Being Ben - Research Films
How To Break Up - Tales of Mere Existence This was the first film I saw that helped me come up with my concept. I like the step by step guide take on breaking up, as it allowed it to be lighthearted and to the point whilst still having depth in terms of the emotional journey of the character. The way the film repeats the same stages showing how they have changed is also effective in showing the progression. To do the same in my film would be effective in showing the development of the character. Showing moments that have been seen before being different each time they are seen would make them like signposts from which the audience can guage the character’s change. How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps Like the first film, this one is light hearted but still meaningful. The step by step guide approach to the film means that comedy can be used and mixed in with more meaningful moments. It also means that the pace of the film can be controlled easily. I also like the use of narration as it guides the audience through the film. The tone, pace, and dialogue of the narrator also add to the comedic value of the film. I wouldn’t have the film centred arouund one setting like this film does as it makes the film reliant upon the voicover to tell a story. I also like having a variety of settings to keep the audience engaged in what could have the possibility to be a monotonous film. Life's a Bitch Of all the films that I want to emmulate, this is the one I like the most. The ability to tell a cohesive story through nothing but images with little to no dialogue is entirely unique. It is also very difficult. The comedy of the film, but also the depth of the film strike a balance that I would like to have in my film. I don’t think that I would be able to make such a cohesive film without narration to aid it. Therefor I want to take the style of this film, but use the style of narration from the other films to guide the audience through the film. By using narration I hope that I can explain the images, but add comedy and control the pacing at the same time. There will be some shots where having no narration will have a greater impact than having a voiceover. I wish to take the best parts of all these films, in terms of the style and the comedy. The way they are edited together is also something I would like to emmulate, as it is fast paced, but with each shot having a reason to be where it was. The variety of settings and types of shots within those settings keeps the film interesting, working with other elements to make up for the lack of dialogue or voiceover. The fact that there is very little dialogue and no voiceover makes this film very intelligent in its story telling which remains cohesive and coherrant. This is When we Met The way that this film covers the span of a relationship through images is similar to how I want to convey the lifespan of a break up. It uses snippets of scenes, taking the important parts of important moments to tell a story. The voiceover is effective in this film as it tells the story of the relationship starting, whilst the rest of the film portrays the following relationship and subsequent break up. This is It Effectively telling a relatively long story in a short amount of time with short shots and nothing but questions for dialogue, this is a cool film. If I can take some of the similar techniques and use them in my film, the story telling could be more effective. The idea of just taking the most important part of a scene and using a multitude of these moments to tell a story is what I want to do. A Lesson on Probability The use of a spanish voiceover is a point of difference between this film and any other, even those that also have voiceovers. It means that weaker dialogue/voiceover will not be as noticeable as it is in a different language and also makes any dialogue part of a wider joke. Due to how long the voiceover in the film is, having a foreign language makes sure the voiceover doesn’t get boring. By having the constant voiceover, it makes the lack of a voiceover more meaningful as part of jokes and meaningful moments.
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Everything’s okay, until it isn’t. Being Ben follows the journey of teenage boy through a relationship and break up, figuring out where his life is heading along the way. Facing the realities of growing up and looming adulthood, in this meaningful comedy the protagonist deals with problems and decisions faced by many a teenager.
With the main plot revolving around break up and getting over it, there will be a recurring sub-plot of school and leaving school. The implications and decisions around growing up will develop to be the resounding end of the film, having gotten over the break up. As with every break up, Being Ben starts with a relationship. The start of the film will present the protagonist as having his life together. School is going well along with his relationship. This will set up the inevitable break up and confusion, but introduce settings and shots that can be referenced later in the film after the break up and when the internal conflict has been resolved. At the start of the film there will be equilibrium. Happy with life and the way things are going, the protagonist is content. Throwing the film out of equilibrium, the first turning point is the protagonist being left for somebody else. The protagonist is intially an emotional wreck, with the film depicting the protagonist dealing being an emotional wreck as gradually gets over the break up, and figures out what his life will be after school. The protagonist moves on from the break up, finding a positive outlook on the future. Without the new equilibrium of the protagonsit being okay and optimistic, the audience would be left on a downer, having witnessed nothing more than the protagonists life falling apart. Ending in a way that is not entirely happy, but decidedly positive, will mean that the overall message of the film will be one of “it is going to be okay” which will be reassuring for the audience. Being Ben will be funny and relatable in a way that people wish it wasn’t, as all of the audience will have gone through, are going through, or will go through similar situations of relationships and deciding upon life after school. Using the comedy genre means that film will not be too heavy in terms of content, while still having the film be heartfelt. There will be scenes used for solely comedic purposes, whilst others are more serious. By using a mixture of humour and reality, the film will be lighthearted but existential, as it will hold some shared concerns of everyone growing up. The topics and themes, despite being serious, are made accessible through the comedy genre. Adults will have been through it, teenagers are going through it or will soon, so the idea of maturing and growing up will strike a chord with the audience at the Noscars. How to Grow Up
The film plays out as a tutorial video for life. Starting with a black screen and the sounds of a hospital with a baby being born the narration starts. It follows a child through key moments such as buying their first icecream, starting primary school, having a crush, going to intermediate, running away from said crush, etc. The child becomes a teenager and goes to college, with key events such as burning things in science, growing to despise algebra, pass level 1, get a girlfriend, lose a girlfriend, find another girlfriend, lose a girlfriend, cry through a disney film, pass level 2 getting their liscence, having an existential crisis about subject choice, have an existential crisis about leaving school, have an existential crisis about growing up, go to a party, debate becoming an alcoholic, decide not to, consider becoming a drug addict, decide its impractical, pass level 3. There are two possibilities in terms of what direction to take my film. On one hand I can play upon the film being relatable with the audience, having an over arching story about break ups and the pressure of growing up, with the break up and getting over it being recurring throughout the film and it. On the other hand I could make my film hectic and fast paced towards the end. As the character goes to leave school he gains an addiction, robs a store, gets caught, gets let off for some funny reason, robs another store, doesn’t get let off, goes to prison, leaves prison (with a comically long and fake beard), etc. If I was able to pull off the first concept and make it relatable, lighthearted but deep at the same time then it would be my preference. My second concept would be easier to make enjoyable but would not have the same meaning behind it. A hybrid of both could work well in making my film enjoyable on a comedic and emotional level. |