Treatment

Misplaced

Duration: 5 minutes (approx..)
Audience:  A demographic primarily between the ages of 12 and 30, yet due to use, albeit limited, of language used throughout the duration of the film, implied and (small amounts) of actual violence, it would not be suitable for an audience younger than those of 12, unless accompanied by an adult.
Certificate: 12A
Independent Short Film
Distributor: Journeyman Pictures was decided to be the best choice for our short film because they produce unique and original films which have been successful due to their variety of connections. They are able to showcase to a large audience, which would help us distribute our short film to more people, and have worked with many different filmmakers and small companies. Journeyman Pictures is the best choice as they give opportunities for smaller/independent film makers to use their art as a catharsis for their skills.  
Synopsis: A member of a syndicate, Tony, accidentally misplaces a briefcase, only for an ordinary man, Daniel to find it. Intrigued by what's inside of the locked case, Daniel takes it upon himself to attempt to break into the case whilst, unbeknownst to him, Tony, upon the order of his boss, is ordered to kill him and retrieve the case for himself. The story follows along an unsuspected chase between Tony and Daniel and race against time.

Possible Distributors

 

 

Future Shorts

 



 
Future shorts was established in 2003 and has a rapidly expanding network that allows filmmakers an opportunity to have their product released and seen on one of the largest platforms worldwide. They specialise in getting short films seen and they help to create a culture and interest around this element. As well as being a distributor, Future shorts is a global monthly film festival in over 40 countries and they have created the largest short film festival platform in the world, by collaborating with many film makers and a vast network of businesses' and theatres. They have worked with many different companies including PEN international,  Edge of Arabia, Honda, Samsung and even worked at The Glastonbury Festival. To get your film distributed you must submit it through the internet by signing up to Film Freeway. I think that Future Shorts would be a good distributor

for our film as it is an independent label that has expe5rience in distributing short films online and they also hold their own film festival which our film could be showcased at, meaning we would be able to reach a wide range of audience as it will be presented on the Internet and also face-to-face with the audience.

 

Journeyman Pictures

 



For over 20 years, Journeyman Pictures have distributed and co-produced many unique and original films and products, gaining and using top connections in the media industry. Journeyman pictures own award winning YouTube channels and VOD (Video on Demand) platforms. They have an experienced team which have a strong understanding of the media and broadcast market. Journeyman Pictures also has a Google partnership which means that the films they distribute are easily discoverable and kept flourishing even years after distribution. To get our film distributed by this company, we would need to submit it by emailing our film to them. This would be a good distributor for us as Journeyman have many connections which would help to have a successful distribution of our film, they have worked with many different independent filmmakers which means that they have a lot of experience working with small companies. The fact they are partnered with Google means that we will be able to showcase it to a very large audience.

 

Pre Production Questionnaire Results

Pre Production questionnaire from NinaBalaj

Target Audience / Potential Audience

Our target audience is primarily teenagers/young adults aged 12 and above. The main focus of our short film is to a produce a piece which appeals to people with a preference for exciting thrillers and the unrealistic aspects of short films (which is usually those of the younger generation).One aim of our short film is to bring people into an alternate reality they wouldn't typically experience in real life, this is often done in thriller films allowing people to watch and observe a side of life they are unfamiliar with in everyday life.

The reason we are targeting the younger demographic is because they're more likely to be entertained by the thriller genre, which evident in our pre-production research, and likelier to understand underlying humour rather than the older generation. Furthermore, the younger demographic are most likely to enjoy thriller films as it allows them to use their imagination (which is at its peak during these ages) and use skills learnt from school/work such as problem solving when working out plot twists. However, adults can also enjoy this film as the thriller genre works towards a broad range of people with different interests due to the thrill factor and on edge entertainment.

Script- 1st Draft

 

Film Certificate

Age Certificate

I think that our film would be rated as a 12A. This means that people under 12 are not able to go see the film unless accompanied by an adult. The adult planning to take a child under 12 to a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child.

Although there is a little bit of strong language and someone is going to get killed it is still classed as a 12A as the BBFC classification allows strong language depending on the manner it is used and occasional gory moments are permitted if it is justified by the context. It does not fit into age rating of 15 as there is not a continuous use of strong language, sexual activity, gruesome violence or the use of illegal substances.

Logo

Short Film Moodboard

Props & Costumes

Character Profiles

Pre- Production Questionnaire

 

 

Research into Similar Films

Research into similar films from NinaBalaj

Iconography in Thrillers

Title Sequence Analysis - Pulp Fiction

Sounds/Music in Thrillers

Common Features in Thrillers

Music and sounds are used to heighten our senses and make us more aware of the situation as it changes our emotions to fit with particular scenes

Low vibrations usually used to instil fear in the audience

High pitched sounds create discomfort

Eerie and intense music build up tension and suspense

Diegetic Sound

This is sound that comes from the scene (that the characters can hear) e.g. traffic, wind, clock etc.

Diegetic sound within thrillers can include a number of things, but the main purpose is to show that the characters are aware of the sounds the audience can hear. For example a gunshot instills fear in the audience and the characters as they know they’re in danger.

Non Diegetic Sound

This is sounds that wouldn’t normally be heard naturally within that shot (the characters can't hear it) e.g. music, soundtrack , voiceover. 

Often thrillers have specific genres of music to increase the ‘thrill factor’ for the audience. This involves intense and fast paced action music such as rock within chase scenes or fight scenes. Sometimes fast paced orchestral music is used as well to build tension. Things such as voice overs are also used to enable the audience to understand the story.

     Music playing in earphones diegetic then turns into non diegetic when the music takes over the scene.

Parallel Sound

This is sound that matches what's on screen e.g. happy music to match the happiness of the scene (wedding)

Fast paced music for action scenes e.g. chase scenes

Slow paced and monotonous music for sad scenes e.g. funeral etc. 

Editing in thrillers from NinaBalaj

Settings/Locations in Thriller Films

Storylines & Characters

Storylines & Characters from NinaBalaj

Camerawork/Cinematography in Thrillers

1. High Angle Shot - This is where the camera is angled so that it is looking down on a object or person. Often used to make characters seem more powerless or vulnerable in comparison to the character that is looking down on them.


2.Low Angle Shot - This is the opposite of a high angle shot, whereby the camera is looking up at a person/object. Often used to make characters seem powerful and intimidating and potentially making the audience feel inferior in comparison. 



3. Close Up -  This is whereby ( is shooting a person) you can only see above the shoulders of a character to show their emotion or reaction towards what's happening. Often reaction shots use close ups to be able to show a person's facial features when reacting.  



4. Establishing Shot - This is a shot used to establish the scene, giving the view information about where the scene is set, often establishing shots are long shots, whereby an entire location is shown. Establishing shots also tell the audience how to feel for example if it's a shot of a dark abandoned building the audience may feel scared or on edge. 


5. Tracking Shot - This is where the camera follow a character or object, this can be either tracking backwards, forwards or along the side of. This commonly used to show the importance of a character as they walk into the scene that is set. 

Thriller Genre Research

Final(ish) Film Idea

The film starts with a smartly dressed man, carrying a briefcase, speaking on the phone (possibly in a foreign language, subtitled) to an unknown person. The man sits on a park bench and waits for someone, where he is joined by a normal looking man who starts to talk to the smartly dressed man, who dismisses him or otherwise ignores him. Eventually the smartly dressed man, decides to leave, accidentally leaving his briefcase. The normal looking bloke sees that the man has left his briefcase and initially shouts to him, but he cannot see him, so instead elects to take the briefcase home.

In the subsequent scene, the smartly dressed man, is being scolded for losing the briefcase by a woman, his boss, in this scene it is revealed that they both work for a crime syndicate, and that the man must locate the briefcase by midnight or be killed. The man thinks back to where he’s been to attempt to relocate the case and ultimately remembers the park, he comes to the conclusion that the normal-looking man has it, and wishes to locate him.

At the regular man’s house, he is attempting to open the briefcase after coming to the conclusion that is filled with money, diamonds or something else of considerable value. He uses a screwdriver to try and pry it open, but cannot; attempts to saw through it, to no avail; and repeatedly stamps on the case- all of this shown through a series of jump cuts or montage. When his ideas fail, he heads to B&Q to buy a crowbar, and when leaving the store, is followed by the well-dressed man, who is being told on the phone to “kill him”. He pulls out a gun and shoots at the normal-bloke, who ducks at the right time to pick up a coin on the floor. Somebody else is shot inadvertently, causing the well-dressed man to flee.

Later, in a pub, the normal-looking bloke is spiked by the well-dressed man, but he accidentally spills his drink and thus remains sober. Eventually, tired of being incapable of killing the regular-man, the well-dressed man follows him home and knocks on the door, asking to come in. He threatens him with a gun, the normal looking man grabs the briefcase, and attempts to smash the well-dressed man around the head with it, knocking him out. The combination written on his hand is revealed, and is inputted in the case. When the case is opened, credits are cut to, leaving the film on a cliff-hanger.

Film Idea III

The film starts with a smartly dressed man, carrying a briefcase, speaking on the phone (possibly in a foreign language, subtitled) to an unknown person. The man sits on a park bench and waits for someone, where he is joined by a scruffy looking man, possibly drinking a can of Tesco Special Brew. The “Special Brew Man” starts to talk to the smartly dressed man, who dismisses him or otherwise ignores him. Eventually the smartly dressed man, decides to leave, accidentally leaving his briefcase. The scruffy looking bloke sees that the man has left his briefcase and initially shouts to him, but he cannot see him, so instead elects to take the briefcase home.

In the subsequent scene, the smartly dressed man, is being scolded for losing the briefcase by a woman, his boss, in this scene it is revealed that they both work for a crime syndicate, and that the man must locate the briefcase or be killed. The man thinks back to where he’s been to attempt to relocate the case and ultimately remembers the park, he comes to the conclusion that the scruffy-looking man has it, and wishes to locate him.

At the scruffy-man’s house, he is attempting to open the briefcase after coming to the conclusion that is filled with money, diamonds or something else of considerable value. He uses a screwdriver to try and pry it open, but cannot; attempts to saw through it, to no avail; and repeatedly stamps on the case- all of this shown through a series of jump cuts or montage. When his ideas fail, he heads to B&Q to buy a crowbar, and when leaving the store, is followed by the well-dressed man, who is being told on the phone to “kill him”. He pulls out a gun and shoots at the scruffy-bloke, who ducks at the right time to pick up a coin on the floor. Somebody else is shot inadvertently, causing the well-dressed man to flee.

Later, in a pub, the scruffy-looking bloke is spiked by the well-dressed man, but he accidentally spills his drink and thus remains sober. Eventually, tired of being incapable of killing the scruffy-man, the well-dressed man follows him home and knocks on the door, asking to come in. He threatens him with a gun, but some passers-by in the street call the police, worried about the safety of the scruffy-bloke. Eventually the scruffy looking man grabs the briefcase, and attempts to smash the well-dressed man around the head with it, knocking him down, the briefcase breaks open, revealing it to be filled with paper, the man on the floor reaches for the gun, so the scruffy man grabs it first. When he does this, the police burst down the door and shoot him, believing him to be the gunman. The film ends.