Preliminary Task- Story Board

Preliminary Task- Script Representation (Task Eight)

Representation

1. My script mostly represents the down- fall of my character, who they are and how they feel and what has just happened to them.
2. My character is represented by what they are doing, how they are feeling and what they are saying. Because it is represented by flashbacks as well is contrasts past and present. The genre would possibly be drama and romance.
3. The representation is realistic as the character doesn’t fit into a simple stereotype, they are complicated and they speak about how they feel and how they got to where they are at this point in time.
 
4. The foreground consists of what the character is feeling in the snapshot shown- what they are doing. The background is who they got there- this is explained through flash backs and a voice over. There is an absence of the thought process which lead the character to be where they are in the present moment.
 
5. The representation is how I would choose to show the events, feelings and circumstances of the character. It serves the interests of the characters background and the complexities of their thoughts and character traits, this is because the monologue is discussing how the character feels and how they are thinking rather than just describing an event.
 
6. The representation, to me, means the character is portrayed as I created them, the audience will be able to see who they are, how they think, what has happened and how they deal with it. the audience may see the character as being weak- however this can be accounted for as the film serves to show the dangers of passion and how it can destroy someone- flashback are used to contrast between past and present.
 
7. The audience will see the theme of desperation and heartbreak, this will be shown though the surroundings- as the flashback will be light and the present will be dark. The acting will change from upset in the present to happy in the past.
 
8. The character could show their traits though an outburst in a public place for example as it could show how even the most quiet of characters change when they feel so helpless. However I would prefer it be more subtle, I feel the characters gentle surrender is much more powerful.
 
9. Representation is problematic because not everyone chooses to portray certain things in the same way; this also means that not everyone interprets things in the same way. You need to make representation perfect in order for the vast majority to interpret it in the way it was intended.  



Similar Products (Task Six)- Character Research

 Biography- Part A

Elisia Cooper

Age: Late twenties

Appearance: She is naturally pretty, but does not possess a stunning appearance, nor is she glowing with confidence.

Occupation: A poet, she writes for a living, she feels it is the only way she can express herself, however she has been turned down for publications in the past as the publishers felt her work would not sell to a mainstream audience.

Background: Her father walked out on her when she was fifteen, and this may have had an effect on her relationships with men as she feels she can no longer trust anyone.

Love Life: She is a hopeless romantic but is constantly in search for the one special person, not just anyone will do. Elisia had a very rose- tinted view of her relationship with her fiancée, it was likely he cheated on her on several occasions (as he eventually leaves for another woman), yet Elisia holds no grudge as she is still in love with him. She was committed to the relationship and did not care for anything else.

Morals/ Ethics: Elisia is looking for someone who will understand her, as she has a very complex and analytical understanding of the world around her. She holds out for what she believes in and is not easily swayed and, even if it is for her own good.  She is a very passionate person, but chooses to hide it- this is shown as she would rather kill herself than go on living without the one she loves. She is loyal and caring however she finds it hard to trust people.

I find characters like Elisia really interesting, this is partially why I created her the way I did. I find that characters who are really confidant, have nothing to hide and everything goes right for them, really boring. I like Elisia because she is very mysterious, she has a very complex view of the world and she is a much more interesting character to explore and understand than a really confidant, flirtatious character.

I started with the basics; I chose to create a girl character because I wanted to experiment with the theme of romance, desperation and heartbreak. I then chose what kind of personality she would have, I decided to make her more complex than perhaps other character profiles as it was more interesting to do so, it also allowed me to create more complex dialogue, situation and show my characters philosophy. I gradually started to add more to her, how she feels most the time, how she reacts to other people, what is important to her, what has influenced her to be how she is.

Elisia is an awkward character, she may come across as week and passive but she isn’t, she knows what she wants and will do whatever necessary to achieve it. She is independent; however I have chosen to show her at her weakest to portray how easy someone can be destroyed by the thing they are most passionate about. I chose to include flashbacks of how she used to be so show the audience how she is when she is happy.

Comparing Characters- Part B

Nina- Black Swan:

Similarities:

Nina is constantly seeking perfection, although she doesn’t really know what perfection actually is yet- Elisia has an idea of what life she wants to live yet has no experience of it, she is aiming for something she has no knowledge of. She is passionate and will do anything to reach her dream. She has trained herself to be confined as she believes a perfect ballerina is strict with how she expresses herself- just as Elisia feels if she expresses herself too much her fiancée will leave her as she knows deep down he isn’t as emotionally attached to the relationship as she is. They both have an unusual relationship with their parents which has had an effect on the person they are. They both ultimately die for what they wanted so badly. Nina isn’t confidant with who she is and her own mind is what consumes her- just like Elisia.

Differences:

Nina listens to what she is told, she learns to express herself and by doing so reaches her goal- Elisia is too distraught to listen to anyone and as a consequence remains very unhappy. Before Nina dies she realises that her dreams have come true, she finds perfection and dies happy, whereas Elisia feels she will never get what she so desperately wants and wishes to kill herself due to her unhappiness. Nina accepts death as part of the goal she wished to achieve, as Elisia sees death as a way of accepting she won’t get what she wants.

Clarice- Silence of the Lambs:

Similarities:

Clarice never aimed to get so involved with the Buffalo Bill case, it just happened, but she knew it’s what she always wanted even if she had not experienced things like it before- Like Elisia, she never set out for find love and romance; it happened by accident, but after that she knew it is what she wanted all along. Clarice is very intelligent, so is Elisia; however they are both underestimated by others despite being so talented. Clarice tries hard not to show what she is really feeling, so does Elisia, they both do it as they feel it is appropriate in order to reach their individual goals. Both Clarice and Elisia chose not to listen to others, they knew deep down what they needed to do for themselves and knew no one could make that decision for them. They both had problems growing up without a father figure, and it affects their relationships with others.

Differences:

Elisia does and it leads to her down-fall. Clarice is passionate about her career, as Elisia is passionate about love and affection, Clarice does not suggest she is interested in either of these things. Clarice is much more strong willed than Elisia, she is in her element in difficult situations as Elisia seems to crumble.

Cob- Inception:

Similarities:

Both Cob and Elisia are chasing something they are passionate about but aren’t realistically going to achieve, Cob longs to be with Mal and Elisia wants the perfect life with someone who loves her. They both live in denial, Cob plays in dreams and refuses to believe there are issues with him and Mal. Elisia refuses to believe there is anybody else for her as well as believing her cheating fiancée was completely in love with her. They both have issues regarding their thoughts; Elisia is desperate and can’t see any way out of her situation. They are both willing to risk or surrender their lives to achieve goals. They keep their personal struggles as secret as they can as they believe they can sort it themselves, and that only they know the true problem.

Differences:

Cob ignores the issues with Mal, he gets on with other things and lets it play on his mind, whereas Elisia is unable to control her emotions and breaks down. Cob is confrontational and can be aggressive, Elisia is caring and affectionate. Cob’s occupation is risky and out of the ordinary, Elisia is a struggling writer. Cob my be bothered about living without the one he lived with, but he chooses to hide it, he just doesn't want to be bothered by his past with Mal, all Elisia wants is someone to care for her and she can't hide it.



Preliminary Task- Script (Task Eight)

INDIVIDUALITY

WRITTEN BY EMILY WILSON

DRAFT I

FADE IN

1.  EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – NIGHT

A small stone bridge, big enough to just fit one car over. In the middle of nowhere, it is about 10 at night in the winter. The only light is that from an old lamp post, it lit the entire four and a half metre width of bridge and the glistening, freezing water that gently  passed beneath it. The fields that occupied either sides of the river bank were only just visible, a green, yellow sort of colour that was hidden underneath the thick cover of frost.

CLOSE UP SHOTS show small details of the surroundings such as the car, the bridge, plants etc.

There is a woman, possibly late 20’s early 30’s, she is alone and looks emotionless. She is leant against the left wall of the bridge.

ELISIA (V.O.)

I had been driving for hours to get here. There wasn’t supposed to be a destination. A stopping point.  ‘Just a journey’ I had told myself. But I had to stop; the tears were making it hard to see the road. I had been driving for hours, taking whichever turns took my fancy. And here I was. On my own and miles from home, with a cold November chill seeping into my skin. I have no idea where I am, but this came as no shock, I suppose I had been lost for hours. But it was beautiful[BEAT].

[CUT TO DASH- BOARD CLOCK]

The clock on the dashboard had said 10.09 last time I took notice [BEAT].

[CUT TO WIDE SHOT OF CAR]

 But the car was neatly abandoned at the foot of the bridge now.

 [MID SHOT OF ELISIA]

Everything is so different here; I imagine the fields stretch to as far as you could see in daytime. I can see my breath with each slow sigh [BEAT]. I was happy once. In fact, a few weeks ago, but it feels like years. Everything was so perfect.

2.  INT. ON A SOFA - NIGHT *FLASHBACK*

ELISIA is sitting with an UNIDENTIFIED MAN they are at home, with a bottle of wine and are laughing.

3.  EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – NIGHT

CLOSE UP SHOT of ELISIA leaning over the edge of the bridge looking into the distance.

ELISIA (V.O.)

But now here I am, alone, with nothing but a thick winter coat to embrace and comfort me. I could never forget the day we met [BEAT].

4.  INT. A SEATED AREA IN A BAR – NIGHT *FLASHBACK*

ELISIA is chatting to someone in a seated area of a bar/ club they are still unidentified. She looks happy

ELISIA (V.O.)

Your gorgeous smile lit up the room and no one else mattered. We spent the evening completely engaged in drunken conversation, in fits of laughter the whole night.

5.  EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – NIGHT

MID SHOT of ELISIA leaning over the bridge, occasionally holding on to the edge and leaning back slightly, in deep thought

ELISIA (V.O.)

No one showed me the affection and compassion you did. I never grew tired of you, your humour, your perfectly imperfectness. When you used to whisper your heart and soul to me, tell me you loved me, that I meant the world to you. The day we shared our first kiss [BEAT]. I had never felt so content. I see a faint reflection in the water, but it isn’t me anymore, I am nothing but an empty shell. [BEAT] Numb.

6.  INT. HOUSE – NIGHT *FLASHBACK*

ELISIA is chasing the UNIDENTIFIED MAN down the hallway, he has a bag of his things- she quickly follows him down the stairs, she is desperate, pleading and crying.

ELISIA (V.O.)

I can never forget the day you left. Her, that is the word that still rings in my ears, makes my heart feel like it is slowly being ripped out of my chest. Someone else you whispered sweet nothings to, told Her that you loved Her, that She meant the world to you. I still loved you.

7.  INT. HOUSE – NIGHT *FLASHBACK*

The man ELISIA was following mimes the line:

UNIDENTIFIED MAN [MIMING ELISIA]

‘But none of that mattered’

ELISIA (V.O.)

– you said.

 8.  INT. HOUSE – NIGHT *FLASHBACK*

 WIDE SHOT of ELISIA standing in the hallway as the front door slowly closes before her, she just stands there and watches. But just before the door closes she falls to her knees in tears.

ELISIA (V.O)

You had made your decision [BEAT]. Frozen. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak. God’s way of forcing me to stand in the hallway and watch you leave and shut the door behind you, helpless, I felt my world shatter [BEAT].

9.  EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – NIGHT

WIDE SHOT of ELISIA standing on the edge of the bridge.

CUT TO SIDE ON CLOSE UP of ELISIA with tears rolling down her cheeks.

ELISIA (V.O.)

(desperately, fast paced) Nothing on this Earth can make me feel the way you made me feel. Nothing. Ever. You were mine, and all of the cliché advice thrown at me by friends won’t fix my broken heart. Nothing will. Nothing I lose now will cause as much pain as living knowing I lost you. I know the scars will heal, but the memories will never leave.

 CUT TO HIGH ANGLE CLOSE UP of ELISIA

ELISIA (V.O)

The tears sting with the bitter cold. I shut my eyes. Relax. I can let fate chose which way I fall.

FADE OUT