This document outlines the pitch for a short film about a character named Scarlet who suffers from schizophrenia. Some key points: - Scarlet finds solace when submerged in water as the voices in her head disappear. She spends much of her time swimming. - The film will require casting Scarlet and other characters like her mother and friends. Background voices will also be recorded. - The genre is drama to appropriately handle the topic of mental illness. Extensive research on schizophrenia was conducted. - Filming will primarily take place at the filmmaker's home and school to keep costs low. Underwater filming presents a challenge but equipment has been acquired. - The filmmaker was inspired by

1. Pitch of my idea
By Camille Richards

2. General story idea
• Scarlet suffers with schizophrenia, finds solitude being submerged
in water, where all the voices disappear. She spends much of her
time in the water as a result. Her parents recommend trying a new
medication.This medication comes with many side effects, too
much for Scarlet, who eventually goes to throw it out in the trash.
It is here she opens the mail to be welcomed with a leaflet
advertising the local swim team, giving her a glimpse of hope.

3. characters
Scarlet
I will need the character of Scarlet.This character will need to be
able to swim and submerge herself underwater, as this is the key
theme throughout the film.The actress chosen for this role will
also have to, play convincingly the traits of someone who’s
suffering with a mental illness.The actress will also be able to feel
comfortable with speaking dialogue, even though not a lot, this is
because dialogue takes place between the mother and Scarlet,
with the introduction if the new medication.

4. characters
Group of friends
I will need a group of friends, to play the friends of Scarlet in the opening scene, where
Scarlet experiences a schizophrenic episode.
Mother
I will also need a mother who will play Scarlet's Mother in the scenes between Scarlet and
her Mother when her mother first introduces the idea to Scarlet that she will be taking new
medication.
Extras
I may also need some extra's in the film, to play in the background of some of the potential
school scenes, but this will not prove too difficult as when I would film in school my
classmates could play the extras in the background.

5. characters
Collection of voices
I will also be needing a collection of people to record their
voices, for the schizophrenic voices that Scarlet experiencing,
this people will not be shown on camera, only there voices will
be used. Many people in my class have volunteered to do this
job. Ideally, I would have a variety of different voices and tones
within them to show a variety and collection of schizophrenic
voices in Scarlet's head when suffering from schizophrenic.

6. Genre - drama
• The genre I am doing for my short movie is drama.
This is because as I am tackling the subject of
schizophrenia it would be inappropriate to use any
other genre, such as comedy or horror. In addition to
this, in my AS coursework, I made an opening
sequence to a movie which was the drama genre, thus
I am familiar with the conventions, film shots, and the
ways of creating a piece of work in the genre.

7. Schizophrenia
• I have decided that my short movie will tackle the issues raised
by mental illness, in specific schizophrenia.This is because I feel
that there is is a current stigma in society regarding
schizophrenia.
• It is very important to me that when dealing with this issues not
only do I deal with it with sensitivity, but also that I represent
the issue as accurately as possible.
•

8. Changes in story idea
• originally, I wanted to have the character of Scarlett die at the end
in the pool by drowning ,because she could not live with the pain of
the voices, but rather die in solitude and peace without the voices. I
also wanted to avoid the clique using medication in films, as this
has been done extensively, but I chose to do show new medication
and not have scarlet die, because I want to offer hope to patients
and reflect the disease and tis struggles accurately.

9. Representation
• Thus, before filming and starting my project, I believe that it is an absolute
necessity that I research schizophrenia before representing it, finding the issues
that people face with this disease on a daily basis, the kind of symptoms that
come from having the mental illness, and also the symptoms that occur from
taking medication to help "cure" the disease. Much of my research can be found
on my blog.Along with this, I looked at case study's of people living with
schizophrenia, to understand the disease on a more personal level. In particular I
looked at one of the main medications of the disease, Abilify (aripiprazole) an
antipsychotic medication, which works by changing the actions of chemicals in
the brain. I looked at the particular side effects this medication has on the patient.

10. Location
• The location I will be using will primarily be my home. This is because this will be where all the
conflict and story takes place, from the swimming scenes, which will take place in my back garden,
to the side effects, which will take place around my house while she is doing her daily chores.
• That being said, I may, depending on feedback, do some filming scenes in the school, for the scene
when Scarlet is experiencing the side effects of the new medication, I could show how the side
effects, affect her in a school environment.
• Filming within my house and at school, will make things much easier, as if I was to film anywhere
else then it would be much harder, especially if it was a public place, as I would have to apply for a
public permit to film, and sort my filming schedule around the time of the public place. Thus for
practical reasons, it is much easier to film in my home and at school.

11. Challenges-filming underwater
• Filming this short movie will require some
extra equipment and skills. I will need to
have an underwater camera to film the
underwater shots. I have bought an
underwater camera case for my SLR that
will allow me to film underwater, in HD,
below is the case, and a picture of my pool
and my house, that I will be filming in.

12. What I did last year and what I
learned.
• Last year I made an opening sequence to a movie, which focused on the pastVS the present
shown through pictures.The genre was also drama which will help me as I am familiar with
the genre and the conventions within it. I have learned may skills from this project,
including: planning of filming, editing, shooting and using equipment, along with working
with actors.

13. My inspiration: Another Earth directed
by Mike Cahill

14. Inspiration… Another Earth
• Mike Cahill's films are raw, emotional and ground breaking. In Another Earth, he challenged ideas
of science: astronomy, with the possibility of there bring another earth, another you.Through this
sci-fi story plot, he also managed to interweave a complex story line, with in depth characters: a
love story between Rhoda Williams, and John Burroughs. In doing all of this, he also managed to
keep a very impressive $150,000 budget.This happened through using software such as final cut
pro, and plugins such as FX, to place a replica earth in the background of the shots.These simple
tricks used by Cahill, made his film look professional and authentic, despite his low budget.
• I was particularly inspired by the thought provoking nature of Another Earth; this was partially
down to a creative and bold idea, which had not been done before. More specifically it was done,
through the audio over commentary, during particular scenes of scientists offering their opinion
on this so-called another earth.This gave it a sense of a documentary feel, which was not only
interesting but also added to the authenticity of the film. Not only that, but the film rarely had
static shots, rather had moving shots which were sometimes even shaky, this helped to keep the
audience interested in what is happening within the frame.

15. What inspiration I am taking from
Another Earth
• The cinematography particularly inspired me in another earth,
with the backdrop of the sea filmed in `New Haven, USA, I had
a feeling of awe while watching it throughout. I hope to
replicate this feeling of awe, when filming underwater.

16. What inspiration I am taking from
Another Earth
• How well Mike Cahill managed his budget, his
ambitious idea was achieved with a relatively low
budget. He came up with smart ways of filming
economically, such as filming in his grandmas house,
and filming the jail scenes, in the lobby of the prison.
He has inspired me to not let financial limitations stop
me from tackling ambitious ideas, such as filming
much of my sequence underwater.

17. What I hope to achieve in six months.
• In six months I hope to achieve a result which
accurately reflects schizophrenia and the disease,
along with a short movie that a reflects my ability.This
will have to be done through careful planning of my
idea, and not rushing through filming and editing
rather taking my time and thinking through each
process involved.