My Group's Notes On 'All The Boys Love Mandy Lane'

Opening credit - Red background signifies blood. Title - blade slash/girl screams - typical for horror.

Blood drops down and the shot pans down to a school – Normal school day.

Song hints at what is to come in the film?

Mandy Lane appears – typical blonde (Looks an outsider or new, by how everyone reacts to her).

Range of shots used: Establishing shot, close up, medium shots, long shots ect.

A typical person that the audience wants dead from the start appears and is immediately offensive.

Shot scrolls up to establish next scene this is a pool party – Normal setting, nothing out of the ordinary, normal swimming pool/party clothes.

Music again – Hint?

Again a different range of shots are used to focus on people enjoying themselves – quite quick shots.

The person the audience wants dead is offensive to Mandy again, her friend water pistols him which turns into a fight, and this is used to build up the tension. Something going to happen with these two in the future? Fight shows who is the strong out of the two. Both want the same thing – Mandy Lane.

Binary opposites of each other – Brain vs. Brawn.

Night – something going to happen?

Mandy’s best friend of roof – shows power? Loner?

Talk about Mandy – argue (never can get along). Best friend tricks him to jump off roof to impress Mandy. Guy slips, clearly drunk – outcome revealed? People are worried about him (the sportier guy) about him jumping off the roof – still drinking, Mandy shocked.

Song again – Hints outcome?

When the sportier guy jumps of the camera is like it’s a PoV (Point of View) of someone falling slower (as he exits the shot).

Hear screams, makes audience tense and want to know what has happened, as the guy enters the pool which blood surrounds him, audience is shocked.
Brains beat brawn.

Lessons From Microdrama

1. Make a detailed call sheet in order to properly plan what is needed to be shot and when.
2. Film the same scene from more than one angle so you can get the best possible shot.
3. Possibly use a narrative or voiceover to aid the audience.
4. Do not film a conversation with the camera, take multiple shots if you want to cut between the conversation.
5. Choose location wisely so that it fits the scene and you get the best possible end product.
6. Do not needlessly zoom in on certain parts in scenes, keep the same level of zoom for the whole shot unless necessary.
7. Sound effects can be added whilst editing and are not necessary to create while filming.
8. Always use the camera stand in order to get a steady shot, unless a handhold shot is wanted.
9. Tell each person in the shot what to do so there is no confusion and it can run smoothly.
10. Parts of shots can be cut out, so keep the camera running for a short time before and after the shot, so you definitely know it is filming.