Synopsis

First Draft Synopsis

First synopsis

It’s early morning in a quiet area, a few cars drive down into the main road. A boy in his early teens quickly walks down the road with headphones, keep his head tucked underneath his headphones. A cold breeze starts to blow as the boy looks down and does up his zip and continues to walk down the road. A group of teenagers begin to walk down the street the opposite way from the boy. He swiftly glances up at the group but quickly stares to continue to look at the floor. He lazily reaches into his pocket to pull out his iPod. As he pulls out the iPod his wallet drops out of his pocket, but he continues to pace down the round. The boy soon feels a pat on the back, startling him, he turns around. One of thee boys walking down the road tells he dropped his wallet, hands it to him and heads on back to the group. He looks down at the floor, taking in what just happened and carries on round the corner. As he continues to walk down the road, he thinks about the vent that just happened, not too sure what to make of it. He looks up and realises where he is. He walks round the corner, through railings into an empty road, apart from two men walking opposite directions down the road. One man is an older, Asian man, slowly walking down the road trying not to make contact with the other man or the boy. The other man is young, white man, walking down keeping his eyes fixed on the Asian man walking down the path. As the road get’s more narrow the two main cross paths, bumping into each other on the way. The older man trys avoid the situation and speeds up and continues to walk, however the young man calls to the old asking for an apology. The old man ignores what is said to him and continues to speed up. The boy lifts up his head and closely watches the situation whilst still trying to keep to himself. The young man turns round and angrily stomps over to the Asian man. He spins the older man round and asks him why he didn’t apologise. The old man lets a quit utter explain he had done nothing wrong. The young man raises his voice and grabs the man and throws to the corner of the road. The boy looks round at the older man, but quickly looks back to the exit of the road. As he starts to rush out of the road, the older man shouts out for help. The boy looks round in a panic but begins to look around for anyone else to help.  As the younger man goes to strike the man, the boy dives in and pushes the younger man, shouting at him to leave. The older man stands up from the floor, shakes the boy’s hand and slowly walks away.  

First draft of synopsis-Notes

• There was a strong sense of dilemma in the story but it was not relatable or recognisable enough to the audience.
• We came up with a new idea, concerning similar issues, such as how youth/hoodie culture is represented in media and how we are made socially aware of this in our everyday lives-especially for teenagers.
• Ideas for new story:
• Late at night-about quarter past 12 at a bus stop
• Teenager about 18 or 19 smoking a cigarette.
• A younger teenager about 15 comes in to bus stop-listening to music.
• They both have a similar taste in music
• Older boy hears it and begins to listen.
• He recognises the tune-small amount of acknowledgement  between the two.
• Youth walks into bus stop and sits between the two.
• Checks his cigarettes-takes one out.
• He realises he does not have a lighter-looks older boy and decides to ask for a lighter.
• He takes out packet with no cigarettes-just a lighter and throws packet on the floor.
• Hoddie offers him a cigarette.
• He takes it.
• They acknowledge each other.
• Bus arrives.
• Older boy enters with oyster.
• Hoodie enters with oyster
• 15 year old scrabbles for change
• You get on top deck-there is a group of the Hoodie’s friends on the bus.
• The group give you hassle
• The Hoodie says to leave it out.
• 15 year old sits at the front.
• The group begin to taunt and insult him.
• !8 year old makes eye contact with both the Hoodie and the 15 year old-sensing tension. 

  Links to 'Marlyn Milgrom's-The Script' text:

• After re drafting and changing my idea, I went through it with a tutor and applied to Marlyn Milgrom's advice on writing a script.
• Here we have more of an 'instantly recognisable world'. --> The group of youth's on public transport, all in tracksuits: A common stereotype seen throughout the media and news.
• Marlyn Milgrom gives a five point plan on developing a character and problem in your script, here it is applied to my synopsis/script: 1. Who is the main character: Terry (The Hoodie)  
  
  
  
  

  Second draft of synopsis

  
  

  It’s about quarter past midnight on a quiet main road. There is a young man about the age of 18 or 19 standing at a bus stop, lazily puffing on his cigarette. Down the road, a boy about the age of 15, wearing a pair of hands with his hands tucked away in his pockets is walking towards the bus stop. The young boy sits down at the bus stop and shyly looks at the older boy; aware of the fact his music is quite loud. The older boy recognises the song playing through the headphones, it turns out to be one of his favourite songs. He begins to tap along the song, and turns the younger boy as they both make eye contact. He lifts a quick thumbs up and nods his head towards the younger teenager. Coming in from the other direction into the bus stop, comes another teenager about the same age as the boy standing up. He is wearing a matching tracksuit with his hood up. He sits down at the bus stop as he hears the music and gives a quick glance at the boy, profiling him straight away. He then looks up towards the older boy smoking a cigarette. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of cigarettes. He continues to root around in his pocket, realising he doesn’t have a lighter. He stares at the older boy for a couple of seconds before deciding to stand up and ask him for a lighter. The older teenager reaches into his pocket and takes out an empty cigarette packet with just a lighter in. He takes out the lighter, screws up the packet and tosses it on the floor. The hoodie takes the lighter, lights up his cigarette. He looks down at his packet and decides to offer one to the older boy. He accepts and says cheers whilst quickly popping the cigarette in his back pocket. The hoodie sits back down at the bus stop. A bus then comes in the stop. The hoodie quickly steps up to the front of the bus stop as the doors open, he pulls his oyster card out of his pocket, beeps it and heads on to the top deck of the bus, with the older teenager doing the same. The younger boy struggles around for change in his pocket before scraping 2 pounds together to head on the top deck of the bus. The hoodie enters the top deck. He sees a group of about 6 or 7 of his friends on the centre of the bus. The older teenager quickly gets to the top deck after him. He sees the group and throws them a quick look. One of the hoodies sticks out his leg, trying to wind up the teenager. The older boy decides to show some confidence and heads straight to the back of the bus. The hoodie from the bus stop looks and gives the boy a nod of reassurance. The 15 year old from the bus stop gets on. He sees the group and panics slightly. He decides to sit straight at the front of the bus. The group instantly notice his panic. They begin to taunt him by shouting different names and throwing objects in his direction. The group notice the boys music and begin to laugh and carry on insulting him. The older boy see’s the situation and catches the eye of the younger boy, the after looks straight at the hoodie from the bus stop. There is look of doubt in the hoodies eye as he looks between the two boys on either side of the bus.

  
  

  
  

  Second draft of synopsis notes

  Spelling and grammar errors.

  • ‘The is a young man about the age of 18 or 19 standing at a bus stop, lazily puffing on his cigarette.’à ‘A young man, 18, is standing at a bus stop, puffing lazily on a cigarette.’
  • ‘Wearing a pair of handsà Wearing a pair of headphones.’
  • ‘…with his hands tucked away in his pockets is walking towards the bus stop.’à’…with his hands tucked away in his pockets walks to the stop. ‘
  • The young boy sis down at the bus stop and shyly looks at the older boy. à The younger boy arrives at the stop and glances at the older boy as he sits down.
  • The older boy recognises the song playing through the headphones, it turns out to be one of his favourite songs. à The older boy recognises the song playing. à WYSIWYG- what you see is what you get.  
  • ‘He lifts a quick thumbs up and nods his head towards the younger teenager.’ à ‘The older boy lifts a quick thumbs up and nods his head towards the younger one.’           
  • ‘Coming in from the other direction into the bus stop, comes another teenager…’ à ‘Another teenager, 17, arrives at the stop.’
  • ‘He then looks up towards the older boy smoking a cigarette’. à ‘He then looks up towards the older boy smoking.’
  • ‘A bus then comes in the stop.’ à ‘A bus comes’.
  • ‘…and heads up on to the top deck of the bus’ à ‘..and heads up onto the top deck.’
  • ‘The younger boy struggles around for change in his pocket before scraping 2 pounds together…’à ‘The younger boy struggles around for change in his pocket scraping 2 pounds together…’
  • ‘The group notice the boys music…’ à ‘The group notice the boy’s music…’
  • ‘The older boy see’s the situation…’ à ‘The older boy sees the situation’.
  • ‘…then after looks straight at the hoodie from the bus stop.’ à ‘…a moment later, looks straight at the Hoodie.’

  
  

  Notes on overall plot and story  

  ·        Have more focus on Hoddie at beginning- show a use of parallel editing.

  ·        Turn the problem of the older boy (Metaller-refering to musical taste) into the Hoodie’s dilemma’.

  ·        Show a ‘bond’ or ‘connection’ between the Hoodie and the Metaller- Have the Metaller wearing a Chelsea scarf.

  ·        Have the Hoodie with a Chelsea tattoo.

  ·        Start a conversation between the two- about Chelsea’s current table placing, the manager etc- (queue research).

  ·        Main character didn’t have a strong enough sense of ‘Want/Need/Obligation’ à The response was to flesh out the story with more detail- building up characterisation.

  ·        This means more of a focus on costume and Mis En Scene in general.

  ·        Create more of an affinity between the Hoodie and the Metaller. 

  ·        Create more of a musical affinity between the younger boy and the Metallerà queue research into two genres of music: Skate and Metal, how they connect with each other.

  ·        Turn the protagonist into the Hoodie’s character.

  ·        More development into the whole story and the Hoodie’s POV. 

  
  

  Third draft of synopsis- Decisions

   Decisions

  It’s about quarter past midnight on a quiet main road. A young man, 18, is standing at a bus stop, puffing lazily on a cigarette. He is wearing a zipped up leather jacket, scruffy denim jeans and aChelsea football team scarf. Down the road, a boy about the age of 15, wearing a ripped pair of short, a buttoned up chequered shirt and  pair of headphones with his hands tucked away in his pockets walks to the stop. The younger boy arrives at the stop and glances at the older boy as he sits down; aware of the fact his music is quite loud. The older boy recognises the song. He begins to tap along the song, and turns the younger boy as they both make eye contact. The older boy lifts a quick thumbs up and nods his head towards the younger one. Another teenager, 17, arrives at the stop. He is wearing a matching tracksuit with his hood up. He has a tattoo saying ‘Blues for life’. He notices the older boy wearing the Chelsea scarf. He sits down at the bus stop as he hears the music and gives a quick glance at the boy, profiling him straight away. He then looks up towards the older boy smoking. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of cigarettes. He continues to root around in his pocket, realising he doesn’t have a lighter. He stares at the older boy for a couple of seconds before deciding to stand up and ask him for a lighter. The older teenager reaches into his pocket and takes out an empty cigarette packet with just a lighter in. He takes out the lighter, screws up the packet and tosses it on the floor. The Hoodie takes the lighter, lights up his cigarette. He looks down at his packet and decides to offer one to the older boy. He accepts and says cheers whilst quickly popping the cigarette in his back pocket. The Hoodie, begins to spark up a conversation about Chelsea and the current manager. They both begin to get engaged in conversation, talking about different players and the team’s placing on the table. The conversation eventually dies down and the Hoodie sits back down at the bus stop. A bus comes. The Hoodie quickly steps up to the front of the bus stop as the doors open, he pulls his oyster card out of his pocket, beeps it and heads on to the top deck of the bus, with the older teenager doing the same. The younger boy struggles around for change in his pocket, scraping 2 pounds together to head on the top deck. The Hoodie enters the top deck. He sees a group of about 6 or 7 of his friends on the centre of the bus. The older teenager quickly gets to the top deck after him. He sees the group and throws them a quick look. One of the Hoodies sticks out his leg, trying to wind up the teenager. The older boy decides to show some confidence and heads straight to the back of the bus. The Hoodie from the bus stop looks and gives the boy a nod of reassurance remembering the previous conversation the two had. The 15 year old from the bus stop gets on. He sees the group and panics slightly. He decides to sit straight at the front of the bus. The group instantly notice his panic. They begin to taunt him by shouting different names and throwing objects in his direction. The Hoodie begins to feel uneasy as he quickly throws a glance back to the older boy and sees a look of disapproval across his face. The rest of the group notice the boy’s music and begin to laugh and carry on insulting him. The older boy sees the situation and catches the eye of the younger boy, a moment later he looks straight at the Hoodie from the bus stop. There is look of doubt in the Hoodie’s eye as he looks between the two boys on either side of the bus. The Hoodie looks around frantically between the two boys. 

  
  

  Third Draft of Synopsis-Notes

  Spelling and Grammar errors

  • ‘The Hoodie, begins to spark up a conversation about Chelsea…’ à Remove comma: ‘The Hoodie begins to spark up a conversation about Chelsea.’

  
  

  Mis En Scene Changes

  • ‘Down the road, a boy about the age of 15, wearing a ripped pair of shorts…’ à Make the Mis En Scene more suitable to the season (winter): ‘Down the road, a boy about the age of 15, wearing a pair of ripped jeans…’
  • Change whole setting of the film from a bus-stop to a train station. This is because it will be much more practical.
  • E.g. ‘A young man, 18, is standing at a bus stop…’ à ‘A young man, 18, is standing at an empty platform of a train station…’
  • Notes are following an interview had with a tutor who has experience filming on buses. The problems with filming on a bus: It’s hard to get a smooth and steady shot, there will be a lot of sound issues due to buses being very noisy, there maybe be opposition from the bus driver.
  • Alternative à Filming in a train station/on a train.
  • Advantages of this: Smoothness of the shot will improve, more probability of space on the carriage and sound improves greatly.
  • Queue research on quiet train stations.
  • This means that I will have to ‘Guerrilla film’ my footage.
  • Queue research on this style of filming.

  
  

  General changes

  ·        Change the title to tie in more with the film and it’s meaning.

  ·        ‘Decisions’à ‘Blues for Life’.

  ·        This reflects how even though the two older boys at the bus stop, (and in the bigger picture) are different and individual people, they are identified with this certain group and can’t break out of it. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Fourth Draft of Synopsis

  It’s about quarter past midnight on a quiet main road. A young man, 18, is standing at a train station, puffing lazily on a cigarette. He is wearing a zipped up leather jacket, scruffy denim jeans and a Chelsea football team scarf. Down the road, a boy about the age of 15, wearing a ripped pair of jeans, a buttoned up chequered shirt and a pair of headphones with his hands tucked away in his pockets walks to the station. The younger boy arrives at the station and glances at the older boy as he sits down on a bench near the older boy; aware of the fact his music is quite loud. The older boy recognises the song. He begins to tap along the song, and turns the younger boy as they both make eye contact. The older boy lifts a quick thumbs up and nods his head towards the younger one. Another teenager, 17, arrives at the station. He is wearing a matching tracksuit with his hood up. He has a tattoo saying ‘Blues for life’. He notices the older boy wearing the Chelsea scarf. He sits down on the same bench, as he hears the music and gives a quick glance at the boy, profiling him straight away. He then looks up towards the older boy smoking. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of cigarettes. He continues to root around in his pocket, realising he doesn’t have a lighter. He stares at the older boy for a couple of seconds before deciding to stand up and ask him for a lighter. The older teenager reaches into his pocket and takes out an empty cigarette packet with just a lighter in. He takes out the lighter, screws up the packet and tosses it on the floor. The Hoodie takes the lighter, lights up his cigarette. He looks down at his packet and decides to offer one to the older boy. He accepts and says cheers whilst quickly popping the cigarette in his back pocket. The Hoodie, begins to spark up a conversation about Chelsea and the current manager. They both begin to get engaged in conversation, talking about different players and the team’s placing on the table. The conversation eventually dies down and the Hoodie sits back down on the bench. A train comes. The Hoodie quickly steps up to the door of the train as the doors open, he waits for the door to open then heads on to end of the carriage, with the older teenager doing the same. The younger boy struggles around for his travel card, he pulls out a scrumpled up ticket then to the steps into the carriage. The Hoodie walks down the carriage. He sees a group of about 6 or 7 of his friends on the centre of the bus. The older teenager quickly walks to the other side of the train. He sees the group and throws them a quick look. One of the Hoodie’s sticks out his leg, trying to wind up the teenager. The older boy decides to show some confidence and sits straight down. The Hoodie from the station looks and gives the boy a nod of reassurance remembering the previous conversation the two had. The 15 year old gets on. He sees the group and panics slightly. He decides to sit straight down on the carriage, on the same side as the group. The group instantly notice his panic. They begin to taunt him by shouting different names and throwing objects in his direction. The Hoodie begins to feel uneasy as he quickly throws a glance back to the older boy and sees a look of disapproval across his face. The rest of the group notice the boy’s music and begin to laugh and carry on insulting him. The older boy sees the situation and catches the eye of the younger boy, a moment later he looks straight at the Hoodie from the bus stop. There is look of doubt in the Hoodie’s eye as he looks between the two boys on either side of the carriage. The Hoodie looks around frantically between the two boys. 

  
  

  Fourth Draft of Synopsis Notes

  Fourth Draft of Synopsis Notes

  Story/Plot/Mis En Scene changes

  -‘It’s about quarter past midnight on a quiet main road’à Change setting: ‘It’s about quarter past midnight at a deserted train station.’

  -‘A young man, 18, is standing at a train station’ à Change setting: ‘A young man, 18, is standing at an empty platform’.

  -‘Down the road, a boy about the age of 15…’ à Setting and syntax changes: ‘From the other end of the platform, a boy, 15, …’  

  -‘The younger  boy arrives at the station…’ à ‘The younger boy approaches the station…’.

  -‘…as he sits down on a bench near the older boy’ à ‘…as he sits down on an adjacent bench’. 
  -'...as he sits down.' --> '...and sits down.'

  -‘He stares at the older boy for a couple of seconds before deciding to stand up and ask him for a lighter.’ à ‘He stares at the older boy for a couple of seconds then stands up and asks him for a lighter.’

  -'...with just a lighter in.' --> '...with just a lighter inside.'
  -‘He accepts…’ à ‘The older boy accepts…’
  -'...lights up his cigarette.' --> '...lights up the cigarette.'

  -‘He sees a group of about 6 or 7 of his friends on the centre of the bus.’ à ‘He sees a group of about 6 or 7 of his friends on the centre of the carriage.’

  
  

  Final Draft of Synopsis-'Blues for Life'

  Blues for Life

  It’s about quarter past midnight at a deserted train station. A young man, 18, is standing at a train platform, puffing lazily on a cigarette. He is wearing a zipped up leather jacket, scruffy denim jeans and a Chelsea football team scarf. Down the road, a boy, wearing a ripped pair of jeans, a buttoned up chequered shirt and a pair of headphones with his hands tucked away in his pockets walks to the station. The younger boy approaches the station and glances at the older boy and sits down on an adjacent bench; aware of the fact his music is quite loud. The older boy recognises the song. He begins to tap along the song, and turns the younger boy as they both make eye contact. The older boy lifts a quick thumbs up and nods his head towards the younger one. Another teenager, 17, arrives at the station. He is wearing a matching tracksuit with his hood up. He has a tattoo saying ‘Blues for life’. He notices the older boy wearing the Chelsea scarf. He sits down on the same bench, as he hears the music and gives a quick glance at the boy, profiling him straight away. He then looks up towards the older boy smoking. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of cigarettes. He continues to root around in his pocket, realising he doesn’t have a lighter. He stares at the older boy for a couple of seconds before then stands up and asks him for a lighter. The older teenager reaches into his pocket and takes out an empty cigarette packet with just a lighter inside. He takes out the lighter, screws up the packet and tosses it on the floor. The Hoodie takes the lighter, lights up the cigarette. He looks down at his packet and decides to offer one to the older boy. The older boy accepts and says cheers whilst quickly popping the cigarette in his back pocket. The Hoodie, begins to spark up a conversation about Chelsea and the current manager. They both begin to get engaged in conversation, talking about different players and the team’s placing on the table. The conversation eventually dies down and the Hoodie sits back down on the bench. A train comes. The Hoodie quickly steps up to the door of the train as the doors open, he waits for the door to open then heads on to end of the carriage, with the older teenager doing the same. The younger boy struggles around for his travel card, he pulls out a scrumpled up ticket then to the steps into the carriage. The Hoodie walks down the carriage. He sees a group of about 6 or 7 of his friends on the centre of the carriage. The older teenager quickly walks to the other side of the train. He sees the group and throws them a quick look. One of the Hoodie’s sticks out his leg, trying to wind up the teenager. The older boy decides to show some confidence and sits straight down. The Hoodie from the station looks and gives the boy a nod of reassurance remembering the previous conversation the two had. The 15 year old gets on. He sees the group and panics slightly. He decides to sit straight down on the carriage, on the same side as the group. The group instantly notice his panic. They begin to taunt him by shouting different names and throwing objects in his direction. The Hoodie begins to feel uneasy as he quickly throws a glance back to the older boy and sees a look of disapproval across his face. The rest of the group notice the boy’s music and begin to laugh and carry on insulting him. The older boy sees the situation and catches the eye of the younger boy, a moment later he looks straight at the Hoodie from the bus stop. There is look of doubt in the Hoodie’s eye as he looks between the two boys on either side of the carriage. The Hoodie looks around frantically between the two boys.