Planning: Setting

 Zunairah and I have decided that the opening of Competitive Much? will take place in a park, but we know that not just any park will do. The location needs to capture the right atmosphere for Audrey’s birthday run, with good lighting, open space for the hockey ball scene, and visually appealing areas that fit the romantic-comedy vibe. We’re planning to visit a few different parks nearby to see which one has the best scenery, paths, and natural lighting. Finding the perfect park is important because it will set the tone for the first moments of the film. 

Parks:

Weston Regional Park

Weston Regional Park is a large, well-known park located in Weston with a lot of versatility for different types of shots. It has wide open fields, shaded walking paths, and a variety of landscapes that could allow us to film multiple angles without moving too far. The park includes playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas, which could give extra background detail for wide or establishing shots. Its spacious environment would make filming Audrey’s running scenes easy, as there is plenty of room for tracking shots. The natural lighting throughout the park, especially in the late afternoon or golden hour, could create the warm, cinematic look we want for our romcom. The main downside is that it is the farthest park from me, which could make multiple visits for scouting or rehearsing tricky and time-consuming.

Peace Mound Park

Peace Mound Park is a smaller, more intimate neighborhood park with a calm and scenic environment. It features walking paths, picnic areas, benches, and a small waterfront area, which could create visually appealing backdrops for our film. Because it is the closest park for me, visiting it multiple times would be convenient, allowing us to test shots at different times of day and get a sense of how the lighting changes during golden hour. Its quiet, low-traffic environment is ideal for filming, as there would be fewer interruptions from other park visitors or vehicles. 

Rose G. Price Park

Rose G. Price Park is a community-focused park located in Pembroke Pines. It has walking trails, open green spaces, playgrounds, and sports courts. Its friendly, everyday vibe makes it feel like a believable place for a casual meet-up or run, fitting perfectly with the natural, playful tone of Competitive Much?. The trails and open areas provide flexibility for different camera angles and movements, allowing for both mid-shots of dialogue and wider shots to establish the scene. Its mid-range distance makes it accessible, though not as convenient as Peace Mound Park. The combination of shaded spots and sunny fields could allow us to experiment with lighting and framing in multiple ways to enhance the comedic and romantic elements of the scene.

Comparing the Parks

Zunairah was especially helpful in narrowing down our options because she had already visited all three parks. Her firsthand experience gave us insight into factors that photos and descriptions alone couldn’t capture, such as which areas had the best natural lighting at different times of day, which spots were quieter for filming, and how the spaces could work for tracking shots of Audrey running. By combining her personal knowledge with our own observations during scouting, we were able to make a more informed decision about which park would best suit the tone, action, and romantic-comedy elements of our opening scene.

Each of the parks we are considering has unique features that could make it a strong choice for filming the opening scene of Competitive Much?. Weston Regional Park offers wide open fields, walking paths, shaded areas, and multiple landscapes that give a lot of flexibility for different camera angles. Its large, versatile space would allow for smooth tracking shots of Audrey running as well as the hockey ball scene, and the natural light during golden hour could create a warm, cinematic look. On the other hand, its distance is a challenge, as it is the farthest park from us, which could make rehearsing difficult.

Peace Mound Park is much closer and provides a calm, scenic setting with walking paths, picnic areas, and a small waterfront. Its intimate, quiet environment would allow us to film without many interruptions, which is helpful for focusing on the comedic timing and interactions between Audrey and Mattias. The greenery, gentle hills, and calm atmosphere could create visually appealing shots, but the smaller space may require more careful planning to get a variety of angles and to ensure the running sequence feels dynamic.

Rose G. Price Park has a friendly, community vibe with open green spaces, trails, and playgrounds. Its trails and versatile areas could work well for mid-shots, wide shots, and tracking sequences. Its location is more moderate in distance, making it accessible for multiple visits, but depending on the time of day, it may be busier than Peace Mound Park, which could affect shooting.

Overall, while online research gives us a good sense of what each park offers, the true test will come when Zunairah and I personally visit them. We need to see the actual lighting, available space, background elements, and overall vibe in person before deciding which park will best support the tone, action, and comedic elements of our opening scene. Visiting each park will allow us to make a choice based on what works best for the characters and story rather than relying solely on photos and descriptions.

Sources:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34733-d8514272-Reviews-Peace_Mound_Park-Weston_Broward_County_Florida.html 

https://www.westonfl.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/8/239 

https://price-park.com-place.com/