New Context: Pitch

https://uk.pinterest.com/milliejohns/fmp-context/

The Play 'Little Princesses' is a contemporary interpretation of the classic children's novel 'A Little Princess' following a similar narrative to the original story line,  the setting will be brought forward into the 21st century. This will allow more creative flow within creating looks choosing elements that portray parts from there characteristics in relation to the narrative further being influenced by contemporary politics, economics, culture and fashion. 

{ New Story Line }

Set in 2016 London the popular diplomat Dr Crewe has to attend business in a high risk Arabian country having no immediate family Dr Crewe leaves his daughter Sara at prestigious private boarding school ran by Miss Michin the school head mistress and her sister Amelia whom runs the boarding school. Infested by snobby pupils fuelled by daddy's piggy banks evolves the pressure on who's got the 'In' things is a high order within the school. Although Sara is differnt she  is more interested in literature, travel and being kind has been blessed with only the best due to her farther's adoration shown through materialistic ways. Arriving at the school the other pupils instantly get green eyes for Sara's wardrobe and possessions after Sarah's lavish birthday party news of her farther's death arrives. Miss Michin then punishes Sara and rather than throwing her onto the street turns her into the School Maid, cleaning, cooking and picking up after everyone, living in the out house with fellow maid Becky whom get taunted and bullied by the other girls and Miss Michin. 

The initial mood board is a collection of images inspired by the prestigious private schools in Britain. I wanted to capture the coherent uniformed look that these schools required with a twist influenced by Preppy styled films like 'St Trinians', 'Clueless' and 'Gossip Girl' these films are based on the rich kids attending clique schools but each of the films has had a trickle down effect into the mass styling of popular culture creating a well known stereotype of these rich private school pupils dressed in there every day uniform high socks, tweed blazers, shirts, bows and off course to untie them to the rest of british uniformed school the latest louis Vuitton, Chanel or Mui Mui handbag accessory that is the key for popularity and success at these schools not about the most intelligent but about the one with the visibly most money or talented again fuelled by daddy's money paying into after school clubs that result is the title that every pupil wants 'The Popular One'. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/    
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kimberly-couzens/gossip-girl-fashion_b_1998637.html

{ Story Board } 

Note: Although the context of the narrative has changed slightly the scene selection previously done will remain relatively similar, pervious techniques in lighting and scene exploration will remain the same, unless the overall narrative of the scene has changed i have detailed below the photography split scene of all final images that will need to be shot. (previous information on scene selection can be found in the 26th Jan post titled Scene Selection.)

Scene 1 . Miss Michin talking to Captain Crewe about the care of Sara, Sara hiding behind her Papa during the conversation .

. Girls stood at window looking in .

. Sara and her Papa saying goodbye, her sitting on his lap holding the lapels on his coat .

. Sara Sat Alone left with emily .

Scene 2  . story time in Sarah's bedroom, Amelia standing at the door listening in . 

Scene 3 . Boarding School girls and Sara all having fun playing, ballon's and laughing .

http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/gallery/16888/5/last-shot-deborah-turbeville

. Sara Blowing out the candle's on her cake .

.TV projection News onto the party of Crewe's Death .

. Miss Michin Stopping the party, Miss M screaming at Sara .

Scene 4 . Sara by herself in the outhouse, its grotty, mold , bruising as if she's just been hit .

. Becky running over to comfort her, hugging together .

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/445012006901014941/

Scene 6 . 'I am a Princess!' moment between Miss M and Sara is a delicate and powerful moment, not only does it show the depth of Sara as a character it shows Miss M's sensitivity and hurt for the first time showing that even a grown woman can wish after a child's mindset and dream world .

https://uk.pinterest.com/milliejohns/fmp-context/

Scene 7 ? . This scene originally was going to be when Sara & her farther reunited although, i need to re think the narrative of the end of the story to fit within the modern day context . 

{ Character Pitch } 

Note: Due to the context of the story changing i have has to amend the character profiles this will enable me to create design's based on the outline and personality traits of the character taking inspiration from the original Novel character descriptions but particularly a modern interpretation based on the characters narrative set in the modern day.

Miss Michin 

Glamours, sleek, elegant with a odd particularly striking edge about her. She likes to think of herself as the queen of the school despite her pupils showcasing the latest trends she contribute to a lot of the bichyness that goes on within the school. Having grown up in a troubled family home she has a short temper, vicious tongue and violent tendencies this is an characteristic you can see in her eye. Despite this She is always very polished and clean cut she puts on a flamboyant personality when around pupils parents only ever thinking about one thing! money, money, money. 




Amelia 

Head of the boarding school and Miss Michin's older sister she is in charge of the care of the students and the school, often given the poor jobs by Miss Michin whom un like her older sister sees herself above everybody else including her family. Amelia is kind natured, a little scatty and appreciated by all the students although they do tease her  on her eccentric and wild style.
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/makeup/g5499/best-makeup-runway-trends-fall-2015/

Sara Crewe 

I want to stick to the original interpretation of Sara from the original Novel i feel that this character can still read within the new contemporary narrative. She is well dressed but a lot deeper than any of the other characters she's intelligent, brave and  a dreamer! 

Mr Crewe

Working as a diplomat for the British government, he is sent to Middle East to resolve the current refuge crisis between the Islamic State. He is older than in the original story, with no close family he has studied hard and gained a high status with a very high income. Although this comes at a cost having to leave his daughter Sara in the care of Miss Michin, the Seminary is known as the most prestigious girls private boarding school in London. Crewe is kind, caring and gentle much like his daughter. 

http://hairstyleonpoint.com/10-beard-styles-2015/

{ Extra's }

Becky 

Is the Seminary in house maid, coming over from Poland she works hard to earn her living even though she is mistreated by Miss Michin and the rest of the boarding school girls she stays in order to send money back to her family. With a kind heart she takes Sara under her wing relating to the heart ache of missing loved ones and having no were else to go. She has a mysterious dark look to her not conventionally beautiful. 

http://www.recessionstudio.com/2014/april/rachel_entwistle_by_lucia_oconnor_mccarthy

Boarding School Girls 

The other boarding school pupils are from high earning family's, fashion is the biggest portrail of personality in there eyes being 'popular' is the be all and end all. Jealous of Sara's lavish possessions and freedom not caring what anyone thinks of her she captures a few of the students bringing them into her story telling, magical and dream like world away from the restrictions and expectations of the rest of the real world. 

http://katybarker.com/artists/michal-pudelka/

In changing my context of the story I immediately feel like I understand the creative direction of the project so much more, I feel this is due to it now be open to my creative development as a designer and fundamentally it been my project rather than a construction of a historically correct time period. I feel now i have lifted the barriers of design I am able to create in a more fluid and natural way of visualising the story in my own creative aesthetic. Although my natural style is drawn to vintage styles and a timeless authenticity within hair and makeup design's the designs are just a comment on this rather than a construction of this time period. I have learnt that during this late stage of changing my time period I have valued my own judgment as a designer, understanding that my individual style is want I want to showcase not designs that have already been done for me. 

Where to go from here? next i will begin development of the scene selection aesthetics, including character profile aesthetic development and start with the wardrobe really listening to my individual abilities as a designer and trusting my initial judgments on visuals. I want to have this done by the end of the week so next week (Week commencing 7th March)  I can begin test shooting and experiment with scene layout and lighting as this as pushed back my time schedule in having to go over previously decided narrative designs although i feel more motivated for having a context I can personally connect to.