Director's Intent: One Shot, Scripted Scene

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT OF INTENT

This statement of intent is designed to train your mind, eye and heart to shoot purposefully. You should prepare it well before shooting. Briefly—but thoughtfully and specifically—answer the following questions. Be sure to make your answers specific to the assignment as listed on Learning Suite.

1.       What is the story--the beginning, middle, and end--of this scene in three or four sentences? In other words, what happens in this scene as it starts, as it progresses, and as it ends?

Mark Schultz, an Olympic gold wrestler, meets John du Pont, a trainer and coach who is obsessed with Mark. Du Pont reveals to Mark that he wants to train him for the world championship wrestling tournament in a year, and that he is unsatisfied with the current state of American athletes.  Mark discusses why he got into wrestling, and reveals his inferiority with his brother.

2.       What, specifically, must the audience understand narratively? How do you intend to communicate that information?

They must understand Du Pont’s adoration of Mark and his strong desire to train him and help him be better.  They must also understand Mark’s inferiority complex and his desire to be better than his brother.  I intend to communicate this information by having close ups during the key lines in the scene and using motivated emotion to shift the focus.

3.       If this scene is from a longer piece, what is the narrative, emotional and thematic purpose of the scene in the larger story?

The purpose of the scene in the larger story is to introduce Du Pont’s character, as well as Mark’s inner conflict.  These two things set up the conflict and emotional trauma for the rest of the movie.

4.       What emotion do you want to communicate in this scene? How do you intend to do this?  

I want to communicate admiration and worship with Du Pont’s character, and insecurity and weakness through Mark’s character. I intend to do this by talking with my actors and making sure they understand how the scene should play out, and blocking with James so that the camera is capturing the right emotions at the right time.

5.       What is the first image of the scene? What is the final image of the scene?

The first image of the scene is Mark looking at the walls, and then Du Pont enters the scene, with the focus shifting from Mark to Du Pont.  The last image will be a two shot showing profiles of their faces as they look at each other.

6.       Why is this scene personal to me? What previous personal experience(s) does it remind me of? Why do I need to make this scene?

This scene is personal to me because there are times when I feel like I do excellent work and don’t receive credit, especially here at BYU where everybody is extremely talented.  Likewise, there are times when I feel inferior to my siblings, especially my older sister’s musical talent and my older brother’s artistic talents.  I feel like I need to make this scene in order to try and come to terms with the fact that these insecurities are more universal than I realize, and I shouldn’t let them get in my way and prevent me from trying.

7.       What two visual elements (line, shape, space, tone, color, rhythm, movement) will you use to help communicate the emotion of the scene? (Be sure these elements apply to the assignment as listed on Learning Suite; only choose elements that you have read about or that we have covered in class.)

I want to use color to separate the characters and reflect their inner state.  I also want to use line to divide the characters or to bring them closer together depending on the emotion of the scene.

8.       What are two or three potential obstacles to creating a successful scene? How can you be prepared to overcome these? Be specific!

I’m mostly worried about casting actors who can portray the parts.  The scene is very dialogue heavy, and short on action.  In order for the emotion of the scene to work, the actors will have to really invest in the scene and master the emotions necessary to communicate the story.  I’m also worried because my DP goes out of town next Wednesday, so I only have 5 days to cast and prepare for the shoot.  We already have our equipment, so I just need to find a room to shot it in ASAP.