Nonlinear Narrative Research

Nonlinear editing and narrative

Nonlinear in film is defined as a narrative technique. This is when films are made and include either flashbacks to older scenes or where the film starts at the end and then the rest of the films explains how it got to that point. There are a number of films that we have looked into that include these techniques. The main film that we looked into was the Final Destination Films. In these films you see each character die and then the scene flashes back to just before they die. This then shows that the characters have been given a second chance. We incorporated this idea into our ideas for our films. The main film theme that is most important to include in a nonlinear film is action. When researching into different nonlinear films i noticed that most of the film genres are action. The reason why people use action in a nonlinear film is because they can use the end of the film at the beginning and then the rest of the movie to explain how it got to that scene. This is a very good way to grab the audiences attention as the action starts straight away. The excitement of the beginning of the film makes the audience want to keep watching.

List of Nonlinear films

• Social Network
• (500) Days of Summer
• The Final Destination
• Slumdog millionaire 
• Watchmen
• Kill Bill
• Reservoir dogs
• Saving Private Ryan
• Pulp Fiction

Costume - Satanic Necklace

This is a satanic necklace bought for the Demon of the film. It shows he is a link to Satan, and has been sent by him to force justice upon the main character.

The Necklace cost around £8 with postage and packaging, and was bought from Amazon.co.uk.

This, combined with the hooded top, and the demon tattoos will give better affect, as it will show the links to Hell.

The Old Beggar will also wear the necklace. This will confirm that the old man is the one who brought the curse upon Adrian.

Costume - Tattoo Sleeves

These are the tattoo sleeves we ordered from Amazon.co.uk. These cost around £8 for both. These, combined with the hooded top, and other costume parts we've got, will hopefully bring the demon costume together.

We ordered the tribal tattoos to show that the demon is the curse that has been put upon Adrian, to make sure he changes his selfish ways.

The top photo shows what Connor will be wearing on his right arm. The bottom photo, he'll be wearing on his left arm, so that the skull is  fully visible on the film.

Costume - Hooded Top

This is an hooded top Group 4 purchased for £10 from the Internet. At first, we wanted a cloak, but then we realised we could order a hooded top, and cut it down.

The top photograph shows Matthew cutting the top to give it a darker, less-tidy affect. We didn't want the top to be tidy and clean. We wanted it to be rugged, and torn.

The bottom photograph shows the finished product. Connor (That's me) will wear this when he plays the part of the Demon!

Eye Flashback Influence

The Final Destination films have influenced our film in the way that we want to do a flashback like the films. At the end of this clip you see that the camera zooms into the main characters eyes just as he dies.  Then it goes back to the scene with him sat on the bus like the first scene before the incident. His facial expressions show that he has just seen himself dying. He then begins to panic & wonder what is going on. This technique is used through all the Final Destination films. Just as something happens to the character, the camera zooms into their eye and the back out in a different scene.

For our film, we are having Sean lying on the floor and Connor standing over him. As Connor reachers out to grad Sean, the camera zooms into the eye of Sean. It then goes back to the scene when Sean is leaving his office. This is the flashback that we are wanting to have. This shows that Sean has been given a second chance to do the right thing which is related back the Final Destination.

Car Park Idea Influence

In our short film we have decided to use a car park to fit the genre of horror. We have also decided to use it at night. In my research i come across this short clip of a couple of teenagers on a night out. They return to the van they came in when a unknown creature attacks them. This short clip gave me the idea for using a car park. Another influence that this short film gave to us is the CCTV camera shot. When we saw the shot we decided to try to have it in our idea.

In our film we are hoping to use the CCTV shot. When Sean is stood in the car park he will have Connor stood behind him. When the shot swaps to the CCTV, Connor will disappear. The shot will then swap back and Connor will return. To do this we will have to film the shot from a low angle shot from high up. We will then edit the footage in Final Cut or After Effects where we will be able to add the CCTV effect.

Retaining continuity within filmmaking

Continuity gives a overall coherence between different shots in a film, it allows for the film to flow and can assist in explaining the plot, this is usually done through cuts and transitions in post-production       There are many different ways in which this can be done, for example;

• Diegetic sound
• Match on action
• Temporal Discontinuity
• Fade outs
• Flashbacks
• Establishing shots
• 180 degree rule
• Jump cut

Treatment 1

Title: 
Karma

Duration:
5 minutes

Audience:
We are aiming at a 14+ audience. People who like jumpy, suspense-filled action. See our post "Target audience and certification" for more information.

Synopsis:
Adrian finishes work, and heads for his car. On his way he passes an homeless man, who pleads for some money. Adrian kicks over his cup, and tells him to get a job, then proceeds to the car park. As he enters the car park, strange things start to occur. As he struggles to get his keys, shadows can be seen behind him. He gets into the car, and sees something in his mirror, but his car won't start. He leaves the car to go to a phone, and is attacked by a demon. Just before it kills him, he flashes back to the point where he just leaves the office building. He then passes the homeless man seen in the 'vision'. This time he gives him all of his change, and leaves, noticing his head has been cut, as it had in the 'vision'. He then realises that he has been given a second chance.

Suggested Features: 
The suggested features that makes our film different to the others is that we have decided to have a non linear story. We are including a flash back/forward scene when Adrian is given a second chance to do the right thing. The idea for the flash back/forward is from the Final Destination films. The idea is linked with the title of the film 'Karma', where something happens to someone and it all starts going wrong for them. A second chance is then given to them to change the past and do right.

First film logo idea

Our film will be called 'Karma'. This is the first title idea I have come up with - a distressed brush-style font that reflects the dark, intense feel of the film.

Location research

The main body of our film is to be set in an underground / multi-storey car park towards the end of the day when it's getting dark. We had some idea as to where to film, although when we arrived we were asked about what we were doing there, and told it was unlikely we'd be allowed to film in the car park. Despite this setback, we are still going to enquire as to whether we can get permission to film there, and if we are denied there are other similar locations we can look at.

The car park we went to is here

The following photos are a selection of the best ones we got.




This shows the vast, cold setting of the car park. The lighting is also quite dim inside the car park and would be even more effective in the coming winter months when it gets dark early. The fluorescent lights on the ceiling are a natural source of eerie lighting as it's not often things are lit directly from above, and the colour of the light on camera isn't the same as natural sunlight.

This particular piece of graffiti caught our eye. It is situated on one of the walls of the entrance to the car park, and displays the haunting words "who needs flowers when you're dead?"

This kind of dark, mysterious graffiti is exactly the kind of thing you would expect to see in the setting of a car park where our kind of film is going to be set.

This shot shows Sean standing facing the camera, with the bright light from outside glaring in behind him. The silhouette looks good in this kind of scene and hides all his features, but for our film we intend to film when it's darker outside than when we took these photos so we won't be able to use this effect. This however is a good shot to display the fluorescent lighting on the ceiling that will give a good effect to just show a few of the features of the actors, but hide the majority of them to add to the eerie mystery of the scenario.

This photo is in a delivery bay area, just under the first level of the car park. At night time, this will be much creepier with all the eroding brickwork and dull, dark colours. There is also a good canvas here for some lighting from the left of this photo, to come in and light up half of Adrian's face to show he has a split personality, or a good side and an evil side.