Preliminary Layout

 FILM 

The preliminary layout for my portfolio is as follows: 

Title: Justice for All 

Setting/s: Current day, New Albany, Mississippi. Most of the film will be shot at New Albany Highschool, where the protagonist attends school. Other scenes will occur in places like the protagonist’s home, the local park, etc. throughout the film, the entirety of the opening scene will take place at the school between Troy’s homeroom, the hallway, and the Principal’s office.              

Characters/s: Troy Martin is a 16-year-old African American student at New Albany Highschool and has been raised to “turn the other cheek” his whole life. Growing up in a conservative town, he’s had a rough time keeping up his act and being compliant to all the racism and prejudice he experiences every day since childhood, and we see his confidence and bravery flourish in the film as he speaks out and raises awareness for the things he cares about. Troy Martin’s name is a tribute to Treyvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American from Miami Gardens, Florida who was unarmed and lost his life to police brutality back in 2012. This is the only character I have fully thought out, the rest are more general ideas, and I may add or take away from the list of characters and/ or their importance to the story. This includes a rude and discouraging teacher and principle, both who punish Troy for not pledging allegiance to the flag and participate in looking down upon him. As well, there will be a group of kids who constantly pester Troy and torment him with microaggressions and racism. Troy will have some sort of support role, most likely another outcast at school, who supports him and helps convince him to start his club and fight for change. There will also be a club coordinator that helps Troy start his club and organize his efforts. 

Action/s:  The film will start with Troy in his homeroom class at 7:30am listening to the morning announcements. After being asked to stand for the pledge, unlike every other morning, Troy decides to stay seated today. After being asked again by his teacher and Troy refusing, he is sent to the principal's office for being a disturbance in class. On the way there, Troy runs into the group at school that is constantly picking on him and experiences a few microaggressions. In the principal’s office, Troy is questioned for his decision making and attempts to express his hardship and perspective to the white middle-aged man. After a tense build up, Troy is given a referral and sent back to class with a security guard because the principle wants to “ensure the safety of the rest of the school”, yet another microaggression. On the way back, Troy sees a poster on the wall that catches his attention. It’s a poster encouraging students to start their own clubs with an email at the bottom for the school’s club coordinator. The security guard pulls his attention away from it and continues walking him down the hall. This is followed by the title screen. 

Plotline: In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Troy and what a day in his life looks like, full of problematic “role models” at school and unregulated racism. We see him stand up for himself and, with inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement and his progressive club coordinator at school, decide to start his club “Justice for All”, to help spread awareness about microaggressions, systematic racism in schools and government, police brutality, and amplify the voices of other minorities who have been overlooked by the predominantly white society of America. In the middle of the story, we see Troy and his group protesting on the streets and holding assemblies at school in efforts to spread their message with little luck. The group starts a social media page and attempts to start the hashtag #Justice4All but are extremely discouraged when they get no traction. As the group starts to shrink and Troy’s hope deteriorates, a popular social media influencer notices their page and starts sharing about it on her own social media platforms. This sends their movement into full effect and the group gains hundreds of thousands of supporters, along with a trending hashtag. At the end of the story, we see the group raising thousands and thousands of dollars for non-profits in support of their cause, traveling the country to hold assemblies discussing their mission, meeting with law makers and important politicians to take steps for change, and implementing the club into hundreds of schools across the country. The club will have a great impact on the Black Lives Matter movement and create change for the better, maybe even swaying a few hearts back home into apologizing for their negligence and cruelty.