Synopsis
Henry is a Jehovah's Witness and has been since he was 12 years
old. His mum and dad gave him no freedom into the curiosity of
anything that be considered a sin. Metal/ Rock music, video games,
and the concept of blood transfusions.
One this particular day the Jehovah's Witness members send Henry
to go on a door to door ministry mission by himself. Though it is
customary that Jehovah's witnesses go in pairs to do this task, Henry
wants to prove himself and his family that he can take on the mission
and make them proud.
Unfortunately Henry is the worst Jehovah's witness ever. He would
often forget the script of what he has to say when a home door opens.
Most of the time he would just get rejected from homes when the
residents take that first look at his Watchtower magazines or bible,
emedeatley they would close their doors without saying a word.
Henry tries his best and even decides to try to keep going until
evening but after contently being rejected from home to home he walks
slowly into the night with his confidence shattered. Henry sees one
last house and decides to go for one last try, he wants to get rid of
at least one magazine.
Little does he know that this particular house is inhabited by 4
university delinquents who have quite a reputation around this area.
Anti social behaviour, loud noise and music, late night parties,
these are people you don't want to live with.
Kevin the heavy metal rock star, Derek a gaming couch potato,
Robert the sarcastic smart ass, and Agnus the depressing artist.
A letter however arrives before Henry as the delinquents revive it
and get informed of a un scheduled inspection by the land lord.
Naturally these delinquents start to panic until they hear a knock at
their door. Instead of the land lord they are promised, Henry instead
comes to their in hopes to accomplish his mission.
Mistaken for their land lord the delinquents come up with a plan
to distract Henry as they clean up their act, as well as their house.
As Henry goes around each of the delinquents's environments, he sees
his childhood. A childhood where he was into the same things as the
delinquents. Loud music, video games, and he even had a best friend
suffering from an illness that required a blood transfusion. Even
though he was too young to give blood he can't help but think that
there was some way that his family could had helped him as well as
others.
After going around the house Henry comes to realise that he was
never good at being a Jehovah's Witness and learns that the
delinquents thought that he was their land lord. Eventually the
delinquents find out what Henry is and almost consider just kicking
him out, but after they hear his story the delinquents decide to give
him a break and show him what he has been missing out on.
The delinquents throw a little party and Henry starts experiencing
all sorts of things that a Jehovah's Witness should never think about
or even do. Like drinking alcohol playing and listening to loud rock
and heavy metal music. Playing violent video games, making a mess,
having fun and not regretting a thing. Henry is now more happy then
he even has been in a long time. The house is once again a complete
mess, all seems well for them when all of a sudden a knock on the
door is made by the real land lord coming to inspect the delinquents.
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Pre Production Unit Research and Development (Director's Statement)
How did I come up with the story?
This is based on a event that happened in my family, a friend of my older sister had a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. Because of her upbringing my sister's friend just could't take the rules and regulations of her religion any longer and left her old behind and now to this day she is living a happy and authentic life of her choosing and even has a child of her own.
The Story:
The director's statement always comes first when it comes to the preproduction process. It is the job for the director to visualise the story, the look, the feel, the sound and music for the whole film.
Visual Style:
Destination, Despicable Delinquents with a dark comedy with a dark background to the main character so it is based around the dark side of religion and how someone can live an authentic life by means of turning to the dark side of life. So most of my visuals will be dark but yet colourful.
(Corpse Bride 2005) Director - Tim Burton
I said I wanted to take the Tim Burton approach as my visionary inspirations. I wanted a dull and dark side tone when it came to Henry the Jehovah's Witness. I wanted the visuals to be dull and lifeless representing Henry's life, an endless, same routine, constantly screwing up and trying to please his parents and the rest of his Witnesses that he can do their job as well as they can. It will be cold colours and paleness for the outside shots and the flashbacks involving my main character Henry.
Batman (1992) Director - Tim Burton
For the delinquents I wanted there style of life to be loud, messy, and colourful. Like their student residence I also wounded their home to be tall but yet tightly spaced so there is plenty enough reason to make the place a mess. I imagine wild and worm colours to portray my characters living the life that Henry could only up to this point in his life imagine of having.
(Scott Pilgrim vs The World 2010) Director - Edgar Wright)
Cinematography:
In terms of Cinematography the shots that will be use are MS, CU, WS, LS within a Tim Burton style by means of dark yet colourful. The scenery is dark yet the colourful characters stand out and keep the audience focused on them.
Lighting:
For the street scene with Henry walking into the empty streets of an old bricked pavemented Rochester. I wanted the house lights as well as the lamp post to so and represent the light of the lord watching Henry as he goes about with his job. The lighting will be low and limited to give my main character a sense of mysteriousness.
As for the delinquents house, it is a student residence and live in a tall yet little spaced house where it is easy to make a mess. As for their rooms each of the characters will have their own rooms:
Kevin's Room will have a band related theme
Editing:
For comedy, often a fast pace in editing is in order. Timing is everything in comedy and so must the editing. Silly and physical comedy is quick, not just by the actors but how it is also cut together.
Example 1 - Acting
The Young Ones
BBCWorldwide. (2007). It's my room! - The Young Ones - BBC. [Online Video]. 29 June 2010. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ocngVQ4XaE. [Accessed: 30 November 2016].
I need my delinquents to be fast, and can think on their feet when it comes to confrontation and interactions with each other.
Example 2 - Editing
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Nerdwriter1. (2009). Scott Pilgrim: Make Your Transitions Count. [Online Video]. 12 October 2016. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pij5lihbC6k. [Accessed: 30 November 2016].
With editing I imagine it to flow like Scott Pilgrim vs The World where each scene would trasission quickly to another scene. With a director such as Edgar Wright, I see my film to have that certain flow to especially when it comes to the scenes in the house. One location can drag out a film but I believe it just needs some cleaver editing to make it work and to keep my audience engaged. What I got out of Scott Pilgrim is the wiping effect when transitions are being used. Also when the transition is commencing a sound effect can be heard to symbolise where the characters are going. For example is the characters where on the street and going into a supermarket, a *beep* sound effect from the price checker that a cashier uses could be used to execute a cleaver trasisson.
How will it work?
The thing about Edgar Wright is that he put more into comedies by means of visuals and editing. He is cleaver, using different ways to quickly get to point A to point B of a scene by means of creativity and using sound effects as well as his actors to making it funny all at the same time.
But thats just transitions what about a scene all together.
Scene editing -
This example comes from one of the Cornetto trilogy, the movie The Worlds End also directed by Edgar Wright. The scenes and how it is paced is quick and to the point. The scene where the main characters are just getting a beer together until one of them says he just wants water.
I would consider using these Edgar Wright methods of creativity, comedy and fast pace when it comes to my editing as I need the jokes and silliness to be on point and hit just right.
Key things to keep in mind:
Music and Songs:
Band - Spyder Byte
Song - Love Bomb Ticking
Nearer to the end of the film when Henry is fully converted I wanted a happy outrageous song that represented Henry's character finally letting go of what he grew up with and what he even knew and throwing it all away and trying something new with the delinquents.
The band Spyder Byte, the hard rock band from Medway made a fast happy and fun song about sex but within the sense of the love being a bomb and about to explode with emotions that can often leave you going crazy. That was the type of song I wanted for my film. Like the Young One where they would have musical guests, some of which were Heavy Metal and rock groups, such as Moorhead. Except you won't see them but their music will guide a comedic montage of Henry giving up on being a Jehovah's Witness and just letting go and having fun and recovering new experiences that he never thought he would every doing.
Example -
Spyder Byte (Hans All on Gertel)
Kellie Wyatt. (2009). Spyder Byte - Hans all on Gretel (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO). [Online Video]. 6 June 2013. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pij5lihbC6k. [Accessed: 30 November 2016].
Inspirations:
This is based on a event that happened in my family, a friend of my older sister had a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. Because of her upbringing my sister's friend just could't take the rules and regulations of her religion any longer and left her old behind and now to this day she is living a happy and authentic life of her choosing and even has a child of her own.
The Story:
The director's statement always comes first when it comes to the preproduction process. It is the job for the director to visualise the story, the look, the feel, the sound and music for the whole film.
Visual Style:
Destination, Despicable Delinquents with a dark comedy with a dark background to the main character so it is based around the dark side of religion and how someone can live an authentic life by means of turning to the dark side of life. So most of my visuals will be dark but yet colourful.
(Corpse Bride 2005) Director - Tim Burton
I said I wanted to take the Tim Burton approach as my visionary inspirations. I wanted a dull and dark side tone when it came to Henry the Jehovah's Witness. I wanted the visuals to be dull and lifeless representing Henry's life, an endless, same routine, constantly screwing up and trying to please his parents and the rest of his Witnesses that he can do their job as well as they can. It will be cold colours and paleness for the outside shots and the flashbacks involving my main character Henry.
Batman (1992) Director - Tim Burton
For the delinquents I wanted there style of life to be loud, messy, and colourful. Like their student residence I also wounded their home to be tall but yet tightly spaced so there is plenty enough reason to make the place a mess. I imagine wild and worm colours to portray my characters living the life that Henry could only up to this point in his life imagine of having.
(Scott Pilgrim vs The World 2010) Director - Edgar Wright)
Cinematography:
In terms of Cinematography the shots that will be use are MS, CU, WS, LS within a Tim Burton style by means of dark yet colourful. The scenery is dark yet the colourful characters stand out and keep the audience focused on them.
- Mid Shots, two shots and close ups are mainly for conversations. Mids shots when the characters are interacting with each other like two shots with both characters both in frame.
- Close ups for when a change or something exciting or dramatic is happening to one of the characters. This will also be a cleaver way to lead into a cleaver transition into another scene.
- Wide shots will help establish the scenes and locations.
- Long shots will be used to help with panning shots when my characters are walking on locations. This all also be cleverly used to help engage the transitions and help in editing when it comes to sticking between scenes, especially when it comes to filming in the house location.
Lighting:
- Town
For the street scene with Henry walking into the empty streets of an old bricked pavemented Rochester. I wanted the house lights as well as the lamp post to so and represent the light of the lord watching Henry as he goes about with his job. The lighting will be low and limited to give my main character a sense of mysteriousness.
As for the delinquents house, it is a student residence and live in a tall yet little spaced house where it is easy to make a mess. As for their rooms each of the characters will have their own rooms:
Kevin's Room will have a band related theme
- posters
- guitars
- maybe a computer desk so he can do his university work
As for light I can imagine his room just by the ceiling light.
Agnus's room is also their basement. I wanted to have have being berried sense for Agnus because of her personality. So the lighting will be dark with a single bulb to show both characters in an awkward and isolated scene. Like a police interrogation room.
Editing:
For comedy, often a fast pace in editing is in order. Timing is everything in comedy and so must the editing. Silly and physical comedy is quick, not just by the actors but how it is also cut together.
Example 1 - Acting
The Young Ones
BBCWorldwide. (2007). It's my room! - The Young Ones - BBC. [Online Video]. 29 June 2010. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ocngVQ4XaE. [Accessed: 30 November 2016].
I need my delinquents to be fast, and can think on their feet when it comes to confrontation and interactions with each other.
Example 2 - Editing
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Nerdwriter1. (2009). Scott Pilgrim: Make Your Transitions Count. [Online Video]. 12 October 2016. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pij5lihbC6k. [Accessed: 30 November 2016].
With editing I imagine it to flow like Scott Pilgrim vs The World where each scene would trasission quickly to another scene. With a director such as Edgar Wright, I see my film to have that certain flow to especially when it comes to the scenes in the house. One location can drag out a film but I believe it just needs some cleaver editing to make it work and to keep my audience engaged. What I got out of Scott Pilgrim is the wiping effect when transitions are being used. Also when the transition is commencing a sound effect can be heard to symbolise where the characters are going. For example is the characters where on the street and going into a supermarket, a *beep* sound effect from the price checker that a cashier uses could be used to execute a cleaver trasisson.
How will it work?
- Keeping an actor either left or the far right side of the shot and pan in the opposite direction and keep it moving. In this scene of Scott Pilgrim the a character on the right in leaning down to get her bags leaving the main character Scott still on the left.
- Using a prop or person in front of the camera to queue the transition. For this instant, it's a person walking in front of the camera .
- With the right speed and motion of object, either I might have to use a green screen for the object or person, I can use the chroma key effect to switch between shots when the person or object is in full frame and no background or signs of the other scene can be viewed.
The thing about Edgar Wright is that he put more into comedies by means of visuals and editing. He is cleaver, using different ways to quickly get to point A to point B of a scene by means of creativity and using sound effects as well as his actors to making it funny all at the same time.
But thats just transitions what about a scene all together.
Scene editing -
This example comes from one of the Cornetto trilogy, the movie The Worlds End also directed by Edgar Wright. The scenes and how it is paced is quick and to the point. The scene where the main characters are just getting a beer together until one of them says he just wants water.
- Main character gets annoyed.
- Bar tender starts poring the beer.
- Beer goes into glasses with music tone starting from a low note to a high note to indicate that the glass is getting more and more full.
- Music then stops and cuts to the bar tender just poring out water to symbolise the boring character.
- Boring character drinks water.
- Camera then focuses up on main character completing the scene trasisson and story in a fast and funny way.
I would consider using these Edgar Wright methods of creativity, comedy and fast pace when it comes to my editing as I need the jokes and silliness to be on point and hit just right.
Key things to keep in mind:
- Things entering scenes in funny ways.
- People leaving the frame in funny ways.
- There and Back Again.
- Matching scene Transitions.
- Perfectly timed sound effects.
- Actions synchro nosed to the music.
- Super Dramatic lighting cues.
Music and Songs:
Band - Spyder Byte
Song - Love Bomb Ticking
Nearer to the end of the film when Henry is fully converted I wanted a happy outrageous song that represented Henry's character finally letting go of what he grew up with and what he even knew and throwing it all away and trying something new with the delinquents.
The band Spyder Byte, the hard rock band from Medway made a fast happy and fun song about sex but within the sense of the love being a bomb and about to explode with emotions that can often leave you going crazy. That was the type of song I wanted for my film. Like the Young One where they would have musical guests, some of which were Heavy Metal and rock groups, such as Moorhead. Except you won't see them but their music will guide a comedic montage of Henry giving up on being a Jehovah's Witness and just letting go and having fun and recovering new experiences that he never thought he would every doing.
Example -
Spyder Byte (Hans All on Gertel)
Kellie Wyatt. (2009). Spyder Byte - Hans all on Gretel (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO). [Online Video]. 6 June 2013. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pij5lihbC6k. [Accessed: 30 November 2016].
- Fast
- Loud
- Funny
- Heavy
- Happy
Inspirations:
- Tim Burton
- Wes Anderson
- Edgar Wright
Monday 28 November 2016
Major Project Development Research (Show, Don't Tell)
Article:
Show, Don't Tell: Contemporary Screen Production Research by Susan Kerrigan (University of New Castle) Published online at 25 January 2016.
Screen writing and scripting is hard work and takes lots of detailed concentration to suss out and get to grips with. This online article detail and explains the art of showing and not telling when it comes to film and other media productions. Showing and telling are two different ways of humanly transceiving information across to another human being so they understand to.
With a screen play and script it is essential that you describe and show what is in the scene and how the characters act when it comes to certain situations. Those little details can make such a difference to help other human see and understand your idea and story.
'Show, don't tell' is a well-known - is not cliched - screenwriting principle, ingrained in practitioners to encourage them to use the visuality of the screen to tell their stories rather than rely on dialogue. This includes using actions, objects, words, to create meaning and giving the performers things to do to show the backstory and inner landscape of their character.' Kerrigan, Don't Tell: Contemporary Screen Production Research [Online] at: http://www-tandfonline-com.ucreative.idm.oclc.org/doi/abs/10.1080/17503175.2015.1133239 (Accessed on 28/11/2016).
'I admit when it comes to screen writing especially when it came to my 1st Draft of my script for Destination, Despicable Delinquents. I had the habit of writing so much dialogue that for one scene, more so when it came to the climax of the story, it just seemed to drag on and I didn't see or feel any of my characters as I read on. So I almost had to take apart my script and re do it again all from scratch except it had to be done correctly
Things I did wrong -
Show, Don't Tell: Contemporary Screen Production Research by Susan Kerrigan (University of New Castle) Published online at 25 January 2016.
Screen writing and scripting is hard work and takes lots of detailed concentration to suss out and get to grips with. This online article detail and explains the art of showing and not telling when it comes to film and other media productions. Showing and telling are two different ways of humanly transceiving information across to another human being so they understand to.
With a screen play and script it is essential that you describe and show what is in the scene and how the characters act when it comes to certain situations. Those little details can make such a difference to help other human see and understand your idea and story.
'Show, don't tell' is a well-known - is not cliched - screenwriting principle, ingrained in practitioners to encourage them to use the visuality of the screen to tell their stories rather than rely on dialogue. This includes using actions, objects, words, to create meaning and giving the performers things to do to show the backstory and inner landscape of their character.' Kerrigan, Don't Tell: Contemporary Screen Production Research [Online] at: http://www-tandfonline-com.ucreative.idm.oclc.org/doi/abs/10.1080/17503175.2015.1133239 (Accessed on 28/11/2016).
'I admit when it comes to screen writing especially when it came to my 1st Draft of my script for Destination, Despicable Delinquents. I had the habit of writing so much dialogue that for one scene, more so when it came to the climax of the story, it just seemed to drag on and I didn't see or feel any of my characters as I read on. So I almost had to take apart my script and re do it again all from scratch except it had to be done correctly
Things I did wrong -
- Not show any character development or their physical appearance.
- I did not describe the location of where my performers were.
- I used too much dialogue and not enough descriptions of what my characters do.
For the second draft I had to make sure all of these crucial things were imported and planned out through the script. Each of my characters had to have their individualities and quirks that made them stand out on their own. Kevin for example was a heavy metal rock star studying music. He is loud, strong, cool and wears black clothing as part of his appearance. Derek is a lazy sofa hogging potato who loves gaming rather then studying.
Robert in a smart yet rudely sarcastic book worm and always gets picked on by the others. Agnus is a dark, dull, depressing artist who sees the world as a bad place. My main character Henry is a social awkward Jehovah's Witness who all of his life has been taught to do the right thing and not to give into any temptation of sin. He is shy and bad at his job as he keeps on being rejected by home after home after home.
There where sparks that make my characters come to life and stand out in their own way, it was just making sure to apply that in script for by describing and detail who they were and how to act when a certain situation happens.
'It is also a principle that a director or cinematographer might use on set during filming when they need to turn to scripted ideas into performed and tangible scenes.' Kerrigan, Don't Tell: Contemporary Screen Production Research [Online] at: http://www-tandfonline-com.ucreative.idm.oclc.org/doi/abs/10.1080/17503175.2015.1133239 (Accessed on 28/11/2016).
Tuesday 22 November 2016
Pre Production Update Concept Art
What I was looking for in a concept artist:
How I came across my concept artist:
I came across my concept artist while search for graphic designers for hire and came across this designer's website.
It had the right cartoony feel and design I needed her designs where cartoony yet had a subtleness of goth and style I was looking for. So I made contact with her through her website and asked if she would help me with my project. After a quick Email she agreed and we organised a meeting to discuss what I needed from her before the deadline.
I got in touch with Kaye Sedgwick to help me out with some concept art for my film. She came up with a dark yet cartoony brand to give me an example of what she could do. I think it was the right tone and right edge I was looking for when it came to a dark comedy and the issue that my story was tackling.
I loved what she came up with and we had agreed to keep that theme of Tim Burton slash dirty type of look and feel to the poster.
From our last speaking interview I wanted to make sure that my concept artist had my other ideas in person so she and I could understand what could and couldn't not be achieved in the time scale that I had. These are some of the things that my sister had agreed to help me with:
- The Poster
- Character Profiles and looks
- Henry
- Agnus
- Derek
- Kevin
- Robert
5. Front Cover
The plan is to keep in contact and whenever she finishes one of my requests I need to message her back ASAP to see if any changes need to be made.
For example:
For example:
- Her design for Agnus -
She messaged me the design and asked if it was ok. As beautiful as it was the that was not how I envisioned Agnus. She is a depressing Goth artist. A bit of a tomboy who sees the world and a dull place where nothing good ever happens.
I replied to her back:
It took only 5 minutes for her to reply back with this new design.
The design was a lot better. The look suited her, the hat brought an extra flare to her character's individuality. The nose ring and the hair were how I visited her.
Pre Production Unit development (My Second Presentation Refection)
We were all about half way through our pre productions and it was time to diluter our second presentations and what was different this time around was to showcase what we had achieved so far and explain in detail on how we were going to achieve where we needed to go ignored to deliver the final pre production package by the end of the term in December.
It went a lot better then my other presentation as I believe my idea came across and my tutors knew the story and what I was trying to aim for. There where other point I wanted to came across but unfortunately I wasn't good for time and Simon did tell me to get a move on when it came to the slides about my production team and our ideas. The feedback was positive and my pees seemed to look forward to my idea coming to life. I just can't wait to start filming my final film to UCA, it has been quite a journey for me and others and I will not let this amazing opportunity go to waste.
Reflection:
- What went well?
The feedback was more positive as everyone now knew my idea. It was clear and showed how I was going to achieve my idea and where I was at so far. Most people really liked my characters and how they were individual and unique from each other. Some of the feedback from my peers was most appreciated, Jordan (one of my classmates) suggested that I lower the age of my main character as it made sense for the main character to be involved with people close to his age.
- What didn't go so well?
I was going to also explain my location idea to everyone, but unfortunately and error came onto my tutor's laptop and I had to use the last version saved onto my hard rive which didn't include the location information which really could have helped.
I rush at bit at the end as I was also going to explain how my production group with Alex and Plamen where going to play out and achieve each and every one of our films. Because Plamen already explained the plan before me, I skimmed most of what I was going to say which was mostly what Plamen had already said.
- What could have been improved?
Not much to be honest it was hard for me to think or look back at what I did and recall any moments where I could have improved on. If anything I could have improved on my speaking. Occasionally I would repeat what I have already said due to being a little nervous.
- What to remember to do next time
Make sure the right version of my presentation is saved properly before gong into a group presentation showing. Don't panic, remember to breathe and try to concentrate on what you are aiming to come across to your peers.
- Overall
It went a lot better then my other presentation as I believe my idea came across and my tutors knew the story and what I was trying to aim for. There where other point I wanted to came across but unfortunately I wasn't good for time and Simon did tell me to get a move on when it came to the slides about my production team and our ideas. The feedback was positive and my pees seemed to look forward to my idea coming to life. I just can't wait to start filming my final film to UCA, it has been quite a journey for me and others and I will not let this amazing opportunity go to waste.
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