shot change from bright and yellow, which allude to optimism and confidence, to a cooler blue, which elucidates depressed emotions. However, I've been struggling to find a way to gradually change the colors from one shot to the next without a noticeable change.



Psychological Properties Of Colours. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/psychological-properties-of-colours
The Color Blue. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-blue.html

Updates and Playing with Premiere

As of right now, I am officially done filming. Well, that's not exactly true. I have to get one more shot that is simple and only involves having the credits for who produced and filmed by. Obviously, since I am working alone, most of the credits will have only my name. However, for who produced the short intro, I'm probably going to create a logo for Fire Spark Films and have that with the name as one of the credits, something plain like the sketch below. I don't want to spend too much time on the logo since I still have to edit, but it would be a nice touch to the film. 

Possible Logo

Speaking of the gigantic beast that is editing, I've decided to use Premiere Pro's free trial instead of Windows Movie Maker. The reasoning behind this is to create a more professional look to my piece. I also want to play with the different elements that a more advanced editing software can offer me. Although it is a professional program, Premiere Pro does come with a caveat or two. I have limited knowledge in using such a software. And by limited I mean none whatsoever. Thus, I would have to learn even the most basic actions. This will take up time of course. But, I do have some help. My friend is in the school's television class, CBTV, and was certified in Premiere Pro as part of the class. So with his help and a vast amount of Youtube tutorials, I think the editing process will go as smooth as it possibly could.

Playing with the color settings 

As for what I want to use Premiere Pro for, one feature would be the coloring effects it has. By utilizing this and changing the hues of the shots, I can affect how the audience feels and further emphasize the mood of the production. For this though, I would have to do a little more research on the psychology of colors and emotions. As for now, I've been toying around with the settings of some shots in Premiere and I'm rather pleased with the results. When altering the colors, I'm not only expressing the tone, but also giving the film a cleaner and professional look.

The Inevitable Death of The Orange Screen

Yesterday was incredibly eventful. In the morning, I was able to film with my lead actress and we managed to get a lot done. However, as we progressed with the shoot, I realized that I was gonna have to scrap some of my original ideas.

Jania on our "orange screen"

One of them being the green screen I wanted to use in order to create a completely black background. The effect was to further enhance the tone of the piece by creating a dark and almost horror-like atmosphere. I was originally going to use a blue sheet that my friend had her possession, but that whole exchange did not go through. So instead, I tried using a neon orange blanket that I had lying around my house.             That's when I finally saw the mistake I had made because A. the blanket was way to small to make any sort of background with, B. I wasn't able to set it in a way that wouldn't make it wrinkle and look horrible, and C. I had not done enough research to know how difficult green screening actually is. A friend of mine who is in Cypress Bay's television production class was explaining to me just how strenuous the process of chroma keying. And that's even with the school's budget for actual professional equipment, incomparable to my raggedy orange throw blanket. He also explained to me that if I were to chroma key a scene, since I don't have the proper lighting, I would have to manually map out the green screen. This mean every single tiny frame would have to be chroma keyed by hand. As soon as those words hit my ears, I knew I had to throw my green screen fantasy into my personal garbage can of ideas. I have about less than eight days to finish this project and so, it would take too much for an effect that would not have my desired look.

While the green screen idea has crumbled to the floor, I've decided that I'm going to try to focus on creating the mood via camera shots rather than special effects since I am on a extremely limited budget.

Before Filming (BF) and After Filming (AF) are My New BC and AD

Before Filming

Makeup used to make a character sick

Today is going to be an eventful day. I'm filming later on with my actress as much of the intro we can get covered. The excitement of getting the footage that has been playing in my head is fueling my motivation.
 As I thought more about the filming, I realized that I want a certain look for the actress. It would seem unrealistic if the girl who's hysterically crying during a panic attack to have the same complexion of a healthy and mentally stable person. So, in preparation for this, I've looked up how to make a person look tired and sick with a few makeup tricks. For example, dark eye shadow underneath the eye will make it look like bags while red eye shadow on the edge of the eyes will make them look puffy as if the person I had been crying. This is the type of look I'm going for with my character because it is the most realistic. As I have learned, mise en scene is an important element to any film.

After Filming

The actress looking sad with makeup

Filming went well. We got most of the shots needed. However, I do think I'll have to reshoot some of them because of lighting issues. Since we ended up filming in the late afternoon, a lot of the footage came out too dark. However, we're going fix this by meeting tomorrow in the late morning when the sun is the brightest.

I ended up recreating the look previously mentioned and I have to say, it turned out alright. The actress ended up looking tired and almost sickly which ended helping with the whole look of the film. Putting together the makeup and attempting to create worthy set made me come to the realization of just how much preparation needs to go into the making of this form of medium. Especially, if one wants it done well. 

I feel as if I have been neglecting stage design and have just been using my room without looking at it through the lens of a film director. Thus, for tomorrow, I'm going to be more aware of the things in frame and see what I can do to add more subtle and relevant hints to what the film is about in regards to mise en scene.

Besides the whole lighting issue, things are looking like they will go smoothly from here. I just need to finish filming and begin furiously editing next week. 

A. (2013, September 25). How To Fake Looking Sick And Get Out Of Stuff You Don't Want To Do. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.xovain.com/makeup/how-to-look-sick-with-makeup

Stress and Blog Issues

Lately, there has been an overwhelming amount of stress in my life. Not only with other school work, but personal issues have arisen that have made my focus wander away from this project. However, I'm going to get back on track starting today in order to utilize the rest of time I have effectively. The extra two days that were generously given by my lovely teacher are much appreciated on my behalf and I will be making good use of them.
In other news, I just realized as I was looking at my blog that one of my posts that I had published last Sunday titled "A Start of Filmingish" was suddenly saved as a draft. This freaked me out of course, because I had published it and even showed said post to fellow classmates during our group discussion. And when I did open the draft, the most amazing thing occurred: half of what I had originally wrote in the post was suddenly gone. Disappearing like some sort of cruel magician's joke, the post had somehow, without my knowledge, reverted back to the original draft.
Also, in case all of this seems as though I'm just a bad student trying to get away with doing no work, here is a screenshot of my blog postings. Notice how the "A Start of Filmingish" is saved as a draft yet, six people have viewed it. That is because it was published up until it was somehow reverted either yesterday or today.

I immediately panicked after seeing this and went straight to the internet for help. However, most of the methods I tried for recovering the lost post yielded no results. I am utterly lost on what I should do next and honestly, quite dejected over the matter. Tomorrow, I'll talk to my teacher about this but, the outcome will most likely be that I have to redo the post and publish it again. The thing that bothers me though is the fact that I've lost the date I published the post on so it will only look like I did two posts for that week. I really hope I can resolve this matter though.

A Start of Filmingish

Thus, begins the first steps of the actual production. And with it comes an overwhelming feeling of just how big this project is going to be. It's a nerve-wracking yet exciting experience because I want to portray all my ideas in a fluent manner that would be easy to comprehend by the audience.
So, I began taking composition shots of certain scenes to see how everything would look like. I couldn't work with the main actress today because of scheduling conflicts. Seeing as how we're both seniors in high school, issues in when we can shoot will always come up. However, we will definitely begin filming the character's parts of the film early next week. I would like to have all my filming done by the end of next week so that I can have ample time to edit. 

As for the shots I took today, they will be used in the beginning of the intro, right when the camera enters the main character's room. These object in the shots are things that can be found in the girl's room in order for the audience to get to know the character's personality. As well as building a connection with the main protagonist, the stills taken will also allude to the tone of the film and what it might be about. Additionally, these shots will be utilized to insert the intro credits.

One example of this technique is the shot shown below. There is high key lighting that envelops the focus of the picture which is the pill bottle. The contradiction of the lighting and an object with dark implications hints at a major plot point of the film: mental illness being hidden and disguised under a happy facade. It also aids in the audience further understanding the character. Because there is a focus on the pill bottle, the viewers can assume that there is something physically wrong with the character and alludes to her mental disorder. 

An Interview

For further research, instead of scavenging the internet for information, I wanted to get a more humanistic point of view on what mental illness can be like on a person. Thus, I decided to go to a place that feeds mental illness: the American school system. Seeing as how stress can be a trigger to mental illness, it isn't surprising to hear that 50-70% of adolescents suffer from anxiety, impulse control, and hyperactivity disorders. And one of these stressors can be from the high demand of school or work. For that reason, I interviewed a couple of my friends in order to see how mental disorders affect them.

Interview with G

I: What mental illnesses do you have?
G: I have obsessive compulsive disorder.

I: When were you diagnosed?
G: I was diagnosed with it last year.

I: What are some of the symptoms you have?
G: Intrusive thoughts, irritability, and repetitive behavior.

I: What is it like on a daily basis?
G: On a daily basis it's like, I don't know, feeling like nothing you do is ever complete.

I: Is there any stereotypes that you have faced because of your disorder?
G: People usually ask if I'm super organized all the time.

I: How do you feel about the mental disorders are portrayed in media such as films, shows, news?
G: The media never portrays people with OCD correctly because we're not all just neat freaks.


Interview with A

I:What mental illnesses do you have?

A:  Schizophrenia

When were you diagnosed?

A: When I was a little kid.

What are some of the symptoms you have?

A: Dissolution with reality, voices, hallucinations.

What is it like on a daily basis?

A: It's very intense and unnerving. You're constantly in a loop of trying to understand your own surroundings.

Is there any stereotypes that you have faced because of your disorder?

A: Most [stereotypes] make people with Schizophrenia look like people just hear voices all the time.

How do you feel about the mental disorders are portrayed in media such as films, shows, news?

A:  It's upsetting to see films play these characters as murderous who hear voices to tell them to kill their family. Most people with schizophrenia are at greater risk to themselves than others.


Iliades, C., MD. (2013, April 29). Stress May Trigger Mental Illness and Depression In Teens. Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/stress-may-trigger-mental-illness-and-depression-in-teens.aspx

Professional Endeavors

As I'm creating an actual film, I've come to think that I should have some formalistic elements to further express the emotions that the main character is experiencing. And so I have come to the conclusion that I absolutely and direly need a green screen. However, I must find a way to do it on a very low budget. Even though I live in Weston, a suburban bubble filled with rich families, I am also a first time filmmaker making my expenses limited for this project.
First of all, my inspiration for using a green screen to express the mood of the story was propelled by a small and overrated show known as Stranger Things. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Stranger Things has incredible cinematography that would make any film enthusiast's mouth water. In one particular scene, the character Eleven is mentally in another plane of existence. The setting is shown as a pitch black area. This background adds a disturbing and horror element to the story which is something I would like to convey in my intro film.

Stranger Things

"Green screening" or chroma keying has to with a subject being in front of a solid-colored screen. Then, during post-production, the background digitally removed. It is important that the color of the screen isn't similar to the subject's complexion or their clothing so that is can easily be taken out. After the extraction, a different background can be easily added in.

In order to create a similar effect to that of Stranger Things at of course a low budget cost, I will need to buy a large solid-colored cloth. What I could also do is find a room with a colored walls that meet the the requirements and film there. All in all, I'm excited to start working on the production of my project.

Green Screen

 How To Create A Green Screen On A Budget. (2014, September 18). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/how-to-create-a-green-screen-on-a-budget/

Finalized Casting and Characterization

I was starting to worry that I would have to cast myself as the director and main actress since my pool of actors is very limited. But now I won't look like a complete narcissist since my lovely friend Jania Gomez will be playing the main character named Joyce.
The reasoning behind this choice in name is to create an ironic tension between the character's mental state and character. Since the character is going through a depressive state of mind that is hidden by her false facade of happiness, the name Joyce fits perfectly.
Here is a sketch of what I imagine the main character would look like. She is perfectly average in almost every way. Her sense of style does not make her stand out in a crowd, but that's how she wants it to be. Wearing a jacket, blue jeans and sneakers is her outfit of choice to wherever she may go.
Also, I am currently working on the script in terms of dialogue. As for the ending, I have decided that the end of the intro will have Joyce leave the room and pretend to be happy with everything even though the audience knows that is not the case.

Something of a Plan?

I actually have an idea to what the intro of my film is going to be like! At last! Rejoice!  This is a really rough sketch of my story. Extra emphasis on really because my hands were not created for the purpose of drawing.

So the story begins in a room. There is a wide shot of the window with a couch that has several articles of clothing thrown on top of it. There will be high key lighting coming out from the window. As the scene progresses, it then shows a girl sitting on the floor of her closet. There will be a definite contrast in the way it was before with the lighting. Compared to earlier shots, the ones of the girl will be darker in order to create mood. Close ups of the girl reveal that she is shaking. However, the audience does not see the girl's full face since her hair will be in the way. A point of view shot show the girl's hands are also trembling with her nervously moving them. This is followed by a close up and then a shot of some of the things in the girl's room like books. Another close up, this time extreme, leads to the still shot of a poster on a wall. These seemingly random shots of the objects in the girl's room are meant to elucidate more on what this character is like. It could also serve to connect the audience to the main character since it is demonstrating her personality within the items featured.

The rest of the time remaining will exhibit what it feels like to have a panic attack. With the reliance of sound and camera shots, I'll be able to create a realistic portrayal of what it is like. I was also thinking of going a formalistic route by creating a character that would represent the girl's anxiety and depression. As for the end, I have two different scenarios that require further thinking of. One is where the end would be her continuing to have a panic attack. The other idea is to have the main character walk out of the room and look completely happy. 

The former ending to the intro would be used to show that mental illness can hide even in people who look "normal." I put the word normal in quotations because normalities are relative to each individual's perspective. However, I want to challenge the general stereotype that people with mental illnesses are sad, weird, and crazy all the time because that is simply not true. Nearly one out of five Americans, about 18.2%, suffer from a mental disorder. It's more common than people would think. The reason being that most people hide their disorders because of the stigma that comes with it. With my film, I want to break the stigma that has followed mental illnesses for a very long time.

 Bekiempis, V. (2014, March 04). Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Suffers From Mental Illness Each Year. Retrieved March 18, 2017, from http://www.newsweek.com/nearly-1-5-americans-suffer-mental-illness-each-year-230608

Hedgcoth, C. H., Jr. (2016, July 17). Hiding Behind a Secret: The Stigma of the Mentally Ill. Retrieved March 18, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/hiding-behind-a-secret-the-stigma-of-the-mentally-ill/

The Very Beginning

As I have done research on the topic that I want to portray, I've realized that my project is going to be dark. I don't intend on glossing over the reality that comes with mental illness. But, my goal with the intro is also to connect the viewers to the character, get to know her, see the struggle that she is going through, and sympathize for her.
One change that I have already made is that the main character will suffer from an anxiety disorder as well as depression. In many cases, depression and anxiety disorders are intertwined as one can be the cause for the other. When a person is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the amount of stress they go through with that illness can lead them to long periods of intense sadness and pessimistic views of the future. This in turn can happen vice versa.
For the film, the audience will witness one aspect that comes with depression and anxiety disorders: panic attacks. A panic attack is defined as "sudden feeling of acute a disabling anxiety." It us much more than this though. When a person suffers from a panic attack, they feel as if their whole world is collapsing around them. Because of these emotions, this person may feel as if they are going crazy and possibly that they are dying. It is a completely terrifying experience that can come on without warning.
Symptoms include

•  increase in heart rate
•  faintness/dizziness
• chest pains
• feeling sweaty or chilly
• trembling  
• numbness or tingling
• Nausea 

Panic Attacks

Panic Attack Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/panic-attack-symptoms

Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2017, from https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/panic-disorder-agoraphobia/symptoms

Tracy, N. (n.d.). The Line between Anxiety and Depression. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/articles/line-between-anxiety-and-depression/

Quite The Character

An essential part to any film opening would be of course be the main protagonist. Since I do want to delve into the coming of age genre, I have decided to have the character be a 17 year old girl. As mentioned in earlier posts, I want to focus on a realistic portrayal of mental illnesses. Thus, in other to fully flesh out my protagonist, I must figure out what kind of disorder she would have. And it is important to note that different kinds of mental illnesses can have vastly different symptoms. The kind of disorder she has would be highly indicative in the way she is presented in film.

Bipolar Disorder

• Typically known for mood swings
• Has stages of high energy and low energy
• Was known as "manic depression"
• Symptoms will worsen if left untreated 
• Can be sometimes caused by medication
• Genetic, neurochemical, and environmental factors can cause it

Depression

• Simple daily tasks are difficult to accomplish
• Depression is a unique experience for every person
• High levels of anxiety as a child may be a cause
• Opposed to regular sadness, depression can last weeks to months to much longer
• Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from depression
• Can be treated with clinical help

Eating Disorders

• Three main types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder
• Anorexia involves starving yourself
• People with anorexia strongly believe that they are overweight
• Bulimia has to do with over eating known as"binging"
• Bulimics then "purge" by throwing up, excessive exercise, taking laxatives, or enemas
• Binge eating is usually done in secret and thus, symptoms can go unnoticed 

Schizophrenia

• Involves having hallucination whether it be auditory, olfactory, visual, or tactile
• People with schizophrenia have been historically ridiculed and exiled 
• Treatment often times involves lifetime medication
• There are different sub types
• Paranoid schizophrenia involves having delusional conspiracies and auditory hallucinations
• Isn't apparent to most people
• Is the most common sub type
• Disorganized schizophrenia have less active hallucinations
• Involves problems with emotional processing and communication

As for my character, I think she will have depression and possibly a form of disorganized schizophrenia. Because of this, my character will have anxiety problems and have issues with talking to others.

Bengston, M. (2016, July 17). Types of Schizophrenia. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/types-of-schizophrenia/

Grohol, J. M. (2017, March 06). Schizophrenia | Symptoms & Treatment. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/disorders/schizophrenia/

Grohol, J. M. (2017, March 06). Depression Center | Symptoms & Treatment. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/

Grohol, J. M. (2017, March 06). Eating Disorders | Symptoms & Treatments. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/disorders/eating-disorders/

Grohol, J. M. (2017, March 06). Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms & Treatment Guide. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/disorders/bipolar/

Medina, J. (2016, December 16). Bipolar Disorder Symptoms. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/disorders/bipolar/bipolar-disorder-symptoms/

Mental Illness as a Focal Point

Research is a fundamental part to any large project. But I most have some sense of what I want my project to be about in order to conduct such extensive research. Now that I have had this project in my mind for quite some time, I believe I know what I would like to focus on in my film opening: mental illness. Seeing as how this topic has affected my life and my family's lives, my goal in the production of the project is to create a realistic view of how mental illness really is like.

First, let's review how Hollywood portrays mental illness. Spoiler alert, most of the time, it is a unrealistic and highly stereotypical depiction. The most used stereotype in the media for people that suffer from mental illness is that they are extremely violent. Think of some of America's classic and beloved films. Silence of The Lambs, American Psycho, and Psycho are just some of the countless movies that have depicted mental illness as an precursor to aggression and even homicidal tendencies. Or more often than not, substance abuse is paired with mental illness in films.

From American Psycho

Another stigmatized perception by the media is that mental illness can easily be rid of. Usually, this kind of plot development is used in order to tie up all loose ends and end a film with a happy tone. However, this does not give an accurate representation of mental illness. By having characters suddenly have no mental issues because of they have fallen in love, the filmmakers are presenting mental illness as more of an emotional phase rather than a serious problem. Silver Linings Playbook utilizes this trope by having the main character seemingly cured of his bipolar disorder after winning a dance competition and falling in love with a Jennifer Lawrence's character.

Silver Linings Playbook

For my production, I want to stray away from the inaccuracy of what many people may think of mental illness is like due to its unrealistic media portrayal. By doing so, I hope to provide an accurate representation to a group who recently has gained traction in the media world. And since about 43.7 million adults suffer from mental illness in the United States, it is an important and serious topic to address.

Boll, J. (2017, February 28). 6 Popular Movies that Got Mental Illness Wrong. Retrieved March 11, 2017, from http://www.rtor.org/2015/10/27/6-movies/

Stobbe, E. (2006, April 6). Movies Stigmatize Mentally Ill as Violent and Dangerous. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://brainblogger.com/2006/04/28/anti-stigmatization-movies-stigmatize-mentally-ill-as-violent-and-dangerous/

Tartakovsky, M. (2016, July 17). Media’s Damaging Depictions of Mental Illness. Retrieved March 11, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/medias-damaging-depictions-of-mental-illness/

The Stigma of Mental Illness: Causes, Effects, and Potential Solutions. (2015, February 4). Retrieved March 11, 2017, from http://www.pasadenavilla.com/2015/02/04/the-stigma-of-mental-illness-causes-effects-and-potential-solutions/

Into The World of Chaotic Thought

My indecisive nature is getting the best of me. Several ideas on what I should do bounce in my head creating a bit of a chaotic mess. All of this frustration is because I have never been tasked with such freedom and responsibility that accompanies this project. Especially when looking at the decisions I must make, it feels like an overwhelming amount of power. I must compose a script, genre, screen direction, and countless other details. But first, I need to start with the basics: research.
From the chaotic disorganization of my thoughts, I have a general picture of what I would like to encompass in my portfolio project. The two main genres I would love to work with are drama or coming of age films. Or some combination of the two. Both are unique with their own signature techniques.

Drama

• Has several sub genres such as courtroom drama and political dramas
• Portrays a realistic representation of people having conflicts with other or with forces of nature
• Meant to move the audience emotionally
• Usually ends with a happy ending
• Close up shots focus on important characters, usually one main character
• Characters are relatable to the audience
• Character undergoes some kind of journey
• Audience depends on what kind of sub genre used
• Example is Titanic
  

Coming of Age

• Main character transitions from childhood to adulthood
• Focuses on main character's journey
• Protagonist undergoes self discovery
• There is usually a loss of innocence
• Known for incorporating technology into scenes especially in high school settings
• High school is a popular setting
• Sound would include catchy pop/indie music or non-digetic noise such as voice overs
• Example is The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  

I still have a tremendous amount of research to do so I can fully prepare myself. However, I am excited over this new task and eager to not only see the outcome, but also go through the process.

Coming of Age Novel: Definition & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript. (n.d.). Retrieved March 06, 2017, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/coming-of-age-novel-definition-examples-quiz.html

Drama Films. (n.d.). Retrieved March 06, 2017, from http://www.filmsite.org/dramafilms.html

Farjana Tahmin Follow. (2011, October 22). Conventions of Drama Films. Retrieved March 06, 2017, from https://www.slideshare.net/FarjanaTahmin/conventions-of-drama-films

Jackcm Follow. (2016, January 27). 'Coming of age' Genre Conventions. Retrieved March 06, 2017, from https://www.slideshare.net/jackcm/coming-of-age-genre-conventions

Matthew Cooper Follow. (2012, December 04). Codes and conventions of drama. Retrieved March 06, 2017, from https://www.slideshare.net/coopermatt62/codes-and-conventions-of-drama?next_slideshow=1