French new wave was a name given to a rise of new innovative film makers from France, they were part of a film revolution not just happening in France but across the world during the late 50s and early 60s, in which film makers were defying convention and making ground breaking new cinema.
The young French film makers were the most successful and influential in the new wave of film makers, they resided from Paris and were writing for the "Cahiers du cinema", their ideas and theory on film were in stark contrast to that of the french film establishments of the time. They criticized the big french film makers of the times and created ground breaking new cinema through there original and innovative films. Film makers such as Jean Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol, François Truffaut, Jacques Rivette and Éric Rohmer, they were all from the Cahiers du cinema journal and by the 1960 they had all made there first films and were making waves in the world of film.
Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard.
In 1960, a director by the name of Jean-Luc Godard burst onto the scene and shattered the film community's preconceptions of what was essential in a film. Prior films would push that every film needed a decipherable beginning, middle, and end. Characters in typical films had to go somewhere, they couldn't remain static. A film couldn't be free-form and flowing, and everything had to serve a purpose.
The film opens with the lead character Michel Poiccard driving through the french country side, the shots from inside the car as he drove were something never seen in mainstream cinema before and was quite revolutionary at the time. We hear his thoughts as he travels down the picturesque roads, and follow him as he tries to flee from some cop cars, he pulls into a side road and thinks hes got away until one pulls in. Micheal in a rush of blood shoots and kills the police officer and quickly deals with the body, he then heads to Paris to find his American girlfriend and get some money from a friend to start his new life.
The film now follows Micheal through his day and night as he navigates through Paris and his problems, as he tries to get his girlfriend to leave the city with him and come to Rome. A main part of the film is based on the relationship between him and his lover, a long interesting scene in shot in her bedroom as they are hiding out there as the police are searching for him. Eventually he is betrayed by his lover in a dramatic ending in which he is killed in the middle of the road by the police as his American partner looks on, its a powerful climax left us pondering the motives and goals of the characters. The films free flowing and lively feel gives it a unique feel, which was innovative and fresh at the time and has paved the way for many other films of its type since its release. A very original and effortlessly cool looking film which will stay with me for a while and has really inspired me for this project.
The 400 blows by François Truffaut's
Antoine Doinel is a 13-year-old boy who can't seem to do anything right. His parents yell at him and then bribe him for his love and his promises to work harder in school. Meanwhile, his schoolteacher is out to get him and blames Antoine for everything--turning him into the class clown. As a result, Antoine runs away from school and his difficult family, living on the streets of Paris and committing petty crimes. While his life on the street is tough, it's much better than dealing with his preoccupied parents and his accusatory teacher. Nonetheless, things only go downhill for Antoine, descending to a simultaneously painful and beautiful conclusion.
Another powerful and groundbreaking picture from the New french wave directors, showing a lust of reform and a burning desire to tell their stories through the new ways of films making, in my opinion not as new and interesting as Breathless but none the less a massive film in the history of modern cinema.
We formed into our groups for the drama unit and in doing so brought together the scripts we had worked on individually, and began to discuss and decide what sort of film we want to make and how will be the best way.
I formed a group with three of my contemporaries that i thought were like minded and interesting individuals, i had grown quite close to the three but never worked with any of them, so i felt it fit to work with them on this product and see how we operate as a team. They were Max Robson, Rico Dixon and Louie Marsh.
We brought together the scripts we had written and began deciding what to do, the only scripts brought to the table was my one, which as the time was only a few pages long and no where neat as developed as it is now. The other one was by max and was a story he had been developing for nearly a year, it was something he felt passionately about and i believed it was a film we could make to a high standard.
I do have some regrets about not pursuing my film and script but the idea we are making is a very interesting and original idea, I think i will be making my film this summer in my own time.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
The use of the audio track by Al Green "I'm so tired of being alone", in my opinion is a powerful dramatic tool that will heighten audiences sense of the characters mind state and add to the mood of the dramatic ending.
The music is diegetic, so it gives the scene a more authentic feel, this is a style choice that is used throughout the film to create the characters world. The song is a clear representation of the characters feelings and illustrates the extent of his loneliness. It also juxtaposes the ending of the film, the soft soulful sounds of Al Green are in stark contrast to the shocking images of the final shots when we realize he is psychotic and has a female prisoner.
Establishing shot; long shot from below on grey towering office block, the lighting and angle of camera create an unpleasant and overwhelming feel to the building.
Shot looking along the top of the metal mesh fence that surrounds the building, it follows the line of the fence and focus fades from the front of the shot to the back were we see the extent of the long grey fence.
Mid shot looking down an aisle of office cubicles, each identical each with the noise of computer keys being pressed and phones ringing pouring from them.
Cuts to close up on the halogen light bulbs that are above the office cubicles, they flicker on and off quickly before going back to normal.
Mid close up, on the back of a man sitting at a computer propping his head up with his arm, looking very unenthused. He wears a plain white shirt leaved shirt, with a black Casio watch on his wrist, his hair is medium length and brown. He reaches for his mouse.
Cut to extreme close up on hand moving mouse.
Close up on face looking tired and uninterested, eyes slowly moving from side to side, he leans back and yawns. The man wears thick square black spectacles with blemished skin and a five o’clock shadow.
Over the shoulder shot, looking at the computer screen we see lines and lines of data across the screen. Cuts to shot on phone ringing. Hand answers it. Shot from behind again as the man has the phone pressed between his shoulder and ear
James; Arnold Greenstein corporation, your through to James how can I help Close up on his hand grabbing a pen, James; yes I can do that for you right away sir, okay have a great day
Over the shoulder shot of him putting down phone Quick cut to close up on phone being put down Back to the over the shoulder shot where we see him writing down a message on a post it note and stick to the screen of his computer.
We hear the voice of a woman and it catches the attention of James. Woman’s voice; Yes okay sir I will do, you have a great day too, bye. (Sound of phone being put down)
Mid slightly high angle shot from the front as we see James slowing rising to his feet to peek over the top of his cubical. Cuts to POV shot from James’s eyes, again slightly high angle due to the position of James. We see a blonde haired pretty young woman sitting at her desk typing.
Close up on James face looking nervous and flustered by the woman, he wrinkles his nose to push his glasses further back onto his face. Back to POV of James looking at the young woman, she stops typing and leans back and stretches a her arms above her head making her chest stick out a little.
Side shot of James leaning over his desk to peek into the woman’s cubical, he’s leaning so far over that we see him knock over his pencil holder and spill all his pens and pencils across his desk.
Mid shot front on of him looking embarrassed as he drops back into his seat and quickly and franticly picking up all his pens and pencils and put them back into his holder.
Close up on sad frustrated looking face as he relines his glasses. Close up on the screen as we see the typing of numbers on the screen Cuts of extreme close up on the eyes of James looking from side to side, with the glow of the computer reflected in his glasses.
Quick cut to keys typing cuts back to eyes. Mid shot from behind of him reaching for a coffee cup Cuts to close up on face as he drinks the coffee Close up on him banging the cup down
Back to shots of his eyes darting from side to side as they intently examine the computer. Shot of the screen again with an endless sea of numbers displayed. Close up on the keys typing
BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP
Mid shot of James sitting up right at his computer and looking at his watch. Extreme close up on the watch time displays 5:00pm Close up on James face as he lets a small barely noticeable smile enter his face.
Shot on screen shows him go to the shut down menu and close the computer down.
Mid shot we see him grab his coat and bag from a coat hanger he has in his office cubicle
Close up of him zipping up the jacket, as the zip goes up.
Back to mid shot of him in cubical we see him exit
Cut to shot from outside the building from a distance.
Mid shot on front doors of the building, two big steel double doors, we see him open one door and sheepishly make his way out of the building.
Back to the shot from a distance (camera at a long shot of the offices, shot from a slightly low angle) we see James walking towards the camera looking awkward and uncomfortable in his skin, with his jacket done right up to the top coming across the bottom of his face. He walks past the camera.
Cuts to high angle shot from bus stop as he strolls up to it and looks at the timetable while adjusting his glasses. Then makes his way to the side of the pavement.
Medium close up from the side of James looking either way down the street, first towards the camera then away from it, he then turns around and out of view of camera.
Immediate cut to mid shot of James approaching bus stop bench then sitting down at it. Look at his watch and then back up and straightforward.
(We hear the woman’s voice again) Woman’s voice; yeh I know its been too long…god I’m so glad it’s a Friday couldn’t take another day of that.
James eyes dart to the left of the screen and the location of the voice.
POV shot of the woman walking towards the bus stop, on the phone and looking radiant and beautiful, she strolls by and throws James a quick glance and a smile recognising him from work.
Close up on James face as a blushing smile starts to appear which he tries to suppress.
Back to POV she is now past the bus stop and we see a glove drop from her purse as she jogs across the road to avoid a car. High angle mid shot of him leaning down to pick up the glove and rise to his feet with a nervous and lost look on his face, his lips are quivering like he wants to say something but his mouth wont let him.
Back to POV as woman is on other side of the road and making her way to a car with a man sitting inside it waiting, it has been waiting there for her there the whole time, possibly a boyfriend.
James; (nervously) erm…excuse ah…Excuse me…
We see the woman get off her mobile phone and into the car, James words have not caught her attention but the man in the car seems to be throwing him a menacing look, as the car pulls out and drives off he looks away.
Long wide shot from other side of road as we see James standing there staring off after the car looking deflated and defeated still clutching the glove in his hand. The bus pulls in at the stop thus blocking James and the rest of the shot.
Shot from top of stairwell at first we just see and empty stairwell, but hear the footsteps getting closer, he slowly make his way round the corner and walks half way up the stairs, before stopping leaning against the hand rail and drawing for breath.
Mid shot on the landing of his floor as he reaches the top of the stairs, walks a few steps down the landing and puts his bags down before reaching into his jacket and gets his keys and puts them in the door.
Cuts to inside the flat, high angle shot from living room looking down the corridor at the front door as he enters, drops his keys onto the side table and makes his way towards and into living room.
Cut to inside kitchen were we see him take out his microwavable meal and prepare it, all done mid shot, he takes it from bag puts it on counter and removes packaging. Series of close ups, on him poking holes in the cellophane on meal, then opening door of microwave and putting it inside, then on the timer of microwave as it reads 4 minutes, we hear a beep and the times starts to count down.
Back to high angle shot from front room living room as we see him walk back in to the room and to a small table. Mid close up as he goes to a small radio and turns it on, we here static and different sounds of music and speech. Close up on him twisting the knob as the sounds continue as he searches for his station, before settling on a talk show.
We hear dialogue about peoples love life, he has tuned into a radio talk show about love and relationships. Radio – that was Lauren from Stoke telling us all about how lucky she is to be with her partner Derek, so if your listening Derek well done your obviously doing something right.
As this is happening James goes back to the kitchen and takes down a plate and gets a knife and fork and prepares his meal, close up of his steaming meal as he peels of the plastic, gives it a stir and leaves it to stand.
Mid close up on the radio, with the background out of focus and the radio in focus. Radio - So to our next caller who I believe is Sadie, how are you love and how can we help you today on the love hour….. Sadie - Hello Brian, I’m not bad thanks, I’m just a little lonely tonight since its another Friday and I’m sat alone listening to you…again Brian – that’s a shame, but is there any particular reason your feeling this way. Sadie – im just really lonely lately and I don’t know how to get over it, I been stuck in a rut for a while and just not sure how to get my self out of it.
In the blurred background we see him walk past the camera and into living room. Mid shot from the front of him sit down and begin to eat his meal while listening.
Brian – well tell me how long has this been troubling you for Sadie. Sadie – a while now, I been single for about two years now and haven’t ever seemed to recovered from being dumped, sometimes I get to lonely I feel like a prisoner in my own home, isolated from the outside world. My confidence seems to completely gone out the window I don’t seem to be able to handle myself around men any more. I just get really awkward and clumsy whenever I’m around guys I like, its so embarrassing Brian – awh love don’t get to down about it, are their any guys you like at the moment then. Sadie – well there is this one guy, he works at the same café as me, he’s really funny and sweet, and gorgeous as well. I doubt he even remembers my name though. I act such a fool in front of him he probably thinks I’m a total freak.
James pauses from eating his food, puts his fork down and get ups. Cut to mid shot from the side as he goes to a chest of draws and opens the top draw and takes a box out. Back to shot of him sitting down front on, this time he has a box on his lap, which he takes the top of off begins to look through.
Brian – don’t be so hard on yourself, have you let him know how you feel? Sadie – I can barely bring myself to say hello in the morning let alone tell him how I feel, I get so shy around him and behave so silly in front of him I freeze up and don’t know how to act. We see James take out a photo from his box and look at it intently. Sadie – I think he is so great I just wish I could communicate with him with out acting a complete fool.
POV shot from James looking at the picture; it’s a picture of the girl whose glove he found at the bus stand.
Brian – Sadie love take it from me, confidence is all in your head, you have it in you to show this man what a wonderful interesting woman you are, you just need to take the initiative to show him, next time your at work wear a bit of perfume and dress you like and show him what sort of woman you are.
James looks to his left and reaches into his bag and pulls out the glove he found, he slowly brings it close to him looking intently at it. Cuts to POV shot as he looks at the gloves in his hand his other hand strokes it.
Sadie – thanks Brian, oh god I hope he doesn’t listen to this show Brian – (laughs) all right I’m sure your fine Sadie, and I hope everything turns out ok with you and your lover boy, if not then I’m sending this one out to you Hun.
Song starts to play, “I’m so tired of being alone” by Al Green. We see a mid close up on James upper body and face as he lifts his hand up and pulls the glove on. Cut to mid shot from behind the seat as he stands up and walks over to a mirror to his left, still with the picture in hand. Shot from the side as he approaches the mirror and takes of his glasses, and puts them down in front of the mirror. ECU of a picture of a Brunette woman stuck onto the top corner of his mirror, we see the picture pulled off revealing a blurred reflection of James, quickly replaced by the picture of the blonde woman from his office. Mid shot looking from the right hand side from behind looking at James, his smiling reflection in the mirror is perfectly framed. He looks satisfied and walks away from the camera to the left and out the room.
The music heard a little less loudly we see him in a dark dingy bedroom; he approaches a locked door in the corner of his room and brings out a key from around his neck. Close up on the key slowly turning in the lock. Over the should shot from a slightly high angle as he slowly opens the door, we see a the brunette woman from the photo tied up and gagged on the floor, she has bruises on her face and looks scared and helpless. Close up on her face as she slowly turns her face to look up and him with a broken petrified look on her face. Low angle POV shot from the perspective of the woman looking up and him, we see James lit from above towering over her menacingly with a creepy grin on his face. BLACK OUT Title “All work and no play”, comes across screen with typewriter effect used. Joseph Radonich
Its quite a dark tale of human deprivation and insanity, I'm exploring the mindset of a character who seemingly has lost his mind. I wanted to really lead the audience on with this film in many ways, i wanted them to think that the character was a low confidence run of the mill office nerd, which he is but i used this to cloak is psychotic tendencies.
The use of POV within the film. I purposefully have only used the POV shots for when James is looking at the female characters, this creates a subconscious feel of voyeur within the film, James being the Voyeur watching the woman from a far but not interacting with them. This heightens the feel of James being a loner afraid to talk to the woman he desires. Its not just the Woman he works with who is shot through POV, all female characters in the film are, from the girls in the shop to the one tied up in his closet.
Purpose behind each location. The use of his office is to show the monotony and boredom of his life, the way we will shoot the office and his cubicle will give off a distinct feeling of lifelessness. Its also the first place we see him so i want the audience to begin to get an idea about this man and by using the office we see a very bleak and boring side of the character.
The purpose of having the shop in the film is to show some of the outside world and what they are doing on a Friday, to stress the boring and empty state of James life. We see a few groups of people out and about having fun and getting drunk for a Friday night out, while he is stuck deciding what cereal to buy. Its really just to build on his character more and show how he is not part of main stream society and a social outcast.
His flat is were we learn the most about the character, firstly we see the extent of his grim an gray life as we see his poorly light empty and colourles home, we watch him eating his bog standard micro wave meal, all this is building the character. Then more is revealed about his feelings to the woman at his work through the radio show he is listening to, and eventually we learn he has an obsession with her. This is the beginning of things to come as we slowly learn that the character has become mentally deranged and finally discover his horrifying secret.
I have realized that the film is a little on the long side, and i will be re editing it before i finish working on it, possibly cutting down or out the grocery store scene, or removing some of the office shots as well as his meal in the flat. However it will be hard as i think it all adds to the story nicely.
Establishing shot; long shot from below on grey towering office block, the lighting and angle of camera create an unpleasant and overwhelming feel to the building.
Shot looking along the top of the metal mesh fence that surrounds the building, it follows the line of the fence and focus fades from the front of the shot to the back were we see the extent of the long grey fence.
Mid shot looking down an aisle of office cubicles, each identical each with the noise of computer keys being pressed and phones ringing pouring from them.
Cuts to close up on the halogen light bulbs that are above the office cubicles, they flicker on and off quickly before going back to normal.
Mid close up, on the back of a man sitting at a computer propping his head up with his arm, looking very unenthused. He wears a plain white shirt leaved shirt, with a black Casio watch on his wrist, his hair is medium length and brown. He reaches for his mouse.
Cut to extreme close up on hand moving mouse.
Close up on face looking tired and uninterested, eyes slowly moving from side to side, he leans back and yawns. The man wears thick square black spectacles with blemished skin and a five o’clock shadow.
Over the shoulder shot, looking at the computer screen we see lines and lines of data across the screen.
Lots of quick cuts;
(All the while sounds of computers droning, keys typing and phones ringing, office noises.)
Close up on keyboard as his fingers punch different keys.
Cuts to shot on phone ringing. Hand answers it.
Shot from behind again as the man has the phone pressed between his shoulder and ear
James; Arnold Greenstein corporation, your through to James how can I help
Close up on his hand grabbing a pen,
James; yes I can do that for you right away sir, okay have a great day
Over the shoulder shot of him putting down phone
Quick cut to close up on phone being put down
Back to the over the shoulder shot where we see him writing down a message on a post it note and stick to the screen of his computer.
We hear the voice of a woman and it catches the attention of James.
Woman’s voice; Yes okay sir I will do, you have a great day too, bye. (Sound of phone being put down)
Mid slightly high angle shot from the front as we see James slowing rising to his feet to peek over the top of his cubical.
Cuts to POV shot from James’s eyes, again slightly high angle due to the position of James. We see a blonde haired pretty young woman sitting at her desk typing.
Close up on James face looking nervous and flustered by the woman, he wrinkles his nose to push his glasses further back onto his face.
Back to POV of James looking at the young woman, she stops typing and leans back and stretches a her arms above her head making her chest stick out a little.
Side shot of James leaning over his desk to peek into the woman’s cubical, he’s leaning so far over that we see him knock over his pencil holder and spill all his pens and pencils across his desk.
Mid shot front on of him looking embarrassed as he drops back into his seat and quickly and franticly picking up all his pens and pencils and put them back into his holder.
Close up on sad frustrated looking face as he relines his glasses.
Close up on the screen as we see the typing of numbers on the screen
Cuts of extreme close up on the eyes of James looking from side to side, with the glow of the computer reflected in his glasses.
Quick cut to keys typing cuts back to eyes.
Mid shot from behind of him reaching for a coffee cup
Cuts to close up on face as he drinks the coffee
Close up on him banging the cup down
Back to shots of his eyes darting from side to side as they intently examine the computer.
Shot of the screen again with an endless sea of numbers displayed.
Close up on the keys typing
BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP
Mid shot of James sitting up right at his computer and looking at his watch.
Extreme close up on the watch time displays 5:00pm
Close up on James face as he lets a small barely noticeable smile enter his face.
Shot on screen shows him go to the shut down menu and close the computer down.
Mid shot we see him grab his coat and bag from a coat hanger he has in his office cubicle
Close up of him zipping up the jacket, as the zip goes up.
Back to mid shot of him in cubical we see him exit
Cut to shot from outside the building from a distance.
Mid shot on front doors of the building, two big steel double doors, we see him open one door and sheepishly make his way out of the building.
Back to the shot from a distance (camera at a long shot of the offices, shot from a slightly low angle) we see James walking towards the camera looking awkward and uncomfortable in his skin, with his jacket done right up to the top coming across the bottom of his face. He walks past the camera.
Cuts to high angle shot from bus stop as he strolls up to it and looks at the timetable while adjusting his glasses. Then makes his way to the side of the pavement.
Medium close up from the side of James looking either way down the street, first towards the camera then away from it, he then turns around and out of view of camera.
Immediate cut to mid shot of James approaching bus stop bench then sitting down at it. Look at his watch and then back up and straightforward.
(We hear the woman’s voice again)
Woman’s voice; yeh I know its been too long…god I’m so glad it’s a Friday couldn’t take another day of that.
James eyes dart to the left of the screen and the location of the voice.
POV shot of the woman walking towards the bus stop, on the phone and looking radiant and beautiful, she strolls by and throws James a quick glance and a smile recognising him from work.
Close up on James face as a blushing smile starts to appear which he tries to suppress.
Back to POV she is now past the bus stop and we see a glove drop from her purse as she jogs across the road to avoid a car.
Mid shot of James quickly standing up and rushing from his seat a look of concern on his face.
High angle mid shot of him leaning down to pick up the glove and rise to his feet with a nervous and lost look on his face, his lips are quivering like he wants to say something but his mouth wont let him.
Back to POV as woman is on other side of the road and making her way to a car with a man sitting inside it waiting, it has been waiting there for her there the whole time, possibly a boyfriend.
James; (nervously) erm…excuse ah…Excuse me…
We see the woman get off her mobile phone and into the car, James words have not caught her attention but the man in the car seems to be throwing him a menacing look, as the car pulls out and drives off he looks away.
Long wide shot from other side of road as we see James standing there staring off after the car looking deflated and defeated still clutching the glove in his hand. The bus pulls in at the stop thus blocking James and the rest of the shot.
We see a mid shot from in front of the bus slightly to the right as James gets of the bus and awkwardly makes his way towards the camera.
Cuts from mid long shot from behind, but on front of shop perfectly framing the shop front, with its green exterior and sign and the fruit, vegetable and newspaper stand out front. James is making his way to the shop door when two young men burst out with drinks in hand very boisterously behaved and loud.
Mid shot from side as James awkwardly gets by the men and through the shop door looking very worried. Trying to look invisible to the men almost intimidated.
We cut to a shot of him in side the shop, shot from one aisle over from him looking over the top of the display racks at the top of his head as he browses through the shop.
Mid close up on the products POV shot from his eyes looking at different cereals scanning along the shelf, this would possible be a tracking shot moving down the aisle.
We hear the sound of females from inside the shop. James looks up to see three young blondes leaving the shop wit a bag full of booze looking chirpy and ready for the weekend, still in POV, they leave the shop chatting and laughing as they do.
Close up on James face looking longingly after the girls, he wrinkles his nose to push his glasses again on his face.
Cut to mid shot from the side, looking at him standing there with two different cereal boxes in hand. He lifts them both higher and to his attention.
Over the shoulder shot looking down at the boxes he has in his hand, first we look over his left shoulder to see muesli, then the camera tracks a little to the other shoulder were we see him holding muesli light.
Cuts to close up on face from below as if looking up from where the cereal is, we see James face screwed up from scrutinising his decision.
Back to mid shot looking at him from the side we see him put back the muesli and start to walk towards the camera with the other box.
Quick cut off a close up of him throwing the box into his basket.
Mid shot from exterior of shop of him leaving the shop with his bags clutched in hand, he looks sheepishly around while he navigates his way out the door and walks off screen right.
Shot from top of stairwell at first we just see and empty stairwell, but hear the footsteps getting closer, he slowly make his way round the corner and walks half way up the stairs, before stopping leaning against the hand rail and drawing for breath.
Mid shot on the landing of his floor as he reaches the top of the stairs, walks a few steps down the landing and puts his bags down before reaching into his jacket and gets his keys and puts them in the door.
Cuts to inside the flat, high angle shot from living room looking down the corridor at the front door as he enters, drops his keys onto the side table and makes his way towards and into living room.
Mid shot of him as he enters the living room and takes off his coat to hang up on the coat rack. He carries his grocery bags out of shot.
Cut to inside kitchen were we see him take out his microwavable meal and prepare it, all done mid shot, he takes it from bag puts it on counter and removes packaging.
Series of close ups, on him poking holes in the cellophane on meal, then opening door of microwave and putting it inside, then on the timer of microwave as it reads 4 minutes, we hear a beep and the times starts to count down.
Back to high angle shot from front room living room as we see him walk back in to the room and to a small table.
Mid close up as he goes to a small radio and turns it on, we here static and different sounds of music and speech.
Close up on him twisting the knob as the sounds continue as he searches for his station, before settling on a talk show.
We hear dialogue about peoples love life, he has tuned into a radio talk show about love and relationships.
Radio – that was Lauren from Stoke telling us all about how lucky she is to be with her partner Derek, so if your listening Derek well done your obviously doing something right.
As this is happening James goes back to the kitchen and takes down a plate and gets a knife and fork and prepares his meal, close up of his steaming meal as he peels of the plastic, gives it a stir and leaves it to stand.
Mid close up on the radio, with the background out of focus and the radio in focus.
Radio - So to our next caller who I believe is Sadie, how are you love and how can we help you today on the love hour…..
Sadie - Hello Brian, I’m not bad thanks, I’m just a little lonely tonight since its another Friday and I’m sat alone listening to you…again
Brian – that’s a shame, but is there any particular reason your feeling this way.
Sadie – im just really lonely lately and I don’t know how to get over it, I been stuck in a rut for a while and just not sure how to get my self out of it.
In the blurred background we see him walk past the camera and into living room.
Mid shot from the front of him sit down and begin to eat his meal while listening.
Brian – well tell me how long has this been troubling you for Sadie.
Sadie – a while now, I been single for about two years now and haven’t ever seemed to recovered from being dumped, sometimes I get to lonely I feel like a prisoner in my own home, isolated from the outside world. My confidence seems to completely gone out the window I don’t seem to be able to handle myself around men any more. I just get really awkward and clumsy whenever I’m around guys I like, its so embarrassing
Brian – awh love don’t get to down about it, are their any guys you like at the moment then.
Sadie – well there is this one guy, he works at the same café as me, he’s really funny and sweet, and gorgeous as well. I doubt he even remembers my name though. I act such a fool in front of him he probably thinks I’m a total freak.
James pauses from eating his food, puts his fork down and get ups.
Cut to mid shot from the side as he goes to a chest of draws and opens the top draw and takes a box out.
Back to shot of him sitting down front on, this time he has a box on his lap, which he takes the top of off begins to look through.
Brian – don’t be so hard on yourself, have you let him know how you feel?
Sadie – I can barely bring myself to say hello in the morning let alone tell him how I feel, I get so shy around him and behave so silly in front of him I freeze up and don’t know how to act.
We see James take out a photo from his box and look at it intently.
Sadie – I think he is so great I just wish I could communicate with him with out acting a complete fool.
POV shot from James looking at the picture; it’s a picture of the girl whose glove he found at the bus stand.
Brian – Sadie love take it from me, confidence is all in your head, you have it in you to show this man what a wonderful interesting woman you are, you just need to take the initiative to show him, next time your at work wear a bit of perfume and dress you like and show him what sort of woman you are.
James looks to his left and reaches into his bag and pulls out the glove he found, he slowly brings it close to him looking intently at it.
Cuts to POV shot as he looks at the gloves in his hand his other hand strokes it.
Sadie – thanks Brian, oh god I hope he doesn’t listen to this show
Brian – (laughs) all right I’m sure your fine Sadie, and I hope everything turns out ok with you and your lover boy, if not then I’m sending this one out to you Hun.
Song starts to play, “I’m so tired of being alone” by Al Green.
We see a mid close up on James upper body and face as he lifts his hand up and pulls the glove on.
Cut to mid shot from behind the seat as he stands up and walks over to a mirror to his left, still with the picture in hand.
Shot from the side as he approaches the mirror and takes of his glasses, and puts them down in front of the mirror.
ECU of a picture of a Brunette woman stuck onto the top corner of his mirror, we see the picture pulled off revealing a blurred reflection of James, quickly replaced by the picture of the blonde woman from his office.
Mid shot looking from the right hand side from behind looking at James, his smiling reflection in the mirror is perfectly framed. He looks satisfied and walks away from the camera to the left and out the room.
The music heard a little less loudly we see him in a dark dingy bedroom; he approaches a locked door in the corner of his room and brings out a key from around his neck.
Close up on the key slowly turning in the lock.
Over the should shot from a slightly high angle as he slowly opens the door, we see a the brunette woman from the photo tied up and gagged on the floor, she has bruises on her face and looks scared and helpless.
Close up on her face as she slowly turns her face to look up and him with a broken petrified look on her face.
Low angle POV shot from the perspective of the woman looking up and him, we see James lit from above towering over her menacingly with a creepy grin on his face.
BLACK OUT
Title “All work and no play”, comes across screen with typewriter effect used.
Ive been paying great attention to the development of my leading character James, i think its vital in a short film for the lead role to be a strong character with depth, so that the audience can connect and empathize with him and his story.
There are certain changes i will be making to story and script to help make the character more believable and relevant to my audience, i want his life to not seem to dissimilar from the audiences own so they can connect to his story more.
I think that him working in a factory is a great idea since it carries the feel of him working within a big gray lifeless machine, and makes his work life seem very cold and repetitive like the work of a machine. However i think it doesn't allow my specific audience to connect with his life as much, I'm going to be showing my film to students and i think the idea of him working in an office is more relevant. It still carries the feel of a repetitive and mind numbing job, but puts it in more familiar surroundings, with memories of school or part time jobs may be called upon.
I also want to make the character more feeble and shy, i think having him work in an office achieves this better, he seems more tame and accessible. It also helps to develop the lonely and isolated side to his character, we see him alone in his office cubicle and it heightens that feel of him being alone and cut off from the surrounding world.
He is a revamped script with story and character changes, i also have developed it to the full five minutes. I have changes the name of the film from "James" to "All work and no play", i have done this with the intention of making the film more a story about society than one about a single mans story of social isolation, i want to make it more of a broad statement on our society.
I. Bored of his mundane life A. Repetitive soul crushing job 1. His work is very grey and dead and resembles the state of his life II. Lives with his mother still A. Hasn't experience much of what life has to offer 1. Is very sheltered from the outside world
III. Social isolation A. Very shy and retiring
1. Doesn't get out much or socialise a. Does have many friends and is very lonely IV. Does not have much confidence with the opposite sex A. Hasn't ever really has a meaning full relationship with a girl
1. Doesn't really understand woman, almost fears them
Here is a first rough draft script of the story I have been working on, there are slight issues i have with it and will be tweaking it as the development process continues, but for now i think it captures a lot of what I'm trying communicate.
James (working title)
Establishing shot; long low angle shot on a big run down looking grey factory, the angle and lighting heightens the intensity of the building and makes it seem even more grim and unpleasant.
We see a shot along the top of the fence with barbed wire all over it the fence surrounds the building we just saw, the cameras line of vision follows that of the fence and our perspective follows it down to show the sheer size of this building.
Close up on a big red sign on the grey wall of this building, Sign says “warning, do not enter, authorised personnel only”.
Loud siren goes off, as we cut to inside the building with a close up on a little red light that is flashing next to a big loudspeaker mounted on the wall.
Close up of a man pulling on his gloves, cuts quickly to close up of him zipping up his coat.
Now to mid shot of him from high angle as he walks along corridor to a door that he walks through all shot from behind.
We now see a mid close up on a conveyer belt with an assortment of metal piping on it, the conveyer belt running towards the camera and the piping passes by the shot.
Cut to a mid shot of a man-sitting front of the conveyer belt as the metal piping passes him by. His face looks uninterested and empty of all emotion and life, as his eyes follow the piping by, shifting from left to right in a robotic way.
Extreme close up on these eyes moving from side to side, lighting from above creates mood.
We cut to mid close up shot of halogen light bulb flickering on and off.
Close up on the mans face as he looks up at the flickering light, the flickering is seen in the shadows cast on and off his face. He looks back down.
POV from his perspective looking down at the conveyer belt moving past him with all the metal pipes flowing by. We see one defective pipe with a melted side.
Mid shot from front of him reaching out to take it off the conveyer belt.
Then close up from birds’ eye view of a hand reaching across a bin and dropping the pipe into it.
We then have a succession of quick cuts mainly close ups to create a really personal and intense insight into the characters daily routine at work, concentrating on the repetition of mundane tasks.
Close ups of eyes moving from side to side, works against the close mid shot from POV of James watching conveyer belt going by.
Flickering of light shot. Back to eyes shifting from side to side, cuts quickly to the conveyer belt shot where we see a faulty pipe, cuts to Birds’ eye view shot of James dropping the pipe into the bin.
All the while the sounds of the factory and machinery are getting louder and faster as the cutting of shots continues and increases in speed.
Shot of him cracking a can of coke close up on top of can, cuts to extreme close up of mouth taking a sip. Extreme close up from the side of conveyer belt as the pipes roll by they tower over the camera, which is positioned at a high angle at the bottom of the conveyer belt.
Back to ECU on James eyes watching the pipes roll by.
Hand reaching out to grab another pipe, cuts back to birds eye view shot from above bin as he drops the pipe in.
Close up from the side (in slow motion) as the pipe drops to the bottom of the bin and bounces a few times.
The sounds of the clanging of the steel pipe are heard (echoing), but all cut out as we hear the loud noise of the work siren
Cuts to shot of red light and loudspeaker on wall.
Close up of him punching in his card a the end of work, quick cut to shot of zipping up jacket, then to another close up of him taking off gloves. Mid shot of him slamming his locker door and walking out of the shot.
We cut to exterior shot of James leaving work, looking tired and unhappy he walks rapidly towards and past the camera.
I have been working on an idea for the last week or so, its not fully developed and the characters need depth and strengthening, but the skeleton for both are their and ready to be developed.
Its quite a dark tale of social isolation and sanity, or insanity in the case of my main character, its spawned from the idea of the people that exist within main stream society the sort of people you see all the time, working in a Taxi or a Factory, but the people that escape the luxuries of main stream society and become loners. I want to explore the physique of these kinds of characters, not often done in film i want to make the audience understand the characters troubles and life, and to be in the shoes of this character.
My film is inspired by the famous film "Taxi Driver" and its lead character, Travis Bickle, who is a social outcast, looked over by mainstream society and plagued with the problems of loneliness and social isolation. I want to incorporate a lot of the themes of this film into my own, the way that Travis yearns for female attention, but doesn't know quite how to act towards the opposite sex. Also his sense of pure isolation within his own mind as he feels no one understands him or can relate to his feelings and problems.
Although the idea i originally inspired by the film i will be purposefully pulling away from some of its main themes, i don't want to incorporate the violence that is in the mood of Scorsese's film through out, i want to explore a much more interesting and deeper side of the characters mind, seeing how he has become deranged socially and emotionally through his lack of interaction with other people.
