Production (filming day1 and change of plans)

 Hello! My group and I started filming this week (yay) and although it went smoothly we did run into a few problems. Although my group got some really good shots there were some continuity errors between each shot. This is because as scenes were shot our background actors had to leave so when starting to edit scenes shot within the hallway together, we noticed that some scenes had no background characters and some did.  Below is an example of how the background characters sort of disappeared and re-appeared in between shots. 

However, my group was able to get some really good shots, especially for the establishing shots of the school. I especially like the clip below because it has lots of movement going on and truly looks like a school hallway and not just actors placed in specific spots. (Don't mind the shoes squeaking, that will definitely be masked by music during editing.) 

Below is a clip I really enjoyed because of the acting choices made by both actresses. Within this clip both characters say the same line but it is clear they have different motivations and perspectives when saying it which adds to the realism of the scene. 

Unfortunately, because of the continuity errors we are forced to refilm the scenes from the hallway. Because of this there are some scheduling conflicts with Hayley (who played Jordyn) so my group and I decided it would be best to refilm with me as Jordyn so we don't have to wait on anyone and can get filming done as quickly as possible.

Planning

 Hello! Filming week has finally arrived and my group and I could not be more excited. With that comes, tightening up any final screws before the actual production of it all. We met with our teacher to discuss our project with her an make any final revisions. 

School Scene

 Our teacher had a few concerns about filming a scene walking down the hallway because it might seem unrealistic as it'll likely be empty and the lighting isn't ideal as the upper head lighting can be quite visually displeasing.  

As a solution my group and I gathered together a few people to serve as background characters. That way we can film after school, having full control of volume and placement while still making the school hallway look realistic.

Additionally, we will be borrowing mic's from our teacher giving us more control of audio. With the mic's we will be able to isolate Jordyn and Amelia's dialogue while also still being able to hear the background chatter of a typical school hallway. As for the lighting she gave us a tip to make sure we keep the frame "tight" while filming in the hallway, essentially this means to make sure the upper head lights are not in the frame. This will help to counteract the effects of the upper-head lighting.

Difference in Characters 

Our teacher brought up a really good point which is that the two leading actresses look a lot a like. This is a problem visually because a key element in this film is the characters are so different both stylistic and personality wise yet are still best friends. 

To counteract this we have made sure that both girls are dressed very differently so that there is a clear difference of who is who and there is no confusion. Often times in media when two lead characters are acting along side each other they have some sort of physical attribute that distinguishes them a good example is Serena and Blair from Gossip Girl, one is blonde and the other is brunette this way even if they are dressed similarly, it is still clear to the audience which is which. 

Since this isn't really possible for us as we both have dark curly hair and no access to wigs, we have to make sure that we are dressed very differently, in fact, one of us will likely have our hair up and the other down to create even more contrast between the two characters. 

[Edit from future me]: So... we ran into a problem! I was supposed to play Jordyn but I got sick and completely lost my voice so we had to get another friend, Hayley, to play the part. Which actually works out because now the actresses don't look so similar but we will still make sure that there is a clear difference between the two. 

Hayley(left), playing Jordyn

 

Isabel, playing Amelia

Storyboard

Hello! I won't say much in this post as it is just to show you our storyboard. My group members and I had to work on it separately, dividing the script up and assigning who will do which parts, which is why it took so long to complete. Note that this storyboard is not final and a lot will likely change during filming. 

 

Wow, you can really tell that three different people designed this based on the different drawing styles.

Mise-en-scene (props)

 Hello! As we near closer and closer to our filming date (likely to be sometime this week) we have to start thinking about props. Luckily for us, we won't need many, and those that we do need are very easily accessible. I would say the two main props in this opening will be Jordyn's journal and the poster for the amusement park (we decided to change it.) 

For the journal, we were thinking that looks very 'artistic' and looks as though she has had it for a very long time. For example, there could be paint marks or stickers on it as well as memorabilia peeking out from the sides of it. This prop is very important to the film as Jordyn will repeatedly refer to it as she completes/finds items on her bucket list. Below are a few examples of what we want the journal to look like. As you can see both examples look very "lived in" and personalized, fitting Jordyn's personality/style. 

 

 

The other important prop that will be included in our film opening is the amusement park poster. We changed it from a trampoline park to an amusement park since one of my group members found a poster (below) on Canva that works perfectly for what we want it to do. This poster is particularly important because it is the last thing the viewer sees before the rising actions of the film begins and what triggers other events withing the rest of the film. 

Audio

 Hello all! In film sound is used to compliment visuals within the media, it gives dimension to a scene or event and assists with the viewers perception of the piece. For our film opening, the audio aspect of it all will *hopefully* not be too complicated. We definitely want to include non-diegetic music, but besides that the audio/dialogue will be collected as we film. Any use of foley is still yet to be determined, one spot within the opening I feel we could include the use of foley is when Amelia opens the bed room door and slams it shut. 

The dialogue in the hallway/school scene may be a little difficult as we are not sure if how to make it look like it's actually a loud, crowded hallway while still being able to hear the dialogue between Jordyn and Amelia since it this scene would likely have to be filmed throughout the school day. Initially, we thought of having our actresses record voice overs of the dialogue to layer on top of the "school sounds" so it is more easily heard or have the actresses wear mics. Then, we figured... why not stage it? This plan is definitely still in the works but the idea is too gather a few of our friends to be background characters (we will likely have to bribe them with food haha), this way it looks likes an actual school but we can control both the volume and where everyone is placed. However, one challenge that comes with this is that it will have to happen afterschool when the hallways are empty and this may pose a problem with peoples schedules.

Within this film opening, we feel the use of music won't exactly be to move the story along in any way but to set a tone for the rest of the film. As previously mentioned in a blog a few weeks ago, my group and I found a song made by a relatively small artist that we feel would fit the vibe of the overall movie. 

The song is "It Won't Always Be Like This" by Inhaler (a small alternative rock band.) We really hope to be able to use the song as it fits the vibe we are going for perfectly and aligns with Jordyn's motivations at the beginning of the film which is of course having hope for the future and living in the moment as her school years are coming to an end. 

In order to be able to use this song in our film opening we, of course, have to ask for permission first. We did this by going on their website to see what would be the best way to get a hold of the band directly or a manager. One of my group members, Elke, was able to find an email address to contact their manager through. In this email, she introduced herself and our project and asked for permission to use the song within our opening. Although she still hasn't heard back we are still hopeful and may contact them through Instagram DM's to see if we get a response there. Below is the email she sent. 

Mise-en-scene (lighting)

Hello friends! In any piece of visual media mise-en-scene is extremely important as it is literally everything in front of the viewers eyes. Mise-en-scene is anything from lighting (which I will be discussing) to costume, set, props, etc. It can be used in a realistic manor (realism) where mis-en-scene features are used to develop and imitate life as realistically as possible. Formalism is also when mis-en-scene is used to create an aesthetic, typically these pieces of media are scene as art pieces and often distort reality. 

Example of bedroom lighting

For the film opening, my group and I will be taking a realistic approach as our story is a realistic fiction and the only 2 settings featured within the opening are a bedroom and a school. For the scenes taking place in the bedroom we are hoping (if mother nature allows it haha) to have more natural lighting such as sun poring from the windows as well as using a key light to highlight the characters face. This is particularly important for when the lead character, Jordyn, directly addresses the audience. 

For the school scenes lighting is a bit out of our control as there is really only one main source of light are fluorescent overhead lights. However, I feel this provides a good contrast in each setting. If needed we can also use a handheld light to help counteract the effects of over head lighting. Overhead lighting often causes shadows to be cast on a persons face which does not pick up well on camera. 

Example of School Lighting

Meet Jordyn Diaz and Amelia Jackson

 Hello friends! For this blog post I will be introducing you to our lead character Jordyn and her best friend, Amelia. 

Jordyn Diaz is a 17 year old senior born April 4th, 2007. We decided she should be an Aries as this zodiac sign is known to be bold and full of life. 

We chose this name because we felt giving her a unisex name would make her stand out from the rest of her peers similar to how her personality and style does. My group and I felt added a little more detail to her character. We also decided to give her a MBTI personality type, that being ESFP (extroverted, sensing, feeling, and perceiving.) We used this tool because it is a simple way to develop a whole personality in a limited amount of time. This also helps to develop motivations for the character which can help the actors when it comes to making acting choices (i.e. how they move, how they say certain words, etc.)

 My group and I also aimed to loosely base this character on Kat Stratford from 10 Things I Hate About You in terms of aesthetics, as well as Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls [personality]. Kat Stratford

has the grungy, laid-back vibe we're looking for, but Lorelai's character is quite extroverted and values close friendships. To further develop the look of the character we decided to create a mood board as well as a playlist based off of what we think she may listen to [this was also so we know how to decorate the set that would be her room (i.e. what posters to include, decoration, etc.)] It is a collaborative playlist so that my group members and I can all work on building this part of the character.  Here it is! 

Jordyn's Mood Board

Jordyn's best friend, Amelia Jackson was born June 21, 2001 making her a Cancer, this zodiac sign is typically known for being loyal, sensitive, and intuitive. Fittingly, her personality type is INFJ, meaning introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. Unlike Jordyn's name we didn't put too much thought into her name as we searched for random girl names and happened to stumble across the name Amelia. My group and I want to base her character off of Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls as well as Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Both of these characters are very calm and value friendship at a very deep level which we thought was important for the character, being the protagonists best friend. For the development of this character we developed a mood board. 

Within these mood boards you'll notice a few key differences in color palette's and main features.  

Amelia's Mood Board

Research Post

 Hi! Since I was absent in class for the first group meeting so I obviously don't have anything to blog about it I will be doing a research post on music within films of the coming-of-age genre. Music is a very important part of films as it works a long side visual effects to deepen storytelling, adding another level of emotion visuals cannot provide on their own. Music doesn't always necessarily have to be a song but it can also be a reoccurring sound that over the course of the film(s) becomes associated with a specific character/image. For example, the Jaws theme song is used to let viewer know danger is approaching, instilling fear in the audience without directly showing that there is a shark. 

 Music is also used in films to set the tone of the film, this is why music is so often used in opening, it gives the viewer a taste of what's in store. For example, the 2004 film 13 Going on 30 uses the song "Head Over Heels" by The Go- Go's in the opening credits for the film. This song has an upbeat tune which reflects the films overall fun, dance-filled, romantic tone. 

 

Another example of a coming-of-age film that uses music within its opening is the 2009 Disney film Princess Protection Program. The music played within the first few minutes of the film has an edgy-pop tune which reflects the Selena Gomez's character Carter Mason, as she is known in the film for being a spunky tomboy, directly the opposite of her co-star Demi Lovato's  character, Princess Rosalinda/Rosie, who is a princess that goes to live with Carter and her dad. 

For this project, my group and I definitely want to include music within our film opening to emphasize the characters youthful aura and teenage angst. We have found a song ("It Wont Always Be Like This" by Inhaler) that we would love to include in our film opening. My group and I have already reached out to the band to ask permission to use the song via email and are waiting for a response back (I will keep you updated!)

Resources: 

Setting the Tone: The Crucial Role of Music in Movies. (2024, May 21). East End Arts. https://eastendarts.org/music-in-movies/

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Media Theories Research

 Hello! A vital part of this project is incorporating elements of all I've learned in this class more specifically, incorporating media theories. These theories are vital when discussing the media sphere because they help us understand how the media we take in (whether we choose it or not) effects our thoughts, emotions, and actions as well as knowing how to interpret aspects of the media as we come across them. One media theory that I am interested in developing within this project is the Narrative Code Theory by Roland Barthes. These five codes are certain elements within films that guide a story a long whether on its own or weaved together. These codes are as follows: 

• 
  Hermeneutic or Enigma Code: when information is withheld from the viewer to create mystery. This is often seen in horror films such as the 1996 film Scream. The basis of this film is the character Sidney trying to survive the brutal attacks of the killer Ghost Face while also trying to figure out who of the people from the small town the film is set in, is the killer. When the killer is finally revealed it turns out to be her love interest, who turned out to have a vendetta against her, and someone who was thought to be the comedic relief character. 
  

• Proairetic or Action Code: plot points that lead to other actions and keep the audience engaged with what is in store. One example of this is in 2016 Marvel film Captain America: Civil War. Within this film two major characters (Captain America and Iron Man.) have many fight sequences which leads to a sort of tension in which the audience wonders how it will be resolved as neither character is particularly seen as the "bad guy."
  

• Semantic Code: literal objects within a production that signify a deeper meaning. This is evident in the 1996 film The Hunch Back of Notre Dame. Within this film the protagonist Quasimodo lives in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. There, he has made a mini model of all of Paris and folks he sees pass by. This is directly representative his want for freedom and human interaction. 
  
  
  
• Symbolic Code: symbols in a production that represent opposition or antithesis and help to emphasize a difference in characters. For example, in the 1993 film Schindler's List a little girl is seen in a red coat. This is directly juxtaposed with the completely black and white world. The red coat represents innocence in and otherwise cruel world, riddled with war and suffering. 
  

• Cultural Code: references to concept outside of the production. These references can be anything from historical, literary, or even pop culture. This is the code I am most interested in including in my portfolio project as I feel it would fit right into the storyline. Making pop culture references would make each of the characters feel more real and as if they are actually real highschoolers to the audience. However I do believe this has to do be done tastefully because often times in media today that follows highschoolers pop culture references feel forced and unnatural. One example of film uses pop culture references is the 2023 animated film Trolls: Band Together. Throughout this production many references are made to popular artists and bands. Here is a link to the trailer of this film which features many of the pop culture references made within the film. 

Resources:

media studies. (2021, July 13). Roland Barthes’ 5 Narrative Codes | Media Studies Theory. Media Studies. https://media-studies.com/barthes-codes/ 

13 Films That Expertly Use Color for Symbolism and Storytelling | Entertainment. (2024). Wokewaves.com. https://www.wokewaves.com/posts/movies-that-use-color-symbolism

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Our Script!

 Hi ! For this week My group and I needed to have completed a script or storyboard for our film. Due to the title amount of time we've had all together we decided developing a script first would be easiest. It is definitely still a work in progress. The hardest part of putting the script together was definitely making sure the dialogue felt natural and most importantly, not cheesy (although I'd say its pretty much impossible to make a coming-of-age film with out a little cheesy-ness.) We worked around this by REALLY trying to put ourselves in the characters position. Often times we would read a line aloud and if it sounded unnatural or something a teenager wouldn't say or just straight up cringey, we knew to change it. Below is the first draft of our script and although we are very happy with it, it is still subject to change. 

*Note: lines that are highlighted indicate that we definitely plan on editing them in some way. 

“FILM TITLE” 

by

Elke Gomez, Mariana Aldana, Isabella Acosta

SHOOTING SCRIPT

February 14, 2025 

“FILM TITLE AGAIN”

Screen opens with a montage of JORDYN DIAZ and AMELIA JACKSON, photos/videos of them as

children displayed on the screen.

JORDYN (V.O.)

I’ve known Amelia Jackson ever since the first day of sixth grade, and we have been inseparable ever since.

We do absolutely EVERYTHING together

A montage of photos of Jordyn and Amelia flash across the screen, emphasizing their time spent together over

the years.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY  

JORDYN’S BEDROOM. POSTERS ALL OVER THE WALL, HIGHLY DECORATED. A PILE OF CLEAN

LAUNDRY LIES ON THE BED BESIDE AMELIA. SUNLIGHT FILTERS THROUGH THE WINDOW.

JORDYN sits at her desk writing in a notebook (offscreen), AMELIA is behind her laying on the bed, reading a

book.

 JORDYN: 

(To Audience)

 Since it’s FINALLY our last year of high school, I decided that we needed a change of pace. 

AMELIA (checking her phone: the time reads “7:30”)

AMELIA: 

(Panicked)

 Oh god it’s 7:30 already. (grabbing her bag) We're gonna be so late !! 

 AMELIA scrambles out of bed, EXITING and shutting the door behind her. CLICK. 

JORDYN puts away the journal she has been writing in. She fumbles with her bag. The door reopens. 

AMELIA:

Hurry up !!

JORDYN: TBD

(To Audience) 

Alright guys, I’ll be right back, I have to go to school…

JORDYN grabs her bag, covering the screen (playful) 

BLACK SCREEN 

MAIN TITLES 

SCHOOL BELL RINGS. MUSIC BEGINS.

EXT. SCHOOL 

BUSY HALLWAY. STUDENTS LINGERING IN THE HALLS. LOUD TALKING. WE HEAR BITS

AND PIECES OF TYPICAL ‘HIGH SCHOOL’ CONVERSATIONS/TALK.  

JORDYN and AMELIA walk through the busy hall, AMELIA is reading from the journal JORDYN had

been writing in previously. JORDYN (expectant) waits for a reaction from AMELIA. AMELIA looks up from

the journal, her expression unreadable.

AMELIA: 

(Exasperated) 

No…No way. A bucket list? 

Okay, one: that is (emphasized) SO cliche 

Two: How would we even do all this?

AMELIA begins to ramble, her voice fading out. JORDYN turns to the camera, rolling her eyes and grinning

(playful)

JORDYN: 

(To audience about AMELIA)

She’s always like this. But she’s right.. (quickly) don’t tell her I said that. 

 I’ve gotta have a foolproof plan if she’s gonna go along with this. (frustrated) How can we even

(emphasized) BEGIN to tackle the list? 

Still addressing the audience, JORDYN glances up and spots her solution. (Off-camera)

JORDYN:

(Looking back to Audience)

(Grinning) Talk about convenient. 

AMELIA’S voice fades back in, her arms crossed as she finishes her rant about how absolutely impossible

JORDYN’S goal is.

AMELIA:

(annoyed) Jordyn?

JORDYN: 

(dismissive)

AMELIA: 

Hellooo, are you even listening?  Come on, we’re gonna be late-

JORDYN: 

(cutting AMELIA off)

 (Grabbing AMELIA’S shoulder) Amy (AMELIA) look, I just found our solution. 

JORDYN makes her way to the other side of the hallway, ripping the poster from the top of a board that she

had spotted during her tangent.

JORDYN shoves the poster in AMELIA’S hands and reaches in her book bag to grab her journal.

They flip through the pages of the bucket list until they find the right one. 

JORDYN, AMELIA: 

(AMELIA still looking down at the journal and JORDYN looks up to the audience)

List Item Number Seventeen, spend the night at a park

The item of the bucket list pops up on the screen it reads: #17 Spend the night at a park.

P.S Happy Valentines Day !!

Project Idea Summary

 Now that my group and I have finally been able to meet up to discuss our project (we've each been absent a few times the last couple of weeks due to illness) the ball is finally rolling! Overall, the hardest part was definitely starting the actual plot. Deciding on a genre (coming-of-age) was much easier said than done. Coming-of-age is the type of genre that can fit into any movie category, which is what made it so difficult to come up with a plot idea, there were so many options. We decided the plot should be centered around a character vs. self  conflict, have the character lose herself throughout the duration of the film which leads to bigger problems in her school life and her relationships.

Finally we came up with this: 

17 year old Jordyn Diaz has spent her entire high school career focused on her grades with no one but her best friend Amelia Jackson who's more a nerd than she is. They've been best friends since middle school but at the start of their senior year Jordyn has a realization that they've spent every waking hour focused on their school and not enjoying their teenage years. So, Jordyn decides to make a bucket list of all the wacky things she wants to do before the end of her senior year one of them seeming slightly less outrageous from the rest but nonetheless still out of reach, finding a date to prom. Jordyn, being the carefree, spontaneous, girl she drags along Amelia. As they complete each item off the bucket list things start to get out of hand Jordyn however keeps dragging Amelia along so they can have the "full high school experience." This eventually leads them to getting in trouble which causes a huge, friendship-ending fight between the two. Amelia argues that they took things way too far and have to stop, Jordyn arguing the opposite. Without her best friend by her side Jordyn decides to continue checking things off of her bucket list including finding a date to prom. At last she finds a date but when she arrives at prom she realizes it all wasn't worth it because she doesn't have her best friend by her side. So, she leaves the prom and goes to Amelia's house to apologize, the classic, corny, nevertheless adorable best friend apology. 

Throughout this process we decided that we wanted our protagonist to be a senior in high school. This is because wanted to use her realization of her soon transition from high school to college as a motivation for her actions. Below are notes I jotted down as we brainstormed ideas for the plot of our film.  

For the opener itself we decided it should highlight Jordyn and Amelia's friendship and the beginning of Jordyn's bucket list plan. We also decided we wanted Jordyn to break the fourth wall in some sort of way whether it be speaking to the camera and directly addressing the audience or addressing the camera as if she were making a video diary. Below are a few notes on how my group and I want to set up our opening scene. 

Researching Credit Sequences

 Credit sequences play a vital role in films. This is because they highlight who made the film possible. Often credit sequences will mention the producer, director, writer, cinematographer, editor, musical credits, and a few major stars or actors within the film. Credit sequences are normally accompanied with opening scenes that either give context and or set a tone/vibe for the rest of film. Credits are often not the main focus of the opening and are more of to the side allowing viewers to pay closer attention to the what is happening on screen rather than the post-production.

One film that, interestingly, does the opposite is Good Will Hunting. This film follows a math genius/janitor (Matt Damon) who overcomes his traumas/troubles through the help of a professor (Stelan Skarsgard) and a therapist (Robin Williams.) Within this opening, it is clear the main focus is the credits as they are pictures in the middle of the screen, drawing the viewers eye. This is also evident because there isn't a lot happening in the background, no context to be taken into account before the film begins. All that is scene in the first 2 and half minutes of this credit sequence are hundreds of books, edited together to be illegible. This opening only starts to develop any sort of  setting/introduction of characters in the last minute of the film when Will Hunting is seen in long shot of a seemingly empty home as a car drives by a neighborhood and stops at the house to pick him up, the relationship between the man who picked him up and Will Hunting left unknown to the viewer. An extremely long shot is then seen of a city then a bridge over a pond. During this time as the credits role more slowly allowing time for the production to shine through, indicating to the audience its importance. Here is a link to the credit sequence/opening of this film. 

The film Holes(2003) uses the credit/title sequence as a way to establish setting. Within this credit sequence it is clear its intent is for the viewer to focus on what is happening on screen (rather than the text) because of the fact that all the credits are strategically placed uncentered, near the bottom of the screen. In fact, even the title is uncentered. Interestingly, this credit sequence only mentions the production companies of the film. The minimal amount of credits within this sequence further indicates that the viewers eyes should be drawn to what is happening in the background as setting and context is being established. The film starts out crediting Walt Disney Pictures as well as Walton Media before opening to a dried up lake in Texas with young boys digging holes in the blazing sun. A man walks past in a low angle shot, it is clear he is an authority figure for these boys. A character 'Barf bag' is introduced as he is digging and seemingly collapses. An extremely longshot is then used to illustrate the entirety of the area, showing all the holes have been dug. As Barf bag climbs out of his hole he approaches a snake trying to get it to bight him, as the other boys yell at him to stop it is clear his actions are a result of the working conditions he is in. This credit sequences is a tool used to build context for the rest of the film, not necessarily used to highlight the credits. Here is link to the credit sequence of this film.  

Similarly to Holes the 1984 film Karate Kid also uses the title sequence as an opportunity to develop context for the rest of the film. Just from the title sequence alone the viewer can know that the protagonist, Daniel, is from New Jersey and he and his mom have just made a big move to California. This credit sequences uses lots of extreme longshots not only to illustrate Daniel and his mother's long, cross-country journey but also as an opportunity for credits. Four minutes of this film is dedicated to the credit/title sequence in comparison to Holes which only about 2 minutes long, evidently this is results in credits being given to a lot more of the production and post production as well as the actors themselves. Throughout this credit sequence the only time any text is right in center is when the title is shown (even then it is placed slightly above center,) apart from that all other credits are placed somewhere near the top, bottom, or corners of the screen. This highlights the long journey they have just gone on and subsequently the changes that are likely to come with such as big move. This credit sequence is used to build context and character as it is clear through the dialogue between Daniel and his mom that he is unhappy about the move, a trait that will be of important to the plot of the movie. Here is a link to the credit sequence of this film. 

Holes Setting and Characters. (2025). Thebestnotes.com. (link)

IMDB. (1998, January 9). Good Will Hunting. IMDb. (link)

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Research/Analysis of other films/series

 Hello! So my group and I have begun brainstorming plots and storylines and we have a vague idea of what we want our film to be about but one thing is for sure... we want our main character to break the fourth wall. This is a way of bringing the viewer much closer to the character than typical. This technique needs to be done with very careful consideration. If it is done wrong it can often be underwhelming, can break suspense within a film, and pull the viewer away from the story. However, when done correctly breaking the fourth wall can be a beautiful way to create a bond between the character and the viewer by adding humor and providing deeper information as the viewer gets to here the characters innermost thoughts and emotions.

                                                                              Deadpool comic breaking the fourth wall.

This technique is often used for humorous effects, as seen in many of the Deadpool films. Deadpool has not only broken the fourth wall in the films but also in the original comic books (this allowed the writers and artists to add their own comments or jokes). The Deadpool films use breaking the fourth as a comedic relief effect often referring to the audience and even ideas outside of the narrative world and cracking jokes. Here is a video compilation of a few times this technique is used in the Deadpool films. 

One show that uses breaking the fourth as a way of allowing the character to communicate her innermost thoughts and feelings is the Disney Channel show Stuck In The Middle. This show follows a teenage girl named Harley as she battles internal conflicts and the battles that come with being the middle child in a family of seven kids. Throughout each episode she talks directly to the camera/viewer as if talking to a friend. When this happens it seems as if everything happening in the scene freezes as she speaks to the camera, as if her speaking is happening inside her head. Here is an episode of the show illustrating how the show uses breaking the fourth wall throughout the show.

Fleabag is also a show in which the main character repeatedly breaks the fourth wall. In the show it is clear she uses this as a way to cope with the loss of her best friend and the pain that comes from her own contribution to her death, using the audience as an outlet to emotional intimacy. The use of breaking the fourth wall in this series allows the viewer to feel connected with Fleabag and in turn her actions.  (while still adding a comedic effect with her 'dark' sense of humor.) Here is an example of this. What is most interesting about this series is that is seems although Fleabag doesn't only describe her emotions but it seems as though she too is experiencing different through an outsiders point of view. 

Elsmere, G. (2022, September 1). Deadpool’s 10 Best Fourth-Wall Breaks. CBR. (link)‌

Breaking the Fourth Wall and Intimacy in Fleabag, by Jay Franklin - The Cincinnati Review. (2023, June 23). (link) 

‌Lannom, S. (2019, June 11). How to Break the Fourth Wall Effectively. StudioBinder. (link)