The document outlines ideas for a short film exploring themes of memory loss and paranoia. The film would follow an unnamed character undergoing an interrogation about exchanging an unknown item. Flashbacks in blurred, contrasting styles would depict the character questioning their own memories. The character would break down upon seeing their reflection in a mirror at the end of the interrogation. The film aims to use minimal dialogue, ambient sounds and simplistic single-room setting to build an isolated, mysterious atmosphere for a niche audience aged 13+.

1. Short Film Ideas
RAPHAEL PACAUD
SLIDE 2 – MIND MAP
SLIDE 3-5 – THE PITCH
SLIDE 6-7 - OVERVIEW

2. Developing ideas
For sounds I wont have too
much dialogue so I’m hoping to
use ambient sounds to build a
sense or verisimilitude - I will
most likely use voiceover for the
key character’s thoughts whilst
he is being interrogated.
The narrative based on ‘The Exchange’ should be
simple but significant, so to demonstrate a simplistic
yet deep point I want a somewhat basic key character
with little exposition to allow the audience to focus on
the subliminal narrative aspects.
I don’t really have a target audience
in mind, however it would most
definitely be 13+ as I am
considering darker themes of
memory loss or an interrogation
about an exchange – I would say
that the audience would be rather
niche than mainstream.
Regarding the short film’s genre, I
want it to be a paranoid fiction – I
could show the character's loneliness
by singling them out with a spotlight
or natural lighting from a lamp (like
they have in interrogation scenes).
For style and
setting I want
simplistic mise-en-
scène; a table,
chair, lamp then a
specific item that
the exchange can
be based on.

3. Key Character
Personality Traits
For reasons unknown to the audience, the
voice in the KC’s head is different from when
they speak. They suffer from severe memory
loss, which sadly is what defines them. After
they are given a mirror and they finally see
their new/ unknown face they breakdown
due to their incapability to comprehend or
cope with what they discover.
Appearance
I don’t have a specific gender in mind for the
character as the paranoid fiction focuses on
the concept rather than the characters
themselves. The interrogator will be a man in
black and the person the KC is being
questioned about is female and always in a
bright setting.
Relationships
During the KC’s flashbacks she sees a girl
smiling at her in one of them – who is this
mystery person?
The interrogator seems to have more
knowledge about the KC than they’d like to
let out… and the KC, who can’t even
remember her own name, doesn’t seem to
recognise anyone due to her amnesia.
Background bio
The KC doesn’t remember who they are…
or perhaps who they used to be, however
the audience are shown faded memories
revealed through blurry flashbacks –
whatever they were involved in, the
interrogator needs to get more
information or perhaps evoke a reaction
from the KC… Have they met before?

4. The Film World
Key Settings
There is only one setting outside of the KC’s
flashbacks – the dark, interrogation room –
depth unknown as walls obscured by
shadows. I want to give the audience a
feeling of isolation
The flashbacks have two settings that are
both fairly bright in contrast to the
interrogation room; a grassy outdoors
setting and a bright white walled interior. Mood and Atmosphere
I want to keep the reader
questioning themselves as well as
the film, so I want to set a
mysterious mood through the
enigma of the story and the
obscurity of the world. Moreover I
plan on reinforcing the atmosphere
through the use of high contrast
lighting.
Target Audience
I’m targeting more of a niche audience,
gender and lifestyle don’t matter too
much, however, I'm targeting 13+ year
olds as there are many subtextual themes
that drive the story. The audience have to
enjoy philosophy to a certain degree, that
of which many start to think about
around about the ages of 13+.

5. Visual Style Soundscape
I won’t be including any music
in my short film as I want to
create a feeling of emptiness.
To do this I will also be adding
ambient room sounds and
have short pauses between the
dialogue (broken up with
flashbacks too).
Moreover I want minimal dialogue as the KC’s inner
voice (VO) will be speaking a lot of the time. Sound
effects like the interrogator banging his fists on the
table will break the tension most likely and catch the
audience off guard so I will also use those sorts of
diegetic sounds.
Angles – High, eye level or middle of screen
Depth of field – Mostly in focus however to
connote confusion and dizziness some things will
become out of focus
Lenses - Primarily standard lens will most likely
only be used (may experiment). I know that the
standard lens is good as they are better in low
light conditions and interiors.

6. Plot Overview
• Key character (no name or specific gender) suffers from memory loss… they wake up
in a pitch dark room with only a lamp/ spotlight that when turned on blinds them.
• Unknown other character interrogates them on things they can’t remember and
doesn’t believe the key character’s pleads.
• Character’s inner thoughts conveyed through a voiceover as they question
themselves and where the item(s) come from – causes flashbacks of the items that
are blurry and anaglyph-like.
• Finally the last item (mirror) is thrown onto the small table, causing the key character
to snap once they look at their reflection – camera pans backwards and sound
drowns out to convey artistic intent.
Technical Overview
• Open w/ POV shot as light turned on – blurry and anaglyph effect + slow shaky cam
• CU shot of table when a picture of woman thrown on there (interrogator asks do you know who it is)
• CU of KC’s face when they reply “I don’t know”
• Another item is put/ slammed down onto table, CU from different angle (ring in box)
• When the question is repeated and the answer is the same interrogator slams fists on table and shouts “Don’t lie to me” from
a different CU angle
• Switch in and out of POV as KC asks themselves questions and tries to recall past with fast, bright cuts to distant memories
• Over the shoulder shot as KC looks in mirror
• MS, the KC is still for a moment and then breaks down – camera pans out then cuts when full area is in display
• Sounds – Ambient, Voiceover, dialogue, diegetic with slams on table (etc)

7. Final Overview
After some consideration, I finally decided to use most of the ideas that I had initially planned to. I
want to make a paranoid fiction film based on a key prop that the key character can’t recall
exchanging something for, and when being questioned they eventually break down (camera
slowly pans backwards at this point). I am not too concerned about making the main character
standout or have specific personality traits as they are suffering from memory loss (causing their
paranoia). I want to set a dark and ominous atmosphere through ambient sounds and simplistic
mise-en-scène that looks somewhat like an interrogation room. For lighting I want to have either
a spotlight or the natural light from a lamp so that I can make the audience see how isolated the
character is.
Moreover I want to have a voiceover for most of the dialogue, acting as the main character’s inner
thoughts. I am only going to use a completely dark room for the setting – the location is unknown
to the viewers and the main character. I’m aiming for more of a niche audience (no specific
gender or lifestyle but age 13+) who enjoy analysing things to find deeper meaning or the answer
to a question. In regards to editing I want to experiment with any layers or effects that can
simulate dizziness as well as desaturation. When the key prop is revealed towards the end I want
to create a ‘shaky cam’ look as the character struggles with any knowledge they may or may not
have gained – this could be a picture of the main character with someone else. I don’t want to
include music as it will break the immersion however I will find a track to put in the credits.