STAGE 1: INITIAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT 1
LOVESICK
Note: This initial concept has been inspired by openings such as Whiplash (2014) and The Dark Knight (2008), the Dark Knight specifically led us to making one of the most climatic sequences of the film be put at the very beginning, while Whiplash inspired the confrontational style meeting between the 2 main characters at the very start of the film.
Synopsis
Adam (Arjuna Nakao) is a shell of a man. After a devastating breakup with his girlfriend of 2 years Jess (Jasmine Riadi), it seems like Adam’s life has spiraled into a dark abyss. The hole in his heart creates an unending void, and as he tries to fill that void with a life of debauchery and excess, his life slowly begins to lose meaning. That is until a woman named Alex unexpectedly barges into his life.
Lovesick is a story of heartbreak, depression, pain, but most importantly; it is a story of how one’s struggles are not forever - it is a story of recovery.
Opening Note
The goal of this opening scene is to introduce the audience to the character of Adam, and to illustrate the effects this initial breakup had on him. This will leave the audience with a conceptual idea in their minds as to the type of man Adam is, but will also try to build sympathy for his character. This opening acts as a precursor as to what's to come in the rest of the movie, as the opening explores the huge hit of sorrow that comes with heartbreak, while the rest of the film explores the ongoing struggles of forgetting someone you’ve loved for so long, even when equally as “great” opportunities may present themselves.
OPENING CREDITS (2 MINUTES TOTAL) - SCREENPLAY
SCENE 1:
SETTING: Empty room in an office building
COSTUME(s): Semi formal - work attire
STORY BOARD & SCRIPT:
[words in bold are used to convey emphasis, hyphens(-) are used to show where the talent has been cut off]
Shot 1
Scene starts with a close up of Adam’s face and eyes; with sweat running down his face and a nervous expression taking over his being. It is clear he’s done something wrong
Shot 2
Scene cuts to a medium-close up shot from behind of Jess walking frantically down a hallway, while camera tracks her, from behind. Then cuts to a shot of her face, still walking, while camera is still tracking, however more shakily (to convey the unsteady state of mind she is currently in). It's clear she's angry,
Shot 3
Scene cuts to a medium close up of Jess from behind as she slams open the door to Adam’s room, tracking her as she goes in. Then cuts to a shot of her from inside the room - as she continues to walk towards Adam’s desk, with the camera still tracking her. Shot cuts to a still close up of Adam with his head looking towards the ground, leaning against the side of a wall. Cuts back to over the shoulder shot of Jess, as she yells at Adam.
JESS:
Who the HELL do you think you are? Firstly, you lie to me, secondly you cheat on me with SARAH WALKER OF ALL PEOPLE, and NOW you’re saying that YOU’RE the one breaking up with ME?
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam
ADAM:
Look, Jess, please, let me explain-
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess
JESS:
No I'm not gonna let you say anything-
[Adam, now screaming]
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam
ADAM:
NO YOU LISTEN HERE, IM FED UP WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP, YES I DID SLEEP WITH SARAH. YES I ADMIT IT. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE COMPLETELY INNOCENT IN THIS SITUATION TOO, ARE YOU?
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess
JESS:
Jesus Christ Adam that was MONTHS AGO HAVE WE NOT GONE OVER THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN? [rubs hand over her face in frustration] YOU ARE THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE IVE EVER MET!
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam
ADAM:
SO I'M THE ASSHOLE NOW? WOW [scoffs sarcastically] I'M THE ASSHOLE? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH JESS YOU JUST DON'T. HOW MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS IVE HAD, HOW MANY COUNTLESS TIMES IVE WANTED TO DIE - TO END IT ALL - BECAUSE OF YOUR BULLSHIT?
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess
JESS:
God please Adam for once in your life WHY CAN'T YOU EVER ADMIT THAT YOU WERE IN THE WRONG?
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Adam
[Adam, now tearing up]
ADAM:
BECAUSE I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME. I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW I FUCKING FEEL DAMNIT-
Cuts to over the shoulder shot of Jess
JESS:
ALL THIS TIME THATS WHAT IVE BEEN TRYING TO DO BUT YOU ADAM, YOU ARE SUCH AN INSUFFERABLE [pauses], EVIL, [pauses again as tears start to run down her face], JOKE OF A MAN. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE. I'M THROUGH WITH YOU. I AM THROUGH WITH YOU. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE’RE DONE.
Cuts to a full shot where a majority of the office and both Jess and Adam can be seen, as Jess turns her back on Adam and storms out the door. Adam does not move - he is just looking at Jess, as she leaves, sorrowingly, as he wipes the stream of tears off his face.
Then cuts to a close up from a high angle of his face looking up, still while crying, as he yells out, to no one but himself.
ADAM:
GOD DAMNIT.
--------------------------------------------------END OF SCENE 1-------------------------------------------------------
SCENE 2:
SETTING: Bedroom/House - 1 week later in the morning
COSTUME:
Shot 1
Scene begins with a close up shot of Adams face as he sleeps. Shot then switches to close up of Adam's alarm ringing, and then switches to a medium close up of him from his bed, lifting his arm up and turning off the alarm. Camera then shows him waking up from bed, from a low angle, from the foot of his bed. He rubs his eyes as he slowly gets out and sits down on the edge of the bed. Shot then cuts to a close up of his face, as he puts his head in his hands.
Shot 2
Adam gets up and begins to walk out of his room. Camera tracks him & pans to reveal bottles of alcohol, cartons of cigarettes, clothes, and more lying around messily in his room. Adam then leaves and shuts the door behind the camera
Shot 3
Shot starts with a medium close up of Adam from the other side of the door. Camera then tracks him as he sluggishly walks to the kitchen and makes a cup of coffee, Adam then turns around and looks down. Shot switches to close up of Adam's face looking down from a low angle. Adam puts his hand on his forehead as he proceeds to mumble to himself.
ADAM:
(regretfully) God… what have I done…
Shot 4
Adam picks up his cup coffee and starts to drink it as camera starts to dolly towards him. He then looks down, dissatisfied. After this, a series of jump cuts are used to portray Adam showering, brushing his teeth, clothing himself, and getting ready to go to work.
CONCEPT 2
MOONLIGHT SONATA
Note: This opening has been influenced by openings from movies like 500 Days of Summer (2009). Specifically, the movie's use of storytelling and hermeneutic code that pull the audience in as to what the main character will do, and what’s going to happen next. The handheld camera scene that portrays the main character when he was a child comes from the movie as well.
Synopsis
Hazel (Danny Budiada) has been captivated by the piano ever since he was 4 years old. What originally started as a burning passion however, slowly turned into a repetitive chore and nothing less than a burden. The blame lies on his mother (Hawila Eva), who took advantage of Hazel's natural talent and used him as a cash grab. Hazel’s life takes a turn however when she meets Harmony (Jasmine Riadi), the girl that had just transferred to Hazel's school, who reignites Hazel's passion for the instrument.
Opening Note
The aim of Moonlight Sonata's opening is to introduce the audience to our 2 main characters, Hazel and Harmony. Hazel's story is told by illustrating his love for the key plot point of the film, the piano. The main conflict can also be interpreted from the opening, which is, how he has lost all passion and joy in playing the instrument he once used to love, and how he will regain it. This hooks the audience in and allows them to speculate whats going to happen in the future with Hazel and Harmony. (hermeneutic code).
The opening features clips from hand recorded videos that Dylan's mom took of him playing piano when he was younger. His joy-filled face slowly regresses as his mom’s greed begins to cloud her vision and tries to turn her son into a piano-playing machine. His passion dies out until a girl named Harmony joins his school's music club, and begins to reignite Hazel's flame.
OPENING CREDITS (2 MINUTES TOTAL) - SCREENPLAY SCENE 1: SETTING: Hazel’s home COSTUME(s): Casual Clothes
SONG USED (plays throughout the entire scene as non diegetic sound): Liebesträume - Franz Liszt (00:00 - 1:04) SCREENPLAY:
CONCEPT 3
MR. FAHRENHEIT
Note: This opening has been inspired by openings of movies such as Baby Driver (2017), with its fast paced editing, swift cinematography, and heavy use of narrative codes.
Synopsis
Dylan Fahrenheit’s highschool life started out as any other teen’s. After his parents divorced though, everything took a turn for the worse. Dylan now enjoys a life of drug abuse and addiction, as he seems to have lost every single friend he’s ever known. However while contemplating suicide, an unfamiliar face asks him the question he's been yearning for someone to ask him all his life, “How are you?”.
Dylan used to be someone who loved life
Now he has fallen into a deep drug addiction that has ruined his life
He doesn't care about life or anything at all for that matter
But suddenly, a girl comes into his life, he makes him think that it might be worth living after all
Opening Note
Mr. Fahrenheit’s opening is a fast paced opening featuring rapid cuts between shots of Dylan driving his car down the highway at super high speeds, while he's singing his lungs out to the Queen song he's blasting on the speakers. This opening tries to convey Dylan's overall carelessness for life, with subtle hints of his drug addiction being portrayed as well, with pills and syringes lying around the back of his car. He lives his life like he's prepared to die, and that's what we want the audience to feel. Hermeneutic code is applied and hooks the audience in by making them wonder who this character even is, as his name is not revealed, why he's driving down the highway super fast with music blasting, and what led him to this drug addiction. This pushes viewers to continue watching on.
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