In this second version of my “Cheater” narrative, the main differences will be me making more flashbacks to spread them out across the film. I will do this to maintain the sense of ambiguity of the dilemma the protagonist is in until the end. And to have a more effective build-up using sound design to make the scenes unfold more patiently.
Characters:
The characters are the same as the last version.
Story:
This version of the narrative will have the flashbacks dispersed across the film, so we don’t know what Riley is stressing about until near the end. In this version, I will need to create a party scene and have extras to make it look like an actual party.
Riley goes to Chelsea’s house for a casual meet-up. After some small talk(here I will use triangular filming), Riley looks at a photograph of them all at a party.
[The first flashback will be from the point where the photograph is taken, we will follow Riley around the party. She pours a drink. In the back of the frame, we see Chelsea acting drunk and Kyle leaving the room.]
Chelsea gets up to boil the kettle. She is talking about how well her relationship is going at the moment. This is when Riley’s sound starts to become distorted. She hears sounds become isolated and become louder.
[The next flashback is still at the party, Riley is talking to Chelsea who is drunk, she gets her a drink of water so she can sober up a little bit. Chelsea asks if Riley can go and find her phone for her.]
Sounds and vision re now becoming distorted, close ups of under Riley’s eyes, you can see her sweating. And hyper ventilating.
[Riley walks up the stairs and starts looking in each room.]
Sounds start to become more intense.
[As Riley is looking in rooms for Chelsea’s phone, she sees through an open window hinge that Kyle is kissing another woman. ]
Snaps out of the flashback with the sound of a door shutting. Kyle enters the room, “oh are you alright sis I didn’t know you were her” he is acting perfectly normal. Riley gives an awkward greeting. Kyle tells Chelsea that he is going out for the night and he will be staying in his friends. The kettle violently boils and the sounds all become intensified at once.
Snaps out of the flashback with the sound of a door shutting. Kyle enters the room, “oh are you alright sis I didn’t know you were here” he is acting perfectly normal. Riley gives an awkward greeting. Kyle tells Chelsea that he is going out for the night and he will be staying in his friends. The kettle violently boils and the sounds all become intensified at once.
Slow creep in to Riley as this is the time where she needs to make her decision.
Thoughts about this idea:
- This idea will be more difficult than the previous, because I will have to get extras and make my house look like a party for the flashback scenes.
- I like how the moral dilemma is not confirmed until the ending. It makes the film more ambiguous.
- I like how the moral dilemma is then strengthened at the end by making Riley and Kyle siblings.
- I think it is good the way the audience need to decide whether she told Chelsea the truth or not, this adds a thought provoking element to the film. Which is something I mentioned in my initial pitch.
Thomas Neild's FMP Blog 