GONE GIRL
CONCEPT
This project is inspired by the saying, "You can't have your cake and eat it too," which means that you can't have something both ways. It's about the impossibility of possessing something and simultaneously consuming or using it. This project aims to create a captivating opening title sequence that leads to disappointment upon the reveal. It matches the theme of the film about a couple who can't have everything they want. Without good communication, they provoke each other through petty acts.
STORY
Gone Girl entails the story from the point of view of Amy Dunne. She’s an ambitious, successful, and talented woman; who wanted to take revenge on her husband for his infidelity, selfishness, and lethargic behavior through dark scavenger hunt for a series of poetic anniversary gifts. The length Amy took to satisfy her greed for vengeance, ended up leaving both side with a unsatisfied craving for a sense of pettiness.
MOODBOARDS INSPIRATIONS STORYBOARDS
Visual References
As I want to represent a story through a cake, I believe that every element on a cake can be part of the storytelling process. These components act similarly to chess pieces as they tell the complete sweet and sour story of Amy and Nick Dunne’s marriage.
Lighting References
Through the use of light direction, I obscure certain key features to divert the narrative away from the actual problem, much like how Amy Dunn led the audience on a wild goose chase for her own selfish gain. This also creates an air of mystery by hiding various factors in the darkness, which enables the audience to make their own judgments about what they believe is right.
Overall Mood / Tone
I want to evoke a sense of detachment and a dry, yet airy mood that reflects the overall tone of the film. This also symbolizes how even the most beautiful things can wither away. It's similar to how we were initially supporting Amy's character until we discovered her full plan
Font Style References
I wanted to create a simple yet elegant typography for the opening credits of this remake, representing Amy as the perfect girl in the story. The opening title should complement the classical gothic type seen throughout the sequences.
Rough Storyboarding
The very rough overall look of the storyboard. It mainly focuses on the lighting and angle of the cake on the pedestal.
Storyboard Breakdown
After breaking down the scenes into individual shots based on the rough storyboard, the scene will showcase different parts of each cake before zooming out to reveal a tragic sight: a significant portion of the cake is missing. This foreshadows the bittersweet and ugly truth of the story.
PRODUCTION PROCESS
Creating woodwork props, setting and experimenting with multiple different lens and lighting, and setting up a stage for the photoshoot.
Creating Props
I crafted parts for two detachable cake stand from birchwood parts turned on a lathe and ensured it fit perfectly for the cake's arrival.
Enquiring Materials
I made a deal with a local bakery for two custom cakes. I gave the pastry chef complete freedom to decorate and fill the cakes as long as they could stand outside of refrigeration for 5+ hours. The pastry chef recommended using buttercream for the overall.
Lens Testing
I experimented with various lenses on my Nikon D500 series DSLR. Since I needed to capture a lot of close-up shots, I used an 85mm semi-manual macro lens for the majority of the shots and switched to a 55-200mm lens for the final few shots.
Staging Set
I chose long exposure for my project to capture a lot of light in a dark room and achieve the chiaroscuro lighting effect. I set up the stage at night and worked on it for a few hours before sunrise. To reduce bounce light, I used black boards and a black fleece fabric as a background.
Corrections
I used RAW footage to capture all of my images, and then added the lighting, color, and effects later using Photoshop and Lightroom Classics. I created 5 different scenes in total, and ultimately chose the best scene to move forward with as the rendered storyboard.
