This document outlines Joseph Haley's initial plans and reactions to his final major project (FMP) of creating a short film. He expresses that the project seems daunting due to its scope but that he is looking forward to showcasing his creativity. He has always been passionate about theology, politics, and high fantasy in film. Some initial ideas include a film exploring religion and politics or creating a new fantasy world inspired by history. After considering the pros and cons, he decides a short film would be best as it aligns with his passion and allows more creative freedom compared to a video game. Mood boards are presented to influence the themes of appearance vs. reality in portraying deities.

1. Initial Plans
Joseph Haley

2. Initial Reaction
At first this brief seems very daunting due to the range within. The FMP will really test
my skills and abilities that I have gathered over the last year. However I am very much
looking forward to being able to do something that I actually want to do. This project
will be hard but it will also allow me to show off my creativity. I also believe that my
creativity and passion will show In my final grade.
I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to make a short film as that was where
my passion was. I have always been interested in Theology and have always been
disappointed in how little discussion there is regarding the nature of God when it
comes to Film. Politics has always fascinated me as well and Religion and Politics have
always linked quite well. I feel like a main reason it isn’t ever dressed in Film is because
it would be deemed controversial and people such as the ‘Roman Catholic Church’
would deem it offensive. I don’t want to be seen as Dystheist, but I believe that in film
you should be able to make anything.
One of my biggest passions has always been High Fantasy because you can make a
brand new world which acts as a form of escapism from the life that we live in. What
tends to happen is that these fantastical stories use elements of history from the world
that we live in. Game of Thrones takes a lot of inspiration from the ‘War of the Roses’
through the ‘War of the 5 Kings’. Most High Fantasy takes inspiration from War within
history but I have never seen a strong emphasis on religion. To me religion should
appeal as an interesting topic because it affects so many people.

3. Initial Reaction

4. Mind Map

5. Mind Map

6. Mind Map

7. Idea-Video Game
PROS
• A lot of the pre-production
and research will be much
easier to do as there is a lot
of pre-existing fantasy RPG
games.
• My knowledge of the
specific field is much
stronger and therefore I
would probably feel more
confident in getting a
higher grade.
• Our previous assignment
was video game so it is
already the freshest in my
mind.
CONS
• The idea doesn't actually
interest me, even if I feel
confident doing it, I wouldn’t
feel passionate doing it.
• Video games give you less
opportunity to be unique and
make it harder to stand out
from the crowd.
• With being given more time It
might be difficult to be able to
create a video game of that
higher standard.
• Hard to think of what
supplementary pieces I can
make.

8. Idea-Short film
PROS
• I am passionate about Film
and this is what I want to do
next year.
• I have a lot more range to
choose from when it comes
to making a film compared
to making a video game.
• I have several ideas for extra
things I can do with the
short film.
CONS
• Is more difficult to do well
in.
• The story has to be good or
else nothing else will work.

11. Mood Board Analysis
Is there any repetition in the images you have collected? Repeated
colours/images styles/fonts/tone/mood
The mood board is split into two different parts which present Shakespearian appearance compared to reality. On the
left it shows beauty and innocence and the purity of what is above us. On the right it shows the reality of absolute
power and how absolute power corrupts.
On the first mood board the colours are lighter which is important when portraying some form of deity because you
need to show the goodness of them. The picture of Odin (a Norse God) shows him as a warrior but this links with the
other pictures of God because he is omnipotent (all-powerful) but he is also omnibenevolent (all loving). The two
bottom pictures in the bottom left show natural beauty as well as Adam and Eve who before the fall were pure and
innocent. It also has a theme of love running through the whole left-hand side and the beauty that there is in love. The
main colour on the left is the colour white, this shows tranquillity and peace.
On the second mood board we have the reality of what comes with absolute power, the colour palette is darker which
suggests the darker side of what we believe to be true. The pictures on the right-hand side show authority, order and
hierarchy. It is important to show that a deity is just someone else who is in charge. There is also the question of how
free-will and how it can affect you. There is also the theme of lust and how love leads to passion which is deemed
impure.
How will your mood board influence your final product?
The mood board is the amalgamation of what the short film will be about. Splitting the board into two is important as I
want to show the difference between appearance and reality and how these higher deities may seem full of good
intentions they are not what they appear to be. The mood board will influence the deeper meaning behind what my
short film will be about, while I haven't got the specifics of the story sorted out yet the main character will see his ‘God’
as what he really is (the second mood board). Whereas everyone else sees their ‘God’ as all-loving, all-knowing and all-
powerful (the first mood board). These mood boards will help to ensure that I remember to have a distinct and clear
difference between appearance and reality flowing through my work. I will show the first mood board to be an illusion
of what people think the ‘Utopia’ is; and then the second mood board will be what the ‘Utopia’ really is once all of the
front has been washed away.