- 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.
- 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. |