This week we looked at a number of short films on youtube which, like ours, have Schizophenia as the main topic. We did this in order to compare own own ideas to them and to see if they are common place in a film of this genre (phyciological thriller).
Film one - Schizophrenia Short Film
In this film, black and white is used to show hallucinations and colour is used to show what is really going on and what everyone else can see. We were intending to do that in our film as we thought it would make it easier for the audience to understand what is going on. The hallucinations are made to stand out using both heavy dark makeup and dark clothing. Any voices you did hear in the film were muddled up and sounded unorganised, we thought that this was good as it reflects the mentality of the sufferer. By making the hallucinations more obvious and visable in throughout the film it makes the audience feel more sympathtic as it is like you are seeing the world through the schizophrenics eyes. Also, as the end of this film they go through the events again how the rest of the world would see it, we liked this idea.
Film two - Schizophrenia: A Short Film
In this film, you can't always hear or see the hallucinations the sufferer is having, instead having to use his reactions to try and work out what is being said. This makes you more aware or just how violent his reactions are which makes you feel sorry for the sufferer. However, we thought, that the fact that for the most of the film you couldn't hear or see the hallucinations was actually a weakness as as lot mopre could have been done if we could, we did like the idea of just seeing his reactions, but thought the voices should have been used more. However when you did hear voices they were crazed and angry.
Film three - Paranoid Schizophrenic
In this film the lighting used in low key, whereas in the other two more naural lighting. the low key lighting made the whole film more frightening as well as the fuzziness of the movie. However as we are using black and white for a lot of our film we think that using low key light could make it hard to see what is going on.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
22st September
In our theory lessons we have been looking at how genders are represented in the media as well as 'the male gaze', 'the female gaze' and 'the feminie mystique'.
When applying these theories to our new ideas for our short film we can see that the male gaze is not used as our female characters are covered up, due to the cold weather in which the film is set. As well as this the majority of the film is set outside meaning coats will be worn which, if functional normally don't show off the female body.
The Female gaze also isn't used as, once again, due to the cold weather in which the short film is set the man will be covered up meaning our character isn't being used for 'the pleasure of women'. As well as this our male character is quite sinister which is goes against the idea of what most women like to see in men.
However, it could be said that there is evidence for 'the feminie mysique' as both female characters are sensitive and vunerable with Lucy eventually giving into her hallucinations and Roxanne being shown as consently concerned for Lucys wellbeing. Lucy's vunerability and fear will be shown through shakey camera work and close ups on her face in order to convery her expression and emotions.
This week we also conducted a reasearch via a survey to find out what our potential audience woudl like to see. This is shown below:
We gave this survey to 20 people, the results are shown as pie charts below:
When applying these theories to our new ideas for our short film we can see that the male gaze is not used as our female characters are covered up, due to the cold weather in which the film is set. As well as this the majority of the film is set outside meaning coats will be worn which, if functional normally don't show off the female body.
The Female gaze also isn't used as, once again, due to the cold weather in which the short film is set the man will be covered up meaning our character isn't being used for 'the pleasure of women'. As well as this our male character is quite sinister which is goes against the idea of what most women like to see in men.
However, it could be said that there is evidence for 'the feminie mysique' as both female characters are sensitive and vunerable with Lucy eventually giving into her hallucinations and Roxanne being shown as consently concerned for Lucys wellbeing. Lucy's vunerability and fear will be shown through shakey camera work and close ups on her face in order to convery her expression and emotions.
This week we also conducted a reasearch via a survey to find out what our potential audience woudl like to see. This is shown below:
Mind Trap - Audience Questionnaire
View more documents from Rosie Stocking
We gave this survey to 20 people, the results are shown as pie charts below:
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
15th September
Over the summer holidays Rosie and I decided to completely change our idea. We decided to change it as after looking more into schizophrenia (the mental condition our film does somewhat deal with) we found that our ideas were not acurrate compared to what people actuallyt experience. Our new ideas are darker and more sinister as after researching into people's experiences with schizophrenia we found that the experiences are frightful.
Because of these darker ideas our new film is more of a psychological thriller. These changes meaing any work done before the holidays is irrelevent now however we are going to keep it on our blog in order to show our progress and to compare to our new product.
In the next week we hope to get people from our target audience to read our new screenplay and give reviews, which we intend to record for future reference.
To help us keep track of our ideas we both made our own mood boards, which consist of images relavent to our film:
The notes from our production meeting are shown below:
Because of these darker ideas our new film is more of a psychological thriller. These changes meaing any work done before the holidays is irrelevent now however we are going to keep it on our blog in order to show our progress and to compare to our new product.
In the next week we hope to get people from our target audience to read our new screenplay and give reviews, which we intend to record for future reference.
To help us keep track of our ideas we both made our own mood boards, which consist of images relavent to our film:
Mood board
View more presentations from Rosie Stocking.
The notes from our production meeting are shown below:
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
30th June 2010
Over the past couple of weeks Rosie and I have produced two sperate film treatments and started a first draft of out screenplay. As well as this we have made a survey which we are going to publish in the next couple of days.
My film treatment is shown below. However after looking at each others we decided to combine the two as we couldn't decided whose was better, our screenplay is based off of our combined ideas.
My film treatment is shown below. However after looking at each others we decided to combine the two as we couldn't decided whose was better, our screenplay is based off of our combined ideas.
30th June 2010 - treatment
We decided to call the film 'fragment of the soul' as Charlie ends up being a part of Lucy's heart.
Treatment
Lucy Roberts' life has always been happy, and this is why it comes as such a shock when she is thrown out of her shared house with the best friend Roxanne. Alone, upset and in desperate need of a comforting arm around her shoulders, she finds what she needs in the most unlikely person; a complete stranger that seems intent on getting to know her. Trust is easy exchanged and the two become close, but once the matter between her and Roxanne is resolved, will he stick around? Does he even need to stick around?
Scene 1:
Lucy is sitting at the desk, revising yet another draft of her dissertation for her History degree. She looks up to the calendar. A POV shot shows that she has crossed off most of the days in May, she has put a thick, red circle around the day that the semester at university ends and she can go on the holiday that she and Roxanne have planned for ages.
Suddenly, Roxanne enters angrily, disrupting the peace, Lucy's phone in her hand. She begins to shout at Lucy, telling her that it's not safe to give people she meets on the Internet her phone number; they might not be who they say they are, and there's no knowing what they will do to her. Lucy, disgusted by the fact that her best friend stole her phone to spy on what was none of her business, begins to shout back at Roxanne, telling her leave her possessions alone and to not butt in where she is not wanted. Realising that the words came too quickly out of her mouth, there is nothing she can do as she watches Roxanne's anger rising even further. She is grabbed by the arm and pulled out of the house, down the stairs and out of the front door while Roxanna challenges her to live without her protection and their friendship. Lucy tries to free herself from Roxanne's grip, but she too strong, and before she knows it, she is out of the house and the door is slammed shut.
Lucy looks back at the house she has just been kicked out of before sighing, burying her hands in her pockets and walking away.
Scene 2:
Lucy is sitting on a park bench, unaware of the people around her enjoying the nice weather. She is looking at her shoes while tears fall down her face, landing on her jeans. She doesn't move to wipe the moisture away.
The scene shifts to a young man walking down a path not too far away from Lucy, spinning a full 360°, implying that is looking for someone or something. He walks past Lucy before double-taking at her, stopping dead and turning on his heel to face her. The camera shifts to a view from behind the bench as the young man sits down next to Lucy. He asks her is she is ok, to which she replies that she is fine. He remarks that she doesn't look like she is ok, and gently and patiently encourages Lucy to tell him what is wrong. She is reluctant at first as she doesn't know him at all, so he jokingly offers a hand in a handshake and introduces himself as Charlie before commenting that she would feel better if he told her what was the matter. Lucy gives him and tells him in her own words what has made her so upset. Charlie does not interrupt and listens intently to Lucy. She feels slightly embarrassed as she has just poured her heart out to a stranger and asks Charlie why is he is so interested, to which is replies with a nonchalant shrug and claims that he "doesn't like to see a pretty girl cry". He offers his hand again and asks if Lucy would like to join him for an ice cream. Feeling that she can trust Charlie, she accepts without having to be persuaded. The two walk hand-in-hand down the path and away from the camera.
Scene three:
Lucy and Charlie are standing by an ice cream van laughing and with ice creams in their hands. A short montage follows which shows them around various sites around the park, at the dinosaur exhibit, the children's play area, near the lake, etc. Lucy looks happy to be in Charlie's company and Charlie in hers.
The pair are walking down a path hand-in-hand when Lucy's phone goes off, signifying that she has received a text message. She stops in order to retrieve her phone from her pocket. Charlie realises that she has stopped when he feels a tug on his hand. He turns to see Lucy reading a message on her phone and approaches her to find that the text is an apology from Roxanne, telling her that she was only trying to protect her and she wanted her to come home so they could make up properly. Charlie smiles before saying that this means goodbye. Lucy's smile fades into a confused expression and she asks Charlie what he means. He explains that he is not needed anymore, that she is happy. Lucy hurriedly tells him that she still needs him and that she doesn't want him to go. Charlie raises a hand to stop her talking before resting his hands on her shoulders and tells her that he will always be in her heart and her mind, as that was where he came from. He explains that he was created by Lucy to aid her in her need of comfort, but now that the matter was resolved, he was no longer needed. Charlie hugs her intensely before turning to walk away, slowly beginning to fade. Lucy shouts his name, but this is futile as he continues to fade until he is completely gone. The camera hovers at the empty path before switching to Lucy, who looks lost and upset.
She lifts a hand to her chest and places it over her heart. She repeats the last thing that Charlie said to her before he disappeared: "I will always be with you". The smile returns to her face as she turns to walk in the direction of home, a slight spring her stop as she knows that she will never be alone again.
Treatment
Lucy Roberts' life has always been happy, and this is why it comes as such a shock when she is thrown out of her shared house with the best friend Roxanne. Alone, upset and in desperate need of a comforting arm around her shoulders, she finds what she needs in the most unlikely person; a complete stranger that seems intent on getting to know her. Trust is easy exchanged and the two become close, but once the matter between her and Roxanne is resolved, will he stick around? Does he even need to stick around?
Scene 1:
Lucy is sitting at the desk, revising yet another draft of her dissertation for her History degree. She looks up to the calendar. A POV shot shows that she has crossed off most of the days in May, she has put a thick, red circle around the day that the semester at university ends and she can go on the holiday that she and Roxanne have planned for ages.
Suddenly, Roxanne enters angrily, disrupting the peace, Lucy's phone in her hand. She begins to shout at Lucy, telling her that it's not safe to give people she meets on the Internet her phone number; they might not be who they say they are, and there's no knowing what they will do to her. Lucy, disgusted by the fact that her best friend stole her phone to spy on what was none of her business, begins to shout back at Roxanne, telling her leave her possessions alone and to not butt in where she is not wanted. Realising that the words came too quickly out of her mouth, there is nothing she can do as she watches Roxanne's anger rising even further. She is grabbed by the arm and pulled out of the house, down the stairs and out of the front door while Roxanna challenges her to live without her protection and their friendship. Lucy tries to free herself from Roxanne's grip, but she too strong, and before she knows it, she is out of the house and the door is slammed shut.
Lucy looks back at the house she has just been kicked out of before sighing, burying her hands in her pockets and walking away.
Scene 2:
Lucy is sitting on a park bench, unaware of the people around her enjoying the nice weather. She is looking at her shoes while tears fall down her face, landing on her jeans. She doesn't move to wipe the moisture away.
The scene shifts to a young man walking down a path not too far away from Lucy, spinning a full 360°, implying that is looking for someone or something. He walks past Lucy before double-taking at her, stopping dead and turning on his heel to face her. The camera shifts to a view from behind the bench as the young man sits down next to Lucy. He asks her is she is ok, to which she replies that she is fine. He remarks that she doesn't look like she is ok, and gently and patiently encourages Lucy to tell him what is wrong. She is reluctant at first as she doesn't know him at all, so he jokingly offers a hand in a handshake and introduces himself as Charlie before commenting that she would feel better if he told her what was the matter. Lucy gives him and tells him in her own words what has made her so upset. Charlie does not interrupt and listens intently to Lucy. She feels slightly embarrassed as she has just poured her heart out to a stranger and asks Charlie why is he is so interested, to which is replies with a nonchalant shrug and claims that he "doesn't like to see a pretty girl cry". He offers his hand again and asks if Lucy would like to join him for an ice cream. Feeling that she can trust Charlie, she accepts without having to be persuaded. The two walk hand-in-hand down the path and away from the camera.
Scene three:
Lucy and Charlie are standing by an ice cream van laughing and with ice creams in their hands. A short montage follows which shows them around various sites around the park, at the dinosaur exhibit, the children's play area, near the lake, etc. Lucy looks happy to be in Charlie's company and Charlie in hers.
The pair are walking down a path hand-in-hand when Lucy's phone goes off, signifying that she has received a text message. She stops in order to retrieve her phone from her pocket. Charlie realises that she has stopped when he feels a tug on his hand. He turns to see Lucy reading a message on her phone and approaches her to find that the text is an apology from Roxanne, telling her that she was only trying to protect her and she wanted her to come home so they could make up properly. Charlie smiles before saying that this means goodbye. Lucy's smile fades into a confused expression and she asks Charlie what he means. He explains that he is not needed anymore, that she is happy. Lucy hurriedly tells him that she still needs him and that she doesn't want him to go. Charlie raises a hand to stop her talking before resting his hands on her shoulders and tells her that he will always be in her heart and her mind, as that was where he came from. He explains that he was created by Lucy to aid her in her need of comfort, but now that the matter was resolved, he was no longer needed. Charlie hugs her intensely before turning to walk away, slowly beginning to fade. Lucy shouts his name, but this is futile as he continues to fade until he is completely gone. The camera hovers at the empty path before switching to Lucy, who looks lost and upset.
She lifts a hand to her chest and places it over her heart. She repeats the last thing that Charlie said to her before he disappeared: "I will always be with you". The smile returns to her face as she turns to walk in the direction of home, a slight spring her stop as she knows that she will never be alone again.
30th June 2010 - Locations
When considering locations we wanted to make sure that they would be easy to access and easy to film in which is why, when looking for a park, we will have to make sure it is a big park to ensure that we don't get in the way of other people.
Interior - Lucy's bedroom
A typical teenage girl's shared bedroom. Posters of idols and photos are stuck to the pale green walls. Makeup, clothes and university dissertations and essays are littered over the desk and the floor. The bed is unmade and looks like the owner has only just left it. Photo frames of the two girls are dotted around the room, showing their close relationship.
Exterior - House
A typical suburban house. Faded peach pebble-dashed walls, an empty driveway (signifying that the girls cannot drive and thus implying that Lucy has to walk), a wooden door and 4 windows at the front. The driveway and front garden is a little messy and unkept, with a few bits of litter in the flowerbeds, signifying that the girls are not too bothered about the aesthetics of the house.
Exterior - Park
Various sections of Crystal Palace Park will be used:
- Main conversation between Lucy and Charlie - a park bench. Tall trees are visible from the back of the shot, moving in the breeze, and grass lines the foreground.
- Montage - Dinosaur exhibit. Surrounded my tall trees and near a lake, the sunshine reflecting off the surface.
- Children's play area. Grass surrounding. Brightly-coloured play apparatuses are visible, reflecting the happiness Lucy feels with Charlie.
Interior - Lucy's bedroom
A typical teenage girl's shared bedroom. Posters of idols and photos are stuck to the pale green walls. Makeup, clothes and university dissertations and essays are littered over the desk and the floor. The bed is unmade and looks like the owner has only just left it. Photo frames of the two girls are dotted around the room, showing their close relationship.
Exterior - House
A typical suburban house. Faded peach pebble-dashed walls, an empty driveway (signifying that the girls cannot drive and thus implying that Lucy has to walk), a wooden door and 4 windows at the front. The driveway and front garden is a little messy and unkept, with a few bits of litter in the flowerbeds, signifying that the girls are not too bothered about the aesthetics of the house.
Exterior - Park
Various sections of Crystal Palace Park will be used:
- Main conversation between Lucy and Charlie - a park bench. Tall trees are visible from the back of the shot, moving in the breeze, and grass lines the foreground.
- Montage - Dinosaur exhibit. Surrounded my tall trees and near a lake, the sunshine reflecting off the surface.
- Children's play area. Grass surrounding. Brightly-coloured play apparatuses are visible, reflecting the happiness Lucy feels with Charlie.
30th June 2010 - Character bios
The character bios are shown below. We only have 3 characters as it would be hard to make a short film involving more.
Roxanne Smith
19 year old Roxanne Smith is 5ft.4" and has straight, light brown hair that comes down to the middle of her back, medium skin and blue eyes. She is a hot-headed but caring and passionate person. She sometimes lets her emotions get the best of her and often jumps to the wrong conclusion too quickly without considering the facts, hurting those she holds dear in the process. Due to a misunderstanding, Roxanne throws her friend, Lucy, out of their shared home, leaving Lucy alone, upset and unsure of her friendship status with Roxanne, whom she has known for a long time and cherishes their friendship.
Lucy Roberts
19 year old Lucy Roberts 5ft6" with shoulder-length dark brown, wavy hair, a fair complexion and green eyes, reflecting her innocence. She is a very sensitive yet secretive young woman, but she is known for her sharp tongue and talent of being spiteful when provoked. She is also known for her vivid imagination often lets of her mind wander of its own accord, dreaming up scenarios and situations in her head. After an argument with Roxanne, her friend of many years, she finds comfort from an unlikely source; a seemingly complete stranger. Will this stranger be able to make her open her heart?
Charlie Lewis
Charlie Lewis is 5ft11" with shaggy light brown hair, hazel eyes and a mischievous smile, reflecting his playful sense of humour and optimism. He is a handsome, kind-hearted and charming 20 year-old with a selfless personality. He is exactly what Lucy Roberts needs after the fight, and seems perfect in everyway; almost too perfect to be true. The audience then discover that he is indeed too good to be true, as he is actually a figment of Lucy's imagination that is made in her need of comfort.
Roxanne Smith
19 year old Roxanne Smith is 5ft.4" and has straight, light brown hair that comes down to the middle of her back, medium skin and blue eyes. She is a hot-headed but caring and passionate person. She sometimes lets her emotions get the best of her and often jumps to the wrong conclusion too quickly without considering the facts, hurting those she holds dear in the process. Due to a misunderstanding, Roxanne throws her friend, Lucy, out of their shared home, leaving Lucy alone, upset and unsure of her friendship status with Roxanne, whom she has known for a long time and cherishes their friendship.
Lucy Roberts
19 year old Lucy Roberts 5ft6" with shoulder-length dark brown, wavy hair, a fair complexion and green eyes, reflecting her innocence. She is a very sensitive yet secretive young woman, but she is known for her sharp tongue and talent of being spiteful when provoked. She is also known for her vivid imagination often lets of her mind wander of its own accord, dreaming up scenarios and situations in her head. After an argument with Roxanne, her friend of many years, she finds comfort from an unlikely source; a seemingly complete stranger. Will this stranger be able to make her open her heart?
Charlie Lewis
Charlie Lewis is 5ft11" with shaggy light brown hair, hazel eyes and a mischievous smile, reflecting his playful sense of humour and optimism. He is a handsome, kind-hearted and charming 20 year-old with a selfless personality. He is exactly what Lucy Roberts needs after the fight, and seems perfect in everyway; almost too perfect to be true. The audience then discover that he is indeed too good to be true, as he is actually a figment of Lucy's imagination that is made in her need of comfort.
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