Writing the script

I found writing the first draft of the script really difficult. Although I had a clear image of how i want the film to look articulating that in the words or screen-writing is much harder then i envisioned. I am not entirely sure on all the correct terminology used in film making so I was limited on what I could say for the camera angles. I only know a few techniques i.e Point of view, pan shots, zoom in and piece to camera I incorporated these few pieces of knowledge into the first draft of my script. Overall I like the first draft but I know it needs more work, people in class mentioned when I showed my scene that the accident would be more dramatic if Jennie is seen getting hit by the car so I changed this scene in my script.

My Script Ideas

There are so many restrictions with creating a script for a short film not only do you have limited time and the characters still need to be engaging. Though the films previously seen in class were inspiring I still struggled with how to create a story that would not require large character development. Originally I wanted to develop a comedic story that was based on life experiences. This being a fear of killer balloons, (a balloon inflated itself spontaneously and then seemed to attack people). However, i then worried this idea may not be funny to others, or how I would convey this on screen to appeal to a large audience. I also considered the idea of a long distance relationship and how the relationship worked. I eventually decided against this idea due to the difficulty i had relating to the characters, and fitting the right amount of dialogue (too much or too little). Therefore I decided on a much more simple idea. Although this idea has many clichés, I felt overall it was a good idea and my vision of it was much more stronger then my previous ideas. I could envision camera shots, the dialogue and even the appeal to audiences. This idea is about a young girl who has a house party and is drugged and later run over by a car.

Sequence and The Graduate

A sequence is a collection of scenes that are linked together by causality or thematically. In 'The Graduate' when the main character Benjamin begins his affair with Mrs.Robinson you see a selection of scenes which establishes there encounters. Aside from being fantastically filmed it gives the audience a sense of the type of affair that is happening. The lack of emotions are integral so that we can feel a romance bloom when Benjamin meets Elaine.

The Apartment

The Apartment is a charming film from the 1960's , where a young man allows the world to take advantage of his kind nature. Everyone in his office uses his apartment for their liaisons with mistress. this leads to the protagonist getting promoted, but again only for the use of his apartment. Meanwhile his love for a co-worker takes interesting turns as she is in fact the mistress of the head of the company. Though the boss mistreats this women  she succumbs to him. all until our protagonist gets some courage to stand up for himself and her. The entire film is beatifully acted and enjoyable to watch. In class we focused mostly on the reversal of fortunes, this is common in most films and stories. A character will start with one status and then become another by the end. Within the scene, where Baxter thinks he is getting a promotion, we watch the reversal of fortune and status.

Keys to a good script ~1

Your characters should always be engaging otherwise the script long or short will not work. If a character does not develope or change by the end of the story in some way. Otherwise the audience will not engage in what happens. relation to the characters on screen, and watching someone grow or the fortunes change is enjoyable to watch.  This key list of actions should be in your characters.
Character Motivations 
Activities ~ this is the smallest unit (ecpressing through doing something i.e. eating, singing etc)
Actions ~ the drive toward an objective (could be physical but is usually dialouge)
Objective~ the goal of the character (what they want to achieve i.e. love, money, revenege etc)
Super-objectives~ all of the above plays into this (the main arc of the story/character)

Une Robe D'éte

Une robe d'ete is a french short film, the title in english translates as A Summer Dress. The film works in a peculiar artistic tone, with some nudity and sex scenes. The basic plotline is a young male, on holiday with a friend, he ventures out to a beach alone, where he encounters a female and has sex. In this time his clothes are stolen so she lends him her dress to which he returns home in to then have sex with his male friend. I am not sure what the entire plotline is trying to convey. The brief nudity and causuality of sex, would suggest a comming of age story, the exploration of sexuality. The film is fairly short and direct and although not explicit is filmed cleverly enough to show almost softcore porn element.

Meshes of the afternoon

This film is incredibly spooky, which indicates great imagination from the creators and people involved in making this short movie. The entire piece works as a dream sequence with great work camera work used to portray this. The repetition used really catches the mindset and inconsistency of a dream. There is some excellent camera work to indicate struggles for example the women attempting to get up the stairs but wind or some unseen force is stopping her. Another good example is her walking across many different setting i.e. the sand, pavements etc.  So much artistic vision is used in this film that makes the audience uneasy of what exactly is happening.  The whole thing is full of ambiguity and I feel leaves the audience open to their own interpetations. Others who have viewed this film via Youtube have agreed with my statements and claim that some cinema is simply an art form left open for interoperation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S03Aw5HULU

Lunch Date

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epuTZigxUY8

The lunch date is a highly amusing film with made in in 1989. The film is beautifully shot in black and white which really gives the movie an atmospheric feel.  I believe that the choice of soundtrack and the black and white is a clever move as it gives the audience a false sense of film noir which reflects our judgements of the story. The setting of a train station also is a nice cinematic choice with the audience relating to the stress and joys of them. The overall storyline moves quickly with humour and drama included. The main character has a very specific characterisations laid out from the beginning of the movie, indicating she is somewhat racist and in general a snob. Small details down to her wiping the table and forgetting her please and thank you conveys this. I also like the director choice to allow her to walk past a begging black man after her experaince which you believe may have changed her.  The humour that one could mistake a person for stealing there food is a nice twist and funny to boot, yet adds some more character as the man and her almost bond over a cup of tea.