The film that inspired me on my one-minute film is The Rats/ Las Ratas. What I really liked about The Rats was the narrative and how they constructed the links between the waitress and the customer, whom she’s always wanted to get revenge on for killing her close family member. I think the use of space in this short film was very creative and inspired me to use a wide range of location shots, such as in the film they were switching from the diner to the kitchen quite frequently. I would say what I didn’t like about the film was the abrupt ending as it left us with a lot of unanswered questions, however it is very similar to what I have done in my script as I have left quite a few elements out, such as why Alice seems to dislike Kacy and now has her called ‘Traitor’ on her phone, as well as the abrupt ending I used here too, as I thought it would leave a more open ending, that leads the audience to be able to answer the questions, similar to what ‘The Rats’ had done. Another element that inspired my one-minute short film was the cinematography. I think Las Ratas had excellent costumes, make up and set design, that all connected to the way the shots were taken and the space and location used, creates quite an altogether creative space, to add more plot and narrative to it and so on. In the narrative structure, I took the rat poisoning and the betrayal element of this short film, as I thought it was very well displayed and creates quite a good plot to work with. I also think the lighting of the scenes in Las Ratas was creative, as it kind of linked to the issues faced during the scene and the characters portrayed within them. For example, they used a green tinted kitchen with big bright lighting to create a sort of clinical effect and give the impression that the cook was mentally ill and sick, perhaps sick of her job as displayed in the short film. I also liked how they used composition; the interior design was put together well, as it seems relaxing and aesthetic, turning into a gruesome murder scene at the end.  

*Alice looks at picture frame of her and Kacy and looks hurt*  

*Alice Texts Kacy who is named ‘TRAITOR’ on her phone and says ‘hey wanna come round and we can cook something?’ then looks up and camera focuses on packet labelled rat poison with Alice blurred in the background behind the rat poison* 

*Camera change to Kacy’s home, she gets a message on her phone and looks at it, camera shows the message on her phone* 

*Kacy replies ‘yes I’ll be round in 10’, gets up, puts coat on and leaves the house* 

*Camera shows keys that Kacy grabs zoomed in* 

*Alice watches out her window for Kacy, Kacy approaches Alice’s door and Alice runs and opens door before Kacy even knocks* 

Kacy – *appears shocked door opened so quick* You must be eager to cook.  

Alice – Of course *Alice invites her in, Kacy throws her coat down and throws shoes off* *Alice picks it up as she follows her in, looking annoyed* 

*Alice and Kacy are cooking, while Alice scowls at her* 

Alice – hey can you, uh … *tries to think of an excuse to get Kacy away for a second* Can you check the door, I think I heard someone knocking. 

Kacy – *looks suspicious* yeah sure *leaves kitchen* 

*Alice grabs rat poison and throws it in the mixture on the stove* 

*Kacy opens the door and sees no one, then shrugs and closes door* 

*Alice hears door so quickly puts back poison* 

Kacy – You need your hearing checked. There was no one there. 

Alice – Yeah, was probably next door, my mistake.  

*Later, Alice plates up, she watches carefully to make sure Kacy eats the poisoned food* 

Kacy – *eating it quickly* This is delicious. I’ve really outdone myself. You not eating any? 

Alice – We both made that Kacy, and yeah, I am eating it. *Picks up fork and pretends to start on the pasta* 

*Just when Alice is about to eat the pasta, Kacy’s head drops, the camera is focusing on Kacy’s head dropping and then the camera focuses on Alice smiling in the background* 

Scene ​	Location​	Description​	Date ​	Time to film​	Cast ​	Props​	Equipment​
1​	Kitchen Island ​	Alice texts Kacy to come over​	01.05.2024​	5 min​	Faye Cotillard​	Picture Frame, Phone, Rat poison (fake)​	Steadicam​Tripod​iPhone 11​
2​	Spare Room​	Kacy texts her back​	01.05.2024​	5 min​	Fleur Stoten​	Phone, Coat, keys ​	Steadicam ​Tripod​iPhone 11​
3​	Hallway and Front Porch​	Alice opens door for Kacy​	01.05.2024​	10 min​	Faye Cotillard​Fleur Stoten​	Coat​	Steadicam​Tripod​iPhone 11​
4​	Kitchen stove​	They cook food, Kacy leaves to check door​	01.05.2024​	10 min​	Faye Cotillard​Fleur Stoten​	Cooking ingredients, Rat poison (fake)​	Steadicam​Tripod​iPhone 11​
5​	Front Porch​	Kacy checks outside ​	01.05.2024​	5 min​	Fleur Stoten​	None​	Steadicam​iPhone 11​
6​	Kitchen side​	Kacy comes back ​	01.05.2024​	10 min​	Faye Cotillard​Fleur Stoten​	Rat poison (fake)​	Steadicam​iPhone 11​
7​	Dining Table​	Kacy eats food, then passes out​	01.05.2024​	20 min ​	Faye Cotillard ​Fleur Stoten​	Plates, serving spoon, pasta, fork​	Steadicam ​Tripod​iPhone 11 ​

1)I have decided to utilise narration in my short film, engaging the audience and aiding in the character development of the protagonist, and additionally a non-linear narrative (montages etc)

2)Narration is evident in Le’Jetee and was used in an effective way to build a story line to essentially ‘sell’ the verisimilute of the stylistic and post-apocalyptic world. This is influential moving forward in my film, as I would aim to hint towards a non-linear narrative in from where I bring together the narration and the other clips.

Additionally, the mise-en-scene used in ‘Bombita’ is incredibly effective in forming the aesthetic and tone of the film, this is something i want to bring to my film using symmetrical shots, repetitive shots and surrealistic shots with obscure lighting.

The Genre that I will be doing is a thriller/ horror, because i find horror is a lot more interesting than any other genre.

the story i am basing my film off is the short film of ‘the rats’. i chose this sort film because I thought the storyline was very interesting and I thought it was entertaining.

I will be having a narrator telling you about the story in the background, kinds like being in someone’s mind and telling the audience your thoughts.

Narrative distinct genre:

– Comedy – In media res (Non-linear) Starting in the middle of the action, the film will revolve around 2 farmers under the German occupation accidently killing a German. The course of events in the film will be their comedic attempts of trying to hide his body in a panic as they also try to avoid other Germans in the area.  

Short Film Influences:

– La Jette – the use of flashbacks is something I hope to incorporate into my film, as well as with till death do us part – The use of sequence events such as ellipsis, will be helpful to cover events and help summarise what has gone on.  

1. My film will have the distinct genre of drama, featuring characters such as mob bosses and characters in debt, similar to The Rats from Wild Tales. I have chosen this as drama is quite a wide genre, which means that I’m not limiting what I write in order to make it funny as I would for comedy or scary as I would for horror.
2. It will also follow two parallel stories, which will eventually combine since the two main characters of these stories are intended to be brothers. I have chosen this as it allows for me to use a variety of locations, both interior and exterior, while keeping a relatively small cast.

Short Film Influences (will be updated throughout pre-production)

Film element	Short films Notes on which elements you are using – which film, where and how are they used	My film Where are the examples or influences in your own film
Narrative structure – How are narrative features and dramatic qualities constructed	The Rats – Family involved in crime but the woman wants to put an end to it (done through the killing of the loan shark)  Bombita – the man and his wife communicating through text messages La Jetee – Main character is killed	One brother is in debt to a mob boss, something his twin knows about, hence why he goes to the house pretending to be his brother.   The two brothers will be speaking through text messages One of the two brothers will have an evident death, with the latter gunshot being ambiguous as to who has been shot.
Cinematic influences – How have cinematography, editing and sound techniques been used	Til Death Do Us Part – POV/moving shot of the door Pasternak – still frame ending cutting off the implied deaths of the passengers and parents The Rats – Tracking shots create claustrophobic atmosphere. Bombita – shot/reverse shots add realism to the conversations between the man, his wife, and their lawyers. Also, ellipsis is used to shorten down the first time the man goes to prison. A pan shot is used to reveal the man grabbing the fire extinguisher.	As the crime lord’s door opens, I intend to film a similar shot to the moving door.  Once his brother is killed by the mob boss, the other twin will rush to grab the gun, with an offscreen gunshot ending the film.  I will use tracking shots around the house to create an unnerving feel to the narrative, I will also use them in certain scenes where the other brother is running to get there. As the brother at the house speaks with the mob boss, shot reverse shots will be used to create tension and realism. Ellipsis will be used to shorten the other brother’s journey to the house, allowing for a variety of locations to be used.  I intend to use a pan or whip pan in order
Creating meaning and effect – How the production creates meanings and generates responses for the spectator	The Rats – uses a rack focus to place an emphasis on the poison, suggesting the woman’s plan to kill the loan shark without explicitly stating it. The small cast of characters reinforces claustrophobia.	I will use a rack focus to emphasize the gun that the crime lord is in possession of, making his sinister intentions clear for spectators.  I will keep my cast small in order to both not over-complicate my film but also to create tension.

My film is going to be based off of a non linear narrative in which it follows and includes a narrative. It will follow a man who doesn’t remember where and why he is where he is and the story slowly reveals why he is in the position where he is in a non linear way. I took inspiration from Szifron for the way that there characters find out why they are where slowly as it presented to the audience with build up. I am also going to take inspiration for La Jette as the film is going to be filmed in black and white and follow a film noir style.

My plan for my NEA project is to use a narrator and a distinct genre of crime as required in the specification. This will take inspiration from La Jete using narration to explain the world and keep the audience informed as the story progresses. The genre will also be similar to wild tales stories like the rats involving crime and revenge having the same sense of tension and suspense throughout.

very late.