movie planning

1
A2 Short Film Pitch
2
Previous Ideas
Box is found with a tape inside it

• New/ old house unpacking
• Dead relative who they havent seen in a while
• Given the box by a friend
• Buy the box
• Find the box somewhere

Reaction to the tape

• couple of friends watch the tape (different
  views)
• Fix the box then try to get rid of it before
  watching it (doesnt go until they have seen the
  tapes)
• Watch tape after finding it but gets too scared
  after watching it.
• Put it into storage then watch it a while after

What was on the Tape

• Audience find out what is on the tape
• An event the character had made is on the tape
  (bad thing)
• How they die
• When the event happens
• Past event someone was involved in and fearful of
  it is on the tape yet it was only a memory
• What happening in the tape is actually in the
  past when they are in present time

Events after viewing the tape

• Try to get rid of the tape but keep finding it
• Order of deaths in order of people
• Different people are the centre point for each
  time the video is viewed
• People die in the events of the tape
• Only takes place for an hour

3
what is our short film going to be about?

• We wanted our short film to be based on the
  psychological thriller genre. As it is a short
  film, the running time will need to be under 5
  minutes, therefor we need to keep the story line
  from being too complex otherwise the film will be
  left with too many plot holes.
• We intend to create a film with similar ideas to
• - The ring (inclusion of tapes and deaths)
• - The uninvited (murder mystery and plot twist)
• - Orphan (plot twist)
• - Sinister (finds a box full of tapes which
  character does not recognise)

4
Main character is looking for something and comes
across a box full of tapes with names and date on
each.
She then discovers that the next annual killing
will happen in a number of days and she decides
that she will go to try and stop it from
happening.
The character goes to the woods to prevent the
murder but discovers that it has already happened.
Character watches the tapes which show murders
happening on an annual date but not one for the
current year.
she then phones the police to inform them of the
body she has found and then heads home.
Once she has arrived home and she rings her
friend to tell her about her discovery whilst she
is cleaning her weapons.
Her friend is talking to her about her finding
the body and says something that offends her.
we see her go into the wardrobe which reveals the
criminal profiling board.
Starts to write her friend as the next victim,
pinning it to the notice board.
5
Details on our film

• Characters of our short film
• Three characters
• girl who is murderer (main character)
• The victim of the 2014 tape
• The murderers friend (next victim)

• Costume
• Normal every day clothes for the victim
• Costume for the murderer (mask etc)
• Murderers everyday clothes 1
• Murderers everyday clothes 2

• Potential titles for our short film
• The murder diaries
• Doppelganger
• Black vhs murders
• Enigma
• Maniac vhs murders
• Vhs maniac
• Ouroboros

6
Theme of time and technology

• In our short film, we have incorporated the time
  element by using a number of film tapes that all
  occur on the same date but over a number of
  passing years. The fact it is an annual event
  indicates to the audience what the date of the
  next tape will be which will help the viewer
  understand the speed of the passage of time in
  the film as the character will be awaiting or
  counting down to the main event date.
• The technology element is incorporated into the
  film with the use of tapes (evolution of film)
  and also the use of looking up articles on the
  internet to confirm the deaths are real. The use
  of mobile phones is also a use of technology.

7
Lighting

• We plan to make the lighting for certain scenes
  such as the murder ones dark and dim with a brief
  outline of the character's silhouette to add
  tension and suspense to the scene. This still
  makes the murderer unclear to the audience,
  adding an enigma of 'who is the murderer?' and
  'why are they doing this?'
• - Low key, back lighting
• Moreover, the lighting at the main characters
  home will be
• bright and natural to not make the audience
  suspicious of
• them yet. When the murderer is acting
  'normal' about her
• antics, this will appear to be more shocking
  to the audience.

8
Propps Theory

• Characters in relation to Propp's Theory
• The false hero The false hero of the narrative
  appears to be the main character/murderer by
  attempting to 'prevent the murder' and informing
  the police of what has happened. This is until
  the audience are aware of who the murderer
  actually is.
• The villain The villain is once again the main
  character as she is the source of the disorder
  and plots against all of the characters,
  pretending to be innocent to the audience and
  everyone around her.
• Even though the villain and 'hero' is the same
  person, they have a struggle between them as it
  involves the character having to switch
  personalities and ensure that they keep up the
  'innocent' image up without giving away any vital
  information.

9
Mise en scene and cinematography The camera
work is expressive and unnatural at times rather
than naturalistic. This is especially applicable
in the videos that appear on the tapes. We plan
to use odd angles and canted camera shots to
create ambiguity and fear. We also plan to use
extreme close ups and point of view shots
throughout the film to express emotion and make
the audience feel more involved with the film by
showing vital parts of the scene. To reinforce
the genre there will be mass use of the colours
red and black. Black signifies negativity and
evil, whereas red will warn the audience of
upcoming danger and death. Tracking and panning
shots will connotation movement within the film.
At times, the scenes will be fast paced and
energetic to effectively show action taking
place. These shots can also suggest a character
is mysterious or even being watched/followed.
Extreme long shots can be used to establish the
scene and emphasise the perspective of how the
place is desolate and creepy.