Short Film Script - First Draft

Shot opens with a black/blank screen with narration from the villain (Lance) over the top

(Prologue)

Lance: (Cold, emotionless) who decides when our time is up? Who chooses upon our importance to the world?  I worship every breath, every tear, and every drop of blood that beats within our ungrateful souls. I decide who gets to live or die. It’s my (loud, angry) choice! I’ll make sure you welcome the silence and yet wish it never came. Play the game and suffer the consequences.

(End of Prologue)

An abrupt flash of light bridges the two scenes. It’s a dark screen; a close upshot to the inside of a bag. The sounds of heavy breathing and frantic scrabbling are heard over the top.


Rhys: (Heavy breathing) what?
(Whispers) Kathy? Lucy?

Lucy: (Sobbing; reading instructions via an earpiece) you have two minutes to decide. Follow the human weakness and choose. Think carefully for one of them must die (Breath hitch) don’t try and defy me; I planned every detail. You have two minutes to decide. Enjoy my game Mr Miller. Good luck! (Crying)

Rhys: Kathy? Lucy? Are you alright? Are you hurt?

Lucy: (Highly emotional) Oh god! I can’t (Sob)

Kathy:  (Sarcastic) Of course! Having the time of my life!

Rhys: (Angry, weary) Now is not the time Kathy! (Confident, assured, masking fear)  You’ll be fine. I promise! Both of you!

Lucy: (Whisper) Please, Please!

Rhys: (Assured tone) Kathy, move slowly to the right.... Don’t put any tension on the chord

Lucy: (Screams as the noose pulls tighter around her neck)

Rhys: (Angry, confidence slipping) STOP, Just Stop! (Directed at Kathy) I’m sorry! I’m so sorry (whispers to them both)

Kathy: You promised! Let me go! (Silent pause)  Rhys, I’m nothing to you! Always the disappointment; always the dark secret. It’s easy isn’t it? Almost like choosing between heaven and hell.

Lucy: Please no! (Whispers to self)  (Pause)  
(Directed at Rhys) Promise me you’ll make sure Greg and Amy are cared for. Help them deal with this. Help them get over me (Voice steady, though still crying)

Rhys: (Serious tone) I’m meant to protect you both. I can’t.... (Looks at both of them, eyes not focusing)
(Turns to Kathy) I always taught you it was wrong to make promises you can’t keep

Kathy: (Voice calm) Promises are always there to be broken. Mother taught me that.

Lucy: (realisation. Anger) What! No! Rhys you can’t do this. This isn’t what we agreed! This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.

Kathy: (Calmly, Confidently) don’t resent him. That’s his biggest fault, he cares too deeply. He couldn’t live knowing he’d orphaned two children. He’s too generous for that.

Lucy: (Yells angrily) Shit!

Rhys: (sadly) I love you, Kath.

Kathy: (First time with emotion) I know.
(Dialogue stops. Reaction shots of Rhys and the decision he has had to make. Final shot a close up of Rhys’ eye as he blinks. Sound of the trap door opening on the black screen)

(Epilogue)

Lance: (Simultaneously, Gleeful full of pleasure) and then everything stopped counting

Rhys: (Simultaneously, cold and emotionless) and then everything stopped counting

(End of Epilogue)

Storyboard and Synopsis - Part One

The film begins with the character of Rhys waking up from an attack that has left him unconscious. Coming round he finds himself bound to a chair also his sister Kathy and best friend/work colleague Lucy Morgan are tied by nooses to the ceiling of the warehouse. He notices that both women are on a trap door and are unable to move and rescue themselves. As his vision returns to complete focus the panic and questioning begins. Before Rhys has a chance to enquire anymore Lucy is given a message via earpiece from their captor.

Lucy is informed by Lance (The villain) that Rhys has two minutes in which to decide which one of them gets to live and which one of them dies. The tone of language and style he uses reinforces that this “game” as Lance calls it is personal between the two men. Panic and fear overcome Lucy as she forgets all previous training and warnings and pleads for life as well as communicating her terror. In contrast to Lucy’s behaviour, Kathy is calm and collected and even manages to use sarcasm, representing that she may already know Rhys’ decision or that she is indifferent and unable to feel the emotions that others in the room are portraying.

Rhys attempts to maintain control over the situation and instructs the two women in the best way he can. He tells Kathy to try and move, as he tries to remain calm. The movement of Kathy causes the rope to pull tighter around Lucy’s neck and she ends up screaming in pain. Ordering Kathy to stop is reminiscent of the power that Rhys uses in his everyday career; he suddenly looses the calm composure he has been using as the reality of the situation sets in. Whispering to Kathy he apologises for what can either be interpreted as the decision he is about to make or for a mistake he could have made in their past.  At this point the apology triggers something in Kathy and she tells him of how she believes Rhys see’s her. The dejected tone and language she uses show that she has had a troubled childhood and a stressed relationship with Rhys.  The realisation of what is about to happen hits Lucy and she angrily informs Rhys that this wasn’t how it was supposed to go, conveying that a situation like this may have been planned for.

Lucy then tries to persuade Rhys to change his mind by making him promise to take of Lucy’s two young children Ben and Amy. This information only seems to make Rhys’ choice harder and he struggles to choose between his heart and his head. He vows that he should have been able to save them both but his choice is cemented when he turns to Kathy and declares that promise shouldn’t made if you can’t keep them, conveying the immaturity that consists in their relationship. Lucy becomes aware that this is Rhys final decision and is furious that they’ve gone against all their codes and practices and chosen an innocent life. Kathy explains to Lucy that her brother is too caring and that it’s his biggest fault. Kathy and Rhys for the first time convey true emotions as they say goodbye. As Rhys’ decision is made the trapdoor swings open and Rhys closes his eyes unable to watch his sister’s death.



Title Concept

 

Titles are an important aspect of film. The title of a film not only makes it memorable but is used in order to give subtle information about the narrative and genre to its audience.  They are needed in order to produce an accurate representation of the films content. A successful title needs to be relevant to its genre and narrative. A title is the first piece of information an audience receives about a film, and in the case of a short film it would be used in order to convey and support the content and moral message to the viewer.

The title “two” is important in representing the film to its audience. The title is ambiguous and can be related to the narrative in a variety of interpretations. This is a vital trait as it conveys the form of knowledge and relationships with the message and content that the film that the audience has.  It was also the chosen title because of the fact it is generalised and doesn’t give important details about the narrative away, but does represent some of the crucial aspects of the genre. The fact that “two” is written without the standard capital at the beginning can connote the fact that, the content of the film subverts normal social conventions and can be deemed unsettling because of these factors; linking it back into the convention of horror.  The social drama genre is another connection to the title, due to the lack of capital letter at the beginning it breaks social traditions which is an important element of the aforementioned genre and within the short films itself.

The choice of the word “two” was important due to the fact it relates successfully to the plot of the film. There are two choices to make in the narrative, two characters that face death as well as two important factors about making decisions, do you make the choice that goes with your heart or your head. The word “two” depicts essential information to the audience but does not create too much detail until after watching the film. The title of the film conveys to the audience that there are always decisions. Due to the fact it is a one word phrase makes it easier to remember and therefore helps to make the film successful. 

Audience Questionnaire

In order to find out vital information about my audience a questionnaire was used. This is the paper copy handed out to people in a variety of social groups. In order to get the widest example of people taking part I also published a questionnaire online  at www.surveymonkey.com so it can be taken easily by anyone. The results from this questionnaire are crucial in establishing the interests, passions and knowledge of my target audience. This will mean that the content of my film is aimed correctly as well as the marketing and the distribution reaching their intended audience.



Rough Costume Idea - Kathy

The choice of costume is an important factor of mise-en-scene and representing the character of Kathy to the audience. It also represents and supports the genre of the piece. The colour blue is representational of being trust worthy and dependable but the fact that the tone is darker it conveys a contrast of these traits. Navy/dark blue is symbolic of being uncaring and showing a lack of emotion, this trait is an important part of Kathy’s character and the use of the dress helps to support it. By using a dress it is a visual representation of her femininity. The length as well as the cut and style of this piece convey her natural personality as it flows fluently and allows her shape to be seen. The use of a dress allows a variety of audiences and social classes to interact with her.  A masculine stereotype may perceive her in a typical feminine character and women can be inspired by her. The fact that the dresses is produced of high value material, conveys to the audience the wealth and background that Kathy comes from, linking together the expensive and often labelled clothing that her brother Rhys wears. The style of the dress also conveys to the audience that though appearance is important to Kathy, it is not the most important aspect of her personality. It also helps to detail her individuality. The two layers of fabric used upon the dress are there and can convey the different traits that make up Kathy. The emotions she doesn’t allow herself to show, and therefore are buried inside and the cold exterior she possess. The dark tone and the fact it is a dress can link to the danger and convention of fear that the horror genre produces.

The shoes are the last piece of the costume and as Kathy is standing for the majority of the film are crucial. The most important aspect that they represent is her individuality and the difference between her and Rhys. The colours of these boots are brown in order to continue the contrast between the colours that her clothes symbolise and her personality. The colour brown represents stability and nature and both of these factors don’t concern Kathy. Brown is also used to represent wholesomeness, which is a trait that Kathy doesn’t have; she is upfront and bold with everything. By continuing the theme of contrast it allows for Kathy’s rebellion against society to be confirmed within the audiences mind. By wearing boots instead of simple high heels it conveys her individuality but also her femininity as traditionally high heels would be worn by young women. The heel and style of the shoe shows that comfort is more important to Kathy than being aesthetically pleasing and that unlike Rhys and Lucy appearance is not as important to her. It also represents that Kathy’s role and job within society doesn’t require large amounts of desk work. The buckles and the combination of two materials again represent her personality of being bold and confident but that she challenges normality and is a blend of cultures and stereotypes.  By wearing boots is also portrays Kathy’s youth and exuberance.

The necklace though a small item is crucial in conveying the personality of Kathy to the audience. The first most crucial factor is the colour. Red conveys a variety of emotions and personality traits and this constructs Kathy’s background and personality. One of the most important representations of the colour red is that it symbolises danger, foreshadowing the risk of the location she is in but also enforcing that this is a common problem for her.  Red is also symbolic of passion, and this can connote the eccentricities that Kathy has as a character but also shows that she feels emotions strongly and is effected deeply by them. This helps to give Kathy more layers and interest and helps the audience to contact with her on a variety of levels.  The shape of the design is also vital. A red heart symbolises one with love and emotion something that Kathy doesn’t outwardly display, it also representative of her femininity. The red heart can also be a representation of death, and the blood that will be metaphorically by hers. The style and value of the necklace is different compared to the status and money that the rest of her outfit suggests. The necklace is common, flawed and on a simple chain. This change of theme can convey to the audience that this necklace was a gift or a token given to her by someone else. This apparent love or connection between another human suggests that Kathy isn’t always as reckless and cold and is capable of forming relationships and that she may have one to lose. The relationship theme is reinforced by other aspects of her personality and her costume.

The costume is an important part of representing Kathy as a character. Each item of clothing reinforces her charateristics, the moral as well as the genre of the film. By reinforcing traits and iconic themes of the film in the costumes, it allows for less important dialogue to be removed. Even though these are not the actual costumes pieces for Kathy's characte,r the themes and conventions used will be used in the actual pieces in order to create a vibrant and interesting character for the audience.

Rough Costume Idea - Rhys

The shirt is an important feature of a successful costume. The chest is one of the pieces that draws the audience’s attention to it and is important in representing the characters traits and position within society. The colour of the shirt is crucial when conveying a message to an audience.  The colour white is suggestive of cleanliness which like the character of Lucy is an aspect of Rhys’ personality, also of his career. A white short suggests that they work in a formal setting as it is a piece of stereotypical attire for someone with a high powered role, something the audience can relate too. The fact it plays strongly on this stereotype also conveys to the audience that Rhys has a role within society in which he needs to blend in and does not convey anything personal or interesting in his appearance. This item of clothing has no individual touches or features highlighting the fact that Rhys compartmentalises his personal life and his professional role.

Like the shirt, the trousers and jacket that Rhys wears are important in representing his personality to the audience. Subtle references are often what focus an idea in their minds and can be recalled at a later date. The colour is an important feature symbolising Rhys’ personality. The colour grey is often suggested to be cold and conservative. This feature is crucial to the persona that Rhys uses at work. Unlike both Kathy and Lucy, Rhys makes no attempt to convey his own tastes in his clothing and style of work. It reinforces the notion that he deals with personal situations and work in two very different methods. Grey is also deemed a neutral colour and rarely produces large amounts of emotion, a physical and visual representation of the detached method that Rhys has chosen to adopt. The style of the suit is also crucial. The tight fit of the jacket and the trousers represent Rhys’ youth and despite the fact he has a serious tone and job that he is still very much a young adult. This aspect of his personality allows him to connect with audience who are around the same age bracket and would be able to sympathise with him more.

 Rhys’ tie is also a significant feature of his costume. The position at work that he holds is suggested throughout the narrative and by his costume, would require him to dress formally. A tie is often a stereotypical piece of attire for a professional gentleman. The colour of the tie is also important, as it represents a variety of factors about his personality and background. The deep purple tone is suggesting the mysterious and protected nature of Rhys work. In the film there is no actual mention by name of his role, but the secrecy suggested that is vitally important that it is never discovered. Mystery is also a crucial convention of the horror genre. The colour purple is also an important feature as it represents the wealthy background that Rhys and Kathy come from. Both Rhys and Kathy have expensive clothing and their mannerisms are also representing the background they have come from. It highlights that Rhys now has a lot of power and influence in his life. The style of the tie much like the suit is symbolizing the youth of Rhys as a character and helping the audience to connect with him on a deeper level. The fact that his youth is being exploited showed by his reactions during the narrative, details that it’s an important feature of the game that Lance is playing.

The final item of Rhys’ costume is his shoes.  Like all of the other items of his costume they offer a visual representation of his status and behaviour. The tone of the shoes is a deep black, conveying to the audience his serious and sophisticated style, not only of his outfit but of Rhys overall personality. When this is combined with his other pieces it represents the official line of his work. Shoes like this are stereotypically worn by men in high-powered professions.  The colour black also adds to the interpretation of Rhys being mysterious. Coupled with his career and the fact that there is not a lot a known about him it conveys the nature of his job. The style of the shoe is also important. The heel on the back not only offers extra height, but corrects the line of the foot making it aesthetically pleasing; connoting that Rhys cares about his appearance. The laces on the shoe also reinforce the importance of the strap on Lucy’s. Both of them have to be prepared for possible action such as walking or running. The label on the product also conveys Rhys’ money and status as much like Kathy’s outfit it is expensive and would reinforce that they are of the upper class.

Each of these factors is important in representing Rhys’ character to the audience. It not only reinforces his character but features such as the genre and moral message of the piece. An example of this is the social dram genre that is conveyed by the stereotypical items of his costume, allowing the themes and messages to be followed and understood fully. Although this is not the exact costume that the character of Rhys will wear it conveys the importance of representation that will be carried through into the actual pieces.

Location Choice

Location is an important aspect of mise-en-scene and is the main feature when representing the genre and tone of the film. In a short film the use of an easily identifiable location as well as understandable one is vital as there is less time in order for these two features to be established. It is also crucial because of the importance of imagery in the short film category. The location of my short film titled “two” is in a warehouse. Due to the constraints and availability of filming in this location, the location I have chosen to film in is a cellar. The choice of location is important as it contains the crucial image aspects of a warehouse.

One of the most important aspects is the creation of claustrophobia and a small space. The architecture and the exposed brick work helps to add to this feeling. The lack of space adds to the feeling and mise-en-scene of a dark and dangerous location with no chance of escape, which is a vital aspect of my short films narrative.  The fact that this location is sparse and doesn’t contain any comforting features such as paint, windows and accessories, are crucial in creating the risk the characters face.  By not using any identifiable features, it adds to the terror by conveying that this location and actions could happen anywhere.  The lack of natural light and therefore the darkness are also representing the danger and portray the uncomfortable tone to the audience as well as the characters. The creation of this atmosphere helps to strength the information and belief that the audience have of the peril that the characters face. This location also reinforces the genre to the audience. Horror genres stereotypically take place in enclosed locations such as houses, castles and dungeons and the choice of location I have will connect to this convention. This location also adds to a gothic trait and also connotes the horror genre of my piece is by being locked in.