Production: Finding Angles

 After completing our read-through, we moved into the next stage of production planning: testing blocking and camera angles in the park. This step was important because it helped us figure out how the scene would look visually, how the characters would move, and how the lighting would affect our shots. It also allowed us to test different options for key moments in the story.

Angle Conflict #1: How Audrey Falls on Matthias

The biggest focus was Audrey’s fall. This moment is central to the rom-com feel—it’s the instant they accidentally touch, creating chemistry and tension. We explored multiple ways for her to fall:

• Back-first fall onto his chest: This version was fun because it allows for a safe, slightly dramatic landing while keeping her upper body close to Matthias. It also frames the moment nicely for the camera.

  

  
  
  
  

• Face-first (diagonal) fall onto his chest: This option felt a bit more comedic and intimate, as her face lands near his chest and her body twists slightly, adding a sense of chaos to the bump.

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We had both Audrey and Matthias try these versions to see which felt the most natural. Safety was also a consideration, so we adjusted body positioning and angles to prevent injury while still making the fall look spontaneous and romantic. After testing, we realized that back-first fall felt safer and more controlled, while still capturing the romcom appeal..

Another important factor was making sure the actors were comfortable. Since the two actors are just friends and do not share any romantic interest, we wanted to make sure the fall felt safe and comfortable for both of them.

Angle Conflict #2: How the Fall Connects to the Ball

The next layer of complexity was the soccer ball. Originally, we wanted the ball to be part of the opening action, but we had to figure out how it would cause Audrey to fall naturally. If the ball was directly underfoot, it would be tricky for her to trip realistically while maintaining the rom-com style.

To solve this, we tested a few options:

1. Audrey trips over the ball directly. This looked awkward and felt forced because the ball is small and hard to use as a realistic tripping hazard.

2. Audrey steps on Matthias’ foot during their scuffle for the ball. This option worked perfectly: her weight on his foot destabilizes her, causing a natural fall. Meanwhile, the ball is pushed aside and rolls off-screen, keeping the interaction dynamic and believable.

After trying both, stepping on his foot felt far more natural. Her fall happens because of Matthias, the ball moves out of the way, and the moment still captures the physical comedy and flirtation of a romcom.

With Audrey tripping on the ball this way, it would also be easier for her to fall back first. 

Angle Conflict #3: Ball Trajectory and Title Card Considerations

A big part of our planning was deciding how the soccer ball would function as both a prop and a visual element for the title card. Originally, our idea was to have the ball spin through the air while Audrey and Matthias remained blurred in the background. We imagined the ball occupying the top right corner of the frame, with the characters in the bottom left, creating a dynamic composition that would draw the viewer’s eye to both the ball and the characters’ interaction. While visually cool, we quickly realized that filming a spinning ball mid-air would be extremely difficult without professional equipment.

However, once we started testing this idea in the park, we ran into several challenges. First, it was difficult to time the ball’s spin and trajectory so that it stayed visible in the frame while also maintaining focus on the actors. Second, filming a spinning ball in mid-air proved tricky because we do not have cinematography equipment like rigs or stabilizers, so getting a consistent shot that looked smooth and intentional was nearly impossible. Finally, the actors’ movements during the bump and fall needed to sync precisely with the ball’s path, and we realized that coordinating all of this would make the scene more complicated than necessary.

To find a workable alternative, we tested rolling the ball on the ground instead:

• Ground roll version: The ball rolls along the bottom of the frame while Audrey and Matthias remain blurred in the top opposite corner. This mirrored the visual idea of the ball-in-air title card but was much easier to film and control.

  
  
  

• Top-air version: The original idea, where the ball spins in the air in the top right corner with the actors in the bottom left. While cinematic, it was difficult to time, focus, and capture safely.

  

We were actually able to get one shot of the ball in mid-air where the background was slightly blurred, so the focus was entirely on the ball. It looked super cinematic and exactly like the visual we wanted for the title card. However, this was just a single photo, and capturing that consistently in video would be much harder. Timing, angle, and height all had to be perfect, and trying to recreate it with moving actors would be tricky and time-consuming

After testing both, the ground roll version was chosen. It preserves the original concept of the title card, it maintains the same aesthetic appeal, keeps the title card concept intact, and is much more manageable for our skill level and equipment.