Obviously sound plays a big role in film. As my script is very character based i wanted the music to help convey Bries character. Although music in films is often meant to blend subtly into the background i wanted this music to be in your face and obvious. As i feel that's how Bries character comes across. I chose to have Brie listening to two Green day songs, the music is diegetic and i feel it kind of exposes Bries character from the inside that the audience don't get to see at the beginning. The lyrics to the two songs are :
Murder City
Desperate but not hopeless
I feel so useless in the murder city
Desperate but not helpless
The clock strikes midnight in the murder city
Desperate
I feel so
Desperate
The clock strikes midnight in the murder city
Last of the American girls.
She plays her vinyl records singing songs on the eve of destruction
She's a sucker for all the criminals breaking the laws
She will come in first for the end of western civilization
She's and endless war, she's a hero for the lost cause
Like a hurricane in the heart of devastation
She's a natural disaster
She's the last of the American Girls
She puts her makeup onLike graffiti on the walls of the heartland
She's got her little book of conspiracies right in her hand
She will come in first for the end of western civilization
She's a natural disaster
She's the last of the American Girls
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Monday, 9 November 2009
First Draft
I was quite happy with the first draft of my script however there were obviously things that needed to be improved.
I needed to portray the time/date/year more effecitvly. I had showed a clock on the wall with the time on it however i really needed to find away to show the date.
I though that i needed to show that she didnt care about her bills, therefore showing she really doesnt care about herself let alone anything else. I had showed this already by having her electric shut off however i decided it would be better if i could reinforce this maybe by having unpaid bills underneath her ashtray.
I also want the script to have a more voyeristic effect. I think the best way for me to achive this was to introduce the male character.
I needed to portray the time/date/year more effecitvly. I had showed a clock on the wall with the time on it however i really needed to find away to show the date.
I though that i needed to show that she didnt care about her bills, therefore showing she really doesnt care about herself let alone anything else. I had showed this already by having her electric shut off however i decided it would be better if i could reinforce this maybe by having unpaid bills underneath her ashtray.
I also want the script to have a more voyeristic effect. I think the best way for me to achive this was to introduce the male character.
Codes and Conventions
Film Noir
- Some sort of crime such as murder or theft
- The Femme Fatal charcater, a women who uses her sexual power to gain what she wants/needs.
- Low Key lighting
- Extreme camera angles
- Voice over
The Idea
I came up with the idea for my script through another simple idea. My original idea was to do the opening of a film about a boy and a girl, who are social outcasts. They eventualy meet each other and fall in love. The opening sequence was going to be both of them getting ready for highschool, using match cuts to show how alike at being 'different' they both were. However when it came to actualy writing the script for this idea, i didnt feel happy with it. Which is how i came up with the idea i have chosen to use.
My story is very character based, for most of the script we only see the main character Brie, so i tried to portray her personality, her style, her looks and her life as well as i could so that the audience get a really good feel of who she is from the very start of the film.
I would have Mia Kirshner play the role of Brie as she has the right look.
My story is very character based, for most of the script we only see the main character Brie, so i tried to portray her personality, her style, her looks and her life as well as i could so that the audience get a really good feel of who she is from the very start of the film.
I would have Mia Kirshner play the role of Brie as she has the right look.
Brie's character is very self centered. She doesnt really care about anyone, not even herself. She is lonely as she has no friends or boyfriend. I tried to portray this atmosphere when describing her room. For example the photo frame still has the original photo of a married couple in it. She doesnt have any photos to fill it with so it sort of gives the impression its a life she may wish for of imagine, but would never admit it.
She has alot of pictures of Bands on the wall such as Reel Big Fish , The Offspring , The Clash , Guns n Roses. I wanted her to have quite a braud range of music taste but all within the 'rock' genre. I did this because i dont think her character would like to be pigeon holed, she doesnt like to fit in with anyone, she is her own person.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Whats Her Name?
Set in ‘downtown’ New York, Brie is single and has a strong dislike for everything and anyone. She has a unique sense of style and music, and has strong opinions and views. She hates her life, her job, her looks, and seems to subconsciously sabotage everything good that ever happens to her. This is exactly what she does when she finally meets someone she likes and falls for.
1.EXT-STREET-NIGHT
We see a rundown block of apartments with a closed down shop to the left, a record shop to the right, the street is virtually empty and very dirty. It’s raining, there are puddles everywhere, the light from the few street lamps that work reflecting off them. There are various lights on in the building. There is loud music coming from an open window near the top of the building (the end of green days ‘murder city‘), a women is leaning out smoking a cigarette. The shot then changes and we see the street from the point of view of the women. There is a man standing underneath the light of one of the working lamp posts. He is watching her. She turns and walks away from the window.
CUT TO
INT-BEDROOM-NIGHT
As the scene changes the song ends and moves on to green days last of the American girls, as it’s the CD she is listening to. We see the women (Brie) from the window, still smoking her cigarette, she is wearing a black lacy bra and French knickers, the room is messy and un kept. The walls are covered with pictures of rock bands and photographs. An ash tray sits on top of a cluttered dressing table, Brie puts her cigarette out and the ashes spill over onto a pile of bills the most recent, with FINAL DEMAND in red block writing on the front. There are rings from glasses that have been left on top of it. Brie has short black hair, aged around 22, slim and pretty yet like the room she too looks messy and un kept.
Brie (V.O)
Do you ever feel like life’s a waste of time?
We see brie’s reflection in the mirror, she is unhappy, she huffs a piece of hair our of her eyes and applies a dark shade of red to her lips. Her eye makeup is already heavy yet she still applies more.
Brie (V.O)
Like everyday, your just going through the motions?
We can see a clock on the wall, its 12:30am. Brie throws on a black skirt, sum tights and a pair of heels. She picks up a top, but its not what she’s looking for, she starts tossing things aside searching among the piles of clothes and through already open draws. We see a photo frame, the original stock photograph is still inside, waiting to be replaced. There is only a single bed, a dirty duvet with no cover sits unmade on top. While she’s searching the lights and music shut off
Brie (shouts)
Oh. Come. on!
She picks up a random top and her cigarettes and leaves her apartment slamming the door behind her.
CUT TO
2.INT-STAIRS
Top still in her hand Brie begins to descend the stairs, the walls are a dirty yellow and the overhead light flickers, clearly in a rush she pulls the top over her head as she moves.
CUT TO
3.EXT-STREET-NIGHT
Brie begins to walk/strut down the street, she’s on her way to work. The rain has stopped but she does not avoid the pools of water that cover the ground, instead she splashes straight through them. As she walks she lights another cigarette, She passes a group of men drinking on a set of steps in front of another block of apartments not far from her own.
Man.1
Heeyy darlin’…
She sill has the cigarette in her mouth as she speaks.
Brie (annoyed and muffled)
Drop dead!
As she walks past them she flicks the ash of her cigarette, and it lands on the man that had spoken.
MAN.2
Don’t bother, she don’t like nobody!
She crosses the road, a car swerves to avoid hitting her beeping its horn as it passes, she sticks her fingers up and carries on walking, it begins to rain again, her cigarette gets wet so she throws it down, as she walks her thick eye make up begins to run slightly. A man hands her a leaflet as she’s running, she doesn’t stop but glances at it. It states a girl, Jamey Hamel, aged 17 is missing. Last seen a week ago on the 17/10/1999. A number is given, it becomes wet and soggy while she reads it, Brie keeps going and tosses it onto the ground as though it happens all the time, it’s not her problem.
CUT TO
INT-BAR
Brie walks through the door, her hair and clothes are wet, the bar she has entered looks almost empty, with the exception of a few people, mostly men, dotted about. It is dark and dingy, a few of the lights are out. Smoke seems to permanently fill the room, a TV can be heard in the background. Her boss is waiting for her behind the bar. She begins to walk past him, shooting him a sharp look implying ‘don’t start with me’ but he steps out in front of her, shoving an apron towards her.
BOSS (shouts)
What the hell time do you call this, you were meant to be here an hour ago!?
Brie grudgingly stops as he blocks her way, the few people in the bar do not even look up, this is something that happens quite a lot as Brie hates her job (she doesn’t get paid enough for the long shifts she works.) As she stands there drips of water begin to fall from her hair into her eyes and down her face.
BRIE (Carelessly)
I need a new top.
Her boss looks at her with an expression of shock, he cant believe she’s so un-interested in her own life. He steps aside and lets her past.
BOSS
If your not careful you’ll be out of here in no time! I could find a million girls to do your job…
Brie begins to walk towards a door labelled ‘Brauds’ completely ignoring him.
BOSS (continued)
…And they’d get here when they’re supposed to, to!
CUT TO
INT-BATHROOM
The bathroom is dirty and the light creates a greeny tinge over the whole room. There is only one stall, and one sink. The walls are mostly covered with graffiti, and the mirror has crack running from one corner to the middle. Brie looks at her own reflection in the mirror.
BRIE (quietly)
Fuck!
She runs her hands though her soaking wet hair. Despite the fact she despises her job, she cant afford to lose it, as it means losing her home as well. She turns away from the mirror and leans against the sink, looking at the floor, clearly thinking.
BRIE (louder)
FUCK!
She kicks over a small bin in the corner of the room and opens her cigarette packet only to find there are none left. Annoyed, she throws it on the floor and leaves the bathroom swiftly banging the door as she goes.
CUT TO
INT-BAR
Brie walks behind the bar and pours herself a shot of whisky, from across the room her boss shakes his head at her before turning away.
BRIE
You followed me here.
She turns to toward the end of the bar, it was clearly a statement not a question, and we see the same man who was standing outside of her apartment.
MAN
I’m not gonna lie…
She doesn’t reply, acting as though he’s not there, she reaches to change the channel on the TV, standing on a crate to do so and changes it to a music station. She picks up the whisky bottle again as though to pour herself another shot.
MAN (confidently)
I like mine on the rocks…
With out a word she takes a glass and fills it with ice, pouring herself a shot before filling his and then walks towards him. Before handing it to him, she looks at him, as if studying him. He has dark brown hair, wet from the rain, with matching eyes. He’s Handsome. A black shirt, unbuttoned at the top, with the sleeves rolled up, revealing the beginning of a tattoo. She gives him the glass. She then walks away from the bar, drinks her shot and starts to collect glasses. As her back is towards him, he smiles and takes a sip of his drink.
1.EXT-STREET-NIGHT
We see a rundown block of apartments with a closed down shop to the left, a record shop to the right, the street is virtually empty and very dirty. It’s raining, there are puddles everywhere, the light from the few street lamps that work reflecting off them. There are various lights on in the building. There is loud music coming from an open window near the top of the building (the end of green days ‘murder city‘), a women is leaning out smoking a cigarette. The shot then changes and we see the street from the point of view of the women. There is a man standing underneath the light of one of the working lamp posts. He is watching her. She turns and walks away from the window.
CUT TO
INT-BEDROOM-NIGHT
As the scene changes the song ends and moves on to green days last of the American girls, as it’s the CD she is listening to. We see the women (Brie) from the window, still smoking her cigarette, she is wearing a black lacy bra and French knickers, the room is messy and un kept. The walls are covered with pictures of rock bands and photographs. An ash tray sits on top of a cluttered dressing table, Brie puts her cigarette out and the ashes spill over onto a pile of bills the most recent, with FINAL DEMAND in red block writing on the front. There are rings from glasses that have been left on top of it. Brie has short black hair, aged around 22, slim and pretty yet like the room she too looks messy and un kept.
Brie (V.O)
Do you ever feel like life’s a waste of time?
We see brie’s reflection in the mirror, she is unhappy, she huffs a piece of hair our of her eyes and applies a dark shade of red to her lips. Her eye makeup is already heavy yet she still applies more.
Brie (V.O)
Like everyday, your just going through the motions?
We can see a clock on the wall, its 12:30am. Brie throws on a black skirt, sum tights and a pair of heels. She picks up a top, but its not what she’s looking for, she starts tossing things aside searching among the piles of clothes and through already open draws. We see a photo frame, the original stock photograph is still inside, waiting to be replaced. There is only a single bed, a dirty duvet with no cover sits unmade on top. While she’s searching the lights and music shut off
Brie (shouts)
Oh. Come. on!
She picks up a random top and her cigarettes and leaves her apartment slamming the door behind her.
CUT TO
2.INT-STAIRS
Top still in her hand Brie begins to descend the stairs, the walls are a dirty yellow and the overhead light flickers, clearly in a rush she pulls the top over her head as she moves.
CUT TO
3.EXT-STREET-NIGHT
Brie begins to walk/strut down the street, she’s on her way to work. The rain has stopped but she does not avoid the pools of water that cover the ground, instead she splashes straight through them. As she walks she lights another cigarette, She passes a group of men drinking on a set of steps in front of another block of apartments not far from her own.
Man.1
Heeyy darlin’…
She sill has the cigarette in her mouth as she speaks.
Brie (annoyed and muffled)
Drop dead!
As she walks past them she flicks the ash of her cigarette, and it lands on the man that had spoken.
MAN.2
Don’t bother, she don’t like nobody!
She crosses the road, a car swerves to avoid hitting her beeping its horn as it passes, she sticks her fingers up and carries on walking, it begins to rain again, her cigarette gets wet so she throws it down, as she walks her thick eye make up begins to run slightly. A man hands her a leaflet as she’s running, she doesn’t stop but glances at it. It states a girl, Jamey Hamel, aged 17 is missing. Last seen a week ago on the 17/10/1999. A number is given, it becomes wet and soggy while she reads it, Brie keeps going and tosses it onto the ground as though it happens all the time, it’s not her problem.
CUT TO
INT-BAR
Brie walks through the door, her hair and clothes are wet, the bar she has entered looks almost empty, with the exception of a few people, mostly men, dotted about. It is dark and dingy, a few of the lights are out. Smoke seems to permanently fill the room, a TV can be heard in the background. Her boss is waiting for her behind the bar. She begins to walk past him, shooting him a sharp look implying ‘don’t start with me’ but he steps out in front of her, shoving an apron towards her.
BOSS (shouts)
What the hell time do you call this, you were meant to be here an hour ago!?
Brie grudgingly stops as he blocks her way, the few people in the bar do not even look up, this is something that happens quite a lot as Brie hates her job (she doesn’t get paid enough for the long shifts she works.) As she stands there drips of water begin to fall from her hair into her eyes and down her face.
BRIE (Carelessly)
I need a new top.
Her boss looks at her with an expression of shock, he cant believe she’s so un-interested in her own life. He steps aside and lets her past.
BOSS
If your not careful you’ll be out of here in no time! I could find a million girls to do your job…
Brie begins to walk towards a door labelled ‘Brauds’ completely ignoring him.
BOSS (continued)
…And they’d get here when they’re supposed to, to!
CUT TO
INT-BATHROOM
The bathroom is dirty and the light creates a greeny tinge over the whole room. There is only one stall, and one sink. The walls are mostly covered with graffiti, and the mirror has crack running from one corner to the middle. Brie looks at her own reflection in the mirror.
BRIE (quietly)
Fuck!
She runs her hands though her soaking wet hair. Despite the fact she despises her job, she cant afford to lose it, as it means losing her home as well. She turns away from the mirror and leans against the sink, looking at the floor, clearly thinking.
BRIE (louder)
FUCK!
She kicks over a small bin in the corner of the room and opens her cigarette packet only to find there are none left. Annoyed, she throws it on the floor and leaves the bathroom swiftly banging the door as she goes.
CUT TO
INT-BAR
Brie walks behind the bar and pours herself a shot of whisky, from across the room her boss shakes his head at her before turning away.
BRIE
You followed me here.
She turns to toward the end of the bar, it was clearly a statement not a question, and we see the same man who was standing outside of her apartment.
MAN
I’m not gonna lie…
She doesn’t reply, acting as though he’s not there, she reaches to change the channel on the TV, standing on a crate to do so and changes it to a music station. She picks up the whisky bottle again as though to pour herself another shot.
MAN (confidently)
I like mine on the rocks…
With out a word she takes a glass and fills it with ice, pouring herself a shot before filling his and then walks towards him. Before handing it to him, she looks at him, as if studying him. He has dark brown hair, wet from the rain, with matching eyes. He’s Handsome. A black shirt, unbuttoned at the top, with the sleeves rolled up, revealing the beginning of a tattoo. She gives him the glass. She then walks away from the bar, drinks her shot and starts to collect glasses. As her back is towards him, he smiles and takes a sip of his drink.
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