Planning
GENRE BRAINSTORM
As you can see there were a lot of options to go for here, but ultimately I felt that a mystery/thriller is a genre not really touched by students and that it had potential to be different. I didn't want to go for a teaser trailer that relied on action as the main attraction. A teaser trailer with an interesting concept that leaves you wanting mores what I look for in a trailer, and that's the result we would like.
Our First idea (draft-now changed)
The premise of our idea revolves around four London teenagers who do not know each other. However, they all find out about a way in which their wishes can come true. They are offered help though a mysterious figure whose identity remains unknown throughout the trailer. Their wish will come true, however if they refuse to complete the job, they will face the consequences.
Logline: Four average London teenagers will have to complete a job for a mysterious figure if they want their wishes to come true-if they refuse, they'll face the consequences.
Pitch:
Beginning- We are introduced to four London teenagers who do not know each other. They all find out about a way in which they can get their wishes to come true- some in different ways- a call, text, calling card, website. We will cross cut between as they find out.
Middle- We see them each meet the antagonist- but we never see or hear them. We find out that if they want their wishes to come true, they will have to complete a job. We see their reactions to this, but they are given the assurance that it'll be easy and that through doing this job, they are guaranteed that their wish will come true, however they don't know how their wish will come true. If they refuse to carry out the task what they are asking for twists in that the opposite thing happens.
End: The teenagers will attempt to carry out their job- with some refusing. Panic and chaos ensues, before we realise they each job interlinks between each teenager. The mysterious figure is nothing other than a psychotic maniac with no regard to human life- in the essence, he is the devil . The teenagers realise what a grave mistake they have made- the film comments on greed. Maybe we can show the signify the fact that the teenagers who carry it out are just as bad as the man in black.
Logline: Four average London teenagers will have to complete a job for a mysterious figure if they want their wishes to come true-if they refuse, they'll face the consequences.
Pitch:
Beginning- We are introduced to four London teenagers who do not know each other. They all find out about a way in which they can get their wishes to come true- some in different ways- a call, text, calling card, website. We will cross cut between as they find out.
Middle- We see them each meet the antagonist- but we never see or hear them. We find out that if they want their wishes to come true, they will have to complete a job. We see their reactions to this, but they are given the assurance that it'll be easy and that through doing this job, they are guaranteed that their wish will come true, however they don't know how their wish will come true. If they refuse to carry out the task what they are asking for twists in that the opposite thing happens.
End: The teenagers will attempt to carry out their job- with some refusing. Panic and chaos ensues, before we realise they each job interlinks between each teenager. The mysterious figure is nothing other than a psychotic maniac with no regard to human life- in the essence, he is the devil . The teenagers realise what a grave mistake they have made- the film comments on greed. Maybe we can show the signify the fact that the teenagers who carry it out are just as bad as the man in black.
The Enigma draft
Characters: Four London teenagers- one is on holiday, one is at home, two are around London.
Setting: Summer holidays, some scenes set at night, some during the day.
Locations: Somewhere abroad, London
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Props + Equipment: Calling card, bat
Storyline: Four London teenagers will have to complete a job for a mysterious figure if they want their wishes to come true-
if they refuse, they'll face the consequences.
*Fade in (black screen)*
Narrator: Who is the devil? Is he someone who just wants to watch the world burn? Is he manipulative and corrupt? He is the enigma, the one no-one can understand. They say the light brings out the good in people, but what can make someone so lost, so hungry that they will do anything. Desperation.
Slowly Focus on and zoom in on calling card with writing on it which simply says "call me". On the back it has a question mark
and the enigma's symbol.
Now there is a cross cut between each four character as they find their calling cards- this immediately provides the mystery
(how were they chosen, who sent them, why them?)
Each character meets the mysterious figure, each in a different location. We have each character meeting the mysterious figure on one screen.
Character A: Who are you?
Character B: What do you want with me?
Character C: How'd you find me?
Character D: Why me?
"The Devil": That doesn't matter, I just know that you....you need my help.....and I can provide you with that."
The mysterious figure passes them a file that lists the details of the job he requires them to do if they want to get
what they desire.
Any character: What if I don't want to do this?
"The Devil": *laughs* You certainly won't get what you want.
From here on we cut to a quick montage of action, chases, someone getting attacked, someone stealing etc. The one character that refuses to carry out their job after the mysterious man helps them looks up before the camera reveals it's the mysterious figure slowly walking up to them.
We end with all four characters seemingly ending up in the same room and this begs the question as to how they got there.
Characters: Four London teenagers- one is on holiday, one is at home, two are around London.
Setting: Summer holidays, some scenes set at night, some during the day.
Locations: Somewhere abroad, London
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Props + Equipment: Calling card, bat
Storyline: Four London teenagers will have to complete a job for a mysterious figure if they want their wishes to come true-
if they refuse, they'll face the consequences.
*Fade in (black screen)*
Narrator: Who is the devil? Is he someone who just wants to watch the world burn? Is he manipulative and corrupt? He is the enigma, the one no-one can understand. They say the light brings out the good in people, but what can make someone so lost, so hungry that they will do anything. Desperation.
Slowly Focus on and zoom in on calling card with writing on it which simply says "call me". On the back it has a question mark
and the enigma's symbol.
Now there is a cross cut between each four character as they find their calling cards- this immediately provides the mystery
(how were they chosen, who sent them, why them?)
Each character meets the mysterious figure, each in a different location. We have each character meeting the mysterious figure on one screen.
Character A: Who are you?
Character B: What do you want with me?
Character C: How'd you find me?
Character D: Why me?
"The Devil": That doesn't matter, I just know that you....you need my help.....and I can provide you with that."
The mysterious figure passes them a file that lists the details of the job he requires them to do if they want to get
what they desire.
Any character: What if I don't want to do this?
"The Devil": *laughs* You certainly won't get what you want.
From here on we cut to a quick montage of action, chases, someone getting attacked, someone stealing etc. The one character that refuses to carry out their job after the mysterious man helps them looks up before the camera reveals it's the mysterious figure slowly walking up to them.
We end with all four characters seemingly ending up in the same room and this begs the question as to how they got there.
Developed Idea draft
The original story was about 4 normal London teenagers with hopes dreams and ambitions that they could simply not achieve. They were given the option to get their wishes should they choose to follow the mission a mysterious figure had sent them. In return they could get what they wished for. Should they fail, they will meet the consequences.
The new idea revolves a normal London teenager who is seeded out by a mysterious figure with the offer for help. We don't know what this characters motives are but he knows that the teenager is desperate for money. As the film develops we find out that the mysterious figure is also a teenager who was bullied by the main teenager. This character has suffered greatly from the torment he has suffered and he wants to use him to inflict pain on an the main characters best friend. He wants to expose him for who he is. This will allow us to understand the characters motives and as a result we are not going for the traditional one-dimensional villain that may commonly find in thriller and mystery films.
Bullied teen
2 bullies- we think they're the protagonists
Revenge story
The mystery element is why is this person going for them? Who are they?
He wants to use on teen to hurt the other to get what he wants, otherwise he will continue to be tormented.
The new idea revolves a normal London teenager who is seeded out by a mysterious figure with the offer for help. We don't know what this characters motives are but he knows that the teenager is desperate for money. As the film develops we find out that the mysterious figure is also a teenager who was bullied by the main teenager. This character has suffered greatly from the torment he has suffered and he wants to use him to inflict pain on an the main characters best friend. He wants to expose him for who he is. This will allow us to understand the characters motives and as a result we are not going for the traditional one-dimensional villain that may commonly find in thriller and mystery films.
Bullied teen
2 bullies- we think they're the protagonists
Revenge story
The mystery element is why is this person going for them? Who are they?
He wants to use on teen to hurt the other to get what he wants, otherwise he will continue to be tormented.
Logline
One desperate London teenager faces his demons as he is offered help from a mysterious figure calling themself the Enigma.
Script 1st draft
Characters: Two London teenagers- one is on holiday and has to come home, the other is in London. One mysterious mastermind, it turns out he is the victim of the 'protganists' bullying.
Setting: Summer holidays, some scenes set at night, some during the day, before some of these characters plan on going back to University.
Locations: Somewhere abroad, London
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Props + Equipment: Calling card, paper with the words "you need my help", Bat.
Setting: Summer holidays, some scenes set at night, some during the day, before some of these characters plan on going back to University.
Locations: Somewhere abroad, London
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Props + Equipment: Calling card, paper with the words "you need my help", Bat.
Fade in (black screen):
Camera slowly focuses and zooms in on a card, as this is happening there is an narration.
Narrator: Even the heroes have their demons, it's what makes them normal. The real question is, who is the hero?
Character 1 is on their computer and there is a picture of two friends together. Character 1 is searching about how to make money. A message suddenly appears on the screen. It reads "do you have your demons?"
It switches to the other teen abroad getting a letter with the words "You need my help". Then he goes outside to show off the skyline. The character also gets a calling card from a mysterious man in an elevator.
Random: They will see you at home
Character 2: Who are you?
Random Man: It doesn't matter who I am
Back to the character with the computer. He now gets the option to reply "yes" or "no". He clicks 'yes' and then another message appears saying "I can help you." Cut forward to a meeting with a person who we never see. The camera is always from behind the shoudler.
Mysterious man: I want you to make your friends life a living hell....
Character 1: Why? He's done nothing wrong!
Mysterious man: Nothing wrong...he hasn't fallen from heaven.
Que quick cuts of action, anger, close ups, maybe someone breaking something.
Back to the meeting
Character 1: What do I get out of this?
Mysterious man: (*calm demeanour- hint of anger*) Money is what you want right.....you only care for yourself... I Know exactly what you're like
Character 1: *intrusive and demanding* Then why are you helping me?
It now cuts to a shot of character 2's home and character 1 standing outside his house with a bat at night. We see the last light of the house going off, a hint that something is now about to happen.
Mysterious man: (laughs) you really don't know who I am do you? You'll find out soon enough (gets up and leaves)
*(fade to black)*
Camera slowly focuses and zooms in on a card, as this is happening there is an narration.
Narrator: Even the heroes have their demons, it's what makes them normal. The real question is, who is the hero?
Character 1 is on their computer and there is a picture of two friends together. Character 1 is searching about how to make money. A message suddenly appears on the screen. It reads "do you have your demons?"
It switches to the other teen abroad getting a letter with the words "You need my help". Then he goes outside to show off the skyline. The character also gets a calling card from a mysterious man in an elevator.
Random: They will see you at home
Character 2: Who are you?
Random Man: It doesn't matter who I am
Back to the character with the computer. He now gets the option to reply "yes" or "no". He clicks 'yes' and then another message appears saying "I can help you." Cut forward to a meeting with a person who we never see. The camera is always from behind the shoudler.
Mysterious man: I want you to make your friends life a living hell....
Character 1: Why? He's done nothing wrong!
Mysterious man: Nothing wrong...he hasn't fallen from heaven.
Que quick cuts of action, anger, close ups, maybe someone breaking something.
Back to the meeting
Character 1: What do I get out of this?
Mysterious man: (*calm demeanour- hint of anger*) Money is what you want right.....you only care for yourself... I Know exactly what you're like
Character 1: *intrusive and demanding* Then why are you helping me?
It now cuts to a shot of character 2's home and character 1 standing outside his house with a bat at night. We see the last light of the house going off, a hint that something is now about to happen.
Mysterious man: (laughs) you really don't know who I am do you? You'll find out soon enough (gets up and leaves)
*(fade to black)*
Pitch
Beginning: We are introduced to characters 1 and 2. We are not told about thier past but it is signified that they are best friends. Character 1 is desperate for money to pay off his University debt. Suddenly, as he is searching about it online a message appears saying "do you have your demons?" The scene then cuts to his best friend who is abroad and through his door a letter with the words "you need my help". Baffled, he goes outside to show off the skyline and contemplate what he has just received.
Middle: Back to character 1 where he selects 'yes' to the response box. He gets another message saying 'I can help you...meet me'. Back to character 2 who is still abroad. As he enters a elevator he is stuck with a mysterious man who offers him The Enigma's calling card. He is completely lost and worried about what is going on. Cut forward to a meeting between character 1 and a mysterious figure known the Enigma. Expect, it's not the engima but purely someone who has been threatened by them.
Ending: The Engima wants character 1 to torment and hurt his best friend. He does this becuase he wants to show him how much of an animal he is and to show how desperate he is to look out for himself. The trailer ends with character 1 stadning outside character 2's house with a bat. The last light of the house goes off with the hint that character 1 is now going to attack. An alternate ending is character 2 being attacked and betrayed by his 'best friend'.
Middle: Back to character 1 where he selects 'yes' to the response box. He gets another message saying 'I can help you...meet me'. Back to character 2 who is still abroad. As he enters a elevator he is stuck with a mysterious man who offers him The Enigma's calling card. He is completely lost and worried about what is going on. Cut forward to a meeting between character 1 and a mysterious figure known the Enigma. Expect, it's not the engima but purely someone who has been threatened by them.
Ending: The Engima wants character 1 to torment and hurt his best friend. He does this becuase he wants to show him how much of an animal he is and to show how desperate he is to look out for himself. The trailer ends with character 1 stadning outside character 2's house with a bat. The last light of the house goes off with the hint that character 1 is now going to attack. An alternate ending is character 2 being attacked and betrayed by his 'best friend'.
Storyboard draft
Ideas
A year ago, I had everything I could have wanted...a family that supports me and when money wasn't a problem. My life began to change, I began to make the wrong choices- and now I can't even look at myself in the mirror. There's one thing I can't change though, the messages I've been getting....
Social outcast- great with technology- jealous of classmates. Could show him with brink-mentally unstable
Has calling card- joker card…calls himself the Enigma.. It’s all a weird fantasy for him
3 teens- 2 girls, 1 boy- Noah
Starts sending messages both online and by leaving his calling card- stalker- blackmails- money extortion, Noah attacking friends, hacking to get private details….
Meeting in café between the character and Noah
Ends with one of the friends being subdued with person with gloves
Order:
Filler scenes could be someone smashing stuff- card burning?
Phone call on booth
Obsession- Thriller/ Mystery
“You”
Social outcast- great with technology- jealous of classmates. Could show him with brink-mentally unstable
Has calling card- joker card…calls himself the Enigma.. It’s all a weird fantasy for him
3 teens- 2 girls, 1 boy- Noah
Starts sending messages both online and by leaving his calling card- stalker- blackmails- money extortion, Noah attacking friends, hacking to get private details….
Meeting in café between the character and Noah
Ends with one of the friends being subdued with person with gloves
Order:
- Show Enigma +Brink- no medication
- Show characters getting messages
- Show meeting between Noah + Enigma- find out what his job is
- Show online stuff- money extortion and hacking to get private details
- End on one character being captured by someone in gloves.
Filler scenes could be someone smashing stuff- card burning?
Phone call on booth
Obsession- Thriller/ Mystery
- Quick shot of Shviani being kidnapped
- Shrink scene- “you haven’t been taking your medication, you know what happens when you don’t. You become reckless, a danger to society”.
- Shots of Shivani pictures and enigma making paper with message
- Cut to me in Dubai- getting message, and then elevator
- Cut back to England- meeting café
- Then to park with Shivani- “I’ve been getting these messages, they say they can help pay for my dad’s treatment”
“You”
- Show enigma angry
- Phone call- to Shivani-“Who is this”
Final idea!
After much discussion, we have come up with a new idea- one that still retains some mystery elements, but for the most part is a thriller. The story revolves around my character called Noah who decided to leave his girlfriend, played by Shivani due to the fact that her life was threatened by the mysterious figure known as the "Enigma". However, after all these messages both characters have been getting and the stalking intensifies, he decides to come back for her. They are teenagers might I add. After this, the character we are calling the Enigma-who is mentally unstable (shown through shrink scene) and is face is never seen, becomes even angrier and his lust and insecurities cause him to become even more dangerous.
Logline
A young couple are torn apart by a mysterious figures deep, dark and disturbing obsession for one of them.
Final Script
Characters:Noah (protagonist), Ria (Protagonist), Enigma (antagonist) and councillor
Locations and settings:Dubai, London, counselling room.
Props:Knife, Calling card,mysterious letter
Storyline:A young couple are torn apart by a mysterious figures deep, dark and disturbing obsession for one of them.
Age appropriate rating shown
Fade to:
Protagonist called Noah Rao is abroad, the camera tracks him as he goes outside to his balcony.
Noah:Love is complicated. She doesn't know the real reason why I left her but his obsession for her was getting out of hand, her life was in danger and I had no choice...I had to come back
Fade to Production companies:
Quick shots of the airport and the train station to establish that Noah has come back.
First person (POV shot) of protagonist walking, quickly turning and unsettled at sound.
Shivani: Do you ever feel liked your being watched?
Then medium shot of Noah and Shivani, showing them happy.
Quickly cut to knife and picture of Shivani:
Several shots of Shivani's character being stalked- hair stroking whilst sleeping.
Fade to Noah meeting with the Enigma:
Noah:Why the card?
Cut to counselling session between the Enigma and Counsellor:
Counsellor:You haven't been taking your medication, you know what happens when you do that, you become reckless, a danger to society.
As this is happening there is a cut to a shot to a picture of Noah being burnt, but then cuts back to the counselling session.
Fade to Noah being kidnapped by the Enigma:
Burning picture has now completely burnt.
Cut to a meeting between the Enigma and Noah
Enigma:A card can say so much without saying anything at all.
Close up of beaten Noah, and then cut to knife dropping next to pool of blood and feet.
Fade to the Enigma ident.
Locations and settings:Dubai, London, counselling room.
Props:Knife, Calling card,mysterious letter
Storyline:A young couple are torn apart by a mysterious figures deep, dark and disturbing obsession for one of them.
Age appropriate rating shown
Fade to:
Protagonist called Noah Rao is abroad, the camera tracks him as he goes outside to his balcony.
Noah:Love is complicated. She doesn't know the real reason why I left her but his obsession for her was getting out of hand, her life was in danger and I had no choice...I had to come back
Fade to Production companies:
Quick shots of the airport and the train station to establish that Noah has come back.
First person (POV shot) of protagonist walking, quickly turning and unsettled at sound.
Shivani: Do you ever feel liked your being watched?
Then medium shot of Noah and Shivani, showing them happy.
Quickly cut to knife and picture of Shivani:
Several shots of Shivani's character being stalked- hair stroking whilst sleeping.
Fade to Noah meeting with the Enigma:
Noah:Why the card?
Cut to counselling session between the Enigma and Counsellor:
Counsellor:You haven't been taking your medication, you know what happens when you do that, you become reckless, a danger to society.
As this is happening there is a cut to a shot to a picture of Noah being burnt, but then cuts back to the counselling session.
Fade to Noah being kidnapped by the Enigma:
Burning picture has now completely burnt.
Cut to a meeting between the Enigma and Noah
Enigma:A card can say so much without saying anything at all.
Close up of beaten Noah, and then cut to knife dropping next to pool of blood and feet.
Fade to the Enigma ident.
final storyboard
PAGE NUMBER 1PAGE NUMBER 3Action:Back to counselling session. Action:Protagonist tied up by Antagonist.
Sound:Dialogue from shot 9 ends here. Sound: Non-Diegetic soundtrack. |
PAGE NUMBER 2PAGE NUMBER 4Action: Show protagonist struggling. Action: Knife drops next to to pool of blood by protagonists feet.
Sound:Non-diegetic soundtrack-pace increases. Sound:Diegtic sound of knife dropping, non-diegetic soundtrack. |
Risk assessment
When filming we have to consider the possible risks we are facing.
Locations - We have a variety of locations which will each have different risks. One location is a Garage, there are different risks such as tools laying around which people could trip on and injure themselves. To avoid this we will clean up the dangerous tools laying around. Another location is a house, we have to be careful not to affect any residents within the house as it is their property so not to break anything eg a vase. When filming in locations such as the airport or a cafe we must ensure that the public are aware of our filming and we have their consent that we can film with them in the surroundings. Finally, when filming in the streets we must be careful of the public and of the cars and busses and of the road in general.
Public Filming - When filming in public we have to consider that the people around us may not want to be filmed, especially without their permission therefore we have to work around this. Also when doing public filming we understand that we can't take up a lot of space as the streets of London are constantly busy and must be safe for everyone eg. not take up the whole of a pavement. To avoid this, we will ask the publics permission if we can film if they are nearby and also we will go to a quiet area or wait until the streets are quiet for us to film on without disturbing people.
Time Pressure - When filming under a time we are more likely to make mistakes and/or be more prone to accidents. To avoid this we will be careful when there are obstacles or other people we could be putting at risk.
Health And Safety - In our film trailer there are a few action scenes involving violence with props, it is possible that a scene where one character is supposed to hit the other actually physically do which is not meant to happen and will cause pain. Therefore to avoid this we will practise the action scenes carefully to ensure we do not hurt one another.
Locations - We have a variety of locations which will each have different risks. One location is a Garage, there are different risks such as tools laying around which people could trip on and injure themselves. To avoid this we will clean up the dangerous tools laying around. Another location is a house, we have to be careful not to affect any residents within the house as it is their property so not to break anything eg a vase. When filming in locations such as the airport or a cafe we must ensure that the public are aware of our filming and we have their consent that we can film with them in the surroundings. Finally, when filming in the streets we must be careful of the public and of the cars and busses and of the road in general.
Public Filming - When filming in public we have to consider that the people around us may not want to be filmed, especially without their permission therefore we have to work around this. Also when doing public filming we understand that we can't take up a lot of space as the streets of London are constantly busy and must be safe for everyone eg. not take up the whole of a pavement. To avoid this, we will ask the publics permission if we can film if they are nearby and also we will go to a quiet area or wait until the streets are quiet for us to film on without disturbing people.
Time Pressure - When filming under a time we are more likely to make mistakes and/or be more prone to accidents. To avoid this we will be careful when there are obstacles or other people we could be putting at risk.
Health And Safety - In our film trailer there are a few action scenes involving violence with props, it is possible that a scene where one character is supposed to hit the other actually physically do which is not meant to happen and will cause pain. Therefore to avoid this we will practise the action scenes carefully to ensure we do not hurt one another.
Production companies
If this were a real media product then I believe that the two companies we would work with are Film4 and StudioCanal who we similarly used for our film opening "The Square Route." This is because they specialise in low-budget British films like the Inbetweeners Movie, Attack The Block but also darker films like Slumdog Millionaire.
Character profiles
|
Name: The Enigma
Age: Unknown Ethnicity: Unknown Occupation: Unknown Relatives: Unknown Relationship status: Unknown Hometown/ location: Unknown Eye colour: Unknown Hair colour: Unknown Hobbies: Unknown Likes: Unknown Dislikes: Unknown |
Costume and props
Props:
Costume:
Noah is wearing t-shirt and jeans whilst away. But when he is in London and on a job for the Enigma, he is wearing dark clothing as he is sneaking into a warehouse under the impression that he can get money from doing this job.
The Enigma is wearing a hoody and gloves, this conceals his identity and prevents the audience and characters from knowing who he is.
- Knife
- Calling card (joker card)
- Letter with words ("you need my help")
Costume:
Noah is wearing t-shirt and jeans whilst away. But when he is in London and on a job for the Enigma, he is wearing dark clothing as he is sneaking into a warehouse under the impression that he can get money from doing this job.
The Enigma is wearing a hoody and gloves, this conceals his identity and prevents the audience and characters from knowing who he is.
Location planning
There are several locations we are looking to film at, for example my character is abroad at first.This provides us with a completely different location this time around as well as lighting. This is vital is showing the development of the narrative and how the as the situation becomes darker, the dark lighting is used to convey this. Also, we are planning on filming in several different locations around London, for example a garage (which is posing in for a warehouse) as well as the airport and train stations.
The Cafe we filmed at
Dubai
Airport and trains station
Counselling session filmed in school. The kidnapping scene was shot in my garage.
Filming schedule
August: I will film the scenes abroad.
Friday 25th September: Go to Tyra's house, film short sequence of my character on their laptop.
Monday 28th September: Go to Venezia, get permission to film, film meeting between Noah and the Enigma.
Wednesday 30th: Edit and find soundtrack.
Thursday 1st October- film park and other scenes.
Tuesday 6th- film kidnapping sequence.
Tuesday 13th-re-film kidnapping sequence.
Tuesday 20th- Try and film as many scenes left over.
Throughout find soundtrack and edit!
Friday 25th September: Go to Tyra's house, film short sequence of my character on their laptop.
Monday 28th September: Go to Venezia, get permission to film, film meeting between Noah and the Enigma.
Wednesday 30th: Edit and find soundtrack.
Thursday 1st October- film park and other scenes.
Tuesday 6th- film kidnapping sequence.
Tuesday 13th-re-film kidnapping sequence.
Tuesday 20th- Try and film as many scenes left over.
Throughout find soundtrack and edit!