Your Lookbook

Once you've decided on your concept, and started to really develop your ideas, you'll benefit from creating a lookbook.  

In the context of film and television, a look book is used to convey the visual style and tone of a proposed project. It's similar to a mood board but more detailed and focused, aimed at showcasing how the film or series might look and feel.  Make sure you include the title, a logline, and a synopsis.  See the lookbook for Mister Wick (above) for more inspiration and work through the details below as you plan your own lookbook.

Define the Vision: Start with a clear idea of your film's story, themes, and visual style. What are the key elements of your narrative? What mood or atmosphere do you want to create? This vision will guide the rest of your look book.

Collect Visual References: Gather images that reflect your film's aesthetic, including photographs, artwork, frames from other films, color palettes, textures, and locations. These should illustrate not just the look but also the mood and tone of your project.

Character and Setting: Include pictures or sketches that represent your main characters and their environments. This could involve costume ideas, significant props, or specific locations. Show how these elements contribute to the story and its atmosphere.

Visual Style: Showcase elements that define the visual style you're aiming for. This could include lighting, cinematography techniques, color grading, and art direction. Include reference images or diagrams that illustrate your intended shots or sequences.

Typography and Graphic Elements: If your project has a specific style of titles, credits, or other on-screen text, include examples in your look book. This helps set the tone and style right from the start.

Narrative Elements: While a look book focuses on visuals, incorporating key narrative elements can provide context. This could be a brief synopsis, character descriptions, or important plot points. Keep text to a minimum and let the images do the talking.

Mood and Theme: Clearly convey the mood and themes of your film through your chosen images and design. This could include contrasting themes, emotional tones, or specific motifs that run throughout your story.

Layout and Design: Arrange your materials in a cohesive and visually appealing way. Your look book should tell a story itself, guiding the viewer through your vision systematically. Each page should serve a purpose and contribute to the overall narrative of the look book.

Technical Details (if relevant): Depending on your audience, you might include technical details such as proposed camera angles, special effects, or sound design. This is more common in look books for more developed projects or those speaking to a technical audience.

Final Touches: Review your look book thoroughly. Ensure that it is not only visually appealing but also accurately represents your vision for the film. It should be a compelling argument for why your project is unique and worth pursuing.

Presentation: Decide whether your look book will be digital or printed. Digital look books can be easily shared and presented during pitches, while printed versions might be more impactful for in-person meetings.

Remember, the goal of your look book is to inspire and excite your audience about your film idea. It's not just about showcasing beautiful images; it's about conveying the unique world you want to create and telling a story that captivates your potential collaborators or investors.

Have a read of the Screen Australia guide to writing a Synopsis, and Outline and a Treatment, since some of these will be incorporated into your lookbook.  You can also use the Mister Wick lookbook as an exemplar.

As you work through it, try and address Criteria 1, 2 & 3 from the SCSA Production Examination Marking Key, since this will be the basis for the marking of this task.

From the SCSA document:

Theme
Media Production and Analysis Glossary definition of theme:  An identifiable central message created by the media producer that regulates all production aspects (such as narrative, character development, conventions etc.) within a media work.

A media work may have more than one theme, though one theme is often more primary (e.g. the subject of a media work may be love, and its theme could be how love involves sacrifice or love can conquer incredible obstacles).

Criterion 1.  Clarity of theme - see details.

Criterion 2.  Genre, style and narrative in support of theme - see details.

Criterion 3.  Purpose, context, audience - see details.