FILM: Scripting

A script is also known as a screenplay, which is written specifically for a film. Most famous films consist of a lot of dialogue. However, short films usually have less dialogue and the story is shown and told through the camera angles and non-digetic music {soundtrack}. As a result of this, the script includes stage directions, including camera angles/movement/framing and the actions of the actors/actresses. It states the order of the scenes and where they are filmed, either interior or exterior. During filming, more ideas tend to come to imagination, so even though things may change, the script gives us a base line of what each scene {in order} includes and what the actors/actresses are doing at the particular time e.g. happy facial expressions, bold body language and good posture in comparison to emotionless or depressing facial expressions with an enclosed, contracted body language. This is our script:

During filming, we decided to delete the dialogue because as the film contains music and silence, we felt that this wasn't fitting in with the structure of the film. Due to the fact that this would have been the only piece of dialogue, the audience may think that there was an importance to the line, however, there was no relevance to it. We then decided to include dialogue whilst she is getting attacked, which is relevant because it is natural and the audience can see the girl is pleading for the attacker to stop and this would show a sign of innocence in Lacey. Due to the fact that short films lack in dialogue, added non-diegetic sound {soundtrack} contibutes in creating the atmosphere, mood and tension and gives emphasis to the action and movement on screen. The lyrics usually relate to the plot, in order to highlight the films message. As a result of this, my partner and I had to research music, considering the genre and film storyline, and agree on the piece that we felt expressed the meaning and suited the film the most.

Our first suggestion was 'She's So Lovely' by a band called 'Scouting for Girls'. The song is upbeat, which will create a happy atmosphere and represent the main character's happy emotion whilst she is with her friends, during the time the music is playing. However, after further thought, we decided that the other lyrics woudn't suit the plot, as the main singer is singing about a girl and our film isn't based on 'love'.

We then listened to another song called 'Unlikely Hero' by a band called 'The Hoosiers'. We liked this song as it contains the lyrics, "I like everybody, but not everybody likes me". We thought that the first part, "I like everybody", would link well to what is being shown on screen. The main character, Lacey, likes everyone, as the viewers are able to see her hugging and waving at her friends and students in the corridor. However, "but not everybody likes me" creates a contrast, as the extras look as though they do really like her because they hug her and wave back. This would have made the audience question why this is, which therefore suggests something is going to happen, as the lyric doesn't link. This would make them want to continue watching, in order to see who doesn't like her. May be someone betrays her? This would have represented that somone dislikes her, which therefore that 'somebody' out of 'everybody'. The rhythm is also upbeat which we also liked, with regards to representing atmosphere, mood and emotion. However, with more thought, this had a similar issue to 'She's so lovely', as we realised, when studying the whole songs lyrics, that the man is also singing about 'love', which would suggest something that isn't shown, as our film doesn't have a 'love' theme and doesn't show the effects and emotions of love that this song potrays.

We then found a song called "Problem Girl" by Rob Thomas. The lyrics creates a contrast as the song is about someone who is being bullied. The audience can clearly see that Lacey isn't the 'problem girl', as the viewers can see she is a polite person greeting everyone. We felt that this related well with the ending, as the storyline twists around because they see another side to Lacey. Lacey or the attacker could be at fault, so the song can link to both characters. This song isn't too fast and isn't too slow which represents both personalities of the character. it's quite upbeat to show she feels happy, however, it's not fully fast, which symbols something is going to happen. Therefore, we decided to use this as our soundtrack because it emphasises and links well to the plot and the characters involved.

>