AS MEDIA STUDIES
This is my team's storyboard for Moonlight Sonata, created and drawn by me (Sharon). This blog is also written by me.
First Draft (sketches)
> Some of the boxes are still left undrawn due to unclear cues from the screenplay (e.g. camera angles)
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Final
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AS MEDIA STUDIES
Here shows the screenplay (made by Maxi) of our final concept (Moonlight Sonata).
Moonlight Sonata
Screenplay by
Maximilian Gehlen
January 26th, 2023
SCREEN BLACK
NON-DIEGETIC Piano music starts to play softly in background (Liebestraume, By FRANZ LISZT)
OPENING CREDITS ROLL FOR THE FIRST 15 SECONDS
FADE IN:
HAZEL’S ROOM - DAY - 13 YEARS AGO
MEDIUM CLOSE UP SHOT IS USED TO SHOW HAZEL FROM THE SIDE ON A PIANO CHAIR, WITH HIS MOM NEXT TO HIM, RECORDING HAZEL USING A CAMCORDER
HAZEL is playing the piano joyfully as his MOM gives positive remarks.
MOM
Keep going! You’re doing great!
HAZEL’S ROOM - DAY - 9 YEARS AGO
FADE TRANSITION:
MEDIUM SHOT FROM BEHIND
HAZEL continues to play the piano, turning to his mother while smiling, as he now has 4 TROPHIES on his shelf and a picture of him with his mother, which shows HAZEL holding a trophy.
HAZEL’S ROOM - DAY - 6 YEARS AGO
FADE TRANSITION:
HAZEL continues to play the piano, it can be seen he's lost his bright smile. There are now 10 TROPHIES on his shelf, with the picture of him and his mom now showing them holding a trophy together.
HAZEL’S ROOM - DAY - PRESENT
HAZEL is still playing the piano. Dozens of trophies on his shelf can now be seen, with the picture of him and his mom now showing only his mom holding the trophy. He is now on the verge of tears as his mother berates him for his lousy playing.
CUT TO MEDIUM CLOSE UP OF MOTHER SHOUTING
MOM
Do better! I know you can do better! Play faster or I'll get the ruler Hazel!
CUT TO POV SHOT OF HAZEL FROM THE POV OF A PIANO KEY.
HAZEL begins to tear up as his eyes turn red. However, he continues to play the piano.
MUSIC CLUB CLASSROOM - DAY
NON-DIEGETIC piano music stops. Replaced by HAZEL’S diegetic playing.
MATCH CUT IS USED TO SHOW HAZEL FROM THE SAME POV AS BEFORE, ONLY AT A DIFFERENT SETTING - HIS SCHOOLS MUSIC ROOM.
HAZEL is now playing on his school’s music clubs’ piano - continuing where the song left off in the previous scene. Tears are gone, only a sad expression is left on his face.
CUT TO MEDIUM CLOSE UP FROM THE SIDE
HAZEL continues to play, while his clubs’ teacher tells him to stop - however HAZEL is too focussed on playing to hear it.
(TEACHERS voice starts faded and gets clearer)
TEACHER
Hazel. Hazel [louder].
CUT TO OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF TEACHER.
(Voice is now fully clear)
TEACHER
Hazel [yelling]!
FAST CUT TO MEDIUM CLOSE UP OF HAZELS UPPER BODY FROM PREVIOUS POV SHOT - FROM THE POV OF THE PIANO KEYS.
HAZEL’S eyes focus in and he jumps in his seat out of shock. He looks around in a confused daze, and then looks to his teacher.
CUT TO OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT OF TEACHER FROM HAZELS POV.
TEACHER
Get back to your seat, Hazel.
CUT TO MEDIUM CLOSE UP FROM THE SIDE OF HAZEL STANDING UP
CUT TO MEDIUM CLOSE UP OF HAZEL SITTING DOWN AT HIS DESK.
HAZEL puts his bag on the ground, sits down, and lays his chin on his palm, as he stares off blankly into the distance.
CUT TO MEDIUM CLOSE UP OF TEACHER STANDING IN THE FRONT OF THE CLASS.
TEACHER begins to introduce the music club's newest member.
TEACHER
Good afternoon everyone! Today we have a new student joining us today in our music club!
TEACHER waves her hand in a “come in” motion towards HARMONY.
NON-DIEGETIC PIANO MUSIC FADES BACK IN QUIETLY. BUILDS UP THROUGHOUT THE SCENE.
CUT TO CLOSE UP OF DOOR SWINGING OPEN AND HARMONY’S FEET WALKING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CLASS.
HARMONY enters the classroom.
CUT TO CLOSE UP OF HARMONY’S NECK AND MOUTH. FACE NOT SHOWN.
HARMONY is in the front of the class, about to introduce herself.
HARMONY
Hello everyone! My name is Harmony! It's a pleasure to meet you all! I'm 16 years old and I just moved here a couple days ago.
CUT TO CLOSE UP OF HAZEl.
HAZEL is in the same position as before. Not paying attention to HARMONY, still staring blankly with his hand covering his mouth. Appears to be in deep thought.
HARMONY CONTINUES TO SPEAK AS THIS SHOT OF HAZEL IS SHOWN.
HARMONY
Some things I like to do are to read books, go out to parks, and uhm… [pause]
CUT BACK TO CLOSE UP OF HARMONY’S NECK AND MOUTH.
A slight smile is brought to HARMONY’S face as she says her next words.
HARMONY:
I love playing piano!
CUT TO EXTREME CLOSE UP OF HAZEL’S EYES
Piano music from earlier reaches its crescendo and is at its fastest pace.
HAZELS pupils swing widely towards HARMONY’S direction, in the front of the class.
CUT TO BLACK.
TEXT DISPLAYED: MOONLIGHT SONATA. ZOOMS IN SLOWLY FOR THE NEXT FEW SECONDS.
AS MEDIA STUDIES
The following states the feedback received from my Media Studies teacher (Mr Nick) and ourselves regarding Moonlight Sonata's editing drafts. This blog post is written by Maxi and Nayana.
3rd March 2023 (1st draft) - Written by: Maxi
Timo had finished the first draft of the film and from that, we as a team gave feedback along with our teacher Mr Nick. Some scenes needed a bit of pace-changing, including the credits scene, and some transitions. Timo also experimented with adding a filter in the first shot, which made it look like it was shot from an old film camera. We decided this looked unprofessional and told him to change it. Some scenes like the teacher telling Hazel to stop playing the piano also needed to be edited as he was meant to be initially out of focus, and then move into focus, which Timo hadn't done yet. As well as when the teacher starts the class, the ambient noise of students talking in the background suddenly disappeared, which we told him to keep - but just slowly fade out as the teacher keeps talking. Some lines were also cut out, including Harmony's "I love going to parks, reading books..." line, which we all agreed should be included to better the overall flow of the opening. Hopefully, by the next draft, all these issues will be mitigated.
9th March 2023 (2nd draft) - Written by: Nayana