Film synopsis/plan - updated

The film opens with the main character in a meeting room, the door shutting as footsteps of others leaving can be heard and they sigh as they sort out some papers on the desk. Dragging themselves to their feet, they move over to the door, and push the handle to open it. It clicks and doesn't open. They frown and try again, this time putting more weight behind it, pushing harder. They can be seen getting more panicked as they start to hit the door and shout for help. Sound of their heartbeat, out of focus parts, slowly moving. The sound builds up of them shouting and slamming against the door again until it suddenly goes silent and there's a cut to them sitting against the door, slumped looking tired, their head in their hands (time has passed). Hear their heavy breathing, ambient noise of the room, birds etc, all heightened. It's visibly darker outside. Cuts between shots during the day, then night, then day again, sense of time passing but quite quickly. Trying to sleep when they hear a noise coming from the small cupboard (there will have been a shot of them previously looking in it but it's empty. There's a buildup of scratching, crawling, banging noises from in the cupboard, they look terrified-the noises keep increasing and they shove the table against the door-advancing away. It is dark outside and the lights switch off - sound of the cupboard, their heavy breathing/cries for help. The light flickers, we see the shadow of something coming towards them. They close their eyes and then the lights fully turn back on suddenly - everything is back as it was, with the desk in the original place. They fling themselves at the door again and manage to burst through it. Close up shot of them travelling through before a CCTV style shot reveals they're still in the same meeting room - nothing has changed. Cut to credits and then a shot of a laptop playing the CCTV style footage before a man closes it and walks away.

Coursework - updated filming plan

Having looked at different locations, I've now decided to set my film in a meeting room, as I think it'll be a more ambiguous setting in terms of why the main character is there and will therefore require less setup before getting to the main plot. As well, when looking around it was the room which was the most convenient for filming as it was a reasonable size with space to move around at each wall.
This location will slightly change some of the shots which I was wanting to film as there will be less objects in the room, however I don't think it'll change the overall effect I want to produce of claustrophobia and fear.
One issue I have identified with the location is that the room has windows which draws away focus from the door being the only way to escape. Although, I think that if I address that the character is unable to open the windows/force them open the plot will still make sense. I will have to be careful about the time of day that I film though because if it gets darker outside this could affect the sense of continuity, especially if I don't film in chronological order.





Additionally, I've thought more about my ending scene. I want there to be end credits with music showing the CCTV style footage on the side of the screen which then cuts to the view of it playing on a laptop with a phone ringing (the ringtone the same as the credit music) and a man in a suit will answer the call and shut the laptop, walking away. I want this to be shot somewhere which looks quite clinical so filming at my school could potentially work as there are some white desks which might look effective. This will mean that I'll need to have at least two filming dates for getting footage though a third day might be useful depending how long it takes to film different parts, particularly in the main room that I'm shooting in.

Something which might be useful for filming is having different sized cameras for filming different shots, for example I may need a smaller camera for long shots as it will be a fairly small room anyway and I want to maximise the depths of field I can achieve.

Coursework - film name

I'm thinking of calling my film 'Sisyphus' as in Greek mythology he was a King punished by having to push a boulder up a hill repeatedly for eternity. He would manage to get it almost to the top only for it to roll down again and have to repeat the process. Therefore, I think that the idea of being trapped in a room and escaping only to have to do it again will link to that idea, however the name is obscure enough that many people might not pick up on the reference, although for those that do it will act as foreshadowing.

Coursework - plot synopsis

- Character walking down corridor, opens door and goes into storeroom, door slams behind them
- Turns something off/checks if there is a box of something (using a torch)
-  Goes to leave the room and discovers the door won't open
- Begin pushing at the door, hitting it, shouting
- Time skip, them looking exhausted and dejected sitting outside the door
- Start to look around for other ways to escape, pacing, looking stressed occasionally shouting
- Gets quieter and they start to look unsettled, small sounds become louder, they look frightened
- Lights suddenly turn off and sounds build up rustling, steps, their breathing quickening
- They scramble to find the torch they had and turn it on
- Camera follows the beam of the torch as they swing it left and right
- Slowly pans upwards and there's either nothing or if possible through editing, they are on the ceiling and terrified they drop the torch and it switches off
- The lights flicker back on but this time they're red and visibly panicked the character begins to even more frantically fling themselves against the door
- Suddenly they burst through and relieved, they hurry out (focus going in and out, close up, or the shots mirrored and put together, or just their legs etc)
- Then there's an extreme close up of their eyes widening in horror and the sound of the door slamming shut once again behind them
- Wide shot of them still in the same storeroom as previously
- Screen gets smaller and them screaming and trying to get out (CCTV shot) plays to the side of the screen next to the credits on a black background, with a song playing in the background, current ideas are: I want to break free, Freedom, I'll be watching you for a sense of irony
-The screen will fade black and then there will be a shot of a laptop with the CCTV playing in an office setting/bedroom before it's shut with someone's hand

Coursework - shot list

Establishing shot of location - outside in corridor then inside storeroom
Close up and extreme close up shots to show emotion
Pan shots + moving shots - horror genre, build tension
Medium shots - show actions + what's going on
High angle shots - sense of power, diminishing the character (like in the Truman Show for example, CCTV style shots, invasive)

Coursework - final idea

A person gets trapped in a storeroom and attempt to get out, while doing so they experience certain things like the lights going out and changing colour - building the tension. They eventually manage to escape but as they step through the door they realise they're still in the same room. It cuts to credits and then there's a final shot of a CCTV style shot being played of them in the room on a laptop which is then closed.

Coursework - shooting plan

Date - end of November/early December at about 3/4pm
Will shoot in mostly chronological order, however I might film the first part of them walking into the room last as I want it to be fairly dark. That's also the reason for the later filming time as the room I want to use has a window, so although I will cover it up I think it'll look more effective if it's dark outside as no light will come in.