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1. Treatment for ShortFilm – Unit 16
IDEA 1
1. Working Title:
‘Finally’, ‘Have some fun once in a while’, ‘Breathe’
2. Potential Length of the Film: 5 minutes – 10 minutes
3. Potential Loglines/Taglines
- He can do what he wants now, and he needs a break
- Oisin is 18 now and in his mind, he’s a free man
4. Characters:
‘Un-named’ – the Main character, the character the entire story revolves around. He
has just turned 18, the pressure of school is catching up to him and decides he can
make his own choices for himself (played by Oisin)
Parent (probably his mother) – Potentially only use her voice or even just as a non-
physical subject, perhaps calls the main character to try and snap him out of his
episode but he decides he can make his own decisions.
Shop till member at a local convenience store – Working late night at the shop where
Oisin visits (probably played by Henry A or Harvey G)
5. Synopsis in 3 acts:
- Act 1 :
Main character wakes up, (either in a bedroom or the garage is his bedroom along
with where he keeps his car)
The sounds of Pink Floyd’s ‘Time’ are in the background, (could open with shot of
the washing machine or various things)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwYX52BP2Sk
Everything seems ordinary, the lighting and ambience is very normal. Evidence of
a hard worker is seen around the room, on his desk. We can see he struggled with
his work last night and didn’t finish it.
Its Oisin’s 18th birthday, either:
-he walks past any sign of this (banners etc.)
-he greets this like normal, letter from his parents etc.
He puts on the 18 badge from his card on his t shirt
The idea of being 18 has got to his head and along with the stress of school and
responsibility he has tipped over the edge and decides to simply live in the
moment

2. - Act 2 :
He walks out the door and jumps in his car, slouching in the seat.
As he is driving in the car, the song now kicks into the main part, the tension
created from the build-up has slightly dissipated but there is still that tone.
Sun is going down as he drives, the sun has created a rather golden tone, (and this
will enhance the contrast to when he steps into the very blue and dull colour of
the shop). As he drives, he drives past people- couples walking, dogs and their
owners etc. He pulls up outside the shop, the door and lock shut in time with the
music, (Baby Driver opening scene – esc). He seems to be dancing along to a song
in his head.
The music quietens as he approaches the shop. As he enters the shop it
cuts/fades into trashy shop pop music. We see that familiar environment of a
newsagent. The till staff is slouched on his phone, he barely acknowledges ‘oisin’.
He winces at the sudden attack on his ears and puts his earphones in.
He starts to move down the aisles chucking stuff in his basket, random things,
alcohol etc.
The till staff starts to notice. Oisin walks up to the till with his items and plonks
them down on the counter. The staff member raises his eyebrow and points to
the ID sign. Oisin pats his pockets and gives a reluctant shrug, but then the
realization dawns on his face and he pushes his jacket out the way to show his
18th birthday badge. The till staff shakes his head at him and oisin’s smile drops
from his face.
Act 3:
As he walks away he grabs one of the cans, the staff comes around from the till to
catch up with him and Oisin either grabs something to throw or throws the can at
him catching him square on the forehead. He falls straight to the ground. Oisin
walks over to him, almost skipping over (see Dark Knight joker scene for inspo,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfzymTj852o 1:19, 2:11) and pours some of
the drink on him.
He grabs his homework book out from his car/bag and proceeds to do his
homework resting it on the guy lying on the floor. He then completes it and turns
around and starts walking back into the aisles proceeding to skip/tap along to the
music. He lies down in between the aisles, resting his head on some random items
like cans or frozen bags, almost making a makeshift bed and closes his eyes. As
the music comes back in we see a bird eyes view of him on the floor raising
upwards and slightly rotating. (At the last moment blood could start to seep in
from underneath the aisles on either side of him – and then it cuts to black)
It’s the morning. Oisin is at school. He enters the room and hands his work to his
teacher all complete. He apologises for the lateness and says how he simply
needed a break, a breather.
He leaves the school with the feeling all is okay and back on track.

3. 6. Target Audience
- I think my audience is going to be the young adult and adults as it plays on the
general idea of anarchism and rebellion and how the modern age can put
pressure on a lot of young people. Another aspect that could appeal to the older
audience is the incorporation of music etc.
7. Form and Style:
- The film will be shot on digital Canon 200d, I want the film to have quite a
cinematic look to enhance the surreal aspect of the movie. I like the slightly
depressing tone that fluorescent shop lights bring and how they have a quite cold
and stark colour that lights the entire shop in a white and blue tone.
- I would mix hand held and stabilised shots to give a jarring and tense tone to the
film and switch between at specific moments.
- I like the idea of obscure perspectives and angles to again give a surreal tone, for
example having the camera high up and the character framed in the low left of
the frame. Also shooting low down so the character can practically step over the
camera.
8. Marketplace:
I feel like this kind of character study, surreal short film could potentially interest
people at festivals or film enthusiasts. It could also appeal to the youth- young adult
audience as the main character is a similar age and the cause of the characters
situation is the pressure of school and his future etc.