Nayani

Vijayaratnam

Storyboard




Action: Tanya leans against the closed
kitchen door distressed and in tears.
Description: She is wearing an all black attire
to connote death, which is a major theme in
our short film. Her hair is disheveled and her
make up is smudged highlighting her agony.
Shot: Medium Shot
Duration: 27 seconds
Sound: non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Fade in













Action: She hurries over to the counter and
grabs the bottle of wine. She opens it and
drinks it straight from the bottle.
Description: The alcohol is a coping
mechanism for Tanya and becomes a motif,
which symbolizes her vulnerability.
Shot: Point of View
Duration: 7 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Continuous, which allows the
audience to follow Tanyas action and
uncover the enigma created.











Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: She opens the alcohol and drinks it
straight from the bottle.
Description: This highlights her
desperation as she drinks it straight from
the bottle.
Shot: Wide Shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Fade to flashback scene of young
Tanya and Angela.














Action: Angela leans over and kisses
younger Tanya.
Description: The audience see the
interaction between a mother and a
daughter, yet the daughters identity is
not clear to begin with which creates an
enigma.
Shot: Low angle
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic Soundtrack
Editing: A white filter is used to create a
reminiscent atmosphere. Fades back to
present day.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Portrays Tanyas house to the audience.

Description: Emphasizes Tanyas isolation
without her mother as she in living in a large
house on her own.
Shot: Establishing Shot
Duration: 4 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Fades to a flashback















Action: Angela carries young Tanya in her arms
while walking.
Description: This portrays Angela as caring as she
carries her. The conventional location of a park
suggests that Angela has taken Tanya out to play.
Shot: Long Shot
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: White filter to differentiate the different
time periods to the audience. Fades to present day.






Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya runs to her bedroom and sits

down at her desk.
Description: Mise-en-scene of her bedroom
allows the audience to identify her youth
and aids the verisimilitude of a 23 year old.
Shot: Point of view
Duration: 2 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Continuous editing to allow the
audience to follow Tanyas actions.













Action: Tanya sits at her desk crying uncontrollably,
unsure of what to do.
Description: Allows the audience to witness her
instability and from the flashbacks they are able to
insinuate that it has something to do with her mother.
Shot: Medium Close Up
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Fades to a flashback of young Tanya and
Angela








Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Angela kisses younger Tanya.
Description: Angela is tucking young Tanya into bed,
which adds to the realism of a mother and daughter,
as well as creating sympathy from the audience, as it
is an intimate scene.
Shot: Close Up
Duration: 2 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: White filter id s motif for her happier past
with her mother. Fades back to present day of Tanya
in her bedroom.












Action: Tanya takes out a notebook and a pen
and begins to write the words Dear Mum.
Description: From the words Dear Mum the
audience can insinuate that her mother is not
with her.
Shot: Close Up
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Continuous editing used allows the
audience to follow the process of her writing
her letter.








Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: She attempts to stop crying and continues
to write.
Description: The audience is able to see the tears
streaming down her face, highlighting her pain.
Also, her messy hair is reflective of her mind
state.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack
Editing: Continuous editing is used to enable the
audience to view the letter closely.











Action: Tanya is writing the letter.
Description: The audience are given the
opportunity to read for themselves what Tanya is
writing, allowing them to connect with her words
further.
Shot: Close Up
Duration: 12 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover, which reveals to the audience
why she is writing the letter.
Editing: Cuts to a shot of Tanya writing the

letter, in her bedroom.










Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya continues to cry as she pulls on her hair.
Description: Her action of pulling on her hair highlights
her frustration with herself. She pauses from writing the
letter, which emphasises how difficult it is for her to write
and creates sympathy from the audience.
Shot: Wide Shot
Duration: 4 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene of Angela and young
Tanya.











Action: Angela and younger Tanya are spending
time together at the mini animal reserve.
Description: Through their body language the
audience can identify the close bond, which they
had.
Shot: Wide shot
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter, Fades to present day scene of
Tanya in her bedroom.








Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya puts her head down and continues to

write her letter.
Description: Her inability to look up depicts her feeling
of vulnerability.
Shot: Mid Shot
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover.
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene of young Tanya
writing.













Action: Angela helps younger Tanya write and read.
Description: A binary opposition between the
present and the past is created as Tanya talks about
the things her mother taught her, including how to
write.
Shot: Two Shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non- diegetic
voiceover.
Editing: A fade to present day Tanya in her
bedroom to portray a clear juxtaposition.







Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya stops writing the letter to her mum, crying.
Description: The various jump cuts of Tanya depicts her
at her lowest point which allows the audience to feel
sympathetic towards her.
Shot: Medium Shot
Duration: 8 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Jump cuts to highlight Tanyas despair, followed
by a fade to a flashback.











Action: Angela and young Tanya are feeding the
squirrels together.
Description: Natural high key lighting will be a key
element in this scene to highlight Tanyas happiness
and peace, which she had and then lost as her mother
passed away.
Shot: Long Shot
Duration: 12 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter which fades to present day.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya continues to write her letter.
Description: The audience is able to read the
letter for themselves, giving them a better insight
into Tanyas thoughts and feelings.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 4 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: The continuity of the film is carried
through as the camera cuts to Tanya sitting at her
desk.













Action: Tanya thinks about what to write as she tries her
best to keep it together.
Description: The black wallpaper connotes the darkness
in her life without her mother, which creates stark
contrast between the white filters on the flashbacks.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Angela and younger Tanya are at the park playing.
Description: Presents a idealistic relationship between a
mother and a daughter as they partake in conventional
activities.
Shot: Wide Shot
Duration: 4 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter, followed by a fade to present day.











Action: Tanya continues to write the letter.
Description: The main focus is on the line I will
never love anyone else as much as I loved you.
Which insinuates the strong bond, which
continues to live on even after Angelas death.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 8 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Cuts to a card on the table











Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: The card, which Angela gave to Tanya, is
shown.
Description: The card is a motif for Angela and is the
only time the audience get to witness Angelas love
for her daughter in writing.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non- diegetic
voiceover.
Editing: Fades to flashback scene of young Tanya and
Angela.










Action: Angela gives younger Tanya a tiara as they
play dress up.
Description: This possess connotation of a fairytale
yet the audience are aware that Tanya does not get
her happy ending like in a fairytale which makes
the audience feel empathetic towards her.
Shot: Two Shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter, cuts to another flashback
scene of Angela and Tanya.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Angela buys younger Tanya a drink at
the local caf.
Shot: Two shot
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Fades to present day scene of Tanya
in her bedroom.














Action: Tanya looks at the picture of her and her
mother and then turns back and shuts her eyes.
Description: Highlights Tanya coming to terms
with the fact that she now only has photos and
memories of her mother.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover.
Editing: Cuts to Tanya writing the letter.












Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya continues her letter.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene.













Action: Angela teaches younger Tanya to read.
Description: Juxtaposition is created between the
notebook, which Tanya is using to write her letter
and the childrens book, which she is reading from,
which portrays a binary opposition between then
and now.
Shot: Close up
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Fade to present day











Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya pauses and tries to wipe her tears.
Description: She continues writing her letter and
sharing her memories, through the intimate
experiences, which we learn about, the audience,
feel involved.
Shot: Mid shot
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene.












Action: Angela and Tanya are playing on the
swings at the park.
Shot: Wide shot
Duration: 2 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover.
Editing: White filter, cuts to another
flashback scene.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Angela is pushing Tanya on the
swings.
Shot: Wide shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: White filter, which fades to present
day of Tanya in her bedroom.












Action: Tanya continues her letter.
Description: She is realising that she will
never be able to do simple things with her
mother again, which makes the audience feel
sorry for her.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback of young Tanya
and Angela.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Young Tanya runs into her mothers arms.

Shot: Long Shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Cuts to another flash back scene (interior)










Action: Angela and young Tanya are playing
games together in their living room.
Description: Adds to the verisimilitude that
Tanya was a child.
Shot: Two Shot
Duration: 10 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Fades to present day in Tanyas
bedroom.












Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: The card from her mother is
shown again, Tanya touches it.
Description: A repeated motif to remind
the audience of everything Angela has
taught Tanya over the years.
Shot: Medium Close Up
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and
non-diegetic voiceover.
Editing: Fade to a flashback.








Action: Angela and Younger Tanya are walking in
the park together.
Description: Angela is seen talking to young Tanya
and with the aid of the voiceover we are able to
identify what Angela may be advising young Tanya
about.
Shot: Tracking/ Long shot
Duration: 7 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover.
Editing: Fades to Tanya in her bedroom.













Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya crying, as she continues to write

the letter.
Shot: Close up
Duration: 4 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Cut to another shot of the letter.










Action: Tanya is nearly finished writing the letter.
Description: The end of the letter signifies Tanya
attempting to move on from her mothers death,
which is what she tries to do by writing this letter
n order to feel a sense of closure.
Shot: Close Up
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover.
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene.













Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Angela and young Tanya are walking past

a bridge.
Shot: Wide shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter, Fades to present day.










Action: Tanya cries
Description: Tanya is thinking of how much her
mother taught her and how she took her teaching for
granted as she though she had all the time in the
world.
Shot: Mid Shot
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene



.









Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Young Tanya runs towards her bed.

Shot: Point of view
Duration: 3 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: White filter, continuous editing as
another flashback scene appears.

Action: Young Tanya climbs into bed and gets

under the covers.
Shot: Medium Close up
Duration: 4 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: White filter, fades to present day.















Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya is nearly finished with her letter.
Description: She tries to focus on the future
rather than the past as she writes about all the
things her mother will miss out on such as
seeing her have her first child.
Shot: Close up which zooms out to a wide shot
Duration: 12 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-
diegetic voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene.

Action: Angela tucks young Tanya into bed.

Description: Angela tucking young Tanya into bed
at the end of the night is reflective of Tanya nearing
the end of her letter.
Shot: Wide Shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter followed by a fade to Tanya in
her bedroom.















Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya looks at the picture of her and her
mother by her window.
Description: Reinforces the idea that she only has
pictures and memories to live with.
Shot: Wide Shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Fades to a flashback scene.














Action: Young Tanya is sleeping.
Shot: Close up
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter. Cuts to another shot of young
Tanya and Angela in bed.










Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Angela kisses young Tanya who is asleep.
Description: Depicts unconditional love, which,
Angela had for her daughter.
Shot: Close Up
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: White filter is used, which is followed by a
fade to Tanya in her bedroom.

Action: Tanya signs the letter as she has finished

writing.
Shot: Medium Close up
Duration: 7 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Continuous editing is used to allow the
audience to follow her actions.










Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya folds the letter and places the pen on
top.
Description: Signifies the end of the letter.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 7 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Dissolves to another scene at a different
location.











Action: Tanya visits her mothers grave.
Shot: Over the shoulder
Description: This reveals any enigmas the audience may
have had about what happened to the mother or why
Tanya was crying.
Duration: 8 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Continuity editing is used to follow Tanya as
she makes her way to her mothers gravestone.











Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya takes out an envelope from her
pocket.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 7 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Continuous editing to enable the audience
to identify what she does with the letter and the
whole purpose of writing it.










Action: Tanya reads the front of the envelope
which says, Mum x
Description: The audience realizes that this is the
letter, which she had been writing for her mum
who has passed away and therefore has brought it
to her grave.
Shot: Over the shoulder
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Continuous editing.













Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: Tanya places the letter on top of the
flowers on her mothers grave.
Description: The flowers are a motif for life and
death as just as flowers slowly die so does a
person.
Shot: Medium close up
Duration: 6 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Continuous editing.











Action: Tanya places her hand on her lips.
Description: Depicts the action of giving her mother
one last kiss as she vows to make her proud.
Shot: High angle
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: Continuous editing as the audience put all
the pieces together and allows them to comprehend
the narrative as a whole.











Nayani Vijayaratnam

Action: She places her hand along the bottom of her
mothers gravestone.
Description: The stone reads, Gone but never forgotten
which is an intimate and sentimental message to end the
film on, ensuring that the audience have emotionally
invested into the film and fully sympathize with Tanya.
Shot: Wide shot
Duration: 5 Seconds
Sound: Non-diegetic soundtrack and non-diegetic
voiceover
Editing: A dissolve to a black screen is used to signify the
end of the short film. Fade out.