Production Log: 18th September; Planning

Date: 18^th September Wednesday 2013

PLANNING: IDEAS

Me, Sabrina and Bertie thought of some ideas that were quickly decided upon to not be used by us. I had the idea of creating a movie opening with the point of view coming from a woman with mental health issues. The camera would be her eyesight, so that the audience can see everything from her point of view. Also, we would hear everything that she hears. She would be waking up, and as she went through her normal morning routine, we see how different it is for someone like her. This would include hands shaking, head turning from side to side, constantly licking lips and reaching for her pills. There would be books laying around on the floor from topics of demonization to how the devil controls the earth. Or the woman could have a severe case of OCD, so everything would be pristine and perfect. We decided to dismiss this idea as it would be extremely difficult to tilt and hold the camera as if it were from the woman’s direct view point. Also, the storyline would be hard to distinguish because of its complexity.

We looked at the “Now You See Me” opening, which is a film I personally adore because of its level of expectancy (none). It shows the four main characters doing magic acts. We all loved this because we didn’t know what was going to happen (or at least when we first watched the film), the wit and excitement promises the audience an exciting storyline (which it delivered, of course). We also gathered that from the four characters, two are stereotypically “hot”. Isla Fisher, the only woman of the four promises to muse men, whereas Dave Franco has always been idealized since “21 Jump Street” as a heart throb.

Later Mrs. Mann had introduced to us the newspaper article by The Times about a girl who had died from taking diet pills that were ruled to be unsuitable but could be bought online. We created a list of ideas (no particular order);

1.     Teenager is shown dead in their bedroom

2.     Chemist analyzing drug formula. We can use the Science labs for this, and substitute drugs for powder sugar.

3.     TV appeal by distraught parents, can be acted out by our drama departments teacher, Mr.Kimber and Mrs.Horley.

4.     Profile of a teenager ( side frame) taking pills ECU

5.     A cat takes the drugs and dies, the cat doesn’t have to be shown dying, just licking the powder. Later we find the cat is dead via word of mouth.

6.     Police are shown wondering around the house, finding drugs under bed, glancing at each other.

7.     TV news anchors in different languages saying the same thing; teen dies of diet drug. We have several friends all speaking different languages that can be recorded by a green screen.

8.     One of our team members, Sabrina, is Chinese and can speak and write in perfect Chinese. We have this chemist (Sabrina) distribute the drugs and speaking Chinese, with a Chinese gang sign on her forearm.

9.     There is a small but famous herbal medicine shop in China Town, London, that we might be able to use if we ask nicely, or at least film outside for the glass window display.