This document outlines ideas for a student film project, including rejected ideas and the final chosen idea. The final idea is about a lonely man obsessed with his son who was taken away. Inspiration comes from films like Se7en and music like Akon's "Lonely". The writer's sister will play the lead role as the man. Psychological thriller elements, lighting, costuming and music are discussed. Themes will include loneliness, lost identity, obsession and anger over the loss of his son.
2. Ideas Rejected
Conspiracy plot: This is where I would go into central London and film a
birds eye view of people walking around on their phones as if they are being
brainwashed and controlled by society. I rejected this idea because it is too
similar to the film Eagle eye.
Religious plot: This is where someone would be flicking through the bible
and the names of people involved names would be coming out of it. Only
bible pages would be shown. I rejected this idea because it sound boring
and not very interesting.
Stalking plot: This is where someone is being followed. The casting peoples
names would be following the stalker as he follows a girl, Then he gets close
enough to smell her hair. I rejected this idea because it sounded too clique.
Bulling plot: This is where someone is being bullied and every time
someone pushed him a casting name would show up. He decides to take
revenge on everyone who bullied him. I rejected this idea because it was too
similar to the film Tormented.
3. Final Idea
Alone plot: This is where their is a loner in his house.
The whole scene would be filmed in sepia mode. He is
obsessed with his son as he used to molest him and he
lost custody to his wife. He feels lonely without his son
and feels he would do anything to be with him again. The
people who is included names would be shown with his
movement. The title of the film would be “ Unattached”.
This shows the independence and loneliness this man
feels without his family.
4. Inspiration
Se7en: This has inspired me because it shows the extent people
would got through to remember and save their family. The opening
also shows a man keeping notes/documents on things he did. I want
this to be portrayed in my opening but on the wall to show
desperation for order and companionship.
Akon-Lonely: This shows how lonely he is that it has taken over his
identity and it has made him become “Mr Lonely”. This is how I want
my character to be seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EEW-9NDM5k&ob=av2e
5. Casting
I have chosen to use my sister
shale to be the main character.
Even though it would be a man
I am going to use her because
she is reliable and would take it
seriously. It will take heavy
make up and the right props to
make her look like man but I
think its possible.
6. Tag Line
“A man and his shadow”: This shows the loneliness
that his only companion and friend is his shadow. It is
also short and brief so it doesn’t give away any part of
the film. It has a subtle way of explaining the film.
This is saying should engage the audience and make
them ask themselves a question that should be answer
later on in the film.
7. Treatment
Genre: This would be psychological thriller.
Camerawork and lighting: I would use long shots mainly to show him walking
around the room. Extreme close ups to show even the most subtle movement and
enhance it. Medium shots to show jus t the upper body when doing smaller task. I was
hoping to use natural lighting and some artificial as it will be filmed during the day.
Music: I am going to make my own backing music. I want the music to be based on
the metronome sound. To show time goes very slowly when they are by themselves.
Costume and make up: There is going to use of make up on the character and I will
buy my own materials for costume which is going to be a very old and browning robe.
Special effects: Some use of quick flashing images when he is doing something that
looks suspicions. Also when the names come in and the title.
Tone: It will be very tense and suspenseful.
8. Possible Music
I was planning on using hardly any music just a
subtle piano sound with short but load bell noise. I
want it to build suspense onto what would happen
next. It would sound like this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYxiyf78hZU
But it will not sound exactly like this as I hope to
make my own backing music.
9. How it fits into the thriller conventions
This thriller involves an antagonist which is being
observed by a protagonist for his acts of obsession.
on his son.
During the film their would be violent acts of crime
and illegal actions as the one protagonist would turn
and join the antagonist as he is being blackmailed
and has no other choice.
The end does not show any heroic act just another
twist and storyline that would hopefully be solved in
the sequel.
10. Themes
Loneliness: His son is gone and he has no-one left
to be with so he feels abandoned.
Lost identity: He no longer has anyone so he feels
like he has lost his identity.
Obsession: He has lost his son so he obsesses
about him hoping to one day be part of his life again.
Anger: He feels anger because his son left him to be
by himself and he doesn’t think its fair that they can
move on without him.