This is my statement for writing and directing a suspense scene called "Gas Hazard."
1. What is the story--the beginning, middle, and end--of
this film in three or four sentences? In other words, what happens in this
scene as it starts, as it progresses, and as it ends?
Nick, a college student with a bad cold,
arrives home to his apartment where the gas burner stove is releasing gas, but
he doesn’t notice. As he gets a snack, does homework, and plays videogames, he
feels more and more sick, thinking his cold is getting worse and he prepares
himself to lie down to sleep. A roommate, Manny, arrives, instantly smells the
gas, turns it off, and opens the windows, but he doesn’t realize Nick is there
until he notices his backpack in the living room. Manny goes back to the bedroom
and sees Nick sleeping, wakes him, and escorts him out.
2. What is the backstory of this scene? Why is this
happening to these characters? What does each person want? Why do they want it?
Nick has had a very bad cold for a few days,
to the point of having his sinuses very backed up. He came home early from
class due to intense sneezing and dizziness. He wants to be alone, because his
sickness-induced misery and heavy stress from impending final exams has gone on
for so long. As he grows more nauseous, unknowingly from the gas, he just wants
rest to get better. Manny came home from playing tennis, perfectly healthy, and
easy to detect gas in the air. He wants to keep the apartment in order, picking
up stray objects on the floor and make sure no one does anything stupid.
3. Assume that this scene is from a larger story. What is
the theme of that larger story?
During a strenuous period of time, like
Finals Week, it’s easy to let go of common sense and the importance of
community. If this isn’t taken care of, disaster can arise from those who are
deeply troubled.
4. What, specifically, must the audience understand to
engage in the story? How do you intend to communicate that narrative (not
emotional) information?
They must understand that Nick can’t smell
due to his cold. He will be blowing his nose into a tissue when he arrives in
the house, and when he sniffs, his nose is blocked. The knob on the stove needs
to be shown as turned on to convey the invisible presence of the gas. When
Manny comes in, he is perfectly functioning, a little exhausted and carrying a
tennis racket with a duffel bag to show that he was playing sports. He immediately
reacts with surprise to the gas in the apartment.
5. In mainstream media, some scenes are simply chase scenes
or scenes of suspense. However, for the goals of this class, there should be more
going on than that. Assuming that this scene is from a larger film, explain the
narrative, emotional and thematic purpose of this scene in the larger story:
Nick is a college
freshman and never dealt with all the pressures of it before. He doesn’t have a
decided major yet, and his GEs that take his time at first are especially
unforgiving. He overthinks his importance of school over life. After a tough
semester, with middling grades, and with finals week just around the corner, he
struggles to keep a smile on or associate with other people who seem to be
handling it with ease, and are additionally excited for the holiday season. Manny,
a seasoned student who knows how to keep his mind clear and tries to show Nick
how to do the same, nevertheless has a bit of detachment from Nick, believing
that maybe he’s a case that can never be taught. Nick’s desire is release,
peace, and life to be easy again, when what he needs is consecration, maturity,
and the acceptance of help.
6. What emotions do you want the audience to experience as
they watch this scene? How do you intend make this happen?
I want the audience
to feel both fear and sympathy for Nick, because he’s already miserable, and he
may not only get sicker, but may even be poisoned by the gas. Nick’s physical actions
of eating, writing, and gaming are lethargic and uneasy. When he decides to go
to sleep, I want the audience to be afraid of what that may cause. I’ll film
him walking from his couch all the way to his bedroom in one shot, similar to
Steven Spielberg filming President Abraham Lincoln’s final walk from the white
house to his carriage in the conclusion of “Lincoln”. In the end, I want them
to feel relief when Manny comes to the bedroom and pulls Nick out.
7. What is the first image of the scene? What is the final
image of the scene? Why are you choosing these specific images?
The first image will be the knob on the stove
turned on. The audience must know the problem in the apartment in order to
immediately fear for Nick when he enters, especially when he shows his
inability to smell. The final image will be Manny holding a half-conscious Nick
by the shoulders as he tells Nick they’re going to a hospital. This is to show
that Nick isn’t completely saved at the moment, and he still is in danger, he’s
at least cared for.
8. Why is this scene personal to you? (Please don’t answer,
“Because I’ve always wanted to make a chase scene!”) What personal experience(s)
does this scene remind you of? Ask yourself, “Why do I need to make this scene?”
This is
based on a real moment on my LDS mission in Long Beach, California. Me and my
missionary companion arrived home to our apartment one night when I immediately
smelled gas, asked my companion if he smelled it too, and he said he didn’t (to
my knowledge, I don’t know if he had sinus problems at the time). For some
reason, I didn’t think to check the stove, but I kept telling him I smelled gas
in the apartment. He then checked the stove, was shocked to discover it was
indeed on, turned it off, and opened the door and windows. He thanked me for
pretty much “saving” us, and said that if we went to sleep under those
conditions, we may never have woken up. I think that while death by gas can easily
be seen as a suicide attempt, it can sometimes just be an accident.
9. Review the 11 subcomponents of space. What are the
overall rules for how you will use space in your film? (For example, will one
character exist primarily in flat space while the other exists in deep space?)
How will use contrast and affinity within shots and from shot to shot? For each
rule, articulate why will you use space in this way. Be specific.
Deep space will communicate reality, the
danger of the gas, and the realization of Manny of that danger. Flat space will
show Nick’s weak grip on the world around him and center on him to show how he’s
only thinking of himself. Limited space will occur to merge Manny and Nick’s
perspectives together, one knowing reality, the other oblivious to it.
10. What focal lengths will you use? Why?
I will use 14mm for the deep space shots, to
help see around the apartment easier when the presence of the gas is being made
known. 24mm for wide flat space shots as we see Nick go about the apartment
with his various activities, unknowing of the gas. 35mm for close-ups of his
face as he starts feeling sicker and tells himself to go to bed.
11. In a bulleted list, articulate two or three potential
obstacles to creating a successful film. How can you be prepared to overcome
these? Be specific!
·
My direction for the Nick actor to act sick and lethargic
may not be visually interesting or clear at all. I should provide plenty of
props for him to handle and interact with in some way to help clarify the
visuals.
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