Shooting Script (Final)

Scene one : Bright outdoor environment (Forest) :

(Music : Moonlight Sonata begins to play softly in the background.)

- Fade in from black.
- Point of view shot of tree from characters Point Of View on the ground.
- Camera cuts to reveal a close to mid shot of the character on the ground.

(Monologue begins:)

   ''I don't remember...who I am, my.. name.... my past... but what I do remember... is fragmented...        imprinted into my every thought, but inaccessible... "Through the fields of Elysium" echoes through my head...''

- Camera tilts back to the Low angle point of view shot.

- Leaves begins to descend towards the camera, they fall in slow motion at certain instances and the opening       credits appear on them.

(Monologue ends:)

(Monologue begins:)

''...Elysium, the wonder drug. This was put on the market recently, legal and cheap.... this I remember... this I can not forget...''

- The environment begins to flicker or 'blur' between this scene and the next (Forest and Bedroom).

- Camera tilts back to character on the ground while the flickering occurs.

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Scene two : Bright indoor environment (Bedroom) : 

- Camera reveals a mid shot of the character lying on the floor.

                                                                  (Monologue ends:)

                                                                 (Monologue begins:)

''A small dose will give you a high, enhance your mental and physical capabilities.''

- Camera cuts to a mid shot from behind the bedroom door frame as character stumbles into the frame and momentarily pauses, this is cross cut with the characters point of view shot as he stumbles to opens the door.

(Monologue ends:)

(Monologue begins:)

''Take more than advised, and well.. you end up where I am now... it shuts out the pain... the echoes... it's tranquil... at least for the time being..''

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Scene three : Dark indoor environment (Bathroom) :

- Point of view shot of the character stumbling into the dimly lit bathroom.

- (Section composed of cross cut shots) Close up of characters face looking towards the mirror.
- Over the shoulder shot as character picks up pill bottle, the bottle is dropped.
- Close up of bottle falling into sink.
- Point of View shot of character opening bottle.
- Close up of character opening the bottle of pills.
- Mid shot of character holding pills and pill bottle.
- Point of View shot of character pondering to consume the drug.
- High angle shot of Character taking the drug.
- Close up of characters face as blood begins to slowly descend down his cheeks, character wipes away blood

(Monologue ends:)

(Monologue begins:)

''But get too greedy... if you.. if you don't feed the addiction.. it becomes a plague... you end up.. neither fully alive or dead...''

(Music stops as the phrase alive or dead is spoken)

- Over the shoulder Shot of character looking into mirror with blood smeared across his eyes and cheeks.

- Point of view shot as character takes capsule.

- Close up of character as he closes his eyes.

- Cut to Black.

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Scene four : Dark outdoor environment (Forest) :

- Cuts to close up of character who looks frustrated and fearful.

- Camera reverse zooms to a long shot.

- Various cuts crosscut together (first person, over the shoulder mid shot and front mid shot) the camera      pans upwards to the dark sky, fade to black then the movies title appears.

** As stated in the development section in a later post as well as the evaluation we have altered many scenes and cuts as well as added a few minor elements throughout and made some extra changes to such elements as the monologue. We chose to do this because we wanted to develop and create a more aesthetically appealing outcome.

Monologue (Final)

I don't remember...who I am, my.. name.... my past... but what I do remember... is fragmented... imprinted into my every thought, but inaccessible... "Through the fields of Elysium" echoes through my head...

...Elysium, the wonder drug. This was put on the market recently, legal and cheap.... this I remember... this I cannot forget...

A small dose will give you a high, enhance your mental and physical capabilities.

Take more than advised, and well.. you end up where I am now... [it shuts out the pain... the echoes... it's tranquil... at least for the time being..

But get too greedy... if you.. if you don't feed the addiction.. it becomes a plague... you end up.. neither fully alive or dead...]**

**we edited out the scenes within the brackets towards the end of production, we felt that it dragged on for a more than desirable duration and we felt the removal increased the movies appeal and also has an even stronger influence with the monologues we looked at during the planning stage such as in sleepy hollow at certain points when describing the Hessian and likewise in Matrix at certain points.

Mise en Scene (Summary)

Location: We intend to use both an indoor and outdoor environment and for continuity we wish to keep these variables constant throughout filming. We will be using the following locations:

                       - Forest (an outdoor environment with foliage and fairly large trees will portray this)

                       - Bedroom (an indoor environment with a bed/lying space and white ceiling will be used)

                       - Bathroom (an eerily lit indoor space with a mirror and sink will be used for this)

Costume/Make up Design: For attire we wish our character Dante to have both a casual but unusual costume design, we will be using:

                        - Black and white baseball shirt.

                        - Black and grey scarf

                        - Black trousers

                        - Black Converse trainers

                        - Dark messy short-medium hair

                        - Smeared blood across cheeks (dripping from eyes)

Props: Concerning our props our main focus is on creating an enigma and an atmosphere, both the character Dante and this drug Elysium are intended to be portrayed in this way. For this the following props will be used:

                         - Bottle of pills
                         - Drug capsule
                         - Mirror

Actors: We decided that the most appealing outcome was for one of our group to be the protagonist of this film, this was decided because we know the character better than anyone else, we know how we wish for him to be presented and his mannerisms and personality. We chose Jonathan because his appearance correlates with the character of Dante the most.

                         - Jonathan McChesney

Mise en Scene: We wish for the introduction to our movie to begin fairly bright with warm colours in an outdoor scene with available light illuminating through the trees (Donnie Darko influenced), then artificial light will be used in the indoor (bright warm colours) bedroom environment as the scenes begin to flicker (Matrix influenced), this leads into the bathroom mirror scene (Donnie Darko influenced) which is presented using artificial light and back lighting, ending our introduction is a fairly dark and atmospheric scene in the same forested area as before, artificial lighting (flashlights) will be used to give basic lighting and toning (Dark cold colour design) to the scene (this scene uses the same monochrome with a single highlighted colour art design as Sin City, we have altered this throughout our development and we have decided that the protagonists eye will remain in colour- blue while the rest is in monochrome).

Title Sequence (Final)

Introductory Credits:

'A Charade Production Film'

In Association With Warner Bros. Pictures.

Produced By: Charade Productions.

Executive Producer: Amy Nolan.

Production Designer: Jonathan McChesney.

Director of Photography: Ryan Beatty.

Casting By: Amy Nolan.

Starring: Jonathan Mcchesney.

Costume & Make-up By: Laura Hughes.

Music By: Amy Nolan.

Story By: Jonathan McChesney.

Written by:  [Anagram of Limbo].

Set Design By: [Anagram of Limbo].

Directed By: Ryan Beatty.

'Limbo'


Above is our listed opening credits, this list is informed directly from the Alien opening title sequence as shown below:



The opening title sequence should be fairly short so as not to diminish the remainder of time available for our short opening to our movie. We have taken direct influence from both this opening sequence and the likes of Donnie Darko and A Scanner Darkly, not only the text but rather the font, colour scheme and atmospheric presentation ( Sci-fi feel as shown above - adheres to the codes and conventions of the Sci-fi genre).

For our opening title we have experimented with various opening titles sequences, ranging from basic descriptions of the drug Elysium, a static flickering image of the title 'Limbo' (influenced by A Scanner Darkly) to a promotional advertisement style title influenced by the likes of Resident evil. These where just basic designs and could possibly be used in post production, they do not have any credits and are only a concept design. These designs are presented below: the music used is from the video games Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil, both which follow influences and the Codes and Conventions of the Sci-fi genre.

We intend to use these templates and the Donnie Darko, A Scanner Darkly and Alien introduction specifically as influences for our title and introduction sequence. Credits will appear on falling leaves as they descend, this is at the start of the sequence (informed by A Scanner Darkly) and the title will be displayed at the end of the short movie intro similarly to the presentation style in Donnie Darko. The font should be stereotypically ''blocky'' in style and have the Sci-fi elements recurring.

 

Elysium Promotional Advertisement - Animation

Script (First Draft)

It starts off with a character staring up at the sky, it is a first person sequence as the camera slowly pans up to reveal the tree canopy as leaves gracefully and peacefully fall off and descend to the ground. suddenly the sky leaves and trees begin to flicker similar to a monitor, the outdoors environment quickly shifts between the foliage and the ceiling of an indoor room. Now the scene has changed into a room environment. A voice over begins with soft and gentle piano music in the background, the voice over begins talking about an object such as a drug or the equivalent being able to give the subject enhanced abilities such as perception and awareness, as a result you become more conscious of the physical world and so a hallucination occurs in which the subject is transported into a an apparent serene environment in which the advantages could be used to ones advantage, such as possibly the slowing down of time, being able to hear peoples thoughts and so one, essentially in this part of the monologue the audience is introduced to this drug and only its benefits. then suddenly the music begins to fade and the lighting darken as the scene changes to the main character facing a mirror and slowly raising his head to be revealed by the camera, blood seems to be dripping from his eyes and nose as the monologue turns darker in turn. An eerie buzzing/booming sound can be heard as the camera zooms in towards the mirror. The character slowly closes his eyes and then the music stops as the scene fades to black, an eerie ambient noise of leaves rustling and the wind blowing can be heard as it one again switches to a Point of View shot as the camera rises and shows an outside environment, yet unlike the previous scene it is dark and more sinister. The camera cuts to a mid-close shot and begins to circle round the character followed by reverse zoom as the camera pulls away leaving the character in the distance and revealing more of the scenery, once zoomed back far enough what appears to be a person or monster can be seen hiding behind a tree... this scene fades to black and the movies title appears.

Psychoactive Drug:
                                 Name : Elysium
                                 Chemical formula : Ge2 N8 Es4 I10 S3 Fe2 Ar5
                                 Effects :

Small Dose : Enhanced perception (can see things clearer), attributes such as cognitive abilities are also increased. things appear in the surroundings that normally you wouldn't pay attention to (useful for solving police cases etc.).

Medium Dose : reality slows as they are transported into Light Limbo where the scenery is tranquil and peaceful. If taken at night one an delve into Light Limbo in their dreams and carry out actions until they wake.

Large Dose : Person is trapped in dark limbo facing inner demons, Dark Limbo is a sinister/  version of light limbo where it's always night.

Plot (Final)

The Story begins with unnamed protagonist lying on the floor as the sequences flashes between indoor and outdoor environments. A voice-over alerts the audience to the presence of the drug "Elysium". The character is apparently suffering from mild amnesia. The character has no immediate recollection of his name or any details surrounding his situation, he remains with knowledge only of the drug Elysium. The character initially wakes up from taking a dose of the drug, once the effects begins to wear off he suffers from withdrawal. After the protagonist takes a larger dose of this drug he hallucinates that he is in the nightmarish rendition of Limbo, it is here that the protagonist is faced with his nightmarish reincarnations and personifications of his inner demons. As the protagonist is attempting to survive Limbo memories begin to flood his mind throughout as he desperately tries to remember his past.

As the unnamed character character silently stalks the shadows of Limbo while attempting to sneak past the shades and demons, he becomes more and more affected by the darkness surrounding the world around him, he initially begins to recollect the events that transpired one hour before.

Twenty Four hours earlier: The unnamed character is held in a chair in distress, shadowy silhouettes of a group of men can be seen through the mans blurred vision a conversation occurs where the shadowy men comment on being "where it all began". It appears to be an interrogation, bloodied and dazed even the enigma fails to recollect the questions being asked. After numerous blows one of the men finally address the unnamed character as "Dante", before Dante is knocked unconscious by the torture.

Back in Limbo Dante is becoming more complacent and paranoid, stalking the shadows and remaining undetected is becoming more difficult as Dante begins to remember more of his past.

Forty Eight hours earlier: Dante is running with desperation in a dark hellish environment which is conveyed as a hallucination while a group of sinister looking gas masked men track him, it appears as if Dante has been being chased for a significant duration by his exhaustion and clothes the men eventually capture Dante and then render him unconscious.

Returning to Limbo Dante remains without any further knowledge of who he is or his past, still plagued with despair and fear he is spotted by a shaded demon, Dante begins to flee and traverses the terrain with haste, as he is running he experiences more memories.

One Week earlier: Dante appears to be wearing a hospital gown over his clothing, surrounding him appears to be other men and women in similar fashion, Dante feels uneasy. Then he hears a piercing loud noise in his ear as a voice can be heard clearly, a woman is heard giving Dante further orders about his 'current' assignment "remember gain their trust, find the source, supplier and anything of interest". Dante sneaks away from the group and eventually discovers the stash, the word Elysium is inscribed on the sides of the various drug packets and sachets, he scans local computer serves and discovers all the background information and dark truth about the drug, the parasite, the effects, the casualties of innocent lives, the true side effects and the real nature for constant global surveillance. A siren is raised and red lights begin to flash with intensity, Dante attempts to flee the scene whilst being pursued.

It returns to Limbo and Dante has become overcome by exhaustion as he limps to safety behind a scorched tree. Dante rests here thinking he is momentarily safe and once again begins to remember his past.

One Month earlier: Dante is sat in front of a group of suited board members in the lead chair, he is handed a classified file by one of his employees, it is stamped approved and he proceeds out of the room. As he walks he commences a conversation with another suited man, the other man briefs Dante of the assignment, to "infiltrate the group and discover information and status results of the drug", the man stops and winks at Dante "don't forget the field Data", Dante smirks and then is handed the Drug Elysium, he consumes the drug, the man replies "you will be referred to as Dante from this point".

Returning to Limbo Dante becomes surrounded by a group of Shades, as they draw nearer, Dante becomes more and more fearful, Dante covers his face with his hands and once again returns to his collective memory.

Six Weeks earlier: Dante is at his Desk with a small committee in-front of him, the men all collaborate in the conversation "side effects include nausea, hallucinations, paranoia, identity loss, amnesia and eventually death", "if taken in excess the parasite is allowed to grow" "it will take the hosts life if found or attempted to be killed or extracted" "the nano-tech contained within the parasite once attached to the host will give a constant stream of Data to the company". Dante remains silent throughout, he glimpses at the file he has just been handed by the group, he addresses the men "We need raw field data, there is no other way to accurately assess the drug" he decides that he is the only one loyal enough to the company and able to be trusted with the role. He gives a summary of the assignments nature "to expose the drug to the world as a legal wonder drug, infect the worlds population with a parasite that will leave a nano-tech chip which allows for the subject to be monitored, if the drug is not taken in excess the parasite will die and remove all traces of its existence, this allows for complete global surveillance". Dante then stamp approves the file.

Dante returns to the present, caught in Limbo as he begins to assess the situation, slow motion begins as the monsters creep closer. Dante cannot remember his true name or his life before 6 months before but he begins to reflect on the mass carnage he has caused by the approval of the drug, the innocents killed and, the effects felt world wide. He accepts his fate as the monsters come face to face with him. Suddenly he is ejected out of the world into reality, no filters no distortion as he wakes up in a sterile bed. He is left alone with his thoughts as he recovers in the bed.

A man appears to be assessing him and watching over him from outside the room, it is the man who he was talking to one month before. The man reveals that his memories were not entirely correct, he remembers what they wanted him to. The man addresses another "he believes what we want him to believe, the experiment was a success, not only are we able to survey a subject but we are also able to implant thought processes and memories without them truly knowing, that was the true goal of this operation". The man then addresses his inferior and tells him to bring in the next subject.

Limbo Title - Animation