Production Diary: 25/06/14

Production Diary: 25/06/14

 

As a former AS student I am both thrilled and delighted to be continuing my work with Media Studies. In today’s production diary I shall be discussing my thoughts and ideas regarding the work at hand.

Short film or Music Video:

At the very start of the course I was rather indecisive as to whether I should choose to create either a music video or short film. Wanting to be satisfied with the option I would elect, I had decided to watch a few examples on each side of the spectrum. I enjoyed the music videos very much, and was most notably engaged particularly by the ones from distinguished pop artist Michael Jackson- I enjoyed the quirkiness and the strong sense of narrative that are embedded into his works. However realising how these themes had inspired me, I had decided that the most effective way to utilise these themes of a strong narrative, as well as a maintained zaniest would surely consist within the medium of short films. So it was decided- a short!

I watched many short films for research. I was inspired by the infinite possibilities that can be conjured with just an idea and a camera. Now understanding and liking the feel of a short film it was now up to the idea process. I have some very strong stories that I fell passionate towards, and that are likely to be the actual idea for the short. Overall however, my intention is to make the audience think- leave them hanging. I’m a big fan of hooks and cliff-hangers, and I understand that it is crucial for the film to be interesting. I want to stimulate my audience’s curiosity. I’m also a lover of Mise-en-Scene, which will be a main focus in terms of the awaited stages of pre-production. Anyway, without further ado, here are some of my ideas for my Short.

Ideas for the Short Film:

1.)    ‘The Invisible Dog’: An invisible puppy in a cardboard box is given to an only child for his 10^th birthday. The film illuminates the maturation of both of these characters, focusing on the relationship between man and his best friend. Of course, the dog is invisible, so I intend to gain an invisible dog lead, of which I would pretend to be interacting with the dog. As the two grow older, the teen may be judged for having a dog that is not supposedly real. As the two grow older the invisible dog falls ill and dies. It’s a sad tale, with dark humour that tackles themes of loneliness, childhood, and friendship, leaving the audience to wonder if the dog was even real in the first place, or simply a figment of the imagination. I had the idea of throughout the duration of the film, soft piano music would play (I particularly enjoying a piece of music from French film ‘Amelie’, which I think would do the trick perfectly).

 

2.)    ‘The Clown’: Stagnated in a world of work of which he does not enjoy, the character is always dressed in in a smart suit, brief case in hand, bowler hat on head. Realising his miserableness, he decides to retreat back into the sanctuary of his childhood. Slowly but surely (with the possible un-buttoning of a top button for starters) we, as the audience, witness the jaw-dropping transformation of office worker into clown and king prankster. However, once he is in his element of happiness, spreading joy amongst the mundane, fate decides to be cruel, as he is killed by slipping on a lonesome banana skin- a tragic yet appropriate death for a clown. I had the idea of having the dreary office worker to be captured in a black and white film noir style, however after he has transformed into his vibrant alter ego, the film is seen in colour opting for a cinema-du-look type, similar to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, yet perhaps returning back to black and white as the viewer witness the dead clown on the floor, signifying the end of self-discovery.

                                   

I have many more ideas, but I would go as far to say, that these two are defiantly my strongest.

 

Z.L