Proposal

Self Review

I believe my skill set lay within the technical hands-on areas of the project, especially my strengths being with cameras, lighting and sound. I have researched, investigated and aimed to improve each of these areas throughout this course so far. I have been informed I have a good eye for composition of shots, this is a skill I gained while completing a photography course.

My weaknesses consist of time management, which extends to completing work close to deadlines, not fully following production schedules and general lack of planning my time so I can work efficiently. Therefore my S.M.A.R.T target for this FMP is to improve my time management, I will accomplish this through creating a calendar for all pre-production work, a clear production schedule and timeline for post-production work. I will then measure my progress through the daily production dairy I will be using to summarise and evaluate each day of the project.

 

Project Concept

The basic outline of this project is; a dystopian old-fashioned, set in a futuristic world in which the gap between the classes is at it’s most extreme. The main narrative of the film will be based on a game show, controlled by a government official. The game show is a trivia questions show, where an individual is given an opportunity to win an identity. The individual playing is from the lower, working class segments of civilisation, the identity up for winning will give the individual a direct pass to High Society.

All within this game show, there will be a variety of battles for power. These will happen between the presenter of the show and the director. Also, not so much for power, between the contestant and Government Official, but a misuse of power to create a deal.

The film will be told through a non-linear view, distinguishing between they change in time with a change in between black-and-white and colour. The camera and editing will more than likely be aimed towards a classic film style.

Influences

For this project, the influences are a combination of Slum-Dog Millionaire, Black Mirror and parts of Hunger Games.

Hunger Games

 

 

 

 

 

Hunger Games has a variety of key elements that could be used as an influence for this project. But the main aspect that will be used as influence will be the character of Cesar Flickerman. The high energy, sarcastic and self-centred character holds all the qualities that are needed in the presenter character of this short film. Influence will be taken from the character because of the role he plays in the larger picture of the film. Acting as the voice of the government, but with elements of the people’s view.

 

Slum-Dog Millionaire

 

 

 

 

The main element in Slum Dog Millionaire in the game show and how Jamal Malik’s (Dev Patel) life experiences, shown through flashbacks help him to win the show. The game show and flashback elements will both be taken to influence this short film. However, the main narrative itself will be very different, limiting the sense of a full repetition of Slum Dog Millionaire. Looking further into the film, the set design will be used as an influence as well. The design to have two characters sitting opposite each other, creating this constantly contested balance for power. This element would help c create tension throughout this short film.

V for Vendetta

 

 

 

 

This is a large influencer for this short. There are many aspects which could be used to help in set, lighting and narrative design. Firstly the lighting throughout the film is wondering is leading the audience’s vision onto key details but also creates a lack of detail on of areas. This produces a mysterious tone for certain characters. For example, the image above on the right is an interrogation officer. During the scenes he is present in, his face is always covered by shade, with the key light shown on his chest and midriff. Another key element to take influence from is the backstory of the government/Minister in the film, is the slight right wig tone and treatment of the Country and people living within it. Could be used to aid the development of the backstory for the government within this short film.

 

Evaluation Methods

To evaluate myself throughout this project I shall be keeping a daily production diary, summarising what I did each day of the project. Also detailing my targets for each day and week of the project and if I have achieved them or not. If a goal is not met I will use the production diary to evaluate why I missed the target and then resetting targets based on my performance on the previous target. I have chosen a production diary over other methods because it allows you to cross check with the production schedule easily and that it has a more detailed level information keeping than a weekly or end of project evaluation.

Research Proposal

My research for this project is aimed towards the technical side of the pre-production and production of the film, as I am taking a Producer and Directory of Photography role. Therefore my research has been designed to support my planning of the overall film and designing the shots to portray the tones wanting to be portrayed in the short film. My primary research will be mainly based on test shots, trailing what I’ve learnt from the secondary research. I will then evaluate the tests shots results and debate whether it would be worth including in the film. Whereas my secondary research will be aimed towards researching how to create certain elements that will be in the film and analysis how to plan and portray specific moods convey from different characters and specific technical scenes.

Primary

The first and main primary reach I will be conducting is a test shoot. Where I will be trialling a physical camera effect, the dolly zoom, commonly known as the vertigo effect. This camera technique was first used in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958), which is where its name evolved from. The effect is often used to create a panic amongst audiences because of the sudden change in proportions between the foreground, mid-ground and background. It is used symbolically to show a fear or worry in a certain character. I will be test shooting this effect because it can be hard to create, therefore some practice is crucial to be able to use to effect in the film. As well as experimenting with the effect, from different angles and heights to create different moods and tones.

Other primary research I’ll be conducting is other test shots reviewing what I learnt from my secondary research. These include creating empathy with certain characters and creating physical conflict between characters but without actually allowing the audience to view the fighting.

Secondary

There are two research methods I will be using for my secondary research. They are Internet Research and analysing films. Both of these will be used to gain an understanding of how to create, in a technical sense, the different elements researched.

For the internet research, I will be exploring how to create a realistic TV show set, with little budget and whether it can be done. I am conducting this research because the short film is based on a game show, therefore, a realistic set will be needed. An unrealistic set may damage the film’s ahrtaenisticy. The other internet research I will look into is how to create TV titles, for the games show element in the film. This again will be the technical side of the titles. I will be researching the sound, length, movement of objects and ending of the title sequence. This is also for the same purpose as the other internet research to give the film a level of ahrtaenisticy.

The final secondary research I will be conducting will be analysing film scenes. Firstly I will look at scenes that create empathy for certain characters, investigating the cinematography and lighting in the shot. This is with the aim to be able to use what I learn to create a sympathetic rapport between that character and the audience. I will also be analysing scenes which portray a physical conflict between two characters but doesn’t show actual conflict clearly on screen. I will be observing the shot choice, lighting, sound and editing of the sense. Which will provide me with the ability to re-develop those techniques into using them in this short film.