Film Pitch

In Brief…Helena is a girl from an upper class family, but unexpectedly they become bankrupt due too her father losing his business. They have no other choice but too move to an estate in South-East London where Helena mixes in with the wrong crowd. In this group, Tracy is the group leader, along with other people of the group Dan, Phil and Kylie whom all live of life of drugs, crime and raving. Throughout the film Helena changes into the opposite of what she was in the past and her parents try desperately to reform her but it becomes too late. In the tragic ending she dies from a drug overdose.

ContextSet in 2012, Nasty Nasty is a modern film reflecting social issues that have existed for centuries and still exist to this day. The rave scene still exists and ecstasy is still a popular party drug

Narrative explained with Todorov’s TheoryEquilibrium- Helena living a happy and wealthy life in a upper-class family.Disruption- They become bankrupt due to her father losing her business and have to adapt to a lower-class lifestyle. Realisation- Helena mixes in with a new crowd whom take part in drug dealing, raving and crime. Helena sees potential in them, hoping she can be on their level. She becomes an unpleasant person, in contrast to what she was once in her previous life.Over coming the disruption- Helena's parents attempt to reform her by striving to find a new place to live. Once they’ve moved, she runs away back to the estate.New Equilibrium- Tragically, Helena overdoes on drugs which teachers herGroup a vital lesson on what happens when you Dance With The Devil.

SettingThamesmead council estate is located in the South-East of London and is where Declension will mainly be filmed. The reason for this location is it’s dull architecture and grittiness and the way it will fit in with the idea of poverty. The area is very spacious and quite large, meaning there’s plenty of room for filming and is usually quiet. This location has been famously used before in the popular Channel 4 serious misfits.

Inspired by..This is England, by Shane Meadows, is a British drama film set in 1983 depicting life in England. The story focuses on young skinheads and how they adopt a young boy into their group to become like them. What inspired me about the film was the theme of social realism and how it’s very real in terms of what life was like in the 80s. It was produced by Warp Films and FilmFour Productions and distributed by Optimum releasing

Fish Tank, by Andrea Arnold, is a British drama film set in Essex. It’s story focuses on the life of a 15 year old girl living on a council estate on low income who has a passion for dance. She becomes attracted to her mums boyfriend and they later pursue a sexual relationship. What inspired me about the film was how it depicts reality for young people living in poor areas and the empathy it creates with the audience. It was produced by the UK Film Council and Kasander Film Company and was distributed by IFC Films

Horizontally Integrated

FilmFour Productions and Warp Films

I would like Declension to be produced by FilmFour Productions along with Warp Films. FilmFour is known for producing many British Films like; East Is East, Submarine and Slum dog Millionaire (co-productions). The reason for choosing FilmFour is because of their success with previous films, and ones that are similar to mine.

Warp Films is a British independent production company which is based in London and Sheffield. Like Film Four, it co-produced Submarine. Warp Films gives opportunities for new film makers and this being the reason I chose them along with the fact they have produced films like This Is England which was a big inspiration for Declension. It’s won the award for Best Short Film at the 2003 BAFTA Film Awards

Director

Andrea Arnold is a British director who has directed films like Fish Tank, a British social realist drama. The fact she’s British means she knows how to make a good British film.

CastJaime Winstone- To play Helena. Winstone has played in films Anuvahood and KiDULTHOOD, both British dramas, this is why I believe she’ll be the best for the role. Her age also fits the role.

Juliet Stevenson- To play Helena’s mother. Stevenson played Juliette’s mum in Bend It Like Beckham, a British Drama. Her age suits the age of Helena’s mother.

Hugh Bonneville- To play Helena’s father. Featured in Downton Abbey, a British drama based on people of an upper class. Would suit the role of a rich father.

Cast continued..

Yasmin Paige- To play Kylie, one of themembers of the group. Paige has starred in Submarine, a British Drama film and recently the TV series glue, another British drama. Her age also suits her role.

Noel Clarke- To play Dan, one of the members of the group. Clarke has appeared in Kidulthood and starred in the sequel Adulthood, both British drama films with aspects of social realism. His young characteristics will suit the role.

Scarlett Alice Johnson- To play Tracy, the group leader. Johnson has featured in Eastenders, a British soap drama, and Adulthood, a British drama film. Her previous roles in this appearances make her a good choice for the role.

USP-Soundtrack

Due to The Prodigy’s comeback,

they will produce the soundtrack for Nasty Nasty, including their newest single) Their music is a mix between electronic and rock, the tone of the music links to the grittiness of the film and suits it really well. Furthermore, due to them creating the soundtrack, fans of The Prodigy will hopefully become interested in the film, this is what makes it a unique selling point.

Target Audience

Due to it’s characters and plot, Declension is aimed at British people at the age of 16-25. The film focuses on youth culture and will be more relatable to those at the age where drugs and crime are apparent.

The certificate will be 15 as there

are scenes of drug use and violence. Also,

the target audience starts at 16 so this is

appropriate.

Budget

The Budget estimated for Declension is around £1.5 Million. This will cover costs of actors like Noel Clarke, Yasmin Paige and Juliet Stevenson who have appeared in big budget films previously. The setting doesn’t need a big budget as the estate is already there but a flat will be needed for the teenagers homes.

Release date.

Declension will be released on the 13th of February, the beginning of February half term. At this point, young people in education will have a week off and so time to go too the cinema, once they return to school the hype of the film will hopefully become ‘word of mouth’.

Title Sequence

My title sequence will begin with ‘warp films’ and ‘film four presents’. It will begin with Helena walking through the estate, and slow motion shots at random times throughout. It will be a gritty sequence, with an electronic type of music. I want to show the context in the film, the characters and iconography like drugs and urban buildings.