Sunday 10 May 2009
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Production Dairy
19.4.2009
well, basically i shot all of the character MICHAEL'S dialogue, the meeting between MICHAEL and MICHELLE, and we started to shoot MICHELLE'S dialogue, but due to bad like, we were unable to continue shooting. few bloopers but we managed to see the day out filming.
21.4.2009
today we re-shot the start of MICHELLE'S dialogue. shot more than i needed but acting was very precise and we were able to fly through shooting without many problems. all in all good days filming, good light everything
well, basically i shot all of the character MICHAEL'S dialogue, the meeting between MICHAEL and MICHELLE, and we started to shoot MICHELLE'S dialogue, but due to bad like, we were unable to continue shooting. few bloopers but we managed to see the day out filming.
21.4.2009
today we re-shot the start of MICHELLE'S dialogue. shot more than i needed but acting was very precise and we were able to fly through shooting without many problems. all in all good days filming, good light everything
Monday 30 March 2009
Serendipity Script
SERENDIPITY
Written By
Tom Houghton
EXT. STREET – MORNING – ESTABLISHING SHOT
BLACK AND WHITE
In BLACK AND WHITE, a male walks into frame from the left hand side of the camera, here we meet the character MICHAEL. The camera tracks towards MICHAEL when he walks on past the camera, when camera starts to track him the picture goes from BLACK AND WHITE to COLOUR. After tracking the camera turns to face the character MICHAEL.
Medium Shot, this is constant throughout.
MICHAEL
Well, I take it you’ve heard the saying “great minds think alike”, it’s always a wee concept I could never seem to get my head around, I mean what are the odds of two people actually...
CUTS TO
MICHELLE
... thinking alike, I mean I just think that it is highly unlikely, but hey, believe what you wana believe, I just think that it seems highly unlikely to think alike let alone...
CUTS TO
MICHAEL
...meet someone who thinks like me or you, one in six billion chance of it ever happening I think. To be fair like, I would say...
SPLIT SCREEN
The next piece of dialogue is spoken simultaneously.
MICHAEL
I’m a fairly unique Guy...
MICHELLE
I’m a fairly unique Girl...
CUTS TO
MICHELLE
But if I was to meet someone who thinks like me, then, in all fairness I’d probably find it a bit weird...
MICHAEL
I’d find it kinda interesting. (Pause) If I was to ever meet this person then he, or she, won’t laugh or judge me if I was to tell them I love...
MICHELLE
... The Transformers. (Excitedly) Oh My God, I love that film, especially when... sorry going slightly off topic here, anyway, oh yeah, even if I were to meet some guy, or girl who thinks exactly as I do, what would I say back to them, “Hi, I think exactly as you do, wanna get a coffee?” Nah, didn’t think so...
MICHAEL
... I think they would know exactly what I’d ask them, or it would be more like one of them times, yano, where people...
MICHAEL and MICHELLE
Talk at the same time
MICHAEL
...and end up sayin’ the same thing, or whenever you bump into someone and then you step aside at the same time and there’s always that sense of bewilderment afterwards. So you can probably tell that’s never happened to me, and at the minute I’m not...
MICHELLE
... in a relationship at the moment, and I suppose like most single people will tell you...
SPLIT SCREEN
Dialogue again spoken simultaneously and both characters looking directly at the camera, use of medium close up
MICHAEL
I’m looking for the right girl...
MICHELLE
I’m looking for the right guy...
Split screen again showing two characters looking across the street to see a couple walking past on the opposite side of the road. MICHELLE continues to talk.
MICHELLE
Now believe me, I have tried looking for a guy, but I’m sure you know its not easy, I mean first you’ve gotta find a guy...
MICHAEL
...Then if you like them you have to buy them a drink and whatnot, get to know them, then after that you have to...
MICHELLE
... Ask him for his number and then do the whole promise to call them nonsense and in all fairness I just think that it’s just... GRR *clenches fists*... and yeah, it’s just a long and awkward process, plus a lot of the time knowing my luck I end up...
MICHAEL
Pullin’ the biggest melt in the place! But that’s a different story for another time (laughs to himself), so yeah, you can see why I would think that meeting someone who thinks alike would be an interesting experience...
MICHELLE
... Actually, thinking about it now, meeting someone who thinks exactly the same as me would be nice, but like I said, it’s a long shot...
MICHAEL
... pft! And they say it’s a small world. Well I suppose that even though it would be interesting. I just don’t think it’ll ever happen I mean like I said...
Dialogue spoken simultaneously and during split screen
MICHAEL
It’s one in six billion
MICHELLE
It’s one in six billion
EXT. OUTSIDE TWO HOUSES – LONG SHOT
Both characters come into frame from either side of the camera, as they both come towards the middle of the picture they bump shoulders and stop to apologise to each other.
MICHAEL and MICHELLE
Sorry!
The two characters go to step away but move the same way at the same time; they both give off a nervous laugh. The camera cuts to a medium shot of both characters, there is a long pause, they both laugh nervously as if they do not know what else to say to each other, both characters having the same nervous disposition, fixing their hair.
The camera shows head shots of the two characters as they both laugh, they then walk on past each other, the camera in a fixed position watching them walk away from each other, they both take a second to glance back at each other at different times and they then walk off screen. Picture then changes from BLACK AND WHITE to COLOUR; the camera tilts upwards, finishes with a voiceover from both characters, said simultaneously.
MICHAEL
(Voiceover)
Wow, she was hot.
MICHELLE
(Voiceover)
Wow, he was hot.
FADES TO BLACK
Monday 23 March 2009
Narrative Structure
Narrative Structure
Exposition: We meet both characters, Michael and Michelle.
Development: We have both characters discussing the concept of “great minds think alike” we have them talking and finishing each others sentences from their two different locations.
Complication: The characters talking about the idea that they’ll never meet anyone who will think alike and that they may have to live a life only wondering.
Climax: The two characters meet for the first time; they do not know how to react to each other.
Resolution: They walk on past each other after bumping into each other; they give a glancing look back at each other
Exposition: We meet both characters, Michael and Michelle.
Development: We have both characters discussing the concept of “great minds think alike” we have them talking and finishing each others sentences from their two different locations.
Complication: The characters talking about the idea that they’ll never meet anyone who will think alike and that they may have to live a life only wondering.
Climax: The two characters meet for the first time; they do not know how to react to each other.
Resolution: They walk on past each other after bumping into each other; they give a glancing look back at each other
Monday 16 February 2009
Statement of Intentions
My Short Film takes place in a small town, involving two characters, one male, one female, Michael and Michelle. Both characters throughout the film explore the idea of “Great Minds Think Alike” and how they would like to meet someone who thinks alike to them, but are sceptical to the idea.
Both characters however are oblivious to each others existence only until the very end. Throughout the whole film the camera intercuts between their two separate locations, them starting and finishing sentences and always referring back to how two people can not think exactly the same and it would be extremely unlikely to meet anyone like that in their own lifetime.
Each whenever one character leaves a particular location the focus then moves towards the other character but for the entire film it is intentional that they do not meet each other until the very end, this adds a sense of tension as we wonder whether the two characters will meet at the end of the film.
It is only at the end of the film where we realise that they are living next door to one another and as they both come into frame from either side of the camera, they bump shoulders, apologise to each other at the same time and the walk off continuing with their own lives, still oblivious to the other leaving the audience the only ones who know the truth.
I decided not to have a love interest between the two characters as it seemed more dramatic to have them live next door to each other but have them completely oblivious to one another’s existence although at the end whether a love interest between both characters could manifest is left ambiguous.
For My short film, as my main influences I plan to look at the works of two film directors, one being David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) and the other being Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, Rear Window). Both directors for different reasons, David Fincher in particular for his use of his central characters directly speaking to the camera, making us relate to the characters, this is apparent in his film “Fight Club” where Edward Norton’s character is telling us about Tyler Durdan (Brad Pitt) what he does for a living and whenever Norton’s character starts to talk about going to group sessions he attends and the introduction of Marla Singer.
This technique in my film is very useful for me as throughout my film the two central characters are going to be talking to the camera in order for the audience to relate more to them.
I am hoping to emulate the particular camera styles and techniques that Alfred Hitchcock uses in his films; this is mainly because this style is considered as a hitchcockian trait and effective. Or rather than starting the film directly in the room/apartment have the camera start outside and then work its way up, this then makes the audience want to know where the camera is going to move to next. This particular use of camera technique and style is used in particular in the Hitchcock film “Psycho” the opening credits start off and the camera starts off panning across roof tops dissolving closer to the smaller buildings. I shall use this style in my film in particular for when the characters look onwards towards a happy couple, giving us a sense of what we can see through the characters eyes, this is apparent in the film “Rear Window” when the camera tracks around the courtyard, we see the courtyard through the eyes of the character “L. B. Jefferies” I plan to use these camera styles and techniques to make the audience aware that where the camera is focusing in on is going to be one of the central focus points of the film. I plan to use these camera style/techniques to make it seem like the camera is following these two subjects but also they are aware that the camera is there almost. This form of camera style is very Hitchockian and also very effective.
I plan to use these techniques to make the audience feel a sense of realism in my movie also having the camera track to the first character makes the audience feel as if this person is involved in the film in some way. The use of the two characters talking directly to the camera and the audience makes the audience relate to the characters, which is what I set out to achieve in my short film also, as if by fate, the two characters meet for the first time in the film, but they do not exchange pleasantries, they simply bump shoulders, apologise and walk on, I want the audience to feel some form of sympathy for the two characters as they believe they’ll never meet anyone who thinks and acts as they do and when they cross paths for the first time, they don’t talk or attempt to make conversation.
Other films that have the use of dual narrative which is what I hope to achieve in my short movie is shown in the movie “Vantage Point” in this movie the story is told from several different perspectives to intertwine together to form the main story and to then lead to the inevitable resolve.
In my short film I hope to have a lot of intercutting throughout the middle part of the film, where both characters are talking and finishing each others sentences. The use of intercutting is used in Finchers “Fight Club” where Brad Pitt’s character tells Edward Norton’s character to say “This conversation is over” to Helena Bonham Carter’s character. As Pitts’ character says one part of the sentence, it cuts between Norton repeating, this continues to when Norton’s characters closes the door, one taking the lead and the other following, the camera intercutting while this happens.
My short film itself I have decided to make it look as realistic as possible, using a lack additional lighting, the use of a split screen for particular parts of dialogue, straight cuts for whenever one point is finished by the other character, using these styles and editing styles rather than the likes of a cross dissolve cross dissolve. Make the film and what is happening in the film seem more realistic and that is how I intend to make my audience feel, as if this is actually happening. I also want my audience to feel as if this could happen to them, using the title “serendipity”, finding something by accident, or by fate also makes them feel that in life you never really know what’s around the corner.
Both characters however are oblivious to each others existence only until the very end. Throughout the whole film the camera intercuts between their two separate locations, them starting and finishing sentences and always referring back to how two people can not think exactly the same and it would be extremely unlikely to meet anyone like that in their own lifetime.
Each whenever one character leaves a particular location the focus then moves towards the other character but for the entire film it is intentional that they do not meet each other until the very end, this adds a sense of tension as we wonder whether the two characters will meet at the end of the film.
It is only at the end of the film where we realise that they are living next door to one another and as they both come into frame from either side of the camera, they bump shoulders, apologise to each other at the same time and the walk off continuing with their own lives, still oblivious to the other leaving the audience the only ones who know the truth.
I decided not to have a love interest between the two characters as it seemed more dramatic to have them live next door to each other but have them completely oblivious to one another’s existence although at the end whether a love interest between both characters could manifest is left ambiguous.
For My short film, as my main influences I plan to look at the works of two film directors, one being David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) and the other being Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, Rear Window). Both directors for different reasons, David Fincher in particular for his use of his central characters directly speaking to the camera, making us relate to the characters, this is apparent in his film “Fight Club” where Edward Norton’s character is telling us about Tyler Durdan (Brad Pitt) what he does for a living and whenever Norton’s character starts to talk about going to group sessions he attends and the introduction of Marla Singer.
This technique in my film is very useful for me as throughout my film the two central characters are going to be talking to the camera in order for the audience to relate more to them.
I am hoping to emulate the particular camera styles and techniques that Alfred Hitchcock uses in his films; this is mainly because this style is considered as a hitchcockian trait and effective. Or rather than starting the film directly in the room/apartment have the camera start outside and then work its way up, this then makes the audience want to know where the camera is going to move to next. This particular use of camera technique and style is used in particular in the Hitchcock film “Psycho” the opening credits start off and the camera starts off panning across roof tops dissolving closer to the smaller buildings. I shall use this style in my film in particular for when the characters look onwards towards a happy couple, giving us a sense of what we can see through the characters eyes, this is apparent in the film “Rear Window” when the camera tracks around the courtyard, we see the courtyard through the eyes of the character “L. B. Jefferies” I plan to use these camera styles and techniques to make the audience aware that where the camera is focusing in on is going to be one of the central focus points of the film. I plan to use these camera style/techniques to make it seem like the camera is following these two subjects but also they are aware that the camera is there almost. This form of camera style is very Hitchockian and also very effective.
I plan to use these techniques to make the audience feel a sense of realism in my movie also having the camera track to the first character makes the audience feel as if this person is involved in the film in some way. The use of the two characters talking directly to the camera and the audience makes the audience relate to the characters, which is what I set out to achieve in my short film also, as if by fate, the two characters meet for the first time in the film, but they do not exchange pleasantries, they simply bump shoulders, apologise and walk on, I want the audience to feel some form of sympathy for the two characters as they believe they’ll never meet anyone who thinks and acts as they do and when they cross paths for the first time, they don’t talk or attempt to make conversation.
Other films that have the use of dual narrative which is what I hope to achieve in my short movie is shown in the movie “Vantage Point” in this movie the story is told from several different perspectives to intertwine together to form the main story and to then lead to the inevitable resolve.
In my short film I hope to have a lot of intercutting throughout the middle part of the film, where both characters are talking and finishing each others sentences. The use of intercutting is used in Finchers “Fight Club” where Brad Pitt’s character tells Edward Norton’s character to say “This conversation is over” to Helena Bonham Carter’s character. As Pitts’ character says one part of the sentence, it cuts between Norton repeating, this continues to when Norton’s characters closes the door, one taking the lead and the other following, the camera intercutting while this happens.
My short film itself I have decided to make it look as realistic as possible, using a lack additional lighting, the use of a split screen for particular parts of dialogue, straight cuts for whenever one point is finished by the other character, using these styles and editing styles rather than the likes of a cross dissolve cross dissolve. Make the film and what is happening in the film seem more realistic and that is how I intend to make my audience feel, as if this is actually happening. I also want my audience to feel as if this could happen to them, using the title “serendipity”, finding something by accident, or by fate also makes them feel that in life you never really know what’s around the corner.
Film Treatment
Film Treatment
Title: Serendipity
Duration: 4 - 5 minutes
Main Characters:
Michael – one of the main focus points of the film, he believes he is “one in six billion” and that he’ll never meet someone who thinks exactly the same but would love to.
Michelle – the other main focus point of the film, she like Michael also believes that she is “one in six billion” and that she wont ever meet anyone like her, at the start she is sceptical about the idea but then her opinions change come the end of the film just before meeting Michael.
Synopsis: Fades in and begins in the street, the camera then works its way towards the male character. The character notices the camera and starts to talk to almost talk to the audience/camera. As he makes general conversation, he starts to talk about the concept of “Great Minds Think Alike” as he talks about this the camera cuts towards the female character also talking about the idea of great minds thinking alike, finishing the sentence that the male character had started in the other room. This continues to a particular point where the audience then realises that the two characters are both characters are completely oblivious. Then both character come to the point that they would love to meet someone who thinks alike as them, they both turn the corner to walk towards their houses and then they bump shoulders, they apologise but there is a nervous pause from both characters, they don’t know what to say to each other, as they go to walk away from each other they step to the same side at the same time, then they pass each other and walk on living next door to each other which we find out in the end.
Soundtrack/ Score: naturalistic soundtrack. Emphasising the background noises possibly to keep this realistic state of mind continuous.
Creative Intention: To make the audience relate to both characters, that there could very well be a person who thinks and does the same as one particular person. To create a very realistic setting and environment. Make the audience believe that this could actually happen to them.
Title: Serendipity
Duration: 4 - 5 minutes
Main Characters:
Michael – one of the main focus points of the film, he believes he is “one in six billion” and that he’ll never meet someone who thinks exactly the same but would love to.
Michelle – the other main focus point of the film, she like Michael also believes that she is “one in six billion” and that she wont ever meet anyone like her, at the start she is sceptical about the idea but then her opinions change come the end of the film just before meeting Michael.
Synopsis: Fades in and begins in the street, the camera then works its way towards the male character. The character notices the camera and starts to talk to almost talk to the audience/camera. As he makes general conversation, he starts to talk about the concept of “Great Minds Think Alike” as he talks about this the camera cuts towards the female character also talking about the idea of great minds thinking alike, finishing the sentence that the male character had started in the other room. This continues to a particular point where the audience then realises that the two characters are both characters are completely oblivious. Then both character come to the point that they would love to meet someone who thinks alike as them, they both turn the corner to walk towards their houses and then they bump shoulders, they apologise but there is a nervous pause from both characters, they don’t know what to say to each other, as they go to walk away from each other they step to the same side at the same time, then they pass each other and walk on living next door to each other which we find out in the end.
Soundtrack/ Score: naturalistic soundtrack. Emphasising the background noises possibly to keep this realistic state of mind continuous.
Creative Intention: To make the audience relate to both characters, that there could very well be a person who thinks and does the same as one particular person. To create a very realistic setting and environment. Make the audience believe that this could actually happen to them.
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