Screenshots from my film - 'Hidden Agenda'

On the 9th and 10th of April, I shot my first short film at the Met. I had a 13 paged script and 19 scenes to shoot in 20 hours. Most of my tutors said that I should cut down the length of my script because I wouldn't be able to shoot a 13 paged script in 20 hours. It's not that I was being rebellious and didn't want to listen, and that's why I didn't cut down my script, it's because I felt like I couldn't have told the story the way I wanted if I were to cut it down even more. Well anyways, the shoot was a success and we didn't run overtime.

I planned my shots very carefully so that on the day I knew exactly what I wanted to be done and so that I didn't waste anybody's time. We went through the takes with such ease, and the actors remembered all their lines and movements so continuity was pretty much dead on. I had one of the most paramount cast and crew that I've ever worked with. It was a very friendly environment where people were comfortable to express suggestions and we made compromises to satisfy everybody's needs. Sometimes.

I wouldn't say that I sacrificed anything. When an actor expressed a suggest that would help their performance, I was more than happy to change whatever needed to be done to get the best performances from them. And true enough, the footage I got (thanks to my camera and cinematography team) was a lot more awesome than what I thought my film would look like.

So, here are some still from my film (they're unedited).

"Best shoot I have ever worked on" - my DOP.

Int. Therapist's Office

Here is an extract from my script (April Short Film):


 INT - THERAPIST'S OFFICE - DAY


KATHERINE is sitting down on a sofa, in front of DR. CARMICHAEL who is again, writing in her notebook. DR. CARMICHAEL is wearing glasses. She looks extremely concentrated.

KATHERINE (V.O)

Day two of this interrogation. She's asking me stuff about school. I let her know that I liked it and had a lot of friends. Normal people have a lot of those.

DR. CARMICHAEL stops writing and looks up at KATHERINE

DR. CARMICHAEL

What was your favorite subject?

KATHERINE

I really liked art but I only got average grades. My teacher said I lacked passion and vision, even though I didn't think so. 

DR. CARMICHAEL starts writing down in her notebook. KATHERINE looks over to see what she is writing then quickly turns away when DR. CARMICHAEL looks up.

DR. CARMICHAEL

Do you still draw?

KATHERINE (V.O)

No. 

KATHERINE

Yeah, when I have time.

DR. CARMICHAEL makes more notes in her notebook. KATHERINE loses concentration and starts fiddling with her hands. They look nervous. DR. CARMICHAEL glances at them without moving her head up. KATHERINE gains focus and immediately stops when she notices.

DR. CARMICHAEL

Least favorite subject?

KATHERINE

Probably sciences. Especially physics. I just found it very boring.

DR. CARMICHAEL

So you were more of a creative student?

KATHERINE

I guess so.

DR. CARMICHAEL smiles at KATHERINE. KATHERINE forces a smile back, but she doesn't look happy.


DR. CARMICHAEL keeps talking but the sound fades out.

KATHERINE (V.O)

At this point I felt everything I had given her was enough to make her feel I was normal. I tried hard not to zone out but found it difficult to concentrate. Later that day she told me she felt I wasn't in danger to myself. We'd see if I'd be free tomorrow.

The original presentation was lost due to blogger failing to copy and paste properly. Anyways, there it is. V.O means voice over for any of you that don't know, and I haven't come up with a title for the film yet but ENJOY! 

April Short Film

On the 9th and 10th of April I will be shooting my first proper short film as a Met Film School student. I've created other short films before the MFS but they're all pretty much crap. If they were on my laptop in London I would've love to share it with you guys but unfortunately they're back home in Dubai. 

My short film is about a girl called Katherine, who has an overdose on painkillers and is rushed to the hospital. The film takes place in a therapists office. There's about to be an interrogation to see whether or not Katherine is in danger to herself and whether or not she needs to be put into a rehabilitation. Katherine isn't suicidal, however she does have a problem. Her boyfriend is a con artist and they're constantly skipping town and changing their identities which leaves Katherine with an identity crisis. She doesn't know who she is anymore. Katherine however doesn't realize she has an identity problem, and she thinks she is being very clever into tricking the therapist into thinking she is 'normal'. With each an every question the therapist asks Katherine begins to realize how she doesn't have a sense of who she is and slowly breaks down.

So yeah, that's my story in a nutshell. The short film will be shot on a 7D camera and will be conveyed through flashbacks and voiceovers. I have a thing for voiceovers and apparently that's not a good thing. I don't know why though. Some of my favorite films have voiceovers - Kick-ass, American Beauty, Forrest Gump, Fight Club, Adaptation, Shawshank Redemption and the list goes on.

I'll post my script online later. I've only done the second draft so far but I'll still post it up.