PREPRODUCTIONDeveloping ideas for my A2 Level Media Studies film

INTRODUCTIONThe preproduction stage of a film is considered the most important step in movie making. In this PowerPoint I will explore the different film ideas that I could develop for my final film project. By weighing each idea based on their advantages and limitations I will be able to narrow down which one is the most promising film idea. After choosing my inspiration I will explore the different directions I can go with my chosen theme, as to decide on the most suitable and exciting storyline. Through researching the codes and conventions of the category my film will fall under, I will become more aware of the format and characteristics of a successful grenre and be able to implement that into my film. Continuing with the development stage I will write a synopsis and brainstorm about aspects of my film. This will all equate to a well thought out initial idea which I will expand upon in the development process.

A lost lottery ticket is found

Bullying

Syrian Crisis

Modern Fairytale

The journey of an object

Split personality

A visual poem

What a quote represents

The controversy of finding the winning lottery ticket in a small town.

An informative film that follows a bully victim.

A documentary style film following the current Syrian crisis in Belgrade.

Using images to narrate a well known poem.A 21st century

reinterpretation of a traditional fairytale.

Following the movement of an object as different people keep kicking it up and leaving it.

Using a quote such as ‘Carpe Diem’ to illustrate a story.

The internal struggle of people who have a multiple personality disorder.

Ideas

INITIAL FILM IDEAS PROS & CONSIdeas Pros Cons

Split personality • This could be an interesting and eye opening film that would help people to understand what it is like to be struggling with a multiple personality disorder.

• This idea would require a certain filming style that would be interesting to film.

• I would have to interview people who have the disorder in order to understand it myself. The film could be seen as controversial.

• I don’t have access to any experienced actors that would be fundamental this film idea.

A lost lottery ticket is found • I could portray a compelling and thought-provoking subject through the medium of video.

• It would present a situation that is universally dreamt about and there is a wide range of storylines that I could explore.

• It is slightly predictable concept that has been created many times before.

• I want my short film to leave an impact on the viewer and I don’t know if I could achieve that with this idea.

Bullying • It would be an educational film that will communicate on another level with the audience.

• However, again, it is a concept that has been done many times.

• And when the standard for anti bullying videos is that high, I’m not sure how mine would compare.

Syrian Crisis • This idea is very current and opportunistic as it is occurring right now in eastern Europe.

• It is a unique story that would leave a lasting impression on the audience.

• I don’t think it would be very ethical to film people who are running for their lives. I feel it would taking advantage of their situation if I were to film them for my own benefit.

A visual poem • It is a modern method of conveying lyrical art into visual film. The poem I had in mind is the one from ‘Dead Poets Society’- ‘To the virgins, to make much of time’

• Its limiting due to the film having to precisely depict the words in the poem. There is also an explicit undertone to this poem that would be inappropriate to represent.

A modern fairytale • This idea would be appropriate for my target audience and is a concept that would be interesting to convey with a modern twist

• Then again it would be difficult to film in various locations due to access and permission.

• Props and costumes would be hard to get hold of.

The journey of an object • Would be visually appealing and diverse. • There are many story lines I could go

down

• It would be difficult to have film continuity. • I would have to film over a long period of

time. • I would also have to hire a number of actors

to interact with the object.

CHOSEN FILM IDEA

My final idea for a short film will visually and symbolically depict a well known Latin phrase ‘Carpe Diem’.

Carpe diem is a Latin aphorism, usually translated "seize the day", taken from the Roman poet Horace's Odes (23 BC). In Horace, the phrase is part of the longer "carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero", which can be translated as "Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow (the future)". The ode says that the future is unforeseen and that one should not leave to chance future happenings, but rather one should do all one can today to make one's future better. The meaning of "carpe diem" as used by Horace is not to ignore the future, but rather not to trust that everything is going to fall into place for you and taking action for the future today.

GENRE CONTENTIONS

• My short film could be categorized as a drama.

Fantasy Drama conventions

As Bardo is a spiritual concept it is not reality which makes my idea comply with the fantasy genre. However it exhibits a real life situations with realistic characters, settings and story.

Portrays the journey of a characters development.

The purpose of a dramatic story line is to move the audience emotionally, and for them to relate and sympathies with the lead character.

Dramas portray the inner/ outer struggle or hardship, difficulty and pain.

Dramas are constructed with climaxes and anti climaxes in order to keep the tension on going for the viewers.

Focusing on in-depth development of a characters who must deal with realistic emotional struggles.

There must be some form of realism at the end. Normally there is a happy, if not content, ending to drama films.

IDEA OPTIONS

Carpe Diem

Idea 1To the narration of the well known poem ‘To the virgins, to make much of time’ I would symbolically and visually represent this poem without any explicit content.

Carpe diem expresses a philosophy that recognises the brevity of life and therefore the need to live for and in the moment. 

Idea 2A cleaner comes to clear up after an art exhibition entitled ‘Carpe Diem’. He looks at the paintings and they speak to him in a way that art has never before. He envisions how life is suppose to be lived and has an epiphany.

However due to the nature of this poem being whimsical yet erotic I can not continue with this idea.

I feel this idea is not emotive enough for what I intend to express through my short film. Also I don't believe I will find a male actor to be able to play the part.

Idea 3A girl is in a hospital and the heart monitor stops. She goes to the state between life and death. Her experience there shows the different aspects of the quote- Carpe Diem. the realisation causes the heart monitor to begin again.I think this idea is unique and it will be able to convey the quote along with the narrative in a compelling way. I also feel the quote Carpe Diem will only truly be conveyed if the protagonist is in a life or death situation.

BRAIN STORMING

Carpe DiemInspiration- a Christmas coral. The idea of three visions causing the main character to have an epiphany.

Cinematography - in my film I would like to have the repetition of four things- • A medium of telling the time (a clock, a watch, a digital clock)• A storm accumulating • A rose flowering (budding, in bloom, dying)• A hand (a babies, her hand hooked up to a drip, an old hand)These would all be relevant to the vision (past, present and future).

The medium for the visions- I would use projections to portray the visions as due to their size and definition, they will leave a lasting impression on the character. However this may be a hard to achieve as sourcing three separate projections will be difficult.

Actors- • Young girl• Teenage girl• Old women• Father• Mother• Brother

Locations- • Hospital• Bardo- large hall • Park• House• school

Props- • Sand timer• Three projectors• Rose• Clock• Watch• Digital clock• iPhone

Ideas- What stops people, in todays society, from ‘seizing the day’? Answer- Social media.I would like to incorporate a theme that effects society today- ‘the over use of social media’. By having the main characters personal problems based around her obsession with social media the film and the quote ‘Carpe Diem’ will have a larger impact upon my target audience. As it was relate to them and they will understand that the real world is much more important that a virtual one.

FILM IDEA• Production name- PassTime production• Working title- Carpe diem • Duration- 5 minutes• Format- video

Synopsis- This short film follows the story of a teenage girl who travels to Bardo- the intermediate state between life and death. But as time trickles away will she realise how to ‘seize the day’ and save herself from a predetermined fate?

INSPIRATIONAL STIMULUS A Christmas Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to come.

I would like to create a contemporary take on this tale which can be denoted from my main character envisioning her past, present and future. In A Christmas Carol the past, present and future is shown to Scrooge by ghosts and there is a lot of dialog. In my short film by using projectors to show the past, present and future the girl will be completely by herself which represents how every individual is through life and death and also limits the amount of dialog. In todays society technology is a fundamental factor and this is something I would like to translate on screen. Just like in A Christmas Carol the girl regrets her wasted past and her future will predict death. Which will make the quote ‘Carpe Diem’ even more poignant.

INITIAL IDEA

Synopsis- A teenage female travels to the state in-between life and death- Bardo. It is here that she encounters three projections- the past, the present and the future. She sees snippets of her past life, her current situation and what is to come. Desperate to escape a dark fate she searches the room until she comes across a sand timer. With her heart fading fast as the last grains trickle away she turns the sand timer on its head, the next thing she knows she is revived in the hospital and ready to seize the day.

EVALUATIONOver all I believe I have produced a good starting point for my film development process. My idea is unique yet inspired by a well liked novel- A Christmas Carol. It is an initial idea, therefore there is room for improvement, but in all, I am happy with the direction my film is going.

I will develop a script and story board based on this synopsis in order to have a clear vision of the elements and visual aspects that must be included to portray the story in a visual manner. By producing a script and storyboard I will be able to assess the feasibility of producing this film and develop upon aspects that are lacking.