Letter

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are writing to you as two students from the Ash Hill Academy Sixth Form. We will soon be staging a short film around the school and were hoping to use Y11 Media students as our actors.

Once the film is finished, it will be published onto a private page, accessible by people with the link. This means that only Mrs Williams, the examiner and a small focus group will see the final project.

Please sign and return the below slip to grant your child permission to feature in this production.

Thank you,

Lauren Robinson & Georgia Berry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hereby give permission for ___________________________ (Childs Name) to take part in the filming of the Media Short Film project. I understand that this will be seen by a small group of people and assessed for examination.

___________________________ (Printed)             ___________________________ (Signed)

___________________________    (Date)

Script Draft

FADE IN: 

EXT. SCHOOL GATE - MORNING 

In the gloomy Doncaster village. A group of children prepare for another day of lessons at Ash Hill Academy.

The faceless character, a student at the school follows on behind. 

V.O

(Hesitant and softly spoken)

I wonder what they are talking about. Are they talking about me? Of course they’re not, they probably don’t even know I’m here. They are probably planning a party, another one I’m not invited to. I want to go to a party. 

CAMERA PANS UP SLIGHTLY UNTIL IT COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP INFRONT OF A GATE CRASHING SHUT. 

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOOR – MORNING 

Deep in the school, students frantically run past each other in a rush to get to class. 

V.O

(Absentmindedly and irritated) 

Move, move, excuse me, move, gonna be late, got to get to…

IN A RUSH A BOY KNOCKS SHOULDERS WITH MC.

V.O

(Surprised and annoyed) 

Ouch. Really? No apology? 

CUT TO:

INT. CLASSROOM – MORNING 

In a classroom, students gather for a discussion on Of Mice and Men. 

MRS WILLIAMS, an English teacher in her early 40’s. Walks into her lesson and puts down her things. 

MRS WILLIAMS

(Confused but in an authoritive tone) 

What are we doing? Oh yeah, Of Mice and Men. Tragic ending. Thoughts? 

MAIN CHARACTER RAISES HAND, MRS WILLIAMS LOOKS AT EVERYONE AND IGNORES THE MAIN CHARACTER.

KELSEY, a self-absorbed popular girl, selfishly thinks that her opinion is more important than that of other people. 

KELSEY 

(Spoken confidently, cutting off the main character)

Well miss, I think that…

V.O

(Dishearten and disappointed) 

That’s the last time I make an effort. Am I invisible or something? Does my opinion not matter? 

EXT. SPIAL – AFTERNOON

Students gather round in groups at dinner time while they catch up with their friends. 

MAIN CHARACTER sits with their friends but does not interact, instead being preoccupied with their thoughts. 

V.O

(Frantically thinking) 

What’s so funny over there? Maybe more party planning. Maybe they’re telling stories. Maybe she’s telling the story about me, she’s probably proud of it, thinking she’s done a good deed. Well maybe she shouldn’t be so rude next time.

CUT TO:

INT. COMMON ROOM – AFTERNOON

Congregated inside the common room, students continue to plan the weekend party. 

KELSEY

So girls, I got this new dress at the weekend. I think that I’ll wear it Friday night. What’re your outfit plans? 

The four girls all start talking over one another. 

MAIN CHARACTER

(Louder than expected) 

Huh, pyjamas.

The group of girls turn around and look directly into the camera. 

KELSEY

(Confused and surprised)

Wait, what?

MAIN CHARACTER

(Startled and embarrassed) 

Oh, noting. I was just talking to myself. It was a joke, see, because I’m not invited? Never mind… 

KELSEY

Not invited? Of course you are, it’s an open invitation. Friday, 8 o’clock Joe's house. See you there? 

Risk Assessment

Throughout the course of our short film, four filming locations will be required. For each of these, a risk assessment has been created. For the Outdoor Entrance Gate and Common Room, please see below. For the Classroom and Corridor, please visit www.laurenjanerobinson.blogspot.com

I have since been in touch with the site managers via email, which can be viewed below.

P1 : Pre-Production Materials

Treatment:

Name - Georgia Berry
School - Ash Hill Academy
Email - berryg@ashhillacademy.org.uk

Working Title - Think
Genre - Short Film, Drama
Duration - 8 Minutes
Target Audience - 11-16 Years, Young Students

Outline -
Act 1
While walking into school, our main character (MC) finds the gate slammed in their face.
Act 2
As our MC walks to lesson, another student knocks them accidently but does not acknowledge any wrongdoing.
Act 3
When the teacher asks a question, our MC raises their hand to answer but is completely passed over.
Act 4
At dinnertime, our MC sits alone while pondering over other people's conversations.
Act 5
After an unexpected outburst, people finally begin to realize our MC is there.



Character Breakdown -
MC
The faceless, nameless narrator is a representation of the viewer. Little information is known about the character due to the fact that the viewer is supposed to create their own ideas.
Mrs Williams
An English teacher at Ash Hill Academy, in her early 40s and has been teaching for 15 years. She is fed up with her job and no longer has the passion.
Kelsey
One of the older kids in school, she is impatient to leave it behind. She likes the sound of her own voice and isn't always conscious to the feelings of others.

P1 : Script Writing

When writing our script, either myself or Lauren (my cowriter) would come up with the initial idea and then between us, we could expand that until it became just right. I would then write it down on paper and then, when we had a whole script, Lauren typed it up while I directed the formatting. We then collaboratively edited it and made changes where necesary.