Script for 'The Briefcase'

This is the script for my film 'The Briefcase'. Parts of it are different to my previous script because this is a updated and improved version. From looking at my previous script I have made some changes which i think will make it better and easier to film.

Protagonist - Simms - Toby Spence
Antagonist - James - James Scott

The film starts with Simms waking up to the sound of his alarm clock in his apartment, he stares at a black briefcase in his room, then he hears a car pulling up and he loads his gun, there is a knock at the door and it is another gangster called James, wanting to talk to him, Simms lets James in.
Simms: so, what do you want then?
James: I think you know what Simmy boy.(making himself a cup of tea) All I want is what is what you stole from the boss.
Simms: which is?
James: the briefcase!
Simms: oh OK. I got it for ya(cocking his gun). Its right hear.
Simms shoots James in the head and searches his body, he finds another gun and a flick knife. He then picks up the briefcase and walks out of his apartment. He walks down some stairs and and walks out of the building, he answers his phone, his boss is wanting to meet him, h. the opening end with him walking down a street and the opening title and credit come up.

'The Briefcase' info

LOCATIONS
In my film, it opens with the protagonist, Simms in his apartment,It will be filmed in either my room or in my partner, Alex Smith's room, which will have to be dressed up as a rubbish old bedsit, to make the mise en scene look more believable and realistic. this is the main location in the film and he is using this as a hideout. I have uploaded a picture of a staircase in my previous posts, which will also be used in the film. the staircase is located in Marlwood School, so I will have to tell the members of staff if it is OK to shoot there.

PROPS
I have got all the props that are going to be used in the film, which include 3 BB guns, a dress suit, a flick knife and an alarm clock. I will not have to worry about using these props, because I am not filming with these props in public.

CAST & CREW
Director/editor/camera - Me
Simms - Toby Spence
James - James Scott

storyboard info

I have uploaded all of my first draft storyboards for my foundation film project. To get a closer look click on the image. follow the numbers in order on the storyboard so it will make sense!

3)B

even more storyboards

3)A

2)B

more storyboards

2)A

1)B

storyboard

1)A

This is my first storyboard for my foundation film project.

Research on opening of films, gangster genre

GOODFELLAS

The film opens with gangsters, Henry Hill, Jimmy Conway, Tommy DeVito in a car driving at night to bury the dead body of the man that they have murdered. This scene is a fast forward in the protagonist's life, which segways into the opning credits. There is good use of lighting in a this scene for example, when they open the boot of their car to look at the body, the red rear lights are on which makes the whole scene look red, which could mean danger, blood or death. I like the idea of starting the film with a later scene, I think I will start my foundation film similar to this.

preliminary task evaluation

I have competed my preliminary task. This is an evaluation to cover the good points and problems that I came across when filming and editing.

GOOD POINTS

When I was filming I was pleased that I was able to use the camera (that I had no previous experience with) with no problems and could start and cut at the right places, this made editing the film much easier. I was also pleased that the film followed my plan and storyboard, which is a very important part in the film making process. With help from a special guest from Apple, I was able to use imovie and edit my film, add video and audio effects and to know when to use them in the right scenes.

PROBLEMS

A problem that I faced when filming was getting the actors to perform without laughing, which made it hard to edit out without making the film look unprofessional, but considering the age of myself and the actor in my film, I thought we were quite good. Another problem was steadying the camera when filming, this makes consider using a steady cam in my foundation film project.

The text in red means EVALUATION

my preliminary task

http://www.youtube.com/user/steveFLSN1?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/6X0_vRUwYHY

this is a link to youtube that shows my preliminary task.

this is an early list of the scene sequences in my film

1. protagonist wakes up in his apartment by the sound of alarm clock

2. gets out of bed

3. someone knocks on his door

4. protagonist loads his gun

5. opens door to find a gangster is looking for him

6. invites the gangster in

7. has a conversation about a briefcase he has stolen which belongs to his boss

8. protagonists shoots the gangster

9. 2 or 3 more gangsters in a parked car hear the gunshot and decide to go and have see what has happened

10. the protagonist kills the other gangsters

11. loots the body of one of them

12. camera focuses on the stolen briefcase

13. protagonist picks up the briefcase and (steady cam shot) walks out of his apartment, down a flight of stairs and walks down a street to end the opening.

I will upload storyboards of the film to help illustrate it.

The black suit and tie idea, that the protagonist in my film will wear. From Reservoir Dogs

film plot summary and ideas

For the foundation project, I am doing a gangster/crime/action film. It starts with the unnamed protagonist waking up in his grubby flat (possibly my garage); tired and beaten up for unknown reasons. I have decided to dress the protagonist in a worn black suit and tie ('Reservoir Dogs' style), because I thought it looked cool and neat.In the film gangsters are trying to find and kill him because he has stolen a briefcase, which belongs to the gangsters. In the film you will never see what is inside of the briefcase, this adds mystery and is a reference to the film 'Pulp Fiction'. You may notice that I referred to two Quentin Tarantino films, this is because my film has been mostly influenced by Tarantino's story and character styles.

180 degree rule

For my preliminary tasks i will be filming a duologue showing the 180 degree rule.

The 180° rule is a basic guideline that states that two characters  in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line.

 This is my first post on my blog, for my media coursework I will be posting info about my foundation project piece and other parts of my media work.