I have done some more research into the train stations and realised I have to change my main location as Grimsby Town isn’t open 24 hours, which means that there won’t be any staff working overnight like Rick is meant to. So I have changed my location to Luton as its very similar surroundings and it gives me the flexibility to have the station open 24 hours and there are more straight forward timings that fits my idea better. So my new location where Rick lives and will escape from is Luton.
Train Research.
I have done some research on the train journey and the type of trains that run from Grimsby Town to Edinburgh Waverly and I have had to change a couple location spots due to my story not being accurate, so I have had to include the locations of Doncaster and York into my story.
I have also looked at the train operators which take care of this journey so I know what my trainspotter will randomly talk about when ‘jotting on his notepad and mumbling to himself’, this train will be the Transpennine Express, Cross Country and Virgin Trains East Coast. I have also had the change the timing of the point where Rick runs away as the train doesn’t actually leave till 5am from Grimsby Town to Doncaster. I feel that I have to watch out of logistics with my plot just so I don’t have an inaccuracy that could be picked up.
PITCH!
This week we carried out our pitches for our outline of a script. I explained I chose a feature length film called “One Way” and the overall genre was Sci-Fi, Thriller and Action. I also went through that my audience would ideally be aged 15 plus, due the certificate being a 15 and because of the thriller elements that would be included in the visuals (alien, blood, claustrophobic). After pitching my idea to Shaun and Phil they then asked me a few questions and suggested some more into my head which has helped me to think about how to develop my overall storyline into a better script narrative. A couple things popped up that caught my attention, was the fact that it may work better if comedy was a genre that I should consider (similar to films like Paul and Shaun of the Dead) and should I include an actual Alien due to the huge character driven narrative I already have. These two things have really stood out to me and I am going to revise my outline and possibly try and fit these elements into it, as I really like these ideas.
Researching Log Lines:
This weeks lecture was very interesting and helped me a lot in how I plan on pitching my idea. I am currently writing an outline for the entire film, and also researched into what makes a good log line for a feature film. The video we watched in the lecture was very useful, and gave me the technique of using, 1) Problem and a Hero, 2) Wild Factor, 3) Irony.
I also found this video which has really helped me in the structure of my log line and the keep it captivating and interesting:
After making notes whilst watching these videos I decided to write the log line for my idea. This is what I have so far:
“A Sci-Fi/Thriller about a lonely train assistant wants to escape his downbeat life and decides to get on a train to Edinburgh, which suddenly becomes attacked by an unknown force. Will Rick manage to finally escape? Or will he finally fight his problems”
Setting.
I wanted my main character’s home setting be based in a rough area, so I took it to the internet and researched the worst city in England. I found this website: http://www.ilivehere.co.uk/top-10-worst-places-to-live-in-england/10 which suggested that Grimsby was the worst place to live in England. I then looked at image of Grimsby and it perfectly suited my vision of the home an work setting for my protagonist:
The time I wanted this to be set in was Modern Day, shown through trends and dialogue.