Film Studies Coursework - Short Film Proposal

Film Studies Coursework
Short Film Draft/Proposal:
ANONYMOUS

Genre:
Psychological Drama

Themes:
Friendship, mystery, illusion, identity.

Inspiration:
-Lifestyle of my brother (Neeraj Vadgama)
-Phone Booth (2002) > https://youtu.be/JDGY8GoEbQ0
-The Sunset Limited (2011) > https://youtu.be/l0MSitTAYyA
-Before I Go To Sleep (2014) > https://youtu.be/tQdnOYpyBCo

Synopsis:
A man who is an amnesiac lives a life of solitude when one day a strange man knocks on his door and gives him a small envelope. Inside the envelope is a black card with a phone number on it. The man rings the number to discover an answering machine which recites in binary digits. The man realises the hidden meaning behind the numbers and translates the binary into text. It reveals his true identity and past to him through a series of paragraphs. He learns that the man who delivered the envelope to him was his best friend before the accident, he forgot who he was and everyday after the accident, his friend delivered the card to him, hoping that one day he would remember who he truly was.

9 lines of dialogue total.

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[START]

For the sake of comprehension in this draft, I will refer to the protagonist as ‘AMNESIAC’ and the other man as ‘FRIEND’.
The value used, ‘X’, is a placeholder number until a reliable value can be found for the actual film.

This entire beginning sequence is shot as a mid-shot of both characters, showing the right of FRIEND and the left of AMNESIAC as they face each other. The camera is parallel to both of them.
The camera doesn't change for this opening section, gives a distant effect, makes the audience feel as though they are on the outside looking in.

FRIEND is a man early 20’s/late teens, clean shaven, wearing a black hood (hood not up) and blue jeans. AMNESIAC is a man early 20’s/late teens, stubble, wearing a lilac night gown. Their ethnicity's are undecided.

Early evening, on the verge of twilight: outside AMNESIACs apartment.

The street is quiet, very little noise. The occasional car noise in the distance. FRIEND’s footsteps are the first actual noise heard. (non-diegetic?)

The shot opens with a blur with the title in the bottom left had corner and disappears as FRIEND walks into frame.

FRIEND comes to the apartment door, looks around suspiciously and knocks 3 times. AMNESIAC, with a toothbrush in his mouth answers the door. FRIEND hands AMNESIAC a small white envelope and he says, “Do exactly what it says and you’ll be fine”. FRIEND smiles and then walks away. AMNESIAC looks confused but shrugs his shoulder and walks inside. Quite nonchalant about the situation.

Change of setting: Inside AMNESIAC's apartment.

AMNESIAC’s apartment is very messy. The desk is covered in paper and books. Several plates and bowls are stacked up on top of each other. The entire room is dark apartment from a small section on his desk, illuminated by a small desk lamp.

AMNESIAC closes the door behind him and takes out the toothbrush.  He sits down and stares at the envelope. Inside the envelope is a small black card, on it, it says on it “if you are reading this, I’m here to help”.  Above the text there is a phone number, it is a generic 11-digit number.

AMNESIAC calls the number and a robotic machine answers, it tells him that the person is unavailable. The machine then says, “If you wish to contact this person, please leave a message at this number instead.” Then a number is said by the machine, however AMNESIAC soon realises that this number cannot possibly be a phone number.

The number consists of solely 1’s and 0’s. The string of numbers is very long and it plays in the background throughout the scene. The audience never actually hears it end. AMNESIAC recognises that the number is a string of binary digits but he appears to remain confused.

An over the shoulder shot then shows an advanced maths textbook, then in the same frame, the camera then focuses on the computer monitor at the back. AMNESIAC's hand then comes out and turns on the monitor, showing a page he was studying.

The pages title reads: ’THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DATA REPRESENTATION: BINARY NUMBERS’. AMNESIAC then has an epiphany, repeats the message and writes down the numbers onto a pad as it is playing in the background.

Cut to him half way through writing the sequence and then cut to him finishing with the sequence. AMNESIAC inputs the numbers into a binary translator and converts the binary.

The paragraph that comes out details AMNESIAC’s life. It tells him that since he was in an accident he lost his memory and was unable to recall much past his 21st birthday. It also reveals that everyday for the past few years, his former best friend has been delivering the card to him everyday, in hopes that one day he’ll wake up with the memory of his past. Although each new day AMNESIAC forgets everything that ever happened to him that day. It is here revealed to the audience that he has amnesia.

The end of the paragraph is signed, ‘A Friend’ so no names are ever use in the film (hence the need for code names in this draft). The paragraph also tells AMNESIAC that FRIEND will be waiting outside for him once he is done reading the paragraph. AMNESIAC immediately runs to the door and opens it. He finds FRIEND leaning against the wall outside waiting for him.

Change of scene, outside his apartment, same as the beginning: It is now dark out.

Cut to AMNESIAC and FRIEND sitting on the pavement edge besides each other. They are drinking out of cans.
FRIEND says:  "You know, you shouldn't be drinking that stuff, it's really bad for you.”
AMNESIAC replies that he just found the drinks in the fridge and that he doesn't know how they got there. FRIEND tells him that he actually put them there. They laugh together.

There is a moment of silence.

AMNESIAC asks how long FRIEND has been doing this.
FRIEND replies, “Far too long”.
The dialogue is very short between the two. The silence speaks for itself, giving the audience a moment to reflect on the relationship of the characters.
AMNESIAC says, “Thanks, for… doing, all of this. It’s strange… everything that has happened to me today. I just met you, but it feels like I’ve known you a lifetime.”
FRIEND replies with a smile.
AMNESIAC looks up at the sky: He says, “Have you ever been to space? Only ‘X’ people have been to space. Isn't it sad? That in our lifetimes we'll never leave this planet.”
FRIEND chuckles. He says: “Is that what you think about?”
AMNESIAC glances over at him with a puzzled look.
FRIEND says: “I guess with this infinite amount of free time you have, your mind… sort of wanders, to places no-one else’s would.”
There is a short look between the two. FRIEND stands up, AMNESIAC stands up shortly after him.
FRIEND says: “This has been fun, most days you never actually come out. [PAUSE] Anyway… until next time bud.”
A close up on the their handshake.

Cut to black. Fade into a new shot, overcast day, title card: Next Day.
Change of setting. Same mid-shot (establishing shot) from the start.

FRIEND knocks on AMNESIAC’s door, hands him the envelope, AMNESIAC looks down at it…

FADE TO BLACK.

[END]