The Human Exchange Proposal

The Human Exchange is a short-film based around human trafficking. The genre of this film is a thriller but contains some horror elements. The target audience for this movie is for males between 18-35.

The story starts with two friends Hannah and Marie talking about Hannah’s new boyfriend. During this conversation they challenge social behaviour and social convention when it comes to dating. During this time they are being watched as they walk down the street towards Hannah’s home.

Once inside Hannah talks to Natalie about a book she is reading that she has borrowed from her boyfriend who she has a weekend away planned with the next day. Hannah has been engrossed in this book and when she goes to bed later that night she has a dream. What is unusual about this dream is that she dreams the next chapter of the book before she has even read it.

In this dream Hannah is the “author” of the book of this “real-life story” and her friend Natalie is the other girl held captive by a gang of human traffickers who are made up of other people in Hannah’s life. However, there is a Masked Man and his identity is not revealed – at this moment anyhow.

As Hannah and Natalie are beaten to earn their privileges it takes a moment of bravery and heroism for them to try and escape. However, their heroic attempts are in vain as it appears that they fail to escape the clutches of their capturers – but it is just a dream, right?

The shock of the dream wakes Hannah up and she talks to Natalie about her nightmare. She is convinced that there is more to this dream as she thinks it is real. Once she is reassured by Natalie that her nightmare is nothing more than a bad dream Hannah goes away with her boyfriend for a weekend away. As he puts her bag in the boot we see the mask in the car and the identity of the Masked Man is revealed – Hannah’s boyfriend is the Masked Man and one of the capturers. But it also poses the question – was Hannah’s dream just a projection of her immediate future?

The Human Exchange is a story challenging social behaviour and social conventions, female resurrection and the re-birth of womanhood while challenging the debate of who is on top between men and women and who controls who in the battle of the sexes in this dramatic tale.

 

 

© Scott Thompson 2013. All Rights Reserved.

The Human Exchange Shooting Schedule

A Production Schedule is used so shots, scenes and sequences can be grouped together. This saves on production costs as scenes, although the same scene may be in different parts of the movie, will be shot together but initially out of sequence.

By grouping scenes and shots together the Producer can get the cast and crew, as well as any other factors needed on a shoot, as close to the right time as possible.

On occasions, as with my film The Human Exchange my Production Schedule had to change due to a number of factors, which are explained in my blog The Human Exchange Production Problems and Solutions.

Below are some screenshots of my Production Schedule.

My original Shooting Schedule before one of my
actors was taken ill with tonsillitis.

The rescheduled shoot meant that more
work had to be done on Day 1.

The Human Exchange Shot List

Many productions will use storyboards and shot lists to enable the Director and Producer to organise the production shoot. The Director on set or location will predominantly use a storyboard with his cast and crew to help him explain how the Director wants the scene to look visually. A shot list is used more widely but the Producer and this is used to help him schedule the shoot and create calling sheets. These are used to inform the cast and crew where they have to be and when as many film shoots take place at numerous locations. I would have liked to have had created a storyboard but due to time limitations I was unable to and so I had to work using a shot list and from this shot list I was able create a Production Schedule. Below is the PDF of my Shot List.

The Human Exchange Script

Every film has a script to enable the cast and crew to deliver the story as effectively as possible. The cast will predominantly has a reading script meaning that they are to focus on their lines and stage direction prior to getting onto set or location. The crew on the other hand will work from a shooting script and this will have details of camera direction, special effects, etc. Below is the PDF of the script.

Floor Plan

Below are the dimensions of a floor plan of a room. Floor plans are very useful during the pre-production process. This is because by having the dimensions the producer and the set designer are able to work out the placement of the props. In addition to this the Lighting Department are able to work out the lighting set -ups to depending on the atmosphere they are trying to create. Directors can also use floor plans so that they can liaise with the Director of Photography about the cinematic look and also for the camera and cast direction.

 

 

Movie Budget

Below is a table representing the cost of the tem minute movie I shall be intending to produce. I have listed the items I feel that are need to create the production.

There are three totals; the first on is how much the actual cost of how much it will cost me to make the movie. The second column show the cost if I were to make this production outside of college and professionally using commercial prices. The third column is the debt when these two prices are compared to one another. If I were to make this movie professionally I would be in debt of over £11,000

Item	College Cost (£)	Professional Cost (£)	Debt (£)
Cast and Crew	0	1,050	-1,150
Catering	40	250	-210
Locations	0	3,750	-3,750
Props	20	100	-80
Costume	25	35	-10
Make-up	0	600	-600
Film Production Equipment	156	1,065	-909
Travel	0	250	-250
Disposables	15	45	-30
Insurances	0	750	-750
Other Items	20	20	0
Software and Computers	0	3,500	-3,500
TOTALS	276	11,415	-11,239