Here is the first page of our script. It is only a first draft so there will be a lot of editing before we can confirm our final script. I've been using Celtx which has been very easy to use. It provides me with scene headings, actions, dialogue and all the other scriptwriting tools I need.
Now we are near to finishing our script it is vital that we organise cast and crew to be in our film. Our film has become a lot larger than we expected- This being a chance to find others to work alongside with. I recently got in touch with a Cameraman/Director of photography who was interested in our idea. I sent him the script and hoped for the best. Fortunately he liked the concept and was keen to be a part of it. Me and my partner Jacob met up with him for a chat about the production side of our film. This gave us a clear idea about how our film might look off the page. We discussed different shots that we could use to make our film visually unique. We are now looking for a gaffer, lighting designer and a sound boom. A runner is also essential for making sure that we have everything ready during shooting.
We have been researching music that would suit the style of our film. Last year we composed our own soundtrack after difficulties with copyright. However for this years short film we wanted to find music that would fit the style of our film. Social networking has been key in having access to independent musicians. The other day I got in touch with Sam Garrett who is a singer songwriter who I found on Youtube. I tweeted him asking if we could use a few of his songs for our film.
Stray Dog is a film about a teenage boy, named Milo, who is struggling through a breakup with his girlfriend, unnamed. The way he coped with the breakup was beginning to talk to his alter ego in his mind. Milo begins talking to his alter ego and has a realisation that the only way to deal with the sadness is to make his girlfriend upset. As Milo travels deeper and deeper into depression he discovers a lighter, which is actually a time machine. He "selfishly" uses the time machine to travel back in time to discover the reasoning behind the break up. He discovers that his friend which he confides in is the soul cause of the break up. Finally Milo realises that using the time machine to repair a breakup is incredibly selfish and learns a life lesson. The goal in the film is for Milo to repair the breakup and resume a happy existence, and the life changing moment is when Milo realises that he is being selfish about his feelings. I think that the visuals in this short film are incredibly helpful to the emote the mood and the feeling of the protagonist, which allows the audience to connect with the thoughts in his head more easily.
The choice of music is very important for the mood we want the audience to feel. Since it's only an eight minute film we have to limit our music to the opening and closing credits. We wanted to use a feel good song at the beginning to show a happy situation that Blake is in. This will let the audience immediately know that there is a positive atmosphere for our characters. This will contrast to the end of our film which ends terribly for Blake. After finding out his fathers affair with Sophie, his piano teacher, the mood and atmosphere changes dramatically for Blake. We will use a melancholy song that sparks emotion for Blake and the audience. Overall this choice of music will put the audience through a roller-coaster of emotions. After a lot of research into this style of music, we found an independent musician, Sam Garrett. His music has a variety of happy and emotional songs. This would be perfect for our short film. I have just sent a request to Sam asking permission to use his music. Here are the two songs we hope to use:
