Ideas

First Ideas/Thoughts

As soon as I was told about the auteur journal I knew exactly what my film would contain. I had no plot line but for some reason knew that I would have a female protagonist and that it would contain elements of Japanese culture. 

I had some thoughts about scenes and styles

• Some sort of dining room scene with parents
• Scenes set in the countryside
• Female going through some sort of identity issue (know the idea has been done over and over again but not in this way)
• Something to do with dreams and reality - I've been wanting to make a film which explore dreams worlds since I started uni. I think now is my chance to finally do that. As an experienced lucid dreamer, I've always been fascinated by sleep and dreaming. 

In this video of hero The camera angles are awkward and unusual. For my auteur film I want to experiment with shots like these for scenes set in the countryside.

In the physical reality or what you guys would refer to as ‘real life’ in terms of shot types I’m thinking only static WS, LS, MS with colouring being very grey almost blue looking like the shots shown from the Japanese film ‘Confessions’ by director Nakashima Tetsuya. I want these shots to represent the bleakness of her reality. This is how Sayuri now feels about the life which has been given to her. She is uninterested in this boring and unchanging reality. Lots of lines

Random Notes

Themes

Cultural identity. Growing up in the West requires you to let go of your cultural heritage in order to be successful. You must adopt the western way of living else you will be outcast from society and treated as a 'foreigner'  

Beats

• Japaese girl brought up by western parents
• Astral projection
• Rebels against parents/coming of age
• Struggle to discover who she is
• FOOD - 

Parents represent the worldly view of the western world - Wealth, beauty and success.

We are all looking for acceptance. Being around people who appreciate and love us for being exactly who we are. 

Lauren?/Sayuri -  Quiet but not shy. Action Driven. Intuitive, creative and curious but doesn't quite know what she wants. Unhappy about her current situation but doesn't know what she can do to change it. Takes out frustration on parents. 

Takeshi - Exists to help Lauren on her journey of discovery. Weird and dreamlike. Very pushy. His motives are never really understood or addressed. Audience worries about his presence.

Mother - Strict. In control of household. Was very close to Lauren when she was a child.

Father - Soft and Compassionate. Loves Sayuri, doesn't understand.


Dining room scene - Sayuri completely ignores plate of food laid out for her. Instead starts to prepare her own. Her father unable to take it leaves the table.

Shot Ideas

Scene 1 - EWS - Sayuri standing at top of hill. Most of shot should be sky, thin bit of glass. She stands of the left and walks to right off screen

Scene 2 - MS - slow track forward ?

Scene 4 - MLS - from side

                2 shot - Sayuri and teddy ?

Scene 5 - MLS - from back - Sayuri back in shot, can only see parents
                MCU - Reaction Sayuri - Break the wall ?

Scene 7 - MLS - from front - can't see movie

Scene 8 - LS - Parents leave

Scene 10 - Birds eye view - Sayuri folding lucky stars
                  Side shot

Scene 11 - Same shot as 8 ?

Scene 12 - LS - from door, see majority of room

Scene 13 - MLS - Sayuri sat crossed leg on bed with teddy

Scene 14 -


Equipment needed

Blackmagic camera
Monitor and cable
Tripod
3 LED light anels
Lupolux set + batteries
Diffusers and gels
Zoom recorder
XLR cable
Outdoor Mic
Indoor Mic
Boom Pole
Mic stand
Extension reels