--------------- OUTLINE OF FINAL IDEA ------------------

For this project, I intend to work individually for this. The idea I anticipate
producing for this project is a short film centered around the theme of grief
which will be around 5-10 minutes. The concept of the short film follows the
perspective of a teenage girl, age 17, who happens to be a writer, going through
the grief of losing her grandmother while listening to the voicemail her
grandmother left. As the girl is coming up with ideas of what she could write
about, we listen to the voicemail that has been left before the grandmother
passed away, this allows the audience to learn more about the girl's life as well
as the grandmother's past. Growing their relationship, we see this impacting the
girl's writing and her general life.
I intend to create a visually appealing production using my knowledge in colour
theory and colour grading to make it into an art form as well. With the aims of
this project, I intend to spread this project out into different phases including
research, planning, production, and evaluation. Particularly more time on
research and planning to accurately portray this theme but in a way that makes it
feel authentic for the audience. I also intend to create a production schedule to
accurately display when I will be completing each task and that I will not fall
behind in any stage of the project. My aim for this project is to stretch my
skills in this area of creating short films with exploring screenwriting to a
higher level. The concept alone is quite challenging so in my research, I will
spend more time on how to properly screen write this production including the
portray of emotion to the audience, allowing them to feel a part of what this
short film means.
Including the theme of grief, I intend to research into how grief is processed by
young people and what stages of grief there are, which will help to tell this
story as it will give some guidance. I also intend to research into how to add
emotional tension through screen writing and to create a better narrative. During
research, I will be using a mixture of online research using various websites,
and even using YouTube videos on the topics to justify my knowledge. I also want
to make use of various books as well on the matter including both non-fiction and
fiction. Throughout the project, I will include focus groups, or surveys to get
feedback on parts of the production needing it, thus, making improvements on my
production and developing it to a higher level, thus stretching my skills in all
departments of this project. The majority of independent study will lie in the
research and planning phase as I will build on my own knowledge to improve the
film's content.
---------- RULES AND REGULATIONS----------
Along with the Categories, and submissions awards above, there are a significant
number of rules and regulations the competition offers in order to make the
competition fair to everyone. Below is a list of all these rules and regulations.
- All entries are open to both UK and International filmmakers with two
independent tiers of submissions.
- All films submitted under 5 minutes in length qualify for the Under 5 minute
category.
PREMIERE STATUS
- All films submitted must have been completed after 1st January 2022, however
LSFF does not require any premiere status.
FORMATS AND CAPTIONS

- Should your film be selected, you will be required to provide a

Quicktime ProRes file and a DCP of your film.
- All entries must be in English or contain English subtitles if not in
the English language. Non-English entries without subtitles, or
supplementary printed translations, can unfortunately not be
considered.
- All films will be required to provide a subtitle track to ensure our
ongoing commitment to accessibility, though the LSFF team will be
able to assist and provide facilities to help on this.
SELECTION
- We accept short films via FilmFreeway only. LSFF does not accept
speculative submissions, and only entries received through
FilmFreeway will be considered.
- All submissions are fully considered and curated by our team of
programmers, pre-selectors, and review committee. Please note, due to
the volume of entries received, LSFF regret that they cannot give
individual feedback on submissions.
- You will be notified of your film's acceptance in mid-October.
- LSFF does not pay screening fees for submitted and accepted films,
both in and out of competition.
TERMS
- Entry fees are not refundable, and only completed entries with paid
submission fees will be processed and considered for screening.
- Only completed films may be submitted and will be considered.
 ---------- TARGET AUDIENCE ----------
At this moment, before having done any research into my target audience,
my vague understanding of the target audience would be that the primary
target audience in which interested in my production, would be a young
adult audience of 16-25 years of age, of all genders, initially based in
the UK as dramas like this are quite loved in the UK for example on BBC
IPlayer. Furthermore, looking at this age group, now adays, they are quite
into more stories that have a deeper meaning which my film delves into.
However, as my film is based on the experience of grief, my target
audience could either be an audience that has experienced losing a loved
one, or has not experienced it but maybe wanting to find out how it feels
in order to support a friend or family member etc. Grief is a universal
feeling, explored in many different ways, in different religions etc. so
this film could help the audience relate to the idea of grief, even though
it isn’t expressed in a specific religion, it is the feeling that counts
and what connects with this audience.

---------- PROBLEM SOLVING ----------

THEORETICAL
In a past production, when it came to
do the screen writing for the script, I
didn’t know really how I wanted to
write the script which meant that the
film didn’t come out as well.
I am worried that I will not have
enough time to finish analysis work
because I take longer to write this as
I want to make sure that I get the full
marks for it and that I talk about the
necessary pieces of the analysis
I will most probably use actors that do
not have much experience in acting.
HOW TO FIX
During the research phase, I have
planned to research into how to
properly screen write and to add that
emotional tension that I want in the
film. I will make sure I have at least
an outline right before I begin to
write the script.
In my production schedule, I blocked
out days that I would be able to catch
up on this work which I have done in
the past and has worked out quite well.
During my research, I would also like
to research how to direct young actors
and actors that have never acted before
which will allow me to get the most out
of having actors that do not know how
to act, thus, leading to a better film
using a wide range of actors.
 PRACTICAL
In past productions, I felt rushed when
it came to the editing.
During casting actors and planning
around when I need actors, in the
previous unit, I had an experience
where I wasn’t able to have an actor on
a specific day that we had scheduled
together since something came up with
lead to multiple schedule changes. As a
class, most groups were behind which
led to the planning being taken back
and overlapped with time I needed to
make changes to my filming schedule.
HOW TO FIX
This time round, I have planned for
sufficient time for editing because it
is quite important for the output of
the film to be perfect and not feel
rushed.
I have put in my production schedule
more time to be able to film so in case
an actor is not able to film at the
last minute, I have time to reschedule
to be able to fit it in.
For example, if I need multiple actors
for a specific scene, and one of the
other actors can’t make it, I will plan
to have multiple understudies for the
roles – this scene would particularly
be if I want to have a party scene or a
bunch of friends hanging out, the
specific actor I need is the main
actor.

---------- LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES ----------

As this topic is a really sensitive topic to those who have experienced
grief in any form, I will make sure the research into the topic will
reflect the highest of knowledge towards the feelings associated to the
topic and that it is correctly reflected within the film. During my
research, I will make sure to be sensible when speaking to interviewees
about their personal experience and make sure that every aspect is taken
seriously. During writing of the film, this knowledge will be reflected
within and will take into account audience feelings as well.