Due to difficulties certain things could not be filmed and so we drew on our storyboard to mark what wasn't to be filmed:
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Storyboard
Due to difficulties certain things could not be filmed and so we drew on our storyboard to mark what wasn't to be filmed:
Monday 23 November 2009
Screen play.
SPICERRACK PRODUCTION
SAM: She Is an abused, scared, curious teen. She wears modern clothing. Her mum died when she was younger, since then her STEP-DAD has 'taken care' of her.
ROBIN: He's an abusive drunk, a very angry character, he is Sam's step dad. He wears tacky clothing.
HUNG-HELPER: He's a mentally unstable, informed character. Rope around neck, old fashioned clothing. The HUNG-HELPER has burn marks from the rope around his neck. He wears a puffy white shirt, black tracksuit bottoms with black socks over the edges (OLD FASHIONED LOOK) Black shoes, clothing is ripped. His hands and face are decaying: he is also wearing a pirate hat.
Blank screen- titles (participating persons), glass smashing.
INT. HOUSE/STAIRCASE-- EVENING.
SAM RUNS up the stairs HOLDING her face, her step-dad (ROBIN) FOLLOWS CLOSELY.
ROBIN.
Sam get your arse back here!
SAM BURSTS into her room and RUNS towards a wardrobe before closing the doors QUIETLY behind her. ROBIN STRIDES to the wardrobe and puts his hand on the door closest to the camera.
ROBIN.
(In a persuasive tone)
Sam
(PAUSE)
please
(PAUSE)
Just come out.
SAM.
(SCREAMING, GRIPPING something)
I'm never coming out!
ROBIN THUMPS the wardrobe.
ROBIN.
GET OUT!
SAM breathes SHAKILY and SNIFFS as ROBIN continues to THUMP, his THUMPS on the wardrobe door get QUIETER as SAM passes out- black out.
EXT. FOREST-- DAY TIME.
SAM is LAYING on the FOREST FLOOR, her eyes SNAP open and she sits BOLT UP RIGHT
looking around in a PANIC, SLOWLY she RISES and ROTATES SLOWLY. When she ends up at her starting point the HUNG-HELPER APPEARS, hung from a tree.
SAM.
(STUMBLES and LANDS on her backside, SCREAMING and STUTTERING)
Who are you?
HUNG-HELPER.
I'm highly strung.
(LITTLE LAUGH)
Who am I? Well there's a question I've heard many a time. I go by many names but enough about me Sam,
(DROPS FROM TREE)
Tell me about you.
(SLIGHT SMILE OFFERS her his HAND)
SAM STARES at the rope which is DRAGGING behind the HUNG-HELPER, who matches her gaze, GRABS the rope and out STRETCHES his arm whilst making STRANGLED noises. He GIVES her a SLIGHT SMILE and a WINK.
HUNG-HELPER.
Never mind that.
(HOLDS position, and SHAKES outstretched hand at her)
I have something for you, something to keep you safe, something from your memories.
(HOLDS out OTHER hand)
SAM TAKES his hand, DUSTS herself off and then LOOKS down at his other empty hand.
SAM.
There's nothing there.
The HUNG-HELPER looks at his own hand as his other DROPS to his side. He ROLLS his eyes and then checks himself over. As he MUTTERS to HIMSELF, he reaches out for SAM and she FLINCHES away. The HUNG-HELPER LEANS FORWARD and produces a photo from behind her ear and GIVES it to her.
SAM TAKES the photo of her mother and STARES at it for a moment before putting it away.
SAM.
Where am I?
HUNG-HELPER
Full of questions aren't you? Curiosity killed the cat, well it's a good job you're not a cat. My dear...
(PAUSE)
are you?
(TURNS SAM around to CHECK for tail.)
SAM.
(HANDS on HIPS)
That doesn't answer my question.
HUNG-HELPER.
(PULLS rope slightly AWAY from his neck as though LOOSENING it)
You are where you want to be.
SAM.
(HANDS STILL on HIPS)
And where's that?
HUNG-HELPER.
(BLANK expression)
You tell me.
SAM TUTS, turns on her heel and walks AWAY.
SAM.
(HAUGHTILY)
And by the way-
The HUNG-HELPER has DISAPPEARED. SAM SIGHS and ROLLS her eyes before TURNING BACK AROUND and STARTING to WALK.
ROBIN.
(CHANTING- OFF SCREEN.)
SAAM, SAAM, SAAM.
FLASH BACK.
INT. BEDROOM-- EVENING.
SAM is LAYING on the FLOOR SURROUNDED by PARAMEDICS and FAMILY ALL TRYING to TALK to her, it all seems like a MUMBLE as she FADES BACK into the FANTASY WORLD.
ROBIN.
You think you can get away from me?
ROBIN DISAPPEARS and REAPPEARS where ever she TURNS- each time he HOLDS a different weapon.
ROBIN.
But you never will.
ROBIN DISAPPEARS and REAPPEARS where ever she TURNS- each time he HOLDS a different weapon.
ROBIN.
I'll always be here.
ROBIN DISAPPEARS and REAPPEARS where ever she TURNS- each time he HOLDS a different weapon. He APPEARS BEHIND her. ROBIN PULLS SAM'S hair from behind.
ROBIN.
(WHISPERS)
Waiting.
SAM RELEASES SAM'S hair, SAM WHIPS around and LASHES out to find ROBIN has DISAPPEARED once more. ROBIN'S LAUGHTER ECHOES.
LAUGHTER becomes LOUDER and SAM DROPS to the FLOOR, HOLDING her ears, ROCKING to and fro, a white light blanks out the screen.
(Note to selves CONTRAST SCENE- make brighter.)
EXT. FOREST-- CONTINUOUS.
SAM is SPRAWLED on the FOREST FLOOR, COVERED in BLOOD.
Note: Everything has been centered, problem with the blog: it wouldn't allow me to center certain things whilst leaving others left-aligned.
SAM: She Is an abused, scared, curious teen. She wears modern clothing. Her mum died when she was younger, since then her STEP-DAD has 'taken care' of her.
ROBIN: He's an abusive drunk, a very angry character, he is Sam's step dad. He wears tacky clothing.
HUNG-HELPER: He's a mentally unstable, informed character. Rope around neck, old fashioned clothing. The HUNG-HELPER has burn marks from the rope around his neck. He wears a puffy white shirt, black tracksuit bottoms with black socks over the edges (OLD FASHIONED LOOK) Black shoes, clothing is ripped. His hands and face are decaying: he is also wearing a pirate hat.
Blank screen- titles (participating persons), glass smashing.
INT. HOUSE/STAIRCASE-- EVENING.
SAM RUNS up the stairs HOLDING her face, her step-dad (ROBIN) FOLLOWS CLOSELY.
ROBIN.
Sam get your arse back here!
SAM BURSTS into her room and RUNS towards a wardrobe before closing the doors QUIETLY behind her. ROBIN STRIDES to the wardrobe and puts his hand on the door closest to the camera.
ROBIN.
(In a persuasive tone)
Sam
(PAUSE)
please
(PAUSE)
Just come out.
SAM.
(SCREAMING, GRIPPING something)
I'm never coming out!
ROBIN THUMPS the wardrobe.
ROBIN.
GET OUT!
SAM breathes SHAKILY and SNIFFS as ROBIN continues to THUMP, his THUMPS on the wardrobe door get QUIETER as SAM passes out- black out.
EXT. FOREST-- DAY TIME.
SAM is LAYING on the FOREST FLOOR, her eyes SNAP open and she sits BOLT UP RIGHT
looking around in a PANIC, SLOWLY she RISES and ROTATES SLOWLY. When she ends up at her starting point the HUNG-HELPER APPEARS, hung from a tree.
SAM.
(STUMBLES and LANDS on her backside, SCREAMING and STUTTERING)
Who are you?
HUNG-HELPER.
I'm highly strung.
(LITTLE LAUGH)
Who am I? Well there's a question I've heard many a time. I go by many names but enough about me Sam,
(DROPS FROM TREE)
Tell me about you.
(SLIGHT SMILE OFFERS her his HAND)
SAM STARES at the rope which is DRAGGING behind the HUNG-HELPER, who matches her gaze, GRABS the rope and out STRETCHES his arm whilst making STRANGLED noises. He GIVES her a SLIGHT SMILE and a WINK.
HUNG-HELPER.
Never mind that.
(HOLDS position, and SHAKES outstretched hand at her)
I have something for you, something to keep you safe, something from your memories.
(HOLDS out OTHER hand)
SAM TAKES his hand, DUSTS herself off and then LOOKS down at his other empty hand.
SAM.
There's nothing there.
The HUNG-HELPER looks at his own hand as his other DROPS to his side. He ROLLS his eyes and then checks himself over. As he MUTTERS to HIMSELF, he reaches out for SAM and she FLINCHES away. The HUNG-HELPER LEANS FORWARD and produces a photo from behind her ear and GIVES it to her.
SAM TAKES the photo of her mother and STARES at it for a moment before putting it away.
SAM.
Where am I?
HUNG-HELPER
Full of questions aren't you? Curiosity killed the cat, well it's a good job you're not a cat. My dear...
(PAUSE)
are you?
(TURNS SAM around to CHECK for tail.)
SAM.
(HANDS on HIPS)
That doesn't answer my question.
HUNG-HELPER.
(PULLS rope slightly AWAY from his neck as though LOOSENING it)
You are where you want to be.
SAM.
(HANDS STILL on HIPS)
And where's that?
HUNG-HELPER.
(BLANK expression)
You tell me.
SAM TUTS, turns on her heel and walks AWAY.
SAM.
(HAUGHTILY)
And by the way-
The HUNG-HELPER has DISAPPEARED. SAM SIGHS and ROLLS her eyes before TURNING BACK AROUND and STARTING to WALK.
ROBIN.
(CHANTING- OFF SCREEN.)
SAAM, SAAM, SAAM.
FLASH BACK.
INT. BEDROOM-- EVENING.
SAM is LAYING on the FLOOR SURROUNDED by PARAMEDICS and FAMILY ALL TRYING to TALK to her, it all seems like a MUMBLE as she FADES BACK into the FANTASY WORLD.
ROBIN.
You think you can get away from me?
ROBIN DISAPPEARS and REAPPEARS where ever she TURNS- each time he HOLDS a different weapon.
ROBIN.
But you never will.
ROBIN DISAPPEARS and REAPPEARS where ever she TURNS- each time he HOLDS a different weapon.
ROBIN.
I'll always be here.
ROBIN DISAPPEARS and REAPPEARS where ever she TURNS- each time he HOLDS a different weapon. He APPEARS BEHIND her. ROBIN PULLS SAM'S hair from behind.
ROBIN.
(WHISPERS)
Waiting.
SAM RELEASES SAM'S hair, SAM WHIPS around and LASHES out to find ROBIN has DISAPPEARED once more. ROBIN'S LAUGHTER ECHOES.
LAUGHTER becomes LOUDER and SAM DROPS to the FLOOR, HOLDING her ears, ROCKING to and fro, a white light blanks out the screen.
(Note to selves CONTRAST SCENE- make brighter.)
EXT. FOREST-- CONTINUOUS.
SAM is SPRAWLED on the FOREST FLOOR, COVERED in BLOOD.
Note: Everything has been centered, problem with the blog: it wouldn't allow me to center certain things whilst leaving others left-aligned.
Monday 16 November 2009
More Genre Research: Character Archetypes.
Vladimir Propp researched into Fairy tales to try and work out what the 'rules' of myths were. He argued that all narratives worked in a linear way: meaning that they all followed a set pattern. He found that there were certain types of characters to be found in all Fairy tales (archetypes) and organised these character's into categories. These are Propp's seven character archetypes;
1. The villain
2. The donor – this person gives the hero information or an object to help him on his way.
3. The helper – often magical in nature, such as a talking animal, helps the hero.
4. The princess and her father – For Propp these two often serve the same purpose in regard to their function within the story. Whether being sought after by the hero, or setting the hero on his quest, unmasking the false hero or providing the hero with his reward, both characters often fill the same space.
5. The dispatcher – this character informs the hero of what is needed, or the lack, and sends him off on his journey.
6. The hero
7. The false hero – tries to take the hero's place either by taking credit for his actions or trying to marry the princess
Due to the fact that we only film two minutes we were not able to fit these seven characters into our film but if we were to make a whole film then we would be more than likely to stick to Propp's archetypes and use them all.
However, during our two minutes we plan to use these characters:
The Hero – Although Sam's situation in the real world is much different from the fantasy world she visits. She fits the role of the hero because her mission involves destroying the Villain who would end up putting any other life in the Fantasy world in danger- he is her own personal enemy.
The donor and the helper- Comes in the form of The 'Hung Helper' (hence his self-explanatory name) He aids Sam during her time in the Fantasy world and even gives her something which makes him a donor. The Hung-helper could also be the dispatcher along with his other two roles as he could keep Sam informed and tell her what she needs to do or what she needs to get.
The villain - crucial to every fantasy. The villain shall be Sam's step-father in the real world which makes the situation personal for the hero. In the fantasy world, Sam's Step father (Robin) would be an exaggerated version of himself. He will present a challenge for Sam and provide the necessary danger to qualify as a Villian.
1. The villain
2. The donor – this person gives the hero information or an object to help him on his way.
3. The helper – often magical in nature, such as a talking animal, helps the hero.
4. The princess and her father – For Propp these two often serve the same purpose in regard to their function within the story. Whether being sought after by the hero, or setting the hero on his quest, unmasking the false hero or providing the hero with his reward, both characters often fill the same space.
5. The dispatcher – this character informs the hero of what is needed, or the lack, and sends him off on his journey.
6. The hero
7. The false hero – tries to take the hero's place either by taking credit for his actions or trying to marry the princess
Due to the fact that we only film two minutes we were not able to fit these seven characters into our film but if we were to make a whole film then we would be more than likely to stick to Propp's archetypes and use them all.
However, during our two minutes we plan to use these characters:
The Hero – Although Sam's situation in the real world is much different from the fantasy world she visits. She fits the role of the hero because her mission involves destroying the Villain who would end up putting any other life in the Fantasy world in danger- he is her own personal enemy.
The donor and the helper- Comes in the form of The 'Hung Helper' (hence his self-explanatory name) He aids Sam during her time in the Fantasy world and even gives her something which makes him a donor. The Hung-helper could also be the dispatcher along with his other two roles as he could keep Sam informed and tell her what she needs to do or what she needs to get.
The villain - crucial to every fantasy. The villain shall be Sam's step-father in the real world which makes the situation personal for the hero. In the fantasy world, Sam's Step father (Robin) would be an exaggerated version of himself. He will present a challenge for Sam and provide the necessary danger to qualify as a Villian.
Monday 9 November 2009
Synopsis.
The summary of my groups film if we were to film all of it:
A teenager has been constantly abused by one of his/her parents and one day takes refuge in a wardrobe, locking themselves in. This teen's parents bangs against the wardrobe door trying to get them out whilst the teen falls asleep- when the teen wakes up they find a completely different world and meets a character who (according to Propp's archetype's of characters) would be the helper and is suitably named the 'Hung helper'. The pair have a short conversation and the teen establishes that he/she is in a fantasy world, the 'hung helper' suddenly disappears and the teenager is confronted with his/her fears: an exaggerated version of the abusive parent. The pair have a short confrontation but the teen escapes the threat of being hurt using this fantasy world to his/her advantage.
As the tenager explores this new place, a flash of reality rings in their ears: a sobbing person, calling his/her name but she doesn't make the connection and continued on her way. During her explorations this character meets others and forms a friendship with him/her: these trusty 'friends' all try to aid the teen in getting away/ killing the abusive parent before he/she meets his/her own end. This parent picks off her friends in the fantasy world and has a tree as an accomplice who helps the parent to trap the teen they abuse and kill them, therefore the teen would die in reality.
A teenager has been constantly abused by one of his/her parents and one day takes refuge in a wardrobe, locking themselves in. This teen's parents bangs against the wardrobe door trying to get them out whilst the teen falls asleep- when the teen wakes up they find a completely different world and meets a character who (according to Propp's archetype's of characters) would be the helper and is suitably named the 'Hung helper'. The pair have a short conversation and the teen establishes that he/she is in a fantasy world, the 'hung helper' suddenly disappears and the teenager is confronted with his/her fears: an exaggerated version of the abusive parent. The pair have a short confrontation but the teen escapes the threat of being hurt using this fantasy world to his/her advantage.
As the tenager explores this new place, a flash of reality rings in their ears: a sobbing person, calling his/her name but she doesn't make the connection and continued on her way. During her explorations this character meets others and forms a friendship with him/her: these trusty 'friends' all try to aid the teen in getting away/ killing the abusive parent before he/she meets his/her own end. This parent picks off her friends in the fantasy world and has a tree as an accomplice who helps the parent to trap the teen they abuse and kill them, therefore the teen would die in reality.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Genre Research.
As a group we decided which Genre we would be using to film our coursework piece, we settled on Fantasy as a Genre. So that we stick to the Genre's conventions as a group we do research on films from the same Genre, this is help to us so that we know which things an audience expects to see in a Fantasy film and so that we can twist these conventions to make our film interesting.
Three films we used as research were; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Lord of the Rings: The Twin Towers. These three films all seem to have many things in common concerning their conventions, all the characters are very well spoken or sophisticated in their speech, Elizabeth Swan (Pirates of the Caribbean), Frodo Baggins (Lord of the rings) and some Harry Potter characters are clear examples of this. Well-spoken characters will be easy to integrate into a final piece as we will simply have to alter the way our actors/actresses speak. In Fantasy there is the cliché of set locations which are usually set in the wild or medieval looking places; forests, castles, fields or meadows. As for locations it may be reasonably easy to use them in our coursework piece because there are certain locations near enough but at times it may prove a challenge because some locations do not allow filming, none the less I think that these certain locations would be good to use. There is also the constant use of mythical creatures (Harry Potter uses Phoenix's and many others whilst Lord of the Rings uses Elves and Pirates of the Caribbean uses the Cracken) Most mythical creatures will be difficult to put into my final piece because there is only so much editing we can do- using costumes would be easy enough but certain editing like CGI will be impossible. However, there are a few typical creatures such as Vampires which we could easily put into our Genre because there aren't many affects that are needed and they are particularly close to humans.
In Fantasy films the characters always find themselves on some sort of mission or having to complete a task where a whole civilization depends on them (In the Pirates of the Carribean, pirates depend on the Brethren Court and The wizarding world depend on Harry potter whilst three races depend on Frodo in the Lord of the Rings), this is cliché because despite the bad events the audience expects a triumph in that one person or group of people a civilization depends on. The characters in this genre are also very typical: there is always a guide to help other characters complete their tasks or achieve their ends, In Harry Potter there is Hagrid, Dumbledore etc, in the opening scene of Pirates of the Caribbean they seem to be led by Barbosa, in Lord of the Rings, Smeagol leads Frodo and Sam towards Mordor. This would also be easy to use in our piece- using it in our piece would also help the audience identify or interpret the Genre which our group has chosen and so I believe keeping mostly to the rules of cliché characters would be helpful.
Three films we used as research were; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Lord of the Rings: The Twin Towers. These three films all seem to have many things in common concerning their conventions, all the characters are very well spoken or sophisticated in their speech, Elizabeth Swan (Pirates of the Caribbean), Frodo Baggins (Lord of the rings) and some Harry Potter characters are clear examples of this. Well-spoken characters will be easy to integrate into a final piece as we will simply have to alter the way our actors/actresses speak. In Fantasy there is the cliché of set locations which are usually set in the wild or medieval looking places; forests, castles, fields or meadows. As for locations it may be reasonably easy to use them in our coursework piece because there are certain locations near enough but at times it may prove a challenge because some locations do not allow filming, none the less I think that these certain locations would be good to use. There is also the constant use of mythical creatures (Harry Potter uses Phoenix's and many others whilst Lord of the Rings uses Elves and Pirates of the Caribbean uses the Cracken) Most mythical creatures will be difficult to put into my final piece because there is only so much editing we can do- using costumes would be easy enough but certain editing like CGI will be impossible. However, there are a few typical creatures such as Vampires which we could easily put into our Genre because there aren't many affects that are needed and they are particularly close to humans.
In Fantasy films the characters always find themselves on some sort of mission or having to complete a task where a whole civilization depends on them (In the Pirates of the Carribean, pirates depend on the Brethren Court and The wizarding world depend on Harry potter whilst three races depend on Frodo in the Lord of the Rings), this is cliché because despite the bad events the audience expects a triumph in that one person or group of people a civilization depends on. The characters in this genre are also very typical: there is always a guide to help other characters complete their tasks or achieve their ends, In Harry Potter there is Hagrid, Dumbledore etc, in the opening scene of Pirates of the Caribbean they seem to be led by Barbosa, in Lord of the Rings, Smeagol leads Frodo and Sam towards Mordor. This would also be easy to use in our piece- using it in our piece would also help the audience identify or interpret the Genre which our group has chosen and so I believe keeping mostly to the rules of cliché characters would be helpful.
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