Evaluation

The film process has finally finished, and Depreciate is now an existing drama film. The process was not without it's ups and downs however, with many factors shaping the final product. The film carried the theme of Depression through out the process, however the storyline that expressed this evolved from its original form. The film was about three age groups reacting to Depression within a family, a boy reacting to his parents divorce, a teenager suffering from cyber bullying and the dad dealing with the divorce. The strengths and weaknesses of the process are outlined below.

Strong Points:

• Theme: a strong point of the film process was the way that the core theme of depression was well maintained through out. Despite numerous changes the message of Depression was just as, if not stronger than I originally intended. This meant that the message of the film was maintained despite the altercations in its expression.
• Development of Idea: Another success of the film process was the development and refinement of the idea. Although this was aided by set-backs and difficulties i feel that the final plot was more interesting and more effective than the original proposal. The film went from being centred around one character suffering from depression to three of differing age groups suffering. Although this massive change in plot only evolved from difficulties with the original idea, i feel it ended up better representing Depression as an issue.
• Editing: The final strength of the process was the editing. I had a lot of time to edit, with opportunities to come in during the holidays and time after school which i utilised. I had to self teach all the editing skills however this was far from difficult. The editing process was relatively straight forward, with the greater the time invested the better the film. This made the importance of allowing plenty of time to edit so important as it was a process that could not be successfully rushed.

Weaknesses:

• Actors: Despite the obvious strengths of the film process, there was also clear weaknesses and things that could be improved upon future projects. The lack of actors was one of these weaknesses. I originally contact three Nelson companies for actor availability, when none of them replied i contacted again to no avail. I then organised some family friends to act, however due to weather interruptions and them going away this did not work either. This significantly impact my plot, changing it dramatically and i ended up having to use my family for actors. Despite some things out of my control, perhaps it would have been better to be more proactive regarding actors, especially in the event of rain. 
• Filming: The filming also came with weaknesses that were very avoidable. I had always planned to film on one weekend however it ended up being spread over consecutive weekends. I think this came down to lack of time management, especially when coordinating actors. However the biggest mistake during the filming was the failure to consider that light could be altered later on the computers. This meant that i attempted to get correct lighting within the shot at the time of filming. This not only meant unrealistic shadow in places, but also the shots came out quite grainy in places due to this error. This is obviously easily avoidable in the future, and a lack of forward planning and experience was at fault.
• Practicalities: The final weakness of the film process was the practicalities. This was all the little things that required organisation and forward planning. Things like considering the impact of weather, organising locations for filming, checking camera batteries and planning voice over. These things, among others meant the at times the film process was slow, disorganised and open to greater errors. These errors came through lack of experience, as they were lapses in the film process which i failed to consider.

Future Resolutions:

• In future it is clear that i need to be more proactive in finding actors. Whether it be family or not, communication is key and i will need to have organised everything before hand. With one film under my belt, i now realise that with editing issues like lighting, colour and visual affects can be greatly altered. Therefor i would consider the changes i can make later to ensure that the footage collected is at the highest possible quality and achieves the correct intentions. Finally, i would need to ensure all the little things are organised. I feel that all the little things and considerations have a hugely significant on the efficiency and quality of the film process, which i would consider in future endeavours.

All in all, i have a finished film which i am very happy with. It displays the original intentions and fits with the theme i decided on at the beginning of the year. I would label the film process as a mild success, but above all, a massive learning experience with practical knowledge being developed.

Filming Finished

I finally finished all the filming these weekend, however it was not without its fair share of setbacks. I planned to film the rest of the footage on saturday morning, outside with dad and a couple who had agreed to help out. Saturday morning it was pouring so i couldn't film, and as i had all the inside footage filmed, i had nothing else to do. So i couldn't film saturday morning, and dad was working in the afternoon. Sticking with my luck, the couple who were helping out were heading away for two weeks the following day, therefor mucking up all the filming. As a result, i have had to change the storyline, incorporating the existing footage I had. The film now contrasts depression within children, teenagers and adults. The existing footage shows causes and consequences of depression on adults, and I filmed with my little brother and a bit with myself to show this in the varying age groups. For each the catalyst is different, with the child dealing with a parental divorce, and teenager with cyber bullying. Ironically, i feel that this new structure has more potential than the previous, and if edited correctly, could be very powerful. Regardless of this however, i have finished filming and can finally start editing. I still need to record some voice over, which i will do with my little brother when i can decide on what will be most effective.

Filming Underway!

After a barrage of numerous obstacles, i have finally started filming Depreciate. Tonight i filmed all the inside scenes, roughly 2/3 of the film. I had planned to film last night, but in conjunction with my luck, some family friends turned up unexpectedly and ending up staying the night, meaning i couldn't film. Fast forward 24 hours and finally i have able to get the camera out. The rest of the film i plan to shoot next weekend, most likely sunday afternoon. This will give me the final week of term and the holidays to edit. I filmed to my updated script, which has been even further refined following the original submission. Obviously a lot has not gone to plan, however hopefully it all begins to fit into place and i can polish off this filming and get on the home straight of the film with the editing. Fingers crossed.

Filming Delay

Just when i thought everything was sorted, turns out theres another speed bump on the journey. I was unable to get a camera for the weekend due to none being available, even though i booked. Therefor i will have to wait and won't be able to get one to at least monday. The new plan is to get the camera before school exams and have finished filming but the end of exams, end of term at the absolute latest. This will allow me to spend the holidays editing and to have that finished by the start of term 4. Obviously a lot has not gone to plan, but i'll need to continue to adapt to whatever issue's are thrown my way. Hopefully this time everything aligns and i am able to get this bloody filming done!!

Filming

I am finally ready for filming, which I will do this weekend on the 29th and 30th of August. Unfortunately, due to complications with actors not contacting me back (after numerous attempts), and not being able to find a house to film at, there has been a slight changed in plan. Firstly I will use 5 actors, my dad will be the main character, with mum, my little brother, and another couple filling extra roles. I will film over two days, in two locations. On Saturday I will film all the inside scenes within my own house. On Sunday i will film the outside scenes in Richmond, with the couple who are acting as extra's. I have also refined the storyline slightly to add suspense, structure and purpose. The film will now feature no diegetic sound, as this will add to the loneliness within Steven. The only sound will be music, and voice over dialogue from Steven which will show his thoughts and also that he is alone. The storyline has changed slightly and now goes ruffly like this:
- Steven is sitting on the bath writing in the card, ticking clock on the wall
- He climbs in the bath
- Flashback to a scene of a women breaking up with him (silent argument)
- Steven in bath, voice over of his thoughts, clock ticking
- Flashback to scene of Steven almost getting hit by a car
- Steven sinks below the water, eyes open, clock ticking, voice over of his thoughts
- Flashback to man bumping into Steven in the street
- Shot of Steven underwater, voice over of his thoughts
- Clock hits midnight, Stevens eyes snap shut
- Flashback to boy running up to him handing him his wallet, Steven walking down the street
- Steven rises out of the water, crying into his hands
- Screen fades to black, end quote: "its the big things that destroy lives, but the little things that save them"

Re-Sub & Plan B

Progress for the film is moving along slowly, i received my script back and decided to re-sub, which is completed and handed in for further marking. In the mean time, i have started the concept and treatment which, as of now, is almost finished. With the continuing absences of an actor of any sort i have had to consider a plan B. If i cannot secure an actor within the next couple of weeks i have decided to alter my film slightly in order to compensate. This will involve using friends and family as actors, which obviously will be of lesser quality, but i will weave the film in order to minimise this loss. Obviously it's not ideal, but in order to create my film it certainly has to be considered, and potentially implemented. We'll see.

Actors, Location and Story Board

As of today, Thursday 23rd,  the storyboard is completed, ready to hand in, the location is decided and there is progress on the actors front. I have decided that i will film at one of my friends houses in town, a street near neale park and a shop near town. I understand that i will need permission to film on these premisses which i currently have not sought after. In regards to actors, i contacted three place, body and space, Nelson musical theatre and Nelson youth theatre. Body and Space replied and they have forwarded the requirements onto possible options, so currently i am just waiting on replies from them. There's a lot of things happening at the moment so hopefully everything falls into place and within a few weeks everything is organised to start filming.

Update

Due to me being away for the past month I have been unable to do any work on my film. At this point, the script and storyboard are completed. After not hearing back from an actor i will actively sought after one. There will be three locations for filming; firstly, i hope to use a friends house to film all the inside scenes. I will use a street in town (likely near Neale park) to film the two scenes that involve a street. Finally i will need to film in a small shop for one of the scenes, for which i will need to contact someone and ask permission. Still a lot of work to do, but hopefully within two weeks i will have an actor and locations sorted and can get onto filming.

Leaving

As of Thursday, i'm going to be away for just shy of a month, so will be unable to work on my film. In preparation for this, I have my script sorted and ready to hand in. The storyboard is almost finished and it will be completed when i arrive back from overseas.  In the mean time, i just need to wait on contact with an actor so that i can organise the filming of my blockbuster.

The Script

Depreciate

Written by

Alistair King

FADE IN:

INT. Bathroom. Evening

STEVEN CARMON (37 years old, dark haired, white, medium build) is sitting on the edge of his bath. He is wearing board shorts and in shirtless. He is crying into his hands, making loud sobbing noises. The camera pans from the wall outside of the bathroom door, across to show the inside of the room, revealing Steven. There is smashed glass on the floor, bath full of water. There is a card next to him on the edge of the bath.

Cut.

INT. BATHROOM. EVENING.

Shows close up of Steven, welled up eyes, staring into nothingness. Voices are heard expressing negative thoughts on Steven.

Mans Voice

(Angry but controlled. Voice Over)

“You suck”

Mans Voice

(Rudely, disrespectfully. Voice Over)

“You’re a loser Steven”

Women’s Voice

(Loud and emotional. Voice Over)

“I never want to see you again”

He is visibly distraught. His eyes snap shut.

Flashback TO.

EXT. STREET. MIDDAY

Steven is walking down a suburban street with houses on both sides. A car backs out of a driveway very quickly and almost hits Steven before breaking quickly. The driver holds the horn loudly and yells at Steven.

CAR DRIVER

(Angry and Loud)

Oi you!!! Watch where you’re going!

Cut.

INT. BATHROOM. EVENING

Film cuts back to Steven sitting on the bath ledge, tears, in his eyes. He is holding the card, and a pen. He opens the card and writes the following; “dear whoever cares, I’ve had enough, goodbye, I’m sorry for troubling you”. Steven closes the card. The camera switches to a close up of his face, he gulps and the camera blurs and fades out.

Flashback TO.

EXT. STREET. LATE MORNING

STEVEN is walking roughly down a suburban street, with houses on both sides, towards the camera. A person bumps into him and doesn’t acknowledge it. Steven turns round and watches the person walk away.

Cut.

INT. BATHROOM. EVENING

Steven is sitting on the bath ledge tears, his lifts his hand to cover his face.

Flashback TO.

EXT. OUTSIDE SHOP. MIDDAY

Steven begins to enter a small shop, a lady ahead of him enters first and swings the door closed, and Steven is caught off guard and is awkwardly caught by the door. He steady’s himself, looking angry but not wild, and enters the shop.

Cut.

INT. BATHROOM. EVENING

Steven climbs into the bath, water up to his neck. He hears the echo of abusive voices once again.

Mans Voice

(Angry but controlled. Voice Over)

“You suck”

Mans Voice

(Rudely, disrespectfully. Voice Over)

“You’re a loser Steven”

Women’s Voice

(Loud and emotional. Voice Over)

“I never want to see you again”

He closes his eyes, before slowly sinking below the water.

Flashback TO.

INT. SHOP. DAY

Steven walks up to the small counter of a shop to purchase a card. The chatty shop attendant starts a very one-sided conversation.

SHOP ATTENDENT

(Chirpy and bubbly)

Hello sir how are you today?

STEVEN CARMON

(Slow and drowsy)

Fine

SHOP ATTENDENT

(Chirpy and bubbly)

Who is the lucky person who’s getting the card?

STEVEN CARMON

(Slow and drowsy)

Um that’s for my err friend.

SHOP ATTENDENT

(Chirpy and bubbly)

You’re a great friend then, that’s so kind!

The shop attendant hands over the card and smiles.

SHOP ATTENDENT

(Chirpy and bubbly)

Have a great day!

Steven stares motionless into nothingness. After 3 seconds he snaps out of it, and forces a weary smile.

STEVEN CARMON

(Quick and surprised)

Thanks

Steven turns round and walks briskly out of the shop.

Cut.

INT. BATHROOM. EVENING

The screen is black, but the words of the conversation with the shop attendant begin to echo.

Shop Attendant

(Chirpy and Bubbly. Voice Over)

“You’re a great friend”

Shop Attendant

(Chirpy and Bubbly. Voice Over)

“That’s so kind”

Shop Attendant

(Chirpy and Bubbly. Voice Over)

“Have a great day”.

The blackness is replaced with an underwater shot from Steven’s perspective looking up. The camera shakes and Steven hauls himself out of the water, Gasping for air. The camera shifts to a medium shot of Steven sitting in the bath, shocked, tears in his eyes.

Fade Out.

Story Board and Script

The story board is fully completed, to a standard that reflects my artistic ability, i.e. not very good. I will attempt to get one of my friends to redraw it for me as she can actually draw, as apposed to me. The script is finished and after getting feedback it has been updated, and is ready to hand in. Yet to hear back from actors, and yet to decide the location of the house that will feature in my film.

Script and Story Board Update

The Script is polished and fully completed, ready for assessment. I have begun the story board, having fully completed about half of it. After realising my complete inability to draw remotely accurately i intend to get a friend to redraw it for me to a higher standard. In regards to the film, i have yet to finalise a location(s) and will need consent to film in public. Other than that, everything is running along smoothly.

Actors and Script Writing

For the film i think i only really need one actor, the others can all be just extra's which can consist of family or friends. As an actor i got recommended a guy called Daniel Allen who i will attempt to get to act in my film. In regards to script writing, i have started writing the script and in doing so, the storyline has changed slightly. Details like the characters name and age have been ironed out and the script may have to be beefed out a bit as it may be a touch on the short side. I've also thought about music for the film and i think that the song Jar of Hearts, by Christina Peri would be perfect. However to use this i will have to get rights to it which may be an issue so that idea is only a concept at this point in time.

Initial Plot Outline

After brief collaboration with the teacher, this is the basic outline of the film:

1. Opens with middle-aged man crying into his hands sitting on the edge of a bath, floor is a wreck
2. Flashback to the morning
3. The man goes to town 
4. Has a serious of awful incidents with people, incidents that normally are not that serious but are amplified due to his depression
5. Then someone casually says something nice to him
6. Goes back to present time
7. Gets into bath, recalls awful incidents through out the day
8. Sinks beneath the surface
9. In Bath, holding himself under, submerged in water
10. The words of the nice comment reverberates through out his head
11. Bursts through the surface of the water
12. Cut.

      Storyline obviously needs work but this is the initial basic outline of proceedings.

The Idea

Depreciate, undecided whether it is a fitting name for my forthcoming movie but we will see. The idea is basically to give an insight into the life of someone suffering depression, and show the impact that simple acts of kindness can have on someone. This will be achieved through a middle aged man, suffering from depression, on the brink of suicide. The basic idea is he will go somewhere, what he assumes is one of his final acts, and the viewer see's his view on life through the depressed tint of his eyes. As things happen which plunge in into deeper despair, a complete stranger, mentions something to him, a subtle complement which stirs him visually. A complement that he holds onto and prevents him from committing suicide as he remembers that comment later.