Exercise 2

Wanting to get some hands-on experience directing before my debut on The White Nightgown, I went on the hunt for a group that needed a director as the team were not too keen on using this as a test shoot opportunity. Originally, I was invited onto a team with my friends; however, some of us wanted to do the same roles. Wanting to get the most out of this experience, I messaged Gaureekaa, who asked our year's group chat if anyone needed a DoP. Now a director and cinematography duo, we went looking for a possible writer/producer/ production designer to join us. We did find a producer happy to join, but she ended up dropping out due to such a busy schedule with multiple other projects being in the works. Ultimately, we were confident we could do this ourselves and organised the first online meeting (Friday 28th Feb), where we quickly brainstormed our idea for the brief:

(Part 1) - Make a 2-minute short film focusing on a single protagonist in a single location. You are only allowed to reveal the protagonist's identity fully in the last shot of the film. Think about how you can use visual storytelling to craft the film and narrative.

( You are allowed to complete this exercise using any camera you wish, including a camera phone. If you do use a phone, I recommend using the Blackmagic Cam app to give you manual control. You are to complete these exercises in a group with a minimum of two people.)

(Part 2 for production designers/ producers did not apply to either of my roles)

Here are the notes made in the first meeting:

Some things did end up switching around, but the rough background for our story was the same. We follow a surgeon (spoiler) returning home from a night shift that didn't go so well. While the truth behind the narrative is that he wasn't able to save one of his patients and is struggling mentally to deal with the guilt on his shoulders, we play around at the beginning, trying to create quite an ambiguous tone that leads viewers to assume he's actually a murderer but the costume reveal at the end as his stress. Appearing to imagine blood driplets in places that disappear and making you question if any of it is real resembles the inescapable effects of such a demanding and important job, also shown through the subtle hints of red through many of the props and set design (jam, toaster, kettle, fridge, blinds). By the end, opening one of the red blinds whilst eating this jam on toast, which peaked his anxiety when preparing it illustrates his calmer states, having come to term its part of the job.

How could we visually present his guilt?

We considered a multitude of options to symbolise his lingering actions visually. Blood under his fingernails was a subtle one we liked, but it was quickly dismissed as we realised he would likely have been wearing latex gloves during surgery. We were also worried about a knife being too on the nose and dramatic for the true reveal of our story.

Using blood in the sink and back of the spoon to symbolise the lingering memories worked best in an unsettling way that insinuates something is off.

His cold and almost unbothered demeanour outwardly was important to establish these as attempts to mask his inner struggle.

I found directing Gaureeka's brother very useful. I got a taste of how important it is to articulate your vision through words to help put actors in the headspace of their characters while allowing them freedom to incorporate a bit of themselves. As I research the art of directing, I'm learning how important it is to create a good and honest relationship with actors so that you can get the best possible performance. It's a complex collaboration that requires understanding and sincerity in the right manner.

Sound design:

We considered how the sound could insinuate his inner psychology and the struggle of coming to terms with what had happened. Even though death is something that comes hand in hand with his job, it can be difficult to move past something you feel so responsible for. The idea of a beeping monitor, mimicking those seen in hospitals that track your heartbeat, would help quickly build the climax in this short space of time.

Our Storyboard:

Exercise 2 Storyboard.pdf

Download PDF • 81.44MB

A Cut Too Deep:

https://vimeo.com/1064506127

Feedback class:

-Luckily, a lot of the intended underlying traits came across to our peers. Many used the words, malicious and OCD to describe the character. The assumption that he might have been a murderer went a bit unnoticed; however, they were impressed by the subtle withholding of our character's identity without it feeling forced or obvious. The title confirmed many people's understanding of his role as a surgeon, and the construction of shots helped others understand the narrative. Many found that the setup of the jam and draw worked well to build tension.

Overall, I think this exercise was very useful and made me think more about ways of hiding a character's identity to aid the narrative.