The document discusses props that will be used in a short film to help tell the story and develop characters. The main character Oscar's clothing at the start is meant to suggest he has a professional, wealthy life that is later revealed to be a fantasy. Other props like an alarm clock, newspaper, computer, radio, bike, jar of money, and pencil and paper will be used to represent different aspects of Oscar's reality versus fantasy, transition between scenes, and show his character's progression over the course of the film. The radio in particular plays music that shifts from non-diegetic to diegetic to connect the two realities Oscar experiences.

1. Props Planning
Harry Swaine

2. Suite (smart clothes)
In order to mislead the audience into
believing the protagonist is living a
happy and comfortable life, his clothing
at the start of the film needs to have
connotations of professionality and
riches. The tie is important for the
opening montage, as this exaggerates his
excitement to get to work, which will
develop the characters fantasy.

3. Alarm Clock
The alarm clock will importantly act as a
sound cue for the music to start, acting as
a visual link as the start of the film. I
will do this by timing in with the second
hand, and starting the non diegetic sound
on the alarm noise. It also links with the
homely fantasy, that will contrast with the
morning he wakes up in his real home.

4. Newspaper/magazine
The purchase scene will introduce the theme of
money, but by having Oscar buy an everyday item
like a newspaper, it means the audience an
instantly relate to the character. This is
important for the following story, as they
audience will sympathise with the character
more when it's revealed that it’s all a
fantasy; linking all importantly to Drama
genre. Additionally the topic of the
paper/magazine could hint to a profession or
hobby, adding more character development.

5. Computer (keyboard)
The computer will be used to create a
transition with the help of the radio, as
the typing will be slowed down to create a
distorted effect in a close up of the keys.
As well as this, the computer symbolises
the everyday job that everyone has,
reaching out to a wide target audience. The
screen could also be used to create some
dramatic lighting during the transition, as
the main lights could be switched off, with
only the characters face lit by the screen.

6. Portable Radio
Probably the most important prop in the
short film is the radio, as it will act as
a sound bridge between reality and
fantasy, changing the music from non
diegetic to diegetic music. The prop is
also the only item that will stay
consistent in both realities, to highlight
the fact that they are the same characters
perceptions of reality.

7. Cheap Baggy Clothes
For the second half of the film,(reality)
Oscar needs to look casual and lived in,
so his clothes won't be expensive or smart
like his work clothes from before. Hoodies
and baggy trousers have connotations of
being affordable and even linked with
crime, which helps show the desperate
state of which the protagonist is in.

8. Bike
This prop will be used to contrast with
the car in the first scene to highlight
reality vs fantasy, but also for a
comedic effect, as the front wheel will
fall off, exaggerating that his day can’t
get any worse. It could also lead on to
the character dragging along the bike in
order to slow down the journey.This could
be viewed as a stereotypical slapstick
gesture, that will help me relate to the
comedy sub genre.

9. Jar of Money
This object represents a pinnacle point of the
plot, as the character looks into the jar to
inspire him to improve his financial situation,
to achieve his fantasy. The money inside the jar
will be purposely random and full of change, to
represent how there is no steady income, however
Oscar will still be very protective over the jar,
as it’s everything he has.

10. Pencil and Paper
Oscar will have an old bit of paper
and a pencil in order to begin
writing a CV, representing the
characters progress, and drive for
improvement. Besides this it will
also provide the climax of the film
following the short credit roll,
where oscar decides to carry on the
way he his, and screws up the
paper. This is where the
character's true self is revealed.