Film opening- initial ideas

Initial  ideas

Horror-Forrest chase (panicking traveller and axe wielding killer)

Action- Russian hacker (hacker tries to gain access into FBI but gets captured by police)

Sci-fi- Alien invasion (aliens attack a school and have to be captured by the alien busters)

*Autobiography- Old war story (veteran speaks about his past war experiences)

(Callum) Noir- Following a detective as he reflects on his personal and work life

The beginning of the short film will start with the main character (Fritz Christen) Fritz will start with introducing himself and explaining what kind of stories he'll be talking about from his past (with a German accent). He'll welcome the audience as if they're in front of him and asking them to take a seat with him. The camera will slowly pan around him showing the man in full. He'll start to slowly speak (due to his old age) about his first engagement into war. 

After he begins one of his stories a short flashback will start going along with what he's saying. The first story will be about how he was drafted into war and taken from his home and wife (which the flash back will illustrate). The second story will be about his first battle engagement where he was stuck in the trenches and unable to get up. 

The story will be ended with Fritz telling about how at the end of the war he received medals for his bravery during the war. The flash back will appear showing him and a general pinning medals to his jacket and then saluting. He will then tell the audience to leave him as he's tired and wants to sleep, the camera will slowly move backwards away from him as the scene darkens and finally turns black and a quiet voice is heard saying "The battle may have ended, but the war goes on" and then the credits role showing the name of the film and a photograph of Fritz.

Comments:
Hard to film flash backs
Character for the veteran
Filming trench scene
Unique story
Large cast needed
Time scale difficulties

Evaluation

From the comments I decided to change the reading character from being Fritz to being Fritz's grandson as it would've been difficult to find someone that looks to be that age. I changed to end of the film to the grandson reading that his grandfather was awarded medals for war crimes and decides to burn the book at the end. The scenes after the medal awarding flash back will show the room empty with a breeze and then the book will be shown being burnt.

In the end we chose to go with the biography short film about the WW2 soldier story. We chose this idea as we thought that it could be fleshed out the most. The film idea uses a lot of different editing and filming techniques when it comes to the flash back scenes as they would have to be interchanged smoothly from the present to the far past.


Callum's idea

The idea I have created is a horror, the idea is very generic however it is simple and effective. the film will begin with establishing shots of the scene, it will combine a  range of shots which would include wide and close up shots of the scene. the main character will enter the frame wondering aimlessly, it is possible that he/she is looking for someone however, they have got lost looking for something. the character is unaware but they are being watched by someone, their identity will remain ambiguous  until the end. the audience won't get a clear view of the watcher until later in the film 

as the story progresses, the main character will still be wondering around looking for something. the areas in which this will be shot will be abandoned, therefore the character will be alone for most of the film. the character will receive a call from the person they are looking for, this lost character will tell them to go to an isolated area because that's where the are waiting

upon arrival, the main character is confused-the area is secluded and their friend is not there. the character attempts to leave but the watcher prevents them from going anywhere. the watcher is masked and carrying a weapon. the watcher attacks them and the main character and the realise that the watcher is their friend- the friend has led them into a trap

Synopsis 

The story takes place in a modern era but uses flashbacks to tell the main story of the war character being talked about by the young male character. Flashbacks show the story as the narrator tells the audience what he's reading from the book. The book tells the story of Fritz who was the grandfather of the reader. The grandson finds out what his grandfather really did during the war and experiences a fierce breakdown. 


Ending scene: Slow motion rage scene. Breaking glass and ripping book. Character runs into the field as camera goes into low angle, screen fades and title appears



Title ideas:
The Edge of Weeping
The First End
The Hollow Fable







Script

[Camera goes into room]
Joe- Welcome to my humble abode. My name is Joe Fritz, I hear you're interested in the history of my family. Come in and listen to my voice, relax and have a seat.
[Camera moves the the right of the room]
[Joe presents the book in his hands]
Joe- This book holds the secrets of my grandfathers legacy. 
[Joe opens book as the camera moves back to the middle of the room]
Flash back begins with Fritz's mother reading his letter Joe- His first words say "Mother, I have been drafted for out countries service. I must fight for our land, goodbye and farewell". 
Joe- The war brought many things with it, anger, sadness, fear but my grandfather knew that his duty was to give his life for his country.
[Camera pans in onto expression of Joe, Joe has one tear falling]
[Flash back of trench warfare, narration over the scene as camera zooms in]
Joe- Young men being taken by dictators to be slain, humanity was a term forgotten by the world
[3 Second pause]
Joe- Wait, these don't seem to be the same as what he told me.
[Joe's expression changes to a frown, Joe closes the book violently]
Joe- Have these lies been passed down this long?
[Flash back of soldier execution, the screen turns black and the time is shown approaching NOON. The camera pans from in front of the two towards their backs and cuts off as the shot is fired]
Joe- (whispers) how could he...
[Grips chair violently]  Joe- How can evil be praised for heroism!
[Joe stands up and searches for the book, rips the book]
[Joe throws his glass at the ground, slow motion]
[Joe runs outside, the scene changes to the field]
[After title screen comes up, short pause, screen comes back up to a small fire with the book burning inside]
SOUND- Heavy orchestra  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWTZcZRwQSo



Patryk   Brief synopsis      

Callum   Treatment (colour treatment, editing)    

Patryk   Sample script    

Callum    Story board 
Patryk    Location scouting sheet

Patryk    Site plans 

Patryk    Risk assessments
Callum     Planning for shoots ---- requirements for ---hair and
make-up, costumes, props and locate
Callum   Shoot plan – to cover make-up, costume lighting   
shot types and influential imagery

  Callum    Talent release forms

  Patryk    Location release form

  Patryk     Call sheets                                                    

  Callum    Shoot list
  Callum     Resultant footage
  Patryk    Edit decision list
  Patryk      Production schedule