Key Director Case Study

'A Touch of Frost' - Disability

In class we have been looking at issues around the way in which disability is represented in TV Dramas, particularly 'A Touch of Frost'. Representation of social groups in our thriller opening is something we need to take some informed decisions about. If we are going to, for example, depict somebody with a condition attached to mental health or a personality disorder then we will need to research this to avoid clichéd or offensive stereotyping. This is important in our thriller especially as we are making a psychological thriller. In our opening scene we show a young girl talking to a psychiatrist for the first time, we need to be careful as to not show the psychiatrist as intimidating and show that speaking to someone about how you feel is a good thing, nothing to be afraid of.

Here is what I wrote about the representations of boy with downs syndrome in an episode of 'A Touch of Frost':

The quick change from the woman describing Billy as ‘strange’ to the clip of Billy walking through the woods. This clip shows time much faster than it actually happened, this could imply that the police quickly jumped to conclusions and caught the first suspect that they had before looking further into the investigation. They assumed that because Billy had a disability that he had a short temper and suffered from confusion and therefore would have been capable of hurting a more able person despite the stereotypes of them being weak and easily scared. The fact that time was showed to go faster could also suggest that Billy is actually starting to feel confused now, the events of the night are becoming jumbled and replaying over and over in his head, things quickly went horribly wrong for him and he doesn’t understand why. The officers that tackled him noticed that he suffered from downs syndrome and so didn’t bother to explain what was going on, they just took him home and left the ‘professionals’ to handle the delivery of the bad news.

Low key lighting is used throughout the whole clip, this implies that the life that Billy’s parents have is very plain and limited as those who are able bodied and not aware of disabilities are represented as arrogant about those with learning difficulties. First impressions of his parents are that they’re old and struggling to cope, this is represented by the use of the dull lighting. Maybe looking after Billy has aged them and made them feel older than they are. They’re all so dependent on each other that they couldn’t leave each other’s sides, his parents have lived together for such a long time that they couldn’t imagine life without each other. They’re such a close family and that’s because that’s their way of coping with having a hard life; Billy needs to be watched and looked after for the rest of his life as his disability holds him back from living a normal life.

During the interrogation, there is a slight low angle shot used when the officer is in the frame showing that he is in control of the whole situation and has the authority. However, there is a slight high angle shot used when Billy is in frame to show his vulnerability and lack of control; this shot could make the audience sympathise with Billy’s situation as he believes he’s done nothing wrong, he’s been wrongfully accused. Within this shot, however, low key lighting is used to create shadows over his face giving a sense of mystery. Also when the camera is on the detective the scene is brighter than it is when on Billy, this could be to suggest how people who are disabled, like Billy, are suggested as dirty as he isn’t independent and can’t look after himself making it seem as if Billy is like a child (another reason for why a low angle shot is used on Billy, he isn’t treated like an adult).

Towards the end of the clip, Billy starts to stand up for himself, this is showed by the sudden change in camera shots from the mid shot -which included Billy’s dad in the background implying that Billy is dependent on his dad to be there for him when he doesn’t know how to answer- to a close up of Billy’s angry expression -which shows billy standing up for himself and making it clear he doesn’t need help. This is very unexpected as throughout the whole interrogation a two shot is the only shot used when Billy is in frame as this shows both Billy and his dad in the same shot implying that he is very dependent on his dad and other people as they have to be there to talk for him as he is showed as unable to speak for himself due his disability. However, the sudden change to the close up implies that there could be more to Billy than we first see, maybe he is capable of so much more than we think, this idea juxtaposes the officers first words about Billy, he describes Billy as ‘mentally subnormal’. The word ‘subnormal’ massively patronises Billy and lowers the audiences thoughts about Billy’s abilities based on his disability; as the able officer is the one to say this, the statement is believed even more as the police are trusted and relied on to give the truth.



'Raven Calls' screenplay

Based on our ideas we put forward in our one page pitch, we created a screenplay to use throughout the making of our thriller film. This screenplay is for the first couple of minutes of our film only, not the whole 120 minutes we proposed in our pitch. We included location, setting and time of day, details of where the camera is in each scene, we introduced key characters and included a short description of who they are/what they look like, and we included key dialogue between characters and details of their actions and expressions like I mentioned in my previous blog post about how to write a screenplay.

INT. THERAPIST OFFICE - DAYTIME

The therapist office consists of little by way of furniture apart from a desk with a chair on either side. The lighting in the room is pretty dark (could be filmed in black and white).

Two characters appear in the scene. The therapist (Amy Hall) and her patient (Beth Newton).

THE CAMERA SHOWS A VIEW OF THE DESK, SHOWS AMY'S HANDS ON HER LAPTOP. SHE CLOSES THE LID.

MEDIUM CLOSE UP: AMY LEANS FORWARD ON HER HANDS TO LOOK AT A PATIENT OPPOSITE HER. THERE IS A SHOT REVERSE SHOT BETWEEN THEM AS THEY START THEIR DIALOGUE

Amy: (calmly) why don't we start at the beginning?

Beth: (avoids eye contact and brings the sleeves of her jumper over hands to show nerves) It was only supposed to be a game, a story. It wasn't supposed to be real.

Amy: What wasn't?

Beth: Raven Black...

CUTAWAY: THE CAMERA CUTS TO BETH READING A NEWS ARTICLE.

CLOSE UP: THERE IS A CLOSE UP OF THE NEWS ARTICLE THE HEADLINE READS 'ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? - MORE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES IN HALLOWS WOOD. IS THIS THE WORK OF A HUMAN OR OF SOMETHING MUCH MORE SINISTER.

CUTAWAY: BACK IN THE THERAPIST OFFICE (CUT ALWAYS CONTINUE THROUGH THE SEVENS KEEPING A FAST PACED FEEL TO THE OPENING AS WELL AS KEEPING A NARRATIVE GOING)

2.

INT. THERAPIST OFFICE - DAYTIME

Beth: The story goes...that years ago a girl died in the woods, she was in her early teens but as the legend has it she was but a child in her mind. No one knows how she died but people say her presences is strongly felt there...in Hallows Woods...

EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

Beth holds a camera pointing it at two friends as they walk through the woods together. The footage is filmed by the characters themselves.

Friend 1: Do you think she'll appear?

Friend 2: Don't be stupid. It's just a story.

Beth: So where have those people gone?

INT. THERAPIST OFFICE - DAYTIME

Amy: You spoke of people going missing.

Beth: (nods) Apparently if you Went to the woods and said her name three times she'd appear.

EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

Friend 2: Say her name then.

Friend 1: I don't want to, it's Beth's story not mine.

Beth: (laughs slightly) Aw, you scared mate?

3.

Friend 2: (mockingly) Do you want us all to say it together?

All: Raven Black. Raven Black. Raven Black.

INT. THERAPIST OFFICE - DAYTIME

Amy: Was this the game you spoke about?

Beth: (nods) She was supposed to appear and then you're meant to sing a lullaby and she goes away...goes to sleep...like a child would...

Amy: What happened to your friends?

EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

For a moment nothing happens the characters continue their walk along the path.

Friend 2: (nervously/scared) What is that?

THE CAMERA PANS SUDDENLY TO SHOW A FIGURE IN THE TREES DRESSED IN A LONG WHITE DRESS/NIGHT GOWN. SHE IS TALL WITH LONG HAIR AND A PALE FACE THAT APPEARS TO BE CRACKED LIKE PORCELAIN. THIS IS RAVEN BLACK. (JESS EMMINGHAM). THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE FIGURE.

Friend 1: (screams)

Beth: (not really believing what she's seeing.) Oh my god...

Friend 2: it can't be...

Raven slowly starts to move towards them, the two friends slowly start to back away. Beth stumbles and falls onto her back.

4.

INT. THERAPIST OFFICE - DAYTIME

Beth: The story said that if you didn't finish the game she took you...

EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

Raven: (creepily singing Oranges and Lemons...)

Beth: (scared) we have to play the game...

She moves the camera around to show her friends leaving, they run off and disappear leaving her stood alone. She turns the camera back showing Raven still getting closer to her.

Beth: (to her friends) come back... (Her voice breaks in fear before she turns back to Raven deciding she must finish the game alone. She shakily sings) Oranges and lemons say the bells of St. Clement's...

INT. THERAPIST OFFICE - DAYTIME

Amy: You finished the game...

Beth: But they didn't...

Amy: Your friends were taken by a ghost?

Beth: It was real...She was real...if I hadn't played she would've taken me too...don't you understand?

Amy: I understand that you're scared...but she's gone...

Beth: Is she though?

Amy: (Sits back, looks at something behind Beth) almost definitely...

THE CAMERA MOVES OVER BETH'S SHOULDER TO REVEAL IN THE DOOR.

One page pitch

Before we begin the process of making our very own thriller film we had to pitch our ideas to 'film director', he gave us tips on how to improve our film as a whole and tweak smaller areas like sound and lighting.

 

The elements of a one page pitch:

- Title

- Genre

- Tag line

- Intended audience

- Film length

- Story

- etc.

 

A one page pitch is written to try to sell your film to a professional film company which will support your film financially and help with promotions and the casting of roles. Here is our very own one page pitch for 'Raven Calls', enjoy!

 

 

One Page Pitch

Working Title -   Raven Calls

Film Genre -    Psychological/horror/thriller

Length -   120 minutes

Target Audience – 15+, the film contains issues of psychological issues and death which viewers under the age of 15 may find upsetting or disturbing. By giving the film this age range it broadens the range of people we can get to watch the film.

Tag line -  

‘It’s more than just a game’

‘No one is afraid of the dark, they’re afraid of what’s inside it…'

What if premise – what if you’d heard a story, a stupid little ghost story that was made to scare children into behaving. What if you thought there was some kind of truth to this story and being the curious investigative journalist you are you decided to check it out. As the cliché goes there was a child, a lost young girl who died in the woods, and if you go to the woods and call out her name she wants to play a game.

Story Synopsis – A young investigative journalist hears the story of Raven Black, a young girl who died in the woods many years before. Wanting a decent story the journalist, along with two friends decide to go and see if there is any kind of truth behind the story. Taking their camera to record any evidence of Raven they begin to call her name only the journalist’s friends forget one very important detail – you must finish the game.

Visual realisation – The two locations for our film is in a therapist office and in the woods. Whilst in a therapist office the lighting is dark creating an atmosphere of mystery. When the characters in the woods the footage is filmed by the characters in a paranormal activity/Blair witch style.

Audience Appeal – Our film would be appealing to our target audience because the film is entertaining for a generation that enjoy the horror genre and it can link to horror games such as Slender and Outlast.




Screenplay

For our thriller opening, we have to write our very own screenplay and so I decided to look the role of screenplays in the production of thriller films.

A screenplay is the script of a film, including acting instructions and scene directions. Within pre-production, screenplay comes before the storyboard as it's hard to draw up a storyboard without knowing what the film is about. The screenplay helps to get the 'green light' from production companies, the storyboard comes after this and one is made for everyone on set.

Writing a screenplay:

- Include location, setting and time of day.

- Include details of where the camera is in each scene.

- Introduce key characters and include a short description of who they are/what they look like.

- Include key dialogue between characters between and details of their actions and expressions.

Jaws
 I studied the opening of the 1975 Steven Spielberg film of 'Jaws'. The screenplay was written by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb.This showed me how important screenplays are in creating the desired effect on screen, however, despite their importance, they can also be subject to change as evident in 'Jaws', things can be added to create more tension or removed to save time.

This is only the first page of the screenplay and there is already so many details about the setting, cuts, sound and lighting. It's clear that the sound is a key aspect in the creation of tension and suspense during this scene even when there's no sound at all. The use of 'EXT' and 'INT' are frequent throughout the whole screenplay, these are shortened terms for exterior (outside) and interior (inside). Also, the number on the left hand side of the page shows the scene number so everyone on set knows about each different cut and when they change.

This whole section of the screenplay was cut out completely to save time and shorten the overall length of the film, the director of the film may have also believed this scene was unnecessary or irrelevant for the plot development.

This scene doesn't happen exactly as planned in he screenplay but it does still happen unlike the scene before. As this scene would have been done by the stunt co-ordinators rather than Susan Backlinie, the original 'Chrissie', they would have decided how they were to do this scene rather than the screenwriters.


Below is the clip of the opening scene to jaws along with a link to the original screenplay to show comparisons.


'Jaws' original screenplay.