Coursework Idea Four

Fourth Developed Coursework Idea
Looking at my mindmap, I opted to select three of my favourite ideas and expand on them. Out of these four (including my idea developed from a picture), I intend to select the best one with the most potential to use as my idea for my final coursework. Click here to read my second developed coursework idea and click here to read my third developed coursework idea.

My Idea So Far 
This idea focuses mainly on cinematography and editing techniques, as it's fairly slow until the end. It creates mystery, however, I wanted to make it slow and quite beautiful to erase any tension as this will be an interesting effect. The genre this idea will likely be in will be mystery/psychological thriller. I would use a non-linear narrative to reveal things to the audience at different points to maintain mystery and create shock.

Basic Plot Idea

An image I collected to help create a mood for the sequence
The city will ideally be more busy, as I don't want it to come
across scary and create insecurity in the audience. 

A man is seen stumbling through a busy city at night; he's clutching his stomach and is blatantly fatally wounded. He's stumbling past cars and people, getting blood everywhere. He keeps looking behind himself as if he's being followed - this is reinforced when a point-of-view shot is used watching the man stumble about. The man falls dramatically and looks as though he's about to lose consciousness when the speed suddenly slows to slow-motion and a narrator begins talking about what it feels like being about to die. The footage then suddenly starts reversing and he gets back up and walks backwards. It suddenly cuts to a close-up/mid shot of a woman smiling and the footage will look quite romantic. The narrator utters 'It all began with her' or something similar.

Setting 

City of Norwich at night - a potential filming location

The primary setting will be based on the busy streets of a city; it won't be overly crowded otherwise it will be hard to film in and it will be hard for the audience to focus on the main character due to the crowds getting in the way. The reason I would like it to be quite bustling is because I don't want to create a sense of isolation, helplessness or insecurity because the streets are empty - especially when the man is wounded. This is because I don't want to create tension but rather create a beautiful moment as the man is seemingly close to death. I would like it to be set a nighttime with plenty of artificial light. This will appear nice on camera as the out of focus lights will create a bokeh effect which pleases the eye. Furthermore, night time suits the adult nature as the man is fatally wounded.

The secondary setting will be based somewhere casual or romantic eg. a coffee shop. The setting won't be a very prominent feature as the face of the woman will be the main focus, however, it is clear that in the background it is natural light and that it is quite sunny, as this has very romantic connotations. This casual look will contrast well with the existential themes of death in the previous scene.

Characters

A photo I found to depict the intimate, casual
and romantic mood of the secondary scene.

• Character A - the Wounded Man: This is the first character introduced and is the protagonist and narrator of the story. Not much is learnt about him other than the situation he is in and a potential relationship with character B. He will be an adult male. He isn't shown to be panicking about his situation but addresses it quite calmly and with dignity, talking about the beauty of the situation. This shows his philosophical view on matters, 

• Character B - The Smiling Woman - This woman reflects happiness and purity. The innocence of her smile and the natural appeal of her and the footage creates this happy and carefree moment - contrasting the dark scenes from before. Nothing is really learnt about her except a hint to her role in the narrative. 

Sound
The sound is a particularly important element in this sequence as it will help create a mood. Firstly, the most prominent sound is the narrator - this will be used to create security with the audience and also help iterate the character's thoughts, allowing the audience to interpret the scene exactly how I want it to be interpreted. The narration will be quite monotonous, however, as lack of emotion in his voice shows an emptiness which may suggest something about the character. Diegetic noises will be distorted, for example, car horns, people talking, footsteps. This disconnects the audience from the scene and also allows them to understand how the character may be feeling as the distorted voices simulate the feeling of slowly becoming unconscious. Ominous music may be playing to create a sense of fate.

What Camera Shots and Angles Would You Use?
For the first scene, I would use long shots to show the man and the way he drags his body to establish that he is wounded. I would use a mid shot to show his dazed expression, however, I would prefer shots with more space in the frame to capture the out-of-focus lights and chaos of the city.
For the second scene, I would use a close up to create a sense of intimacy, suggesting the relationship between the characters without actually showing them together in one frame. I would use an eye-level angle so the audience doesn't interpret anything about the character's nature except the natural aspect.

What are the Pros and Cons of This Coursework Idea?

Pros:

• The setting allows for aesthetically pleasing shots which overall improves the quality of the work

• It's mysterious and therefore engaging

• The unique editing (eg. slow-motion and reverse) will make it original

• The narration engages the audience and helps them understand the situation a bit more than using just footage

Cons 

• Using narration may be risky as it could be overdone etc. 

• It might be quite hard to understand

• It requires filming at two different times and two different locations which would require organising multiple scheduled filming days

• It requires filming at night which is risky for multiple reasons. Firstly, the actors may not be willing/available to film at night and secondly, the low light environment may make the footage noisy or hard to distinguish

• Involving two actors requires relying on additional people's schedule

• Filming in busy streets may be hard to coordinate my actors. Furthermore, different people will appear in the background of different shots which creates inconsistency. 

I like this idea however it seems quite problematic due to the many issues that may arise. 

Coursework Idea Three

Third Developed Coursework Idea
Looking at my mindmap, I opted to select three of my favourite ideas and expand on them. Out of these four (including my idea developed from a picture), I intend to select the best one with the most potential to use as my idea for my final coursework. Click here to read my second developed coursework idea. 

My Idea So Far
For this idea, I want to invoke emotion in the audience and allow them to emphasize with the character. This would be an appropriate opening because the audience would connect with the character and therefore can support them throughout the remainder of the film. The genre[s] I am leaning towards in regards to this film is Post-Apocalyptic Drama.

Basic Plot Idea

An image I found to set the tone for the
idea

It's a post apocalyptic world and the protagonist is walking - he looks sad and kneels in front of a handmade grave (made of twigs and rope). He fiddles with a wedding ring before breaking down. He pulls out a gun ready to kill himself before hearing rustling in the bushes. He turns, holding his gun cautiously and something runs out at him. It is revealed to be a dog and the man is amazed at seeing an animal alive and well in such good condition. He puts his gun away, signalling his restored hope and it ends on him walking off with the dog by his side, cuing the title of the film.

Setting 

Holkham Beach, a nature reserve with vast sands that resemble
a desert - a potential location

The setting I thought would be conventionally post-apocalyptic - dead plants and isolated, perhaps a sign that life has lived here before through the use of props etc. On the contrary, I would like the setting to be somewhere that connotes peace as the protagonist travels somewhere 'peaceful' to die. Many settings can do this, for example, using a forest, particularly at this time of year (winter) when all the plants would be dead and the forest would look bare and brown. On the contrary, a place like a beach nature reserve (so there are no architectural developments and bustling tourism) would connote peace very well. On the contrary, using a beach without actually establishing it as a beach (eg. don't show the sea so the audience doesn't know it's a beach) will look quite post-apocalyptic as the sand looks like a desert which is commonly associated with the post-apocalyptic genre. Overall, the setting should probably be quite natural, with maybe rubble or destroyed signs of previous life to imply there is a history to the fictional world. In terms of time, it will be set in the future, as obviously a post apocalyptic world isn't a representation of our modern world. I will likely shoot at daytime when there is plenty of sunshine to achieve the most attractive footage.

Characters 

• Character A - the Grieving Survivor: This character will be the protagonist of the film and presented as already broken before the story already starts. He has a history prior to the film which is implied in the opening - his ring and the grave suggests the death of a former spouse. He's quite instinctual however, as he shows caution when he hears rustling in the bushes despite being about to kill himself. 

• Character B - The Dog: this character is only introduced at the end of the sequence however plays a huge role - he gives the protagonist hope that leads to him choosing not to end his own life, and therefore marks the beginning of the story. 

What Camera Shots and Angles Would You Use?

To depict the man and establish the unfamiliar setting I would use long shots and very long shots, this makes the man look isolated in his background. I would use intimate angles eg. close ups, to capture his emotion when grieving his wife and holds the gun to his head. I would also use a slightly high angle to make the protagonist look vulnerable. I would also use a canted angle and a low angle before the dog is revealed properly to make them seem like a threat and also disrupt the emotional scene, creating false tension in the audience. I would use two shots to show the dog and the man in the same frame too to signify a potential relationship.

What Are the Pros and Cons of this Coursework Idea?

Pros: 

• It's a unique idea with a unique setting that can therefore be engaging

• Its sad theme has the ability to invoke emotion in the audience if created effectively

• It shows conventions to both of its genre and therefore would appeal to its target audience

• It has only one human character meaning I won't have to work around loads of people's schedules, giving more open filming days

• It has only one location and therefore doesn't require a lot of travelling

Cons:

• It requires a dog which may be hard to direct and control

• It might be hard to find a setting that looks very post apocalyptic and may require other prompts to suggest its genre

• It might be quite hard for the audience to understand the history of the protagonist, so may require more prompts eg. narration

Overall, I really like this idea. It will be quite hard to film as I'll need to direct a dog who, obviously, has no concept of acting. However, if pulled off it will hopefully have the ability to make the audience empathize with the character. 

Coursework Idea Two

Second Developed Coursework Idea 
Looking at my mindmap, I opted to select three of my favourite ideas and expand on them. Out of these four (including my idea developed from a picture), I intend to select the best one with the most potential to use as my idea for my final coursework.

My Idea So Far 
The idea I have chosen to develop on's main purpose is to invoke shock in the audience. I will do this by playing on the theme of seeming and being; I want to create false emotion in the audience by tricking them into believing one thing when in fact it is the other way round. The genre of this film will likely be a Black Comedy Horror, as it's got conventions of horror in except with a sinister but comedic twist.

Basic Plot Idea

A stock image I found to depict the mood
and create inspiration

A man is seen struggling wounded; he is looking around anxiously, suggesting that he is being chased. He looks terrified as something apparently approaches him. Suddenly, the screen cuts to black and the man is now tied up, on his knees, begging for his life. A figure is seen next to him, but you can't see his face. He is wielding a weapon which he uses to kill the man tied up. As the man is killed, you finally see the bloodied face of his killer - he looks dazed. Suddenly, while on a close-up of the killer's face it seamlessly fades to a different setting, yet with the same man. Only this time he is clean. While this transition takes place, a voice can be heard nagging and yelling away, yet it is sort of distorted and therefore inaudible. The nagging soon becomes clear as it is revealed that the new setting is in the office and that the two characters from the previous scene are in conversation (the second character introduced is being yelled at) - but the man who was depicted as a killer is clearly not listening. The killer then turns to face the camera (the other man continues talking to him, unaware that he is breaking the fourth wall) and describes to the audience his psychotic fantasies. It will likely begin with him saying casually: 'you know that feeling you get when you just want to bash your boss' brains in?...'

I have a fairly thorough idea as to how this opening sequence will look - it's just a matter of precise details - particularly, elements of mise-en-scene. The following titles explain three significant elements of this plot idea.

Setting

Wayland Wood, a local woods to me with a
haunted history - a potential location. 

The idea consists of a conventional horror setting, one that connotes danger, insecurity and suffocation. This would likely be a woodland as the enclosed trees create a sense of suffocation and woods are often associated with being lost and afraid. It will likely be at dusk when it is getting dark, as this will create low-key lighting that has scary and dangerous connotations. It will be set in a modern time period as the office will create a sense of normality, contrasting the scariness, as it's a setting a contemporary audience will know fairly well.

As for the office, this will be set during the daytime, as the neutral and natural daytime lighting will contrast well with the scary low-key lighting used in the forest. Moreover, the office must be in very neutral lighting as it's such an ordinary location and must be portrayed in an ordinary way to reinforce the sense of normality - it's realistic.


Characters
There will only be two characters in this opening sequence - this helps maintain simplicity and not confuse the audience.

• Character A - the Boss: This character is the first to be introduced to the audience and, in the first scene, he's portrayed in a vulnerable light. Emphasising his role as the victim will be effective when the situation is suddenly changed and the audience realises that it's part of the other character's imagination because the roles are immediately reversed. The original victim is transformed into the oppressor (the boss) and the audience no longer feels fear for him. 

• Character B - the Killer: This character is the second introduced to the audience and is, in fact, the protagonist/anti-hero for the film. They are first seen as the oppressor in the opening but the roles are soon reversed and he's seen as the victim being yelled at by his boss. The audience is no longer scared of him but in fact pity him, despite his psychopathic thoughts. 

Breaking the Fourth Wall

In this film opening, I think I would use fourth wall breaks to make it clear to the audience that the first scene was in fact just part of their imagination as opposed to just a flashforward or something similar. Furthermore, it will help the audience ally themselves with the protagonist, despite his negative attributes. This is effective because then your audience can support the main character in spite of all his wrong doings.

What Camera Shots and Angles Would You Use?
For the first scene, in the forest, I would use long shots to show the first character in their setting. Moreover, it creates a sense of isolation as they're enmeshed in their background - this links to helplessness as being alone means nobody is there to help. It would also make them see like they are being viewed from afar - simulating it from the predator's point of view and therefore emphasising their role as the victim. When the character is tied up, I would use more intimate shots to capture their emotion well so the audience can see their fear. I would use a high angle to create a sense of vulnerability and make them look submissive, particularly when they are begging for their life.

During the office scene, I would definitely use two shots to help establish the relationship and also get two characters in the scene quickly without having to cut too much. I would use over the shoulder shots to establish the fact that they're in 'conversation'. I would use eye-level angles when the character is addressing the audience as this conveys openness and allows the audience to level with the character - helping them ally themselves with them because he doesn't come across in a particular way i..e dominant or submissive.

What are the Pros and Cons of this Coursework Idea? 

Pros: 

• It's a unique idea that I think will be quite engaging as it's not too uneventful and therefore not boring. 

• Using fourth wall breaks is original and can carry many positive effects if utilised properly.

• It carries the ability to shock the audience due to the sudden change in mood etc. Invoking emotion in the audience is good because it makes the opening more memorable 

Cons:

• Involving fourth wall breaks can be risky because if not done properly it may look bad and can't be taken seriously. I would have to follow the guidelines gathered in my research closely to ensure it is utilised effectively. 

• It involves more than one character, meaning I will need to involve more coordination and organisation as well as risk compromising days of filming based on multiple people's schedule.

• It involves dialogue which carries many risks eg. the sound quality may be bad. You can read the other risks stated in my research post. 

• Because there are multiple segments to it, it may be overly complicated and hard to follow.

• The audience might not understand that it's one character's imagination and instead think that its a flashforward or something similar. 

• It involves two location and therefore would require at least two filming days or risk not having enough time to film both sequences in one day. 

Overall, I like this idea. It's unique and has the potential to be quite engaging. I just have to make sure I make it clear and coherant so the audience understands what is going on, as well as thoroughly apply my research into development and production process. 

Coursework Idea One

Developed Coursework Idea - A Story Inspired By A Picture
In class today, we were immediately told to Google image search 'random pictures' and select the first one that appealed to us. Once we had selected our image, we were asked to print it off onto an otherwise blank piece of paper. After vigorously scanning through countless images on Google I eventually selected this one:

Once we had printed our images we were asked to form a story based on what we could infer not only directly from the image itself but also in context to subjects outside or surrounding the image. For example, who took the picture? Who was the Dog with? Etc.

Why Did This Picture Appeal To You?
Despite the simplicity of the photograph, I felt that you could infer so much from every obscure and insignificant features. For example, the subject's (dog) expression and body language. The warm lighting coming from in front of the dog, the wooden panel and out of focus rural looking background and the overall flat tones of the image, which carry many sad connotations. 

Not only did these minor observations entice me into picking this image but the actual subject did too. I thought that picking an image featuring only an animal (a dog to be precise) would be more interesting to work from than if I had chosen a human subject because plots don't often only focus around animals.

What Did You Interpret From Your First Look At The Image? 
We were given a set of questions to answer in regards to what we interpreted from looking at the image, these were how I answered the questions:

Who? - An Old Dog and his owner

What Led To This Interpretation?

Looking at the image, the first thing that captured my attention was the dog itself. His eyes are contemplative yet have a sad look to them because of how round and soppy they are. His head is sunken into his leg - something humans would often do (into their arm) if they're feeling down or sorry for themselves - and his leg is drooping off the platform, which, to me, suggests giving up or surrendering to their own gloominess. Furthermore, the drooping leg may suggest fatigue, as they don't have the energy to hold it up - this, to me, suggested that the dog was fairly elderly, as it struggled with simple tasks like this. This may also suggest why the dog seemed to feel sorry for himself, as he was tired and gloomy in his old age. 

The reason I interpreted that the dog had an owner with them was because the setting is outside and a dog would not likely be out in the open without an owner's supervision. Could it have been a stray? Possibly, however, looking at how trimmed their toenails are and the fur around their feet, not to mention how glossy and clean the dog's coat is, I figured it would most likely have an owner to keep it in such good condition. 

What? - Overlooking the beach from the walking platform

What Led To This Interpretation? 
The dog is looking off into the distance, where the light is coming from. Because the light is hitting the dog from where they're gazing I interpreted this as the sun against the horizon (probably close to sunset considering how warm and glowy the lighting is), a place you often see the sun hitting the horizon is the beach. Furthermore, the wooden platform the dog is laying on is reminiscent of a boardwalk before a beach, reinforcing my interpretation of the beach. 

When? - Evening

What Led To This Interpretation?
The warm lighting striking the dog is reminiscent of light produced during golden hour i.e sunset. This is what led me to believe that the time is evening. Furthermore, evening is the generic time in which owners take their dogs for a walk. 

Why? - Taking the dog for a walk

What Led To This Interpretation? 
This interpretation goes without saying - if an owner is outside with their dog they're likely taking them for a walk. 

Developing Our Ideas 
After we had formed our initial interpretations surrounding the photograph, we were asked to develop them further. This is what I recorded: 

Who? - A very old dog who finds everything a struggle because of his age. 
His owner who has to compromise a lot because of his dog's age. 

What? - Watching other dogs playing on the beach as the sun comes down. (The glimmer in his eyes in the photograph reflects a nostalgic appeal)

When? - Evening - the usual time they go on their daily walk, 

Where? - The beach the dog and his owner comes to everyday on their walk to meet and play with other dogs.

Why? - They're watching other dogs playing instead of going onto the beach because the dog found the steps from the platform onto the beach too tiring and strenuous so their owner decided to sit with them on the platform and watch all the other dogs playing instead.


Plot
Now that my ideas were fully formed I was able to create a plot of the opening two minutes involving the characters I had created from the image. My plot involved the following:

Another photo I searched for to help set a mood for the plot idea.

It's evening and an old, loyal dog and his owner had made their way down to the beach to start their daily walk which usually involved playing and meeting the countless other dogs on the beach. As the dog and his owner approach the stairs leading from the boardwalk to the beach, the dog attempts to make his way down the steps however his old age causes him severe difficulty and pain. The dog cannot reach the bottom before giving up and his owner walks back up the stairs to carry his dog to the top again. Instead, they sit on the edge of the platform, watching the sun go down and the other dogs playing on the beach. This triggers an on-and-off flashback sequence depicting the old dog as a puppy again, playing with the other dogs on the beach. It cuts in between the old dog watching the other dogs and the old dog young again (in the flashback sequences) playing, before cuing the title of the film. There will be no music over the top, just the calming sounds of distant dog barks and the waves lapping the sand. 

If You Were to Follow This Idea Through To Your Final Piece, What Pros and Cons would it create? 
I've decided to create a pros and cons list of each developed idea I create to help me identify which is the most 

Pros:

• It's a simplistic idea - it only involves one location and one actor (disregarding the dogs) and doesn't involve too much action to make it hard to follow or overwhelmingly chaotic

• It's a moving concept that can easily invoke emotion in the audience - this makes it more memorable and therefore makes it more successful as a piece

• Because it is so simple and open, and the location is beautiful, it allows room for a variety of different camera shots and angles, which'll enhance the quality of the final footage

• Not many coursework pieces, or feature films, focus solely on a dog and their feelings, it is quite a unique idea with good potential

Cons: 

• Working with dogs is renownedly difficulty as they don't understand your directions like a human would. Furthermore, because they don't have any concept of the fourth wall they could potentially break it by looking at the camera (which is likely because it'll be an intriguing, alien object to them). It'll take a lot of patience, effort and time to work solely with dogs. 

• Involving puppyhood footage that matches the old dog will be difficult. This being said, if I were to cast my own dog, I have puppyhood footage of him running on a beach and could merely use this. But this wouldn't give me much lenience with who I cast as the main dog.

• I have to rely on using other dogs too, because of the scenes involving the various dogs on the beach. This would mean relying on the fact that there will be other dog walkers on the beach. 

• Because it will be filmed at sunset, there won't be much time in between goldern hour and darkness, meaning I will have little time to film the entire piece.

• Because filming with that warm glow of sunset relies on weather, I could easily be let down due to too much cloud or fog etc. 

Overall, I quite like this idea, however, it does have many issues that comes with it. This would require intricate planning in order to avoid any organisation disasters, but would also require relying on how the dog behaves and the weather. Therefore, it would be wise to consider other ideas before considering this one. 

Initial Coursework Ideas

Planning Initial Ideas For My Coursework
Over the past week or so, I have been brainstorming ideas for my coursework. These are some of the ideas I have come up with:

Doing this has helped me enhance my creativity when thinking about my coursework as well as help come up with an original idea. Originality and creativity is an important aspect to take into consideration when planning for my coursework as originality helps ensure the final piece is unique and engaging.

Over the next few posts, I am hoping to narrow down my ideas to just three in which I'll expand and elaborate on thoroughly. Out of these three I will hopefully select one to choose to follow through for my final coursework.