Pre-Production Booklet

This is me
Contents

● Proposal

● Location recces

● Props list

● Auditions

● Storyboards

● Shooting script
Proposal
My music video will be to the song this is me, sung by Keala Settle who plays the bearded lady
in the Greatest Showmen. The idea follows a young boy who is struggling with his gender
identity as he is confused why he likes both masculine and feminine things, for example, he
loves to play football and enjoys playing with makeup and dressing up. The reason I want to
make this video is because I know that a lot of people have these struggles as some actually
are a different gender to what they are born and others feel more comfortable being more masc
or fem. The concept follows the parallel between the mas and fem things that he likes, showing
the two sides of him until the end when he is finally comfortable showing the world that he likes
both sides of himself when he cycles the road wearing the makeup and clothes he likes.

The deadline for this production is the 6th december when I will be uploading it to youtube.
From my target audience research I found that the most popular platform to watch music videos
on is youtube and so I feel confident uploading it here to reach the largest number of people
possible.

During my research I found that my target audience, ages 5-12, enjoy listening to the pop genre
more than any other. I think this is due to the fact that pop songs dominate the charts and the
radio, so it is most likely the genre children are brought up with as they are constantly
surrounded by it. From this research I decided to make a music video to the song this is me, as
after I gave it as one of the 3 options in my survey it came out as the favourite.

Through my music video I want to inspire children and spread a positive message of acception.
My character will show children that bullying is wrong as they will empathize with the young boy
when he gets pushed and told that ‘he shouldn’t dress like that’. This production is important to
me as I have close friends who have gone through a similar struggle, especially when they were
young, as it was just as confusing for them as it was for anyone else. Although the music video
may not change the opinions of some older generations, I hope that it will really impact the
younger generations.
Location recess
Type of room/area:
Semi-detached house has an average
size garden with three bedrooms, living
room, dining room and kitchen.
Location address:
9 Finch road, Earley, Reading.
Nearest train station:
Earley train station.
Nearest bus stop:
Station road, 4 and 4x bus to Reading,
Wokingham and bracknell.

Site contact name and availability:

Helen Alden, weekends are free but only available after 12pm on weekdays. Fully available
during half term.

Permissions:
This is my house so no permission is needed.

Suitability/shots for production:

Main part of the music video will be filmed here in all the rooms of the house and the
garden.

Lighting information: Solutions:

The lighting on the street is good, lots of
street lamps and space for outdoor filming on
the street. Every room has good light feetures
but each room has either yellow or white light
so it isn’t even throughout.
I need to use extra light in each indoor scene
to correct the colour and film outdoor scenes
on days when the weather is good.

Sound information: Solutions:

There may be a few cars going by and The optimal time to film will be outside of rush
people, so some filming could be interrupted. hour, so there won't be as many cars and
The outside shoots will be disrupted by birds, people outside. Any foley sounds will need a
wind and lots of planes. microphone muffler so the quality is good.

Power information: Solutions:

The house has lots of power outlets and the Have the camera batteries fully charged to
garden has a garage with more power outlets begin with and as soon as one is out of
so there shouldn’t be any issues. charge I’ll put on charge straight away so the
camera is sufficiently used.

Hazards: Solutions:
There is a lot of furniture and wires around I need to take care when walking around and
the house. handling equipment.
Props list
Item Item description Who uses it When it is used

Pink dress A simple sleeved pink The actor wears it as Throughout the
dress from primark the pink version of production
him

Aliceband A pink band that goes The pink version uses Whenever the pink
over the actors head it version is in a scene

Pink nail varnish A revlon pink nail The pink version uses It’s used after he
varnish it looks in the blue
clothes and finds it

Blue tracksuit Plain blue hoodie and The blue version It’s used in any
tracksuit bottoms uses it scenes that the blue
version is in.

Vase with fake A small glass vase The pink version uses It’s used in the scene
flowers with fake tall pink it where he decorates
flowers his room.

Heart pillow A pink heart pillow The pink version uses It’s used in the scene
with gems it where he decorates
his room

Pink Teddy A build a bear teddy The pink version uses It’s used in the scene
with a love heart on it where he decorates
its belly his room, in flashback
scene and when the
duplicates are playing

Toy cars Blue light up toy car Blue version When duplicates play
and when the pink
version looks over at
toys

Any other toys Can be anything my Blue version When the blue
brother already plays version plays with
with toys.
Auditions
To audition my brother I decided to also practice the editing technique of duplicating the actor,
so there are two of him in one shot. I talk about how this went in my weekly blog.

Originally I had a different actor, who I had already auditioned, who was to play this character in
my music video. He decided that he didn’t want to do it anymore so I asked my brother if he
could do it instead, he said sure and I auditioned him. It was great! He was already comfortable
on camera after filming my short film, so he was really good at listening to what I wanted. I
explained the story and showed him the song. He said he was comfortable portraying the
character and that he likes the concept as he has friends who are like this. I think he is a good fit
for the role as he looks younger when wearing these outfits, which is as I had planned originally
with the actor I was going to use and the character I created.

https://youtu.be/I5_46Dg7X6w
Storyboards
Shooting script

Lyrics Action
I am not a stranger to the dark The boy opens the door to his room and turn off
the light

Hide away, they say --- He goes under his bed to find the dress and takes
it out

'Cause we don't want your broken parts --- He puts the dress down on the floor and looks at it
longingly.

I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars Flashback to when he was pushed by a bully
when outside in his dress.

Run away, they say He slams the door and falls down to cry

No one'll love you as you are --- He puts on some make up

But I won't let them break me down to dust He puts on some make up

I know that there's a place for us --- Duplicate of the actor as he looks over at himself
and smiles

For we are glorious (44 secs) --- Leaves out the room and looks longing outside

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down Sits on the floor, looks over at toys and other
--- clothes

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out Paints his nails
---

I am brave, I am bruised --- Looks out the window, wanting to go outside

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me --- Puts everything away and twirls in his dress

Look out 'cause here I come --- Opens and peaks through the door

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum Cut in and out of him moving down the stairs
I'm not scared to be seen Opens the door

I make no apologies, this is me --- Then 3 angled shots of him in the both outfits

Oh-oh-oh-oh --- Plays football in the garden

Oh-oh-oh-oh --- Scores goal while playing football

Oh-oh-oh-oh --- Dancing in the garden

Oh-oh-oh-oh --- Dancing in the garden

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh --- Skipping down the road, walking down the road
both meet and hold hands.

Another round of bullets hits my skin --- Drawing a picture of himself in boy clothes

Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the Shows that he is in boy clothes opening the door
shame sink in --- to his room

We are bursting through the barricades and --- Puts up his drawing on the wall and decorates his
room

Reaching for the sun (we are warriors) --- He looks at his room after decorating

Yeah, that's what we've become (yeah, that's Turns on cool lights in his room
what we've become) ---

I won't let them break me down to dust --- Dancing

I know that there's a place for us --- Dancing

For we are glorious --- Dancing

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down Montage of trying on some more clothes
---

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out Deciding on boy clothes
---

I am brave, I am bruised Draws another picture but of him in girl

clothes

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me walks into his room and turn on the light

Look out 'cause here I come he looks at the wall where the other drawing
is

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum he puts up the drawing and steps back to look
at it he smiles and walks away
I'm not scared to be seen In and out shot of him looking in the mirror

I make no apologies, this is me zoom in shot of the two drawings on the wall

Oh-oh-oh-oh playing football

Oh-oh-oh-oh celebrating a goal

Oh-oh-oh-oh dancing

Oh-oh-oh-oh dancing

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh Dancing

This is me He is playing with toys on the right when the other

him walks in

And I know that I deserve your love The other him sits down and plays with toys at the
same time

(Oh-oh-oh-oh) There's nothing I'm not worthy of They carry on playing and look at eachother

(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh) They smile at each

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down arc shot of him in pink clothes

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out Transition into arc shot of him in blue clothes

This is brave, this is bruised zoom in on him holding the blue clothes

This is who I'm meant to be, this is me zoom out of him holding the pink clothes

Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause 2 different shots of each of them running out of the
room
here I come) (carries on from scene before)

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum Central frame shot with pan of the actor going
down the stairs (cuts between each step)
(marching on, marching, marching on)

I'm not scared to be seen Central Framed shot of the actor walking out
the front door in the dress

I make no apologies, this is me 3 shots of him in both clothes

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down Dancing with the camera

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out Dancing with the camera

I'm gonna send a flood Dancing with the camera

Gonna drown 'em out Dancing with the camera

Oh duplicate of both of him sitting on the front

door step

This is me duplicate of both of him sitting on the front

door step