Short Film Title - Final Design

 

 Here is the final title design for my short film 'When We Wake'. The use of the white 'ash' in the background of the title represents the fact that the teenagers within the film have survived a nuclear apocalypse, therefore ash will be falling from the sky; similar to snow. The font used for the title is effective because the story-line is quite bold and hard hitting same as the font being noticeable mirrors the films storyline and genre. The fade effects on the bold font as it looks out of focus, which also mirrors the state of Daisy within the opening sequence; slight fading of the font relates to the fading of the mind ( clouding of memories) which also links with the theme of awakening.

There were many thriller and science-fiction film titles that influenced our final title design. As a group, we looked at film titles that we have previously seen before within specific films that have similar narrative characteristics and focussed on the similarities and differences these titles shared i.e. majority of film titles within the science fiction and thriller genre are bold, slightly faded and each letter within the main film title are either extremely close together or spaced out equally.

One film title I thought would be a good example of thriller/science-fiction film title was 'Inception' by Christopher Nolan. The film title is simplistic yet suits the genre; having each letter within the word being evenly spaced suggests the idea of isolation or separation from one another. This is the exact theme my group and I were trying to achieve; even though we are together united as one group, we try our best to stay away from the enemy (separated from any other human being).Moreover, we feel alone in the way we have left our previous living conditions and lifestyle behind.

                                       

Another film title we looked at was Martin Scorcese's 'Shutter Island'. The elements of this film title that were used within our own title were the different shadings of one colour; in this case, the colour being grey. The use of the bold font for the film title makes it the dominant aspect at the beginning of the film.                                    
                  

                                                   

Script for entire short film - 'When We Wake'

Establishing shots of the landscape, marshes and surrounding areas, showing some damage to the land, like there has been a nuclear blast. When shots of the forest show on screen, we see Daisy lying on the floor unconscious. She awakens and fog is looming in the fore and background. She looks dirty and her clothes are also, she has multiple cuts to the face. Shots are edited in the way similar THG hallucination scene. Daisy stands up with struggle and looks around the area. She stumbles as she walks around. She coughs up blood and feels the cut on her brow. She starts having memories about what happened before, tracking shots of people running and screaming from something. A running noise slowly begins to sound and her name is being called as her memories progress and flash between them and her.

Lucy: Daisy! Daisy! DAISY!

   Lucy appears from frame left into the shot with Daisy, but Daisy seems to not notice her until she runs into her. They both hug.

Lucy: Where have you been?! Are you okay, we’ve been looking for you for days!

Daisy: I’m fine, I think.

Lucy: No, you’re not fine, you’re hurt!

Daisy: No, really, it’s only a small cut. What’s happened?

Lucy: (hesitantly) I’ll explain later, it’s quite complicated… Come on.

   The girls walk through the forest and witness a few dead animals on the floor.

Daisy: Where are we going?

Lucy: We’ve made a base camp for survivors. I’m taking you there.

   Daisy stops in her tracks.

Daisy: Survivors?

Lucy: I’ll explain when we get there.

   Daisy looks round to see if she understands what has happened.

Lucy: Trust me, come on…

 The scene then moves from them to the camp of a few survivors all placed round a small burnt out fire. All of their clothes are ragged and dirty, same to their physical appearance. Joe is poking a stick into the fire.

Joe: She’s probably dead…

Charlie: Shut-up Joe! She’s alive…

Joe: What if they’ve taken her?

Sarah: They haven’t taken her…

Joe: How do you know that?! They could be working on her right now, messing up her brain and stuff! That’s what Tom said before it all happened. That’s what they do with you…

   They all look at him. Joe quickly turns on the radio. We hear that he has trouble tuning it in to the correct station. The others just watch him struggle. Finally Sarah speaks.

Sarah: Its 33.7

Joe: I know!

   Radio static can be heard and the voice of the radio also.

Radio Voice: … we are hearing reports of attacks from the enemy in London, Hastings and Surry. We are still not able to identify who the enemy is at this time, but we are confident that they are not, I repeat NOT associated with Europe. If there is any way that the people that are able to listen to this can contact us, please DO NOT TRY! The enemy has ways of tracing you, which will lead to the capture of yourself and whoever you are with. Remember, never trust strangers unless you have to, get hold of any water that you can and store as much food as you can as well. The next time that we will be broadcasting is when the sun rises tomorrow morning on channel 27.6. This is APOC… Stay safe…

   The radio goes to static and Joe turns it off. Footsteps can be heard.

Sarah: Shhh… Someone’s coming…

   A few of the group pulls out things for personal defence and a few stand up. Lucy comes through an opening. The group put their things down, relieved and happy to see her.

Sarah: Still no sign of her? How many days is she going to be missing?

   Daisy comes through the opening and Sarah comes rushing out and hugs her.

Sarah: We thought you were dead! None of us could find you since it happened!

Daisy: Since what happened?

   Sarah looks at Lucy.

Sarah: Doesn’t she know…?

   Lucy shakes her head.

Daisy: Know what? How long have I been gone for?

Sarah: 11 days. What happened to you? You’re hurt!

Daisy: I’m fine! I can’t really remember… All I remember is waking up on the floor, and these dreams…

Lucy: What dreams? You didn’t say you had any dreams…

Daisy: Just people running and screaming from something, but I don’t know what from…

Charlie: It’s probably only memories from just before the…

Daisy: Before the what…?

   Lucy sits her down.

Lucy: When you woke up… what did you remember? …

Daisy: I didn’t remember anything…

Lucy: Do you know what’s happened? …

Daisy: No…

   Awkward pause…

Sarah: There was a nuclear explosion…

   They wait for the information to sink in.

Daisy: You’re joking, right?

   They all sit there, morbid faces.

Daisy: Oh my god…

Lucy: Most people are dead. You went missing straight after the blast, we all thought you died. About an hour after the blast, radio broadcasts were sent out to all those who could receive them, saying that an unknown enemy have taken over the UK and plan to take anyone who they find. We’ve been here ever since.

Daisy: Who set the bomb off?

Joe: No one knows…

Charlie: From what we have been hearing, it was an accident, but someone might want to be covering it up, but those on the radio stations that we listen to don’t think so it was an accident at all.

Daisy: Why, what radio stations do you listen to?

Sarah: Well, most of the radio broadcasts that are sent out are controlled by whoever is taking over the UK. But some people have managed to send out illegal broadcasts that the enemy can’t trace. They’ve called the channel ‘APOC’. They change the station every week so only the ones who listen to the broadcasts previously can find out what station it’s on. They are trying to find out who these invaders are and keep us all up to date with what is going on, but who knows how long it will be before the enemy finds them.

Joe: Or us…

Charlie: You’re always so negative

Joe: I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic

Daisy: He is right. Whoever these people are, they want everyone they can get their hands on by the sounds of it. They must have had something to do with the explosion.

Sarah: That’s what APOC think; they just need the evidence to prove it.

Joe: Who are they going to show the evidence to?! Everyone is dead!

Daisy: We’re not.

Lucy: She’s right, we’re alive. There are probably hundreds of people still alive; we just need to find them…

Charlie: We should pack in for the night; it’s starting to get dark.

Lucy: I’ll be on watch

Daisy: No, I’ll do it. I’m not really tired.

Lucy: If you’re sure… are you going to be okay? Not going to have any more of those dreams are we?

Daisy: I’ll be fine…

Lucy: Okay then, goodnight. Night everyone!

Charlie: Night!

Sarah: Night!

   Joe doesn’t say anything.

Lucy: Night Joe! … NIGHT JOE!

Joe: (Grumpily) NIGHT!

   Lucy smiles to herself and slightly chuckles, then goes to sleep. Daisy stays out on watch. Fade to black. Flashbacks occur whilst the blackout is on and with a sudden jolt; Daisy wakes up from a ‘nightmare’.

Lucy :( Stirs from sleep) Daisy, are you okay? Daisy?

Daisy: I think they’re coming…

   Lucy leaps up from the floor and awakes the others.

Lucy: Are you sure…?

Daisy: No, but I just got a feeling…

   Distant bullet fire is heard. They all look over to the source.

Lucy: GET UP! NOW! EVERYONE!

   Everyone scrambles up and grabs their things and food. They start to run into the forest. They dodge bullets as they bounce off the trees. A large explosion occurs near them and they all fall on the floor, the camera shakes. They all scream and cry and try to get up as quickly as possible, helping each other up. When they are further in front, they all hide behind trees and signal to each other that they need to bludgeon the enemy to death. Everyone slowly picks up rocks and steady themselves to bludgeon the enemy. Very fast shots are shown where they all kill the enemy; a shot is then shown where we see blood on a rock and also their facial expressions. They all look at each other and subconsciously decide that it is time to leave and take away the bodies. A shot is then shown of them dragging the bodies into a ditch or a shed.

Charlie: Is that all of them?

Daisy: I think so…

   Daisy chucks each of them a gun from the bodies of the dead. Lucy refuses.

Lucy: I can’t take that…

Daisy: Why not…

Lucy: Because that’s probably one of the reasons that this war all started! Carrying these makes us more like them!

Daisy: We are carrying these for our protection! We are the complete opposite of them!

Lucy: DAISY IM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT!...

Daisy: Fine, I’ll take it then…

   Lucy has a look about her like she has made a wrong decision or knows that she has upset her friends. Looks sorry for herself.

Joe: Why does she get the extra gun?

Charlie: Shut-up Joe…

   They all walk over to a long stretch of road, all slightly staggered so they are all seen by the camera.

Sarah: So what happens now…?

Daisy: I don’t know…

Lucy: We stick together. Try and find somewhere safe. Find out who started all of this…

   Daisy looks at her proudly.

Lucy: Come on…

   They all walk off together down the road carrying only their guns for protection, continuing their journey for survival. As they are walking, the radio can be heard.

Radio Voice: Reports of attacks have been located in Kent, mainly in the West, but some in the East. The enemy is still unknown. Who knows how long it will be before these attacks stop. All we can do now is hope. Stick together and trust no one. Don’t let the fear take over. This is APOC, stay safe…

   Fades to black.

   CREDITS

   After the credits we see another girl running/chased through the woods and then it goes to blackout, then it slowly fade in to her waking up on the floor, like Daisy.

Character roles

Characters

Lucy (Rosie Lines) – She is the friend that finds Daisy first and leads her to the others hide-out. She makes herself the natural leader whilst Daisy was missing, with no one’s objection.

Daisy (Kayleigh Cooper) – She awakens to find herself lying on a forest floor, with no recollection of what happened during the past 11 days that she was missing.

Sarah (Hannah-Rose Wood) – Daisy’s best friend. She withholds the motherly title of the group and everyone respects her.

Charlie (Fraiya Chandler) – Joe’s sister. She sometimes scuffles with her brother and hold charge over him.

Joe (Joe Dunn) – Charlie’s brother. He can seem a bit pessimistic at times, but claims that he is only being realistic.

Laura (Laura Comerford) – A teenager who we only see at the very end of the film. She has had the same experience as Daisy. We see her running from something, and then she blacks out. We then see her awaken, just like Daisy.

'Another Earth'

This use of slight low angle medium shot is what I'd like to use within my film, majority of the filming will take place at night but shots within the day will have to have similar mise-en-scene to this; colours/types of clothing help indicate the temperature and the mist helps to support the idea of fearing the unknown. The cinematography within this shot allows the spectator to see the isolated protagonist first (dominant aspect) whilst acknowledging the surrounding natural colours used (browns, blues, greys) which exaggerate the idea of the outdoors in winter.

'Lovely Bones'

This use of low angle long shot allows the spectator to establish the use of pathetic fallacy within the shot. Having the beacon of light from the sky is similar to the only source of light I have in my film coming from the moon. Furthermore, within my film, majority of the filming will take place at night. The colours within this shot are natural (browns, blues, greys).

Film Analysing

Highlight what has inspired you visually. For example, Costume, Location, Title, Narrative, Sound, Shot, camera angles. Mise-en-scene and cinematography also.

The Time Travellers Wife

Location - the locations used within 'The Time travellers wife' are what would be ideal within my short film - the cinematography of the woodland- light seeping through allows the spectator to believe there are elements of safety.

Sound - Leaves crackling when stood on and the sound of the breeze helps to create the uneasy atmosphere - wind blowing sounds like breathing -  personification of nature. Fear of the unknown.

Angles and shots used - Tracking shot allows us to move with the character making us feel involved - high angle long shots allow us to see what environment we are in.

Cinematography -  the use of pathetic fallacy - greys and dark blue from the wintery sky - browns from the leaves and bark on the trees - yellows, ambers and greens from the seasonal leaves - these are examples of what micros I would like to use to create an overall good macro within my short film.

Narrative - A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage - doesn't relate to what my short film- this film's genre drama/fantasy/romance

The Lovely Bones

Location - cut down corn fields within the girls life and death experiences - cut down corn fields represent death - elements of death within life - quite misty locations used as well which helps with the idea of uncertainty.

Sound - Leaves and wind play their part again - the wind sounds like breathing - giving the idea that the atmosphere and weather has personality - the idea of company even though the person is alone.

Angles and shots used - Low angle shots allows us to focus on the micro -
Cinematography -  the use of pathetic fallacy - greys and dark blue from the wintery sky - browns from the leaves and bark on the trees - dependent on nature all around.

Cinematography -  the use of pathetic fallacy yet again - greys and dark blue from the wintery sky - browns and greys from the ground as well as the opaque grey/white mist - long shots and extreme long shots of the environment given a better visual understanding on what mood the protagonist these are examples of what micros I would like to use to create an overall good macro within my short film.

Narrative -.The film revolves around a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from purgatory. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal - this film's genre is drama/fantasy which isn't what I am going for in my film - definitely key elements of 'The Lovely Bones' such as visuals and camera shots are definitely what I aiming to use within my short film.

Another Earth

Location - seaside and cliff edges - fields and mountainous areas.

Sound - Leaves and wind play their part again - the wind sounds like breathing - giving the idea that the atmosphere and weather has personality - the idea of company even though the person is alone.

Angles and shots used - Low angle shots allows us to focus on the micro - long shots and extreme long shots of the environment given a better visual understanding on what mood the protagonist these are examples of what micros I would like to use to create an overall good macro within my short film.

Cinematography -  the use of pathetic fallacy - greys and dark blue from the wintery sky - browns from the leaves and bark on the trees - dependent on nature all around- extreme close of the moon being the only source of light - the use of pathetic fallacy yet again - greys and dark blue from the wintery sky - browns and greys from the ground as well as the opaque grey/white mist

Narrative - On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident. This film's genre is drama/Sci-Fi which is I am going for in my film - definitely key elements of 'The Lovely Bones' such as visuals and camera shots are definitely what I aiming to use within my short film.

MGS Feedback

Feedback MGS. 2nd October 2013.

Interesting idea of Science-Fiction. Look at trailers within the Sci-Fi genre; Possibly looking and past and future Science-Fiction productions focussing on visual and sound.
Focus on titles that the productions use. Describe why they have use the specific font and what is suggested by it. For visuals, take shots of landscape that could possibly used within the short film and used as an influence.

MGS suggested scenes from 'The Time Travellers Wife' as well as it's approach to Science- Fiction and the time travel genre and narrative. Moreover, look at stills and shots from the film 'Everyday'; the use of visuals and open landscape should be something I focus on. Independently, take still shots still shots of landscape using either a digital camera, mobile phone etc.

Media Studies Task

Once we have finished our three written analysis, highlight what has inspired you visually. For example, Costume, Location, Title, Narrative, Sound, Shot, camera angles. As well as, Mise-en-scene and cinematography.