Sam Babington

Directors Statement
The use of low-key lighting should remain consistent throughout my story. This symbolizes a disruptive narrative and the idea that my main character is feeling trapped, due to school and stress taking over his life. This can be obtained by using little artificial lighting i.e no lights in the house in addition to reducing the amount of sunlight and instead filming in rainy/cloudy weather, creating a monotonous feel within the story. Additionally, the visual style must also show a clear opposition between light and dark. This helps to signify the change in the character once he receives his results. Such opposition is evident in Breaking Bad (Fig.1) the character, Mike, is seen in darkness despite being in open land with lots of sunlight. This relates to the characters mood as he is trying to escape but cant. Thus, this visual style must remain apparent throughout the narrative to reinforce the idea of my character being metaphorically trapped.

Figure 1

Nevertheless, once the character receives his exam results, the visual style should change significantly high key lighting should be used to reinforce the character becoming free. For example, the weather should change from being cloudy to sunny. This shouldnt include any artificial lighting and instead use naturalistic lighting only to emphasize that the change of the character isnt forced. Another approach I am planning to use is the idea of making the audience feel uncomfortable and tense just from the use of the camera. For example, Catherine Hardwicke who directed 1974 Red Riding frequently used asymmetrical shots to position the characters to the side of the shot, as you can see in Fig.2. This is similar to the use of dynamic composition making the shot seem unbalanced and disrupted. Such approach helps to intensify the stress and

Sam Babington entrapment of my character, which initially should make the audience feel uncomfortable.

Figure 2

Additionally, I feel extreme close up shots would also help to entice emotions within my story and help to make the audience engage more with my characters. This is evident within Breaking Bad (fig.3) where the extreme close up reinforces the stress of the character, thus making the shot seem more emotive compared to if a medium shot was used.

Figure 3

Such use of the camera must be consistent so that the audience always feels on edge and uncomfortable until the character changes, which additionally makes the change (my character receiving his results) seem considerably effective. Once the change occurs, the camera use should then become more neutral and balanced e.g. symmetrical composition, eye level shots, medium shots, etc. Thus, showing that the climax and drama has been released and that the story now has a calm and stress free approach. To reinforce the idea of being trapped, Ive chosen to use a monotonous colour palette. This revolves around the idea of using a limited range of colours

Sam Babington focusing on bland, basic colours. The palette should work to create an uninviting tone within the film (similar to the camera use), which furthermore links to the almost depressive state of my character. However, such monotony must reverse once the character receives his results this should switch to the use of more colours which work together to create a vibrant and inviting feel within shots, which additionally is emphasized from the use of naturalistic lighting and the change in weather. To generalize, the ending must be more inviting for the audience and should be easy to recongise that my character is now free. Linking to the colour palette, my costume design will follow a similar path. My main character should be wearing a simplistic and bland outfit perhaps a black polo, basic blue jeans and black shoes. This should counteract with the teacher whom he gets the results off. Here, the teacher should be wearing a more vibrant and noticeable outfit e.g. patterned shirt, bright jacket, etc. Nevertheless, the audience must be able to recongise that he is a teacher. Therefore, the outfit could be a bright coloured suit or something a bit more casual like a patterned shirt and trousers. Thus, there should be a clear distinction in terms of colour between my two characters plus recognition that one is a teacher, and one is a student. For my film, the location is key due to it hinting towards character development and the plot itself. My main location is my main characters bedroom. Here, I am planning to use the mise-en-scene and props carefully so that they create subtle hints towards the plot and the main character himself. For example, the bedroom should generally be quite messy with books scattered on the floor, paper screwed up in and near a bin, stationary scattered, etc. This links to the characters stress and anger with the pressure of exams however only hints towards this. Such use of this intentional mise-en-scene creates an enigmatic atmosphere which makes the audience become interested, due to having unanswered questions such as why is his room so messy, etc. Thus, this should deliberately be set up to additionally help introduce the film and to immediately gain audience interest. In terms of sound design, I am planning to use a minimalistic approach instead of using sound to tell the story; I will focus on using props and mise-enscene. The director Paul Andereson uses this idea of little sound. For example, in There Will be Blood, there is no dialogue within the introduction of the film. Such approach would work significantly in my film as I intend to make the plot of my film quite secluded (like my main character) and want to make the audience try and work out what is happening, thus gratifying some of their surveillance needs (when looking at the Uses and Gratifications theory). For example, they are likely to engage more with the film if they are trying to unsolve the plot. Nonetheless, the casting for my film doesnt have to be very experienced due to the lack of dialogue. My main character, Kane, must be a very timid and quiet character however is a student whom is very determined to be successful. An example of an actor similar to mine would be Joe Slater who plays Lenny in Waterloo Road (Figure 4). In the drama series, Lenny is portrayed as a trapped character who is dominated by his sister, making him to be presented to be

Sam Babington weak-willed and timid.

Figure 4 Lenny in Waterloo Road

The teacher role however is portrayed very differently compared to my main character. The teacher doesnt have to be experienced due to his little involvement within the story. However his role is still important the teacher is represented as a motivated and inspiring teacher. An example of this could be Justin Timberlake in Bad Teacher. He is represented as a successful and jolly teacher whom the students aspire to. Additionally, his dress sense shown in Figure 5 below would work effectively for the teacher role in my film.

Figure 5 Justin Timberlake in Bad Teacher