Pre-production

As it goes my shooting locations will be: My bedroom, Outside between my door and the school, the sleaze and slime cafe, "smoker's pad," and either a classroom in the school or the studio above Metz.

So I've finally got my story almost all down, and I decided to just break it down simply:

Scene 1: my bedroom

1. Shot of a bed with person asleep pans down the length and stops on messenger bag sitting at the foot of the bed.

2. Ring! Alarms goes off and cuts to Kevin jerking awake.

3. Quick montage of morning activities: shower, clothes, cereal.

4. Back to shot of bag at the foot of bed, and Kevin runs in and grabs it.

Scene 2: Outside

5. Cuts to Kevin walking outside. (to school)

6. Kevin opening a door, and walking inside.

Scene 3: In the sleaze

7. Kevin walks in the sleaze and sits down.

8. Sets bag down next to him.

9. Opens it, and pulls out sketchbook.

- Transitions -

10.*Montage of shots of Kevin pulling thing out of bag through the day*

11. Shot of bag after Kevin closes it, then shows hand placing it down.

- Transition -

Scene 4: bedroom

Zooms out and its back at the foot of the bed where it started.

1. The bag is at the foot of the bed and kevin is a sleep again.

2. Ring! the shot holds, but Kevin is heard getting up. Same sounds from last wake up "sequence" but the images holds on the bag.

3. After a beat of silence, the bag wiggles by itself.

4. Kevin runs in the room grabs the back, and runs on his way.

Scene 5: Outside/Sleaze

1. maybe a shot of kevin walking outside.

2. Kevin walks into the sleaze and stands in line.

3. Someone passes by him with a drink, and a hand come out of his bag and knocks it out of that person's hands.

4. That person is furious and argues with Kevin.

5. Kevin walks away, not knowing what happened.

Scene 6: Smoker's pad

1. Kevin walks outside to the smoker's pad, and someone approaches him.

2. "Hey do you have a light?" "Yeah, sure." Kevin rummages in his bag and finds the a ligher.

3. As Kevin hands the smoker a ligher, the hand once again comes out of the bag. This time the hand flips off the smoker.

4. Looking down at the hand then back up at Kevin, the smoker raises and eyebrow and backs away.

*a beat*

5. He slowly comes back in, lights his cigarette only to back out again.

6. Kevin turns around to leave.

7. As he passes someone the hand comes out and slaps their ass.

8. *Montage of shots of the hand doing mean things to people*

- Pulling hair, stealing a wallet, poking shoulders, etc.

Scene 7: studio or classroom

8. Downtrodden, Kevin plops down on a table, unable to figure out what's going on today

9. As he remembers everyone getting mad at him, he tears up a little.

10. The hand comes out of the bag and hands him a tissue.

"Oh thank you..."

*wait a beat*

"Oh, what the hell!"

11. Kevin freaks out and throws the bag across the room.

Storyboard:

Self-Critique

A) Impact and Intent- how did you want to affect your audience?

1. On a scale of 1-10, what was the story's overall impact?

I would give it about a 6 or a 7, because it shows the Michael's struggle as we planned, but it could've been better.

2. What did the story leave you thinking?

It left me thinking, honestly how we could've done this better. Beyond that it left me wondering exactly how more clearly we could've show that the "stranger's" equation led to the downfall of the housing market and not to just necessarily the foreclosure of one place.

3. What did it leave you feeling?

It left me feeling proud of what we've created, but not without being able to see its faults. So I guess it feels like a good first project to me.

4 Discuss the source of the main idea that you started with and its importance to you.

The main idea was about a man who ended up making a decision that he would later regret, and how one man's greed can lead to the downfall of others.

5.Discuss the Theme or premise of the piece as you discovered it after finishing the film.

The themes are of the inequality of classes, the dangerous of unregulated greed, and kind of cliché but the mistrust of strangers.

B) Clarity of Tension/Main Conflict

1. How clear was the story? Could you see all the scenes equally clearly in my mind's eye, or were some hazy?

As we shot it we could see the movie as a whole, but when we were shooting some scenes weren't always clear in what exactly they should look or feel like. So it felt like we had to kind of wing it on certain sections.

2. What parts could you easily and pleasurably retell, and what parts are difficult to recall?

The beginning and the end are pretty clear in my mind as how they play out, but parts of the conversation in the middle kind of blends together.

C) Potential

1. Does the story feel complete?

I would say that it does.

2. On a scale of 1-10, rate each scene. Are they all functioning to full potential?

Our film basically has only 4 scenes, the opening scenes, the conversation bar scene, the killing of Michael scene, and the stranger approaching a new victim. I would give scene 1, about a 5, as It tells ultimately what we wanted it to, but I wish it had some more coverage. Scene 2 would be about a 6, we shot all just about all the dialog we set out to do, but again I wish we had some more coverage, and some of the angles we shot were not ideal. Scene 3 would be about a 6 as well, because we had some problems with audio and the last shot was starting to get too dark, but ultimately I'm happy with the angles we shot. Lastly, Scene 4 would be about a 7, because its exactly what we set out to shoot, its simple, uncomplicated, and works.

3. Which elements were strong, which were weak?

The biggest weakness I notice from out project, would be that of coverage. While we were shooting it seemed like we were getting exactly what we needed, but as soon as I went into editing I was wishing we had shot the scenes from more angles. While we do have some variation of medium shots and close up, I wish we would've expanded into wider shots and even closer close ups.

D) Feedback-- Discuss “What you want to learn to do better.”

1. Report what is working well, and what is not.

I feel that the movie so far feels as a cohesive whole, and I'm happy with the cinematography so far. Theres some blemishes, but I feel the movie looks pretty good so far. But whats not working, is that the movie feels kinda vague in how it overall applies to the world outside of it, if that makes sense. But as it stands it kinda feels like Michael might have only causes the foreclosure of the one building we see him rip the sign off of, but we wanted it to seem like the problem was more widespread, as widespread as the housing collapse was. I don't quite know how we would've done that or even if its really necessary in the end, but I do believe the basic theme is present and can be seen.

2. Suggest what might clarify and strengthen whatever is weak.

I would definitely focus on getting more coverage, and shooting more takes, because variety is king. I think we got too focused on and settled in just shooting some of the scenes from only 1 or 2 places. So more angles more variety. Also as far as the story went I dont know what we would've done to make it better, but I have voiced my concerns for whats wrong or possibly wrong with it.

Newer final concept

I was thinking last night, that I really didn't like my concept. It was kinda of neat, but I think I was just trying to be too serious with out. Instead I had a dream that inspired a new hopefully more interesting project concept. Here it goes:

Title: "Its in the Bag"

Elevator Line: Kevin always seems to be able to rely on his messenger bag to have what he needs, but is mortified when he finds out how.

Explanation of Theme:

This film should not to seriously look at the ideas of the unexplainable, loneliness, dependence, and the need for human contact.

Short Synopsis:

The short of it is that this is a film about a man, named Kevin, and his messenger bag. Kevin is seen always wearing it or having it near by, and it is always providing him of what he needs. Even when he think he forgot something it just happens to be in the bag. Eventually and unbeknownst to Kevin a hand and arm starts to come out of the bag to physically hand him whatever he needs. Obliviously the Kevin simply accepts what the hand is handing him. The people around him start to notice this weird hand, but Kevin doesn't know what everyone is talking about and think they're crazy. So everyone around him starts to shy away, and shun him. Eventually in a pivotal moment Kevin is sitting alone with his bag, after having everyone abandon him, he realized that the only one there for him in his life is his bag. The arm comes out to hand him a tissue, and Kevin accepts it. A few beat later while Kevin is wiping his eyes, he realizes what just happened. He freaks out and throws the bag across the room. Kevin slowly approaches the bag on the floor, opening it and peering in he ends up being sucked into the bag. The audience is just left with a shot of an empty room with Kevin's messenger bag on the floor.

Character:

The main character of this film is Kevin, and at the beginning of the film he should seem just like any other person, not particularly special. Though as the film progresses and the people around Kevin start to shy away from him, the audience should see Kevin's descent into sadness as everyone leaves him.

Structure Breakdown:

- Starts of with Kevin and his bag going through their regular life

- Kevin starts to notice that his bag provides him with anything he needs

- A hand starts to come out of the bag to hand objects to an oblivious Kevin.

- Kevin's peers start to notice this weird occurrence and distance themselves from him.

- Kevin becomes sad and lonely, realizing the only thing he can count on his is bag.

- His bag hands him a tissue, and slowly Kevin realizes what's been happening.

- Freaked out, Kevin throws the bag across the room.

- Slowly Kevin goes over to peer inside the bag, but is suddenly dragged inside it.

Tone and Execution:

This film should be light and not take it self too serious, but at the same time that light feeling should come to a halt when Kevin realizes what has been happening.

Objective:

My objective is to make a kind of funny and kind of weird film, that has an ending that leaves the audience wondering what just happened.

Final Project Concept

Elevator Line:
An abstract chase scene in which a lone man chases after the reason for his persistence.

Explanation of theme:
Perseverance, uncertainty, and the journey for inspiration or a reason.


Short Synopsis:
The film opens with a static shot of a scene devoid of people, and suddenly a man runs past. From then on the camera follows this man as he seemingly chasing or running from something the audience doesn't understand. The environments should turn and change as the man turns and changes direction, and shouldn't logically fit together. Though the man's motion should fluidly transfer the film form scene to scene. As he runs the lighting of the scenes should undulate from light to dark as the lighting transitions from scene to scene gradually lightening and gradually darkening. As the intensity of the man's chase increases coming to a peak and the scene hes in gradually darkens to pitch black, he trips and falls. As the man slowly picks himself up he looks physically and mentally tired. As he stands there distraught in the darkness he tries to catch his breath and appears to give up. Then slowly and faintly a light appears from off screen. The light inspires him to slowly and surely pick up his pace to chase after the light, after a few twist and turns the mans arrives at a door way light only by the light inside. He hesitantly and carefully approaches it goes inside and the door closes behind him. Cut to black.

Character:
The character never speaks, but the audience does get to see his state of mind through his actions. They get to visually see his perseverance as he runs, his mental and physical collapse, his hope, and trepidation.

Structure Breakdown:
The beginning scene is just still and as the character quickly runs through the frame so does the movie quickly shift focus to him and his motion. The First half or 3/4 of the film should show the characters journey through spaces and shifting lighting. The breaking point of the film is where he trips and falls as losing all his momentum and will to run. Then slowly but surely hes inspired by the lone light to continue his journey ending up at the door way, abruptly ending the experience, and leaving the audience without a distinct resolution.

Tone and Execution:
The film should feel high action and high intensity abruptly smashing the audience down as the character trips and falls. It should also feel like the details abstract or out of place, but at the same time be a cohesive whole.

Objective:
The objective of this project is to shoot a high action sequence that gets the audience pumped, but it should also leave the audience questioning what really is happening in the piece, and to lend itself to personal interpretations for the exact who, what, and why of the character.

Free witing for ideas.

"I want this film to be an abstract chase scene involving only one person. The audience never sees or understands what the subject is chasing after or even running from, but I do want them to see the determination in which the subject runs. I want the environments to not necessarily fit together, but I want the motion of the subject to fluidly transfer the movie from scene to scene. Though I do want the environments to show a transition from darker to lighter scenes and back again to give the movie a sense of undulation.

In the middle of the film I want the main character to finally slow down, and breakdown as he looks physically and mentally exhausted. He should have run into an increasingly darkening scene and where its pitch black as he has this breakdown. What picks him back up?

I want the movie to be seen as constantly moving forward regardless of surroundings, regardless of time, and regardless of place. To me this is to be seen as a metaphor of constantly having to continue to move on with life despite having to deal with constant mood swings and

Undulation of the scene's lighting should relate back to the passing of time.

Constantly running towards a source of light that's off screen. The breaking point of the film is where the character is running in pitch black with only the single source of light hes been chasing lighting him, and it appears as if hes getting closer and closer to his goal, but he trips and falls. The light then slowly fades away. The subject is distraught and both physically and emotionally tired."

Internships

I'm just starting a list of links to Internships I'm applying to:

- http://www.radicalaxis.com/

- http://www.lwtconnect.com/

- http://www.titmouse.net/contact

- mail to intern@titmouse.net

more to follow.

Henry & Aaron - IT'S A SNAP!

An awesome school commercial, looks student made. Also, its funny and dark as hell.