Moodboard
Instead of a static collage, I turned to Pinterest to create my mood board. The platform's strength lies in its organization and adaptability. I could easily add, remove, and rearrange elements as my vision for the project evolved. I divided the moodboard into four sections for ease of use.
My first sub-division of the board was called "Old Lahore Setting". I used pins taken all over South Asia with locations similar to what I wanted to encapsulate in my shots by shooting in Old Lahore which seems to be bustling with life seen through worn brick buildings huddled close whilst the air simmers with the fragrance of spices and sizzling street food alongside bustling crowds weave through narrow alleyways.
My second sub-division of the board was called "Props". I went around the platform curating pins of props I thought would fit well with the setting and give our actress something which adds a sense of movement in our shots. The board consists of many vibrant props we used as inspiration such as mirrors, flowers, vintage radios, ludo and more which serve to engulf South Asian culture we aimed to represent.
My third sub-division of the board was called "Costume and Makeup". Here I gathered inspiration for a look that embodies the spirit of Old Lahore for our female lead. There are flowing lehengas and kurtis in light, pastel tones adorned with intricate embroidery that catches the sunlight. Elegant dupattas add a touch of play. Jewelry is a must, with pins featuring gold pieces that jingle with movement. For makeup, I'm focusing on a palette of light blush toned looks that capture the enthusiastic energy of our protagonist.
My fourth sub-division of the board was called "Bedroom Setting, Shots and Lighting". Because in the final sequence I had to design the set and figure out lighting, I ended up making this section of the board. The pins I compiled had well composed shots from short films which I analysed to gain inspiration on lighting and set design which I then applied in my final shots through using sunset lamps, LED light strips and Gen Z-coded props.
To add to the acoustics of the mood board, I decided to create playlists as well. Sound and it's design is a rather important element in any film thus these playlists served as a starting point which I later bounced off to edit the final audios of the film. The soundtrack for this mood board is an assortment of desi music, mirroring the energy of Old Lahore.