Filming (3/26)

Since everything went smoothly scheduling wise and we were able to sort something that worked for me, the actors, equipment wise, and for the location, everything was ready for the next day. The day before, I picked up the equipment from Mariana and made sure everything worked (it did) and sent some last minute reminders to the actors. 

I asked Roger to take pictures of me while I was filming Matt, but he said he forgot because he was "playing brawl stars." So the pictures I have are just ones I took on the camera itself so sorry that they're kind of silly lol.

When we first got there, at 3, the agreed time we had with Coach Cater, there was a little misunderstanding. I had asked to come when the mats would be empty, after their practice, but he didn't seem to understand when I asked over text. See, they had just BEGAN their two hour practice when we got there and wouldn't be done until 5pm. No big deal though, we just filmed in the weight room (which was a good majority of the shots anyways) from 3-4:20 and then waited it out until 5. We had to wait a bit longer than 5 because the wrestlers were clearing out but then again, no big deal. We got all the shots we needed and it went really good. Honestly, the best part of this experience was working with Matt. He was super invested throughout the whole process and would give his own ideas on shots top get, it was fun to do and I did take a lot from his vision.

Edit: In more detail, some things were different than I expected. For one, the lighting was actually really good in both the mat and weight room, so I didn't even use the light kit I had checked out. The Sony camera is super good at letting you adjust the ISO and aperture without it looking too grainy, so that was obviously a big factor that allowed me to rely on the lighting already there. Not having to haul a light kit in and out of the school was very nice though. Also, another great thing about this camera (I unfortunately don't know what specific model it is.. but general rule of thumb is that Sony makes great cameras) is the built in stabilizers. While I'm already pretty comfortable with going handheld from my experience in other projects, I do know that it's kind of "frowned upon" and you should always use a tripod in order to avoid shaky shots. Not so hot-take though.. I HATE TRIPODS!! I feel like they limit your movement sooooo much and I just prefer going handheld whenever possible. With the help of these stabilizers and my already steady hands, I honestly shot every single clip handheld. Like every single one. Which was a life saver for the wrestling scenes because I very stupidly realized that I didn't check out a Ronin or steady cam, which is what was used when shooting the 360 movement in the Waves scene I took inspiration from. Lucky for me, I was able to create the same effect just by going handheld and moving around the actors as they wrestled.. it went perfectly. The shots were stable and still had great movement (movement I wouldn't have been able to get had I used a tripod!). 

After filming, I did as promised and we went out for dinner at Hooters!! We ordered 50 wings like we usually do... except we didn't take into account that we usually eat that many with our whole team. We did in fact NOT finish, but they were delicious :)

Overall, filming went great, I got all the shots I had in mind plus so many more I came up with on the spot or that Matt had ideas for. In TV, we're always told to overshoot and I think I did exactly that so I guess the good habits are forming!! I reshot anything that needed and made sure to get lots of angles. I ended up with like 182 shots and had to cut down to like 89 before I started editing.

The death of my beloved laptop

As I keep mentioning in the past few blog posts, I had issues with my laptop. Here's what exactly happened. 

On Friday, March 15th, my laptop worked fine during 5th and 6th hour. I remember what day this was because I was grinding out some work for my classes while listening to music and even took some picture of my setup (I take pictures of everything). However, on a day that I REALLY could not afford my computer to breakdown, it did just that. Come 8th hour and my computer isn't even turning on. I got home and tried everything, I would try to keep it on a charger and got absolutely NOTHING but an eerie hum. I told my Dad who ended up procrastinating to call some tech guy for help, not that it would save my laptop. The guy checked it out over spring break and said it wasn't worth it to fix as the motherboard or something was fried and replacing it is about the same price as a new computer (no idea what any of that means but RIP). This was obviously a setback, especially as for this class alone I need some kind of computer to edit my segment and do blog posts. 

(here's a mini shrine to her, I don't have pictures of the back right now but I had so many cute stickers I'll miss >:c)

I'll miss you always :(

No time to grieve when I had a project to finish though, here's how I worked around this.

So, on the day it actually broke down, I had SO MUCH WORK. Like I had to edit a segment for my TV class due that day and knock out some other school work. Once I got home, I just downloaded Premiere on my Mom' s laptop and did just that. Come spring break and there was another little obstacle to overcome. I filmed on Tuesday (3/26) and planned to just grind out editing on Wednesday. However, my Mom and Dad kind of just.. went to Orlando for the day without a word (they were tasting catering options for my older sister's upcoming wedding). When I woke up I tried to go to my Mom's office to use her computer only to discover she had taken it with her. I literally started crying out of panic (only for like 2 seconds but still, THAT'S how freaked out I was that I wouldn't be able to edit). After some convincing though, my Dad let me use his super cool Alienware laptop. 

It ended up working out, main issue was having limited or weird hours to use the computer since my Dad has work. I pulled like two all nighters to be able to have laptop hours.. it was all worth it though!!

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.. I am getting a new laptop!! It should arrive on Wednesday (4/3). I'm super excited because I've never owned like my OWN laptop, this one was my first and it was my Mom's 6 year old one. Plus, my Dad got one with an i7 processor or whatever so those are good for video editing (I'll finally have a laptop that won't crash every time I open Premiere!!) I'm pretty excited :)

Music

 Looking back, I got really lucky with music. The reason I was struggling to decide on what to do beforehand was because I didn't exactly know what would fit the vibe for the final sequence. While this would have been super bad if I couldn't find any non-copyrighted music I liked, I got lucky. Thankfully, one of Matt's brothers, Erick, is a musician. Matt "jokingly" sent over one of his beats saying I should use it for the video, and it actually kind of fit. It's a more rock or grunge type of beat then I probably would have gone for if copyright wasn't an issue, but I really like how it ended up working with the sequence I had edited. Especially at the end, it ends perfectly timed with the protagonist's defeat in both his training and the flashback. 

Anyways, here's the permission document. Big thanks to Erick Toribio. :)

(It wouldn't let me embed it or upload the actual PDF so here's a screenshot of the document)

I'd say this song works because most training montages within the sports genre use hype music. While recently this has gravitated more towards rap or hip-hop in more recent films such as Creed III, it's also common to use Rock music like the classic use of Eye of the Tiger in Rocky IV.

While this piece is a bit grunge-ier and strictly instrumental, the energy still fits that of a typical "hype" training montage. In order to emphasize the flashback scenes though, I did use a lowpass to make it sound "drowned" in a sense, I'll go more in detail on my editing post though.

Communication: Actors, Location, and Equipment

This post is going to be super brief, I just wanted to come on here and give an update on my official filming date. I spoke with Coach Cater (the head of Southwest Wrestling), and originally we planned for Tuesday, however Matt has work so thankfully we were able to reschedule to Wednesday. Below are the screenshots:

Conversation with Coach Cater:

Convo with Matt and Roger; mainly addressing Matt's Schedule conflicts:

Now, for equipment, I did as I planned to and messaged Jim from Becon-TV (a program here in Broward County where students have access to equipment). While I was planning on just going there to pickup the equipment myself, many students are checking out now for their own AICE Media projects. Luckily, a friend of mine, Mariana, is checking out very similar equipment to me to film on Tuesday. Together, she, Jim and I were able to arrange that she picks everything up  (Monday 3/25) and I get it from her on Tuesday, the day before I film. This way, both of us can use the equipment with no issue. I didn't really mind if I got it from her or Becon, I'm just happy it was available at all (plus I don't mind that Mariana lives closer to me than Becon is). Below are the screenshots of Jim and I's conversation followed by screenshots of Mariana and I's conversation (most of that happened over a call though).

Prerequisite to upcoming SPAM

Man, I have been BUSY these past few days... I've been working non-stop on this project and honestly haven't been updating the blog.. well get ready for a SPAM. I have like 3 half-written posts but here's a list of what to expect from the next few posts:

• the planning changes I had prior to filming
• my laptop dilemma...
• a recap of the filming day
• editing: changes to the original plan, successes, and difficulties
• the first "final" and even MORE changes after critiques

I just wanted to post this so there was a break/explanation as to why the next few posts will be talking about earlier dates.

Lets get started then.

Scheduling Plan

So, I was originally feeling SUPER behind compared to my peers, but after speaking with my friends turns out many of them are also just starting to film. The film intro is due April 2nd, right when we get back from spring break. This is perfect for me because between school, wrestling, homework, and everything in between, finding time to do other things is very difficult.

I've spoken with my main actors and we should be set to film this Monday at Southwest Highschool's wrestling room. I need to confirm with Coach Kater on how that would work as it would be off hours, but I'm confident we'll be good to go. 

For equipment, I plan on checking out a DSLR (I'm not picky since I don't know the differences tbh) , most likely a Sony model, a tripod, a light kit, a boom, a phone lav, and batteries. 

I understand that in order to really execute the extreme sounds within the flashback (wrestling) scene I will need to voice record Foley or find sounds in an online database, hence the phone lav.

In terms of planning my CCR, I'd like to do a guided infographic for one portion and then a skit (still debating what kind) for the other portion.

Colors

Color Psychology

Short Overview

Colors in film are often used to guide the audience's perception of a scene. Colors are also used as an extension of the character's mindset. Specific colors have developed into being associated with distinct things, for instance, red can represent love and passion, but it also represents anger and violence. Depending on the context in which a color is being used, it will provoke a different reaction.

Yellow; Obsession.

The color yellow is very striking and noticeable, it sticks out to audiences when it is used. Traditionally, this color can represent more positive emotions such as wisdom or knowledge, but usually is used in a more "deranged" way. Yellow represents sickness, insecurity, idealization, cowardice, deceit, hazard, and the most relevant to me; obsession. 

Examples in film

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, a big inspiration I take is from the "tortured artist trope." One of the most popular texts of this is Whiplash, a film about a young man who becomes consumed by his passion for becoming one of the greatest jazz drummers in history. In doing so, he becomes so obsessed he destroys his relationships with several people and even allows it to physically harm him. In this movie, yellow is often used, especially when displaying Andrew (protagonist), at the peak of his obsession. 

I am choosing to color correct using this in Runner Up, because like Andrew in Whiplash, Will is "pushed to the edge of sanity" (Yamout) by his own hand. He, like other character in plot lines of this trope, present the audience with the question "how far will people push themselves in order to be the best?"

Sources:

• https://scenesfromanimaginaryfilm.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/obsessions-inferno-the-cinematography-of-whiplash/
• https://ipr.edu/blogs/digital-video-and-media-production/color-theory-in-film-a-video-producers-guide/#:~:text=Color%20Theory%20in%20Story%20Telling&text=This%20helps%20the%20viewer%20feel,overall%20tone%20of%20the%20film.
• https://nofilmschool.com/color-psychology-in-film
• https://medium.com/@jackneath2/killing-the-tortured-artist-trope-924b38e24b6c

Casting Done

 So remember the Coach I mentioned in one of my earlier log posts? The one who's story I took a lot of inspiration from? Well.. guess who's playing the main character. You guessed it! Coach Matt!

Here are the reasons why I chose to 'cast' Matt as Will (the protagonist):

• Physical Attributes: While the story of Runner Up could apply to virtually any sport, I chose wrestling as it holds personal meaning to me, I know what I'm talking about, I can relate to it, and resource wise it's easier to manage. Now, regardless of weight class, wrestlers are very athletic; arguably some of THE most athletic athletes (that sounds weird). Like I said, the story could apply to any athlete, so the weight class didn't matter. For instance, I compete at 105lbs and I still relate to the same mental and physical hardships this sport instigates as someone competing at 175lbs. All I thought about when casting then, was that they're able to keep up (physically). The wrestling/workout scenes in this film intro aren't going to be some fake TV drama BS.. I know what good wrestling looks like and I won't have anything fake. The finals match flashback WILL look like a real state finals match. And so, Matt happens to be in shape, you know being an ex-wrestler. He is 24 years old, like 6'2 200lbs, and trains with us at practice in addition to the gym. I know for a fact that he can execute my high-level-wrestling vision for the flashback match. I also know he'll be able to push himself for us to get quality training shots; this includes lifting in a weight room and cardio exercises.
• Money: Another BIG part that helped me decide on asking Matt, is that I know he wouldn't charge me money or anything. He's doing this as a favor, which I very much appreciate. I promised to get the boys (Roger plays the antagonist, I'll mention him right after this) dinner after filming.
• Passion: Last but not least, I know Matt doesn't half-ass anything. Although he's never acted, we spoke in person about what filming will look like. He sounds like he is genuinely invested into this because he sees that it's important to me, I'm excited to see how we work together with me playing "coach" (directing) rather than him.

Roger:

To be honest, there isn't much to go in detail about Roger, I asked him to act because he's my friend and I knew he would. The reasons with him are pretty much the same as Matt.. only his role isn't AS important since the story doesn't develop his character. He only appears in that one flashback action-scene of the finals match. Roger was also my top pick because he's the only wrestler I know weighing close to Matt. Roger competes in the 190lb weight class, so Matt is just a bit over that. It's also super helpful that Roger and Matt train consistently with each other; they know how the other wrestles. This will make "choreographing" the finals match a whole lot easier. I already made the aware that this scene isn't just them "going live" (wrestling like a normal match), but instead the three of us will have a play-by-play plan of the moves executed in the match.

Minor Concerns:

So here's my only issue with the Matt/Roger duo, yea they weigh close enough.. but Matt doesn't really LOOK like a 17-18 year old Highschool-Senior. Roger sometimes does (he has a bit of a baby face lol). Will is supposed to have just recently ended his season by a few months, it's fine for him to look older but what about in the flashback scene? Is he going to lose to some kid? I think with the help of some makeup I can try to make Roger look a little older or Matt look younger. 

Screenshots:

Here are the messages I have with first Matt, initially asking him, Roger was asked in person and I  explained the idea there as well.

Experimenting with Aspect Ratios

 Waves

After recently re-watching Trey Edward Shults' movie 'Waves,' I might have fallen down somewhat of a rabbit hole. Apart from hearing not only about the director's creative process, I also took inspiration of certain techniques I noticed being used throughout the film.

source

Aspect Ratios

Across the entire film, Shults uses different elements such as the lighting/coloring of scenes to reflect the characters' mental state. But another way he does this that stood out to me is through aspect ratios. The dictionary states that aspect ratios are "the ratio of the width to the height of an image or screen."

In an interview between Shults and Benjamin B, Shults states that he uses them as "another extension of the character’s state of mind." This ratio changes starting from 1.85:1, then 2.66:1, and finally 1.37:1 in order to show the confinement and rising tension Tyler's actions resulted in. 

And then it does the opposite to show how Emily becomes free of the guilt caused by her brother's actions. Like waves (in the ocean), the aspect ratios push and pull across the film just as their emotions do. 

 Okay? And?

Now, what does this have to do with Runner Up? Well, in this two minute film opening, the main character (I might go with Will so let's see how that feels) is pushing himself to a physical peak as his thoughts replaying his greatest failure replay in his mind. I feel as though I can utilize this example of aspect ratio changes to recreate the same effect of confinement Shults' implemented in Waves that changes as Will's mental state does. I will start with a typical 1.85:1 (or 2:1) for the beginning where he is just entering the training room and doing less intense workouts (ex. jump ropes), and then when the flashback scenes start to cut in as the training intensifies it will narrow to a 2.66:1 as Will starts to have more self-blaming thoughts. He becomes trapped in this constant loop of pushing himself until he breaks as if it can change the result of the final match. The change to a "tighter" aspect ratio will reflect how he is trapped in this mindset. Finally, when the flashbacks stop as he can no longer train it will change to the uncommon 2.66:1.

 Here are the videos I watched to research the film overall; they're pretty interesting if you want to check them out:

https://youtu.be/aFrFbw3w_cw?si=m17X19qJ-E-NFTNZ

https://youtu.be/p5kSaDfsdEw?si=1iWgN0okWJJNanh3

https://youtu.be/rG2rvf4bm6Q?si=nzHEyzn30BzGzYPS

Location Scouting

 Uh so finding a location was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.. it kind of just happened on "accident."

The two main scenes I need to film are split between a gym, wrestling room (or just mats), any sidewalk (but preferably the exit of said training facilities), and then another set of mats (in a gym or something). Initially I was just planning on asking my coaches for permission to set up our mats in the gym and film there and then use our schools weight room for extra workout scenes.. but then I found something even better BY CHANCE!!

May I present to you, Southwest Miami Senior High School (aka my holy grail). (uh also what does senior high school even mean..) 

When I tell you this school has the most amazing (highschool) wrestling room I have ever seen, I mean it. Their mats are so nice and comfortable and I love the eagles (their school mascot) decorations. Plus, the tons of trophies and medals they have decorating the room definitely add "character" to say the least. Their weight room is also conveniently right next to said room and has so much high quality equipment. I was in heaven.

Cypress Bay, my high school, does have a pretty good weight room.. but it's very dark in there so that could have been an issue even with the help of lights. And the walls are painted yellow, which respectfully isn't cute and isn't the look I'd want if I had a choice. The main issue however would have been the mats/mat room. Unfortunately, we don't have a wrestling room, well kinda.. we just got one but it's a work in progress. What we do for practice is just set up in the cafeteria.. which isn't very aesthetically pleasing. This is why I'm very happy I found somewhere with a real practice room, as most schools have.

( I unfortunately didn't think to take my own pictures when I was there but here are ones I found online)

facebook page

After reading this far, I'm sure you're wondering how exactly I stumbled upon this magical place. It's actually a funny story because, I wasn't even looking. I had settled on the idea of just setting up in the gym and filming there. What happened though is on Saturday (3/16) I was at Southwest for a Wrestling Clinic led by Jordan Oliver, super cool event. 

As I was here, I was in genuine awe of this room. It was so cool to me since we don't have a room at Cypress.  At the end of the clinic, I thought to myself "hey what are the odds I'd be able to film here... never hurts to ask right?" And that's exactly what I did. I put myself out there and introduced myself to the head coach. Here's how the conversation went: (obviously not word for word)

"Hi Coach, thanks so much for hosting today it was great. I do tv production/film at my school and I noticed how beautiful your guys' room is. I'm working on a project and I was wondering if there's anyone I could talk to about possible filming here?"

"Oh that's so cool! Yeah I'm the head coach here, let me get your contact information and we can work something out!"

"Thank you so much!!"

"Wait so you know how to do editing right? You think you'd be able to do something like this?"

source + (I couldn't find something exactly like what he showed but this is close enough)

"Yeah I can do something like that."

"Perfect! I'll be in contact!"

"Sounds good thank you so much!"

That's like a triple win... I found a nice place to film, networked with a coach in the sport I play (the kind of community you want to have connections in), and might have even found a way to practice editing and make commision on it! This experience just goes to show how making connections is worth it, even if it's as simple as introducing yourself to someone! My coaches and TV teacher preach this all the time, I'm glad I listened :)

Genre Research

Sports Drama

Overview

Sports drama is a subgenre of sports, generally focusing on a conflict (internal or external) surrounding an athlete or team. Often times, this genre highlights conflicts within the sports industry like racism, mental health, eating disorders, and sexism. This genre also often tells historical stories of athletes or teams. 

Genre Conventions

The main elements of a sports film are as following:

1) The film's narrative world has an idealistic view that anybody who works hard will succeed (claiming that the athlete being highlighted deserves to succeed, which can be unrealistic when compared to real life experiences)

2) A resemblance to the real world, meaning the sports/athletes portrayed imitate those in real life. Often times this means telling the story of a real athlete in history.

Examples

Here are some films within this genre I am looking into/taking inspiration from:

In a Psychological analysis on I, Tonya , the movie is described as "a movie about Tonya Harding who survived and went through abuse, mental trauma, and years of hard work and pain to get where she was," much like the protagonist of Runner Up. This film, like many other sports dramas, is based on a real life athlete in history.  

The Wrestler on the other hand follows the retirement of a fictional character, Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who was a professional wrestler (WWE not ACTUAL wrestling lol). In this film, he discovers how to live a life beyond his now finished career, just like the protagonist of Runner Up has to do.

Common Techniques

1. Training Montages: These are dynamic sequences showcasing intense workouts and preparation set to motivational/hype music (usually rap or metal.)

  

2. Underdog Narrative: A story of resilience, perseverance, and determination as underdogs defy the odds to achieve success in their sport. Plus who doesn't want to root for an underdog? Characters in sports dramas usually have a hard time achieving their goal.

3. Game Sequences: Climactic moments of intense sports action portrayed through dynamic camera work and sound effects.

4. Flashbacks: Insights into characters' pasts and motivations (or failures) through glimpses of significant events. (HINT HINT RUNNER UP)

5. Coach-Player Dynamics: Exploration of mentorship, conflict, inspiration, or even toxicity between coaches and athletes. 

6. Emotional Storylines: Stirring narratives that delve into themes of redemption, teamwork, and the "triumph of the human spirit."

7. Soundtrack: Carefully selected music that heightens the emotional impact and sets the tone for key moments. These include but are not limited to:

• Motivational Anthems
• Epic Orchestral Scores
• Iconic Theme Songs
• Integration of Diegetic Sound
• Emotional Ballads

8. Character Arcs: Personal growth and transformation experienced by protagonists throughout the film.

9. Cinematography: Visual techniques capturing the energy and physicality of sports through dynamic camerawork and framing. These include but are limited to:

• Handheld Cameras
• Slow Motion Shots
• Tracking Shots
• Extreme Close-ups
• Aerial Shots

10. Realism vs. Dramatization: Balancing authenticity with dramatic storytelling to engage audiences while honoring the essence of the sport.

Marketing

In the realm of marketing for sports drama films, there's a clear shift towards digital platforms and targeted engagement. Social media campaigns, collaborations with athletes, and partnerships with streaming services are key strategies. Personalized tactics and multi-channel approaches ensure maximum impact and resonance with audiences. For example, a sports drama film might partner with a professional sports league to release exclusive content on their official social media channels, capitalizing on the league's large fan base to generate excitement and anticipation. Additionally, the film could collaborate with streaming platforms to offer behind-the-scenes documentaries or virtual watch parties, creating immersive experiences for audiences and driving subscriptions.

Side Note - As much as I would love to make Runner Up tell the story of a female in the predominantly male sport that is wrestling, one that I personally relate to, in terms of resources it is more accessible for me to find two high level male wrestlers to act. This is because apart from myself, there are no women on our school's wrestling team, and I can't exactly act and direct at the same time (I am very picky when directing). I have already begun to find some (male) people to act, it would just be more tedious to find two women, and regardless this story is about the mental aspect of being an athlete and therefore has nothing to do with gender (as that's another story).

Sources - 

Course Hero. (2022, May 2). A Psychological Analysis of I, Tonya. Portland.

IMDb.com. (2018a, January 19). I, Tonya. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580036/

Wikepedia Contributors. (2024, February 11). Sports film. Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_film

Encyclopedia.com. (2024, March 14). Sports Films. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sports-films

 

How do you actually make a film opening?

 I realized I was getting ahead of myself.. I'm so invested in my actual story that I realized I don't actually know how to make a film opening.

I think the best way for me to fully understand how I can develop MY project, is to break it down and check out some examples; you know, how they differ across genres and whatnot. 

After reading about how to create a memorable opening scene in a film I've concluded there are certain things that just won't just won't work for Runner Up (I need to start addressing it by name.. see if the title sticks ya know). 

1)The first suggestion given is to start with an action scene, like a heist or some disaster to introduce the protagonist. The reason I don't know if this would fit Runner Up is because well... a big part of the character is that they keep dwelling on the PAST. There's no current action, if the story was taking place in the time of the big match then this technique would make more sense. 

2)Second thing mentioned is a hook. This would mean to open the film with an event or instance that would raise a question to get the audience's attention. An example of a film that does this, is The Matrix. I watched the scene on YouTube, and I can tell right off the bat this won't work either.

As most already know, The Matrix is a pretty strange movie.. the opening shows eerie computer graphics and then throws you right into some crime scene, making it an example of a HOOK film opening. Runner Up is a sports drama, focusing more on the psychological aspects of the character, I don't need to hook a character I need to build one. I want to develop the story around him, I think I should introduce him and spark curiosity more about his past rather than hook with an event, as done in The Matrix

3) Another way to open a film, is to establish mood. This means to set the overall vibe of the film (genre, mood, tone, etc) through technical elements. Lighting and sound are two main things I have a vision for when I picture this. I like the idea of a more yellow toned environment. I did some more research on why I wanted this and found out it's because of color theory, something we've learned about in class. According to this Article on Color Theory , yellow generally represents "obsession," exactly what this opening is about. I want to be able to write more about this so I'll save some facts for my upcoming blogs. For now, I think I am associating it with the vibe I get in this scene of Foxcatcher, a wrestling movie telling the story of John Du Pont and David Schultz.

This is what I will do for my film opening, set the rest up for the story and stylistic choices I plan to make. 

4-6) The next few points talk about establishing theme and showcasing the protagonists early world.

Overall, what I am talking from this, is that in the case of Runner Up I should focus on setting the mood by showing the protagonists ordinary life. I can do this through stylistic lighting choices and sound to establish my genre.