Character Profiles

Sheldon Rex
Played by: Ben Cartwright
Age: 41
Relationships: Broken up with his childhood sweetheart of 19 years of marriage a year before these events. He is now married to the job and misses female attention.
Past-times: Sheldon Rex has always been a journalist but always small time. He is having a mid-life crisis and is looking to be in a relationship.
Ambition: His ambition is to be a top journalist and believes that with one big story he could be famous. As he craves attention he looks forward to the fame but will his ambition for passion obscure his career.


Reece Freeman
Played by: Jack Squires
Age: 48
Relationships: He is happily married to Sylvia for 3 years.
Past-times: He has graduated from Harvard many years ago and has always been involved with politics. This is his first time he is running for Governor and is seemingly in the lead by a mile as the newspaper article suggests. He is seen by the public as a good guy in the corrupt city of New York and with the recent Governor stepping down after an alleged affair. Reece needs to make sure he keeps a clean slate and any problems with his marriage or other activities
Ambition: His only ambition is to become Governor he has no other goals he wishes to achieve.

 
Sylvia Freeman
Played by: Lucy Cunnington
Age: 39
Relationships: He is happily married for 3 years to Reece but is seeing Sheldon Rex on the side so that Sheldon does not release the drug deal story about her husband
Past-times: Sylvia has been married to many men and all of them have come from a wealthy background and she has accumulated thousands from divorce settlements. She was a model when she was younger but she has found it easier living off the achievements of her other half.
Ambition: Her ambition is to be rich and this will come with Reece Freeman becoming Governor of New York.


John Barnacles (Boss)
Played by: Daniel Cowie
Age: 58
Relationships: He is happily married to his wife and has two children who both go to college.
Past-times: He has been Sheldon Rex's boss for many years and they have worked closely, he is gradually giving Rex more important stories and believes he could one day take over his paper.
Ambition: He has no real ambition apart from to make sure his paper continues to be successful.

Locations

Freeman Manor
Outside

We choose this locations as it is a very big house in the countryside which would be suitable for a very rich manor house. As the Freeman family are of a well respected and posh past-time and as Reece is running for Governor it is important for his image to have a well-presented and nice house.

Living Room

We choose this room because it is very spacious and looks old fashioned. The wooden beams against the white ceiling and walls look ominous in black and white and really stand out. This room was used for Reece Freemans flashbacks of his deteriorating relationship. Also the black on white of the beams are iconic in film noirs and it is a similar effect to venetian blinds.

Dining Room

We choose this room because it continues with the wooden beams and makes it easier for the audience to establish where we are. The window at the end of the room is very effective as it is a single source lighting which is a classic noir conception. The oak furniture is also very posh because of its dark rich complextion and it shimmers the light from window. In this scene Rex and Sylvia are caught and as this room is very small it is meant to have the conotation that the net is closing down on them and that their affair is about to be blown out the water and end up in the water.

The Springs
The springs is a location situated in Ashwell in Hertfordshire, it is an eerie spring and is a popular place for tourists. The reasons why we choose this scene was because it is a good place for a murder and it seems very seculded. It has many trees around the water so it is quite dark there and has the sound of running water which causes a lot of tension. The murder scene also allowed Reece Freeman to have the power as he forces Sheldon Rex into the cold freezing water before killing him. The stairs that the characters will travel down are stoney and cobel and make a tension building noise. The springs echos a lot which will have to be taken into consideration when choosing the gun shot sound.


The Drug Deal Meet

This is the alleyway that we will choose to film the drug deal scene. Initially we were going to use the Freeman Manor but decided we could use better concepts and make it darker as it is a dangerous illegal scene. We will film this scene at night as there is a single lampost in the middle of the alley and will be a single source lighting. The alley has walls either side and it quite scary and shows there is no escape and as Reece kills the dealer there will be an effective shot of him walking away.  The conotation of walking down the straight and narrow certainly doesn't apply here.


The Affair House
Ouside

The town house has to be smaller than the Freeman manor it is actually my house and as it is in Ashwell we can film it on the same day therefore saving time. The house is quite small which is good as it is an intimate seen and we want them to seem close.




Stairs

We will have a shot of the stairs and Rex and Sylvia walking up. The bars also create a venetian blind efect casting shadows on the stairs.




Bedroom

This is the bedroom that we will use for the bed scene, the bars on the headrest conotation is that Sheldon Rex is traped by Sylvia Freemans charm. The bedroom scene will only have two shots so we will not include the pictures and other stuff in my bedroom and keep the scene simple.

Prop List

To make our film as realistic as possible and to make it look convincing to the viewers our actors had to wear and hold items that were used back in the 50's. Therefore we drew up a prop list and raided the drama department for them and our own house's. This is the list of props that we required:

• Hats (old fashion tophats/bowler)
• Fake cigar
• Fake cigeratte
• Suits
• Ties
• Red Dress
• Newspaper (created our own one)
• Two guns
• Briefcase
• Knife
• Pretend Coke
• Wine Bottle
• Fur Coat
• Trench Coat
• Typewriter

We were able to find or create all of these items. For the fake drugs we used flour in small food storage bags which worked really effectively as they are good and look similar to the drug. Also as you are not allowed to carry around a knife we had to make a fake one with silver card and foil. As when Reece Freeman puls out the knife it catches the light in shines really brightly which is very effective in a dark place.
The fur coat and the red dress go very well with thefemme-fetale as they are very seductive and classic apparel of the women in film noirs and of the age.
Cigars and the cigerattes were two very good props that Jack Squires had this is espicially shown in the opening scene with Reece at the desk and you can see the smoke coming from the cigar. This adds to the realism and will only enhance the viewer pleasure.
Also the hats we used for the two male roles were neccessary as they are the classic and most crucil concept of film noir as they add to the mystery which is imporant in our film and in all noirs. You don't want the plot to be two obvious and endings can be left on a cliff hanger just like ours. The typewriter was a hard to come by object and in the end I had to purcahse one from a car-boot sale. The noise that the typewriter make is very illuring and of course relates heavily to Sheldon Rex's profession of a journalist.
We also created our own newspaper, we took a standard news paper that Jack had and stuck our story over the top of it, we had taken a few pictures of Reece Freeman (Jack Squire) at an stand like object looking as if we was giving a rally which he would be as he is running to be Governor of Ney York. We also wrote our own mini story underneath. This was incase the viewers actually started to read it (even though the attention would be on the picture and the title we could not use dummy text as the shot is quite long and viewers might get slightly bored.

The Screenplay

The screenplay is a document that tells the actors what to say and where to move around the scene.This makes it is easier to direct and for the actors to follow, this speeds up the process of filming which is important for lighting as we filmed in winter/spring when there is less light. The screen play was colour coded to make it simpler for actors to read of and understand.

The Original Screenplay

Red- Editing
Black- Speech
Green- Camera
Italics- Stage directions
Bold- Setting the scene

1

This scene has Sheldon Rex at a desk typing up a story inside his study, as he is typing there a cross cuts between him and a flashback to the final scene; the execution of Sheldon and Sylvia at the springs.

INT – Journalist’s office – Evening

Camera over the shoulder shot of Sheldon looking at the typewriter.

Sheldon Rex is typing at the typewriter.

Flash Forward

Sheldon Rex(unknown) kneels down in the water.

Flash Back

Sheldon still typing

Flash Forward

Gun being cocked

Close up of gun

Flash Back

Sheldon typing

Gun lowered to Rex’s head and as he is about to pull the trigger

Flash Forward

Diegetic sound of typewriter being smacked back. Rex then blows out candle and exits the door.

2

Journalist’s boss telling Sheldon Rex to follow the politician after a tip off that there is a drug importation tonight at ‘The Manor’. Setting is a dimly lit office room (venetian blinds covering boss’ face)

Man seen leaving boss’ room, Sheldon walks in.

Boss: Ahh, Rex just the man I wanted to see. Take a seat.

[Boss pours a glass of (something) in to a small glass and drops ice in it)

Rex: Thanks boss, who was that fella leaving the office, is he the new guy?

Barnacles: No Rex, [puffs cigar] he’s one of my… sources and he has just given me and interesting tip off about Reece Freeman, one of the candidates in the runnin’ for the Governor.

Rex: I’m planning to vote for that guy,

Barnacles: Well this might change your mind my …friend just told me that there is a large shipment of drugs coming in to the city tonight.

Rex: Ok, and what’s this got to do with Mr Freeman

Boss: Well, here’s where it gets interesting. Apparently Mr. WannaBeGovernor is involved and will be there tonight at the drop off. Get on it.

3.

Long shot of a car arriving outside location, lights are dimly lit by the car. Car lights are turned off and only light seen if through the window of the country estate house. Jump cut into kitchen of house where Sylvia is reassuring Reece about the deal.

Rex’s car enters, car lights turn off.

Shot of window with Sylvia giving Reece a back rub

Rex(talking to himself): Looking anxious Reece

Shot of Rex’s face from the side with the window next to him

Rex lights a cigarette

Jump cut to kitchen

Sylvia, pouring a glass of Bailey’s, spots Rex’s in the car because of glow of cigarette.

Reece: Something bothering you?

Sylvia: Nothing, just hoping tonight goes smoothly.

Reece: Same doll face.

Car arrives outside house, diegetic sound of two doors slamming simultaneously, knock on the door. Reece begins to walk to the door. Rex’s gets out of car and hides in bushes.

Reece opens door to two burly men, they silently walk into the living room with a brief case.

Man1 opens briefly case and reveals cocaine. Reece pulls out a knife. Non diegetic screech of violin. Reece slits packet of packet of coke and tastes it. Rex Gets the shot, only Sylvia sees him. Anxious faces all rounds as Reece turns to Bodyguard/burly man. Bodyguard walks forward with suitcase and opens it revealing loads of dollars

Man2: B-e-a-utiful

Bodyguard leaves room.

Reece: Glad we could do business

Shake hands and is shown the door by Sylvia

Two Body guards seen entering back of vehicle, DD’s leave house and seen entering the same car.

Body guards pop up and proceed to strangle both men with rope, shot from the dashboard. Cut to shot of side of the car, diegetic sound of fumbling and gasps. Car door opens as mans body is dragged away.

Close up shot of Rex’s scared face.

Sylvia: Who are you and what is your business?

Rex: Me? Errm I’m Calvin Brodus, I can’t find my dog? He answers to the name of Fenton, have you seen him

Sylvia: takes a puff of her cigarette, I haven’t seen one around goodbye Mr. Rex

Rex walks to car, with a puzzled face.

Voice over (Rex); how did she know my name. Why where those men murdered. All I knew is that I had to get out and fast.

4.

 Rex returns to his office to talk to his boss about what he witnessed the previous night. He enters the boss’s office and sits down. The boss pours him a drink and they begin talking.

V.J.J. Barnacles:  What the hell happened last night Rex? We have two dead people and a large amount of cocaine…and that’s just the office party, BUT now is no time for jokes. This is clearly going deeper than we thought. I want you to take a back seat on this.

Rex:  OK, but let me at least figure out how I fit in to all of this.

Barnacles: What’d you mean?

Rex: Well last night Mrs Freeman knew my name, but I don’t know how.

Barnacles: In that case I want you to stay as far away from the Freeman story as possible. I don’t want you getting yourself involved with something that might not just end your career but also your life.

Rex: Fine then 

5.

The scene opens with a phone ringing on a table, phone conversation starts. Shot of women talking into classic phone-box, only see her lips(red).

Sheldon is slowly waking up because of phone ringing.

Rex: Hello?  

Sylvia: Hello there detective,

Rex: Who is this?

Sylvia: I know you’re working on the biggest case of your life and I have information that would certainly be of use.

Rex: I have no idea what you are talking about?

Sylvia: Well if you’re interested, it’s quarter past 11 tomorrow night at my out of town house, 93 Groseover Lane, Kiltern, Goodnight Sheldon.

Rex has a confused face, scribbles down details on notebook.

6.

Scene opens with a car pulling up outside some houses.  Rex finishes a cigarette checks his watch and slowly get out of the car. He begins to walk towards his location. His walk is shortened by jumps cuts in editing. When he reaches the bridge Sylvia is there waiting with her back to the camera (or possibly side on under the light).
Camera slowly pans up from the woman’s legs to her head.
Rex: Sorry I’m late; I had to make sure I wasn’t followed.

Sylvia:  [Turning around] Good, what I have to tell you will make you famous. You wanna be famous…Mr. Rex?   }
Close up of Sylvia’s face.
Rex:  [Hesitant] Yeah, sure.

Sylvia: My husband, [said mockingly] and soon to be governor, Reece Freeman has been up to no good.

Rex: No good eh?

Sylvia: Yeah, drugs, prostitution, racketeering, you name it he’s involved with it.

Rex: I knew something was up with him, I saw the deal the other night.

Sylvia: [suddenly taking interest] Oh really? Get any proof?

Rex: I got a couple of pictures.

Sylvia: Well I have some proof of my own, maybe you can come come visit me sometime and let me see them. Show me yours, I’ll show you mine [winks]. Gimme a call…

Sylvia turns and walks off brushing against Rex as she goes. The camera zooms in on Rex’s face as he lights up another cigarette. Sylvia can be seen walking off as the screen fades to black.

Low angle shot of Sylvia walking away all we can see are her high heels.

7.

Barnacles is sitting in Rex’s front room to confront him about his interest in Mrs.Freeman, the debate gets heated as Rex has been drinking. Rex gets mad and smashes his glass on the floor and storms out.

Enter Rex through front door, diegetic sound of his fumbling with his keys and failing to get it the door because of his drunken state. After many attempts he succeeds. He walks over to his bar and pours a drink and as he switches on his lamp, the light illuminates on Barnacles face.

Barnacles: Sit down Rex we need to have a chat.

Rex sits down with a confused face.

Rex: I’m sorry sir but can I ask why you are in my house?

Barnacles: I’ve been following you for the past two nights to make sure you’d dropped the Freeman case

Close up of Rex’s hand and knuckles as he grips the arm of the chair in anger.

Rex stands up in anger. 
Close up of Rex’s angry face.

Barnacles: and I saw you and Sylvia at the bridge, I said drop the case, you didn’t listen.

Rex starts to pace around the room, the light hiding him as he walks one way and revealing him as he walks back.

Barnacles: Please have a seat Rex

Rex: No I won’t, why have you been stalking me you have been invading my privacy; this is totally out of line.

Barnacles: Stop mixing your social life with business; this could cost you the biggest story of your life.

Rex puts his coat on and is preparing to leave the house.

Barnacles: Don’t let some women ruin your life Rex.

Rex leaves and slams the door, diegetic sound of Barnacle’s breathing.

8. In this scene it is Rex’s doing a voiceover and talking about the times that they have met up and how he is starting to develop emotions.

Rex: As times passed, me and Mrs.Freeman met up more frequently it was a weekly thing. We’d go all over ________ different bars and restaurants, you could say we were dating but no-one knew about it, in the dark, in the shadows and I craved the danger.

9. This scene has Reece in his office writing up documents and thinking over his discovery of finding his wife with the journalist and recalling all the times she was disappeared. He is thinking through and revisits the times she has left the house.

Flash Back

INT. The Kitchen of the Freeman Manor

Sylvia: I’m just off to the florist to pick up some roses.

Camera pans and follows Sylvia as she leaves and there are a vase of new roses by the door

Flash Forward

Reece shaking his head and dismissing it under his breath.

Flash Back

INT. The Living Room of Freeman Manor

Sylvia picks up letters and opens one and reads it smiling and giggling.

Reece: What’s that love?

Sylvia looks up worried. (close up of eyes)

Sylvia: Oh this it’s err nothing, just a letter from an old friend from school.

Shot of letter with kisses at the end.

Flash Forward

Reece puts down his paperwork and takes his glasses off.

Flash Back

Sylvia walking holding hands with Rex.

Flash Back

Sylvia in bed with Rex smoking after sex.

Flash Forward

Reece picks up a bottle of gin and takes a large swig.

Fade to black

Reece picks up phone

Reece: I’d like to ask a favour, I need your assistance with some business…

10. Failed drive-by killing of Sheldon Rex

EXT. Of a busy high-street and an establishing shot of a coffee shop Sylvia and Rex are clearly seen positioned near the window.

A gun is poked out of the top of the window of a car and gun fire is heard.

Diegetic screams of passers-by.

Cut to later on as a police officer is telling Rex how lucky he is to be alive and asking him whether he has any enemies.

Policemen: Sorry to bother you at a time like his Mr.Rex, but do you have any ideas who might try and do this to you?

Rex: You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

Policemen: Try me?

Rex: Reece Freeman.

Policemen: Are you seriously trying to tell me that our soon to be Governor tried to assassinate you, even though I just saw him at a rally on 3^rd street about 20 minutes ago the same time of the shooting?

Rex: You said try me.

11. This scene is when Sylvia is going to kill Rex but Reece walks in and spoils the dinner date.

Rex is putting down his cutlery after his main course and wipes his mouth with his napkin.

Rex: A delicious meal, I’m going to freshen up.

Sylvia: Oh alright, I’ll serve desert

Rex, gets up, tucks in his chair.

Sylvia also gets up and heads to the kitchen

Medium shot of empty table

Cross cut to a car driving

Cross cut to Sylvia

Sylvia pulls out a gun and puts it under a napkin on her chair

Rex reappears as the desert is served  on the table by Sylvia

Sylvia has the gun in her hand and is pointing at Rex under the table, he is unaware

Rex: This is delicious, did you make this yourself

Sylvia: Oh yes, so you plan to ruin my husband’s political career.

Rex: Erm, (long pause) well hopefully yes it’s the biggest story of my career, I hope you’re ok with that, I won’t mention your involvement?

Sylvia grip the gun tighter with her legs crossed.

Sylvia: Oh, yeah it’s fine I can’t wait to get rid of that disgusting man and then it can just be me and you.

On the word ‘you’ Reece bursts in.

Reece: What the fuck is this?

Sylvia hides the gun behind her back

Behind shot of Sylvia with gun and the men front on in front of her (they cannot see the gun)

Sylvia: It’s not what it looks like he was pestering me for the drug story, I wouldn’t tell him a thing.

Sylvia slowly puts the gun under the napkin (neither men notice)

Rex: I should probably be leaving now

Rex beginning to stand-up. Reece pulls out a pistol and tells him to sit back down gesturing with the gun towards the chair.

Reece: You’re going nowhere you little rat sit back down.

Reece is pacing up and down the kitchen waving the gun around. Sylvia and Rex keep glancing at each other.

Reece: You marriage wrecker, you dirty deceitful man, how could you do this to me. Journalists are bastards as it but you take it to another level.

Reece starting to well up

And you, you, you dirty whore, behind my back I can’t believe you, 7 years of marriage and this is how you repay me.

Sylvia: Reece, please darling it’s not like that

Sylvia walks forward to hug Reece she knocks the hidden gun of the table. Reece points the gun at her and gestures at both of them to walk through the door.

Reece: Move.

Sylvia: Reece plea…

Reece: MOVE!

                        

Exit kitchen door.

Shot of them leaving through the back door leading to the garden

12. Reece is killing Rex and Sylvia. Setting is the springs(the back yard)

Reece is leading the two down the steps. Rex doesn’t look back but Sylvia keeps turning around and crying.

Reece:  That’s right, keep moving.

Reece has a determined face.

Low angle worm shot of them walking down the cobble steps.

Reece has the pair standing next to each other on the grass and gestures for them to get in the water.

Sylvia: Reece this is ridiculous, I was going to kill him not you, I’m faithful I wouldn’t do this do you. I love you Reece.

Rex’s faces the ground throughout and shows no emotion.

Sylvia: Look at him, he has got nothing on you.

Reece gestures to Rex to move and Rex turns and walks into shallow water.

Reece: Beg me for mercy

Rex: No.

Reece shoots Rex as he falls face first into water.

Sylvia looks terrified but doesn’t say anything

Reece: Your turn.

Sylvia: Please Reece I beg you I have done nothing wrong, he was going to ruin your campaign if you kill me now you will lose everything, me, the campaign and you freedom.

Reece is Welling up

Reece: Get on your knees

Sylvia gets on her knees

Reece lowers the gun to her head.

Reece: It’s just politics.

[END]

Beginning our Film Noir

I have paired up with Jack Squires to create our film noir for our A2 media project. We both enjoy the same sort of genres which we wanted to include to make the film a neo-noir. We enjoy horror and crime films so as you can see from our film that we will include suspenseful moments and use of classic crime props such as; guns, cigars and top-hats. We initially brainstormed some features we wanted to include in our film the final ones we chose were: politics, drugs, money and murder all of which can easily be included under film noir protocol. Before developing the plot we decided on what characters we would need and what their names shall be, we initially needed 5 characters but decided to have 4 as the plot would be too confusing to fit into a short film. The names we choose were:
-Sheldon Rex
   -We chose this name because he can be called Rex for short and that it sounds like it is from the 50's era. It also sounds like a detectives name. Yet subliminally I might have taken it from the Simpson's and the character Rex Banner who is this shady detective. Even though Sheldon is not a detective he is a journalist he has to do some snooping around to uncover the stories
-Reece Freeman
   -We chose this name because at the end of the film [SPOILER] he walks away a Free Man, so there is a spin on words. The name sounds quite posh which our character is and as he is running for governor he needed to have a respectable name.
-Sylvia Freeman
   -We chose this name because she is married to Reece so it is easier for the audience to tell that they are together. Also Sylvia is a quite seductive name and was a popular first name around the time the film was set, so it seemed fitting.
-John Barnacles
   -We chose this name for no real reason as he is never referred to by his name and is only known as boss to Sheldon.

We then had to decide who we wanted to play these parts and who were good actors and could fit around our schedule as we had many different days to film on because we had many different settings.

Sheldon Rex

I chose Ben Cartwright because he is a close friend and he has stared in many of the school productions. He is quite tall which is good as he needs to be taller than the femme-fetale and he is thin therefore is not to dominant as in film noirs the femme fetale has the power. Ben is also excellant at accents as you will see in the final production.







Reece Freeman 

Jack Squires was happy to have a lead role as he has also acted and directed the Sixth Form Revue. He is also good with accents and as he is bigger the Ben he is more intimitating and demands more respect and in the final scene he is going to kill ben. He is very good playing the 'bad guy' role.







Sylvia Freeman

For my Femme-fetale we chose Lucy Cunnington to play Sylvia, as she has all the concepts of a femme-fetale, she has long blonde hair and looks good in a red dress. She is very seductive as she has a good figure and good lips. She also has acted previously in her own film noir and played the femme-fetale so she has history of playing this role succesfully.






John Barnacles

I played John Barnacles as it was the smallest part to play as I have not properly acted before other than compulsory School Plays at the age of 6-11. As I am smaller than Rex I would seemingly have less authority but by the way I talk with such convinction and the camera angles used I am able to gain respect a lot like Keyes in Double Indemnity

Research - My DVD Cover

This was my attempt at creating a DVD cover for my film noir I have called it 'Time is Money', this might not necessarily the name I will use for my actual film.

Front Cover
Back Cover
Side Cover

As you can see I have tried to include many classic conventions of film noir which makes my DVD cover very appealing.

Research - LA Confidential

In class we have watched the film LA Confidential which is a neo-noir film set in Hollywood, before watching the film I depicted the DVD cover to get a feel of the film before watching it and observe the conventions used that we associated with noir.

LA Confidential DVD Cover

As you can see from a DVD cover we can easily see that a cover can tell an audience a lot about a film, this will be useful and I will try and incorporate some of the themes when I come to create my own DVD cover. This will also be useful when I come to make my film poster for the coursework.

LA Confidential
Characters;

• Ed Exley- glasses, nerd, bullied, truthful
• Jack Vincense- drugs, works with journalist, corruption
• Bud White- protective over women, forceful, violent, doesn't play by the book, corruption
• Kari- love interest(especially for Bud White), hot, seductive

Conventions;

• Lighting, La Confidential uses chiaroscuro; this translates as light-dark in Italian, the clear contrasts show depth and volume.
• Venetian Blind, a classic film noir convention used in countless films, the shadows are cast on characters to suggest vulnerabilty and that they are trapped.
• Binary Oppositions, this is seen constantly throughout the film with the main one being Loyalty VS Deception; this is seen when Jack refuses to testify on the prison fights, where Edd does.
• Femme-Fetale, in this film Karin is a seductive women who plays off Edd and Bud. She is a prostitute and causes great tension between the pair. She wears sexual clothing; white silk dressing gowns, she has an innocent face with curly blonde hairl this is a false deception.

LA Confidential Film Revue

This was my attempt at a film revue after looking at revues of other films such as Jurassic Park, I applied certain aspects to my review I also looked at reviews from such as www.rottentomatoes.com which most of them agree with my postive view on the film.