the concept

degrading life

      The main idea of my project concept is to illustrate the degradation of the human mind, body and spirit. Typically, this degradation takes place over the course of an individual’s lifetime and begins to become more intense with the elevated age. However, the process of aging is a relatively slow process and it would be more effective to view a much more rapid degradation. For that reason my film project shall illustrate a non-narrative torture sequence of an individual as carried out by two men. The idea of torture is to break down an individual to the point where they have nothing left and will in the process will release all withheld information they have.
      As a means of composing this production, the entire film shall be shot similar to a dream sequence utilizing a chess game as a metaphor to life and as a direct comparison to the state of the individual being tortured. As the movie begins the game is entirely intact, this state of the game represents the idea of birth or the beginning, however as the film progresses the game progressively becomes more and more one sided. The final stage of the chess game shall mirror the breaking of the individual being tortured and be a metaphor to death being the final stage of life.
      As an attempt to further concrete the overall idea projecting this film similar to a dream sequence it would be prevalent to shoot the entire film in black and white. “In the United States, the rise and fall of the opinion that we dream in black and white coincide with the rise and fall of the black and white film media over the course of the 20th century, suggesting that our opinions about the coloration of our dreams are subject to cultural influences.(Schwitzgebel)” On top of the black and white style of shooting, the dialogue present within the film shall be entirely composed of the individual being tortured, the other two men present shall be shown as if they are speaking however no vocals shall be present. By doing this I will emphasize the environmental surroundings as a means for sounds.
      In regards to shooting locations and environments, the entire film would be shot in doors for the exception of the first scene. The entire movie would take place in a dank workshop with a great deal of equipment strewn about. Ideally there will be relatively low levels of light except for lights which are in the direct vicinity of the on screen action, namely being the torture.
      The one shot outside is intended to be a means of establishing an emotional connection with the viewing audience. Using low level action objects, such as water dripping as being compared with high level action objects which would be the intended individual to be tortured struggling for freedom. As a result it will be composed of one long shot in order to entail both action objects within the shot simultaneously.
      The low level of light will also force me to utilize a large sum of close ups and semi-close ups. This will ensure that the facial expressions of the two individuals issuing the torture shall be clearly expressed. This will aid in emulating the all most over the top facial expressions as seen in 1920’s Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as created by Robert Weine.
      All chess board shots shall be composed at the same angle. This will be at an elevated angle with the camera at a slight tilt down. On top of the askew camera angle the every aspect of the shot beyond that of the chessboard will be black. By immersing the chessboard in black it will aid in isolating the viewer from the game symbolizing the fact that ones degradation is entirely a self occurring action and that there is no outside force which can affect it.
      There are three issues which may arise with the production of this film; the primary one being the fact that acquiring a workshop suitable for filming could pose to be rather a difficult task. The second problem may occur during post production being that specific organic sounds may be needed for effect, and the problem would be the fact that these sounds could be difficult to find. The third and final large issue that I can see would be finding actors which fit the build of the three individuals present in the film.
      It is with all these aspects combined that I hope to create this film. This would allow for the degradation of life to be visualized in a three minute time frame.