Heads up: there is a reflective journal at the bottom of each section (Context, research [page 2], Pre Production, Practical Skills [all the videos on the page] and Evaluation). These simply discuss each stage and my progress through the 10 weeks as a guide. Enjoy my FMP :)

Candidate Name: Nick Warner

Candidate No. 347760 

Pathway: Creative Media for Film and TV

Proposal

Rationale

Over the course of the year so far, I have discovered my strengths in leadership and directing, although I must learn to let others lead and follow their direction. As well as this, These assignments have shown me that my favourite aspect is editing so this is an area I would like to focus on with this project, carrying it out in greater depth and understanding. I haven't really had the challenge of producing a production properly yet. Funnily enough, when I started the course I thought the planning stages would be my preference. Part of this is scripting, which I ended up with on the last project but I want to really focus on it from the start this time round. 

Concept

My short film will be on people watching, studying why people jump to quick decisions about each other. The story will follow a pair talking about people who pass by and we see the lives they envision led to them passing. I want to focus on the theme of personal perception and reflection as many people watch to deflect on their own experiences onto someone else. I will chiefly use contrasting colour palettes and songs to reflect the vivid individual lives of each figure passing by whilst the natural world remains neutral and somewhat bland. My focus in achieving this vision lies in the script and colour grading as these are the areas that I wish to explore in depth. It will end in a bitter sweet way, resetting the characters to their neutral lives and parting ways as this film is designed to present the difference in perception of reality and fantasy. In production for this, I will be researching the psychologies of people watching to establish why it’s common and what people are able to pick up on from an initial glance, to truly ground this film in reality. The production of the film will require me to gather a cast of 8 people and a coffee shop as the central location that I must gain permission to use, along with hiring filming equipment from college. For primary research, I intend to sit and people watch, as I sometimes do, and write what I see. Although scripting is my priority, my end project needs to be very visual and striking. 

Evaluation

Throughout the project, I will be making a week by week reflection of what has been achieve along with noting changes and issues faced. It is important to me to keep records of the original idea and show its progression rather than jumping to the final project. The development and understanding of the film is valuable as there is no smoke without fire. My aims in this project are to develop my scripting and research skills in pre-production moving into colour grading and sound design in post. My evaluation will clearly be limited to analysing my project at its finale while the reflection will be added to weekly, conveying my progress. I will know if my final video is a success if the visuals are striking and two clear worlds are represented (thoughts and reality) so that the product works with limited dialogue. 

Further Introduction

Aims of Production

To explore the themes of self reflection, perception and isolation through colour and music. In a successful finished film, there would be a clear differentiation between the normal world and the ‘dream’ sequences where the lead imagines the lives of the people he sees.  Through this idea, I can experiment with colour grading and the influence of music. As well as colour grading, I want to see how much of a tonally shift I can express with the physical Mise En Scene with set, props and costumes. 

Target Audience

During this production, my target audience is 16 - 25 (young adults) as this is the age category I most relate with, currently being in it. The ideas I put forward about people watching come from personal places and how I see the world so I believe the most recipient audience would be the one that sympathises and connects best. Young adults, in my opinion, have the most varied and interesting views when it comes to people watching so I will be using the people around me to inform my research and enforce my ideas as a young adult using theirs.

My film is also being made to be put on Youtube. The reason that this is my chosen platform as I strongly believe that young people should have more access to films and media to become inspired and help them get into the industries of their choice. These days, streaming services are very good with the amount of content they have available but many students and young people can't afford this so having films on Youtube is a good source. My film will not handle any particularly sensative topics so its broad availability is valid and useful.