Harmless
Harmless & Housemates
[Australian Short Films / Comedy]
Synopsis:
A Huntsman spider poses a huge dilemma for two flatmates, who discover their visitor is not only indestructible but also has a wicked sense of humour.
Objective:
Make two films with the same script - but make them very different!
Approach:
In an inspired move, we set out to cast 4 actors - two actors (male & female) to play Pat and two (also male & female) for Alex. We thought it would be great if we could capture the reactions from 2 different set of flatmates, both freaking out about the spider on the wall. The first set-up would be for two girls, and then repeat it for two boys. To also enhance the points of difference, we created 2 very different looks. See discussion of the visual treatments below.
Harmless
In brief: 2 girls – wealthy backgrounds, luxury apartment.
PATRICIA is quiet, sensitive and middle class. She recently surprised her family by enrolling in International Relations at university, convincing her parents that she wanted to broaden her view of life.
ALEXANDRIA is a no-nonsense, streetwise uni student and typical Newtown chick. She plans a career in marketing, and is a real charmer. However she is known to act rashly and insensitively, impulses she wishes she could learn to control.
Shoot this cinematically.
- Draw audience into this world of wealth.
- Light it with rich colours, yellow and browns, for day-time and the light blues for night-time.
- Add shadows as we deepen into the further scenes to create an impending threat.
- Have dolly movements to capture the frontal 2 shots in standing and seating positions.
- Use unusual angles and ground shots (feet level) to show unusual perspectives.
- Consider hand-held stuff in the frantic bedroom scene.
Production note: This will take time to set-up, light it & set tracks.
— vs —
Housemates
In brief: 2 boys – rough messy flat, struggling uni students, cheap inner-city look
PATRICK is a backpacker on a working holiday, with a soft touch and a bit naïve. He had a desire to travel instilled at an early age with his first stop: Australia.
ALEXANDER is a farm boy, now uni student in the big city. Practical-minded, he calls a spade a spade and is a bit of a know-it-all. Has lots of yarns to tell and thinks he has it all under control.
Shoot this reality TV style. Have occupants confined to a house - mockumentary. Make it Day 87 and only these 2 contestants remaining.
- No dolly movement shots.
- Pretend to be CCTV with standard WS, intercutting with MWS.
- But also have the camera closer to shoot narrative style.
- Camera to be placed high and do slow pans (as if operated remotely) to capture the activities of the occupants.
- Have actors each wear visible radio mikes.
- Lighting to be doco style with flat kino-flo lights in all areas
- The look to be de-saturated.
Production note: Set-up is simpler, quicker to shoot.
Production Details
Production Company: Pete Greenaway in association with NAFA Productions
Finance: Independent, low budget
Runtime: 7 mins (both films)
Format: HDV, JVC Camera ProHD GY-HD111E
Start Shoot: 29 Nov 2007
Wrap Shoot: 30 Nov 2007
Current Status: Film completed [10 Jan 2008]
