Planning Mise En Scene

Dream Sequence
In this sequence there will be hints leading to the direction that the film is going.
The colour will have a slightly purple/ red tint. Showing that it's not only surreal, but menacing.
Riley, while doing everything else in script, will be holding a mask. This is the same mask which the gunman is later wearing (subtle, right?). Though the movie may not lead to him actually being the gunman, I want the audience to have suspicions, just as he does about himself.
In this scene, Nicholas should be wearing the same kind of clothes that Riley usually wears. This should indicate that they share a similar situation, and possibly even inner-state. However, this will also show that in Nicholas' death, a part of Riley will also die.

The Bedroom
Despite this scene not being very long, I want it to show part of Riley's. current mental state. This means the lighting will be dark, to show that he's sad, troubled and lost. On the wall will be a hanging picture or poster of a cracked skull or something similar. This represents his mental instability and how venerable he is.
When on the phone, his shadow should be broad cast onto the wall behind him, as to appear big and hovering over him. The connotation of this is that something powerful is watching over him, something that's a part of him and event controlling him.

The Living Room

The living room is a place of security, where people, such as Riley, should feel safe. In the presence of his best friend, Nicholas, there's no reason for him not to feel secure. In this scene, Riley is telling Nicholas some of the things that are going on in his life and should feel safe in doing so.
This is the first time that the audience meets the reel Nicholas, so I want to communicate something about his relationship with Riley to the audience, other than their obvious friendship. Nicholas is effectively Riley's protector, similar to a guardian angel. Because I think religion should be a big theme in this, I think it would be good to view Nicholas as a guardian angel. I could use lighting to give the appearance of a halo above his head. It's either that or an image of an angel or small figurine. It depends on how easy it is in the filming process.

Street

Here, I want the audience to feel as though something bad is going to happen. To create an uneasy atmosphere, as well as having non-diagetic music that has a build up playing in the background, I'm going to have darker, creepier lighting. Shaky camera work could also help create an unstable atmosphere.
Because Nicholas is getting shot in this scene, I'd like for him to be wearing an article of clothing, ideally a shirt, with pattern on it that resembles a target.

Planning

Actors
I have asked some of my friends if they would like to help, however none have confirmed. I will have to get their confirmation or find different actors who can.

Props & Costume
I either have all the props I need or have been allowed to borrow them from friends, such as fake guns and combat vests.

The costume for Riley has been planned. I have part of it but am still searching for a plain-grey hoodie.
I have a rough idea on what I need for the character Nicholas, but will have to plan and confirm I can get the right clothing.

Set
Everything is covered for set. I plan to film in a street, a nearby field, my living room and my bedroom.

Equipment

• Tripod (Owned)
• Camera (Owned, but may use one from school or friend for better quality)
• Gorilla Pod (Owned)
• Lighting (Owned)
• Camera Dolly (Either use a school one or go free hand with a mono-pod to stabilise shot)

Character Biography: Riley Williams

Name: Riley Williams
Age: 18
Date of birth: February 7th 1994
Place of Birth: Unknown
Relationship to Family: Unknown parents. No known siblings.
Key Friends: Nicholas Chance
Phobia(s): Nightmares, Being Trapped.
Features: Wears plain clothes, specifically hoodies and faded jeans.

Riley Williams's place of birth is unknown. He just seems to have turned up and has little memory of his childhood. Though he has memories of his parents, he can never remember their faces. He has no known relatives, but does have a close friend, Nicholas Chance, who he believes is from his childhood. He has no current work, but has an income from a previous job. He has a poor memory of this job, but never questions it as he never seems to think about it. His phobia of nightmares comes from the recurring dreams he has of him shooting his best friend. He has this dream on a regular basis but doesn't  remember it too well upon recall. His fear of being trapped, similar to claustrophobia, comes from a childhood experience. He can't remember what happened exactly, but remembers being restrained.

Riley's aspiration is to know what's going on in his life. He feels like something is shielding him from the real world and the fact the he can't remember his past very well doesn't help this, however it does intrigue him. With this motive, he's waiting for the first glimpse of reality and plans to seize that opportunity to help him understand himself and everything else.

Reflections on Character

Characterisation and character are two very important aspects of film. Without a believable character, the audience may lose interest, but if a good character isn't characterised well then the audience will feel that there's something wrong with the character and may get the wrong vibe from what the director wanted them to feel.

• "Character" is the state the character is in mentally, and determines what they are doing and what they will do.
• "Characterisation" is  what the character is wearing and how they move and interact with other characters.

Through given situations, how a character reacts will tell us more about a character then anything else.

In order for a story to change, a character must change. For example, Robert Mckee said "If we're introduced to a 'loving husband,' and by the end of the tale he's still what he first appeared to be, a loving husband with no secret, no unfulfilled dreams, no hidden passions, we'll be very disappointed."  This makes the character arc crucial. This means building on an idea. It states that a director must not only reveal a true character, but show deeper changes as the story progresses.

Structure is used as a weapon against a character in order to create difficult dilemmas where a character is forced to maker decisions that become harder and harder as the plot thickens. The choices made will show the characters real intention and not just the ones the character want us to see.
The character must be made believable and have established limits, as to make the audience believe that the character can and would do as they do. If the character is unbelievable, the story falls apart and is unconvincing.

For a film to be great, the final act must be great. "Movies are about their last 20 minutes."  The first moments of a film are to entice the audience and get them deeply involved with the characters  so that the climax of the story shocks us in it's temporal shift. When writing a screenplay, "the story's ultimate event is the writer's ultimate task." In these last minutes, the protagonist must do something that surprises us. This is usually going against something we thought we knew about them, however it must be justified. It could be a grudge, an event or something that happened in their past that causes them to do what they do. Either way, it must be astonishing and terrifying.

Audience Interview

I recently went around with a camera, shoved it people's faces and asked them questions!

The questions asked are as follows:

•  What kind of films do you like to watch?
• What's your favorite film?
• What's your opinion on the psychological thriller genre?

Interview with a Typical Member of my Audience

While researching the importance of target audience, I was set the task of creating a profile for a typical audience member. Above is a fake interview with him, that I created.

The audience member's name is Harry Williams.
Harry lives in a flat in London and has a university degree in media production.
He is employed by various companies to make idents, short films and music videos. Though these are not major companies, he makes enough money to have a decent living.
Currently he is single but seeing someone.
His hobbies include making short films, watching movies (mainstream & non-mainstream), computer gaming and going out with his friend regularly.
The films he watches most are often classed as 'specialized' and 'non-mainstream'. He watches them for deeper reasons than most cinema-goers, often looking at the messages given and filming techniques used. He could be classed as an Aficionado.

The Importance of Establishing Target Audience

In the film industry, as with any media relate industry, establishing a target audience is highly important. Without a specific audience, it's hard to know who will see your film, therefore you will not know if a profit will be made.

Having an age range is also important. Young people (7-34 years old) make up 64% of the audience. Meaning a film is more likely to be watched if targeted towards that age range. However those people only make up 39% of the population, meaning that though there is another 61% of people out there, only 36% of those make up the audience.

Choosing a genre is highly important as studies have shown that cinema-goers strongly identify and need genres to assist in their choice. The main genres are Comedy, Romance, Period, Crime/Gangster, Horror, Action and Sci-Fi. Usually, specialized films are aligned to one of the main genres to make positioning and marketing easier. This makes it easier for the cinema-goers to decide if they want to watch it.

Taking advantage of synergy is an easier (but usually more expensive way) of getting a wider audience for the film. A popular cast of crew will normally attract a bigger audience because people will go to see the film as they have seen their previous work.

A specific type of film-goer is also a good idea. These people can be Mainstream, Mainstream Plus, Aficionados and Buffs.
Mainstream people only tend to see the bigger, mainstream movies and nothing else. At the extreme, they only focus on romantic movies or Hollywood action films. They particularly emphasis on 'big films' or blockbusters.Often for them, films are an escape from their everyday lives. Escapism is one of the main reasons to visit a cinema. It's incredibly rare for a mainstream person to see a foreign film, as these films rarely flow into the mainstream.
Mainstream Plus's tend to be looking for 'good films' (without placing them in categories). They will usually find a mainstream film that meets their demand and fits their 'good film' criteria, generally because their cinema attendance can be as infrequent as once a month. If a non-Hollywood film has earned itself a high status as a 'must-see', it can appeal to them and will often become their first choice as a film to go and see.
Aficionados are more likely than Mainstream Plus to see a 'specialized film' and usually class it as a  category of its own. They will often put effort into seeking these specialized films, more so than Mainstream Plus. They like to portray themselves as more discerning than other film-goers, occasionally to the point where they describe themselves as 'anti-Hollywood', though then still will see mainstream American films.
Film Buffs have an identity that is strongly bound within film. Films that don't fit neatly into any genre are strongly liked by film Buffs. Their love of cinema extends to the point where instead of simply watching the film, they will go out and seek outside knowledge on the subject. The language that Buffs use is normally more sophisticated than and thoughtful and more mainstream people. They typically plan much further in advance than other film-goers, and make trips out specifically to go to the cinema. Sometimes they even prefer to go to the cinema on their own. They use a variety of sources to find out what's going on, like Empire Magazine and various film websites. They will see mainstream films for different reasons, like viewing James Cameron's Avatar for the visual effects. Often they see the same film more than once, generally for analytically reasons. If a film is made for the reasons of making money, it's rare for it to be aimed particularly at the Buffs, as they make up a small part of audiences.

Taking all of this into account is important before entering the production process. Especially if making money is a primary goal, and also to know who would like the film in question. If you know who will watch your film, you can also expect the feedback that will come. If you know they type of feedback and therefore negative feedback, you're able to adjust things to the liking of the audience and hence making a film for the majority to enjoy. Of course, that may not be the goal. The goal may be to send a message to some of the audience, a message that other members may not be able to see. This in turn could please the members who got the message but confuse and anger people who didn't understand. So, it could be a great film in the eyes of some, but a film with no obvious meaning to others.