Film Studies and Cinematography-Project1 Story Development
Table of Contents
Module Information
Lecture
This section introduces the idea of character creation
- The Elevator Test helps explore how a character reacts in crisis situations.
- Good characters are flawed but interesting, and those flaws make them relatable.
- Characters act as guides for the audience, sharing emotional journeys.
- Experimentation is encouraged to make characters unique and engaging.
- A “helpful robotic woman” (Pixar instructor) provides examples and guidance in the video.
Characters are developed through external features (appearance, design, clothing) and internal features (beliefs, emotions, fears).
Using real-life inspiration helps make characters authentic and memorable.
Understanding what drives a character is key to their growth.
A character’s want is what they think will make them happy.
Their need is what they actually require to grow or change.
Storytelling often involves revealing this difference through challenges and choices.
Obstacles prevent characters from easily getting what they want or need.
They can be external (a person, distance, physical challenge) or internal (fear, self-doubt).
Obstacles make characters grow, pushing them into fight-or-flight situations.
The best ones connect to the character’s flaws and desires.
5. Character Arc
The character arc shows how a character changes after facing obstacles.
Growth happens through choices and transformation.
Examples: The Incredibles and Inside Out show how challenges shape identity and growth.
Without change, a story feels flat or incomplete.
6. Stakes
Stakes explain why the audience should care — what’s at risk if the character fails.
They can be:
External – physical consequences.
Internal – emotional consequences.
Philosophical – moral or world-view consequences.
Practical
1. List 3 favourite films. Describe why by explaining your personal experience and emotional connection to the films.
My Favourite Films：
The Chorus / Les Choristes (2004)
This movie touched me because of its gentle yet powerful message about hope, kindness, and the transformative power of music. Watching the teacher, Clément Mathieu, guide the troubled boys with patience and compassion made me reflect on how much a mentor can change someone’s life. I was moved by the way music gave the children a voice and helped them heal from loneliness and pain. It reminded me of the importance of being understood and supported, and it made me think about the teachers and people in my own life who believed in me when I doubted myself.
The Lion King (1994)
This movie touched me because of its timeless story of growth, courage, and responsibility. Following Simba’s journey from a carefree cub to a mature king made me reflect on my own experiences of facing challenges and fears. The loss of his father and the call to step into his rightful place resonated deeply with me, reminding me that no matter how uncertain or afraid we feel, we must eventually accept responsibility and move forward. The themes of family, friendship, and destiny made me think about my own values and the strength I find in the people close to me.
Interstellar (2014)
This movie touched me because of its mix of science, love, and sacrifice. Watching the bond between Cooper and his daughter Murph made me reflect on how powerful connections across generations can be. I was fascinated by the visuals and the exploration of time, but what really stayed with me was the emotional idea that love is something that can transcend distance and even dimensions. It made me think about my own relationships and how far I would go for the people I love.
2. Watch Kitbull again. Then, identify the world and characters in each. Write these down.
- Who are the main characters?- Is there a character you identify with most?
- Where does the movie take place? Is it one world or multiple worlds?
Kitbull (2019) Analysis
Main Characters: A stray black kitten and an abused pit bull.
Character I Identify With Most: The kitten, because it was initially fearful and lonely, but eventually learned to trust and accept friendship. I have had similar experiences—feeling afraid to connect with others at first, but later discovering the warmth and comfort that friendship can bring.
Setting: The story takes place in a small backyard corner of the city. It is set in a realistic, single world rather than multiple worlds.
Part B: Try mixing a character and world from different shorts. Try this and see what happens
Mixing Experiment (Character + World Exchange)
If the kitten from Kitbull were placed in the world of The Lion King, it might become friends with young Simba and explore the grasslands together. Simba is brave, while the kitten is timid, so their contrasting personalities would complement each other. The freedom of the savanna could gradually help the kitten become more courageous.
If the universe from Interstellar were combined with the teacher from The Chorus, it could become a story about a teacher leading children on a spaceship journey, using music to bring hope and comfort to an otherwise lonely voyage through space.
Project 1:Part B（Project 1: Story Ideas）
Pixar Short Analysis — Red’s Dream (1987)
Red’s Dream is a short film about a lonely red unicycle sitting in the corner of a bicycle shop, longing for purpose and connection. In its dream, the unicycle imagines itself as a star in a circus performance, but the dream fades when it wakes up to its lonely reality.
This story works because it uses a very simple object with human emotions to explore universal feelings—loneliness, longing, and the desire to be valued. Even without words, the unicycle’s dream makes us reflect on our own wishes to be recognized and not forgotten. It resonates with me because I also know the feeling of wanting to be seen and understood, especially in times when I felt overlooked or left behind.
Pixar Short Analysis — Red’s Dream (1987)
My “What If” Statement
What if a small, overlooked sapling discovered it could talk to the stars?
My Story Idea
- Main Character: A small sapling growing in the corner of a city. It is tiny and constantly overshadowed by tall buildings and larger plants, and no one ever notices it.
- World: The gray and forgotten corners of the city. During the day, the sapling feels invisible, but at night, the sky fills with stars that shine back at it.
- Plot:
- The sapling quietly grows each day, wishing that someone would notice it.
- One night, it unexpectedly speaks with a star in the sky, and the star encourages it: “You are light too, you’re just still growing.”
- From then on, the sapling shares its feelings with the stars each night.
- As time passes, the sapling slowly grows taller and finally blossoms, attracting people to stop and admire it. In that moment, it realizes it was never truly invisible—it was simply waiting for the right time to shine.
Emotional Connection
This story is meaningful to me because it symbolizes how, even when we feel small or overlooked, hope and perseverance can help us discover our own value. The conversations between the sapling and the stars remind me of times when just a little encouragement or understanding from others gave me strength to move forward. I see myself in the sapling, because I too have experienced moments of doubt, but through growth and support, I learned to embrace my own light.
Project 1 – Week 1 - 6
Story Title
Whispering Stars
Logline
A small sapling in a forgotten corner of the city finds comfort in a distant star’s light and learns that even the smallest life can shine — even if only for a moment.
Synopsis
In a busy and indifferent city, a fragile sapling grows quietly in a crack between the concrete, unnoticed by anyone.
At night, when the city finally becomes still, a bright star appears in the sky. The sapling looks upward, and though neither can speak, a silent bond begins.
Over time, seasons pass. The sapling grows steadily into a strong and graceful young tree, supported by the gentle glow of the star. Its presence brings color back to the gray city, and people begin to notice — taking photos, resting under its shade, and allowing it to momentarily soften the city’s harsh atmosphere.
But tranquility does not last. Construction machines arrive, and the tree is eventually cut down to make way for new buildings. The corner returns to silence, covered in dust.
That night, the same star shines once again. From beneath the debris, a tiny new sprout emerges, swaying softly under the starlight — a quiet reminder that hope does not disappear; it simply begins again.
At night, when the city finally becomes still, a bright star appears in the sky. The sapling looks upward, and though neither can speak, a silent bond begins.
Theme
Even if you feel small and unseen, hope and perseverance will help you shine — even if only for a brief moment.
(Keywords: hope, growth, renewal, resilience, urban life)
(Keywords: hope, growth, renewal, resilience, urban life)
Character Description
Main Character: Sapling
External Features:
A young, delicate sapling with thin branches and light green leaves, growing stubbornly in a crack between gray concrete walls.
Internal Traits:
Shy, sensitive, longing to be noticed, yet quietly strong inside. Through silent encouragement from the star, it learns resilience and self-worth.
WANT (External Goal):
To be seen and acknowledged.
NEED (Internal Growth):
To realize that light and meaning come from within, not from others’ attention.
External Features:
A young, delicate sapling with thin branches and light green leaves, growing stubbornly in a crack between gray concrete walls.
Shy, sensitive, longing to be noticed, yet quietly strong inside. Through silent encouragement from the star, it learns resilience and self-worth.
To be seen and acknowledged.
To realize that light and meaning come from within, not from others’ attention.
Supporting Character: Star
External Features:
A glowing star in the night sky, gentle and warm.
Internal Traits:
Wise, comforting, and constant — represents hope and guidance through darkness.
World Description
A modern urban setting — full of buildings, cars, and people.
By day, the world is gray, crowded, and harsh; the sapling seems invisible.
By night, the city quiets down. The star’s light turns the forgotten corner into a soft, magical space — a moment of peace and connection between nature and the universe.
External Features:
A glowing star in the night sky, gentle and warm.
Wise, comforting, and constant — represents hope and guidance through darkness.
By day, the world is gray, crowded, and harsh; the sapling seems invisible.
By night, the city quiets down. The star’s light turns the forgotten corner into a soft, magical space — a moment of peace and connection between nature and the universe.
Script Development Process
Initial Idea & Beat Sheet
I started with a raw beat sheet summarizing the story:
Beginning: Sapling grows unnoticed.
Middle: Star bonds with the sapling; it grows and attracts attention.
Twist: Construction destroys the tree.
End: A new sprout emerges; hope continues.
I then expanded this into a detailed plot, mapping each scene and season. This helped me plan visual storytelling cues, such as light, weather, and color transitions.
Scene Design
Scene 1 – The Forgotten Corner: Introduce the sapling in a gray, indifferent city.
Scene 2 – The First Night: Establish the connection with the star.
Scene 3 – Seasons of Growth: Montage showing the sapling’s development.
Scene 4 – Recognition: People notice the tree’s beauty.
Scene 5 – The Fall: Urban development destroys the tree.
Scene 6 – Renewal: A new sprout emerges beneath the same star.
Each scene was designed to emphasize visual storytelling and the emotional resonance of small details like sunlight on leaves, drifting golden foliage, and human reactions.
My storyboard
Visual sketch
Feedback
Week 3: The lecturer suggested revising the ending of the story and removing all dialogue. The emphasis was on relying purely on visual and emotional storytelling rather than spoken words. This feedback encouraged me to explore the expressive potential of imagery, light, and movement, focusing on how the sapling’s growth, loss, and renewal could be conveyed through visuals alone.
Week 8: The teacher noted that the story plot was too broad and could benefit from more detailed development. I was advised to enrich the narrative with specific visual cues and precise sequencing, allowing the audience to better understand the passage of time, the emotional progression of the sapling, and the interaction with its environment.
Reflection
During the development of Whispering Stars, I received feedback that significantly shaped both the story and its visual execution. In Week 3, the lecturer suggested changing the ending and removing all dialogue, emphasizing that the narrative should rely entirely on visual and emotional expression. Initially, I hesitated — dialogue felt like a natural way to convey emotion. However, I soon realized that silence could be a powerful storytelling tool, allowing the audience to engage more deeply with the imagery and interpret meaning through their own emotions. By focusing on light, movement, and seasonal changes, I was able to express the sapling’s growth, the tree’s loss, and the quiet hope of renewal without a single word spoken. This decision made the story more poetic and universal, enabling a more immersive experience that transcends language.
In Week 8, feedback highlighted that the story’s plot was too broad and could benefit from more detailed development. I reflected on how to convey the passage of time and emotional progression with precision. I added visual cues — such as subtle shifts in lighting, the changing texture of leaves, and the sapling’s interaction with the environment — to enrich the narrative without relying on dialogue. This process made me more attentive to the nuances of visual storytelling, from rhythm and pacing to the balance between realism and symbolism.
Through these revisions, I learned that storytelling is not just about events, but about crafting an emotional journey that can be felt rather than explained. Whispering Stars became a meditation on resilience and hope, where silence, observation, and visual detail carry the weight of the narrative. These reflections have deepened my understanding of cinematic expression, showing me that sometimes what is left unsaid resonates more profoundly than words.
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