Mini Blog #2: Textual Statement & Logline
Part A: Project Statement
Life is like a balloon, is a short melodramatic film depicting the lives of three different balloons. Balloons are usually pictured in vibrant and fun settings, and I wanted to show them in a different light. The concept of the film is focused around the idea the popular saying “[Your] life is like a balloon”. To capture this metaphor, I documented balloons amongst humans in different settings and scenarios. The film is comprised of three storylines because like humans, balloons can grow and die in various ways. The film to appeals to the emotions and depict balloons feeling and living in situations that people can relate to.
To help portray balloons as a metaphor for life, I was inspired by words like fragility, companionship, adventure, pressure and variety. One balloon is depicted as a companion to a person, feeling their happiness as well as sorrow. Through a variety of close-up and medium shots, the viewer becomes an observer of the story. For the clip of the smudged balloon, I used rack focus to feature the girl being sad with in the background to mirror their emotions. Another balloon is portrayed with a girl living a lively and playful life. Medium and long shots were used to show its bright environment. Since the balloon represents adventure, the balloon floated out of the frame to leave its story open-ended. The final balloon is shown in a party getting battered from its hectic surroundings, symbolizing how humans suffer and collapse from pressure and unhealthy environments. To convey stress and tension, the blue balloon was centered in the frame of medium and close-up shots. In the beginning, the balloons are shown together to represent that although people may seem very similar and ordinary, their stories are what make them unique.
Since balloons were the main focus of the film, I centered them in the frame in medium shots and made them fill most of the frame for close-up and extreme close-up shots. Although humans were alongside the balloons, I avoided focusing on their faces to concentrate on the balloons. For the clips depicting girls walking with balloons, I filmed the back of their heads instead. In addition, I kept the transitions simple with match cuts and a few dissolves and fades, to prevent distraction from the main plot. The match cuts were used to make the storylines appear intertwined with one another. For instance, I matched the movement of hands in the scenes with the girl reaching for the doorknob and the girl receiving the balloon to created fluidity. I also transitioned between similar shots such as a close-up to a close-up to connect the scenes. Fades to black were used to show the end of the balloons’ lives.
Balloons are often seen in moments of celebration and bliss; however, I chose to depict them in different lifestyles and environments. Instead of the typical portrayal of them in nostalgic and playful stories, they were featured as decorations and accessories alongside humans in relatable scenarios that they’d likely be seen in. Nonetheless, I made them the main focus and gave them emotions that everyone could empathize with, so the viewers could see themselves in the same situation. Like balloons, our lives are short, and we grow environments that affect us tremendously, but how we choose to live our lives reflects the impact we have.
Part B: Logline
Life is like a balloon is a melodramatic short film that follows three balloons as they go their separate ways to different destinations and experiences, symbolizing the temporariness and impact of human life.