Film Ideas

These are 3 possible ideas which I could create and make into a short film. 

Following suit of the boutique production company, "Whitestone Motion Pictures", they each have a moral meaning and message which is presented through the duration of each film.

They are as follows; 

Short Film Idea 1 

The story line for this short film idea is primarily presented to the audience in reverse chronology. The basis for the story is set on a girl being convicted of murder, but at the end of the short film it actually shows that she didn’t kill the victim, but rather the victim committed suicide and that the main character was actually trying to prevent it.

The short film opens with an In Medias Res (translated to; in the midst of things), of a fade-in to a close-up of the actresses face. The whole event is in slow motion and is primarily silent apart from the occasional diegetic sound of the main character’s heavy breathing, and towards then end the sound of the police officer.

The camera is a pan shot back from a female teenager/early 20’s standing still and looking distant. There is a blue flashing light being reflected on her face, although from what is unknown.  The camera still tracking backward, reveals that the character has blood on her hands. As the camera tracks further it is visible that there a policemen in the background running and that the flashing light washing coming from a police car. The character then looks down to reveal that there is a dead body at the base of her feat and that there are police officers tending to them. She then returns her gaze forward, still looking distant.

The next scene fades in and is located in a court room and consists of a mid shot of the main character standing behind the prosecutors/defendant stand being asked questions about the event by the prosecutor. During which the main character is visibly affected although does not break down.  The screen then cuts out; however there is still the diegetic sound of the courtroom. The sound then cuts out too, but resumes with the persecutor asking the jury whether they find the defendant guilty or not. When the jury announce that they find the main character to be guilty the screen comes back in revealing a close-up of the main characters face to show her reaction.  <she could possibly be show a picture of the dead person>

The following scene is of a long shot, where the main character is lying on a bed in her prison cell and looking at a photograph. It then cuts to a picture of her face and then to a point of view shot of the image which reveals to be of her and the victim. Thus showing the audience that they actually knew one another and that they were friends (suggested by the fact that in the image they have their arm around one another and are smiling). The camera then goes back to the close-up of the main character showing her crying, and wiping the tears away. This scene ends with the character closing her eyes and the screen cutting to a black screen.

The final scene consists of a long shot of both the main character and the victim sitting outside on the ground at night. The victim is holding a knife to herself and the main character is shouting at her (the victim) to put it down. Both characters are crying and it is revealed to the audience that the victim is actually trying to kill them self. Using a mid-shot the characters, the victim then stabs the knife in their abdomen and the camera changes to a close-up of their face. In a wide shot, the main character then screams and holds the victim as she starts to collapse to the floor. Holding the victim in her arms the main characters starts to cry and in a close-up of her face she starts to talk to the victim. The camera then reveals, using a mid-shot of both character, that they are both covered in blood and that the victim is close to death. When the victim has died the main character then pulls the knife out of her lifeless body and holds it in her hand whilst calling for help. The screen goes black whilst the audio is of calling for help. The screen returns to reveal her standing in the same position as the opening sequence of the short film. The opening sequence then replays.

Then main point of this short film is to be thought provoking for the audience and as a whole is designed to show the audience that they should not judge people on how they look and make judgement on people and situations they do not fully understand. 

Hopefully, when the opening sequence is replayed at the end the audience will have a completely different emotion towards the main character. As at the beginning they might be resentful and dislike the main character for being a murder, whilst at the end they are pitiful and like them as they realise that they were actually trying to save the victim. 

 Short Film Idea 2 

The short film follows a teenage female protagonist who is being bullied. It shows the defence mechanisms she uses in order to cope with the bullying. Whenever she is bullied, she goes into her own world. In her own world, she is with a girl of a similar age; however their connection to the protagonist is unknown. One time when she is bullied, a person finds out and tells her that she needs to confront the bullies. When the protagonist does confront the group of bullies then beat her up to a greater extent. At this point within the film, it is revealed that the protagonist is gay and that her girlfriend killed herself. When the protagonist tries to use her defence mechanism and go into her own world, she ends up reliving the memory of finding her girlfriend dead after committing suicide. Within this scene it is revealed that the person within her own world was actually her (dead) girlfriend. After this, the protagonist is unable to cope and after the brutal beating she goes home and commits suicide in a similar fashion to her girlfriend.  

This short film is designed to show the harsh reality of bullying and was based on the hurtful events of the multiple gay suicides which occurred in 2010 in America.

Short Film Idea 3 

 This film idea consists of the story of a girl who is in an abusive relationship. It shows how she uses her imagination to get away from the abuse which she suffers and endures from her partner/boyfriend.

It follows her as she first, tries to unsuccessfully fight him when he jealously attacks her, but as the story progresses she loses hope and gives in the abuse. During the film she creates a defence mechanism of going within her own head to escape from the abuse.

As the short film progresses the protagonist relies more and more upon her defence mechanism to cope with the events within her life. 

This is until she sees that she needs to cope with what is happening and stop her partner from attacking her. She then takes charge and finds the courage to walk away from her abusive partner. The short film would then end with her calling the police, and the last shot would be a close up of her face smiling with relief as she finishes calling the police.

My intention would be to have the abuse and defence mechanism scenes being split and both being shown on screen. This would then show the audience that they are happening simultaneously. Furthermore, I would also match the actions within both of the scenes. For example, as the protagonist is moving with the force of her partner, she could be in her own world dancing with the same movements. 

The design and moral message of this short film would be to show audience’s that they have the power to control their lives. Additionally, that they have the power within themselves to be strong and get through horrible and difficult situations. 

 Short Film Idea 4

This short film idea is about two teenage girls who live opposite one another and are very similar in character, but have never met due to their social class. Through the film they are only able to communicate through the use of writing messages on pieces of paper through the windows.  The film follows the two characters first meeting and then the development of their friendship.  

The short film opens with a blank screen, music is playing. Using a split screen, an image on the right will appear of a girl sitting on the floor, holding one hand towards the centre of the screen. This then fades out, and on the other side of the screen (the left) an image of another girl is presented sitting is the mirror position of the previous girl. This then fades out, and then both of the shots are placed next to one another, which is designed to show the contrast between the two characters. This will be created through the mise-en scene; the set, costumes and the use of colour symbolism, which I intend to use in this short film. Following this, the title of the short film will then fade in at the top of the screen, to which the split screen of the two girls will fade out into black screen, leaving the title.

At the beginning of the short film, the girls come to notice each other from living opposite. They then start writing to one another on pieces of paper and keep contact and make conversation through the notes. They introduce themselves to one another, which will primarily act as a method of introducing the protagonists/ characters to the audience.

The short film focuses upon the idea/concept of not restricting yourself because of certain groups and social groups, but rather, to be friends with people who you want.