Planning - Locations

    While every stage of the planning process is important, choosing the right locations was particularly crucial for my film opening. Without the right setting, I would be unable to film and my story would fail to come to life. After creating the script of my film, I immediately knew that I wanted to use three different filming locations: my sister's room, her boyfriend's room, and the Lego aisle in Target. Since it is personal to film in someone's bedroom, I wanted to make sure I got permission from both my sister and her boyfriend. Also, although it is a big risk to utilize Target as one of my filming locations, due to the fact that it is a public store, I knew that it would be a vital aspect of my film because it is when both characters have their first encounter. 

Reece Report: 

    Location 1 - "Sophia's" Bedroom

Images of the room: 

 

    Once I knew my story, I immediately wanted to select a bedroom location that not only matched the time period of my film but also aligned with Sophia's aesthetic. After careful consideration, I realized that using my sister's bedroom worked perfectly. I was drawn towards this space because it has modern furniture and the room also demonstrates Sophia's clean yet lived-in aesthetic. Additionally, the room's neutral color palette provides a perfect canvas for natural lighting, which helps establish the soft, morning tone required for the opening scene. The blend of crowded shelving and personal keepsakes creates a visual cue for Sophia's personality, suggesting a character who is defined by curated chaos and a life lived through her belongings. I also chose this location because it gives me the creative freedom to rearrange the decor and furniture to better suit the film's visual style. By combining controlled staging with personal elements, I can make sure that the opening scene feels both authentic to the character and visually compatible with my overall vision. 

Location 2 - "Asher's" Bedroom 

Images of the room: 

 

    Similar to the location for Sophia's bedroom, I wanted to choose another bedroom location that not only matched the time period of my film but also aligned with Asher's specific aesthetic. To maintain a sense of visual realism and continuity, I decided to utilize my sister's boyfriend's bedroom as Asher's location. Using a second familiar residential space allowed for better coordination between my locations and cast, ensuring a smoother filming process. The room's uncluttered surfaces and organized layout perfectly reflect Asher's clean, minimalistic lifestyle, providing a striking visual contrast to Sophia's crowded environment. This deliberate simplicity helps highlight his disciplined nature and provides a neutral background that keeps the viewer's focus entirely on his emotional arc as the story unfolds. Additionally, since the bedroom belongs to the male actor, it provides a relaxed environment that helps him feel more natural and comfortable during his performance, while also giving me the flexibility to easily move things around if needed. Ultimately, these intentional design choices ensure that the setting acts as more than just a background, serving instead as a visual extension of Asher's personality and amplifies the viewer's understanding of his character. 

Location 3 - Target, Lego Aisle 

Images of the Lego Aisle: 

  

    To establish the shared interests of my two characters, I decided to set their first encounter in the Lego aisle of my local Target. In this scene, both characters are drawn to the store by the release of a long-awaited, rare Lego set, generating a natural point of intersection for their individual journeys. By putting them in this particular retail environment, I am able to intensify the stakes of their meeting: as they recognize that there is only one Lego set remaining on the shelf, they both reach for it at the exact same time. This physical collision over a shared interest acts as a dynamic meet-cute, utilizing the bright, commercial background of the toy aisle to shape the sudden spark of connection and tension between them. Furthermore, using Target as a location grounds the narrative in a recognizable, present-day setting, as the store's contemporary ambiance and universal appeal reflect a common reality for modern audiences.  

Reflection: 

    Now that I have finalized my locations, I am ready and excited to bring my film to life. By carefully choosing locations that range from deeply personal private bedrooms to the vibrant, modern atmosphere of a local Target, I have made sure that every environment in the film serves a narrative purpose. These areas do more than just house the action; they supply a visual subtext that emphasizes the characters' individual identities, their shared interests, and the unavoidable friction of their first encounter. Ultimately, grounding the film in these realistic, contemporary settings allows me to close the gap between the screen and the viewer, generating an authentic world where the audience can completely immerse themselves in Asher and Sophia's evolving story. 

   

    Additionally, the final crucial part of planning and the first big part of production is creating my storyboards. They will provide a clear vision of the shots I want to utilize in each scene of my film, helping me stay organized and prepared for shooting over the next few weeks. With the locations secured and the storyboards underway, everything is finally falling into place for a successful film opening.