The document provides treatment plans for two short film ideas by James Pugh. The first film idea, called "Backfire", is about a group of teenagers who try to pressure another boy into committing a crime. However, the boy gets help from his friend to set up a trap for the group. The second idea, called "Runway", is about a man who discovers his fiancée and best friend have been having an affair and have run away together, taking his money. Both films are targeted at teenagers and young adults and explore themes of peer pressure and betrayal. Contingency plans are also discussed in case of scheduling or weather issues during filming.

1. UNIT 16 TREATMENTS
BY JAMES PUGH

2. FILM IDEA 1 - BACKFIRE
• My film will be called Backfire and will be around 5-10 minutes long.
• Tagline – ‘ Don’t crack under the pressure’
The main characters in this film are a group of teenagers who are going to peer
pressure another boy into committing a crime. There are three people in this group
called Callum, Jack and Dom. However this other boy named Mason gets one of his
mates (Harvey) to help him out-fox the group of lads. I will use people from sixth
form as actors for these roles. I will also need a middle aged man to act as a police
officer and Harvey’s Dad.

3. TREATMENT - ACT 1
• The film will begin with a group of teenagers planning how to make some money by doing a
robbery. They are all sat round in a circle in the opening scene discussing how to carry out this
robbery. When another teenager walks in called Mason the group of lads see him and they have
history. One of the boys from the group called Jack then says how they need to get revenge on
him. They plan to do this by bribing him to carry out this robbery for them as it could be
dangerous. Mason clocks on that these boys are talking about him however he chooses to
ignore it as he’s used to it by now.
• The next scene cuts to Mason and his mate Harvey talking about what they are doing this
weekend. This creates dramatic irony for the audience as the audience know that he may be
forced into committing this crime at the weekend. The two separate groups begin to stare at
each other some more before Callum shouts “Oi Mason” whilst gesturing for him to come over.
Mason takes a big gulp and walks slowly over to the group of boys as he thinks that they want
to talk to him maybe to clear the air.

4. TREATMENT - ACT 2
• The drama begins to rise as Mason sits down next to the group of boys and it is clear that something is up as soon
as he sits down due to an tense moment of silence. They begin to explain the plan to Mason and he doesn’t want
anything to do with it so he begins to get up and walk off, however Callum grabs him. He tells him to sit down or
they will hurt his brother if he doesn’t do the robbery or tells anyone about it. Mason then begins to worry as he is in
a dilemma about protecting his younger brother. The boys then begin to explain how they are going to carry this
robbery out, it involves robbing Harvey’s house, who is Mason’s best mate, because they know his parents are
wealthy. This throws another thing into Mason’s dilemma.
• The next scene of the film then cuts to the Friday night when Mason goes round to his mate Harvey’s house. He
plucks up the courage to tell him what the group of boys have said to him. Harvey then says to Mason how they can
catch the group of boys out as Harvey’s dad is a police officer so he can set them up. So they begin to plan how they
can set the others and decide the best way of doing this is by telling the lads that the house is empty, however to
bring weapons just in case. Little do they know that Harvey’s dad is going to be in the house to arrest them. Later on,
Mason gets a call about the robbery from the boys and they arrange a time and a place for 9pm tonight. That gives
Harvey and Mason the chance to finalise plans and work out timings for what they are going to do.
• 9pm comes and the boys are walking with their hoods up to the location (Harvey’s house). They start to prepare
themselves for what lies ahead and come round the corner and they all see Harvey’s house and take a deep breath.
They agree to meet Mason just outside but then he doesn’t turn up, meaning the boys decide to go in without him,
despite being fuming. As they all run in the house they are met by Mason looking right at them and they wonder
how he got in there, however they have no time for questions and continue upstairs where they think the safe is.

5. TREATMENT – ACT 3
• This is where the final conflict begins to take place, as all the boys split up into
different rooms to look for a safe. Callum goes into Harvey’s parents room and
the others hear a shout of “Drop your weapon!”. The others rush in to see what
has happened and are met by Harvey’s Dad in a police uniform with Callum in
handcuffs. He looks at the others and says “You’re all under arrest”. The boys
panic and begin to run until they hear sirens outside. Both Jack and Dom look at
Mason and Mason says “You couldn’t peer pressure me, I am stronger than that”.
• This is where the film ends as it will end on a message being told to the audience
that peer pressure can backfire on you.

6. SCRIPT – END SCENE
Harvey’s Dad:
“Drop your weapon! You’re all under arrest”.
Mason to the group of boys:
“You couldn’t peer pressure me, I am stronger than that”.
Dom:
“You’ve always been a snitch”
Mason:
“You’ve always been a bully”
Harvey’s Dad:
“Boys, you’re in the wrong and you have committed a crime”
Harvey:
“Exactly”

7. TARGET AUDIENCE – FILM IDEA 1
• The primary target audience for my first film idea ‘Backfire’ is likely to be
teenagers who are currently in education as they will be able to relate to the
storyline. However, the plot could also appeal to parents as they may have gone
through this at school or their children are. By using mild gang scenes in the film
may reach out to the primary target audience especially those who live in cities
who are very close to gang violence and may lie at D on the NRS scale by being
working class citizens. Much like the majority of the characters in the film. This
can mean the audience can gain a sense of personal identity when watching the
film as they can see themselves in a certain character. This is one of Blumler and
Katz’s uses and gratifications for why we watch TV and film, which is why it is
important to reach these when making a film so the audience enjoy it.

8. MARKETPLACE – FILM IDEA 1
• I can see this film being a success if executed well as I believe the idea is quite
unique as it sends out a message to the audience. I think that if made correctly it
could be a success at film festivals due to the plot twists and dramatic irony
involved throughout the film. Despite this, I think it could be hard to replicate the
plan when shooting as it is quite a complex idea with several locations.
• I think it has the possibility to be made into a longer film using the same concept
as there is a lot of action which has been compressed into a 5 minute film plan.
However it could be made into a longer film if successful.

9. FILM IDEA 2 - RUNWAY
• My second film idea will be between 5 and 10 minutes long and will be called
Runway.
• The films tagline is: ‘Those closest to you can hurt you the most’
• They key characters in this film include:
• 21 year old man – Billy
• 20 year old woman – Jess (Billy’s Fiancé)
• 20 year old man – Jason (Billy’s best mate)
• I plan to use actors from sixth form who look slightly older to play these roles.

10. TREATMENT – ACT 1
• This film will begin with Billy and Jason, who are best mates, are sitting together
making plans to go on holiday together as they have been mates since they were 4
years old and haven’t been away anywhere for a ‘lads holiday’ because of Billy going
on holiday with his now fiancé Jess instead. They continue discussing before they are
interrupted by Jess asking Billy to get something from the shop. This means that Jess
and Jason are alone, meaning they begin to talk about Billy behind his back and Jess
says to him “You can’t go on holiday with him, we need to tell him”. Jason responds
“We can’t, that’s the worst thing we could do”.
• This therefore creates some tension and the audience will wonder what exactly it is
that these two are talking about baring in mind Jess is engaged to Billy so to go
behind his back, shows her disloyal character straight away to the audience.

11. TREATMENT – ACT 2
• When Billy returns from the shop, he says to the others as a joke “I’m back, so you can stop talking
about me now”. This creates dramatic irony as the audience know that Jess and Jason were actually
talking about him.
• The next scene begins with Billy and Jess talking about where him and Jason have decided to go and
Billy picks up that Jess is reluctant for them to go but he thinks that it’s because she doesn’t want to be
alone. Jess then panics and tells Billy that she is pregnant. Billy is naturally thrilled and excited
however he still wants to go on this holiday as it is early days in her pregnancy.
• A few days before the holiday Billy gets a phone call from Jason saying that he can’t come on the
holiday anymore. Billy asks why but Jason just responds with “You’ll find out soon enough”. He is very
blunt to Billy on the phone almost as though he didn’t want to talk to him, which is completely out of
character. Billy then of course calls Jess to ask if she wants to come on the holiday instead as well as to
ask where the suitcases are. The call goes to answerphone, but then he receives a text from Jess saying
“Can’t speak now but cases are in spare room, passports in front pocket”. Billy then continues to pack
for the holiday, before going to reach for the passports where he finds a note.

12. TREATMENT – ACT 3
• The note that Jess has written says to Billy how she has wanted to say this for a while but
knew he’d react badly. She has gone on the holiday with Jason as she has been sleeping
with him for a year now, which is why he couldn’t find the passports in the front pockets of
the suitcase. She then goes on to say how she has taken the money he has earned to fund
this trip as her and Jason are never coming back and that the baby she is pregnant with is
actually Jason’s.
• Billy puts his head in his hands as he knows that there is nothing he can do, with no money,
no fiancé and no baby on the way. He’s got nothing left. Worst of all it is his best mate who
Jess had cheated on him with so it goes to show that you can never trust anyone and those
who are closest to you can hurt you the most.

13. END SCENE AUDIO SAMPLE
This is the audio sample I am likely to use in my closing scene in my film. This is
because it is a sad ending of when Billy is reading the letter from Jess and therefore
will add to the emotional feel of the scene and the audience with empathise with Billy.

14. SCRIPT – OPENING SCENE
Billy:
“I’ve heard that Croatia is quite nice”
Jason:
“Hmm I’m not sure it seems a bit dead and boring there, we need somewhere with clubs”
Jess:
“Billy, can you get some milk from the shop
please”
Billy:
“Alright won’t be long”
[Billy Exits] Jess:
“We need to tell him”
Jason:
“That’s the worst thing we could do”
[Cuts to Billy Entering] Billy:
“I’m back, so you can stop talking about me now ha-ha.”

15. TARGET AUDIENCE – FILM IDEA 2
• The target audience or this film are going to be fans of the drama genre as this is the main
genre of the film. With many plot twists involved it is likely to get the audience involved and on
the edge of their seats. The age of the target audience is going to be broad from teenagers to
late 40s as this is generally the time that people are beginning new relationships or just coming
out of them. On the NRS scale this target audience is likely to be anywhere from working class
(D) to middle class (B). This is because they ae likely to enjoy the drama of the film and
excitement as they may be able to relate with the characters. Especially Billy if they have been
cheated on before.
• In addition to this, these people will watch a film like this to gain a sense of diversion and to
escape from everyday life. Also they may be able to build personal relationships with the
characters and empathise with them, or build personal identity if they can see themselves in one
of the characters. These are all reasons why Blumler and Katz believed that people watch TV and
film, so by achieving these things for the film it will make it more enjoyable for the audience and
will become more successful.

16. MARKETPLACE – FILM IDEA 2
• I can see this film doing well in the market due to the drama of it as well as being
very relatable to a wide target audience. The drama slowly builds throughout the
film before reaching a pinnacle at the end when the note that is left drops a
bombshell. I believe that for this reason it could be very popular with the target
audience as well as at festivals.
• I believe that this film would be a success on YouTube and could possibly be
made into a longer film or could have some more episodes to make it into a
series of how Billy responds to what has happened.

17. FORM, STYLE AND GENRE
I am likely to try and film these films by taking multiple shots for each scene with a
variety of different camera angles. First of all to try and make it interesting for the
audience but to also make the film to a high quality and I will select the best shots
for the edit for the film.
The genre of both of these films is a drama as I want lots of plot twists to keep the
audience on the edge of their seats throughout. There will also be sub – genres
within both these film ideas, for example Action due to some violent scenes in the
film and the codes and conventions of this genre such as the weapons used aswell
as the costume of the characters.

18. CONTINGENCY PLAN
• If I wasn’t able to film when I have planned to then I would plan a backup time to
be able to film just in case. For example if one of my actors wasn’t able to film
due to being ill or injured then I would film the following week, starting the 4th
February. However, if possible I would still try to film when I have planned to with
the actors that are not ill or injured. Filming the following week, in case
something happened, is appropriate as hopefully by then the actor will be ready
and available to film.
• In addition to this, for any shots outside I will have to prepare for bad weather.
This can affect the shot quality, therefore just in case I will plan to film a couple of
days later where hopefully the weather will be better and my actors will be
available.

19. REVISED KEY SCENE MATERIALS
• Based on my feedback from my pitch I am most likely to need to make some of
my scenes more realistic and easy to film due to it being quite a complex plot for
my second film. For example in Runaway, I am going to need the pregnancy
scene to be more realistic rather than using a prop to make Jess look pregnant. I
will do this by Jess being in the early stages of her pregnancy.
• In addition to this, if I was to use my first film idea then I would need to make the
robbery scene much more realistic too. This is because being able to find an actor
with a policeman outfit would be difficult, therefore instead I would just use a
parent character rather than a policeman in this film and scene.