Script

1.        EXT. Dark street

Murderer is following JOHNNY discreetly down the street without him knowing. The murderer puts some leather gloves on to indicate he is going to kill JOHNNY. JOHNNY becomes visible and as the murderer becomes closer he pulls out a gun and shoots JOHNNY.

JOHNNY

(Groans)

JOHNNY begins staggering but collapses to the floor where he pulls out a gun. The murderer shoots him again this time killing him. The murderer walks off.

2.        INT. Detectives office

Fade into smoke from NANCY’s cigarette. NANCY is sat smoking. The smoke fades when NANCY begins to speak.

NANCY

There’s only one reason why I’m here and that’s to find JOHNNY’s killer

DETECTIVE stands up and looks directly at NANCY

DETECTIVE

Well that’s what I’m here for, but are you willing to do something for me

NANCY

I’ll do what’s needed…

DETECTIVE looks serious.

DETECTIVE

Even if it means taking down the gang?

NANCY

I said whatever you need, I don’t give a damn what happens to them anymore

NANCY and the DETECTIVE go silent for a second.

DETECTIVE

Well you gotta remember you’ll be working for me now

NANCY looks at the DETECTIVE in an unsure manner

NANCY

Ok what do I need to do?

DETECTIVE

Good. Well what I need from you is to get the gang to trust you with anything, they already know you were with JOHNNY and being their leader there’s no doubt they’re trying to look for the killer. Use that as an excuse to get close cos they won’t question you wanting to be involved with helping them catch who did it. Tell them you have some suspicions that it was gang leader RON LEMANSKY.

NANCY lights another cigarette.

NANCY

RON LEMANSKY? They’ll kill him just on suspicion.

DETECTIVE

Don’t worry we’ve got it all planned. We need them to believe it was him so you can have time to get to know the gang.

NANCY

Ok fine I guess you know what you are doing, I’ll go meet up with JOHNNYS partner.

NANCY and the DETECTIVE shake hands and NANCY walks out.

3.        EXT. Street

NANCY walks to meet JOHNNY’s partner. They begin talking. NANCY begins narrating.

NANCY

I was so confused; I didn’t know who to trust anymore. I did what the DETECTIVE said, I drew suspicions onto RON LEMANSKY. I was being taken to the gangs club so I knew I had to stay calm when I saw them all.

NANCY walks into the club. All the gang members are sat playing poker. They all look towards NANCY. The camera pans to each gangster so NANCY can introduce them.

NANCY

DOYLE he’s definitely the brains, he’s not stupid enough to have done it , that’s HOLTZ, LOUIS and RICK, I would say he was my number one suspect.

LOUIS

Come and join us

NANCY sits down with the gang. Another gangster arrives and shuts the door behind him leaving the audience in suspence.

Influences of existing films

Little Caesar (1931)

This is a scene from the film Little Caesar. The film is more of a gangster film than film noir however this scene illustrates one of my scenes very well. Little Caesar is being introduced to the other gangsters. A pan is used to show each character quickly but effectively. I want to use a similar scene in my film however I will probably have less actors. I think this scene lets the audience know small details about the characters as later on the characters will develop.

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

                                     

This screen shot is from the film The Maltese Falcon. This scene is similar to what I want one of my beginning scenes to be when Johnny gets shot. In this scene the shooter isn't visible, this is what I want my killer to be like as it is more suspenseful for my target audience. The man who gets shot is dressed in a smart suit with a hat. This man isn't a gangster but he is a private eye whereas mine will be. This scene is outside, I will be filming mine in Old Town to make it look old fashioned like in this film. I like the establishing shot of the sign. When I film I might do a similar shot as I think it will be good for the audience to know the type of area the characters are from. The shooter will not be in shot as it will create more suspence for the audience.

Animatic

Storyboard

Costume ideas update

This will be the costume which my main character Nancy will wear throughout the film. She will also wear a long black coat. It is a white knee length dress with flower patterns on. The shoulders are also frilly. This dress looks old fashioned which will fit with my time era. The white connotes she is innocent but the black coat connotes the bad she has done in her life. The shoes are also old fashioned which will look good. I have taken the photo in black and white to see what it would look like as my film sequence will be in black and white.

This costume was another idea however it doesn't look very formal it looks like a party dress. However I thought about a sequin dress as it looks very stylish and seductive which is conventional of femme fatales in film noir films.

This dress also would suit my character however it looks too plain. I like the style as it flares out which was fashionable in the 1940's.

I liked this costume however I think it will look too dark with the long black coat. Also the style of the dress looks too modern.

This dress wouldn't be suitable for my film as it looks too modern and it looks like a party dress.

Start of storyboard

Location update

I went into town and took some photographs of possible locations.

This is the street where the murderer will be walking down following Johnny. The murderer will shoot Johnny when he is in the tunnel. The tunnel and street connote mystery. Hopefully when I shoot this scene it will be raining. When Johnny is shot he will try and shoot the murderer however the murderer shoots him again this time killing him. The street looks old fashioned e.g. cobbles and line of houses which will make my film look more realistic.

Other possible locations

I was going to use this street because the lamp posts look really old fashioned which would be good for the mise en scene for my film. However the buildings on the left don't look very nice. Also the street is wide which won't make the shooting scene look mysterious. The road signs will also ruin the shot.







For one of my scenes when Nancy to going to see the gang I was going to have Nancy walk past a church. The church could connote that she will end up being good in the end and not be part of the crime life anymore.





















This pub looks old fashioned which will make my film look realistic however I want a pub with booths for when the gang meet. I could shoot the gang going into this pub then cut to somewhere with booths.

Cast List

Lydia Tomassi - Nancy/Narrator
Aidan Can - Murderer
Omer Can - Johnny
Will Meredith - Detective
Leon Emerson - Johnny's partner
Dean - Gang member

Prop List

• Cigarettes/cigar - All the characters will have a cigarette or cigar as they are iconic in film noir.
• Gun - The murderer will have a gun which will be shown in a POV shot. It is going to be shown so the audience will know Johnny will be killed as the murderer will be following him. Also the detective will have one on his gun holster. This connotes he is threatening and can be dangerous.
• Fan - This will be in the interrogation room.
• Table - This will be in the interrogation room.
• Chairs - This will be in the interrogation room.
• Alcoholic drinks - Such as scotch and brandy. This will be when the gang are all together at the club.
• Pack of cards - This will be when the gang are all together as they are playing a card game. This can suggest they are all competitive with each other in everyday life trying to compete to be the best gangster.
• Ashtrays - This will be in the interrogation room for Nancy and the detective and when the gang are all together at the club.
• Red paint - This will be used for blood when Johnny is shot.
• Umbrella - If it is raining Nancy will have one when she goes to meet the gang.

Location List

Old Town

For the opening scene the location will be in old town. This will be the flashback of Johnny's murder where he will be shot. Old town looks authentic for an old fashioned location for example the cobbles on the floor.

Street Life Museum

I was also going to ask the Street Life museum if I could film a scene there i.e in the old fashioned telephone box or in one of the shops to make my film look more realistic.

Interrogation Room (Classroom)

I will use a classroom to be a interrogation room for the scene where Nancy and the detective are planning on what she is going to do with the gang. I will use a small classroom and have one table and two chairs in and a fan (typical of film noir).

Club (Sugar Mill for the booths)

I need to ask The Sugar Mill club if I could film a scene there as I want a setting in a club with booths. This will be for the final scene when Nancy goes to the gang.

Aims and Context

Context: A short sequence which is based on the film noir genre. It focuses on the murder of a gangster and how his lover teams up with a detective and goes undercover to help solve who did it. I will take on the role of director and editor and also I will be in charge of the lighting, sound and mise en scene for my film.


I aim to create an emotional response for the audience and also to create suspence and mystery for the audience through the use of non linear narrative such as flashbacks. My target audience will be people who are interested in film noir and the era of the genre and 18+ males and females. I will apply knowledge that I learnt from FM1 such as cinematography, sound and mise-en-scene. I will show this by using the conventions of film noir for example first person narration, point of view shots, flashbacks and the appropriate costumes for each character.

Todorov structure

Gangster

Gangsters are usuallly antagonists in film noir. They are usually in large gangs who are known to everyone. In my film the antagonist is Johnny and also his gang. Johnny will be dressed in a black suit with a waistcoat and a hat.

Detective

Detectives are a conventional character in film noir. They are usually act alone, feel isolated from everyone and usually are the protagonist of the film. They are usually looking for a missing person or solving a murder.

In my film the protagonist will be a detective. My detective will wear a trench coat either black or cream and also a hat.
He will also wear a suit underneath with black braces and he will have a gun holster.



Femme Fatale

Femme fatales are conventional in film noir. They usually play a large part in the film e.g. persuading the protagonist to commit a crime of passion or they are involved with criminal activity and need help. Their costumes are usually sophisticated and seductive. These photographs are examples of what they wear and they show they wear similar clothing. Femme fatales are usually deviant and only care about themselves. As long as they get what they want they don't care about anyone else. They usually get their own way by manipulating other characters. For my film my femme fatale will wear a black dress with black tights, gloves and small black heels. Also she will wear makeup (mascara, blusher, red lipstick and eyeliner) and have a pearl necklace and earrings. She will also wear a fur coat or a plain black coat. Her hair will be down and curled with one side tucked behind her ear most of the time. I am using this costume as I want my film to look conventional. I want her to look wealthy and sophisticated.

My characters

Johnny - He is in his late 20's. He has committed all different crimes: theft, drugs and murder. Johnny has made many enemies over the years - including Detective. They arrived in town at the same time so he has to watch his back, he has done so far.

Nancy - A young 20 year old beautiful woman. She is Johnny's lover. She met Johnny at a club when he fell for her seductive ways. He gave her everything she ever wanted and treated her well to make sure she wouldn't run off. She has always been involved with criminals.

Detective - He is around 30 years old. He is divorced and often moves around. He has been tracking Johnny's gang for a few years trying to take them down for the crimes they have committed.

Genre conventions essay

For my Film Studies creative project I have chosen to create a film of the film noir genre. I will be filming a sequence from my imagined film which will contain the conventions of film noir. 

Hollywood's classic film noir period was from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black and white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography. Audiences were led to understand and build a relationship with the protagonist or anti-hero.

Film noir has many conventions, such as the story lines are non-linear and twisting. The story lines often consist of the protagonist in an unwanted situation, morally questionable or being framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Film noirs narratives also frequently involve flashbacks. Having the entire narrative shot in flashbacks is also conventional.  First person narration by the protagonist is also conventional in film noir. For example in the 1946 film ‘Gilda’ the protagonist Johnny Farrell is narrating throughout the film. Other non-diegetic sound conventionally used in film noir is down beat music and diegetic sound such as heavy breathing and sudden noises. This creates suspicion for the audience.

 

This clip is an example of first person narration from the 1944 film 'Double Idemnity'.

American society had changed whilst the men were serving in the army for the Second World War and so when they returned they faced unemployment, changing gender roles, alienation, and often disablement. Some of the film noir films, with hard-boiled heroes and anti-heroes, presented audiences with traumatized but tough men that could express and work through America's post-war disappointment. The protagonists of film noir are usually insecure, bitter and alienated. There are many archetypal characters such as femme fatales, corrupt policemen, detectives and jealous husbands. There are also gangsters, crooks, murderers and plain Joe's. Femme fatales are usually mysterious, unloving, beautiful and double crossing. Their costume is conventionally something sexy e.g. a black dress with red lipstick, jewellery and sometimes fur. This connotes them as wealthy, mysterious, powerful and seductive. It is typical for a femme fatale to overpower the male characters as they are the ones who usually get them to commit a crime of passion. Some famous Film Noir Femme Fatale characters are: Barbra Stanwyck, Rita Hayworth, and Laura Turner. Trench coats are iconic for the detectives and they also wear suits with a hat. Gangsters would usually wear a suit with braces, a hat and leather gloves. Nearly all the characters in the film would smoke a cigarette. These are iconic of film noir.  

 

In this clip from the 1946 film 'Gilda', the leading female Gilda is dressed in a long black dress and long black gloves. They connote power, elegance, formality, and mystery. It also represents the grief she had from being distant from Johnny Farrell. Her necklace represents she is wealthy. The way she is dancing is seductive and also when she removes her gloves.

Film noir is also known for its use of low angle, wide angle or Dutch angle shots. The use of extreme close ups are also conventional. Sometimes a close up will be used then the camera will move out to reveal the action. This makes the audience want to see more of the scene. Shots of people reflected in mirrors, through glass or other distorting objects are commonly used and special effects sequences of a sometimes bizarre nature. The conventions of lighting are its low key and there are shadows usually of blinds, stairs, buildings and characters.  The use of the shadows creates tension. Male characters in Film Noir are usually lit harshly from one side and this has a dark and moody affect to it whereas females in Film Noir are lit softer. 

This photograph is a scene from ‘The Big Combo’ 1955. Having characters outlined in black and not being able to see them was conventional of film noir. It allowed the audience to guess who the characters where especially if they had just been introduced into the film and also it was typically of the murderer to be shown like this at first.

 

 

In this photograph the shadow of the blinds connote the man is trapped and is hiding from someone, possibly his enemy.

There are many conventional locations for film noir. Usually the locations are in an urban setting, abandoned warehouse, motel rooms, bars, lounges, nightclubs or dark alleyways. The locations such as abandoned warehouses and dark alleyways are away from the public so they are good hide outs for the villains. Also it makes the audience feel lost and scared. Tall buildings would be used to look threatening. The films are usually set at night to create a secretive and creepy look.

These photographs are from the 2005 film ‘Sin City’. These are examples of an urban setting with the buildings and the femme fatale dressed seductively which are both elements of film noir.


These days there are also neo-noir films which are aware of modern circumstances and technology. Neo-noir films were from the 1970’s onwards. They only have elements of film noir. Modern themes in neo-noir films include identity crises, memory issues and subjectivity. Examples of recent films are ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, 'Sin City' and ‘Harry Brown’. The film noir genre still influence directors however the films now only contain elements of film noir.

Story Type : The Quest

The character is set a task to find someone or something. He accepts the challenge, searches for and finds the someone or something. He is then rewarded, or not, for his success in the quest (e.g. Star Wars, George Lucas, US, 1977).

My film fits with this story type because my protagonists are searching for a murderer. To find the murderer the protagonist (Nancy) goes undercover by going to Johnny's gang and risks putting herself in danger. Nancy has always been connected to the crime life so she never thought she would partner with the one detective who has been trying to take down the gang for years. However in this situation there was nothing else she could of done. This lets the character take a personal journey by doing some good in her life. When the protagonists find the murderer they arrest him and take him to jail. While being undercover Nancy managed to get evidence to get the other gang members arrested. Through this journey Nancy realises that the crime life isn't for her anymore so her reward is personal - being free.

Genre: Film Noir

Conventions of Film Noir

Mise-en-scene

• cigarettes
• guns
• trench coat
• striped suit with tie and hat
• black dress
• dark
• dark streets
• dimly-lit apartments
• hotel rooms
• abandoned warehouses
• flashing neon lights
• dark alleyways
• urban night scenes
• blinded windows

Cinematography

• black and white
• flashbacks
• shadows
• disorienting visual schemes
• dutch angle
• deep focus
• point of view shot
• wide angle
• tracking shot

Editing

• fade
  

Sound

• voice over
• first person narration

Synopsis

I have chosen to do the opening sequence of my film.

It's 1945 and gang leader Johnny is murdered but by who? Shocked by his death his beautiful young lover Nancy starts to suspect Johnny's friends and goes to the one person who she least expected to.... Detective Stanley the one man who has been trying to take down the gang for years. Detective Stanley is in luck as Nancy agrees to go undercover to help solve her lovers murder. As she begins getting close to the gang members she begins to learn all their dirty little secrets. Herself and Detective Stanley start building up evidence which leans more and more towards the gang. Nancy finally cracks the case by putting the gang to a final test where she catches out Johnny's best friend. The murderer is charged and sent to jail, while the others are going on trial for different crimes thanks to Nancy. Nancy decides to leave the crime life and start fresh some place new.

Brief

The creative project involves the production of a short film, or an extract from a film, of about 3-5 minutes in length. I have chosen to create a sequence from the film. I am going to be working indiviually and I will use what I learnt in FM1 such as stylistics. I will also plan and research what genre I am going to do and it's conventions, storytype, audience, synopsis, script and storyboard.