FMP Josh Richardson

UAL Awarding Body

THE HENLEY COLLEGE 62441

Josh Richardson, 97920

Sleep and Switch

Short Film
Year 1 FMP
FMP Josh Richardson

Rationale
Since The first units I have come a long way in most of my production
skills, but this is for especially my story planning and my editing – two
production features I would have needed constant advice at the start of
the course. Now I have learned how to develop stories and character
development, and I’ve learnt this from experience writing multiple stories
in past units. I have also learnt to take my time in this stage as it is crucial
the story is unique and well thought about when looking at the production
as a whole currently think that my strengths are mainly editing and
research when it comes to making a production, as that’s what I’ve got
the highest grade for in past units; such as the Music video and the Radio
Drama productions. When I edit I like to use many effects in Premier, such
as cropping effects and cleaner transitions like a match cut. Since then I
have continued to watch various premier pro tutorials online to improve
me as video editor. For my FMP it will take a lot of time to do to a standard
which I am aiming for and will require willpower from me to get it all done
to a good standard. The reason I have chosen to do a short film is because
it is what I have the most experience with and feel the most comfortable
with, and as I have got higher grades on my short film units rather than
my Music video or Radio drama, I am confident in replicating the higher
grade standards. I think one of the reasons I feel more comfortable with
doing a short film is because my strengths line up with a short film- things
like my research and pre production as well as my writing and editing are
big factors in a short film and if I can just continue to get good grades
when doing my strengths the it will be easier for me to obtain a higher
grade in my production, rather than experimenting and possibly
struggling a lot more with a production that I am less comfortable with.

Project concept
I have chosen to do a short film for my FMP because I feel it’s the best
way to express my creativity to a high standard. I feel my short film has
always been the best in terms of story writing and creativity and I also
have more experience making a short film than making other productions
such as a music video or radio drama- and if I feel the experience will help
me make a better production-which is what I want for my FMP.
In previous units I have researched short films in the past and have gotten
used to the codes and conventions- these codes include the length of film
(whilst telling a good story) and mise-en scene to create a believable
production- this is one about someone going through a trauma of an injury
and waking up as someone else- I have to think realistically how the
human nature would do in that situation- would they tell anyone? What
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emotions would go through their head? This is the level of realism I want
my audience to feel in my production. The resources I would use include
My canon 2000d, a tripod, props and actors. Lucky for me I have a few
friends who study Drama at high levels so I would be in touch with them
about a possible role in the short film.

Evaluation
I will write a weekly blog at the end of every week and I will upload them
to the blog page- these blogs will show what I’ve done this week and what
I plan to do in the near future, these will also help me keep on track as I
would outline what work I am behind on or need to improve on. I will also
use feedback from teachers to improve each week and will produce a final
written evaluation with an action plan to take into second year to help me
further improve.

Project Action Plan

For all past units I have learnt to time manage well and have never not
met a deadline for a unit, this deadline will once again test my time
management skills as this project has a bigger work load and has more
importance. One way I’m going to time manage is my following my
production schedule, strictly. This means that if all goes to plan I will be
ready for the May Half term marking week deadline with a few days to
spare where I can catch up and improve where needed. When in
productions itself I will personally oversee the equipment involved
including my Camera, tripod and Mics, and I will also put in a contingency
plan in, in case anything was to happen to my actors or locations. I also
have to look at other things that could cause problems like the recent
COVID-19 pandemic, where many are advised not to be in large groups or
crowded areas, to avoid risk of infections. To avoid these issues I am
going to choose my production locations in either my property or a family
members property, as I would be reassured of mine and my crews safety
before the production day, I will also film a few scenes in a park, a short
distance away from my house (so travelling won’t be an issue) and the
FMP Josh Richardson

park is very quiet even before the pandemic. This means that my crew
and I will have a very low risk of infection- and I will also carry some hand
sanitizer to every set just for extra precaution and safety. For post-
production, I have set a target to be finished with my shooting by or just
after Monday 4th May 2020 because this way I will have time to do any re-
shoots I need to improve the quality of my production, while also having
time to make multiple edits and get feedback on them, The time allocated
is presuming I have mistakes in my work and giving me sufficient time to
work on it and correct it. I need to keep a high work rate up to follow my
production and subsequently complete a high quality production on time
for my deadline. On my production schedule I will allocate more of my
time to pre-production as I believe with good research and planning my
production itself will be of higher quality and sufficiently shot- as I
wouldn’t have to think about things like what to shoot next if I have
detailed planning that will guide me through my production stages.

Proposed research and bibliography

Throughout the project I will primarily use reliable internet sources and
YouTube videos when doing research for my production. I will be
researching a lot about my medium and genre and when finding key
information online I will be Harvard referencing where I found the
information. These References will be detailed in my bibliography, where
all of my references will be linked to, I will also provide the links to the
online videos and when it was last accessed. This is helpful to my marker
as it provides proof that I have done research for my production and can
reference every piece well. I have also learnt from past units it is a lot
more efficient to reference links as soon as I have retrieved the
information, instead of doing it after where I need to find the webpage or
video again

Target audience
I have decided my target audience will be anywhere from 16-25 year olds,
one reason for this is this is the generation where online short films are
most popular with. The characters in my production are in their late teens
and have the same mindset, and ask the same questions in each situation
that most of this target audience would. So I believe that this audience
can relate to the characters more and understand their decision making-
where it could be similar to their own. I have already sent out a survey,
where everyone that has currently taken part in is in this age range- this
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makes my questions more relevant to my target audience which allows

me to make better decisions for my production as I would get to know
more of what this age range wants. My research would be effective-
especially if most of the survey participants remain in the age range as
then I would have proof of my research in my target audience

Final Idea
After a lot of thinking and surveying I have come to the conclusion that
my final idea will be my first idea, a short film called ‘Sleep and Switch’
this decision is based off my feedback from my target audience where this
was by far the most popular choice, and I think it could be done to a very
high standard if I execute my ideas for the production right
Its 2020, at a time of a rise in people with mental health issues and
science denies makes the public category deny any existence of the super
natural, and if anyone even talks about something remotely different to
everyday life is looked down upon, with many blaming their mental
health, which is a topic which has picked up a lot in the last decade, but
even with struggles sometimes things happen that can’t be explained my
science, no matter what the government and the public stern ‘reality’ can
say about it
When a boy in his young teens Is playing football and lands badly on some
glass that was camouflaged into the ground, blood starts to drain out and
vision starts to become blurry and fading to black as his hearing is
silenced
He wakes up on night, looking around and he’s in a completely different,
slightly older body. He is in a state of panic. Asking himself repeated
questions like Did I die? Where am I? Wheres my family? Was I in a coma?
As panicked as he wakes up he explores this new house where he
seemingly lives alone. He finds a study room full of books of how to switch
lives with anyone you want, the in depth details stagger him. He meets
some people around his area, and tries to explain what happened.
Ofcourse the reality is everyone will think he is crazy and therefore he is
asked to go and see a mental health therapist. He declines the offer as he
knew it wasn’t right for him, but spends some hours feeling guilty as
everyone calls him a liar. That’s until he enters the property where he
woke up in again looking over the notes.
He discovers some emergency instructions that could only be used once
to get back to his old self- but he has to think hard if to trade this new life
where he has money and seemingly very smart- back to the one where he
has a lot of upcoming stresses and work. He eventually completes the
ritual which results in him waking back up as his old self, next to his
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homework in a house not so special. But he has the things he cares for,
like his football which is all that matters to him.
Bibliography

YouTube Clips

Clip Reference
https://study.com/academy/lesson/mystery- 31 03
genre-definition-characteristics-elements.html

Websites

Website Reference

https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/91aa_short_films.pdf 91ST ACADEMY AWARDS

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE
SHORT FILM AWARDS,
Online pdf, [Last accessed
25/03/2020)
https://tscpl.org/books-movies-music/short-films-a-short-history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=HOorbILBkYQ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8075496/ 29 03
http://resource.download.wjec.co.uk.s3.amazonaws.com/vtc/2016-17/16-17_1-14/Section%201%20Generating%20ideas
%20for%20stories/R esource%201%20Exploring%20Genre/Activity%202%20Add%20example%20films%20to%20the
%20genres.pdf

https://www.indieshortsmag.com/reviews/2020/01/brotherhood-
the-price-of-transgression/
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Date – Week Plan of Action Evaluation

beginning

16th – 18th Generate 3 ideas, Proposal and Weekly blog

March Survey Get Feedback on LO1
Work on brief including Plan of
action and internet research on
my competition
19th-20th Work on brief including Plan of
action, target audience, and
plan for evaluations.
21st- 22nd internet research on my Improve LO1 using
competition, looking at feedback.
previous winners and stating
what aspects of their
production I could use in mine
to make mine a better
standard.
23rd March Research – Short films Weekly blog
Including the Medium/Genre
and its past using internet
research
Analyse some short film
examples whilst noting the
codes and conventions and how
I can use them in my own
production
23rd March Research History of short films,
including past and present
ways they are shown to people
24th March Research my genres, including
the codes and conventions.
25th- 28th Analyse 2 short film examples
March whilst noting the codes and
conventions and how I can use
them in my own production
29th March Conduct a survey about what
my target audience want to see
in my short film.
30th March Online focus group (due to Weekly blog
covid-19) Get feedback on my
research
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1st – 3rd April Research 2 professionals, what

I like about their work and how
I could use it in my own.
4th April Content research, what is going Improve LO2 using my
to happen in my production and feedback
listen to other stories on the
same topic
5th April Research Platfrom, showing
where im going to upload my
production and why
6th April (E) Pre-production- Location Research Evaluation
recces/storyboards
Write 3 drafts of script and get
feedback on it

7th April- 8th Complete Lo3 booklet , tasks

April like props list, contingency plan
9th April Get all clearances and
confirmation for cast and crew
10th April- First draft of storyboards
11 th April
12th April Final storyboards
13th April- Pre-production Test Shoots Test shoots / Weekly blog
16th
17th April First draft of script
18th-19th April Final draft of scripts
20th - 22nd Film scenes at my house Test shoots / Weekly blog
April
23rd – 26th Film scenes at mercian way
April park
27th- 28th Film hotel scenes I
April
29th April Film beach scenes and Foley
sound
27th April Film/ Create first edit and get Planning evaluation
feedback on it
28th – 30th Film any reshoots Weekly blog
April
1st may – 4th First edit
may
5th- 6th May Feedback on LO3 and
7th- 11th May use Feedback / Final edit Weekly blog
th
18 May Production Evaluation Weekly blog
Interim Deadline

25th May Marking Week

(H/T)
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1st June Pitch / Improvements Pitch evaluation / Final

Final Deadline evaluation

Competition- Raindance Film Festival 2020

The Raindance film festival is the largest independent UK Film Festival
and has so far had 27 festivals, with the 28th upcoming later this year. The
festival has had global recognition by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences USA as well as the BAFTA’s. Each year, Raindance attracts
16,000 visitors and
The 28th Raindance will take place later this year, October 28 – 7
November 2020 in London.
To submit a short film, it has to be Under 45 minutes, and will be judged
on Quality of narrative and production values as well as the independent
nature of the production. Raindance will notify all parties that submit if it
was successful or not on 15th September 2020
Submission deadlines and fees
Date Deadline  Feature Fee Shorts Fee

24 April 2020 Early Deadline £55 £25

22 May 2020 Regular Deadline £70 £35

6  July 2020 Late Deadline £100 £50

Because of these criteria’s, Raindance will make me as a filmmaker have

a lot of flexible creative judgement for me to express myself in a
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production and I feel that the competitive element of the ‘competition’

would push my work to be as best as it possibly can- and this includes
things like thinking twice before shooting and continuously asking
questions in my head about everything from the mise en scene to the
framing to the camera settings.

Previous Winner- Brotherhood (Dir. Meryam Joobeur) 2019 winnwe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=ImnbMyEkXX0 – Video link

From reading online reviews this short film is held at an incredibly high
standard with most of its awards and positive reviews all coming for good
reasons. From an interview online I’ve found out brotherhood gets your
emotions going right from the beginning, as it starts of showing a family in
Tunisia fleeing for their life and the audience witnesses the drastic
conditions they live in as there is a situation, someone is returning from
ISIS, a real world threat that would engaged the audience because of its
seriousness. One review complements the shorts cinematography. With
the precise shooting capturing every pivotal moment or emotion, the
audience are engaged with the realistic mise en scene with believable
rough conditions that are seen in war torn countries. The storytelling is
also complemented in multiple reviews as it is said to engage the
audience right from the start. With the audience engaged from the start
the director would have a really good opportunity to show their
capabilities as everyone would be so interested in what is currently going
on. The character development and arcs are key parts to making a
successful production and according to various reviews there re some
characters that change quite a bit in the short and these changes keeps
them interesting as the character development is changing. Because of all
these key aspects of a good production like cinematography and
storytelling, the production won the 2019 Raindance film festival and even
got nominated at the Oscar academy awards.
Here are some IMBd reviews on the production, showing why they loved
it.
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Previous winner- Souls of Totality 2018- Best Short Director: Richard

Raymond
The shorts description states: Set during the Great American Eclipse, this
is a story about the sacrifices we make for love and the intensity of a
looming moment that can change everything.
When seeing what people online say about this short, it is clear to me that
those that enjoyed the film say it puts you through emotions that stay
with you for life, this is likely as the film is about love and sacrifices it is
likely something happens in a plot where something bad happens, like
protagonist loosing a loved one; and how they recover and continue. This
would be complementing the writing of the short as putting someone
through emotions that stay with someone even after the film is something
I want as it shows your production sent a clear and effective message to
the audience. There are also many compliments to the shorts
cinematography online, and this is a sector of shorts that I need to make
sure is well done. Having a well shot film is crucial in converting the films
message as best as possible because it will engage the audience as the
shots would not be boring and simple- but unique and interesting, making
the audience wanting to watch on. From watching the trailer for the short
film online (https://vimeo.com/259961759) I can tell the short is professionally
shot, with extreme care and precison in each shot. This is especially when
the people in the prison like structure are all in uniform and in line, the
mise en scene makes it look very realistic and this makes the production
more engaging and interesting for me as the audience will feel like it feels
more like real life rather than something that looks unintentially fake
which would make the audience feel uninterested.
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Here are some reviews I have found online of the production, and the
compliments given in the film are things that I need to try and emulate in
my own short.
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