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The task is to make a short film 2 to 3 minutes that showcases and follows one of the narrative theories. For example: Todorov narrative theory.

Project concept:

Originally, the plan was to make a short film linked to bullying, however there were some worries it would come across as too cliche. After i was suggested to narrow down the concept we decided to make a short film about a oppressed character that loses control of his sanity and kills his bully. I thought it would be better to showcase a bully in a less traditional sense: i wanted his guardian to be the bully, to show either influences of oppression translate to the protagonist and he becomes a bully or he loses full control. 

Secondary Research:

The first film that came to my mind to research was Memento because of how time manipulation was used to suit the plot and narrative, it was unconventional. We were essentially watching a film entirely from the protagonists point of view. He had a unique disorder that caused the narrative of the movie to be shown in fragments to reflect his memory disorder. 

I think it would be fun to try mimic such a unconventional style and to manipulate time like how it is done in this movie, i am also thinking to mimic the stylistic way colouring was done in this movie to reflect the characters mood rather than the overall mood of the film. The movie was from the main characters point of view, so i guess this is negligible, but it is something that i can have fun with in this project.

I thought to also research the Taxi driver because of main character being identical to the character we have created: a isolated young man being oppressed causing a loss in sanity. The progression of the narrative was surprising in this movie because the visual of the loss in sanity sped up by a lot near the end of the movie, but the transition felt seamless. It did not feel out of place, just felt unnatural to me, it directly reminded me of the common responses when someone that lost control causes harm: "No one saw this coming" or "he/she was such a good boy/girl". 

This unnatural progression is something that also want to mimic and show plot-wise: visually i want to show a spike in insanity that was always there from the main character through his acting and camera placement.   

Synopsis: 

An oppressed young man starts to struggle to find control in his life, which leads his sanity to spiral. The oppression grows the more his grandfather taunts him about his sexuality, as well as the speed of his sanity crumbing. This young man starts to doubt his actions because of his lack of understanding of them.

Survey (Najeeb): 

Survey Results: 

What i can gather from Najeeb's survey is that a lot of people around my age would love violence in movies, and they would quite enjoy watching a thriller. This supports the felling of catering this short film to young adults.

Hybrid Research:

Hybrid genre films:

 

Frozen (2010 American film) Psychological thriller. 

 

Frozen is a 2010 American horror film written and directed by Adam Green and starring Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore and Kevin Zegers.

 

Plot: 

 

Childhood friends Dan Walker and Joe Lynch, along with Dan's girlfriend Parker O'Neil, spend a Sunday afternoon at a New England ski resort on Mount Holliston. They are eager to take one last run down the mountain before they go home; however, the ski resort decides to close early because a storm is moving in.

 

Narrative:

 

Frozen has more of a Omniscient narration as you the audience know that they have to shut down the slops but the main characters do not. 

 

Story: 


Frozen in terms of story is very linear as it starts of simple with three friends the conflict they get into comes in the middle of the story and is resolved at the end. 


The Town (2010 film) Crime thriller:

The Hunter (Persian: Shekarchi‎‎) is a 2010 Iranian drama film directed by and starring Rafi Pitts. It was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.

Plot: 


Four lifelong friends from the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown, Douglas "Doug" MacRay, James "Jem" Coughlin, Albert "Gloansy" MacGloan, and Desmond "Dez" Elden, rob a bank. They take the manager, Claire Keesey, hostage, but release her unharmed. When they find out Claire lives in their neighborhood, Doug begins to follow her to find out how much she has told the authorities, and to make sure that Jem does not eliminate her as a witness. Soon a romance grows between them, which Doug hides from the gang. As they grow closer, Doug tells Claire of his search for his long-lost mother, whom he believes went to live with his aunt in Tangerine, Florida. He also recounts his chance to be a professional hockey player which he threw away for a life of crime, following in his father's footsteps. She in turn tells Doug that she saw a tattoo on one of the robbers, and he realizes that she can identify Jem and send them all to jail. He knows that Jem will kill her if he discovers the truth, so he persuades her that the authorities cannot protect her, and she decides not to tell the police.


Narration:


The town has more of a Omniscient narration as everyone knows who the robbers are but the girl does not. 

Story: 


The town is very linear as the characters are shown and then the problems is presented and then they have to find a way to fix it. 

 

 

Myles

Script:

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