Actors

Edward Mortimer
This is Edward, otherwise known as Ed, otherwise known a my younger brother! He is fifteen and will be playing the role of my main male character. I have chosen Ed as my main actor mostly due to his accessibility. During past experiences I have struggled with actors committing and turning up to film, but living with Ed, it is much easier for me to gain quick and easy access to film or to re-film particular shots if need be.

Ed is currently in his second year of studying GCSE Media Studies so is aware of the process of filming and the importance of making the process run as smoothly as possible, so hopefully he'll get straight to the acting!

I feel that I can make Ed look like I imagine my character to (appearance wise), as I know the sort of items he has in his wardrobe that would make good costumes - numerous shirts and jumpers that would be considered "classics". Despite choosing Eds costume, I feel as though he mostly presents himself as I would want my character to be presented. He usually wears glasses, something I would like my character to have in order to come across as intellectual and relatively introvert.

Katie Hart
This is Katie. She is fifteen and will be playing the role of Ed's love interest. I chose Katie to play my female character as she is a similar age to Ed, and also happens to be Eds real life girlfriend - hopefully meaning acting in love won't be too awkward! Ed spends most weekends with Katie so accessability should not be too much of an issue as she has agreed to be involved. I have a number of clothes myself which I feel would be appropriate for Katie to wear as a costume. As the film will flick back and fourth to different time-frames I will need a lot of these. These outfits compile of polka dot and flowery dresses, which will be good in portraying the characters fun-loving, girly and classic look.

Both of my actors have acted in other students Media Studies work before, so should be familiar with the process, and reasonably good actors in the first place to be chosen!

Ed and Katie on set as actors for previous Media Studies work

After speaking generally about my film idea to peers in my Media Studies class, many asked why my actors were so young. For Media Studies work we only tend to have constant access to peers, or in my case younger relatives. I clarified with my classmates that I had intentionally wanted my characters to be young - and that it wasn't just down to accessibility, as I have seen plenty of short films whereby early teens play the role of a couple living together! (highly unrealistic). Although my actors are young, the story is suited around this in order to avoid an unprofessional, unrealistic plot. My actors are intentionally young as I want the story to portray an "awkward first love" type of affair. Playing fourteen/fifteen year olds I feel that it is probably the right age whereby my audience can relate to the plot with memories of their own awkward first dates! In my film, the boy (in particular) doesn't really understand how relationships work and displays a timid character - I am hoping that my audience will be able to relate to this feeling and this is how I hope to involve them.