Project 2 Pre-Production (>,<) _l,,l

Reference Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDK9MDklzFo

Prop List:

- Saxophone

-Doctor's kit (stethoscope, folder, white coat)

-gun

Costume List:

-Sax

casual suit

black clothes (to kill victim)

very casual (when home)

-Pseudo Devil

suit

hat

-Doctor

scrubs

lab coat

-Victim

pjs

Sypnosis:

After discovering that he has been diagnosed with an incurable disease, one young musical prodigy finds himself on the verge of death. That is until fate comes knocking at his door. An enygmatic gentleman claims that he has the cure to the ill fated disease. And he is willing to give it to the young musician if he does one thing, kill.

Script:

The Proposition

Written by Joseph Coleman

Fade in:

Int. Dark Void - Young, well dressed man [Sax] playing the saxophone with great energy.

Cut To:

Int. Hospital Room - (door slams shut)

Extreme Close Up - Sax opens eyes in shock

Doctor

How are you today?

Sax

Could have been better if I had my used my inhaler, but I was so into my performance that I just....forgot.

Doctor

(laughs sullenly)

You’re still getting lost in the moment, I see.

Close Up - Doctors expression slips and Sax sees this

Sax

Is there something wrong, doc?

Doctor

Your recent test results came back...

Sax

And?

Doctor

We have discovered that you have a very rare lung disease called LAM.

Sax

Wha...no, you all told me I had asthma. For six years, you all have misdiagnosing me?!

Doctor

The symptoms of the disease mimics that of asthma, making it that much more difficult to catch at an early stage. Statistically, you shouldn’t even have it. This disease affects woman almost exclusively. The times that men have been diagnosed, they were unharmed due to hormones that men have to suppress it. But it seems to have mutated, and now we are at a loss.

Sax

So what, now? There’s nothing you can do?

Doctor

I’m sorry.

Sax leaves the room, struggling to stand from the shock of the news he just heard.

Cut To:

Int. Medical Hallway

Sax continues to walk away.

Cut To:

Int. Hospital Room

An unseen figure enters the room.

Doctor

(voice cracking)

He’s yours.

Act II

Ext. Alley Way - Daytime

Sax walks through alley on his way home.

Int. House

Sax sits on bed, and eyes saxophone. He then takes hold of it in a vain attempt to play it. All pent up anger is release through violent thrashing.

(doorbell rings)

Sax answers door, and is met by a bearded gentleman.

Gentleman

Hello, sir. My name is Dr. Bloom. I am a former colleague of Dr. Stacy. She informed me that she just recently diagnosed one of her patients with the LAM disease and I--

Sax

Who the hell are you?

Gentleman

Why, I am Dr. Bl--

Sax

No, who are you, really? Let me guess, you hang out at the clinic pretending to be a doctor just to find your next sucker, huh? Get off my porch!

Sax slams door on Dr. Bloom.

Sax begins to walk away, but turns around in contemplation. He runs to reopen his door.

Sax

Excuse me, sir. Come on in.

Gentleman

Splendid!

Cut To:

Int. Kitchen - Night

Sax

I apologize, sir. It has just been a rough day today.

Gentleman

Oh, I understand completely. You actually handled the news better than I years ago.

Sax

What? You have the same disease?

Gentleman

No, but my daughter did.

Sax

Really, how did she fare?

Gentleman

Well, she died five years after she was diagnosed. She had just graduated college, and was ready to see the world until she fell ill. Let me tell you, not from the pits of hell is there a more painful punishment than watching your child wither away before your eyes.

Sax

I’m sorry. I know when I lost both my parents that it was the lowest point in my life. The only thing that kept me going was my desire to experience the way that they wished. That, and my love for music. And now both have been stripped away from me by a disease that I’m not supposed to have, statistically.

Gentleman

And this brings us back to the nature of my visit. Doctor’s worldwide, and myself, have devoted our lives to researches this disease. And just recently, we have made tremendous breakthroughs. By fortune, I ran into Patricia today and she told me of you. So here I am.

Sax

Wait, so are you saying that you can actually cure me?

Gentleman

(laughs slightly)

Well, it is in the realm of possibilities.

Sax

But why me. Why not experiment on monkies or something and spare yourself a potential lawsuit for a possible cure.

Gentleman

There is only so much animal testing can do. We have to attack the source, not tip toe around it for sake of comfort. Now, I’ll be honest with you. This disease is still hiding in the dark. Your diagnoses more than speaks for that. So, I present to you a proposition.

You take part in my research, and I can cure you.

Sax

I don’t kn--

Gentleman

You don’t have to decide now. If you so choose to fight this, then here is the address to my office.

Dr. Bloom hands Sax a business card, and precedes to leave the kitchen.

Cut To:

Ext. Outside of Sax’s doorstep

Dr. Bloom steps pass the doorstep.

The Gentleman

It was nice talking to you, young man. Have a lovely night.

Fades to black

Act III

Fades In

Ext. Outside Dr. Bloom’s Facility

Sax stands before the entrance as he makes sure that this is what he wants.

Cuts To:

Int. Dr. Bloom’s office

Dr. Bloom

Hey! You came! Have a seat.

Sax

So, when can we get started.

Dr. Bloom

Whenever you are ready.

Sax

I don’t want this. Shoot me up.

Dr. Bloom

(scoffs)

Ok, ok. But first things first. I have a contract here that you must sign. You know, as a precaution.

Sax looks at the Doctor uncomfortably

Dr. Bloom

Oh, there is no need to worry. This is just the business part of things. You need a contract for everything nowadays, in my time it was a man’s word that was bond.

Sax reads the contract, and something catches his eye.

Sax

Hey, you say that upon agreeing to these terms that I am obligated to fulfill my duties.

Dr. Bloom

Yes.

Sax

And what are these duties?

Dr. Bloom

Quite a simple one, really. You must sacrifice someone.

Sax

(scoffs)

What the fuck’s this shit? I knew not to trust you. I was actually buying into this scam.

Dr. Bloom

This is not a scam, my friend. This is just a transaction between to gentlemen, you supply me one death and I give you the treatment.

Sax begins to make his exit.

Sax

Look, I don’t know who you are but you stay the fuck away from me. Come near my home again and I’ll kill you. Understand?!

Sax begins to walk away until he collapses on the floor in pain.

Dr. Bloom

You see that? The pain you are feeling is the sign of weakness. Don’t worry, it is not your fault. You have been conditioned to accept such a pitiful existence. All of man has. Before you, is the cure but you won’t take it because of some false sense of morality. Nothing in this world is moral, except for chance. I can sense the strength you have to break free of this prison your body has become, but you must realize it for yourself. Only then will you gain a second chance. Do this one thing and I will set you free. No more pain, no more weakness, you will be cured.

Sax keeps his hand steady enough to sign the contract.

Dr. Bloom

Fades to

Ext. Suburban Neighborhood - Night

Sax stands before a quiet house.

Dr. Bloom

(voiceover)

This is your chance.

Cut To

Int. Dark Bedroom

Sax walks quietly towards the bed of his sleeping victim. Sax takes one more step as he aims his gun towards his victim.

(floor creak)

Dr. Stacy

(turning around in bed)

Wha? Oh my God! James! What are you doing?!

Sax

Dr. Stacy? Dr. Sta--

Dr. Stacy

He sent you didn’t he? Listen, you don’t want to do this. Don’t ruin your life like this.

Sax

What life? I have no life, not unless I do this.

Dr. Stacy

No! NO!

Sax

Im sorry.

(gunshot)

Cut To:

Ext. Suburban Neighborhood

Sax runs away from the scene as he gags at what he has just done.

Fades to

Ext. Park - Night

Sax

I did it. Dr. Stacy is dead now.

Dr. Bloom

Wonderful. I knew you would not disappoint, that is a ver--

Sax

Cut the bullshit. I did what you asked. I want that cure.

Dr. Bloom

And here it is, my friend.

Sax

You’re not my friend.

Sax grabs the syringe that Dr. Bloom hands him. He then proceeds to take the medicine.

Close Up

Needle drops to the ground.

Sax

(breathing heavily)

Why can’t I breathe?

Dr. Bloom

Because you are dying my good man.

Sax

I this was the cure. You told me I was going to live.

Dr. Bloom

I said nothing of the sort. As we agreed, I gave you the key to your release. You’re free now. This is my gift to you.

Dr. Blooms leaves Sax to his fate.

Sax

(faintly)

But I wanted to live. I wanted to live.

Fades to black

Location shots:

Headshots:

Andrew Lebowitz as Dr. Bloom

Liz Thomas as Dr. Stacey

Terrell Sharkey as Sax

Movie Proposal

Under cover of night, stands a dying man by the name of Sax. Once an inspired and passionate man, Sax finds himself growing ever more apathetic. Stricken with a rare form of heart disease, he realizes that there is little time left for him. One day, fate comes knocking with a chance operation that can save his life. An enigmatic individual offers Sax the opportunity of a lifetime, but only if he is willing to carry out a few favors. With a simple signature, Sax's life changed forever. He is now a wanderer, bound by obsession and obligation. Death has become his occupation as he fights for a second chance to live.

Reference Photos

My Self Critique

Joseph Coleman

1. Elysium

2. The main idea that I started with the group project was to have an elderly lady lie in her bed as the sun sets. The lady was to look sickly, ill, and unhappy. As the lady nods off to sleep, the viewer sees her dream in which she is in her youth walking through a blossoming field on a bright, sunny day. As the viewer returns to reality, he or she was to be hit with the realization that the woman has died and the dream was her paradise.

3. The source of this idea came from the focus of the assignment by my Cinema teacher. We had to define the nature of an individual by use of light, so I immediately thought about the contrast of light to showcase the main subjects inner emotions.

4. I I wanted to audience to feel a sense of sadness throughout the film with a semblance of hope awaiting them at the end. Although the ending is not a completely happy one, at least the lady is no longer suffering.

5. Here is the synopsis of the story: Alone in her darkly room, a terminally ill woman (Leah) struggles with her sickness and ultimate death. A prisoner of her own body, she silently suffers from heartbreak and isolation. But to her surprise, peace finds her in the most unlikely place; her dreams.

6. The theme that I discovered after I finished the film was that heaven and hell find their way into the lives of individuals. The lady’s hell was suffering alone in the world of the awakened but closing her eyes for the final time allowed her to ascend to a higher plane of existence; heaven.

7. I think the strengths of the film is the lighting and the angles by which the actors were film. Light played a major role in the progression of the film and a lot of effort went into making it as atmospheric as possible. Although the story is kind of cheesy, the execution of it by the actors really sold it, in my opinion.

8. My problem area is most likely the lighting. In a lot of cases, if not all, the lighting can make or break the film. I also need to work on thinking more efficiently as I juggle multiple tasks, because sometimes I get overly ambitious about a single thing and this could pose a problem later. As for lighting, this can be solved by researching my settings more and experimenting with lighting the room days before filming. sketching out how I want lighting to look can also prove beneficial.

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Group Project Post Productions

Synopsis

Alone in her bedroom, prisoner of her own body, Leah reminisces about her past life with the man she loves, the late Geoffrey. One faithful night, Leah and her departed lover confront her illness, allowing her to find peace within herself.

Shot List for “Elysium”

Shot 1—Montage photos, calendar, memories of past life in room, with shots of medicine

Shot 2—She’s lying on bed; she gets up, coughing (her face not shown)

Shot 3—Girl walks down hallway, hunched over to bathroom

Shot 4—Inside medicine cabinet; Cabinet door opens, she takes out medicine, we see her gaunt face in mirror

Shot 5—She takes medicine back to her room, sits on bed, looks at the clock, takes medicine

Shot 6—Looks @ photo of Paul; the camera cuts to photo; she picks up the photo, holding it tenderly; she cries, places photo back on dresser; she falls back on bed coughing, holding pillow and tearfully falling asleep; shot of clock

Shot 7—She wakes up to growing light (and music); She gets up to investigate and follows light into the hallway, opening from lighted door

Shot 8—Paul is facing fireplace, his back to the camera; Johannah calls his name; he turns around facing her; cuts back to Johannah, in shock; Paul moves towards her, hand forward; when she grabs his hand; cut to her in new outfit

Shot 9—He procures necklace from pocket; he spins her around and puts necklace on her; she turns back around and admires the necklace

Shot 10—They both mouth ‘I love you’; They share a warm embrace in front of fireplace

Shot 11—Fades into bedroom; zoom in to her in bed, close up of face, then pans and holds on the necklace; pan out and up to the clock, where it stops.

Shot 12—ROLL CREDITS

Set Dressing List

Dining Room of Faiers House (Bedroom):
Bed frame w/ mattress
White sheets w/ white thermal blanket
Small Dresser
Curtain or curtain fabric (possible)

Living Room of Faiers House (Dream Space):
Green and gold striped living chairs w/ several small throw pillows
Small area rug
White candles of various sizes
Fabrics for possible draping


Prop List

Dining Room of Faiers House (Bedroom):
Wall clock
Calendar
For Dresser:
Picture frame(s)
Pocket watch
Pill bottles (multiple)
Drinking glass
Trinkets (small accents)
Slippers
Books

Bathroom of Faiers House (bathroom):
In Medicine cabinet:
Pill bottles
Toothbrush
Soap
Small bottles
On Sink:
Drinking Glass

Living Room of Faiers House (Dream Space):
Necklace
Pocket watch (possible)

Costume List
Girl:
Plain pajamas/bed clothes
Robe or sweater (possible)
Slippers (possible)

Nice Bright Dress
**All provided by actress
Guy:
Nice Suit Set
**All provided by actor

Inspiration

Twilight Zone "Nothing in the Dark" (1962) An old woman has fought with death a thousand times and has always won. But now she finds herself afraid to let a wounded policeman in her door for fear he is Mr. Death. Is he?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qaki5WSPNng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBAmBPosSy4