1. Narrative idea 2
My second narrative idea would definitely follow an unconventional non-
linear narrative structure. Instead of the film starting from the beginning
towards the end, the film will begin from the end of the story towards the
very beginning. Therefore, the short film will open with a voice over of the
main character as an adult which represents the end of the story. However,
as the film gets closer to the beginning of the narrative, a scenario of the
main character as a teenager in his bedroom will be represented. What has
inspired me to choose this structure is through a novel named Stuart: A life
backwards which explores the journey of a homeless man from his adult
years to his early childhood years. Through the novel’s alternative structure,
the author Alexander Stuart was able to increase his popularity significantly.
In the same way I want my alternative structure to appeal to a large target
audience of young adults aged 16+.
Classification/Genre:
The genre for my second narrative idea will be drama and a series of romance as it
explores how a 18 year old woman who had optimistic dreams of her ideal partner
as a young child fell in love with a man who proved to be nothing but an abusive
and controlling guy. I specifically chose the mixture of these two genres as it
correlates with the relationship between my mother and father in the past.
2. Short summary/Synopsis:
1) 1 month later; failure to escape Jay’s abusive ways Riah writes a love letter
towards her friends and family and commits suicide. (Pan movement of
Riah’s graveyard and voice over of Riah’s voice reading the letter).
2) Riah begins self-harming, over-dosing on pills, distancing herself from her
friends and family and sinking into depression as Jay becomes possessive
and threatens to kill Riah if she leaves him.
3) Two months later and Jay becomes increasingly abusive and controlling
towards Riah as Jay begins monitoring Riah’s every movement event while
Riah is at work.
4) Three months ago Riah and Jay are dating and everything seems ‘perfect’ as
the couple talk about marriage, babies and moving in together.
5) Aged 17, Riah meets Jay at a party, Jay comes across as friendly, sociable,
funny, generous and extremely charming.
6) Michelle Banks and Riah talk about their issues with guys in college, already
Riah is going through some serious issues with her boyfriend at college; their
issues distracts Riah greatly in her studies to the point in which she fails her
A levels. Michelle recently complains about how she never had a boyfriend,
Riah responds with how ‘time will tell’.
7) Pan movement of Riah as an 11 year old girl in her bedroom playing with her
Ken and Barbie dolls with Banks. They both discuss their qualities towards
their ‘ideal’ man. *Moral of the Story*- Life is not a fairytale.
Similar/ Comparable film examples
Murdered by my boyfriend
is a real life documentary
which explores the tragic
lifestyle of a young woman
who suffered from
domestic abuse and was
later brutally killed by her
boyfriend with an ironing
board. Murdered by my
boyfriend relates to this
narrative idea as they both
explore issues with
domestic abuse; both carry
out the message that
victims of domestic
abuse should reach out
before it’s too late.
3. Logistics and feasibility
Actors:
1) Riah Geneva- Committed suicide when she was 18, before Jay stepped
into her life she was ambitious, happy, loud, adventurous and very
confident. Was an intelligent college student with her life ahead of her but
dropped out as she was with Jay, Jay wanted Riah all to himself.
“Sometimes I want to break free, but the
air inside is too thin to breathe...”- Riah
Geneva
Trapped
V
U
N
E
R
A
B
L
E
Haunted
LostConstantly
Afraid
In danger
Enslaved.
4. 2) Michelle Banks- Geneva’s best friend since high school aged 18 when
Riah introduced Jay to her. Michelle has tried her best to convince Riah to
leave Jay but vulnerable Riah would always insist that she deserves to be
tormented by Jay. Michelle is kind-hearted, extremely intelligent, attractive,
flirty loyal and shy. She is currently dating a trainee solicitor at a top
university.
Strong-minded
Ambitious
Caring
I N T E L L I G E N T YET C L A S S Y
Determined
F
I
E
R
C
E
“Life is a mission but I must conquer it...”-
Michelle Banks
Optimistic
5. 3) Jay- Riah’s lover, 19 years old, an ex-convict for physical assault, a
secretive drug addict, a man with several issues living amongst
darkness, born and raised in South London, Peckham.
Depressed A
N
X
I
O
U
S
Over
thinking
Self-conscious
Mentally
unstable
“I wish I could tame the monster inside my head...”-Jay
In
Need of
Help
E
A
S
I
L
Y
A
G
G
R
A
V
A
T
E
D
Emotionless
C O M P U L S I V E L I A R, I N D E CI S I V E, VIOLENT
Everything
A man
Shouldn’t
Be...
Self-made...
6. 4)
Martin
Lewis-Jay’s best
friend, aged 21,
chemical engineering
student at a top
university, a part time
road constructor, born
and raised in South
London, Peckham but
managed to change his
life around. Personality
wise Martin is wise,
funny, playful, sociable,
odd but good-hearted,
Martin tries to give Riah
some hint that Jay is not
the right person for him
but yet Martin does not
want to betray his best
friend of 7 years.
Brave
Money-motivatedSelf-centred
H
A
R
D
W
O
R
K
I
N
G
M
A
N
“Substitute arrogance for confidence...”-Martin
7. Props/Make-up
Riah Geneva
Props: An a4 paper with a note from
Riah with the intentions of committing
suicide for scene 1.
Pills and a knife for scene 2 as Riah self
harms.
A mobile phone for scene 3 as Riah
tries to call the police when Jay gets
abusive.
Toys for the last scene as the film
resorts back to Riah’s early childhood.
Make-up
Riah Geneva: Light make up to
enhance her natural beauty,
pink blusher and lip gloss.
Jay
Props: A cell phone for
scene 2 as Jay monitors
Riah’s every movement.
Snapback so Jay can look
more urban.
Make-up
Jay: Facial cream to
make Jay’s looks
stand out as an
attractive guy.
Michelle Banks
Props: A handbag for when
Michelle is at college
communicating with Riah.
Dolls within the last scene as
Michelle and Riah play together as
children.
Make-up
Michelle Banks: Burgundy lipstick for
the lips as it suits the complexion of
her skin as a dark skin woman.
Dark brown eye brow pencil to
highlight the eyes.
Foundation to even out skin.
Locations:
Scene 1: At a graveyard
Scene 2: In a toilet
Scene 3: Outside on the streets.
Scene 4: At a park, on a bench.
Scene 5: In the studio room at LSC.
Scene 6: At the canteen in LSC. Scene 7: At a park, playground.
