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15minute musical romance drama short

LOGLINE
A songwriting couple find
themselves at a stalemate
whilst they try to write their
last song together.
Research Subject Summary
The Ethics of the image – Aesthetics

■ According to Asbjørn Grønstad “A first step towards deepening and widening the
ethical turn in screen studies and visual culture, … , would be to acknowledge the extent
to which ethical questions are relevant to and indivorcable from the aesthetic field at
large (2016: 56-57).
■ Within the film I aim to use a theatrical setting to undercut the traditional fiction film
aesthetic. I propose that this shift in aesthetic will require the audience to question the
world presented to them. Questioning notions of “meaning on impact”, as the audience
will be required to question what they see, adding a layer of abstraction to the world
presented to them (Harvey, 2018: 5).
Subject rational

■ Scriptwriting: I wanted to investigate the complexities of

competitiveness in romantic relationship. I have always been
drawn to films that capture such relationships, for example A
Marriage Story (Noah Baumbatch, 2019), and Love and
Basketball (Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2000 ).
■ Direction: I would like to use this film as a way of questioning
the viewers relationship to the image. From a personal
standpoint I think that as a species we are incredibly visual
creatures, but we all know that looks can be deceiving so I
decided to strip things down to the bear bones and see what I
could elicit if I removed the façade.
Film synopsis and
structure
■ Synopsis: on a day like many
before it, Sade and Andrew sit
down to write a song, but this
now routine task seems to
take a cruel turn when
Andrew decides to criticize
Sade’s approach to
songwriting. Over the course
of the writing session the
couple fight, make up, and
break up as they burst into
song.
■ Film structure: One location
film, Linear narrative.
Methodological Approach
Adoption of Brechtian theatrical techniques:

■ The use of original songs about the relationship.

■ Use of freeze frames, and the breaking of freeze frames
withing the musical moments.
■ Breaking of the fourth wall with direct address to camera.
 FILM REFERENCES
AESTHETIC STORY
■ Dogville (Lars ■ A Marriage story
Von Trier, 2003). (Noah Baumbach,
■ Lala Land 2019).
(Damien ■ Love and Basketball
Chazelle, 2016) (Gina Prince-
Bythewood, 2000).
Provisional production
schedule
Filming dates: 13th and 14th of June

Preparation and research to date

■ Drafted script
■ 2 songs for narrative
■ Location (Film and Drama studio)
■ Camera – x2 Canon R5s

Potential challenges
■ Crew, availability as I’ll need at least 3 crew members.
■ Casting: rehearsal time to learn songs and simple
choreography. Also potentially having a day to re-
record vocals for post-production.