BLOSSOMING BUSINESS: THE STORY OF THE QUEEN VICTORIA MARKETS BEST MALE FLORIST
- What is the ‘controlling idea’ of your portrait?
Joe Leuzzi, my interviewee/subject is a male-florist at the Queen Victoria Market running his own business in a role which is generally female orientated, which displays gender equality and demonstrates that there isn’t a barrier on occupations.
2. How is your portrait film structured?
The film begins with b-roll footage of flowers, which creates an audience expectation about the topic but is general as it intentionally doesn’t give away the subject and opens the topic for interpretation. There is then an establishing shot of Joe Leuzzi (the subject) selling flowers at his business, there is a voice over (Joe) explaining the significance of flowers in everyday life and how important florists are. B-roll continues of different exercises on day-to-day about being a florist and routines in running a flower shop. There will be a backstory to Joe being why he became a male-florist, what inspired him to start his own business, and a backstory of interest which includes the events his planned flowers for ie. weddings, funerals, engagements, anniversaries etc. Joe’s story introduces briefly his family life and how his family help him with his business (cut aways of family members passionately working with him) it ends with a voice over of the significance of flowers in people’s lives and ends with Joe walking with his wife holding flowers (how romantic) but this relates to how his family and work both relate to each other and how they allow him to be involved in both.
3. What do you want your audience to make of your interviewee?
The audience are meant to be intruged and involved in Joe’s story, I think the audience will sympathise if he has been accustomed to bullying or gender slurs because of his occupation as a male florist. Therefore the audience may also view his family life as paramont to his career as he has their full support and the audience can relate those family values.
4. How is your portrait film structured?
Joe Leuzzi will be narrating his own story in the form of a voice over which will be Joe answering the set questions and the appropriate b-roll footage will accompany his voice. The structure is based around the set questions and Joe’s answers in conjunction with the appropriate b-roll footage.
5. What role will the ‘found footage’ play in your portrait?
My found footage is aimed to mirror the age of the corner shop flower display where you could buy a wide array of flowers for your spouse and even for a secret admirer. This ties in with the idea that a female florist will serve you as they have expertise with flowers which is a traditional value which can challenge the emerging/oppositional value portrayed through Joe’s story.
6. Does your portrait have a dramatic turning point
Maybe a revealing story about the cliental questioning Joe’s role as a florist and a example of difficulties tolls that can have on his performance at work.
7. When does this turning point occur in your portrait and why?
This will occur once the introduction and procedural elements of his job are revealed. Firstly it is light on with the way it is presented, lovely, colourful flowers, routines in a day-to-day basis of a florist then about half way through it will address the issues about gender roles and people challenging and belittle those roles (if oppositional).
8. How does your portrait gather and maintain momentum?
The portrait gathers momentum through the gender based questioning, about whether being a male florist is challenging. It gathers the momentum as layers are added to Joe’s story and the audience are intruged to learn whether the oppositional gender role filed effects Joe’s work and professionalism.
9. Where will your portrait’s dramatic tension come from?
The portrait’s dramatic tension comes from the gender based questioning, about whether being a male florist is challenging. It gathers the momentum as layers are added to Joe’s story and the audience are intruged to learn whether the oppositional gender role filed effects Joe’s work and professionalism. And the crisis is through personal conflict as Joe may question his personal worth and whether he is good enough for the role.
10. Does the portrait have a climax and/or resolution?
Joe’s family is introduced to the audience, and as a family unit they are supportive of Joe’s business and the closing shot is of Joe and his wife Dolly walking together after close with the relevant prop being a bunch of wrapped flowers. The voice over explains how Joe is happy and thankful to be a male florist and how florists are important and if you’re good at your job it doesn’t matter what gender you are.
