Week 2

 This week was dedicated to finalising the subject matter for my project. I spent a lot of my time trying to come up with a plot that was full of meaning and depth. This prevented me from beginning sketches and storyboards as I was obsessing over the little details of my plot ensuring that it was perfect and full of hidden meanings. When I reflected on this, I realised the importance of the script was not nearly as significant as ensuring I have opportunity for great VFX shots. Because of this, I decided to base my plot around creating a scene that has a lot of tension with the incorporation of a VFX character. Keeping the story to this simple measure allowed me to come up with multiple ideas that were full of VFX integrated shots. 

Another aspect of the story that was really important to me was paying homage to my favourite horror films. These include, "Friday the 13th", "Scream", and "Paranormal Activity". I want to include and explore the classic tropes seen in these films with modern adaptations. This may include a phone call scene, an iconic and recognisable killer, and a long and exaggerated but tense chase scene. 

In addition, I will still try to utilise the colours and tones in my mood boards to try capture the blue night aesthetic seen in  Jordan Peele's "Nope".

With all these aspects in mind, i began to write a draft plot. This draft had the cg environment as the main focus as it starts outside in the blue lit night scene. I wanted to start the film with a tranquil environment to contrast with the horror about to unfold in the story. This opening shot of the character stressed out in a tranquil environment also adds to the thematic aspect of the film, commenting on the importance of work-life balance. After Writing this out, I reminded myself to keep in mind the duration of the film and decided to start the film inside the house to begin the story immediately. 

DRAFT 1: (Not being used)

-Opens with a shot of the moon. This will most likely be an unreal engine environment as I want the atmosphere to be bright with blue lighting despite being set at night. This will be difficult to capture with Blackmagic cameras.

-Pans down from the moon to a shot of the main character ( C ) from behind. C is looking down at their phone rather than at the night sky. (Emphasises theme and obsessive nature of C) The main character will be live action and composited into the unreal shot.

-Over the shoulder shot of C looking at their phone. An urgent notification interrupts C’s scrolling, they click on it and the phone app switches to reveal the large workload C has. (This may be a timetable app that is fully booked out or a work group chat that is very busy and under stress)

-Close up on C’s eyes, emphasis on the exhaustion C is facing. Bright light reflecting onto C’s face coming from the phone screen.

-C turns phone off to show reflection in black screen. (Emphasises the imagery of reflections in this story as well as foreshadowing the uncanny antagonist). As C sees their reflection in the phone, they realise how overworked they are and instead takes in the surrounding environment. This is a very brief moment in the short film to show peacefulness in nature and allow the beauty of the blue night sky to be showcased.

- In another over the shoulder shot, A very loud phone alarm disrupts the tranquillity (films first jump scare).

-Reaction shot of c startled. They are reminded of the demanding nature of their job. They then head inside the house from the balcony they have been standing on.

-Distant shaky cam pov shot looking at the exterior of the unreal house. Emulates the idea that C is being watched from outside.

-C enters the house through a sliding door. The house is live action and will be lit so that the reflection is visible in the sliding door.

After the previously stated reflections and critiques, I then began writing a more engaging and intense short plot:

Synopsis: On a seemingly normal night, two roommates experience strange occurrences that lead them to believe a home invasion is taking place. The situation escalates to a terrifying encounter between the roommates and an intruder unlike any other. 

Setting: 

Cabin-like house at night. Lighting is blue-ish to emulate a bright night sky

Character 1 (C1)

Character 2 (C2)

Plot: The film follows the two characters in their home on an ordinary night. C1 is working on his laptop on the dining room table, stressed from his workload, whereas C2 is making videos in the bathroom in front of a mirror. C1 has the tv running in the living room, a newcast distantly makes mention of a missing mother and daughter. Throughout the night, each of the characters claim to see figures of people and strange shadows moving in the halls and rooms. Lights turn on in different rooms, noises can be heard all over the house. C1 is irritated as he believes C2 is making all the noise and moving around the house, but he continues his work. C2 investigates the noises before meeting C1 in the dining room. C1 asks C2 about all the noise he is making before C2 says he thought it was him creating the noise and leaving the lights on. Their conversation is interrupted by a loud phone call, C2 picks it up and hears heavy breathing but no talking. C2 says “Hello? who's there” and after a few seconds we hear a very quiet “Hello” come through the phone. The response sounds very similar to C2’s voice but slightly distorted. C2 calls out a few more times before moving to a different room for better reception. C1 is becoming more frightened and paranoid as he is left alone in the dining room. Suddenly, a loud knock on the door occurs and scares C1. He is reluctant to answer it without C2 around. He gets up to answer the door and as he goes to look into the peephole another loud knock happens, frightening C1 down to the ground. He opens the door quickly to see no one standing there. He turns on a light and looks into the distance to see the figure of a child holding a phone. The figure quickly runs out of sight as the light turns on. C1 is left confused and scared staring out into the night. C2 pops up behind C1, scaring him by accident, as he claims the person on the phone was acting strange. C2 criticized C1 for being frightened and assures him it's probably nothing to worry about. We see a pov shaky cam shot from the exterior of the house of the two characters returning indoors into the house, simulating the pov of someone watching them. C1 returns to his work on his laptop whilst C2 watches the tv. After a few seconds, the power goes out. C2 states he will go turn on the backup generator. C1 hears more noises around the house, unsure if it is C2. As we now follow C2 into the garage with a phone light, we see open a power box, he closes it to read some information on the front once more. In the background we can see a dark figure standing eerily, C2 doesnt notice. He flicks a switch that brings some of the lights back on. Now he can see the figure a little more clearly. “C1? What are you doing here?” C2 asks. “C1?” he calls out again. The lights turn back off, and as C2 goes to turn them back on, we see the figure has moved closer. C2 isnt phased, but intrigued. He starts to call out to the figure thinking its C1 pranking him. C2 Taunts the figure causing it to suddenly sprint at C2. As it goes to attack C2 the camera cuts back to C1 in the dining room, anxious. The lights turn back on in the rest of the house. Its been too long, C1 starts to get worried, but remembers what C2 said about being too scared. He remains seated at the dining room table, continuing with his work. In a similar shot to the power box scene, we see a figure emerging from a dark room beside C1. C1 thinks nothing of it as his eyes are stuck on his screen. He thinks it is C2 walking around behind him. C1 calls out “find anything weird?”, however there's no reply. C1 turns around to see noone there. He gets up and looks down the dark hall “C2?” he calls out, still no response. He walks around the house more and calls out C2’s name again. A faint “hello” can be heard, similar to the one heard on the phone earlier. It lures C1 into the garage. C1 sees the figure from earlier, and assumes it’s C2. He asks what C2 is doing standing there, but gets unhuman-like, one word responses. He turns the light on for the garage to see C2’s dead body on the floor, with the figure standing behind it. The figure looks identical to C2 but with no emotion. C1 is overwhelmed with fear and panic as he freezes, not sure what to make of what he is seeing. The figure, now appearing identical to C2, runs at C1 eerily. C1 sprints away. A classic horror chase scene occurs with the creature coming close to attacking C1 multiple times. Throughout the chase the figure changes appearances from looking like C2, to looking like the missing mother and daughter mentioned earlier. It is here that audiences realise that the C1 and C2 have been stalked by a shapeshifting creature that feeds on people and uses its victims' identities to lure in others. It used the appearance of the mother in the garage, the daughter outside, and now C2 to trick and attack C1.

Before, I finalize an ending, I will begin to start character concepts for what the creatures various forms will look like. This will allow me to conceptualize the threat the characters are facing before choosing the best possible ending.

I will also reflect on this plot to see if I can add any imagery or symbolism to further enhance and convey a thematic message. 

Currently, some themes that I may want to explore in this story are: 

-Identity and appearances

 The creature uses the characters identities against each other. I may choose to elevate this by having one of the characters misjudge one of the shapeshifters forms. This could be C2 being stalked by the shapeshifter as the little girl so that he doesn't see it as a threat - only for him to be killed by the shapeshifter in this form.

-Trust and paranoia

I may choose the have more dialogue between the characters showing the paranoia each of them is experiencing once they realize the creature is changing appearances. This could comment on how easily friendships are broken when a potential dangerous situation occurs, allowing survival instincts to highlight selfishness. 

-Fear

Similar to the idea of paranoia, I intend to play on the idea of the unique nature of fear. I could explore each of the characters deepest fears through the shapeshifters forms. This can also be enhanced with lighting and sound.

In week 3, I will begin sketches and script improvements.