Pitch
I intend to create a 10-15minute psychological horror short entitled Dear Boss, focusing on the violent consequences of constant exposure to stressful environments, following the life of Edward, business official and divorcee, this film will be aimed at 18-25 Year Old fans of the genre.

Rationale
The film will be based around a specific character who is under constant stress in both his working and personal life, leaving him with no time to relax. The stress will fester in the form of a mental illness making the main character have violent blackouts, during one of the aforementioned blackouts, the protagonist will unconsciously murder his Ex-Wife’s current partner, dragged him deeper into his own subconsciousness. The film will follow the development of his deep rooted mental issues, climaxing in the end with the conscious and willful murder of his Boss, a main contributor to his rising stress levels.

It will be shown from the point of view of the main character, excluding the blackout scenes and piecing them together through brief flashbacks in a non-linear fashion.

Context
This project fictionally delves into the mind of people who have succumbed to great amounts of stress and reacted in an extreme fashion (Such as the various Postal related homicides in America from the 80s through to the late 90s), in a real world sense which should be relate-able to the audience.

This project would be at home with online Horror communities such as Black Box Tv and British Horror film festivals,
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Distribution
Upon completion, I intend to submit this film to the following film festivals:

• British Horror Film Festival – June 10th 2012
• Raindance Film Festival – June 10th 2012
• Shock & Gore Festival – May 10th 2012
• BlackBoxTV – Email to moderators of the BlackBoxTV channel on YouTube to see if they would like to showcase the film

Budget
This project will be funded by my own money, I will also be taking part in various projects and paid work during this project, this means that this is the minimum amount of money I shall be spending on this project, with the chance of a growing budget.
The breakdown is as follows:

• Actors – £145
  (£50 for the PROTAGONIST, £40 for the PARTNER, £40 for the BOSS, £15 for the EX-WIFE)
• Travel Expenses – £30
• Props – £30
• Music Composer – £50
• Crew – £30
• Makeup – £30
• Total – £265

Concrete Roles for this project

• Brian Mansi – Writer, Director, Producer,  Editor & Colourist
  I have previous experience producing (a Music video in A Level media and a Documentary in my first year of uni) editing, colour correcting and grading footage, as shown on my Vimeo & YouTube channels. I have also had experience writing scripts for small projects and friends.
• Pete Lord – Camera Operator, Director of Photography
• Andrew Hale – Sound Technician/Boom Operator, Composer

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Schedule of Work
The following is a rough guideline that I will stick to as closely as possible

10th Dec – Write Treatment
Write the treatment/outline of the story & plot and any major scenes

17th Dec – Write Draft Script
A first draft of the entire script

3rd Jan – Rewrite Script
Improve and work upon the draft script

10th Jan – Storyboard & Search for Crew
Storyboard using information from the treatment & scripts to help compose shots & get a basic idea of the style & pace of editing

12th-28th Jan – Cast Actors, Rehearse Scenes
Hold auditions for/scout out Actors

15th-23rd Jan – Scout locations & Obtain permission to film

18th-28th Jan – Obtain Props & Makeup
Find and purchase appropriate props & Makeup

3rd Feb - Create a Shooting Schedule
Create a shooting schedule complete with a shotlist
(that and the Storyboard will make sure that I get all the shots needed)

5th – 19th Feb – Film the Short

20th – 27th Feb - Rough Edit, Send Rough Edit to Composer
Edit the clips into a rough sequence, no effects, and send to Composer

1st – 8th Mar – Film/Re-film any necessary shots, Create Foley Sound
Re-film or film anything that is missing, start creating Foley Sound

10th – 24th Mar - Finalize sequencing of the Edit & Add Visual Effects
Finalize Sequencing if anything needs changing and create & add Visual Effects

24th – 29th Mar - Colour Correct & Grade the film

30th Mar – Broadcast Film
Upload film to Vimeo and prepare to send the film off to the aforementioned film festivals

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Supporting Creative Artifacts

Dear Boss – Outline PDF Version
The link above contains the Rough Outline of the Story

Sample Music
(due to the fact that it is not my own music and myself and Andrew don’t want to put it online, the sample music is in my presentation (at 6:27)

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Conclusion
To summarize, the main reasons why I look forward to taking this project into 361MC are that it will challenge me both technically and mentally (By producing my first short film and working to as professional an extent as possible), it will help me refine key skills for when I leave University and it will be the perfect test to see whether i have the potential to assume the role of Director and the ability to create a short film on a low budget with a small crew preparing me for professional work in the future.

This project is viable as I will be working with an experienced crew who clearly understand my idea and intentions, we are able to work together on a professional level (I have worked together with both Pete and Andrew on multiple occassions, obeying set ettiquete and providing amicable results each time.)

“

I think it reads ok if a little complicated, what is the actual story about? Can you state this is a short paragraph clearly?

Also, give your characters names not just Protagonist etc.  Block out the stor so you know exactly what happens when and dont assume we/a reader will understand it as well as you do.

I am not so convincd event he boss would tell he he is an unfit father, why would he know the guys personal life and situation? If this is the case make it clearer, can the boss and the ex’s husband be the same person? This would lose a character and keep the relationships simpler.

It is bleak so make it visual as well which ther are situations and opportunities for so it could work well but it is a bit predictable, think about exactly what you want to happen as in the story and then surprise us at certain points to stop an audience second guessing the overall story arc.”

Rich
“main concerns initially would be availability of location for the office scenes and the availability of a half-decent MUA”

Pete
“The plot is sound, and fairly well constructed with key points that

tie the story together, each advancing a step, but so far as to be
unlikely.

I would however say that scene 2a is one of the strongest and
incredibly important to the final edit, don't think about cutting it
out!”

British Horror Film Festival
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The following information is taken off of this festivals ‘Withoutabox’ page

Key Information:
“This gives your movie a chance to be seen by a wider audience and have a one day theatrical release in the UK, as well as a prestigious Leicester Square premiere/debut.”

“We also have the ‘Scream Awards’ sponsored by Scream Magazine (the UK’s largest horror film magazine). These beautiful Crystal Awards are presented at the end of the festival at an awards ceremony.”

“Each film screened is nominated in at least one category and usually a few more.”

“We are committed to increasing the profile of independent horror films and film-makers. A number of reviewers are present at all our screenings, to ensure you get plenty of publicity, both on line and in print for your film.”

“If you want your horror film to get noticed, here is the place to be sending it. We ensure your film will be shown simultaneously at multiple cinemas, you will have the opportunity to introduce your film at the prestigious Leicester Square screening, reviewers and press will be present, there will be plenty of photo opportunities, celebrity appearances, glittering awards and most importantly, your film will be screened in a state of the art cinema, guaranteeing you the best quality possible for your screening.”

“The Festival is organized by the British Film Festival Guild.”

Rules:
“For the selection process acceptable formats: DVD.
For successful submissions that are granted a screening: DVD, Blu-Ray and/or 35mm prints.”
Short films have to be from 1-55 Minutes

Raindance Film Festival
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The following information is taken off of this festivals ‘Withoutabox’ page

Key Information:
“Trophy awarded to winning UK short”

“Winner receives funds to produce the 2011 Raindance Film Festival trailer which is shown all over the UK and before every screening at the Festival.”

Shock & Gore Festival
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The following information is taken off of this festivals ‘Withoutabox’ page

Rules:
“Shorts: From 5 minutes to 25 minutes”

Must submit via DVD or Bluray

“Film-makers whose work is selected for competition must make sure that they can attend the 2012 festival, which will take place at The Electric in Birmingham, UK.

Entries that are selected for screening during the festival must be made available on either Blu-Ray or DCP”

London Lift-Off Film Festival
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The following information is taken off of this festivals ‘Withoutabox’ page

Key Information:
“We are also offering the option to have your work judged by an industry professional, a potential employer who will make comments and mark your work, giving you honest feedback and the best advice available”

” Shorts: From 1 minutes to 40 minutes”

Can submit via DVD and Exhibit via DVD

Leeds International Film Festival
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The following information is taken off of this festivals ‘Withoutabox’ page

Key Information:
International Audience

“Shorts: maximum 45 minutes”

“PRESSKIT REQUIREMENTS
A press kit is required, but only after acceptance.
> Production Still Photos – Digital
> Photo of the Director – Digital
> Statement by the Director “

Can submit & Exhibit via DVD

“National Augustin Awards – Best British Short
For its annual National Augustin Award, Leeds International Film Festival celebrates the work of new and original talent in short filmmaking from across the UK.

Silver Melies – Best Short Film
As the UK’s sole affiliated member of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation, Leeds International Film Festival’s Fanomenon programme section exclusively hosts an annual Silver Melies Competition. We are particularly interested in short and feature length genre titles produced in the UK and EU for competition consideration. “

By Brian Mansi

Vehicle: Short Film
Title: Dear Boss

The Characters

PROTAGONIST – The main protagonist, a submissive individual who has been unlucky in life. His current situation leaves him with little to no time to himself, he is stuck in an underpaid and extremely stressful job. After his marriage ending and his wife taking custody of his daughter, the only thing that keeps him going is the prospect of seeing her.

EX-WIFE – PROTAGONIST’s Ex-Wife, although she is aware of his situation and maintains a sympathetic attitude towards him, she is in a bad way financially and requests that PROTAGONIST pays child suppourt in order to keep contact with his daughter.

PARTNER – PROTAGONIST’s Ex-Wife’s partner, in contrast to her understanding approach to PROTAGONIST, he is aggressive and demanding, prone to swearing and threats each time PROTAGONIST mentions that he can’t afford to pay up.

BOSS – Oblivious to PROTAGONIST’s situation, his thoughts rest solely on his failing business, this often results in him insultingly pointing out PROTAGONIST’s absent-mindedness and tell-tale signs of depression. He is constantly hounding him and believes that the company’s failure is a result of incompetant employees.

The Plot

1.) A tired PROTAGONIST toils away in the office, carrying out mundane tasks in an absent-minded and unsettling manner, showing somewhat vague signs of mental instability (in some parts intercut with clips foreshadowing the final scenes). It is revealed in these clips that he has a daughter. He is abruptly pulled back to reality via his boss, throwing papers on his desk, insulting his lack of focus and blaming him for the failure of the business.

2.) The PROTAGONIST arrives home to his empty, dingy flat, the answering machine flashing with a message. He plays the message as he starts to unwind from a long, thankless day at work. Its from his EX-WIFE, who, in an understanding manner, states that he missed the last Child- Suppourt payment. As she proceeds to urge him to do so, her PARTNER buts in, hurling insults and threats down the phone, not just in the direction of the PROTAGONIST, but also at his EX-WIFEs leniency towards him. The message ends abruptly.

*2a.) The PARTNER barges into the PROTAGONIST’s flat, demanding money in an extremely aggressive fashion. Amidst the insults and degrading comments (as the PROTAGONIST starts to cave in and is about to offer him all the money he can give) he states that the PROTAGONIST’s Daughter “Is better off not knowing/would be sick at the sight of – him” – Write line better.

3.) The PROTAGONIST wakes up the next morning, unaware that something is clearly not right. He proceeds to do the unwinding scene in an imperfect reverse. Subtle hints tell of a violent scuffle (blood on the characters face, broken items, patches of blood) and when the PROTAGONIST looks in the mirror, oblivious to him, the audience can see the corpse of the PARTNER. He then leaves for work, more unstable than ever.

4.) Upon arriving at work, he mechanically carries on with his job, devoid of his surroundings and lost in his own rushed and unclear thoughts. The BOSS asks to see him in his office, concerning the still declining status of the company, his rant muffled by breif memories of the PROTAGONIST murdering the PARTNER. He is then snapped back to reality a second time by the BOSS, when he poses the question “Something insulting relating to his daughter and his worth as a father”. Overcome by stress, the thankless nature of his job and finally the BOSS’ questioning of his right to be a father, the PROTAGONIST snaps, following the voices in his head. They sound much clearer now as he proceeds to consciously murder the BOSS, effectively making the transition from being submissive to others, to being submissive to the irrational thoughts in his head.

4a.) In a final act of humanity, the PROTAGONIST starts to write a letter to his daughter, the desk covered in blood, half staining the stationary. This final scene shall convey the PROTAGONISTS relief, having done away with the sources of his stress, juxtaposed with the realisation that despite his effort, as a result of his recent actions, he wont be able to see his daughter again. The uncertain fate of the PROTAGONIST will not be explained.

* Have the EX-WIFE state the PARTNER’s name during the answerphone message and subtly show a corpse with that name tag in the unwinding scene, provided 2a is not included

also following unanswered answering machine motif, he could leave messages to himself possibly

write in detail shot lists/storyboard with correct terminology & shot names
watch composition tutorial – NEVER use shots just as fillers, extreme closeups should always have a purpose (eg twitching hands to show increase of anxiety/stress, or of face for similar reasons)
^ could use only medium shots of other people as their body language (mainly of boss) is the main important part, and CUs of main char in contrast would seperate him from the other people

Narrative Aspect -
knowing somethings bad but having to do it:
e.g. having a bad experience in a house or knowing its haunted but being left no other choice to go there
e.g. dream about awesome museum with bedroom but it had those blue people in it, coventry house bedroom wall being ripped out whilst pikeys kid hassled you, fleeing whilst the kid went back to tell his brothers/family, running there in the dark with barely anything to the musem house. (Similar Narrative aspect to casper 2.

possible interaction with a psychologist who underestimates his position

Just a possibility: rather than a boss, the final victim could be a disabled family member
(although thats taking the story listed far too literally)

Just a possibility: he could be knowledgable of his crimes and confess them to an althzeimers patient

“varies according to different witness acounts” – he could vaguely recall his last meetings with people but when remembering them near the end, it cuts back and shows him killing them all in a quick flash, then his conscious mental state becomes that of the subconscious

Notes in relation to narrative/character progression
Storys often/always follow the change and development of a character,

Main Char:
walked over and submissive – standing up for himself in an extreme and violent fashion – a similar outburst to that in Network (cite that as research)

Real cases of stress driven murder

1.) stress driven euthanasia: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33627695/ns/health-alzheimers_disease/t/murder-case-glimpse-stress-caretaking/#.TwW6mPKfn-s

Note: As listed in the thankless jobs list, the murderer in this case was a paralegal.

“Yurkanin arrived at his lowest point following a well-worn path of the relentless, thankless, solitary task of caring for someone no longer recognizable under a mask of dementia”
Keywords – Relentless, Thankless

2.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_postal

Thankless jobs – http://roadtickle.com/thankless-jobs-that-are-vital-to-our-society/
1.) IRS Agent

Real Cases of Mental Illness

Heaven’s Gate Recruitment Video

Heaven’s Gate was a cult ran by Marshal Applewhite, a man known for his schizophrenia. People that joined the cult also exhibited signs of mental illness.

“”We’re going to be murdered,” Marshall Herff Applewhite told a reporter in 1972. “And when we are, after three and a half days, we’re going to walk out into life in the next level above human.” Two years earlier, hearing voices, Applewhite had checked into a psychiatric hospital, seeking to be “cured” of his homosexual urges. Apparently “cured,” the former music teacher went on to become, variously, “Bo,” “Do,” the “Present Representative” and “The One That Was Jesus.” Last Wednesday, he was found dead, along with 38 members of the Heaven’s Gate movement, in the worst mass suicide on American soil. ” (Broder, 1997)

This is a clear example of unresolved mental issues culminating in a climax of mass suicide, in this case it wasn’t just the individual themselves who was harmed, it was a variety of people suffering similar ailments (be it a mental condition or general problems) whos own unresolved issues drew them to him.

Bibliography:

Jonathan Broder. (1997). Marshall Applewhite’s cry for help.
Available: http://www.rickross.com/reference/heavensgate/gate29.html

Human’s always weave a web of meaning where they may be none

1.) use death as a form of enlightenment/positive religious aspect

2.) Sound/Soundscape IS ESSENTIAL (virtual haircut, possibly have protagonist strapped to chair with sounds happening around him (eg scratching/walking/scraping)

1.) Jacob’s Ladder: (Similar Narrative structure to Vanilla Sky)
“if youre frightened of dying and you’re holding on, you see devils tearing your life away
if you’ve made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth”

2.) http://mubi.com/topics/great-films-depicting-insanity-and-mental-illness:
“make us aware of the thin line between what is considered by society to be either sane or not.”

2.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perception:
“(perceptual experiences often shape our beliefs, but those perceptions were based on existing beliefs)”

2.)Stewart lee interview with man with his own religion “magic exists, its what we can do in the space of our own minds” (eg his religion is real but occupies a space in his mind)

1.) could symbolicly use candles as though they were souls/light of the soul extinguished/death etc etc

STORY:
tit for tat strategy with signal errors: (i dont trick you, you don’t trick me, misinterpret something as tricking or something… watch behavioural biology lectures again)
eg main char can mistake a positive action made by barginer as a negative one and as the barginer has no knowledge of a signal error they treat
the main chars response as a normal ‘cheating’ response (or mistake a negative as a positive…. not 100% sure but follow the idea of ressurection going bad (no rebuilding of the limbs/brain etc similarly to Buffy wanting to bring her mum back))

could be guilt for an event similar to schwartzwind/sigfreid in soul edge  (eg main char was a smuggler and stabbed brother, could have people coming towards him and he puts hit hand out and it turns into his hand with a knife in his brothers gut or something)

humans know actions have consequences and those consequences are their fault

MAKE IT ABOUT JACK THE RIPPER AND HIS MENTAL REACTION TO HIS CRIMES
make the main character meet up with women and make it confusing as to what happens to them
Main char’s name: Edward Social

Could have people in background/possibly interact with him (eg homeless man on way to work that begs for money) who disappear (show shot again, same focus on place but he doesnt notice/slowly starts to notice people missing) as hes killed them (without knowing/schizophrenia or something)

Film could climax where he consciously attacks/kills the person who has been pestering him (most likely at work or at home) as they have subconsciously let off steam by murdering bystanders (occasionaly point this out eg newspapers other people read/radio broadcasts, all background stuff)

slowly show signs of stress throughout (eg cutaways to main char clenching fist)

AT THE START
cuts between low angles of angry boss shouting and moaning intercut with a close up (mainly face and a little shoulders with a wide lens to give odd depth) and almost a soundscape of his boss shouting (possibly sounding muffled) with the main char submissively saying yes, yes, I agree, apologies etc.

eg of building stress
hobo encounter 1. declines to give money
2. tells him to piss off
3. hes not there anymore (play ominous sting etc)

Red Herring:
he could hallucinate (possibly triggered by stress and also a lack of sleep due to nightime murders) as a side effect of schizophrenia (wiki it to see if its reals)
and could lead him to belive that its demons killing the victims (scratch that I think)
- Hallucinations could be visions of the victims hes killed (teatime super 8 style) which could be subtle use of background characters disappearing
so he is essentially haunted by his victims as they were a part of his subconscious mind which is where the visions are getting their information from

eg slow walk could turn sinister (background, alter sky, matte painting, rust up some buildings, possible use of fire
slowly deteriorate the set/locations, also use makeup to make the main char have bags under his eyes/look as though hes aging (do it subtly however)

end with a (realization) shot similar to the cover of the farenheit game (possibly infront of a mirror) have the main char look mortified at this realsation
somehow edit it to turn into him in the same pose, with a smile and demon traits (eg horns, dark red patches/scratches (this will flash for a few frames then cut/flash to black)

The background radio things could play in the characters flat in the background (occasionally he could notice them or at the start notice them and then slowly ignore them (which wouldn’t work with the realisation at the end)

If i did the Narrative (VO) Aspect:
at the start “we all need our own personal delusions in order to maintain controller over our mind, coloud silver lining/delusion of hope etc” (rewrite the fuck out of this)
at the end/realisation “for once I had a sense of certainty, there is no hope/future for a madman” (rewrite the fuck out of this)

USE OF MUSIC/SOUND

When listening to this, it buffered at 00:39 and that gave me a very strange/uncomfortable feeling