Marieke / Proposal Draft
What do you want to make?
This academic year I would like to make a short horror film. In this I would like to incorporate the visual language I developed last year. Night vision recordings combined with digital infrared photos. For my horror short I am currently writing a script. There are 2 main characters: a guy that is a film student and a girl that is a painter. The location consists of the girl’s bedroom with drawings and mirrors.
The most important themes for the film are: trauma, memory, intimacy, power structures and violation. The characters are supposed to be likeable so the viewer will invest in the characters. In the dialogue it is clear that these 2 characters are longtime friends. Because I already make use of non-conventional techniques, I don’t want too many supernatural elements which are often done in the horror genre.
After a discussion with Cem about this film he came with the idea of a video that is recorded on top of another video. The video that is underneath the recording contains the traumatic experience. Over the course of the film the recording that is underneath will reveal more and more frames as the story goes on.
Besides this I want to use infrared images to portray memories that the 2 characters are discussing. It is possible that over the course of the film these photos will also change from happy memories to disturbing memories.
The camera has an active role and is not hidden. My idea now is that the guy that acts in the film is also the one that films. Or at least give the illusion that he is the one that films.
Because I am interested in the philosophy of ethics, I want to make a film that presents questions about right and wrong that are also difficult for myself to answer. These questions mainly relate to themes on trust, power dynamics, violence and protection.
How do you plan to make it?
For the footage I will use my night vision camera and digital camera with infrared filter. For the writing part I will write a script that leaves space for improvisational parts within set frameworks. For this film collaboration is a necessity while previously I mainly worked on my own except for the models that I worked with. Since one of the characters is a painter, I am planning to incorporate my own drawings and paintings in the film (these are also part of the storyline). The sound I would also like to design myself if I have the time. The locations will consist of a bedroom and a location more based in nature.
What is your timetable?
The exact timetable I don’t know yet but here is a list of what I have to do:
- Script
- Moodboard
- Storyboard
- Make some new paintings and drawings
- Find a crew
- Decide if I want to work with people I already know or actors (and in this case find actors)
- Film
- Edit
- Produce the sound
- Producer?
There is a lot more that I need to do but this is the list that I can think of now.
Why do you want to make it?
I would like to make a film that focuses for a big part on the aftermath of a violent encounter instead of on the violence itself. This is because I am more interested in the psychology and consequence of trauma and how this also affects the people that are close to the person who experiences it. Most importantly I want to make a film that engages beyond shock value.
Who can help you and how?
Cem will be co-director of the film. Of course, there will be other parts of the film that I need help with, mainly with technical roles. I would prefer to ask the help of fellow students for this. For the acting I am still in doubt if I will ask actors or friends. I tend to like films that use unexperienced actors because it can feel more genuine and real.
Relation to previous practice?
In my previous practice I developed the visual language that I will also continue to use now. Next to that I already researched the boundaries between camera, operator and model. Power structures have been a prominent subject in my practice.
Relation to a larger context / References?
Films like It Follows, Funny Games and Man Bites Dog are my main inspiration now. I have watched a lot of other films that have influenced me but I think these 3 relate to my own film in a more direct way. It Follows is especially important because this film validated my own feelings in a way that I haven’t experienced before with a film.
The most relevant book I’m reading now is: The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim: Bettelheim presents a case that fairy tales help children solve certain existential problems such separation anxiety, oedipal conflict, and sibling rivalries. The extreme violence and ugly emotions of many fairy tales serve to deflect what may well be going on in the child's mind anyway.
Update
After a couple of tutorials there are a few new elements that I would like to elaborate on now.
Before I thought I wanted to make a short film that fitted into the Psychological Horror genre. Now I am a bit further in my research and I figured out that I am interested in the grammar of filmmaking and how I can play with the conventions and boundaries in this. I like films that are playing with the viewer and that are very aware of their own medium. For example: Funny Games, Man Bites Dog and the work of Keren Cytter. So rather than making a film that is a Psychological Horror short I want to make an uncanny video that balances on the boundary of being a more conventional film. My plan now is to write events and a script for the short that also communicates with the viewers in a way that it calls them out for watching it.
The set of the film will be build in my own bedroom in which I will incorporate drawings and mirrors. This could be a prototype or if it works out well the actual set design. Since I had the plan to use 2 films (a recording underneath the film) I decided to incorporate this idea more clearly into the story. This other recording is named and will be shown at some point in the video after a confrontation.
This is where I'm at so far with my project and proposal.