Initial notes on short films

Complete as a blog post

Include examples of your influences (especially from our short film list)

Include visuals wherever possible (images and videos)

Will develop as we go through screenwriting process

Need a subheading and section for each of the following:

Synopsis (a one to three paragraph summary of your film’s story – written as a short story. May also include any thematic issues here too.)

Characters (a succinct description of the appearance, character and background of one or two of your main characters – no more than a paragraph each. May also include any representational issues here too)

Narrative (an explanation of the narrative structures and devices your film will use – no more than identifying the technique then explaining how you will use it – less is more)

Mise-en-scene (an explanation of the setting (era, area), key locations and key costume points in your film – particularly visual here)

Aesthetics (an explanation of the camera, editing and lighting style your film will aim for – particularly visual here)

Sound (an explanation of the diegetic and non diegetic sound – how you will achieve multi-layered effect – audio examples here)

The Brief (Identify which of the strands of the brief your film will follow – and how your film will meet it)

Characters 

Annabel is a naive character, she is unsure of herself and harbours deep seated guilt from the short affair she had with her sisters husband, which resulted in the birth of her son. Her mental and physical health is deteriorating, making her an unreliable narrator. She is very typically feminine, submissive and dependent on other people for validation and most things. She is more spiritual than pragmatic, coming of as warm but some what insecure. She is the younger sister and looks up to her older sister Catherine. In relation to a fictional character, maybe Daisy Buchanan from Great Gatsby.

Catherine is sure of herself, she is resentful of her more feminine sister who had an affair and a child from that affair with Catherine's husband. She is unable to forgive this partly due to a jealousy that runs deep in her, stemming from how everything seems to come so easy to Annabel due to her looks and her femininity. Catherine is more masculine in her character, she has struggled to achieve success in her life leading to a more callous exterior. She comes of as cold, with a dominant personality that leans towards pragmatism. She is also infertile. She outwardly blames her Husbands infidelity solely on her sister, however internally blames herself and her infertility and more masculine character.

Narrative 

Merging the past and present with a linear narrative where past events coincide with the happening present event (Lynne Ramsey's The Swimmer) 

Mise En Scene

Nearly all natural setting, using forests and fields and lakes etc. Annabel is explicitly feminine in her clothing, dress and possibly heels (if practical), Catherine will be a mix of feminine and masculine in her clothing, maybe a smart shirt and blazer top half and skirt bottom half. Use a variety of imagery connoting religion, femininity, sacrifice and more. 

Aesthetics 

Natural lighting will be mostly used as well as candle light and red or amber lighting. The camera will be objective and subjective in its perspective (meshes of the afternoon), using a variety of different shots.  The editing may confusingly cut between objective and subjective shots at time.

Sound 

Non diegetic sound will be used similarly to the Swimmer, with some more nostalgic songs with creepy undertones like Tip toe through the Tulips by Tiny Tim and purely nostalgic older music like 'Changing Partners (Feat. Helen Forrest) by Jonny Greenwood, as well as more intense music and the sorrowful echoes of They Ran by My Morning Jacket or What wall I Do? by the same artist. The music should however track the emotional journey of the story. Diegetic sound will be largely natural with chirping birds and some dialogue. 

The Brief 

Conflict between the two characters, mostly verbal but partly physical

Synopsis 

Crawling along the white petals of a lily two minute ants deviously plan in some strange language, as spider thin fingers plant the lily into fertile soil. Annabel's blue eyes framed by delicate lashes peppered blood like rain sweeping the ants away in a flood. Harsh and fast like a mechanism Catherine's brawn and boot beat down the flower, crushing it as she lay a firm hand on her sisters silk adorned shoulder. "You are dying". The words left her mouth before it opened spoken through her statue face. Catherine wiped the blood from under her sisters light eyes with her heavy fingers. "W-w-what? It can't be my time, please Cathy help me!" Annabel's words carried on the wind as it whispered and whistled, the birds replied with the ravens song but a Cuckoo sung louder. "Yes, you are dying, i am quite certain".






Emotional journey

unity and friendship - growing older and growing disunity - resentment and disunity




Chapter 1: The field
- Childhood unity and friendship

Chapter 2: The forest
- Influence and difference (growing disunity)

Chapter 3: The Lake
- Resentment and disunity

Chapter 4: The Ant Nest
- Sacrifice and tragedy