MAIN TASK: Treatment (Research and planning)

MASKED TREATMENT

WORKING TITLE: MASKED

"Masked", Nav and I decided to make this the title to our main task as our plan is to keep the character of the first person (STALKER) masked from the audience for most the film.

Genre:     

We chose to do a horror film as through the genre research Nav and I found that horror movies were not significantly successful although we feel that we can achieve suspense, thrill and fear within the audience using camera and post-production techniques. 

"Horror film is a film genre that seeks to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on their fears. Inspired by literature from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and Mary Shelley, horror films have existed for more than a century. The macabre and the supernatural are frequent themes, and may overlap with the fantasy, supernatural fiction and thriller genres.

Horror films often deal with viewers' nightmares, fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts, extra-terrestrials, vampires, werewolves, demons, gore, torture, vicious animals, evil witches, monsters, zombies, cannibals, psychopaths, and serial killers."

Referenced from: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film

CENTRAL THEME: 

Our central theme is technological ignorance as our film is a modern, 2016 film and it will be relevant to our target audience.

We also chose to centre our film on stalkers and overall and awareness to dangers that people are not aware of as it is not obvious to be happening.

SYNOPSIS:

Masked is a story about the stalker within the stalking stories, from their side.

'stalker' has been following, gathering and predicting 20-somehting Avas’ every move since she was 16.

Now he needs the final piece to his puzzle.

PITCH: 

After Nav and I deconstructed 6 different horror movie openings we could be inspired and make an original film opening. We took inspiration from the movie “SCREAM” as throughout the opening, the primary character is being hunted down by this voice on the phone, through this we decided to make our plot about someone being hunted down but rather than through a telephone call and with the target being aware, we decided to make our plot about a stalker through their perspective.

Our target audience is 15+ year olds so we can have more adult themes, i.e. we want to use themes such as stranger danger, etc.

CHARACTERS:
Ava, played by Fran Aghoghovbia

CASTING RESEARCH: 

We chose Fran as she not only took GCSE drama, but she is currently talking A Level drama too, and after we watched one of her performances we were convinced that she was the perfect actor for our roll.

FILM OPENING SEQUENCE:

Scene 1: (20/120 seconds)

“2:30PM Tuesday afternoon”

(From STALKER perspective (medium shot of AVA sat down writing on her notepad, drinking her coffee and having a conversation on her phone))

AVA on mobile phone: Yeah I finish 5:30PM, let’s meet up for drinks around 6PM?

…

Okay cool, see you then!

Okay, okay, yep, bye!

Scene 2: (20/120seconds)

Credits roll

Close-ups

(medium close -up of actors’ head and the wall behind her)

Puts phone down onto table: first credit rolls past her head “starring Francesca”

(medium close-up of actors’ hands and then focus on the mostly empty notepad)

AVA writes on notepad “6PM drinks”, lift hands away: credit “Producers Nav and Sophie”

(overhead shot of actors’ drink and focus on the empty table once actor pulls it away)

AVA picks up her coffee and leaves a bare table which reveals a credit “Distributors N&S FILMS”

Scene 3:(60/120 seconds)

(Medium shot which doubles as a POV shot from the STALKER looking towards AVA, as if he is staring)

(In same shot but close-up focus of phone that STALKER holds in front of camera, with the camera app open)

STALKER takes photo of AVA

(Camera then focuses back onto AVA)

AVA looks at watch then packs up and starts to leave the café.

(POV, downwards tilt to a table of photos of her on different occasions, inside a file. then he closes her file then putting on top of his pile pf identical folders with different names on each, including AVAS)

STALKER takes a final look at his file, and closes it on top of the others

(when he closes the file, there is a fade out to black OR a cut to black)

Scene 4: (60/120 seconds)

(Tracking shot of AVA walking onto the train.)

“{8:30AM Tuesday morning)”

(Handheld shot, pan to the window of the train)

(Clip of train moving then when it goes into a tunnel, title appears “MASKED” as soon as the whole screen goes black.

Title fades out to a fully black screen)

STORYBOARD:

Focus group thoughts:

After reading the storyboard and the film sequence I asked my focus group about their thoughts on our idea:

Fran: 
"I think thats it is a very different idea, and if it can be done right, will look very good and will be very eye catching."

Rebecca:
"I like the idea, it doesn't seem like most horror movies I've watched as they normally aren't from the perspective of the stalker. I think if it turns out just like the storyboard then it will be really good and effective"

Amy:
"I think the idea is good but its not the sort of film I would watch as it seems like its a plain theme, doesn't look like there is a lot else going on in the film."

Isabella:
"I think that this will be a good film as it is different from the other stalker-themed-filmes yet at the same time it still holds the same conventions that make those films scary, as long as it is done like the storyboard." 

FILM TECHNIQUES: 

Within our Main Task we will be incorporating many different film techniques to ensure our production is of high standard and quality. 
As the opening is only focussed on one character (Ava), there will be no dialogue between two characters apart from the conversation Ava has over the phone therefore, an over-the-shoulder shot is not to be used.

• An effective shot and camera technique we will be incorporating is a ‘Tilt shot’, which will be used to represent a ‘Male Gaze’ shown through the Stalkers Iphone. For this Sophie & I are adding more of a twist to the traditional male gaze by making it more modern day – which works well with the themes.

• ‘Pan shots’ will be a common camera technique used to track the the characters movements when walking out of the coffee shop to when she goes on the train.

• We will also be including ‘Zoom shots’ to show the POV of the stalker and how he is completely focussed on everything Ava is doing, this creates a creepy and unsettling atmosphere for the audience.

• Lastly, we want to incorporate a high angle over the head shot to show Ava looking at her watch and hesitantly packing up her stuff in her bag. We will do this by having someone hold the camera steadily above the subjects head, to ensure the camera does not fall out of their hand we will ties the strap around our wrist to securely attach the camera as well as keep it in a straight position.

PRODUCTION CONSIDERATIONS:

In order to film the production we will need to ask permission from the ‘Costa’ coffee shop in Bourne End whether we can film in there during the morning through to the afternoon. We need to make sure that we find an area in the coffee shop that is fairly quiet and where not many people are sitting around as we don’t want to be filming any-one but ‘Ava’ and the Stalker. However, we don’t want the shop to be quiet as a little bit of ambient sound will help create verisimilitude when it comes to our post production.  We will be recording the footage in Bourne End as it is a close location and will not be too far from our houses. This is more convenient because if anything dangerous happens such as damaging any props or equipment, then it will be a short distance to our house. The main safety concerns that we will have within the production are discussed in more detail within the Risk Assessment.

SHOT LIST:

• Scene 1: establishing shot

·   Long shot to Medium shot from stalkers perspective (while primary is on phone)

• Scene 2: credits

·  Medium close-up OR close-up of primaries side of face “starring Fran” (while she is still on phone)

·   close-up of actor’s head and the wall behind “NGS media production” (primary puts phone down)

·    Medium close-up of actor’s hand when she puts her phone down, “N&S FILMS”

·   Close-up & slow zoom of her writing in the notepad “6pm drinks” and then credit “directors: Sophie & Nav”

·
   Overhead close-up shot of actor picking up coffee, focusing on the residue left from cup, credit appears “S&N sounds”

• Scene 3: main

·Long shot (stalkers perspective) of actor while she sits there and writes in her notepad.
·Pull up phone, extreme close-up of mobile phone, on camera app, taking a photo of actor.
·  Camera focuses back onto the actor through a close-up.
·Overhead shot of her looking at her watch and her phone going off, indicating she must go back to work.
·Back to long shot of her packing up her stuff and leaving the shop, pan of her leaving.

• Scene 4: reveal          

 Overhead OR POV shot of stalker sorting out the actor’s. photos and files.

 Tracking shot of the actor walking by the train (watch the train go by)

 Handheld shot on train, pan to the window of the train clip of the window and title appears when the train goes through the the tunnel (screen goes black).

·     BLACK SCREEEN-END.

RISK ASSESMENT:

Hot drinks-

The use of hot drinks may have been a risk as if the subject were to spill/knock/or consume the hot liquid then there is a possibility of burning of subjects’ skin/throat/etc. To prevent this, we will be using the placement of the drink on the table, the use of napkins and cup rings to make the drink easy, and graspable so that the subject is less likely to drop/knock it.

As for the temperature effecting the subjects throat, and potentially burning the skin of the subject and potentially the surrounding subjects, we will be adding cold water to our drink to make the temperature tepid so that in the event the drink does in fact be spilled/knocked or consumed prematurely then the temperature will not be of physical danger.

There is also the risk that the subject may spill the drink and following from that may slip and therefore hurt themselves.

To prevent this, we will be covering the floor with towels which the behind-the-scenes crew (Nav and I) will supply.

Table-

If the subject(s) do knock the table due to the short height of the furniture, then there is a potential physical health risk as this could cause some form of bruising, or even more serious risks to the skin and bones of the subject, considering their specific health conditions.

To prevent this, we will try to position the subject at the tallest furniture we can find, if this is not a possibility we will position the subjects’ legs outside of the tables area so their legs are facing away from the table.

Filming safety-

During the filming of the overhead shots, one of the camera women must stand on top of a chair to achieve the full effect of this scene.

This raises many safety risks, such as the potentiality that the subject may fall off it, or that the camera may fall out of the subjects’ hands.

To prevent this, we will be adding a form of lanyard to the camera to ensure the safety of the camera stays in the subjects’ hands.

For the safety of subject, them self, staying on the chair we will have two chairs for the subject to stand on both to ensure that their balance is secure.

We will also ensure the safety of the actors and everyone involved; director etc.

There is a potential risk of either the actor or the behind-the-scenes crew of being approached by someone from the public as they could be upset if they’re in shot/feel uncomfortable

Train safety

Asking permission when filming strangers is a safety risk as the possibility that they decide that they are uncomfortable with being filmed/or have filming done around them, this could cause anger towards the entire filming team, including the actors.

To avoid this, we will be aiming to film at a non-peak hour of the day and then further find an empty/the emptiest carriage on the train and have more actors to play background extras. 

Another risk when filming on a train is the danger of the proximity of the subject and the train itself.

To prevent any potential physical danger, we will be ensuring that the subject will be behind the yellow line on the platform to allow the train and the subject enough space.

Location safety-

If our chosen location (Bourne End) holds dangers to any of the subjects during the filming day, i.e. public scenes (fights, etc.) Then we will do our best to ensure the safety of our subjects by going to the location during the safe times of the day, i.e. midday during daylight. We will also try to securely cover our equipment by holding them inside an ambiguous bag, and overall being discreet in our actions by not making a lot of sound/changing the set-up of the set and location.

LOCATION RESEARCH:

BOURNE END

“Bourne End is a village mostly in the parish of Wooburn and Bourne End, but also in the parish of Little Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, England. At the 2011 Census the population was listed in the civil parish of Wooburn. The village is near the border with Berkshire, on the north side of the River Thames, close to where the River Wye empties into the Thames.”

Referenced from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourne_End,_Buckinghamshire

The location has 3 churches, and is a predominately Christian village.

It also has 3 schools; Westfield School, Claytons Primary School, and Bourne End Academy.

Bourne End also has several restaurants, sporting clubs, and supermarkets. As well as having a train station with several bus tops.

Bourne End is part of the Buckinghamshire county, which is in south-east England. Bourne End is an affluent village, and furthermore a secure and safe village.  

Bourne End is somewhat secluded as there is no town centre, although it is popular in the summer due to the regattas during July.

Although Bourne end is a mainly safe area, there have been some dangerous instances: for example, August the 2^nd 2016 a 16-year-old boy riding a moped was approached by 2 men whom were inside a car, around 10:15PM. They threatened the boy with a knife until he gave his personal possessions.

Referenced from:

http://www.getbucks.co.uk/news/local-news/teenager-robbed-knife-point-car-11709674

COSTA

The Costa in Bourne End is located: 67 The Parade, Bourne End SL8 5SB, England, and is a popular destination within this village with mainly positive reviews:

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g1147569-d4597722-r385349958-Costa_Coffee-Bourne_End_Buckinghamshire_England.html#REVIEWS

 

This is a review via TripAdvisor stating that this is a family friendly establishment, enhancing the positive reviews that the coffee shop already holds.

This is just one of many positive reviews, however there are a few negative reviews, but these are recounts of the days’ poor service as opposed to the safety of the area/coffee shop alone, no real complains on that as far.

TRAIN STATION

The train station is close to the café, it is a safe area, easy for both Nav and I as well as our actor Fran to get to.

Small town, therefore easier to get permission for filming as we wouldn’t be disturbing as many people.

Details referenced from: 

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/BNE/details.aspx 

MAKEUP/ COSTUME RESEARCH:

FRANS’ LOOK

Nav and I have decided that we want Fran to have a simple, clean and smart makeup look as this will suggest to the audience that she is a professional woman. She will also need to wear it so she can look older than 16, and more as if she is 20+.

This simple look also suggests an innocent and ignorant trait to her character; this helps with the themes within our film as the primary character is the victim of reverse dramatic irony.

Other makeup looks, i.e. bold red lipstick connotes other themes, i.e. romance, which suggests to the audience is that the primary/secondary character is aware of what is being portrayed. Nav and I decided on this simplistic makeup look as it effectively connotes to the audience that Fran’s character is ignorant to what is happening.

Bold Makeup looks also connote to the audience that the character is not professional, as if they care about their appearance more than what they do- i.e. their work, family, etc. We wanted our audience to believe that Fran’s character was focused on her life rather than the surrounding influenced, yet at the same time is involved in the world, this is shown using our props.

What she wears to school as she is going to be portrayed as a business woman.

We want Fran to replicate a makeup look like this: 

                  

PROPS RESEARCH:

FRAN:

Notepad

• A notepad will connote to the targeted audience that Frans' character is busy and not paying attention to her surroundings. 

Phone

• A phone will also be used to show the audience that Frans' character is further not focused on their surroundings and are focused on something else entirely, i.e. her plans with her friends. 

Bag

• The bag is going to connote to the audience that the primary character is going to leave soon, and therefore they will not worry about who is around them, but when they leave, where, etc. 

Accessories 

• Accessories, i.e. scarfs, gloves etc. We have decided to use these as a props as it will indicate to the audience when throughout the film the character removes or applies the accessory that they will be leaving or staying. 

Coffee

• The coffee indicates to the audience that the character will be spending more time in the café. 

Overall, the use of our props for the main products will indicate to the audience that the character is constantly busy and not paying attention to their surroundings, thus making them more venerable.  

STALKER:

Files

• These are used to indicate to the audience that this person is watching the main character whilst they were distracted. 

Photos of Fran inside file

• This is to show the audience that this person has been following the main character for a while.

Coffee

• The coffee is to make the audience think that the 'stalker' is there for a purpose, and potentially there before the main character as the audience have been shown through other symbols that the stalker has been watching and knew she would be there. 

Phone

•  The phone is being used as a camera and to represent the modern uses of technology and how the safety of technology is fragile. 

Bag 

• A bag will be used for the same reasons as the main character. 

The overall uses of props for the stalker character is to indicate to the audience that they are following the main character. 

MUSIC ANALYSIS: 
Ambient coffee shop music 
diegetic sound of "stalker" doing activities, i.e. clicking pen, going through papers, etc. 
During credit scene there will be use of calm, yet uncomfortable music (i.e. soft piano music) 

FONT TYPE
We want our type font to be very clean cut and effective as our theme is about stalkers and how he will cover his tracks very well, with no evidence left over. We want our font to represent this, so we will be using front: 

FILMING DAY PLAN: masked

Train scene: 08:45AM-09:17AM

08:45AM- Meet at Furze Platt station

08:52AM- Train to Bourne End; filming scenery shots, Fran walking onto train (all POV from the camera woman)

09:07AM- Arrive at Bourne End; film Fran walking off the train

09:17AM- Train to Marlow; film any extras if needed.

Note:

·Try to get a shot of the scenery into a tunnel

Costa scene(s): Pov shot

·Film Fran on phone (“6 O’clock? Yeah that’s good. Okay, yeah. Alright see you there!!”)

·Filming Fran on table drinking coffee, on phone, etc.

·Lift phone and take photo of Fran (only phone in focus)

·Film Fran check her watch and pack up her stuff, then a pan to watch her walk out.

·Pan back and a tilt down to the table

·Film camera woman’s hands sort through pages and files

·Film camera woman closing the file (as the file closes the scene ends)

costa scene(s): Frans over-the-shoulder-shot

·Film Fran on the phone (“6 O’clock? Yeah that’s good.
Okay, yeah. Alright see you there!!”

·Fran writing stuff down in notebook, drinking coffee, etc.

·Checking watch, packing up and walk out.

costa scene(s): credit close-ups

Starring: Fran Aghoghovbia

·Side medium close-up shot of Fran picking up coffee while on the phone

Producers: Nav&Soph

·Close-up of Fran front on, on phone writing something down

·Fran leans forward to put glasses on to read notebook

Distributors: N&S FILMS

·Close-up of table·Extreme close-up of coffee mark on table