Title: "Sea Dreams"
Duration: 4-5 minutes.
Synopsis:
Imagine going through life and arriving at a bridge, and not knowing which path to take. What do you do? How do you say goodbye to the people you love the most? Do you follow your dreams or let your dreams guide you?
Main Character(s):
• Tara is an 18 year old girl who has an ambition to travel the world and is now about to fulfil that dream. She is very close to her two friends Emma and Victoria and has been in love with her boyfriend Nathan. What she doesn’t know is that Emma and Nathan have been plotting to make their affair public after she leaves. This story tests her friendships, relationships, dreams and trust.
• Victoria: She has been Tara’s friend since they were kids and Victoria has always been there to help Tara through her hard life, surviving alone with no parents to guide her. She knows about the affair and does not approve in the slightest. She is more of a background character who surveys the events. Her simple life contradicts to those of the other characters. Her journey tests the ability to move on.
• Nathan: male, early 20s, the Antagonist. He is the boyfriend of Tara and they have had a relationship with has ran its course, he is looking forward to making his affair public but at the same time has some emotional attachment to Tara and feels more of a loss than shows.
• Emma: female, early 20s, the complication. She is also a friend of Tara’s however; she has been having an affair with Nathan. Her enigma causes problems between her and Emma as well. Her journey is one of realisation.
One of the influences behind this short film was a quote by playwright Edward Bond :
“I am a pessimist by experience, but an optimist by nature, and i have no doubt that i shall go on being true to my nature. Experience is depressing, and it would be a mistake to be willing to learn from it."
Sea Dreams is about an 18 year old girl called Tara who opens the film in a soliloquy explaining her desires to travel the world. This raises several enigmas. Who is this girl? What has happened in her past? Why is she leaving? She begins reminiscing about the life she must leave behind, now that she has decided to leave her hometown with the promise of travel in her future. The film's ending will leave the audience with an optimistic view on the future, rather than the play's previous tone of pessimism.
Soundtrack/Score: Piano instrumental, cinematic book, waves crashing against cliffs and seagulls by the sea. Solemn music -but heavily paced edging upon upbeat towards the end to accompany the climax.
SFX: use of washed out colour
Inter-cutting between main characters
Fade in and fade out so scenes over-lap especially between flashbacks, presnt and when time elapses.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Production Diary Day 3- Saturday 18th April 2009
Intentions:
To shoot all sea ecterior shots and the bridge scene, and to record all voiceovers on DV Camera.
Filming description:
I had to let Hannah see what her voiceovers would match against on scene so today gave her more of a clear indlication of the tone would be. We filmed these scenes up the coastline of the Newcastle beach which was the perfected location. I was gald i had all this location scouting done in my mise en scene planning. I filmed thesed scenes using tracking shots, panning, tilts, zooms, hand held and POV perscectives.
The scenes at the bridge has the perfect lighting which helped me in this shoot. I decided to use some unplanned low angle shots which was quite affective in this scene.
So far i am so pleased with my variety of shots throughout the sequence of my film.
The audio is what i am experiencing problems with as recording in on the camera is not as high quality, I might have to see if i can acess a microphone for these voiceovers.
Sucess:
Again this shoot was a sucess with no major hurdles. I experienced some lighting difficulties with the sunlight facing me but it was all a good deal as i worked with it!
stay posted for more upcoming shoots
To shoot all sea ecterior shots and the bridge scene, and to record all voiceovers on DV Camera.
Filming description:
I had to let Hannah see what her voiceovers would match against on scene so today gave her more of a clear indlication of the tone would be. We filmed these scenes up the coastline of the Newcastle beach which was the perfected location. I was gald i had all this location scouting done in my mise en scene planning. I filmed thesed scenes using tracking shots, panning, tilts, zooms, hand held and POV perscectives.
The scenes at the bridge has the perfect lighting which helped me in this shoot. I decided to use some unplanned low angle shots which was quite affective in this scene.
So far i am so pleased with my variety of shots throughout the sequence of my film.
The audio is what i am experiencing problems with as recording in on the camera is not as high quality, I might have to see if i can acess a microphone for these voiceovers.
Sucess:
Again this shoot was a sucess with no major hurdles. I experienced some lighting difficulties with the sunlight facing me but it was all a good deal as i worked with it!
stay posted for more upcoming shoots
Production Diary Day 2- Thursday 16th April 2009
Intentions:
To film Tara's arrival back and to expeirment with how i will record the voiceovers.
Filming description:
As i got the weather conditions i was hoping for i filmed Taras arrival back. I filmed this scene with a variery of shots and angles. I also added in a scene which she rings her doorbell and i am still deciding if i should show who answers it.
Sucess: This shoot was short and went with no complications.
To film Tara's arrival back and to expeirment with how i will record the voiceovers.
Filming description:
As i got the weather conditions i was hoping for i filmed Taras arrival back. I filmed this scene with a variery of shots and angles. I also added in a scene which she rings her doorbell and i am still deciding if i should show who answers it.
Sucess: This shoot was short and went with no complications.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Production Diary day 1- wednesday 12th April
Intentions:
To shoot all my nightime interior shots. To introduce all my cast so they would feel more confortable in their scenes.
The shoot lasted from 8.00pm till 1.30am ensuring continuiety.
Filming description:
I started off taking a few pictures as i will need then as props in my film.
Due to problems in time while shooting and availabilty of cast i was unable to shoot my film in chronological order, but its ok as i ca sort this all out in post production.
I shoot the tara packing scenes and the passport scene but as i filmed matt mcComish came up with an even better idea for it.... all will be revealed.
I shot the scene beteween Nathan (Matt McComish) Emma (Shauna Valentine) and Victoria (Pauline Burns). This had a lot of "dry runs" and i had to get the chemistry between the actors which worked out so well. This scene was shot from a collection of experimental shots from my shot list. I will see which one will look better in the editing process. The lighting worked out so well in this scene and fits into my pre production intentions.
I shot the scenes with Tara (Hannah Bridges) and Victoria and Emma, which Tara explains her reasons for leaving. This scene took abut 10 retakes to ensure the cast were fully in character and to make the scene as believable as possible. However I did get some excellent bloopers from this scene.
One of the most important scenes of the night was the dialogue intense arguement between Tara and Nathan- i deliberty shot this towards the end as i am evil and i wanted to capture sheer fustration and spite form their characters, My cast were exhausted at this scene which really came across on scene and it fitted into what their characters were feeling. I am so pleased with the final shots for this scene. I experimented with proxemics in this scene to give the scene maxium emotional impact.
Sucess:
This evenings shoot was a sucess and i am delighted at how i finally got the cast i wanted and how the chemistry all worked.
Downsides were i didnt get all the shooting filmed as it was getting too late and this will be hard to ensure continuiety another night but im sure i will manage.
My cast were so good to work with and we all had good fum shooting!!!
To shoot all my nightime interior shots. To introduce all my cast so they would feel more confortable in their scenes.
The shoot lasted from 8.00pm till 1.30am ensuring continuiety.
Filming description:
I started off taking a few pictures as i will need then as props in my film.
Due to problems in time while shooting and availabilty of cast i was unable to shoot my film in chronological order, but its ok as i ca sort this all out in post production.
I shoot the tara packing scenes and the passport scene but as i filmed matt mcComish came up with an even better idea for it.... all will be revealed.
I shot the scene beteween Nathan (Matt McComish) Emma (Shauna Valentine) and Victoria (Pauline Burns). This had a lot of "dry runs" and i had to get the chemistry between the actors which worked out so well. This scene was shot from a collection of experimental shots from my shot list. I will see which one will look better in the editing process. The lighting worked out so well in this scene and fits into my pre production intentions.
I shot the scenes with Tara (Hannah Bridges) and Victoria and Emma, which Tara explains her reasons for leaving. This scene took abut 10 retakes to ensure the cast were fully in character and to make the scene as believable as possible. However I did get some excellent bloopers from this scene.
One of the most important scenes of the night was the dialogue intense arguement between Tara and Nathan- i deliberty shot this towards the end as i am evil and i wanted to capture sheer fustration and spite form their characters, My cast were exhausted at this scene which really came across on scene and it fitted into what their characters were feeling. I am so pleased with the final shots for this scene. I experimented with proxemics in this scene to give the scene maxium emotional impact.
Sucess:
This evenings shoot was a sucess and i am delighted at how i finally got the cast i wanted and how the chemistry all worked.
Downsides were i didnt get all the shooting filmed as it was getting too late and this will be hard to ensure continuiety another night but im sure i will manage.
My cast were so good to work with and we all had good fum shooting!!!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
------- Shooting schedule ----------
Finally got my cast all sorted, been the hardest thing and i havent even begun filming. But i'm sure it will be fine.
Finalised cast:
Tara: Hannah Bridges
Victoria: Pauline Burns
Emma: Shauna Valentine
Nathan: Matt McComish
Camera: Melissa Gallagher
Sound: Lee McMahon
Due to availabilty of cast my film will not be shot in chronological order. but i can sort all this in Post. My plans are as follows...
Wednesday 15th April 2009
evening- All internal shots with Hannah, Polly, Shauna and Matt.
shoot EXT picture for prop.
Thursday 16th April 2009:
All beach scenes
bridge scene
Her arrival back- outside house.
Finalised cast:
Tara: Hannah Bridges
Victoria: Pauline Burns
Emma: Shauna Valentine
Nathan: Matt McComish
Camera: Melissa Gallagher
Sound: Lee McMahon
Due to availabilty of cast my film will not be shot in chronological order. but i can sort all this in Post. My plans are as follows...
Wednesday 15th April 2009
evening- All internal shots with Hannah, Polly, Shauna and Matt.
shoot EXT picture for prop.
Thursday 16th April 2009:
All beach scenes
bridge scene
Her arrival back- outside house.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Update
Hey all,
At the moment i am just working on...
1. my final draft of my statement of intentions
2. storyboards
3. screenplay
4. sourcing props
5. Thinking of an idea for my one minute film
Hope you all are getting on well with yours.
If any of you know of any simple storyboard software programs, please let me know, as im not up for drawing them
Just working as well on cast for my film
so far i have...... Tara: Melissa Gallagher
Nathan: Paddy Brown
Shauna: Shauna Valentine
Alex: ???
Camera operator: Kirsty mcComish
At the moment i am just working on...
1. my final draft of my statement of intentions
2. storyboards
3. screenplay
4. sourcing props
5. Thinking of an idea for my one minute film
Hope you all are getting on well with yours.
If any of you know of any simple storyboard software programs, please let me know, as im not up for drawing them
Just working as well on cast for my film
so far i have...... Tara: Melissa Gallagher
Nathan: Paddy Brown
Shauna: Shauna Valentine
Alex: ???
Camera operator: Kirsty mcComish
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Narrative structure chart
Exposition: Establish the character and setting. Serves questions to audience and the journey we discover as to why Tara is leaving and how the setting self reflects her mood and situation. Tara speaks in a soliloquy to reveal her inner emotions. Involving audience by a rhetorical question and the audiences’ relation to their own lives.
Development: (non linear narrative). Series of flashbacks and flash-forwards to tell her story.
Complication: For the audience to understand why she is leaving her home.
Climax: dropping keyring into the sand and it being swept away by the waves. Sand slipping through her fingers as a metaphor for how you can’t stop life passing and you lack of control over it.
Resolution: A reflective message and a wave of optimism which has the element of catharsis and end with a quote by Edward Bond saying...
"I am a pessimist by experience, but an optimist by nature, and I have no doubt that i shall go on being true to my nature. Experience is depressing, and it would be a mistake to be willing to learn from it."
Development: (non linear narrative). Series of flashbacks and flash-forwards to tell her story.
Complication: For the audience to understand why she is leaving her home.
Climax: dropping keyring into the sand and it being swept away by the waves. Sand slipping through her fingers as a metaphor for how you can’t stop life passing and you lack of control over it.
Resolution: A reflective message and a wave of optimism which has the element of catharsis and end with a quote by Edward Bond saying...
"I am a pessimist by experience, but an optimist by nature, and I have no doubt that i shall go on being true to my nature. Experience is depressing, and it would be a mistake to be willing to learn from it."
Monday, 16 February 2009
First draft of statement of intentions
The emotions and message I want to convey through “Bridging waves of emotion” is something every viewer will of felt or eventually feel which is loss and the toughest thing in life is to say goodbye. The themes of pessimism play alongside optimism in this short film. The strongest message I hope to communicate is the significance of the expression “life goes on”.
“Bridging waves of emotion” is about an 18 year old girl called Tara will start off by asking the audience the rhetorical question; "Have they ever experienced or contemplated the proverb, 'Don't cross that bridge till you come to it?'", emphasizing how life reaches the final chapter in which it must close. This raises several enigmas. Who is this girl? What has happened in her past? Why is she leaving? What has the maguffin got to do with the plot which will be a locket? She begins reminiscing about the life she must leave behind, now that she has decided to leave her hometown with the promise of travel in her future. The film will have a series of flashbacks, in which she is saying goodbye to her friends and family. Tara has a dark secret the audience is not aware of.
The film will show Tara in a soliloquy about how life relates to the water of the sea. It is cruel, deep and trapping. The film's main setting is at a bridge. Tara expresses how she must build her own bridges to walk over, how she must burn some bridges behind her and how some need mending by mistakes made in one's own life. The film's ending will leave the audience with an optimistic view on the future, rather than the play's previous tone of pessimism. This I want to show by the camera techniques of a pan down from the bridge to the waves lapping below which gives a reflective and mutative mood. My aim is for this film is for the audience to pause in through and to relate and draw similarities between Tara and themselves.
Narrative structure is what will hopefully define my film. I want the film to start off in the present and shift as her memory progresses into a series of flashbacks. This film has physiological element as we explore his memories and see how it affects her in the present. My narrative has to be carefully constructed is in the form of a monologue. Other speaking parts will be the friends and family in the memories and will be brief.
My influences were by many roles, e.g. different directors, cinematographers, composers, poets, playwrights... The first one being a creative journal task which was to take a proverb and construct a story around it. The proverb I chose was “Don’t pass that bridge till you come to it” which is how my idea for the film escalated.
I took a lot of my own inspiration from my own life’s events and I incorporated this from filmmakers works.
My second inspiration was a poem called “The Road Not taken” by Robert Frost.
Some lines in this poem overwhelmed me and married with my own original ideas. Verses such as...
· TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
Yet knowing how way leadsoon to way
I doubted if i should ever come back.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and i-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Here is a link to read the full poem-http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html
Joe Wright’s “Atonement” largely inspired my film. It explores the theme of regret and the emotion of things left unresolved and corrupted. This film follows a similar narrative to mine in association with the use of flashbacks and a voiceover In Atonement it was the character of Brioney who we followed but in mine we will follow Tara. My film is also inspired by the neo noir genre, when it came to the conventions of the genre in relation to the use of low key lighting and flashbacks. A film which inspired these creations in my film were “Double Indemnity” directed by Billy Wilder.
Cinematographer Claudio Miranda greatly influenced by film. Especially for his work on David Fincher’s “The curious Case of Benjamin Button”. The visual style in content to lighting, mise en scene, and colour was spectacular. I remember sitting tin the movie theatre and being so overwhelmed by emotion and knew I wanted my film to follow this cinematography style. Coincidently this film was my greatest influence as it had my favourite director David Fincher and cinematographer Claudio Miranda working on the same production. There is a scene in “The curious case of Benjamin Button” which was an idea of where I would like my film to be set. It was at a bridge with a pier and the cinematographer gave me an idea to film it at sunset and edit in post production by the colour temperature.
As I aforementioned another director who inspired me to a great extent was David Fincher, especially on his Benjamin Button film. From the plot to narrative to overall direction was a film which scored my imagination to create my own. Fincher’s work on this film involved using a camera system called contour to capture facial deformation data from live action performances. David Fincher has also been known to have reminiscent with the classical film noir.
The composer Michael Giacchino in what has inspired me for my original score for “Bridging waves of emotion”. His instrumental music I have seen against the TV programs such as Lost and have been fascinated how it matches the action on screen. Giacchino uses music to build tension and suspense. He does so through the use of thunderous brass and “epic” sound. Another composer similar to Michael Giacchino’s work is Hanz Zimmer, especially his work on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy. A quote from Wikapedia to describe his work is “He is noted notable for integrating electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements.”
Through both of these influences I hope to produce an original score for my film. My intention is for it to be drum like and move into a meditative tone. I will do this through my own means of budget, resources and ability.
The lighting will hopefully be mostly natural as I’m filming at sunset, and want the use of shadows however as well, so I will use filler and key lights to contract against the brightness.
This film will have an emotional effect as I wasn’t the audience to feel Tara’s pain and my way of achieving this is they basically are her as they “slip in and out of her consciousness”. I also hope to add to this through the use of montage at the beginning to signify mental state.
“Bridging waves of emotion” is about an 18 year old girl called Tara will start off by asking the audience the rhetorical question; "Have they ever experienced or contemplated the proverb, 'Don't cross that bridge till you come to it?'", emphasizing how life reaches the final chapter in which it must close. This raises several enigmas. Who is this girl? What has happened in her past? Why is she leaving? What has the maguffin got to do with the plot which will be a locket? She begins reminiscing about the life she must leave behind, now that she has decided to leave her hometown with the promise of travel in her future. The film will have a series of flashbacks, in which she is saying goodbye to her friends and family. Tara has a dark secret the audience is not aware of.
The film will show Tara in a soliloquy about how life relates to the water of the sea. It is cruel, deep and trapping. The film's main setting is at a bridge. Tara expresses how she must build her own bridges to walk over, how she must burn some bridges behind her and how some need mending by mistakes made in one's own life. The film's ending will leave the audience with an optimistic view on the future, rather than the play's previous tone of pessimism. This I want to show by the camera techniques of a pan down from the bridge to the waves lapping below which gives a reflective and mutative mood. My aim is for this film is for the audience to pause in through and to relate and draw similarities between Tara and themselves.
Narrative structure is what will hopefully define my film. I want the film to start off in the present and shift as her memory progresses into a series of flashbacks. This film has physiological element as we explore his memories and see how it affects her in the present. My narrative has to be carefully constructed is in the form of a monologue. Other speaking parts will be the friends and family in the memories and will be brief.
My influences were by many roles, e.g. different directors, cinematographers, composers, poets, playwrights... The first one being a creative journal task which was to take a proverb and construct a story around it. The proverb I chose was “Don’t pass that bridge till you come to it” which is how my idea for the film escalated.
I took a lot of my own inspiration from my own life’s events and I incorporated this from filmmakers works.
My second inspiration was a poem called “The Road Not taken” by Robert Frost.
Some lines in this poem overwhelmed me and married with my own original ideas. Verses such as...
· TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
Yet knowing how way leadsoon to way
I doubted if i should ever come back.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and i-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Here is a link to read the full poem-http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html
Joe Wright’s “Atonement” largely inspired my film. It explores the theme of regret and the emotion of things left unresolved and corrupted. This film follows a similar narrative to mine in association with the use of flashbacks and a voiceover In Atonement it was the character of Brioney who we followed but in mine we will follow Tara. My film is also inspired by the neo noir genre, when it came to the conventions of the genre in relation to the use of low key lighting and flashbacks. A film which inspired these creations in my film were “Double Indemnity” directed by Billy Wilder.
Cinematographer Claudio Miranda greatly influenced by film. Especially for his work on David Fincher’s “The curious Case of Benjamin Button”. The visual style in content to lighting, mise en scene, and colour was spectacular. I remember sitting tin the movie theatre and being so overwhelmed by emotion and knew I wanted my film to follow this cinematography style. Coincidently this film was my greatest influence as it had my favourite director David Fincher and cinematographer Claudio Miranda working on the same production. There is a scene in “The curious case of Benjamin Button” which was an idea of where I would like my film to be set. It was at a bridge with a pier and the cinematographer gave me an idea to film it at sunset and edit in post production by the colour temperature.
As I aforementioned another director who inspired me to a great extent was David Fincher, especially on his Benjamin Button film. From the plot to narrative to overall direction was a film which scored my imagination to create my own. Fincher’s work on this film involved using a camera system called contour to capture facial deformation data from live action performances. David Fincher has also been known to have reminiscent with the classical film noir.
The composer Michael Giacchino in what has inspired me for my original score for “Bridging waves of emotion”. His instrumental music I have seen against the TV programs such as Lost and have been fascinated how it matches the action on screen. Giacchino uses music to build tension and suspense. He does so through the use of thunderous brass and “epic” sound. Another composer similar to Michael Giacchino’s work is Hanz Zimmer, especially his work on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy. A quote from Wikapedia to describe his work is “He is noted notable for integrating electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements.”
Through both of these influences I hope to produce an original score for my film. My intention is for it to be drum like and move into a meditative tone. I will do this through my own means of budget, resources and ability.
The lighting will hopefully be mostly natural as I’m filming at sunset, and want the use of shadows however as well, so I will use filler and key lights to contract against the brightness.
This film will have an emotional effect as I wasn’t the audience to feel Tara’s pain and my way of achieving this is they basically are her as they “slip in and out of her consciousness”. I also hope to add to this through the use of montage at the beginning to signify mental state.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Treatment
Title "Bridging waves of emotion"
Duration: 4-5 mins.
Main Character(s): An 18 year old girl called Tara
Group of three friends
Boyfriend called Dennis
Mum and dad.
Synopsis: Tara will start off by asking the audience the rehetoriacal question; "Have they ever experienced or contemplated the proverb, 'Don't cross that bridge till you come to it?'", emphasizing how life reaches the final chapter in which it must close. She begins reminising about the the life she must leave behind, now that she has decided to leave her hometown with the promise of travel in her future. The film will have a series of flashbacks, in which she is saying goodbye to her friends and family. Tara has a dark secret the audience is not aware of. The film will show Tara in a soliloquy about how life relates to the water of the sea. It is cruel, deep and trapping. The film's main setting is at a bridge. Tara expresses how she must build her own bridges to walk over, how she must burn some bridges behind her and how some need mending by mistakes made in one's own life. The film's ending will leave the audience with an optimistic view on the future, rather than the play's previous tone of pessimism.
Soundtrack/Score: Haven't got that bit sorted as im looking into copyright issues at the minute, I was thinking of producing the score while filming in March. I no i want to have something along the lines of the composers who influenced me in terms of producting my own heavy base but instrumental piece.
SFX: Waves lapping under bridge.A series of voices in her head to show an unstable mental state.
Duration: 4-5 mins.
Main Character(s): An 18 year old girl called Tara
Group of three friends
Boyfriend called Dennis
Mum and dad.
Synopsis: Tara will start off by asking the audience the rehetoriacal question; "Have they ever experienced or contemplated the proverb, 'Don't cross that bridge till you come to it?'", emphasizing how life reaches the final chapter in which it must close. She begins reminising about the the life she must leave behind, now that she has decided to leave her hometown with the promise of travel in her future. The film will have a series of flashbacks, in which she is saying goodbye to her friends and family. Tara has a dark secret the audience is not aware of. The film will show Tara in a soliloquy about how life relates to the water of the sea. It is cruel, deep and trapping. The film's main setting is at a bridge. Tara expresses how she must build her own bridges to walk over, how she must burn some bridges behind her and how some need mending by mistakes made in one's own life. The film's ending will leave the audience with an optimistic view on the future, rather than the play's previous tone of pessimism.
Soundtrack/Score: Haven't got that bit sorted as im looking into copyright issues at the minute, I was thinking of producing the score while filming in March. I no i want to have something along the lines of the composers who influenced me in terms of producting my own heavy base but instrumental piece.
SFX: Waves lapping under bridge.A series of voices in her head to show an unstable mental state.
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