Lucas Higham proposes to make a short surrealist thriller film called "Insomniacs That Go Bang In The Night". He will draw on influences like Fellini, Lynch, and Hitchcock to craft a dream-like quality with noir and gritty elements. The story involves a man with insomnia trying to leave a bad business, complicated by working with his ex-girlfriend. Lucas will conduct research through audience surveys, insomnia interviews, and studying relevant films. He will evaluate the project through weekly transcripts, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and a final commentary to improve for future projects.

1. Proposal
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Centre Name and Number:
York College 48357
Student Name and Unique Learner Number:
Lucas Higham - 6523082635
Project proposal title and date:
Insomniacs That Go Bang In The Night - 18/2/22
Main area of activity:
I am going to be working in video, making a short film under a noir/thriller genre adopting the style
of my own combined with surrealism.
Rationale:
The past 2 years I have been able to make products in genres and themes that interest me, more
specifically noir/gritty/crime/surrealist. This can be seen right back when I made my music video.
For this project I will continue to make a film under those genres and movements which will inform
the film itself. In order to make the film as professional as possible, I’ve learned that I must cast
age-appropriate actors and be diligent in the casting process. I have become more comfortable in
the use of tri-pod, before I would rely on handheld shots. A tri-pod provides stability, my choice of
what equipment to use has only been informed in what will look better and what is appropriate for
the mood/atmosphere of the story. I have been studying how to craft mood and atmosphere
(through image and sound). Time management will also be key in making the film process flow
well, that and organisational. I need to spend as little time on set as possible, but enough time to
make it work. My intensions once the film is complete would be to submit to film festivals and
hopefully get it shown in local cinemas.
Project Concept:
My project concept is a film that will have the tone and style of surrealistic nightmare. To further
inform the dream-like quality of the film, the main character will have insomnia linking the film to
sleep and dreams. The film will never acknowledge this verbally, but through the imagery and style
it will be made clear. On surface it will be a gritty noir thriller, about a young man trying to get out of
a bad business, it is made further complicated when he is forced to work with his ex-girlfriend
bringing up their troubled relationship. The film will speak to how the main character is as a lover
and will hopefully make the viewer question that themself. I want the audience involved in the film
on an emotional level. The way the camera moves in relation to the characters in 8½ by Fellini is
something I’d like to look into.
The research I will undertake will be questionnaire sent out to my proposed to audience, interview
with someone who has insomnia (primary research) and films made of similar stylistic, thematic,
technical nature, and books/videos on relevant ideas and techniques I plan to use. For example,
the films of Buñuel, Fellini and Lynch when looking at surrealism and their style combined with
that. Hitchcock and Welles are big on brilliant visual storytelling artistry. I will also be open to
include anything I watch that will bare any kind of significance to the influence of the film.
How will the project be evaluated and reviewed:
I will conduct an on-going evaluation throughout the project, weekly. These will be transcribed
voice notes which will discuss what I’ve been doing, why I’ve been doing it and if I’ve learned
anything, if I’ve solved any problems. During the production I will make a behind-the-scenes
documentary on the shooting of the film which will go into what problems I come across during the
shoot, how I work and how we worked as a team to get the shots and performance. Once the
project is complete, I will officially evaluate the project as a whole and will also produce a full-
length live commentary. This will help me understand where I’ve gone wrong, so next time those

2. Proposal
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problems will not happen. I will also receive feedback from my peers, online viewers and cast &
crew notes.

3. Proposal
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Bibliography:
1. Lucas, Higham. (2022) Target Audience Research Survey
2. Lucas, Higham. (2022) Insomnia interview
3. Ben, Szandrowski. (2022) Insomnia interview, interviewee
4. Freud, S. (1899) The Interpretation of Dreams
5. Baker, J. (1967) The Peregrine
6. Magritte, R (1928) The Lovers – Painting
7. Hitchcock, A (1954) Dial M for Murder
8. Hitchcock, A (1958) Vertigo
9. Hitchcock A (1946) Notorious
10. Tarkovsky, A (1975) Mirror
11. Roeg, N (1973) Don’t Look Now
12. Fellini, F (1963) 8½
13. Lynch, D (2001) Mulholland Drive
14. Lynch, D (1986) Blue Velvet
15. Welles, O (1947) The Lady From Shanghai
16. Wilder, B (1944) Double Indemnity
Week Tasks to be Completed: Specific Tasks
1 Context Context – begin context document, detailing
influences, where I am now etc. Strengths and
limitations.
2 Context Context and Proposal – Fellini, Lynch, Hitchcock.
Add more notes and initial ideas.
3 Research Look into surrealism in art movement which lead
into cinema in the late 1920s (Buñuel 1930s)
then all other surreal films in the 50s +. Look into
dreams and sleep, insomnia (interview)
4 Research Hitchcock – how to create suspense and visual
storytelling. Noir genre exploration, conventions,
specific techniques taken. Welles style. Any other
films that I’ve watched that are relevant.
Lighting and use of colour – colour theory. Editing
(Nic Roeg).
5 Problem solving Potential issues that I may come across.
Theatrical problems, practical and technical
problems. Where will it be evidenced.
6 Pre-production Pre-production – casting, rehearsals, scheduling,
confirming locations. Location scouting. Script
breakdown. Storyboards. Meetings.
7 Pre-production Contingency planning, health planning. Planning
the shoot extensively. Shot lists. Equipment list.
8 Production Shooting the film
9 Production Shooting the film
10 Production Editing – rough cut. Edit each scene individually.
11 Production Editing – reach a final cut
12 Evaluation Evaluate the process. Finish the production diary.
Start to make contact in presenting the film
13 Presentation Hold a presentation event
14 Final week

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