True Kite Story

Whilst researching I came across this story written by a person who used to fly kites. Although it doesn't primarily link in with my film story, I really liked it and thought it was nice how people can get attached to kites and it can make relationships.

When I was younger (5 or 6 years old), I remember we (myself and some
of the neighbourhood kids) used to go to the local candy store called
"Lucky Louie's", and we each would buy a paper diamond kite and ball
of cotton string. We would then go to a small parking lot next to the
store and send them up, letting all the string out. We would tie our
lines on the fence and go back and buy more string. Returning and
adding on to the existing line, we would continue to do so until you
had to strain to see that there was a kite at the end of the line.
Of course it then came time to bring the kite back in, seemed to take
all evening to wind it back in.

As I got older I used to build what ever kite plan I could find. My
last project was a 12 foot delta that I call my "Lumbering Giant",
complete with two 80 foot long tails.

Since that project of almost 10 years ago I was seriously injured at
work and have become disabled. I do still get out to fly, but with the
assistance of my son.

The Tree House

Script Sample

Below is a short sample of speech from the children. This part is when they are arguing about whether Jess saw the monster or not.

OLIVER rolls his eyes.

OLIVER-

Stop lying, you big lier. You're so stupid!

OLIVER picks up his kite.

JESS-

I'm not! It was really loud and it was stomping around on the ground below the tree house. It was stomping right here!

JESS mimics the stomping of the monster.

OLIVER-

You believe everything Jess, you're a little baby! You were probably just dreaming. How come I never heard it? Eh?

JESS-

Well. . .

OLIVER-

Exactly, you need to stop day dreaming and stop living in your own little world! I bet mummy and daddy would laugh at you for this!

JESS-

No they wouldn't!! It happened! Stop being like that!

OLIVER-

Whatever, are you coming to the moor then?

JESS turns away

JESS-

No! Go away!

Sound Ideas

The soft sound of the countryside will be used throughout the countryside scenes. By choosing to use subtle tones and calm sounds of the rain splashing against the leaves on the trees, will achieve a dreamy, tranquil mood whilst the children are living happy in their tree house. When the children are in the house during the opening scene, the muffled sound of their parents arguing along with the television blaring in the background will help set up the mood for the beginning. I want the opening scene to contrast with the countryside shots. I almost want the audience to feel hostile and unsettled, just like the children feel.

Editing

In terms of editing I would like to use quick edits when the children are escaping from their house and climbing over the garden fence to the train station. Also when Oliver is searching for Jess and he falls over the monster. Slow edits will be apparent in the scenes where the children are content and flying the kite on the open moor. This will portray happiness and tranquility.

Oliver Green Character Pictures

Jessica Green Character Picture

Lighting Ideas

I would like to use natural lighting in my film, throughout the scenes of the children in Grindleford and leaving home, for example the sun light creeping through the trees. I want the light from the sun to make it visually look soft and dreamy. I will use soft lighting in the opening scenes where they are at home playing in their shared room. The use of 3 normal household lamps will be used. I want it to be as natural and exactly how it would be in real-life. When the children creep down stairs and past the living room, the only lighting will be of the glare from the television.

Oliver's Kite

Oliver has a yellow kite. I chose yellow as it is a loud colour and stands out nicely against the colour of the sky, no matter what the weather. It also links in to the colour scheme in which I want the film to have; a soft golden palette.

Costumes- Jess

Jessica will be wearing light blue jeans and a yellow t-shirt and a light pink zipped hoodie. She has a dark green duffel coat and red woolly mittens.

Costumes- Oliver

Oliver will be wearing murky green corduroy trousers, stripey blue t-shirt and drak blue rain jacket. He will also be wearing a red and blue woolly hat which he gives to Jessica to keep warm at the beginning and the end of the film.

Monster Illustrations

Here is illustration of the monster. Although I think to make him look soft and friednly, he will be furry and have larger feet.

The Monster

Above are images of what I would like the monster to look like. The creatures from the film 'Where the Wild Things Are' are visually how I would like them to look. I want them to look large but friednly, shown by their furr.

Grindleford Train Station

This video is at Grindleford train station, I will use this exterior 3 times in the film.

The Children Flee to the Peak District ...

Exterior Locations in Opening Scenes 2

To continue are the exterior train station images where the children go to to get the train to Grindleford. They wait at the platform scared.

Exterior Locations in Opening Scenes 1

Below are examples of what the back garden and fence of the childrens house will be like, although in the scene while the children are running down the garden, climbing over the fence to run to the train station it will be night time.

Oliver and Jess' Bedroom Interior

The opening scene shows both children playing in their shared bedroom, legs crossed on the carpet playing with their toys. Below is the style of bedroom they would have. It would have wooden furniture which would look dated. It will be cluttered with toys and trinkets, along with paintings and pictures frames on the wall. They will have a bunk bed, which also contributes to their closeness. Having to share a bedroom mean they are naturally close.

Family house- Location for opening scene

I just came across of what the house the children live in with their parents will look like. It is a 3 bedroom terraced house. When the parents argue and yell at each other, the next door neighbours can hear it.

Running Away Stories

Whilst reaseaching, I came across a few short stories about running away. Some are serious and upsetting, however some were light-hearted and ended happy.

Here is a short opening of one I found.

'An Educational Escape

The girls had planned to meet up by 6:00am outside Beth's place and together proceeded to walk up to the highway. The frosted grass glistened with the sunrise, and while Shelly and her best mate chatted, it was so brisk that each word spoken was exhaled in a foggy mist. The two sixteen year olds looked like professional back packer's and rather cute ones at that. They had been planning to run away to join their friends for Schoolies Week' on the Gold Coast for the last five months and believed they had covered every detail. They performed odd jobs, like walking neighbours dogs and helping out at the servo washing cars on weekends all to raise some extra money.'

Kite Festival

The following extract is from http://kitefestival.org/ about the 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival.

With the sun shining in a cloudless sky, Sat., March 27 proved to be a perfect day to go fly a kite—on the National Mall. Throngs of enthusiastic kite flyers (and watchers) descended on the Washington Monument grounds for the 44th annual Smithsonian Kite Festival to enjoy a day of kite competition and craft.

The festival’s theme--CRAFTed for Flight—was a celebration of the art and joy of kite-making and kite-flying. Family-oriented activity tents helped guide festivalgoers through the intricacies of kite-making and the craft of getting their creations to fly. Among the sponsors of this year’s tents were The Drachen Foundation, West Indian American Kiters Association, the National Aquarium, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. For those who preferred to fly pre-made kites, our lead sponsor, the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, graciously sponsored a giveaway of 1,000 mini-kites to children at the festival. There was also a display of dozens of handmade kites that were a tribute to craftsmanship.

Hundreds of kite makers of all ages came out to display and fly their homemade beauties and enter them into the various competitions. Children entered the contest in one of two age groups: 11 and under or 12 to 15. Amateur kite makers were given a chance to showcase and fly their homemade creations while judges from the Smithsonian Kite Committee chose the best of each category. Noteworthy contestants were honored with special-recognition awards including most artistic, most humorous, and most patriotic. Additionally, kite flyers, participants, and spectators were invited to vote for their favorite kites throughout the day, and the winner was named the Peoples’ Choice for 2010.

Kite Poetry

Below are some poems I found about kites. I like the simplicity of them and the chil-like innocence they share. I would like this style and genre to be apparent in my film.

Flight Fun

The shiny kite with arms outstretched,
Soared high above the trees,
It swerved and turned and circled 'round,
And danced upon the breeze.

If, when I put my arms outstretched,
A breeze would lift me high,
I'd flip and soar and circle 'round,
And race the birds that fly.

Martin Shaw

I often sit and wish that I
Could be a kite up in the sky,
And ride upon the breeze and go
Whichever way I chanced to blow.

Unknown author

P.O.V Examples in Film and Television

Steadicam Examples in Films

Camera Shots and Techniques 2

I have also been looking at what kind of shots I will be using and also how they will be crucial in representing the children and their brother and sisters relationship. I want to show they are close and work well together, however I want the audience to relate to them both. I want to portray their child-like qualities. To achieve this I will change between P.O.V shots from the children only. I think this will allow the audience to relate to the characters and feel on the level of the children. I think it will especially be effective when I am showing the children venerable and small. This will be apparent in such scenes as when Oliver fall over the big creature and looks up at it. It was also be apparent when the children are climbing up the robe ladder up to their tree house.

Camera Shots and Techniques 1

I have been thinking a lot about the style in which I would film Misguided in, in terms of camera shots and the type of camera I shall use.

Firstly, I think the use of a Steadicam in my film will work well and in some sense add to the child-like, playful atmosphere in the film. I looked at originally filming handheld, however it can sometimes feel quite erratic in some ways. I didn't want to create an unnerving atmosphere until the crucial climax of the film, instead the use of the Steadicam will add a smooth flow, giving the effect of handheld but in a controlled way. It will mainly be effective in the scene where the children are running up the hill through the woods to the top of the tree house. The idea of the camera winding through and around the trees I feel will give a gentle but pacey impression. I also want my film to be poetic in terms of visuals. The use of the Steadicam will help this approach.

The Kite Runner

This film as also influenced me. I love how poetic the kites look in the sky and the camera angles used to show them flying.