Month: March 2015

14/03/15 “I Have OCD” video

Alexandra Capper / / Mental Health research, Script Research

I came across this video today, re-posted by a friend who suffers from depression (and was expressing her delight at something created so close to the truth, even though she does not suffer from anxiety herself), which was a POV film piece of the life of an OCD sufferer. The camera filmed the morning routine of the character – a factual ‘script’ from the person who created the film – while a chaotic dialogue played over the top.

I really like this piece, not only because I found a lot of truth in it myself, but also because it wasn’t trying ‘too hard’. The clip is realistic, it used simple overlaying of dialogue rather than delay to create a sense of chaos and panic, and it successfully made the audience feel as though they were in the shoes of the character. It has influenced my thoughts for this project, and it will come across in my scripting as well as editing.

Although I found this post on my Facebook wall, it comes from a site called The Mighty, which is a base for people to blog, discuss, share experiences, create content for and learn about all sorts of mental health. I will be looking at more of this website in the next few days.

 

Anxiety/OCD Script

Alexandra Capper / / Script WIP

This was influenced by my own experiences with anxiety, and the OCD video on The Mighty. The script is based around small, seemingly insignificant obsessions that crop up on a daily basis for some suffering with an anxiety disorder, and recurring problems that often set off the small issues and feelings of worry and panic.

 

MAN: (choatic, overlapping) I’m tired. That wasn’t a good sleep. Was it? Did I sleep well last night? I’m going to be really tired today. What if it affects my day today? The meeting is today. Will Sharon know I’m tired? I look tired. My eyes are really heavy. She’ll know I’m tired. How many hours did I sleep? Seven, I think, or eight. No less than usual. Maybe it was less? Was it six? Or five? My clock might be wrong. I’m going to mess up the meeting. I’ll buy a new one today. I need a new clock. How long has it been wrong? Let’s see, I went to bed at 12… What if I’ve been to work late before, but no one told me? That’s why not many people speak to me. I slept until 7.30, that’s seven and a half hours. Is it? I need a new clock. I’ll go and check it. I hope it’s not broken. It’s probably broken. I’m going to mess up the meeting.

(pause)

MAN: It’s not broken. But it’s late. I’ll be late. I’m going to be late. Everyone will look at me. I’m going to mess up the meeting. Got to shave. Must shave. I’ll do it now. Got to make sure the clock is in the right place first.

(pause)

MAN: Right, lather pumps… One, two, three. Oh no, that’s too much. That’s far too much. Too much. Better wash it off and start again. I’m going to mess up the meeting. One, two, three. That’s better. It’s ok. It’s all ok. Lather up. Now with the razor… One, two, three, four, five. Rinse. One, two, three, four, five. Rinse. One, two, three, four, five. Rinse. One, two, three, four, five. Rinse. Towel. I’ve missed a bit. How could I miss it? I did everything right. I don’t understand. It always works. It always works. What am I going to do? I’ll have to start again. I’m going to mess up the meeting. Must start again.

(pause)

MAN: I’ve got my keys. Have I? I’ll just check. Yes, they’re in my pocket. Better get them out to be sure. Great, time to go. Switched the light off, door locked. Did I leave the TV on? I didn’t watch TV this morning. What if it switched itself on? I’ll check. It’s off. I’ll press some buttons to check. Definitely off. Good to go. Door is locked. Try it to be sure. Locked. I’ll just unlock it and lock it again, then I’ll know for certain. Check again. Once more. More force this time. Right, that door is locked. I can go now.

To be continued?

Miscarriage Script

Alexandra Capper / / Script WIP

Based on research, blogs, case studies, articles and other information.

 

SCRIPT:

MAN and WOMAN sat side by side in plain surroundings, about 1 foot apart. Both smiling into the camera for the entire film, acting natural. Mostly looking into the camera, but occasionally fidgeting. Sitting nicely.

[Beginning focusing more on the event, needs more research]

WOMAN: He doesn’t understand. No one understands.

MAN: I don’t know what she wants. She said she’d like to talk about it, but she keeps avoiding me.

WOMAN: For as long as I’ve been with him, he’s wanted kids. I feel like I’ve failed him. What could I possibly say that can change that?

MAN: Why won’t she look at me?

WOMAN: Am I a bad mother? There must be something wrong with me.

MAN: It’s affected me too. I know she’s hurting, but everyone is looking after her. What about me?

WOMAN: My Mum was looking excited at the thought of being a Grandmother

MAN: Will we be able to try again? I don’t want to give up.

WOMAN: Will it happen again?

[Flashback/development]

MAN: I know we can get through this, we’re strong together.

WOMAN: I spoke to someone about it today. He said it was ok to grieve.

MAN: She was so much better today. I caught her smiling out of the window.

[Further development]

MAN: My sister brought her kids around today. It has been 5 months. I thought it might be ok, but I should have let her go at her own pace. I’ve just made it worse.

WOMAN: Why can she have kids and I can’t? What makes her so special? She doesn’t need three.

07/03/15 – Technical equipment

Alexandra Capper / / Technical research

After a suggestion that they could offer help, I went to speak with Andrew Armstrong and Steve Young, both video tech assistants, about the visuals elements of my project.

My initial idea was to have 3 televisions screens sitting next to one another, each playing a different story/film. I hadn’t thought about anything connecting them, or feeding them the film via HDMI or similar, as I was waiting for confirmation of a space, and also these discussions, as I didn’t know how three films could be synced up.

Steve suggested 3 films edited next to each other so they could play at the same time without having to worry about the clips playing at different times. This could then be played through a projector without having to worry about different screens playing at different times. However, this wouldn’t work in the sense of it being an exhibition piece. I really want to have 3 completely separate stories which are only similar in their filming/set style and message at the end of the films.

Neither of them could think of a way to play three films on three television screens without having three laptops, so the option was put forward of having three iMacs instead. Each could have one film saved onto it, and it would simply just need to be played (through VLC Player was suggestion). This would save having to have a separate laptop form which to play the video.

Andy also mentioned that I’d need to speak with Mark Alridge about using Macs if I need to move them between buildings.

Previous to speaking to Andy and Steve, I briefly spoke to Mike Downing about using the photography studio for filming. He mentioned three LED lights which would be perfect for creating the right effect, and he is happy for me to film in there without instruction provided I have a media student/grad in there to lend a hand.

07/03/15 – Researching miscarriage

Alexandra Capper / / Mental Health research

I started my script research by looking at miscarriage, particularly blogs written by women who have had miscarriages in the past. Some of them are written as they go through it, some a reflection on past events, all of them moving and inspirational. Even though I’ve already started writing some of the scripts, I feel it is imperative to have some research about the conditions I am writing about from which I can write or alter the lines.

I started with Diary of a Miscarriage. This woman writes a lot about her interactions with her other children, husband, family and friends, and how she managed to get through two miscarriages. After posting very frequently after the first miscarriage, or “never born” as she refers to them, her posts become less regular and end up being annual posts on the day she lost her first baby. It wasn’t surprising that she still felt “melancholy” even five years on, and I think it is important to convey that within my piece. Even though many years had past, and that she had had three healthy children since then, she was still affected by the reminder of those events. As my piece involves the recovery within each story, it is vital that I portray these continuing feelings amongst the road to recovery.

How to Cope With A Miscarriage

http://www.amandakern.com/blog/my-miscarriage-experiences/