Poster 4

Storyboard

About the alternative ending

While we were on the set of our film we decided to end the film a little differently, so that our film wouldn't follow the codes and conventions of an actual film. We decided that instead of Sarah and Max making up at the end, we should get Max to reject Sarah's attempt to patch things up with him. We made this the ending of our main film, but we still shot the scenes in which Sarah and Max make up. We then decided to make the scene when Sarah and Max make-up, part of our alternative ending, We then posted both on Youtube in order for us to see which one got the most views. This is the result of our alternative ending.

Poster evaluation

The colours I used in the poster are quite dismal colours or dark colours that have been used in order to emphasise the theme of grief in the film. The colours used for the text also relates to the theme of grief seeming as it’s in black and white, which are sad and plain colours, which is why they are used in almost all the posters. The main colours in the background for all of the posters are black. The main image for most of the images is of Sarah (Louise Hewison) whose facial expression clearly shows that she’s upset, which highlights the theme of grief once again. Even one of the posters is quite abstract so you can really see the grief of Sarah coming through. I think the intended audience for this poster people of the age of 16+. I think that due to the fact that the image chosen has so much emotion radiating from it; people would want to see the film. This would have been more effective if the character chosen for the poster was famous because audiences would have been more interested. I can tell that the movie is a drama due to the poster. The words “from the director who brought you fragmental” would engage the audience, especially if they saw ‘Fragmental’ and liked it. This quote also suggests that the director is good seeming as I decided to quote him in the film poster. It also makes both films more popular seeming as if people like “lost for words” they would be interested in watching  “fragmental” and visa versa. The poster doesn’t promise you anything specifically, but by mentioning the directors name you are promised a visually good film in terms of directing.

Credits for film

This is an image of the credit block I included in all of my posters in order to make my posters more realistic. The picture also includes the logo's of company's I made up that are meant to be associated with the actual film. I made these logo's using paint, word and Photoshop. After making the first poster I could just copy and paste the logo's and credit block from word onto my other posters.

Poster 6

This is the one of the first posters that I made. This poster isn't completely finished because half-way through I realised that this poster didn't suit the world of our film. It looked like a poster for a thriller or horror movie instead of a drama. It was due to this poster that I took the initiative to do more research in order for me to be able to figure what the codes and conventions of a drama poster were. This helped to make other posters that were more relevant to my film.

T

Poster draft3

Poster draft2

Poster draft 1

Diary entry in film

I miss you so much and i know mum does too. She just shows it differently. The other day i told her one of those jokes from that joke book you got me and she just stared, she didn't even crese the corners of her lips. I know i shouldn't say this, but when you left us mum went with you. I feel so alone Dad. Anyway going to be late for school if i write anymore. Talk to you soon.

Bye dad.

Prop list

We all configured a list of what was needed in our film in each scene. We then contributed £5 each in order for us to be able to purchase the items required in our film. Then one of the members in my group went out to buy all the items that we needed.

Scene one:

• Bouquet of flowers

Scene Two:

• Cardboard box
• Men shirts
• Textbook
• Notepad
• Stationary
• Bottle of wine

Scene Three:

• Hoover
• Shoes
• Shirt
• Diary

Scene Four:

• Knife
• Keys
• Mail
• Cake
• Candles
• Presents

Film review

This is what my review looked like when I
first start

I chose this magazine due to its energetic and charismatic focused writing style. I particularly love the way in which they were able to draw the reader, while cleverly analysing a film for both its technical appearance as well as the narrative of the film. Out of all the reviews I researched this was the review I felt was similar to my writing style. I liked the way they engaged the reader and the way they made the reader feel comfortable reading their magazine even if they knew nothing about films.

While creating my own version of a film review from Screen I found it particularly difficult to get the right text. I had to go through the entire list of texts on word in order for me to be able to find a font that was similar; I’m still not happy with the font I chose(Times new roman), but I think it was close. I couldn’t quite get the pattern of the grey text used for ‘The verdict’ in the magazine. I decided in the end to use normal grey font to enable me to focus on other aspects of the film review. I decided to pick an image of the two characters holding hands seeming as I felt that it summed up my review very well due to the fact that I talked about the relationship between the characters Sarah and max a lot. I think the layout the magazine had wasn’t too difficult to replicate to an armature level. I also liked the layouts natural simplicity seeming as it made the review seem more friendly.

I believed I followed the codes and conventions of a film magazine to the best of my abilities. Due to my limited supply of word programmes I don’t believe my magazine looked exactly like the real magazine, but it was very close; especially considering my armature abilities and software. In the end I was quite happy with the final version of my film review. I thought of any extra little bits that could possibly be added to a film review e.g. the date of the film review in order to ensure that my review looked as realistic as possible. This was made especially difficult due to the limited amount of time I had to finish the film review. All in all I think the film review was a success. 

Total film magazine analysis

The language they used is quite free flowing and it’s like they really do understand everything there is to know about films. They speak in third person as well in order to engage the reader. They also assume that the people reading the magazine have read it before hand. They also input their own opinion into the review subtly, so that they don’t completely sway the reader away from the film.They also use the names of actors with the assumption that their readers will know who they are. They also include all the infomation of the film including the films running time ect.

Total film magazine has a boxed layout that is very neat and it makes the review look like it has a lot of information to read about. This magazine used the review to advertise the ‘Lord of the Rings’ first film coming out on DVD. I think the magazines USP is having the actual comments of actors and co-producers on the side. They don’t just talk about how good the film is; they also talk about how difficult it was to do different stunts ect, which is more interesting, seeming as it’s something that most people won’t know. The main picture on the review is extremely big, so it takes up most of the page. The picture they used is tilted so it catches the readers attention because it’s a distorted image, so it’s more interesting to look at. There are extra snapshots of the movie on the right-hand side next to the actors and co-producers comments, so that you can visually see what they were talking about. The slogan underneath the title is very strait to the point. The slogan also uses triple emphasis “fight, fight, fight” in order for it to be more catchy and this way its easier for the reader to remember. It also suits the short and snappy style of a film magazine. They also make up words that they think will suit there magazine e.g. “net-jerk-o-vision”. It sounds trendy and it’s new so it entices the reader more.

Poster 5

Call Sheet

This Call sheet was made so that everyone should know what time they were required to be in and what time they would expect to leave. It also ensured that both the cast and crew had eachothers contact details; both phone and e-mail in order to make sure that we could easily contact each other if there were any problems. The call sheet made us seem more proffesional, seeming as we were organized.

Moodboard 2

I think the music that I picked for this video perfectly illustrates our subject matter and story idea, due to the fact that it discusses a person's inability to bring/ save a person from the turmoil they are ging through. The fact that the picture at the end is in colour represents the idea of a new beginning, which is what we want Sarah and Max to achieve near the end of the short film. The pictures being changed to black and white just allows the viewer to get a feel for what Max and Sarah are feeling, seeming as the music along with the sad and grey images are depressing and upsetting.

Actors

Actors on Prezi

Script draft 2

Scene 1

Ext: Graveyard. Daytime

SARAH and MAX stand at the grave, whilst MAX remains emotionless; SARAH wipes a single tear away from her 

left cheek. MAX goes to show his mother some support by touching her arm however she makes no reaction and 

slowly walks off leaving MAX alone staring into the abyss that his father’s grave. SARAH clearly walks away, in 

silence, showing the audience the disconnection between SARAH and her son. MAX then looks down at his feet, 

turns and walks after his mother, the space between them remains showing that due to the father’s death it is 

clear the relationship is beginning to perish between these two characters.

Scene 2

NEXT DAY.

Int: Stairs/Kitchen/Living Room/Family Home.

SARAH, alone strolls down the stairs lazily while carrying a large cardboard box. Griping it tight too show the 



audience that her emotions to what ever the box contain is strong. While MAX is sat alone in the kitchen, tired 



from the day and school, is sat doing homework, struggling however is not receiving any help from mother, 



SARAH. SARAH then almost slam down the box onto the kitchen table, and then throws nearby shirts into the 



black bag that was thrown on the table she stands by. As SARAH enters the room we see a shot of the back of 




max's head, SARAH then goes about her business and the camera pans to see MAX'S face struggling with his 




homework. We will show this through several shots to show MAX'S struggle such as close up of his mouth biting 




his lip in frustration, him stippling on the page and n attempt to catch his mother's attention for guidance. SARAH 




then begins to throw shirts in bag, steps back as if 


her emotions have finally caught up with her, her son MAX looks at his mother, she then turns around and grabs 


her glass of wine, bringing it close to her face with both hands, almost as if she is know relying on drink to be her 


support. MAX reaches into the box to find his dad’s shirts, he pulls one out, then another, all oblivious to his 


mother. He looks towards his mother, a shadow of her former self. He grips his dad’s shirts tightly and walks past 


his mother, as if she were a stranger. We then see a shot, a point of view, to show SARAH'S view of her son 




walking up the stairs. SARAH still drinking turns round to see her sons exit. SARAH Looks into a 


near by mirror and her own reflections, looks down and the camera slowly fades to black.

Scene 3

FADES TO BLACK.

NEXT DAY.

Int. Living Room.

SARAH, stands alone, hovering, in a frustrated manner, she finishes. Looking down she finds a pair of her son’s 

shoes. She grabs them, looks at them, and turns and travels upstairs, to her son’s room and throws the shows 


onto the bed. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a small box. She then sits down onto her son’s bed, Opening 


the box she finds a diary resting onto of items belonging to her late husband. The pulls out shirts she was sure 


she got rid of and a photo of her son, MAX and her husband laughing. She rests the shirts onto her lap and reads 


the diary. The diary is read in the son’s voice. She then lays back and sniffs the father’s shirt. 




The shot of the dairy will at first be the mother reading the words, with an over the shoulder shot. The camera will 




then begin to fade to the boy talking to the camera, standing in a pure white room wearing pure white clothes.

            

 Max (Voice Over): I don't usually do this. I miss you so much and i know mum does too. She just shows 

it differently. The other day i told her one of those jokes from that joke book you got me and she just stared, she 

didn't even crese the corners of her lips. I know i shouldn't say this, but when you left us mum went with you. I feel 

so alone Dad. Anyway going to be late for school if i write anymore. Talk to you soon. Bye dad.

FADES TO BLACK.

While it fades to black we hear the boys voice over say “By the way it’s my birthday tomorrow, I doubt mum will 

make a fuss”.

Scene 4

Int. Party Room.

SARAH stands in front of chair with a rope in her hand in a dark room.

(MUSIC BEGINS TO PLAY - A SLOW AND DISTORTED VERSION OF 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' PLAYS.)

of the chair she stands on. MAX then walks through the door  and looks up, we see SARAH'S leg again lowering, 




MAX has an expression as if her had just seen a ghost. 

However, Max smiles, the camera pans to see SARAH is fine, and the room to be filled with decorations for 

MAX'S birthday,  SARAH smiles at her son, they come together and stand in the same position they did at the 

grave in the opening scene however with contrasting expressions to how they felt in the begging of the piece. All 

shots within this scene must be very clear and cut, we must take time when editing and shooting to portray these 

emotions in the clearest possible way.

SARAH slowly steps on a wooden, old chair, the movement is slow, to reflect the music in the background. 

SARAH pulls the rope through her hand. We will see shots on SARAH'S face from an angle, almost as if we are 

not trying to reveal her identity to the audience, we will see close up of her shoes and how she stands. Her skinny 

frame resembles a deer as she stands high, SARAH looks nervous, she then slowly lifts her foot and lowers it off 

Treatment draft 2

Sarah's husband passes away after months of being terminally ill and her relationship between her and her son slowly deteriorates. Sarah begins to drink heavily and arguments between her and her son get more and more heated as he cannot accept the way his mother is dealing with the Dads death. Sarah continues to be unaware of her son's emotions until she comes across a diary that he is writing to his father begging for answers regarding how to deal with his mother. it is only at the end that she realises her ways must change as her son is loosing his mother.

Our story starts off with Sarah and her son looking down at the fathers grave. Whilst the son is extremely upset the mother remains emotionless and walks away, it is here that we see the disconnection between her and her son and it is here that the audience start to question why Sarah is acting this way. At home we see how there relationship slowly deteriorates where in one scene we see how Sarah begins to throw out the late Father's belongings and is unaware that when her back is turned her son is taking them as he doesn't want to erase his fathers memories out of his life and keeps his belongings as a sense of memorabillia. The mum turns to drink and spirals into depression and consequently both her and her son have a heated conversation of what she is turning into.

While the son is out of the house the mum decides to start cleaning to clear her mind of everything going on in her life. She starts off with washing up dishes then the living room, making sure everything is clean and tidy she stumbles across a pair of her son's shoes which she goes and returns in his room. It is in his room that she finds her late and husbands belongings and becomes shocked and reminded of his life by pictures, clothing etc... underneath her sons pillow she also find a diary with entries titled 'Dear Dad'. She opens up the book to the first page where she reads her son's words to his dad, begging for answers and way to get his mum back as he explains he has lost her and feels that he is grieving alone. He also mentions that it's his birthday tommorow and that hes not expecting any fuss from his mum because she doesn't care.

At this point we expect to see Sarah actually realising the effect of her actions, but we don't instead we see her walking downstairs with rope in her hand and at this point we instantly think suicide whilst on the edge of our seats. We then see her climb onto a chair and reaching up to tie the rope onto something and her son enters the room with a shocked facial expression. The audience then realises it was not Sarah attempting suicide but putting up decoration for his birthday party due to her realisation that her son was loosing his mother and they weren't coming togther and grieving together.

Original script

This is the first draft of the script we made for our actos/actresses

Scene 1

Ext: Graveyard. Daytime

Sarah and Max stand at the grave, whilst Max remains emotionless; Sarah wipes a single tear away from her left cheek. Max goes to show his mother some support by touching her arm however she makes no reaction and slowly walks off leaving Max alone staring into the abyss that his father’s grave. Sarah clearly walks away, in silence, showing the audience the disconnection between Sarah and her son. Max then looks down at his feet, turns and walks after his mother, the space between them remains showing that due to the father’s death it is clear the relationship is beginning to perish between these two characters.

Scene 2

NEXT DAY.

Int: Stairs/Kitchen/Living Room/Family Home.

Sarah, alone strolls down the stairs lazily while carrying a large cardboard box. Griping it tight too show the audience that her emotions to what ever the box contain is strong. While Max is sat alone in the kitchen, tired from the day and school, is sat doing homework, struggling however is not receiving any help from mother, Sarah. Sarah then almost slam down the box onto the kitchen table, and then throws nearby shirts into the black bag that was thrown on the table she stands by. Mum then begins to throw shirts in bag, steps back as if her emotions have finally caught up with her, her son Max looks at his mother, she then turns around and grabs her glass of wine, bringing it close to her face with both hands, almost as if she is know relying on drink to be her support. Max reaches into the box to find his dad’s shirts, he pulls one out, then another, all oblivious to his mother. He looks towards his mother, a shadow of her former self. He grips his dad’s shirts tightly and walks past his mother, as if she were a stranger. Sarah still drinking turns round to see her sons exit. Sarah Looks into a near by mirror and her own reflections, looks down and the camera slowly fades to black.

Scene 3

FADES TO BLACK.

NEXT DAY.

Int. Living Room.

Sarah, stands alone, hovering, in a frustrated manner, she finishes. Looking down she finds a pair of her son’s shoes. She grabs them, looks at them, and turns and travels upstairs, to her son’s room and throws the shows onto the bed. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a small box. She then sits down onto her son’s bed, Opening the box she finds a diary resting onto of items belonging to her late husband. The pulls out shirts she was sure she got rid of and a photo of her son, Max and her husband laughing. She rests the shirts onto her lap and reads the diary. The diary is read in the son’s voice. She then lays back and sniffs the father’s shirt.

             Max (Voice Over): I don't usually do this. I miss you so much and i know mum does too    She just shows it differently. The other day i told her one of those jokes from that joke book you got me and she just stared, she didn't even crese the corners of her lips. I know i shouldn't say this, but when you left us mum went with you. I feel so alone Dad. Anyway going to be late for school if i write anymore. Talk to you soon.

FADES TO BLACK.

While it fades to black we hear the boys voice over say “By the way it’s my birthday tomorrow, I doubt mum will make a fuss”.

Scene 4

Sarah stands in front of chair with a rope in her hand in a fairly dark room.

(creepy, slow and distorted happy birthday piano music starts)

Sarah slowly steps on chair (stepping on chair sound is load), while Max is entering the house. Max looks up at mum shocked to see her putting up birthday decorations. Mum smiles at son.