Project Planning (All components)

Pre-Production Planning 

Outline

I. Establishing shot

    A. Outside

    B. Inside

II. Bedroom (Part 1)

    A. Knocking

    B. Wake up

    C. Letter

    D. Door shut

III. Bedroom (Part 2)

    A. Letter

    B. Celebration

IV. Leaving

    A. Luggage

    B. Car

    C. Airport

    D. Plane

Bedroom/Office Options

Option 1: This option leans too heavily into an office aesthetic, which unintentionally suggests she is more financially comfortable than we want. The desk positioned against the window also creates filming challenges. Since we are trying to convey that the family has limited money, a dedicated office space feels unrealistic, since if they were truly struggling, they would not have a separate room for a desk in the first place.

Option 2. This option can be filmed from multiple angles, and it allows the audience to clearly see Anastasia’s awards, reinforcing her dedication and work ethic. Setting the scene in the bedroom also feels more realistic for her socioeconomic situation, since it suggests she studies in bed rather than having a separate workspace. The bedroom environment naturally reveals more of her personality, and adding books throughout the space further emphasizes her academic priorities.

Storyboard with Layout Drawings

Here are the storyboard sheets we made to help us know ahead of time each shot we need to take: 

Script

Here is the script for the film opening:

Music plays with an opening establishing shot and opening credits 

Profile shot of Lisa knocking on the door and proceeding to open it. Show the room, panning. Reveals Anastasia in her pajamas, sleeping on her computer. There’s a close-up of her face as the camera rolls tilting and she suddenly wakes up. Lisa tells her to get up and there is mail for her. She looks though the stack of mail and stares at the crisp envelope: “Everdale University of Prestige and Innovation” in big letters, with her name on it. Lisa encourages Anastasia that she will get into her dream school shown through reverse OTSs. 

Anastasia: "Lisa there is no way I am getting in. It is not even worth opening this" (Holding up the letter). She puts her head down onto her stack of papers, refusing to open the mail. 

Lisa: Sighs and crosses arms, walking over to Anastasia. “I don’t mean to be harsh with you. I just want the best for you. It pains me to see you giving up on your biggest dreams and ambitions.” 

Anastasia: Lifts her gaze from her papers and gives her sister a reassuring smile. “I know you mean well. But we’re acting as though we know I even got into the school in the first place.” She lowers her gaze to the envelope again and her smile fades. 

Lisa: “Oh, pish posh. You got in. I guarantee it. All you have to do is open it up.” 

Anastasia: Wipes sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. “I don’t know Lisa. I don’t think I could take this kind of rejection if-” 

Lisa: Cuts her off, “If what? Come on now. You can’t seriously doubt it now. After you’ve worked so hard, all those sleepless nights planning your submission essay and your grand writing piece....” 

Anastasia: Picks up the envelope with shaky hands. She takes a deep breath. “You’re right.” Her voice wobbles. She slowly tears open the envelope, but quickly squeezes her eyes shut as she pulls the letter out. “I can’t. I can’t look. Take it, Lisa.” 

Lisa: Snatches the letter from her sister and holds it barely an inch away from her face as she reads, eyes roving over the words. 

Anastasia: Hesitantly opens one eye to peek at Lisa’s face. Lisa’s face revealed nothing, simply a blank slate. “Well?” She says almost painfully. 

Lisa: Sticks out her arm but withholds one of the letters out of two, keeping the other tightly clutched to her chest. “Read it.” She said pointedly. 

Anastasia: Takes the letter with a shaky hand and swallows. The next shot shows her eyes darting over the page and widening. Cut to the words, “Welcome to your future at Everdale University of Prestige and Innovation!” is printed on the page. Returning to eye level shot as her eyes slowly lift to Lisa. 

Lisa: “I. Told. You.” she says dramatically and slowly, enunciating each word. 

Anastasia: Her face remains in a hopeless state. “It doesn’t matter, Lisa.” She tosses the letter on the kitchen table. Her gaze is distant as she slumps back in her seat and stares at the letter. “You know we couldn’t ever afford for me to go. Just get out.” Points and shoos Lisa out of the room, slamming the door shut. 

Fades to black with text "1 Month later".

Lisa: Knocks on the door, opening it, "Anastasia look what came in the mail".

Anastasia: Frowns even deeper and begrudgingly reaches out to take the letter from Lisa. “Oh, that’s just great. Let me guess. A revoke on my offer. A rejection letter. A letter explaining that my offer was like, uh... a big mistake.” 

Lisa: Scoffs, “Oh, would you stop taking after mom and acting so hopelessly? This is far from hopeless! Where there’s a will-” 

Anastasia: Cuts her off, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I know.” She says, annoyance tinging her voice. “But it’s not like I can just ring up a genie and ask him for money, now, can I?” 

The shot focuses on Anastasia as she reads out loud that she got a scholarship to attend her dream school; Lisa blurred in the background. When she finishes reading, the shot blurs Anastasia as she cranes her neck to look at her now in-focus, smug sister walking over to hug her. 

Lisa: Close-up on her face; “You’d better start listening to me more often now. Come on we need to get to school.” 

Flash forward with dip to black transition with words showing 4 months later. 

Series of fast cuts: Anastaisa shutting suitcase and cuts to car trunk closing. 

Anastasia: Sound of airport intercom in background pulling suitcase inside of airport waving goodbye to family. 

Lisa: Yelling in a humorous but heartfelt tone “Don’t forget about me when you are rich and a world-renowned author.” 

Cuts to the plane taking off. 

Film Schedule

2/12 – Sarasota Airport

• Exterior establishing shot (country road)
• Airport interior scenes
• Ambient sound and plane capture

2/18 – My House

• Bedroom scenes
• Close‑ups of props
• Dialogue and character interaction shots

Shot List

1. Establishing shot tracking to the right
2. Profile shot
3. 360 degree shot
4. Single shot
5. Tilt
6. Two shot
7. OTS
8. POV
9. Back shot
10. Reverse OTS
11. Two shot
12. Match cut
13. Back shot
14. Low angle
15. Tracking

Equipment List

• Camera
• Microphone
• Lights
• Jib
• Tripod/Camera Stand

Location Scouting

Sarasota Airport:

• Checked lighting conditions (bright, natural, realistic)

• Selected areas with visible signage to establish setting

House Location:

• Evaluated bedrooms for space, lighting, and visual storytelling potential

• Chose the room that best communicates Anastasia’s identity as a writer

• Identified areas for prop placement and camera movement

Props Needed

• Books and journals
• Writing awards/certificates
• Backpack
• School polo shirts/Khaki pants
• Laptop or notebook
• Airport‑related items (Luggage)
• Letters from school

Set Design

• Anastasia’s bedroom arranged to look organized but full
• Books stacked or displayed to show ambition
• Awards placed visibly but naturally
• Desk setup with writing materials
• Neutral, realistic décor to reflect modest socioeconomic status

Costume/Wardrobe

• Simple school uniforms: polo shirts and khaki pants
• Backpacks for both sisters
• Neutral, everyday clothing to reflect financial limitations
• Classic comfy clothes for airport (sweatpants)

Makeup/Hair

• Minimal makeup
• Simple, practical hairstyles (make sure hair is out of face)
• Natural look to reinforce class representation

Lighting

• Natural lighting for country‑road establishing shot
• Soft, ambient lighting inside the house
• Realistic airport lighting to maintain authenticity
• Avoid dramatic shadows 
• Consistent lighting inside the house (possible colors added in post-production)

Sound Effects

• Typical background noises to make realistic
• Plane Takeoff
• Dialogue from Characters
• Suitcase shutting 
• Car trunk closing

Theme/Incidental Music

• Music during the establishing shot to set emotional tone
• Music resumes in the airport to unify transitions
• Limited quiet instrumental music inside the house to emphasize intimacy and realism
• We plan to match lyrics from a song to each of the sections where music is used to further enhance the scene.