Final Film Pitch

Film Pitch – ‘Looking for Olivia’

Plot:

Our film plot consists of a terrifying story based around a family of three; possibly considered to be an ‘ideal’ family scenario; the family live on the North Norfolk Coast, in a dainty cottage located in the village of Thornham. Following a day on the beach, upon which the Mother in our story falls unconscious, this unfortunate pair manages to lose their beautiful young daughter, Olivia. Throughout the production there are recurring flash backs and flash forwards, making the story an ambiguous one for anyone viewing it. It is left to the audience’s perception to determine where the real truth lies.

Casting:

There are three main roles that are required to be filled in this film; a Mother and Father figure and a young girl, preferably an age range of 3-5. We desire a younger looking couple, ones that clearly take pride in themselves and in their appearance, as our target audience is that of adolescents and young adults (ageing 20-30). We believed a younger couple to be more convincing as it is more likely that a younger couple would find themselves in a sticky situation… stereotypically. This all makes the film more relatable and all the more thrilling for the audience.

Location:

When deciding locations for our production, we were lost for choice. However, we needn’t go down the typical woodland setting for a horror/thriller film; as our production is a psychological thriller, so scariness is a semi-lacking factor. We decided to choose locations which were traditionally locations that people associated with happy memories; such as beaches and park areas. Our opening is set on a beach located in North Norfolk (which is where this family live). This diverse and almost secluded area juxtaposes the theme of the film, as it wouldn’t be expected for a child to go ‘missing’ in this sort of location and in this particular county. This locations work as it makes the film so much more realistic for the audience, and almost relatable; it is these factors that make the production so much more thrilling.

Comparions of 'A Touch of Evil' and 'The Departed'

Location for Preliminary Task/annotated pictures

Location of Preliminary Task - Cobwebs

Shots 1 and 2

Close up shot of cobweb and over grown grass, in the back ground barbed wire can be seen. The cobweb indicates a sense of being trapped, it’s a ploy used by spiders to capture prey, and it also displays how rural the location is. The fact that the grass is over grown also indicates that the location is undomesticated. This gives a sense of fear and isolation as there is nobody around to help. There is dew on the spiders web shows that this shot is taken at early morning, a time of day which not many people are around, this creates a sense of fear and isolation also.

 

Location of Preliminary Task - Shack

Shots 3 and 4

The photos of the shabby shack emphasize the sense of neglect and turmoil. The attention on the padlock reflects the way in which the female character inside is trapped and there is no easy way of escape. The grimness of the shack encourages the tension and disturbance to rise and it automatically gives the audience the sense that this isn’t a safe location. The rural surroundings of the shack also connote the idea that the location is not in close vicinity of anyone, and so therefore there is no chance of someone stumbling upon the girl. Creating an even larger chilling ambience.

 

Location of Preliminary Task - Barbed Wire

Shots 5 and 6

The photos of this militaristic sort of fencing with barbed wire running along the top, again emphasizes a sense of being trapped and being restricted from escape. With these features surrounding the shack, it will promotes a sense of tension and terror; enabling the audience to feel anxious for the female inhabiting the shed. It also suggests that no one from the outside world would be able to get close to the shack, due to the fact the fence restricts them from doing so, and therefore the girl will remain trapped until she herself can escape.

 

 

Preliminary Task script

AS media – walk in scene script

Psychological thriller

Dark dull lighting illuminates long narrow room, one small barred window located on the ceiling, lets in enough light to see the decay and black mold formations on the wall. Around the edge of the ceiling there are soaked patches where water has dripped. Light from window is harsh on her face. She is sat in corner of the room with her knees brought into her chest, and her hands put round them crossed over and tied together. She has mascara stains down her face, which is hung below her shoulders in exhaustion. A skeletal white mouse scuttles around the perimeter of the room, unaware of the company, focused on its own escape into a hole in the wall. The door swings open, the harsh light from outside cuts into her face and she slowly slants away from its brightness. He stands there for a second scanning her, a sick grimace on his face. He is wearing a clean suit with polished black shoes. He slams the door behind him, startling her slightly, and then crouches down in front of her in a patronizing manner.

MELVIN : how are you today? My little angel.

She remains still, unresponsively due to both physical exhaustion and unwillingness to look at him.

He strokes her hair but due to her lack of response he grabs her jaw and thrusts it upwards in anger.

Alice: *gasps and begins to pant heavily*

MELVIN : perhaps you did not hear me? I asked you a question.

ALICE: I want to go home (stern whisper).

MELVIN : (he laughs in a hysterical manner) But you are home? My sweet.( a sudden anger in his voice) I don’t understand. You are so ungrateful, I’m protecting you.

Alice spits in his face

MELVIN : (slaps her) Bitch!

ALICE: *whimpers* I’m sorry.

MELVIN: It’s too late for that, I’m nothing but kind to you and that’s how you think you can treat me? Well, we’ll see if your attitude has improved when I come back in 4 days.

Alice: No! Please!

The door slams. The camera slowly zooms out from a high angle long shot to a high angle extreme long shot as she cries softly.

Research on Thriller director of my choice - Doug Liman

Doug Liman

Key Work

• The Bourne Identity (2002)
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
• The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
• Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Born

July 24th 1965, New York City


Trademarks

• Prevalent use of Steadicam Shots.
• Use of humour in unusual settings.
• Use of characters doubling as spies or agents.

Personal Quotes

• "The movie I end up with is the movie I aspired to make"
• "I don't really analyse my process. I do know that if its not right, I won't move on. I'm tenacious to a fault about that"
• "Paris is very close to my heart. Its the most beautiful city in the world, but on Edge of Tomorrow I got to showcase it in a completely different light"