Preliminary Task- The New Script

-Script-

Last November

Draft II

FADE IN

1. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

A small stone bridge, big enough to just fit one car over. In the middle of nowhere, it is early morning and the sun has only just risen, it is approaching winter. The riverbanks either side of the bridge are slightly overgrown and there is a gentleness about glistening, freezing water that passed beneath it. The fields that occupied either sides of the riverbank are a green, yellow sort of colour contrasting the colours of the fields surrounding them.

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.)

There wasn’t supposed to be a destination [BEAT]. 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. After another sleepless night I had set off in the early hours of the morning, taking whichever turns took my fancy. And here I was. On my own and miles from home, with the cold November morning slowly 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].

 [MID SHOT OF ELISIA]

Everything is so different here; quiet, peaceful, secluded. [BEAT]. I was happy once. In fact, a few weeks ago, but it feels like years. [BEAT] It was all 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 – DAY

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

ELISIA (V.O.)

But now I’m here, 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 – DAY

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 perfect imperfections. 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. None of the cliché advice thrown at me by friends will fix my broken heart. Nothing will. Nothing I lose now will cause as much pain as living knowing I lost you. My heart will always be scarred with the memories we shared.      I meant every word I whispered to you.

 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

Preliminary Task- Changes

After finishing the rough cut of the film I have decided that it not as powerful or emotional as I had written it to be, there are some slight changes that can be made to sections of the film. For example, I feel the scenes on the bridge and establishing shots will be better if they are filmed early morning, this way you still get the sense of desperation from the character (as they are out so early) and I will also be able to achieve the shots I feel the film needs in order to create the atmosphere I intended to portray. 


To enhance the changes I have chosen to make to the film, I have re-worded the script to make the voice over more fitting with scenario. Although I am going to need to re-edit the film almost entirely I feel it is necessary so I am able to achieve what I wanted to and so the film is more emotional and powerful. 


Luckily Bernadette (my actress) has agreed to re-shoot what I wanted to re-shoot at 9.00am next Monday morning, I have chosen this time as it will be the right light, there will be less cars on the road and it allows for more flexibility with time when filming. 


Hopefully I will get everything I need with the second shoot, and as the shots for the bridge are fairly basic it shouldn't take much longer than the first time round.  

Preliminary Task- Music

It has been difficult trying to find a piece of music that will fit with the emotion of the film. I wanted to go for something slow paced but still have some meaning that will relate to the story. I also didn't want over complicated lyrics that will take attention away from the monologue. So far I have three pieces of music I would like to try for the film:


Video Games (Lana Del Rey)

Emma Kate's Accident (Bloc Party)

Rose Gives A Lily (Yuck)

Preliminary Task- Editing

For this task I decided to use Final Cut Pro as opposed to Adobe Premier Pro. This is because I have recently bought my own and wanted to become familiar with the software. For my editing I didn't want to take away any meaning from the script or over complicate anything, however I still wanted to give it a clear and cinematic look. I was pleased with the quality of  the footage as I had recorded on my own camera, however I filmed in HD, which then had to be converted in order for it to be compatible with the software I intended on using. After spending some time becoming familiar with the basics I was then able to work with the more advanced settings such as colour correction, and steady-cam. I have found Final Cut Pro a lot easier to use and quicker to run, I found that when I used Premier Pro it tended to crash a lot and was just generally slow. However I can easily find and load my work so when I come back to editing it is easier to get back into it straight away. At the minute I am struggling to edit the end piece of the film, this is because the shot I had initially planned on using for the end of the monologue looks too boring to fill out the long ending of the voice over, it is important the end of the film is down right as I feel that is the most important piece of the film. 

Preliminary Task- Shooting Schedule

Shooting schedule: 

Contact Details for crew~
Bernadette Cooper (acting) - 07810222847
Ruth Cooper (lighting) - 07949740076
Tom Leatherbarrow - 

Shooting Locations:

1. A small single track bridge near Elton (PE8 6RU)
2. The Ramblewood Inn (PE2 7DN)
3. A small semi- detached house (PE2 6XL)

Scene Breakdown:


Scene 1- 
Establishing shot of the bridge, Elisia is leaning thoughtfully on the edge of the stone wall.


Scene 2- 
Flashback of Elisia and her fiancee laughing in their living room, both of them with a glass of wine. You don't see her fiancees face.


Scene 3-
Back to the bridge, the voice over continues as Elisa looks into the distance


Scene 4- 
Flashback to the bar, Elisia is chatting to someone in a seated area, she is happy and laughing.


Scene 5-
Back to the bridge, Elisia is reminiscing about her fiancee and all the things she loved about him, her expression is emotionless but she is clearly upset.


Scene 6-
Elisia is frantically chasing her fiancee out the bedroom, she is in pyjamas and he has a bag of his things. She tries to reason with him.


Scene 7-
A close up of her fiancees lips as he tells her that it didn't matter that she still loved him.


Scene 8- 
Elisia stands in the hallway as her fiancee leaves and shuts the door.


Scene 9-
Elisia is on the edge of the bridge, she is crying and feels helpless. Fade out.


Extra shots:

• Shots of the car on the edge of the bridge
• Close up shots of flowers to establish the countryside location

Preliminary Task- Permission Letter to Film in the Pub

The Ramblewood Inn,

 Orton Longueville,

 Peterborough,

 Cambridgeshire,

 United Kingdom,

 PE2 7DN

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am a student at Sawtry Community College; I am currently in year 13 and am studying media. I am currently producing a short silent film in which there is a flashback to a bar. Having looked into local pubs and bars I felt your establishment would be ideal for my film. I recognise that you are running a business and to this end I will ensure we create no disturbance that will distract or disturb employees or customers. The scene will take up to fifteen minutes to film and involve four people as part of our cast and crew. I greatly appreciate this favour and you will be accredited for your hospitality.

Yours sincerely

Emily Wilson

Phone: ----- ------ 


I had to ring up the Pub a day or so before the shoot, they agreed to let us film as long as we had a letter of permission with us on the day. 

Preliminary Task- Shoot Days

26th of October:
This was the first day of filming, I planned for Bernadette Cooper (my actress) and Ruth Cooper (lighting) to come round at 7.30pm. I was only able to have a small crew as the car used in the film only had 4 seats and there wasn't space on the bridge for a second car. We didn't have any power source so were unable to use the lighting kit or any lights that needed plugging it. I borrowed two industrial site torches and taped grease-proof paper round the front to spread the light out rather than having the light in one area, this worked extremely well in the end, because it was dark, bright lighting would have looked artificial, I was also able to create a more cinematic effect, highlighting only areas I wanted to stand out, by using the torches it was also much easier to adjust lighting to how I wanted it. We started filming at 8.00pm on a bridge near Elton on the back roads. Filming went well, as the shots I was taking were fairly simple I decided to longer than necessary takes so I had more to work with when it came to editing. As the film was silent I was able to direct Bernadette while I was recording, this meant I was able to get more movement into one shot and make them different each time. It didn't take too long to get the key shots, there was occasionally the disruption of a passing car however this was infrequent as it was quite late. We finished filming at about 9.00pm and left the location around 10minutes later after checking we had all the shots we needed. As there wasn't much scope to take close up macro shots on location as there was not a variety of things to film, so instead I took these close ups once I was home and filmed them in the garden. 


27th of October:
I filmed the bar scene, the living room scene and the leaving scene on the second day of shooting. For the shoot I had Ruth Cooper (lighting), Bernadette Cooper (acting) and Tom Leatherbarrow. Everyone came over at about 8.30pm and we went to a small pub to film the bar scene. We then went to a small house to film the rest to the flashback scenes, it took a while to get all the shots needed as we needed a lot of re-takes and match on action needed to be considered in many shots. We finished filming at about 10.30pm after checking we had all the shots needed. 

Preliminary Task- Casting

The character of Elisia is in her late 20's/ early 30's, she has a natural beauty and she can't hide her emotions. I chose Bernadette Cooper to play the part of Elisia, this is because not only was she of similar age to the character but I felt she looked right for the part as well, she also has some experience of amateur acting. 


I felt Bernadette leant herself well to the part because she has a bubbly personality which I really wanted to get across in the flashbacks- this would contrast to the sullen and gloomy emotions I wanted to portray on the bridge. This would show that Elisia was not always upset and adds power to the extent of her misery. 


Bernadette wore plain makeup on the shoots, this was intentionally done to make her look more realistic. There were four separate outfit changes throughout the film, the first is a thick winter coat and scale, worn on the bridge, this was done to show how desperate the character is to be out on her own in such cold weather. The second were casual clothes, worn out to the pub, showing how she used to be. The third- casual clothes when she is at home- showing she is herself around her fiancee. And the fourth outfit change is Elisia in her pyjamas, this was done to show the suddenness of her fiancees leaving, she had no idea. Bernadette also did the voice over for the task.


I feel Bernadette did a really good job, it is really hard to try to show so much emotion by trying not to show any at all. She responded well to direction and was always trying to improve the performance. She was also very fun to work with, and most scenes ended with her laughing.