Treatment
What is the story for our short film?
Beginning: Jazz is waiting nervously beside some other actors waiting for her audition. As there is an over voice by Jazz finding out and reading about the play. She auditions, and receives the part. She’s all smiles as she goes with the newly formed cast to their celebratory drink at the theatre bar. After some flirting with the barmen she feels good about herself and goes off to the loo to freshen up. On the way she was stopped by the barmen who’s feeling a little frisky, he makes a move. After being rejected by Jazz he try’s and would have been successful in taking it further if, Cate the Producer of the play hadn’t been knocking around and put a stop to it. It is because of this she re-joins the celebration to have one more drink and starts to pester the Director about her character.
The next day they meet at Preston’s College the productions benefactor to run through the script. The majority of the crew/cast in fact, everyone but Jazz our still feeling the effects of last night’s party. The optimistic Jazz puts 100% into everything and accuses the director of not being ‘professional’ or ‘doing his job properly’, much to his and everyone else’s annoyance. The director (Jack) starts off by telling everyone about their roles in the play. Que the rehearsal montage.
Middle: The rehearsal montage. Starting off with her passing the Bartender dressed as herself, disastrous rehearsal where Director Dave gets mad at Jazz and Charlie at Dave.
End: Opening night of the play and Jazz’s big moment is nearing. She has a break down in the play interval. The director (Dave) gives her a pep talk that results in her going and murdering her co-star Mary instead of
Type of production/idea: Psychological thriller/fictional biopic. 15 minute short.
Target audience: Young Adults///short film fans.
Characters
Jazz, Jack, Tina, Kyle
Jazz – She is a plain Jane, with nothing to associate herself with. She lacks originality and is susceptible to personas, being an actress. She finds out about a play based around a famous female psychopath. She takes an immediate liking to the character and runs off to audition.
Jazz Character – The lead in a play set in the 1920’s.
The Director – Runs the play. He doesn’t cope well under pressure and takes the stress of his job out on the actors. He takes the play very seriously because he has had a string of unsuccessful plays and really needs this one to work.
The Victim – (Jazz) “friend” for many years, her part in the production centres around (Jazz’s) fixation with her. She is everything (Jazz) thinks (Jazz) is not. Interesting, Pretty, Clever, Funny. She is also (Jazz’s) subconscious love interest.
Bartender: Works as the theatre bartender. He is the eye’s and the ears of the building and, slightly cheeky. He likes the look of (Jazz) and watches the girl he saw on the first day change to his disliking.
Plot Points
- Audition
- Proving herself to a friend she unknowingly has a romantic attachment to. (Lack of recuperation = Crazy)
- The Director is constantly telling her she needs to be more like the character
As a group, we made a contingency plan so if people didn’t turn up on the critical days of filming, then we have a plan to fall back on.
Actors – If Jazz our main character dose not turn up for filming Gracie will take her part. If Brandon was not to turn up, Adam would take his part. If Tina was to be absent from filming Maddy would take her part. If Jack was to be absent Caitlin (myself) i would take his part. If Kyle does not attend Josh will be the bartender.
Cameras – If camera’s fail or are damaged, George and Josh are bringing their cameras as back up. Their cameras failing, we could become a single camera iPhone production.
Crew – If George fails to turn up, Caitlin would director. If Caitlin & George fails to turn up Gracie will direct. If George, Gracie and Caitlin fail to turn up Maddy will direct. If George, Gracie, Caitlin and Maddy fail to turn up Josh will direct. If George, Gracie, Caitlin, Maddy and Josh fail to turn up, the shoot will have to be cancelled and rearrange to shoot another day. This would mean changing the setting from Preston Playhouse theatre to Preston’s College Theatre.
Changes
Since our first idea, we have changed the short film idea around a lot and added things and taken things away. Before even filming at the Playhouse in Preston, we have been faced by problems for example Jack, who won’t be able to film on the Wednesday, has messed up our plans so we have improvised and made a plan to make him seen but not heard. He shows himself in the first few scenes but from then on he doesn’t need to be in the film visually so we have worked around his absence. If we are faced with even more problem on the day, we already have a contingency plan in place to work round any problems that may occur. We have also given the actors extra days to film if we need to re-film anything in particular.
Caitlin has emailed the actors multiple times keeping them up to date on all of our arrangements and adjustifications etc. For example, for the Wednesday shoot she has already told them what to wear and they should all be very aware when and where we are filming. We have booked out enough equipment and i am also bringing personal equipment for the shoot. Then for the post production i will think about putting money into music and sound effects etc.
Treatment
What is the story for our short film?
Beginning: Introduction to each character you sees each one getting ready (Jack making a blog post etc.) and going to their audition walking or catching the bus/ missing the bus. You see four out of the five waiting together at the audition space. You then see the fifth actor waiting in a different place (the wrong place).
Middle: They audition for the part individually. The first up Jack fails to actually audition more dance walk in give off some sass ‘n’ diva and leave on the phone to his agent. The next Brandon actually thinks he’s auditioning for another part in a different production, he does a series of odd impressions then leaves with a crazy laugh. The next was Tina her audition went better than the previous two but lack in quality of acting and establishing what part she was auditioning for. The last person to audition Jazz did the best. Unfortunately her audition was practically silent it was full of good acting however, she was most likely to get the part.
End: They all wait for their audition responses. Except Kyle who is still waiting to audition. He falls asleep and wakes up again in the dark then realising he’s in completely the wrong place.
Type of production/idea: Documentary on the art of being an actor. 10 minute short.
Target audience: Young Adults///short film fans///Actors.
Character Profiles
Brandon – Unlucky with anger issues. He continuously struggles to use his phone.
Kyle – Stupid, waits in the wrong place missing his entire audition.
Tina – Prepared really geeky and enthusiastic but possibly one of the worse actors that has ever. She is unsure of what she wants.
Jack – Super cocky and self centered. Thinks he is above auditioning. Basically fabulous and channels inspiration from Sharpé (High School Musical character).
Jazz – Sad and Nervous. Drowning in her own clothes. She is a bit freaky and really really quiet.
Health & Safety
0.1 Locations – We are using college premises to film our short film on. This should all be under correct regulations for health & safety. Any construction areas on campus shall be avoided just as any spillage’s or puddles. That might cause a slipping hazard. Four of our locations do require access by staircases. To ensure we are being as cautious as possible traveling to and fro with equipment we shall carry it in bags.
0.2 Equipment – All equipment will be carried or held with two hands or locked onto a steady Static tripod if it is a camera. No person is to carry more than one piece of equipment at a time to make sure nobody is being overloaded or risk the safety of the equipment. No electrical’s shall go near water or any liquid of such form.
0.3 People – The cast will be given five minute breaks between their shots to rest and refresh themselves. Crew will take a thirty to forty minute break every three hours for self maintenance etc.
0.4 Weather – Any rain, Thunder, lightning or forecast disasters will result in filming be canceled and rescheduled.
Final Product
George Foy 