The sequence from my film, that I have chosen to feature on the story board is the dis-equilibrium moment. This being when Tom actually walks in on his partner cheating on him. I have chosen this scene because of the suspense I can create before hand, and also the emotion that can build up inside the audience during the scene.
What happens in the scene I am story boarding, is we see Tom on an average day in his private study, which is featured in a sound enclosed room where he where he lives. The room looking like an average teenagers bedroom, it featuring some run down junk that no-one needs. This being where he writes his novels. From there, I'm going to show a few shots of Tom's partner meeting a girl in the street. That way the audience know what is going on, before Tom does. In a sense this can make the spectator feel guilty, or also make them shoot to the edge of their seat.
From there, we see Tom leaving his study, but by then, the audience have already seen Tom's partner becoming passionate with the antagonist. This once again building suspense of what is going to happen next within the audience's expectations. This of course, leading to shots of Tom entering the flat bedroom. This is when a shot of Tom's expression will be used. Once again, making the audience feel guilty, and also emotional for the protagonist. This being the ending to the storyboard.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Synopsis
The genre of my film is Romance. But more along the lines of a gay love romance. It is set in the modern day, and also in the low run down city of Hull, England. The protagonist of the film, is Tom, himself being 21 years old and also a new and upcoming novelist. The film will only consist of three characters, two of them being in a newly wedded relationship. The audience love the protagonist because he is a kind hearted person, who only wanted best for everyone in the world. Himself being helpless when it does come to the antagonistic event in the film, which will make the spectator feel sorry for the character.
During the sequence, no-one actually helps the protagonist, and I'm leaving the sequence on a cliff hanger. This meaning, the audience only get to see up to the part where Tom finds his partner cheating on him, in their own flat. Not much special equipment is actually required for the film, due to the fact the characters are basic and down to Earth. They aren't rich, or even out of the ordinary. I want the film to be like 'The Full Monty' in the sense that realistic lower class people can relate to the characters. The audience for the film can actually be anyone, but mainly homosexual males, seeing as the actors are being homosexual males in the sequence. The best bit of the film will have to be the suspense of the cheating scene, purely for the raw emotion that will build up inside the audience.
During the sequence, no-one actually helps the protagonist, and I'm leaving the sequence on a cliff hanger. This meaning, the audience only get to see up to the part where Tom finds his partner cheating on him, in their own flat. Not much special equipment is actually required for the film, due to the fact the characters are basic and down to Earth. They aren't rich, or even out of the ordinary. I want the film to be like 'The Full Monty' in the sense that realistic lower class people can relate to the characters. The audience for the film can actually be anyone, but mainly homosexual males, seeing as the actors are being homosexual males in the sequence. The best bit of the film will have to be the suspense of the cheating scene, purely for the raw emotion that will build up inside the audience.
Friday, 22 February 2013
Characters
In my storyboard plot, I'm keeping the characters down to a maximum of three. These being:
The hero: saves the day and restores equilibrium; sometimes he’s been on a quest to find something. The central protagonist in the action of the narrative. In this case, the hero is the character who started off happy at the beginning, goes through a depression stage, due to the antagonistic event, and then in the end finds happiness once again.
The villain: creates the narrative complication / disequilibrium. In this case, the villain is the female who drives the hero's partner to cheat on him. This causing the disequilibrium, and the hero's sorrow and depression.
The princess (male): has to be saved by the hero and is the hero’s reward. In this case, the princess is also the slight cause of the disequilibrium, due to the affair which takes place. But the hero rescues the princess once again, in the end. Which leads to the happy ending, and the re-equilibrium.
The hero: saves the day and restores equilibrium; sometimes he’s been on a quest to find something. The central protagonist in the action of the narrative. In this case, the hero is the character who started off happy at the beginning, goes through a depression stage, due to the antagonistic event, and then in the end finds happiness once again.
The villain: creates the narrative complication / disequilibrium. In this case, the villain is the female who drives the hero's partner to cheat on him. This causing the disequilibrium, and the hero's sorrow and depression.
The princess (male): has to be saved by the hero and is the hero’s reward. In this case, the princess is also the slight cause of the disequilibrium, due to the affair which takes place. But the hero rescues the princess once again, in the end. Which leads to the happy ending, and the re-equilibrium.
The Film Structure
My film follows the basic Todorov structure, this meaning the film starts off with an equilibrium, then an antagonistic event happens, the event is then solved, which means a re-equilibrium has been created. The story type being 'The romance'.
A film following a similar structure:
The Notebook (2009)The Notebook is a film directed by Nick Cassavetes. The movie focuses on an old man reading a story to an old woman in a nursing home. The story he reads follows two young lovers named Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, who meet one evening at a carnival. But they are separated by Allie's parents who dissaprove of Noah's unwealthy family, and move Allie away. After waiting for Noah to write her for several years, Allie meets and gets engaged to a handsome young soldier named Lon. Allie, then, with her love for Noah still alive, stops by Noah's 200-year-old home that he restored for her, "to see if he's okay". It is evident that they still have feelings for each other, and Allie has to choose between her fiancé and her first love.
A film following a similar structure:
The Notebook (2009)The Notebook is a film directed by Nick Cassavetes. The movie focuses on an old man reading a story to an old woman in a nursing home. The story he reads follows two young lovers named Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, who meet one evening at a carnival. But they are separated by Allie's parents who dissaprove of Noah's unwealthy family, and move Allie away. After waiting for Noah to write her for several years, Allie meets and gets engaged to a handsome young soldier named Lon. Allie, then, with her love for Noah still alive, stops by Noah's 200-year-old home that he restored for her, "to see if he's okay". It is evident that they still have feelings for each other, and Allie has to choose between her fiancé and her first love.
Thursday, 7 February 2013
I Love You Phillip Morris - 2009
I Love You Phillip Morris, is a 2009 film, directed by Glenn Ficarra and also John Requa. This film actually being based on a true story, although the narrative does not follow the usual conventions.
The film starts off with Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) playing the role of a family man, himself having a wife and also a daughter. Although he knew he is gay, he kept on playing the role as the family man, to keep up a living, and to keep his family well looked after. This being until he gets himself into a fairly serious car crash. This being the turning point in his life, he comes out as gay, and moves to Florida, where he gets a boyfriend named Jimmy.
"Being gay is really expensive." This is one of the quotes which Steven says in the film, himself having a low down job selling rotten tomatoes doesn't allow him to keep up with the latest trends, bars and also hotels. So he becomes a con-man, himself owing several credit cards and forms of ID under different names as well. Until he gets found out, which leads Steven straight to jail. In Jail, Steven meets his boyfriend to be, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) who is in jail for a petty reason. Steven not being able to give up his con-man career, ends up pretending to be a lawyer, and manages to get Phillip out of prison. Lots of twists do happen in the plot, hense why the narrative doesn't follow the usual conventions at all. After keeping up the con-man career, Steven ends up in jail once again at the end of the film, without Phillip.
Christopher and His Kind - 2011
Christopher and His Kind, was a 2011 film released first on BBC1, directed by Geoffrey Sax. The actual narrative following a story, written by Christopher Isherwood (the actual author.) The narrative being based in Germany, at the time of the Nazi uprising.
The film features Matt Smith, the well known actor who now plays the roll of Doctor Who. In this film he is the well-known author Christopher Isherwood. Himself being invited to Berlin, by his friend Auden. Christopher being an out and open gay, who gets introduced to the gay scene almost instantly. Through a stereotypical plot, with a few twists, Christopher ends up falling for a straight male prostitute, who only sleeps with men for the money - this being due to the hyper inflation flooding Germany. A heartbreak follows at this moment, as the prostitute, Casper, drops off the map without saying a word to Christopher. The narrative then follows on to continue with another stereotypical aspect which features in romance films, this being that Christopher then see's a young male sweeping the streets. He then later bumps into the male again, Heinz, and offers him out for a drink. This then follows the usual concept of the two falling in love. The main twist in the narrative is the ending. Christopher moves back to England, taking Heinz with him, due to the fact Germany was no longer safe for homosexuals to live freely. Heinz has to take tests, which proves he is able to live in England, but his citizenship is refused. This leading to once again another heartbreak, the two do meet up at the very end of the film once again, but Heinz now has his own family. The two don't actually live happily ever after with each other. But they do live happily, with separate people.
Shelter - 2007
Shelter, is a 2007 is a film directed by Jonah Markowitz. The narrative follows a basic structure, this being that the main character Zach, is an average guy, who has an on and off girlfriend. He aimed to get into a high class art college, but had to refuse being accepted onto the course, to look after his little nephew. Zach's sister being a terrible mother, who is always depending on her brother to look after Cody.
The narrative continues to follow a stereotypical structure, when it comes to Zach meeting his best friends older brother Shaun. Who is back in town, after breaking up with his own boyfriend. They end up hanging out together every day pretty much, doing the average thing in that town, which is surfing. Zach ends up staying over at Shaun's house, and after a few beers they finally have the first kiss. The audience already gaining an idea as to what is going to happen.
The ending consists of Zach's older sister leaving him with his little nephew Cody, as she decides to leave town with her now, new boyfriend. The being a very small dilemma, although Shaun (who is actually now dating Zach) accepts it, and offers to help. As well as this, Zach puts in another request to the high standard art school, and gets accepted once again. This being the happy ending which the audience all expects.
Narrative
When it comes to the narrative of a romance film, the end is always a happy ending. It isn't always the expected ending, but the audience still are satisfied. Seeing as the individuals watching the film, always choose two characters which they want to be together - and surprisingly, the two characters do end up being together.
The beginning of the film stereotypically starts off with two characters, living completely seperate lives. One of them either looking for love, or both of them looking for love. Themselves living lonely lives, most probably working at a shop, or even in an office. The audience gets to watch the characters go through their every day lives - this either showing both at the same time, for example on a split screen. Or straight cuts are used to show the two characters at the same moments in time, but at different times in the sequence. Either way, the audience get to see them. As well as their job and their every day lives, the audience often get to see the two characters with their own seperate group of friends. Being stereotypical, the female character only mainly hangs out with female friends. The male character only hanging out with male friends.
The middle of the film consists of the two characters meeting, either through some radical storyline. For example; the female character could be hit by a car and taken to hospital, and the male character ends up being her doctor, and then they fall in love that way. In other circumstances a normal approach could be taken, such as; the two characters bump into each other in the street, or even in the same job (but the characters would have different job placements in the department.)
Stereotypical Characters
The main female character (in stereotypical romance genre):
The main female character is often thoughtful, and caring. She comes across to the audience instantly as someone you either want to look after (if male), or someone you want to be best friends with, or at least close with (male and female). She is often has a beautiful complexion in most stereotypical cases, but she is broken on the inside. Either suffering from a bad break up, or a horrific incident in the past. The character is mainly well behaved, and doesn't go off the rails. The only times the audience get to see the character upset is either when the two main characters break up, or if she goes through a rough time. The audience possibly being shown her past, which involves the bad break up, or the horrific accident. She may come across as either stylish, and flaunty in some cases - or on the opposite scale, she is completely out of fashion sense, and hides herself away. She may often also be quite the clumsy character, this giving another reason for the two characters to meet in the middle of the street.
The main male character (in stereotypical romance genre):
The main male character comes across as also thoughtful on the inside, but he could be a bit of a brute, or even quite the "player" in the sense that he is always with a different woman. But this can mean he does have quite the soft side, in the sense that he is looking for the perfect woman to fall in love with. (Just like Charles, from 'Four Weddings and a Funeral') He is often a tall character, broad, and most probably muscular. Although the physical build has been different in many films. Once again, just like the female character, the male will be attractive. This making the female audience fall in love with the character, and empathise for him if anything bad happens.
The characters in a non-stereotypical sense
For my actual storyboard, plot, and character set list. I don't want to follow the average romance conventions, in this case, I am going to have two males falling in love. Instead of the stereotypical male and female. Althought the two male characters will folllow the above stereotypical criteria. One would be more thoughtful, and feminine, whereas the other character will be more masculine, often with anger problems or some brute formed personality.
When it comes to the narrative of a romance film, the end is always a happy ending. It isn't always the expected ending, but the audience still are satisfied. Seeing as the individuals watching the film, always choose two characters which they want to be together - and surprisingly, the two characters do end up being together.
The beginning of the film stereotypically starts off with two characters, living completely seperate lives. One of them either looking for love, or both of them looking for love. Themselves living lonely lives, most probably working at a shop, or even in an office. The audience gets to watch the characters go through their every day lives - this either showing both at the same time, for example on a split screen. Or straight cuts are used to show the two characters at the same moments in time, but at different times in the sequence. Either way, the audience get to see them. As well as their job and their every day lives, the audience often get to see the two characters with their own seperate group of friends. Being stereotypical, the female character only mainly hangs out with female friends. The male character only hanging out with male friends.
The middle of the film consists of the two characters meeting, either through some radical storyline. For example; the female character could be hit by a car and taken to hospital, and the male character ends up being her doctor, and then they fall in love that way. In other circumstances a normal approach could be taken, such as; the two characters bump into each other in the street, or even in the same job (but the characters would have different job placements in the department.)
Stereotypical Characters
The main female character (in stereotypical romance genre):
The main female character is often thoughtful, and caring. She comes across to the audience instantly as someone you either want to look after (if male), or someone you want to be best friends with, or at least close with (male and female). She is often has a beautiful complexion in most stereotypical cases, but she is broken on the inside. Either suffering from a bad break up, or a horrific incident in the past. The character is mainly well behaved, and doesn't go off the rails. The only times the audience get to see the character upset is either when the two main characters break up, or if she goes through a rough time. The audience possibly being shown her past, which involves the bad break up, or the horrific accident. She may come across as either stylish, and flaunty in some cases - or on the opposite scale, she is completely out of fashion sense, and hides herself away. She may often also be quite the clumsy character, this giving another reason for the two characters to meet in the middle of the street.
The main male character (in stereotypical romance genre):
The main male character comes across as also thoughtful on the inside, but he could be a bit of a brute, or even quite the "player" in the sense that he is always with a different woman. But this can mean he does have quite the soft side, in the sense that he is looking for the perfect woman to fall in love with. (Just like Charles, from 'Four Weddings and a Funeral') He is often a tall character, broad, and most probably muscular. Although the physical build has been different in many films. Once again, just like the female character, the male will be attractive. This making the female audience fall in love with the character, and empathise for him if anything bad happens.
The characters in a non-stereotypical sense
For my actual storyboard, plot, and character set list. I don't want to follow the average romance conventions, in this case, I am going to have two males falling in love. Instead of the stereotypical male and female. Althought the two male characters will folllow the above stereotypical criteria. One would be more thoughtful, and feminine, whereas the other character will be more masculine, often with anger problems or some brute formed personality.
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