Planning - Project Proposal

Introduction

My name is Zunairah, and I'm working with my partner Nicole on this film brief. We've been collaborating throughout the research process, dividing up genre analysis, technical research, and planning to make sure we cover all the necessary elements for creating a professional rom-com opening sequence.

Genre Choice: Romantic Comedy

After looking through our combined four sub-genres, Nicole and I decided that we will make our brief a romantic-comedy. Rom-coms hold a special place in our hearts, and it's something that we find gives us hope and allows us to relate to the characters in a more personal way, which is something we want our viewers to experience. The genre also offers clear technical conventions that we can follow while still leaving room for creativity in how we execute them.

What drew us specifically to rom-coms is the balance between humor and emotion. The genre allows us to create something uplifting and entertaining while still exploring genuine human connection. After researching genres like comedy-adventure, comedy-horror, fantasy, and western, we kept coming back to romantic comedy because it felt like the most authentic choice for the kind of story we want to tell.

Meet-cute from Anyone But You

Target Audience

Our primary target audience is teenagers and young adults aged 15-25, with a particular focus on female viewers, though we want the film to appeal to all genders. This demographic aligns with the typical rom-com audience, as research shows that audiences under 34 are most excited about romantic comedies, and roughly 70% of Americans enjoy the genre.

Age range rationale:
The 15-25 age group is in the stage of life where romantic relationships, identity formation, and social dynamics are most relevant. High school and college-aged viewers can relate to the meet-cute scenarios, relationship conflicts, and emotional journeys that rom-coms portray. This demographic also consumes the most content on streaming platforms, where modern rom-coms have found their primary audience.

Gender considerations:
While rom-coms have traditionally targeted female audiences, we've learned through research that the genre is gaining traction among male viewers when romance is balanced with strong comedic elements. By focusing on genuine humor alongside the romantic storyline, we hope to create something that appeals beyond just one gender.

Location and accessibility:
Our target audience is primarily located in suburban and urban areas in the United States, particularly students who have access to streaming platforms and social media. However, the universal themes of romance and comedy allow the film to resonate with international audiences as well.

Shared interests and hobbies:
Our audience enjoys contemporary music, follows trends on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and values authentic storytelling that reflects their experiences. They appreciate films that balance entertainment with emotional depth, and they're drawn to relatable characters who face challenges similar to their own. This audience also values diversity and representation in media, expecting to see characters and stories that reflect the world they live in.

Streaming Statistics By Demographics

Social Issues and Representation

While our rom-com will primarily focus on entertainment and emotional connection, we want to address relevant social issues and ensure authentic representation throughout our brief.

Gender dynamics and equality:
We want to avoid traditional rom-com tropes where one character has to change themselves entirely to win love. Instead, both Audrey and Mattias will be equal in the relationship, with mutual growth and compromise. Audrey won't be seen as waiting for romance to complete her life; she'll have her own goals along with competing for the achievement award, interests and personality that exist independently of the romantic plot.

Authentic teenage experiences:
Many rom-coms romanticize high school and teenage relationships in ways that feel unrealistic. We want to portray genuine teenage dynamics, including the awkwardness, insecurity, and social pressures that actual teenagers face. This means avoiding overly polished dialogue that sounds like it was written by adults and instead capturing how young people actually communicate, without using slang. 

Representation and diversity:
Both Audrey and Mattias are Venezuelan, which brings cultural representation to the genre. We want to portray their backgrounds authentically without making it the sole focus of their characters because they're individuals whose heritage is part of who they are but doesn't define their entire personality.

Competition and achievement culture:
Our story addresses the toxic competitive culture in high schools where students are pitted against each other for awards and recognition. Through Audrey and Mattias's rivalry for the achievement award, we'll explore how this pressure affects relationships and self-worth, showing that genuine connection matters more than winning.

Body positivity and realistic beauty standards:
Rom-coms often feature leads who fit very specific beauty standards. While we're limited by our casting pool as students, we want to avoid styling our actors in ways that narrow beauty ideals. Natural makeup, realistic athletic wear for Audrey's workout scenes, and authentic styling will be how our actors look, even if we were to make the full movie. 

Healthy relationship dynamics:
The conflict between Audrey and Mattias will stem from competition and misunderstanding rather than toxic behaviors like jealousy, manipulation, or possessiveness. We want to model what healthy attraction and conflict resolution look like, even in a comedic context.

Software and Hardware Plans

Based on my research into editing software and the technical requirements of our rom-com brief, here's what we plan to use and what we still need to learn:

Editing Software | Adobe Premiere Pro:
I've decided to use Premiere Pro because I've already learned the basics through our teacher's project, and I used it to create a birthday video for my friend who moved to Texas. The school provides it for free, which eliminates cost concerns. Premiere Pro's Lumetri Color panel will allow me to achieve the warm, romantic color grading I researched, and its integration with other Adobe apps means we can create professional title cards if needed. However, I still need to learn more advanced color grading techniques, particularly how to use LUTs effectively and create consistent color palettes. 

Camera Equipment:
We'll be using school cameras, likely DSLRs or mirrorless cameras that can shoot in high quality. I need to learn more about manual camera settings, specifically how to control aperture for shallow depth of field, shutter speed for proper motion blur, and ISO for maintaining image quality in different lighting conditions. Understanding these settings will help us achieve the soft, cinematic look that defines rom-coms.

Lighting Equipment:
We plan to use natural lighting as much as possible, shooting during golden hour, which is typically late afternoon/early evening to get that warm, soft light rom-coms require. However, we may need to supplement with reflectors to bounce light onto our actors' faces and fill in shadows. I need to learn how to position reflectors effectively and how to read light to determine where additional fill is needed. If we need to shoot any interior or evening scenes, we'll need to learn basic three-point lighting setups.

Audio Equipment:
Good sound is crucial for rom-coms since dialogue needs to be clear and intelligible. We'll use external microphones, most likely bluetooth microphones rather than relying on camera audio. I need to learn proper mic placement, how to monitor audio levels while recording, and how to sync audio in post-production. We'll also need to source royalty-free music that is upbeat with romantic undertones.

What I Still Need to Learn:
Beyond the basics I've already covered, I need to learn advanced Premiere Pro techniques like keyframing for smooth animations on our title cards, audio mixing to balance dialogue with music and ambient sound, and efficient workflow organization so we don't lose files or waste time searching for clips. I also want to learn how to export in the correct format and resolution for our brief submission.

Example of microphones we are planning to use.

Basic Plan for Our Film Opening

Concept Overview:
Our 2-minute rom-com opening will feature Audrey Daniels, a 17-year-old senior from Venezuela who is on the track team. Her birthday is coming up in a few days, and she's preparing by working out and staying healthy. We see her on her daily walk/run through the park during golden hour. While exercising, she physically bumps into Mattias Salomon, also a 17-year-old Venezuelan senior from her high school who plays on the hockey team. They know of each other but have never had a proper conversation before this moment.

Audrey and Mattias are rivals competing for the same achievement award; something they've been fighting over since freshman year. When Audrey realizes who bumped into her, instead of accepting a polite apology, she gets angry. They start arguing and physically struggle over Mattias's hockey stick or ball that caused them to collide, pulling and pushing until the object flies toward the camera. Because of the momentum from their struggle, they stumble and end up in each other's arms. Using the rule of thirds, the couple will be out of focus and small in the lower left corner of the frame while the hockey equipment is sharp, closer, and larger in the upper right corner. The title of our film will then flash on screen.

Something like this but they will be more visible on the left corner

Technical Execution Plan:

Cinematography:
We'll open with an establishing shot of the park using natural lighting during golden hour to achieve warm, soft tones. A smooth tracking shot will follow Audrey as she walks/jogs, establishing her as our protagonist and showing her athletic routine. A close-up will show her checking her phone or calendar and noticing her birthday is approaching. When the hockey stick/ball flies toward her, we'll use a fast tracking shot or whip pan following the object's movement. After it hits her, a static close-up will capture her full reaction of surprise turning to anger. When Mattias appears, we'll use a slight tilt up as he enters the frame, revealing him. During the argument, we'll use shot-reverse-shot with static framing, then switch to handheld or slight shake during the physical comedy to add energy and chaos. The final shot where they fall into each other's arms will use slow motion with the camera stabilizing and holding steady, carefully composed using rule of thirds with shallow depth of field, keeping Audrey and Mattias slightly out of focus while the hockey equipment in the foreground remains sharp.

Color Grading:
We'll maintain warm color grading throughout, using oranges, yellows, and soft pinks to create that romantic rom-com aesthetic. Even during the argument, the colors will stay warm to signal to audiences that this conflict is may seem hostile and silly but has undertones of romance. In post-production, I'll use Lumetri Color in Premiere Pro to enhance the golden hour lighting across all shots.

Sound Design:
 We'll capture clean dialogue during the argument, making sure both Audrey and Mattias's voices are intelligible despite the physical comedy. Ambient sound like birds chirping, distant park activity, maybe the sound of other joggers or cyclists will create atmosphere without overwhelming the dialogue. We'll add subtle background music that builds during the argument and swells when they fall into each other's arms, then cuts or softens when the title appears. The sound of the hockey stick/ball hitting Audrey and flying toward the camera will be emphasized for comedic effect.

Editing and Pacing:
The editing will follow rom-com conventions with relatively smooth cuts that don't disorient viewers. We'll use the argument sequence to build energy through slightly faster cutting, then slow down the editing when they fall into each other's arms to let that romantic moment breathe. The timing of the title appearance will be crucial because it needs to feel like a natural conclusion to the opening beat.

Practice Exercises:

Before filming our actual brief, we plan to do several practice exercises to build our skills. We'll shoot test footage at our chosen park during different times of day to see when the lighting looks best for that golden hour glow. We'll practice framing shots using rule of thirds and experimenting with depth of field to make sure we can achieve that shallow focus effect where the hockey equipment is sharp but Audrey and Mattias are soft. I'll practice color grading on test clips to develop a consistent warm look. We'll also rehearse the physical comedy with our actors to make sure the movements look natural and comedic rather than awkward or dangerous. Finally, we'll create a detailed shot list and storyboard so we know exactly what we need to capture on filming day, minimizing wasted time and ensuring we get all necessary coverage.

Timeline and Next Steps

Over the next few weeks leading up to spring break, we need to finalize our script with all the dialogue between Audrey and Mattias, confirm our park location and actors, gather all necessary equipment including the hockey stick/ball prop, and schedule our filming day during golden hour. We'll continue documenting our research and planning process through blog entries, refining our vision and preparing for a successful shoot. The most important immediate steps are writing out all dialogue and action so we know exactly what needs to happen in each shot, and scouting our park location to confirm it will work for our technical needs and that we can film there during the late afternoon/early evening for the best light.

I'm excited about this project because it brings together all the research I've done on rom-com conventions, from the technical elements like warm color grading and soft lighting, the narrative structure of meet-cutes and conflicts, the character dynamics and audience expectations and challenges me to execute them with limited resources and experience. Creating something that feels authentic to the genre while still being achievable for student filmmakers will require careful planning, but I'm confident that the foundation we've built will provide a successful final product.


Links used:
https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/streaming-statistics.html
https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/45146-americans-relationship-romantic-comedies-poll
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/moviegoers-comedies-thrillers-global-cinema-study-1236340585/
https://pro.morningconsult.com/instant-intel/gen-z-favorite-entertainment-genres
https://stephenfollows.com/are-fewer-romantic-films-being-made/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/949810/favorite-movie-genres-in-the-us-by-age/
https://borisfx.com/blog/davinci-resolve-vs-premiere-pro-head-to-head/
https://www.simonsaysai.com/blog/davinci-resolve-vs-adobe-premiere-pro
https://www.makeuseof.com/adobe-premiere-pro-vs-davinci-resolve/