2. A Few Notes
My working title is ‘Benchmark’, I have chosen this because it is centred on a life
changing event for the main character, but it also hints to the fact that the story is
predominantly about benches. By it being a one word long title, it rolls off the
tongue and is easy to remember, allowing for people to easily spread it by word of
mouth, further broadening my audience.
The film will be around 5 minutes long, this allows me time to properly introduce the
audience to the key characters, and properly portray the story without it dragging so
much that the audience would get bored.
The tagline: ‘Try not to fall.’ This hints to several points in the story, such as Connie
falling for Ben or the girl who suffers a fatal fall. It also presents the audience with a
slight challenge, drawing intrigue. The audience I am trying to attract would be very
curious, and so this would work perfectly to draw them in.
Introduction of Key Characters
Connie- The narrator of the story, Connie provides the perspective for the viewer,
everything is told from her point of view. She appears to be quite talkative as she spends the
film talking about Ben, without allowing Stacey to get much of her opinion across.
Ben- As the focus of Connie’s attention he has a large role, yet doesn’t have any input in the
telling of the story. Most of the film is centred on his life and misfortune. He only appears
for a short time in the film, but even from that the audience are able to sufficiently assume
that his life is very fast-paced and messy, with a lot of people to surround him.
Stacey- She is the aim of Connie’s chatter, her best friend, and provides a subtle balance to
Connie. She is quiet and not very outspoken. The audience won’t learn much about her, as
she is only acting as someone to hear the story and doesn’t have one of her own.
Synopsis
Act 1
The camera pans in to two girls sat on separate benches, these girls turn out to be Connie
and Stacey, and they are having a conversation. The audience are witnessing the girls
reuniting after a while of not talking, and the topic of conversation is the hot, popular boy,
Ben. Connie is obsessing over him, and mentions how he is the most popular out of the
three of them, due to where he always sits. The next shot shows him surrounded by people,
sat on a bench. Connie then explains how recently he has connected with the wrong crowd
and they are leading him astray. We then see Ben on the same bench with a small group of
people, all with bottles in brown paper bags, some smoking.
Act 2
3. Act 2 starts with the group drinking and laughing about, showing a slight time lapse over a
few days, until one of the girls is too drunk and falls, hitting her head on the edge of the
bench. Connie recalls how Ben was so good and kind, how his new friends left him with the
girl. Stacey asks “why didn’t he call an ambulance? It could have saved him from these
consequences!”
“He doesn’t have a phone, that’s what makes him unique, he says it drags life out of
people.”
Act 3
Act three shows flashes of people arriving and calling the police, it’s all very blurred and fast,
Ben is shown being taken away from the bench. Connie admires how he doesn’t make any
fuss and walks away calmly, relating to Stacey how much she misses him now he sits by the
lake, and how he was such a good person. Connie and Stacey, who’ve been slowly fading on
their benches throughout, stop talking, and two passers-by become the focus of the last
scene.
“Wherever did that lovely bench by the gates
go?”
“The one dedicated to Ben? A girl hit her head
on the arm rest and died. It’s been deemed too
dangerous and has moved down by the lake.”
Target Audience
Due to the moral of the story, my target audience is vulnerable teenagers, they would hit D
or E on the NRS scale, due to having a low income and very little experience. In regards to
the 4 C’s they would be either the Struggler or the Aspirer. This is because they would be
the most likely to turn to new friends and alcohol to fit in with who they perceive to be
“cool”, this film would be an attempt to divert them from falling into the wrong crowd by
presenting them with the worst case scenario. I will reach this audience by sharing my film
online, on a page such as filmsshort.
Formand Style
Most of this film will be in a modern style, with certain aspects in a sepia effect, to show the
past tense better and highlight it for the viewer. Following the conventions of my chosen
genre, I will use high and low shots in order to establish times where Ben is control, versus times
where he is experiencing unfortunate events. I will use a simple handheld camera for most of the
filming, alongside a tripod for steady shots. The use of a tripod will be most beneficial for filming
bench scenes in order to allow me to edit a fade later in the film.
Marketplace
Example image, found on google: https://goo.gl/images/qfozok
4. I feel that this film would do quite well as it’s quite abstract and would appeal to a wide
range of people for different aspects.
Due to the fact that this film is about benches, and that it isn’t revealed until the very
end, a sequel or prequel would be very difficult to pull off successfully. There isn’t much
scope for a prequel because there is very little storyline available without it following a
typical teen storyline and being very predictable.
Sample Music
Act 1- Acoustic Breeze. ( https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/acoustic-
breeze ) This song is very upbeat and joyful, in line with the tone of most of the first act,
it gives the impression the girls are very happy to be talking to each other and
demonstrates Stacey’s naivety in regards to what is happening.
Act 2- Memories. (https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/memories )
This song will work well as the drama unfolds as it gathers a slight momentum in the
beat, making the viewers heart race, whilst also showing the innocence of Ben. In time
for the police to take him away, the track softens and simplifies, with the expression of
remorse on Ben’s face, the music makes the audience feel sorry for Ben as he shows no
struggle to get away.
Act3- Tomorrow. ( https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/track/tomorrow )
This song comes in when Connie is reflecting on how Ben used to be, as it accentuates
the feel of time gone past. This will also be perfect when the final, revealing line is
delivered.
Example scriptof key scenes
FADE IN:
SCENE 1
EXT. PARK – DAY
CONNIE and STACEY are saton separatebenches.
CONNIE
He fell inwiththe wrongcrowd,they pressuredhimto“lookcool”
STACEY
What do youmean?
SCENE 2
EXT. PARK – NIGHT
BEN is saton a benchsurroundedbya groupof teenagers.BEN isdrinkingoutof a bottle ina brown
paperbag.
5. BOY NO.1
HeyBen,bottomsup!
GIRL NO.1
Yeah benthatd it! I love abouythat can drink!
STACEY (V.O)
Oh… right.Why didn’the justtell themtogo away?
CONNIE
He wasworriedthathe’dno longerbe popular,thathe’dnolongerhave
any friends.
A girl falls,thegroup runs and BEN is leftaloneon the bench.
CONNIE
Notanymore,the police tookhimawaythat night.
STACEY
What! Why?
CONNIE
There wasan accident,one of the girlsfell andhitherhead,everyone
else ran.But not Ben.
SCENE 3
EXT. PARK – EARLY MORNING
BEN is being taken away in the back of a car.
STACEY
Why didn’the call an ambulance?Itcouldhave savedhimfromthese
consequences!
CONNIE
He doesn’thave a phone,that’swhatmakeshimunique,he saysthey
drag the life outof people.
STACEY
I guess…
CONNIE
But I guessthat makeshimseem dangerous…
7. A Few Notes
Thisfilmwill be 5 minuteslong,assome of the scenes will be shot in a whirlwind type way.
My workingtitle foritis‘NO’,thissumsupthe storyline,as the keyword used throughout is
‘no’. This also highlights an issue of consent that is very relevant to today’s society.
The tagline for this is ‘not today’, this suggests that there is a personal decision in
everything, and life brings changes with it.
Introduction of key Characters:
Freddie- The main character, he has little idea of other people, he is very popular and loves
to be centre of attention. He is intent on football and girls.
Aunt Jo- Young and savvy, she is very contemporary and follows the modern views of the
people around her. She is bold and brave, willing to stand up for what she believes in.
Charlotte- The focus of Freddie’s intent, she is shy and reserved, not a popular girl. She has
her friends, but is not comfortable being the centre of attention.
Synopsis
Act 1
Freddie walks into Aunt Jo’s house, slightly upset, and very frustrated. He gets them both a
drink and sits down. “Whatever is wrong with you?” He explains his torment, how the one
girl he wants most, Charlotte, refused his request of a date. Aunt Jo asks if he knows what to
do now, he thinks he should keep asking her, Jo disagrees. She explains how if a girl doesn’t
feel the same, there’s no need to keep badgering her because it won’t work.
Act 2
The scene then changes to him at school, asking Charlotte out, he ignores the advice we
heard his aunt give. He keeps asking, Charlotte is shown to be miserable, as she walks down
corridors and everyone keeps looking at her. Time is shown to pass by, and eventually
Freddie gets bored too and the gentle questions turn into pestering and bullying.
Act 3
It then changes to a nicer, rosier setting, Freddie listened to his aunt, and both he and
Charlotte appear much happier. They both get on with their separate lives, and Freddie falls
in love with someone else, they end up happy, as does Charlotte.
8. Target Audience
Due to the moral of the story, my target audience is vulnerable teenagers, they would
hit D or E on the NRS scale, due to having a low income and very little experience. In
regards to the 4 C’s they would be either the Struggler or the Aspirer. This is because
they would be the most likely to turn to fitting in with who they perceive to be “cool”,
rather than accepting the thoughts and wishes of others, this film would be an attempt
to divert them from falling into the wrong path by presenting them with the worst case
scenario, showing them that their actions can very negatively affect others. I will reach
this audience by sharing my film online, on a page such as filmsshort.
Formand Style
Most of this film will be in a modern style, with certain aspects in a sepia effect, to show
the fact that they aren’t actually happening better and highlight it for the viewer.
Following the conventions of my chosen genre, I will use high and low shots in order to
establish times where Freddie is chasing after her, versus times where he is experiencing
the happiness they’d feel. I will use a simple handheld camera for most of the filming,
alongside a tripod for steady shots. The use of a tripod will be most beneficial for filming
corridor shots, where the viewer will see Charlotte walking the halls.
Marketplace
I feel that this film would do quite well as it’s quite abstract and would appeal to a wide
range of people for different aspects.
Due to the fact that this film is about consent, and there are very few characters, there
isn’t much scope for a prequel because there is very little storyline available without it
following a typical teen storyline and being very predictable. A sequel may be possible,
but the appeal of an original story wouldn’t be present, because it would have been
done before.
Script for key scene
FADE IN:
SCENE 1
INT. SCHOOL – DAYTIME
CHARLOTTE walks alonga crowdedcorridor with books inhand. FREDDIE jogs to catchup withher.
FREDDIE
Hey, Charlotte. Do you maybe want to hang out with the coolest
guy around for a while?
9. CHARLOTTE
*blushing* I’m okay thanks, Freddie.
FREDDIE
Aww c’mon it’ll be fun! You can finally be popular. Like me.
CHARLOTTE
*shaking her head* that’s not what I want Freddie. But thanks… I
guess.
FREDDIE
Everyone wants to be popular Charlotte, especially here. But hey
whatever. Speak later yeah?
CHARLOTTE
*hurrying away* Yeah…
SCENE 2
INT.AUNT JO’S – DAYTIME
FREDDIE
So, she saidno….
AUNT JO
You know what you need to do now right?
FREDDIE
Keep asking until she says yes… right?
