Framing the story: Cinematic Notes & Mood References

I love Emily's character arc becoming this very strong empowered person. It reminds me of how people get trapped by expectation, but many times, tragedy forces us to confront life on our own terms. Faith taking us through trauma, and how they deal with it to heal.

Her hero’s journey to self-discovery, breaking free from perfection to embrace authenticity is so great, I really love that aspect of the script. It felt like she was defined by a role, then she steps into her power, fearless and free.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott

1. Suburban Life – The “Perfect” but Isolated World

Visual Style: Symmetrical, clean compositions, controlled and static camera.
Lighting: Soft, natural daylight with warm tones, but subtly desaturated.
Color Palette: Muted pastels, beige, white—symbolizing a sterile, controlled life.
Shot Ideas: Wide-angle frames showing Emily in an expansive but lonely home. Reflection shots (mirrors, glass windows) to symbolize her trapped state. Slow tracking shots to emphasize repetition and routine.

2. Tragedy & Grief – The Breaking PointVisual Style: More intimate, raw framing, slight handheld movement.
Lighting: Dimmer, colder tones (blue/grey) to reflect emotional numbness.
Color Palette: Washed-out tones, deep shadows, increased contrast.
Shot Ideas: Extreme close-ups of Emily’s face, showing silent grief. Shallow depth of field—sharp focus on Emily, blurred background. Slow-motion or time lapses to show dissociation.

3. New York City – Entering the UnknownVisual Style: Handheld, naturalistic, documentary-like.
Lighting: Mixed lighting—natural sunlight contrasts with neon city lights.
Color Palette: More saturated, grittier, mix of warm and cool urban tones.
Shot Ideas: Long tracking shots following Emily as she walks through crowded streets. Silhouettes & backlit shots against vibrant city lights. Overhead drone shots of Emily lost in the crowd, emphasizing her smallness in this world.

4. Discovery – Connection & TransformationVisual Style: Gradual increase in stability, softer lighting.
Lighting: Warmer, golden-hour tones as Emily connects with her new family.
Color Palette: More vibrant, natural, earthy tones—representing new beginnings.
Shot Ideas: Handheld close-ups—intimate, natural framing of her interactions. Wide, expansive shots of her feeling free in her new world.

“There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.” – Virginia Woolf

These film trailer examples are not meant to be literal to the look of the film. They are samples that have similar thematic elements and represent possible direction for lighting and camera.