Planning and Research

Sahand, Maddy and Merle

SynopsisRobbie an awkward 18 year old boy who suffers from Autism. He is left to support himself as the result of a careless and delinquent mother who is constantly under the influence of prescription drugs. He develops an interest in narcotics through the view of his bedroom window where he observes the frequent visitors at a drug den on their estate. Due to his mental impairment, he has a fervent interest of Chemistry, shown by the abundance of posters in his bedroom and commitment of staying after school in the labs for hours. After years of intensive research, he breaks into the school and manages to create a drug in the school science lab. One afternoon whilst walking home he becomes intrigued in a girl he sees often around school and decides to follow her. In aggressively confronting his behaviour, the drugs drop from his pocket and she questions him further, appearing interested. They join forces together, him making the drug and her selling it. As their drug becomes increasingly popular among young people in the area and they begin to make a lot of money, others involved in the drugs business become aware that there is threat to their own businesses and money. These gang members set out to destroy their success, forcing the two teenagers to escape and find refuge in a train station toilet. They then are involved in a police chase, as the trailer will end ambiguously leaving the audience to the fate of the autistic boy and his accomplice.

Trailer Plan

- Panning/Tracking shot establishing the setting, showing an estate tower block.

- Blackout as text on screen reads “PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS”.... “ELIXIR” followed by the definition

- Over the shoulder shot establishing the protagonist’s clear suffering from some form of mild Autism, with a worksheet in front of him on a school desk and sat next to a teacher/helper.

- Long Shot showing the school to set the scene

- Panning Shot of the school science lab showing protagonist experimenting with chemicals

- Close up of chemicals

- Over the Shoulder shot of protagonist following female character

- Long Shot of her pushing him and drugs falling from his pocket

Storyboard

Key questionsThe key questions stem from the trailer and the audience’s intrigue regarding what will happen next. By using jump cuts and cliffhangers, we merely hint at what the film has to offer, thus exciting the audience to watch the entire film. Our questions will be:

- What is the fate of the autistic boy and his accomplice after the police begin to chase them?

- How does illness affect Robbie’s life and his relationships with people?

- How does Robbie’s dysfunctional relationship with his mum affect him?

- How does he create this drug?

- How does Robbie’s relationship change with the girl he starts working with?

- How does she cope with dealing with Robbie’s illness but possibly gaining deeper feelings of affection or admiration for him?

Moodboard

Inspirationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O704ld5WQnkThe Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time - originally a book, now a highly acclaimed West End production, about the mind of a boy suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7BFZqQ4ruAFish Tank - a film looking at issues surrounding family dynamics and broken homes. Inspired us to look at ideas about the effects of a broken or insecure home life/family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdoKD4gTQ2cKidulthood - a film focused on London gang culture, drug culture, and relationships between young people.

Themes

- Gang culture

- Drugs

- Disabilities (specifically Autism)

- Family dynamics

- Broken homes

- Relationships/love between young adults/teenagers

Target Audience and ResearchOur target audience will be predominantly young people, with the minimum age of 15, as the substance abuse (drug nature) is only suitable for a certificate of 15. Therefore, we aim to appeal to the 15-mid 20s market, possibly even older. However, as the majority of the characters will be aged 17/18, it is psychologically proven that those who watch a film with similar aged characters like the film more than those with a generation gap. The gender would be versatile as the themes of violence, drugs, crime and mental illness are applicable to both girls and boys and affect an array of people in society.

Our inspiration came from ‘Kidulthood’ which was extremely popular among young people as 158 under 25s saw it, compared to a mere 53 over 25 year olds according to the UK Film Council. The trailer manipulated semantic elements such as knives, drugs and cigarettes to resemble the broader syntactic elements of the themes of violence, rebellion and youth. The poster is of teenagers, one with a baseball bat, again connoting crime and juvenile delinquency, which we aim to execute in a similar form. In terms of the website, a low angle shot is used of a young boy with a disapproving look, portraying intimidation and superiority.

We were also inspired by ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime’ which one of our team members read, gaining insight regarding how to approach the general topic of mental illness and the specific execution of autism among young people. It also aided our aim to represent family relationships, in particular ones who are dysfunctional and broken and the effect this has on teenagers with autism.

Genre ConventionsCAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS

- Birds Eye/High Angle - Used to show the object or person who is being looked down on seem vulnerable and powerless.

- Close Up - Used to show reactions, creating suspense/tension/fear/sadness/anger etc.

- Tracking/Panning Shot - Used to show someone being followed or watched, also can be used to set the scene.

- Long shot/Extreme Long Shot - This shot shows surroundings, could show a deserted area, creating thrill and suspense.

- Low angles - Used to show intimidation or fear.

- Handheld - creates a sense of reality, usually used in thrillers or horrors.

- Over the Shoulder - creates suspense and tension, similar to a point of view shot.

LIGHTING

- Low key lighting: Utilized often to provoke sentiments of tension and negativity.

- Created by the use of a back light.

- Mainly used in thriller films.

- Used to represent dark atmospheres which can be seen as scary or mysterious.

- Dramatic effect as lighting reflects onto the characters and the atmosphere.

- High Key Lighting - Everything looks bright with little to no shadow used. Slight dramatic effect often used in a scene absent of tension to elude a more positive feel.

Genre conventions continuedSOUND AND EDITING

- Music is essential in any film to mirror the mood of the characters, hence hint at an emotion. In a thriller it adds suspense and tension; it will often start at a slow pace and then speed up/crescendo to make the shots more fast-paced, thus dramatic for the audience.

- Within a drama/thriller, the buildup of tension and suspense is key to conform the codes and conventions of these genres. Therefore, editing is used as a platform to present this high intensity through fast-paced shots, jump cuts and possibly a flashback to portray someone who isn’t all who they seem to be.

MISE EN SCENE

- Lack of make-up can reveal a character’s vulnerability and smudged make-up can portray crying within a thriller, and in terms of a drama, casual clothing is often used in order to emphasise realism.

- Typical background for a thriller or drama would be an eerie location such as a dark alley, or to really express the emotions within a family, it may be shot in a house/everyday place to really hone in on the relationships between the characters.

- Proxemics may be close throughout, displaying high-pressure conversations and high intensity ordeals, such as a drug exchange.

- In terms of props, thriller and drama paradigms often include semantic elements such as knives, drugs and cigarettes in order to generate fear through the use of illegal substances to arouse audience expectations of these genres.

Actors/locationsActors:

Robbie - autistic boy (nerdy)

Natalia - girl accomplice (chav)

Louise - mother (antisocial, irresponsible, addicted to prescription drugs)

Thug 1, 2, 3 and 4, peers at school 1, 2 and 3

Ben - train station guard (curious about girl and boy - one who calls the police)

Mr Lincoln- chemistry teacher (helps Robbie with chemistry fascination)

Miss Phillips - Robbie’s special helper/assistant, mother figure to Robbie

Locations:

- Council estate - White City and Camden Town, view from a roof garden and low angle shot - reveals urban lifestyle, boy follows girl home - first meeting

- In a home - boys bedroom, interest in Chemistry, living room, revealing relationship with mother, view from boys bedroom window - interest in drug dealing

- In school - science lab, science research, creating drug

- Train station toilet - Kings Cross - boy and girl find refuge

- London streets, time lapse of car lights - passing of time during police chase

Costumes/propsCostumes:

- Robbie: glasses, high trousers, t shirt, jacket, backpack, bobble hat.

- Chloe: leggings, crop top, hoodie, trainers, hoop earrings, chain necklace, hair tied up.

- Helper/teacher: shirt with skirt/trousers, work wear shoes, handbag.

- Robbie’s mum: jeans, t shirt, hoop earrings, hair tied up.

- Gang members: tracksuits, hoods.

Props:

- Science equipment

- ‘Smiley Face’ diagram on paper

- Bag of drugs

- Money

- Knife