Film 5: Director's Statement, Shot list, and Lined Script

FILM 5: SCRIPTED ONE TAKE

FILM 6: SCRIPTED MASTER WITH COVERAGE

FILM 7: FINAL SCENE
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT OF INTENT

This statement of intent is designed to train your mind, eye and heart to shoot purposefully. Prepare it well before shooting. Briefly—but thoughtfully and specifically—answer the following questions.

1.     What film or TV show is this from? This scene is from Gone Girl (2014).

a.     After reading the script, in 3 sentences, what is the story of the entire film?  Nick Dunne finds his wife missing on their 5^th anniversary.  He is arrested for murdering her (based on signs and things in their house).  His wife, Amy, is not dead; she ran away from him only to come back to him at the end of the film while appearing to be kind of crazy.

b.     After reading the script, what is the theme of this film?  A huge theme of this film is the fear of change, particularly in relationships.  That fear can have a huge effect on individuals and couples.

2.     Do you have the actual script of the film (not a transcript)? Yes.

3.     In 3-5 sentences, what happened in the story immediately before this scene?  Right before this scene, Nick comes home drunk.  Amy appears to be unfazed by this.   This scene shows their relationship starting to weaken.

4.     In three or four sentences, what is the story—the beginning, middle, and end—of this scene? In other words, what happens as the scene starts, as it progresses, and as it ends?  The scene begins with Nick and Amy lying in bed together.  They discuss ways how their relationship is better than every other couple, which eventually leads into confessions that they are rapidly losing money and jobs.  The scene ends with the couple agreeing to ignore their troubles and not let them interfere with their marriage.

5.     What, specifically, must the audience understand narratively/plot-wise in order to engage in this scene? How will you communicate each piece of information?  The audience must understand that these two are married.  Wedding rings, the way they interact with each other, and the dialogue will actually all help the audience understand that.  I also want the audience to understand that they are both afraid of each other: I will make their confessions show fear and their reactions show relief.

6.     What is the narrative and thematic purpose of this scene within the larger story?  This scene reveals some reasons as to why Nick and Amy’s marriage fell apart.

7.     What emotion do you want the audience to experience while watching this scene? Why? How, specifically, do you intend to do this?  I want the audience to feel pity for this couple.  They are kind of pathetic in the way they expect their lives to be.  I plan on using their fear and uneasiness in the scene to help the audience feel that.

8.     What is the first image of the scene? What is the final image of the scene? Why do you think the director chose these specific images?  The first image is the couple lying in bed.  This image establishes that they have some kind of physical relationship and that they are committed to each other.  The last image shows Nick putting a finger to his chin, which is a way that the couple tells each other that there will be no B.S. between them.  This image shows the depth of their relationship: they have been together for a while and have established rituals.

9.     Why is this scene personal to you? What specific personal experience(s) does it remind you of?  This scene is personal to me because I am also afraid of changes in a relationship.  I have had a particular relationship where I have been horrified by the changes that have taken place.  To me, change sometimes ruins a relationship.  My friend tries to insist that it’s not getting ruined, that it’s just changing.  But to me, the change is damaging.  I also get really anxious to tell people bad news; reactions can be brutal when they are bad.

10.  Which two specific visual elements—line, shape, space, tone, color, rhythm, movement—do you intend to use to purposefully communicate the emotion of the scene? (You will be graded on your execution of this plan)  I want the movement of the camera to reflect the interior anxiety that both of these characters are experiencing.  They fear change in their relationship, and they also fear disappointing the other.  Therefore, I want the camera’s movement to echo these feelings of anxiety through speed.  I want the color of this scene to be very white because white is kind of mysterious.  It takes in every color of the spectrum and then shoots it back out again.  It is impenetrable, kind of like these characters’ feelings.  They are afraid to talk with each other, yet they spit everything out.

11.  In a bulleted list, describe three potential obstacles you may face in creating a successful scene. Describe how can you be prepared to overcome these? Be specific!

·       BLOCKING – since this is a one-shot, blocking will be hard.  I want the characters to move around and get out of the bed, but I do not want the camera to moving around purposelessly.  Therefore, I am going to really have a well thought-out plan of where I want the camera to be at every second.

·       Actors and emotion – I want the actors to accurately portray the emotions I am trying to accomplish.  Some run-throughs and direction/correction will hopefully achieve that!

·       Location – I have a really hard time finding good locations.  I would like for this place to be very white, and it needs to look like married people live there.  I will have to ask around early to try and find a good place!