Samuel Schoettner proposes a short film project titled "Monotony" exploring themes of addiction and isolation. The film will focus on a character who is taken from his normal environment and imprisoned alone in a room, undergoing severe mental changes. When he leaves, he appreciates the world around him. The room represents being trapped by one's own decisions. While the logistics are unclear, the themes focus on how connected people are to social media and the damage of addiction. Schoettner will publish the film online and submit to festivals to get feedback to improve his storytelling skills. He outlines a 20-week production schedule including research, experiments, production, evaluation and presentation.

1. Proposal
1
Centre Name and Number:
York College 48357
Student Name and Number:
Samuel Schoettner
Project proposal title and date:
Monotony. 23/0/2019.
Main area of activity:
Short Film
Rationale:
Over the past two years I have been learning new skills for filmmaking both creatively and with the
equipment itself. I’ve spent hours learning about editing, cameras and equipment, why certain
camera angels or lenses achieve certain effects and more. Therefore, most of the work I have
produced has looked and felt relatively professional. However, I often felt that my work lacked
depth in storytelling, something I have practiced on improving over the last year and something I
feel I am now ready to fully push ahead with. I want to focus all of my energy on the development
of the character within my story as my story is about the ‘journey’ of the character in isolation. I will
need an actor that can portray lots of emotion through their face and posture, as the film will have
little dialogue. I also want to use composition to change power dynamics between the character
and inanimate objects (such as a teddy bear) to show shifts in his mental state. As well as match
cuts to show passing of time etc.
Project Concept:
The film that I am going to make is looking at themes of addiction and isolation.
The main character in the film is a relatively ignorant and oblivious to the world around him.
He is then taken out of his usual environment and put into what is essentially a prison, a prison
that entraps his body and his mind. Without any access to the outside world. While he is in this
room he undergoes sever mental changes.
Once he has left the position of being stuck in the room, he is no longer ignorant an oblivious, he
now has appreciation for the world and people around him.
This room is supposed to represent in a physical form, how he is trapped, by his own decisions
and choices. By being stuck in that room, he is allowed to realise that this is not a way you should
live. Isolated and alone.
The audience is never really supposed to know if it is real or not. Focusing more on the themes
within the project rather than the logistics of it.
The idea is developing constantly as I want it to have a real world application so that the audience
can relate to it. I am mainly thinking about using social media, as a lot of people are trapped by it,
addicted to it and isolate them to spend more time using it.
However, I will need to look at some scientific studies in order to check whether or not this would
be an appropriate theme/if it would really work.
I’m hoping that this video will allow viewers to realise how connected and plugged in we are at any
given moment, every moment of boredom is overridden by our desire for stimulation and therefore
we are damaging ourselves by addiction of social media.
I will be publishing my work online on websites such as Vimeo and Youtube as well submitting the
film to several film festivals including ASFF, CineMagic, UK Film Festival and more. To get my
work seen by like-minded individuals and to get a real world opinion on its quality.

2. Proposal
2
Bibliography:
1. Schoettner, S. (2019) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on 02/02/2019.)
2. Sadler-Scott, R. (2019) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on 04/02/2019.)
3. Charlie Brooker,AnnabelJones,JasonArnopp(2018). InsideBlack Mirror. Manhattan:
RandomHouse,2018. 1-71.
4. AćimVasić.(2018). “Prey” (“La Proie”).Available:https://vimeo.com/275113239. Last
accessed21/01/2019.
5. TimothyD. Wilson,1* DavidA.Reinhard,1ErinC. Westgate,1Daniel T.Gilbert,2Nicole
Ellerbeck,1Cheryl Hahn,1CaseyL.Brown,1Adi Shaked1.(2014). Justthinking thechallenges
of the disengaged mind. .Availaible:https://wjh-
www.harvard.edu/~dtg/WILSON%20ET%20AL%202014.pdf . Last accessed22/01/2019.
(Harvard study)
6. Peter Toohey (2011). Boredom: A lively History. London: Yale University Press. 1-
50.
7. Alberto Moravia (1999). BOREDOM. New York: The New York Review of Books. 1-
104.
8. Patricia Ann Meyer Spacks (1995). Boredom: The Literary History of a State of
Mind. Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press. 1-35.
9. Black Mirror: White Christmas. (2014). [TV EPISODE] London: Channel 4.
10. 8. (2010). [FILM] Switzerland: Turbulence Films.
11. Walter Murch (2001). In the Blink of An Eye: 2nd Edition: A Perspective on Film
Editing. California: Silman-James Press. 1-120.
Week Tasks to be Completed: Specific Tasks
1 Pre-production
21/01/2019
 Proposal and background research.
 Looking at directors films and theories which
have inspired me creatively and to produce my
FMP.
2 Pre-production
28/01/2019
 Research- primary and secondary.
 Researching audiences applicable to my FMP.
Conducting research on whether the concept
would sell or not, researching how to make the
concept better for the target audience. This will
be achieved through one to one interviews as
well as surveys and researched through the
internet and books.
 Researching, costume set props, developing the
story and beginning to draft and craft the product.
3 Pre-production
04/02/2019
 Research- primary and secondary.
 Researching audiences applicable to my FMP.
How will the project be evaluated and reviewed:
To evaluate this project I will be using several tools, the primary and (arguably) most important of
which will be constant self-reflection. Since this project spans 20 weeks a lot is going to happen,
and it is important that I note down what I’ve done every week. So that by then end of the 20
weeks I will still remember what I have done and can improve myself during the course of the
production. Another tool will be peer and external feedback. I am going to show my work to as
many people as I possibly can, and ask them for their opinions and critiques. Getting a second
perspective is always hugely important, as you will learn things about your work you didn’t
consider, and the audience will see things in a different light to you, with a more objective view.
The last way I will evaluate my work is by doing a big evaluation when I have finished my work and
I will compare it to pre-existing work of my own and that of professionals to see where I stand and
how I have improved.

3. Proposal
3
Conducting research on whether the concept
would sell or not, researching how to make the
concept better for the target audience. This will
be achieved through one to one interviews as
well as surveys and researched through the
internet and books.
 Researching, costume set props, developing the
story and beginning to draft and craft the product.
4 Pre-production
11/02/2019
 Experiments.
 Practicing any techniques and skills that I will
need to develop for the Production. This could be
working with actors and learning how to direct
properly. Practicing creative writing. Practicing
with camera equipment etc. Stretching my legs
before the marathon.
5 Pre-production
18/02/2019
 Experiments.
 Practicing any techniques and skills that I will
need to develop for the Production. This could be
working with actors and learning how to direct
properly. Practicing creative writing. Practicing
with camera equipment etc. Stretching my legs
before the marathon.
6 Pre-production
04/03/2019
 Pre-Production and planning.
 Refining what the product is going to look and
feel like, drawing up clearer plans of the visual
and auditory nature of the film. Finishing of the
script and creating story boards/shot lists.
Working out shooting dates and rehearsal dates
with actor.
7 Pre-production
11/03/2019
 Pre-Production and planning
 Refining what the product is going to look and
feel like, drawing up clearer plans of the visual
and auditory nature of the film. Finishing of the
script and creating story boards/shot lists.
Working out shooting dates and rehearsal dates
with actor.
8 Production
18/03/2019
 Production and reflections.
 Kicking of production and reflecting on all the
work that I have done to get to this point.
Ensuring I start of with right foot forward. Set
building collection of props and costume.
9 Production
25/03/2019
 Rehearsals With my actor on set talking about
the character answering his questions and
developing character and story. (Begin shooting)
10 Production
01/04/2019
 Continue and finish shooting. Begin a draft edit.
11 Production
08/04/2019
 Finishing Draft edit & Draft peer feedback
12 Production
29/04/2019
 Re-shoots (if necessary) If not, refining edit,
improving based on feedback.
13 Production
06/05/2019
 Colour grading and sound mastering. VFX if
necessary.
14 Production
13/05/2019
 Going over and fixing anything that needs fixing
(contingency week)

4. Proposal
4
15 Evaluation
20/05/2019
 Evaluation.
 Comparing my work to professional pre-existing
work, reflecting on my work process. Things that
have improved in comparison to previous
projects. What went well what didn’t go so well.
Peer Feedback Etc.
16 Evaluation
03/06/2019
 Evaluation
 Comparing my work to professional pre-existing
work, reflecting on my work process. Things that
have improved in comparison to previous
projects. What went well what didn’t go so well.
Peer Feedback Etc.
17 Evaluation
10/06/2019
 Presentation
18 Moderation
17/06/2019
 Writing and Preparing script for the Show,
reflecting on the project etc.
19 Show Preparation
24/06/2019
 Writing and Preparing script for the Show,
reflecting on the project etc.
20 Show
01/07/2019
 Showing my work to peers and external viewers.