This document outlines plans for a short film about a mentally ill teenage protagonist. It will be rated 15-18 and follow the protagonist as he walks away from a mental institution into an isolated wooded area. Scenes will convey his unstable mental state through costume, lighting, and flashbacks. The film aims to realistically portray the protagonist's struggle with mental illness and recovery. It will be independently produced with support from a company like Film4 known for gritty films dealing with difficult themes.

1. Sequence Idea

2. Genre and Themes
• Sub genre- Drama/thriller
• Mental illness- Protagonist is ill or believes he is suffering mentally.
He sees things and struggles to remain stable

3. Name Ideas
• Recovery
• Lost
• The Escape
• Lost My Mind
• Call for Help

4. Age Certificate and Audience
• Film may be distressing as it contains mental illness and distress. We
want to target a demographic aged between (15-18)
• Therefore, we will rate it a 15 to include the so the demographic is
old enough to face the issues and understand the severity of the
narrative.
• Secondary Audience will be young adults (19-21) or an older
demographic who like Dramas/thrillers. Likely to be a low social
class, E, so they can relate to the young protagonist.

5. Location

We will film in a quiet wood/forest area to
connote isolation and suggest discomfort
to the audience

The scene will take place in the wooded
area throughout the opening sequence

The location will be filmed in the evening
so low key lighting can give a sense of
uncertainty and danger

6. Characters and Representation

Protagonist (yet to decide a name)- the camera will follow
him throughout the opening and follow his movements in
the woods( Hero)

We will use costume stereotypical of patients to suggest he
is ill and will give him a dirty look at show he is unstable eg
no shoes, ripped hospital robe etc

The only characters viewed will be the protagonist, however
a phone call from his mother will take place, she may be
considered a donor.

The protagonist will be a teenager, showing is a coming of
age film. The theme of mental illness very relevant to genre
and Target audience

7. Fashion

Hospital gear- for example wristbands, drug
tubes, hospital gown

Reveal character information on wristband

8. Typography

We will use a eroded/distorted font to imply the disturbed
equilibrium and also that the protagonist is hurt(illness)

Institutional information will be a basic and regular font to
show the conventions of an opening eg actors names and
directors

We will use the idents of film 4 at the beginning to follow the
correct order of credits

9. Narrative

A Mentally ill teenager has been scarred mentally
after a traumatic event.

He walks out of the mental institute where he is
recovering which leads to him putting himself into
danger and uncertainty

He flashes back to the incident throughout the
opening and is unstable

The full narrative will be about the protagonist
adapting and recovering from his mental illness

10. Institution

Minor production company like Film4 is
needed as a member of the 'big six' would
not fit the genre

Studio Canal is the distributor for several
film4 productions so it will look realistic

Film4 has a reputation for gritty
productions which target difficult themes
eg mental illness

11. Binary Opposition to develop
narrative

Health vs illness

Stability vs instability

Safety vs Danger