Persona LiveAction Movie (trailer)

For my film class project, I'm undertaking the making of a Persona (the plot of Innocent Sin) movie trailer. Because the entire film would be...impossible to say the least. Shots are 75% completed, but I'm on time constraints becuase it is due next wekk in class.

So I'll be posting here with updates on how the film is going and asking for some adice from any of you talented minds out there.

Lemme adress the difficulties first:

1. I live in the USA, and thus everyone in this film is mostly American. However, I have some asian cast members (for Yuki's segments and such) already on board.

2. Special affects. Basically, I have an idea on how to do the two shots where someone summons a Persona (1 in the middle and one at the end). Still...that's pretty much it.

3. Time constraints. Location is no object, I'm done with that.

4. Acting. My friends barely pass, and I'm actually satisfied immensely with the people who had one line roles.

5. The Joker, I mean, his mask. I need to make one or find soemthing simular.

Now, onto the show!

The opening is like the beggining to IS. You have a poem (Here's where I'm taking suggestions!!!) and some somber music. Some city images, some artsy objects and camera shots. The kids standing around the swing looking sad/contemplative. pretty much the same as the opening FMV minus the action sequences and impossible stuff.

Next we have my artistic liberty, what I call the Rumor Montage Scene. It starts with a flash of the word "Rumors". (These scenes are already shot and I'm very happy with them) They are individual shots of people talking about rumors or "you ever heard of that story? Heard about it from a friend-of-a-friend?" sort of setnences in other languages, the purpose of which is to show that legends and rumors are sort of a universal, human thing. (The people are shot so that you can only see their lips or lower chin, no eyes). Then it moves on to people speaking in English about the Joker rumor, also one shots that blend. Example:

1 "You ever hear about-"
2 "that story where-"
3 "You dial your cell phone and-"
4 "HE comes to you."

^ Not actual dialogue but that's the gist. Then it moves on to a kid trying the Joker trick with unfortunate success. This scene has only a part of it shot where he drops the phone.

Moves on to Maya and Yuki and their scene.

Next is introduction to Lisa and Mitchell.

The next scene is Jun and Tatsuya having a heartful moment.

Then they confront Joker and find about the sin.

They learn about their Persona.

Finally, we have a climax with kickas dialogue and quick action shots culimating in the summoning of a Persona.

Shots that are done:

Shot Maya's computer scene, sans the Maya. Tomorrow I shoot the scenes with her (the teacher I have playing her seems into it) and Yuki (who is the only real Asian in this entire film and she's Philipino not Japanese).

All city-scape shots are done.

All artsy shots are done.

Religious allegory shots done.

All rumor montage shots done, including the multilingual shots.

Concerns/The Bad:

With all the weird shots of artwork I got at my art school (I'm there half the schoolday) the movie will definately be hip and cool, but perhaps a bit too post-mo even for Persona. It may end up being Persona on acid. Well, that may be exagerating it a bit.

Still don't have a decent poem for the intro, looking into that. The Joker mask is a definate issue as I don't have anything good.

I shudder to say it, but I'm playing Tatsuya. I have not the hair length but I have some decent costumery. Which brings us to...

Costuming Issues/The Ugly

The actress for Lisa (who fits the role spot on!) I'm not sure if she was informed of what to wear tommorow, and that's really the only day we can shoot. Also, she may not be able to stay afterschool meaning this will be REALLY tight. I have blue temp hair dye for Mitchell and black lipstick, but the actor I have for him....let's just say I won't even ask him to wear it. I need to find a Jun for a few shots. Maya looks physcially spot-on (played by a young English teacher) but she is without her heart shirt.

Help/What you can do (thou will be credited)

- Need a good poem expressing duality/personality/sense of self/sin ect.
- Need a good song to play over poem sequence. Somber piano or opera.
- Need tips on the final frame which will transpose a Persona figure in the shot. Though I've seen it done with other art transposals, I'm not sure how to do it in iMovie. I have an idea, but I need reassurance.
- Need dialogue ideas for Jun (most of this is based off of Oracle of Maya and I don't know much about his character/personality without spoiling myself for when I get to him.)

Conclusion: Schedule is tight, but those involved are saints with helping me. I think I can do this, but my main concern is satisfying the fans T - T