I decided for the coursework I was going to do a screenplay extract of a sequence which

introduces the protagonist. My idea was about a boy of 14 called Riven, who was part of a
clan called the Blue Eyes who lived in a world controlled by centaurs and dragons. In Tucana,
the Blue Eye folk must live under protection far from the dangerous sights of the outside.
But one normal morning of chores and work led the younglings into the fiery mist of these
creatures and with their frantic, fearful behaviour back to the elders, left Riven by himself. I
intended to create a script for the audience to escape and indulge themselves in whilst
thinking and questioning the decisions made. There are different significant individuals
representing real personalities that encourage the audience to make an emotional
connection with a main character. In addition, one of the main elements of this narrative is
the setting so by describing a fictitious environment the audience can use their imagination
to form their own interpretation of where the action is taking place.

During my planning, I researched many screenplays and storyboards that have influenced
me in constructing my own screenplay through the narrative, characters and how to
represent my genre through detailed descriptions.

One example is the X-Men 2 screenplay, which was written by David Hayter, within the
dialogue there were detailed descriptions of the beginning set to inform the viewers of
where the action is taking place. It gives an indication of the backstory of the characters and
the start of the narrative which creates expectations of the following film and using the
technique of dramatic irony it involves the audience within the storyline. Thus, I wanted to
introduce the visuals of the environment and the elders to entertain the audience of what
entails ahead.
In addition, the screenplay of the Addams Family 2019 which was written by Matt
Lieberman who added his own interpretation of what the narrative needed in terms of
nature of character, making everyone have the gothic, strange persona but underneath
have real-life problems. The short, fast-paced dialogue demonstrates the tone and
atmosphere of the story, making it a comedic contemporary impression which interested
people of the later generations. I have therefore tried to capture characters who have
different personalities and purposes through the experiences and influences of modern-day
culture in film and real life. By the side of the example is part of my screenplay that was
influenced by the Addams Family. I contributed short pieces dialogue that clearly shows the
nature and intentions of the characters.
Furthermore, my research pushed beyond into storyboards, for example, The Nightmare
Before Christmas which was illustrated by Jorgen Klubien. With his artistic capabilities,
Klubien was able to present the audience the simplistic connection between the two major
themes of the film, Halloween, and Christmas. The inclusive technique of charcoal
suggested the in-depth emotions of Jack and how it’s continuously characterised
throughout each board giving an understandable portrayal of the character. In my
storyboard, I have presented the few characters’ importance through their stance and facial
expressions with also using their environment to establish the main elements of the
narrative.

Another example is an artist called Rath Chunharuckchot who sketched a storyboard for
Train of Life. His simplicity detects the heavy meaning of how the set reflects the feelings of
the character and the story. The audience can sense the atmosphere of peacefulness and
being lost due to the set of a moving train and the positions of characters and props. For my
storyboard, I have included mid shots and long shots to introduce the set with the focus on
the isolation and distance of where the characters are. Henceforth, the audience can
deduce the circumstances of the characters due to the placement of frames.

Additionally, I took inspiration from film plots like, The Maze Runner, Divergent and The
Hunger Games. Each film produced a science fiction storyline based along the development
of a teenage character; I was influenced because of how they used techniques that have
captured the audience’s attention.

I want to produce a product that through all the fantastical and fictional elements that there
were themes of conflict and protection that were displayed by characters which are
portrayed in real life events. The detailed description of the light, movement, and colour of
the nature in the beginning was to present a place of darkness and immorality. That through
the composition of branches, the tone of the sky and the shape of water it transforms a
simplistic grey morning into the introduction of a fictional world. The audience can think and
construct a perspective of the environment whilst deepening their curiosity about the story
of the clan, the mystical creatures, and their position at the end of the sequence.
At the top is the screenplay of 2001: A Space Odyssey written by Stanley Kubrick Arthur C.
Clarke and below is a part of my screenplay that was partly influenced by this example. The
beginning of the film suggests the genre, sci-fi and adventure, whilst introducing the fright
of reality and the inevitable expedition due to the narration of the desolate set. I used the
same technique of narration to describe a barren, dark and mystical world to prioritise the
first introduction of the elders. On the right is a picture from my storyboard illustrating the
landscape that surrounds the Eyes’ Forest, an unpredictable and uninhabitable place.
I was influenced by the film Mortal Engines where it criticises the world’s choices and gives
the audience an insight of what life could be like with continuous dispute and unknown
outcomes in the future. The narrative of two groups in the same world who fighting for
opposite things links to my story of the centaurs and the Blue Eyes who are driven by power
and revenge. It was my intention for the story was to be focused on the protagonist and his
journey to safety and to realisation, with the addition of secondary characters forming
another journey of preparing for war, advancing to the suspense left at the end.

Devices that worked well

My intention to make the Blue Eyes an isolated and hidden group established their role in
the story, which further developed the protagonist’s purpose. I did this with the storyboard,
having established shots, wide shots of the scenery and the over shoulder shot of Lucerys
looking beyond to what was. These demonstrate the shielding that the elders are doing as
they are separated from the rest of their world. My dialogue was minimal as I wished to
introduce my protagonist progressively throughout my sequence whilst describing the
action which suggested the dystopian and adventure elements.

Devices that didn’t work well:

One thing that didn’t work well was the representation of the centaurs, I presented them as
the villains of the story but didn’t develop their characteristics or true intentions with the
Blue Eyes. By having no backstory of the situation present, the audience will find the reason
for the narrative hard to comprehend. I would have used flashbacks in the perspective of
young Riven to introduce the relentless brutality and the ferocious of the centaurs. This
would have created a sense of sympathy for the Blue Eyes as the audience would appreciate
the ultimate threat that the centaurs hold which would further develop the conflict of the
narrative. Making the audience more intrigued about what happens next.