Costume Design and Props

When planning, I focused more on how costume design and props could help communicate my character, Leo, and his mental states without depending mostly on dialogue. Since having only one actor is limited, the mise-en-scene elements are essential in showing his inner conflict he's dealing with. Also, this decision made the process of my planning way easier, since I had to think more about what props I already have access to and where I would realistically be able to film my opening at. In addition, I started to view short films and running videos to give me an idea on how these other creators used simple visuals to convey meaning.

Costume Attire:

His costume design includes simple, runner attire: headphones, plain athletic shirt, running shorts, and running shoes. The reason I decided the choose this is evidently obvious since it makes Leo lean toward realism and authenticity instead of being overly dressed. As the run is happening, his clothes become visually drenched with sweat, representing the strain of long distance running while also showcasing the pressure he places on himself. I came to a decision for the same costume to be incorporated in both the running and garage scenes since it helps guide the two timelines and strengthens the plot that his mental breakdown is the result of the run.

In order to do this, I planned on using actual athletic clothing rather than making and costuming something myself, either from my brothers closest or a sports store. Moreover, I was thinking about the weather and the time of day so the sweat and musk on the clothes conveys a natural tone rather than a forced one. 

This is what I'm thinking on purchasing:

Props:

The props also play a huge role into reinforcing his mindset. I wanted to suggest that the running shoes show his pain and sacrifice but moreover his ambition and routine. The baseball bat that he's going to use in the garage contrasts this by depicting built-up anger and loss of control. His grip on the baseball bat with his hands having a tremor shows his internal struggle and lack of ability to meet his expectations. Altogether, the costume and props aid the viewers acknowledge Leo's character through visual storytelling rather than using description. 

These are worn-out baseball bats I'm influenced on utilizing:

I wanted to avoid messy scenes and more so keep the focus on some repeated props, so I'm pushing toward keeping the props minimal but impactful. Overall, these immensely specific costume design and props were planned carefully to make sure that Leo's mental health is disclosed through his action, movement, quality, letting the audience to understand his breakdown more thoroughly.

Sources:

Nike men DRI-Fit RLGD Reset Shirts Black Athletic jersey tee shirt DX0990-010. eBay. (n.d.). https://www.ebay.com/itm/285238392360

Is my bat dead or defective? let’s find out. www.justbats.com. (n.d.). https://www.justbats.com/blog/post/is-my-bat-dead/