PLANNING!

PLANNING MY FILM:

LOG LINE:

From our talk with Ryd Cook, we learnt about how useful log lines are. They are a useful way of coming up with a simple plot before you are bogged down by complicated plots. For my short film this is my log line:

'A young girl suffers from paranoia after a traumatic experience with an ex-boyfriend which leaves her feeling constantly watched'

THE THREE ACT STRUCTURE:

For my film I have decided to take elements from Todorov's three act structure. My film will be in achronological order. I want to include flash backs which throw off the time line. As previously said, I was interested in how The Ellington Kid used a cyclical narrative. I want my film to start and finish in a similar way. As i am creating a short film, the separation between the three acts is not as clear as in a feature length film as the tempo of the narrative is so much faster. 

When applying my film to the three act structure this is how it would fit: 

ACT 1:

• You are introduced to the main character of the film called Natalie
• You see her " equilibrium" in the way she goes about her life feeling constantly watched and paranoid.
• The inciting incident is when you see a figure following her into a cafe
• The figure will be in all black to make the viewer question whether the figure is real or a figment of her imagination.

ACT 2:

• Act 2 contains a flashback in which you see Natalie walking down the street being followed and being bombarded by text messages from an ex boyfriend
• The viewer sees that in the past she has had a stalker and that this is why she suffers in the present day.

ACT 3:

• Act 3 will be where Natalie decides to confront her demons and stand up to this mysterious figure
• At the end of the film Natalie will walk back to the light of her house and away from her demons.

CINEMATIC IDEAS:

Before drafting my script I want to explore different cinematic elements I can include such as specifics about micro elements

• As seen in many Wes Anderson films, the use of a wide angle shot can distort the surroundings of your frame and make your character seem small. I want to look into how to do this as I want to portray the fragility of my character at the start of my film. This will show how she feels isolated.

• Another cinematic element I want to include is the use of extreme close ups to show characters emotions. As my film has the overall theme of being watched, I want to pay close attention to my characters eyes and the emotions they hold.

• As seen in the film Cleo from 5 to 7, the use of jump cuts can create a feeling of monotony and repetition in characters actions. It is also a stylistically interesting form of editing which I would love to try. I would include the jump cuts in the first act to show how this feeling of being watched has been happening for a very long time.

• From the short film The Ellington Kid, I want to include a cyclical narrative structure where there are the same montage of shots at the start and end of the film to pull it all together. This makes the viewer ask questions at the start which are hopefully answered by the end.
  

AIMS AND INTENTIONS:

Over the course of this project, I aim to:

• Learn more practical filming skills as I have never done any filming 
• I want my film to have a lasting impact on the viewer so they are able to feel the anxiety my character feels
• I want to use interesting camerawork such as the wide angle shot Wes Anderson uses to make my film distinguishable from others I have seen
• I want to use interesting music in order to convey emotions to the viewer and create the mood for the scene