A Level Film, Creating My Short Film

A Level Film, Creating My Short Film (Coursework)

I will be creating a short film between 4-5 minutes in length, I will be using a narrative which establishes and develops a single character. Working Title: The Canvas.

The narrative will follow a artist as he express his inner emotions of depression and madness as he delves into the dark corners of his mind to create a piece of art, ending the film on the exhibition of the art work.

My genre will follow that of a psychological horror with an experimental style using black and white colours to create a dark narrative tone pulling references from the short films:

• The Grandmother (1970), 33 minutes, use of low key lighting and dark background to convey determination of a characters mental state, using a similar setting to German Expressionism to explore my characters inner psych.
• Swimmer (2012) 16 minutes, use of exaggerated mise en scene and unconventional narrative to convey a characters inner demons, as I will be expressing the inner sinister emotions of my character.
• La Jetee (1962) 26 minutes, dark nihilistic style narrative and ending as it conveys the opinion of inevitable to human life always coming to an end, but I will be expressing how the sacrifice and passion of artists usually go un-rewarded.
• La Ricotta (1963) 34 minutes. As I mimic its long close ups on characters facial expressions, and use the colour of the scene to show the split from fantasy and reality but in my film I will be using it to show the difference between the characters mental state in normal everyday (Colour) vs when creating art (Black and White). 

Adding up to 109 minutes of short films to reference exceeding the minimum of 80 minutes I have to reference in my evaluation. 

Shot Ideas

Using flashing lights and having the shots mimic that of pictures as we closeup on his facial features to show the pain and anguish he is going through to create art.

Slits open palm to pour blood on canvas closeup/dutch angle, showing how he putting a piece of himself on to the page.

Shot reverse shot between extreme closeup on canvas and artist, as he imprints himself onto the piece.

Art

Due to my film focusing on a artist I needed to create a art style for the work of my protagonist so I made 3 different creatures using different techniques. The piece I pick will inspire and be the ground work for my mise en scene with its set, prop design for my film.

Ending up deciding to go with the second art style due to my class mates calling it the most creepy piece which is the type of mood and atmosphere want from the art in the film. I may depending on shooting make the creatures in the art a antagonist as they torture my protagonist as a internal audience as they laugh and judge his art.

Plan for Creating Film

Deciding what shots from my short film list inspire me the most, that I wish to reinterpret in my film.

Create storyboard/rough outline of narrative.

Prep for filming getting props, etc.

Shooting Schedule.

Create Film.

Feedback period/developments, editing.

Final creation, create analyse evaluation.