Final Treatment

To Sin No More FINAL

Film Certificate

A film certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) (In the UK) to state the suggested audience for which the film or video works, is suitable for presentation or playing too. The classification ranges from 'U' to '18' and also '18 Restricted'. There are two main principles, that the BBFC follow;

• that works should be allowed to reach the widest audience that is appropriate for their theme and treatment.
• that adults should, as far as possible, be free to choose what they see, provided that it remains within the law and is not potentially harmful.

I decided to research into the categories and the guidelines that the BBFC provide, below I have created a table which lists all of the categories by which our product could fall into;

 

'Universal'

This film should be suitable for all aged four years and over. They should be set within a positive moral framework. Offering counterbalances to any Violence, Threat or Horror.

'Parental Guidance'

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. Parents are advised to consider whether content may upset younger or more sensitive children. Mild use of language only, Sexual activity may be implied but infrequent.

'Aged 12 or Over'

Video works classified at '12' may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. Brief and discreet use of nudity, Sexual activity and infrequent use of drugs or reference to drugs.

'12' only exists for Video Works, no one younger than 12 may rent or buy a '12' rated video work.

'Aged 12 or Over'

12A is a category only exists in cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. The viewing is the responsibility of the accompanying adult.

'Aged 15 or Over'

The Video work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behavior. References and use of drugs is aloud but must not promote or encourage drugs, Sexual Activity can be portrayed although without strong detail. Use of strong language 'Fuck' and the strongest term 'Cunt' may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repetition of the Terms is unacceptable.

'Aged 18 or Over'

Material is in breach of the criminal law, created through the commission of a criminal offense, a risk or harm to individuals through behavior or society and the use of explicit images of sexual activity which can not be justified.

'18 Restricted'

Classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas or sex shops. The infliction of pain which causes lasting physical harm, portrayal of any sexual activity or material which encourages sexually abusive activity.

After researching all of the classifications, I believe our film would be an "18" classification. The classification states that material is in breach of criminal law, through criminal offence, potential risk or harm to an individual, therefore, due to the rape scene in our film, although not showing any sexually explicit material, the intent of a rape, I feel makes our film an "18" classification. 

Target Audience

After presenting our treatment to Mr Leach, our headteacher, we asked him some questions around the target audience of our film. I have embedded the audio recording below.

Mr Leach identified that the film should be targeted towards adults (18+) due to the rape scene and the storyline around it. I agree that our film should be targeted towards an audience of 18 years or older, even though we are have wrote the storyline to hide the rape scene although still allowing the audience to understand what is going on.

We are targeting our film to an audience of over 18 years of age due to the complicated and some-what distressing storyline, however, we have decided that our film is specifically appealing to Women, over the age of 21, that can empathise with the dilemma that Samantha has had to face and also men who are father figures.

Reading of Treatment & Feedback

During our media lesson on Tuesday 18th October, we decided to invite Mr Hood, our media teacher and Mr Leach, our Headteacher. We are presenting to Mr Hood because he is a qualified media teacher and has the technical knowledge and film experience to tell us whether an idea will work or will not work. We chose Mr leach as he conforms to the stereotypes used within our media product; as he is a catholic and is also a step father. We asked Mr Leach to come along, as we wanted to know whether we were addressing the serious matter of rape and Catholicism correctly without causing offence to any of our audience or over stereotyping.

Below, I have embedded an audio recording of our treatment reading to Mr Hood and Mr Leach.


Treatment



Feedback


After listening to our treatment, Mr Leach said that we were correctly conforming to the stereotypical view of Catholicism and we were treating the inclusion of rape in our media product very professionally and without dwelling or focusing entirely upon the issue for long periods of time.

Mr Leach deemed that the target audience was for the viewing of adults and young adults although not for young teenagers. He felt that it was very much a religious thriller due it being very dark, supernatural although very realistic. Mr Leach recognised several conventions; religion and the use of Catholicism, rosary beads and the crucifix. The location and the use of the wooded area, the stereotypical step father being the bad guy along with the use of a flashback. The costume conventions of the time with big glasses and large flares. Along with Mr Hoods idea of the media product being more tear jerky rather than edge of your seat horror.

Nursery Rhyme

Hush Little Baby

The lyrics of Hush Little Baby 'promise all kinds of rewards to the child if he or she is quiet'. I believe that this nursery rhyme is probably the most suitable as the relation to our plot, as the mother at the age of 17 was forced to keep quiet about her abortion. I also believe that from a technical side it would be easy for us to record the nursery rhyme as well as manipulating the track by adding echo to the vocals and stretching the whole track out to achieve a slower tempo thus creating a more scarier and haunted effect.

Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird don't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turn brass, Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke, Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.

And if that billy goat don't pull, Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over, Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won't bark. Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down, Well you'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Treatment Draft 1

To Sin No More

Treatment Development / Research

As a group, we decided to list the basic plot ideas that we have, from this list we will produce our treatment. I have included every idea that all of our production team put forward, some of these ideas we will use in their entirety, some will only be partially touched upon or not even used in our film.

Main Ideas:

• Two brothers - one treated better than the other.
• Brother not treated as good - twist on ghost/sixth sense
• Alternative ending - fall back idea of bother existing and treated differently.
• Eldest brother treated differently; result of rape when mother 17.
• Raped by uncle (moms boyfriend/husband).
• Rape happend on the way to church service - sunday morning.
• Pregant but as she is cathlic - struggle with religion and conscience. - Loses faith when aborting child
• Abortion is looked down upon by highly religious catholic families.
• Watching news report.
• Forced into flashback by seeing a report on sexual abuse on the TV.
• Box of baby items - sons 17th birthday/sentimental items which Samantha can relate to.

Catholicism;
As all of our production team admitted that we did not know alot of information around the subject of Catholicism, we have decided that we will need to read up around the subject before writing the treatment.

Character Names;
We decided that to further the symbolism and representation of the religious theme and genre, that we should choose names that were of religious meaning and symbolism.

• Samantha; Listener of God
• Daniel - God is my judge
• Anthony - Worthy of praise
• Ray - Wise protector.

Symbols;

• Catholics body covered
• Rosary beads
• Crucifix - Jesus on the cross.

Film Name;

• To Sin No More.

Pregancy/Abortion

Flashbacks.

After thinking up all of the ideas that we think should be included into our treatment, another idea which was brought up at the end of the meeting was whether we decided to have the brother as a character or to present the brother as a ghost. We all seemed to like this idea, however, we all also agreed that there is a large percentage of risk into the 'ghost brother', so we decided to also pursue the other ideas as a backup and just in case the footage did not make sense.

Potential Technical & Administrative Difficulties

The potential difficulties that we could face during the completion of our media product;

• Time Keeping; In order to be able to complete our media product, to the highest possible quality whilst also being able to create professional ancillary products, we need to use our time wisely.
• As we have no financial budget, we will need to make sure that any props or costumes are available to us free of charge.
• A positive working attitude is required from all members of our production company, due to the high velocity of work required to be completed, everybody needs to pull their weight.

Existing Product Reseach

After our group meeting to decide upon what we would like to include within our media product, i have decided to therefore watch existing professional media products in order to understand how they portray an idea or a event to their audience.

Rob put forward a great suggestion of the film 'Carrie' and we decided as a group, for all of us to watch Carrie as four members can analyze different parts of the film, as I look at how the existing product has managed to achieve the idea using technology; special effects, animation, fades, effects and transitions. Whereas the my other group members may concentrate upon the storyline, plot and script and how the technological insertions help to develop the film or portray further the idea intended by the director.


Carrie
We could watch 'Carrie' in order to see how existing media products create the large amounts of tension, the strange movements and goings on and in particular the religious aspects; the praying to God and asking for help from above. Carrie, which was set in 1976 could also help us in the costume and location research to gain knowledge of how the existing media product made it recognisable to the audience that it was the 70's.





The Stepfather
I have decided to watch the Stepfather, as I believe that this existing media product could help us to paint a better portrayal and picture of how to represent the stepfather in our film, by the stereotypical aspects used in the existing media product which could be developed within our film. In particular, i will be concentrating on;

• The pieces of music used when the stepfather is in shot.
• The type of camera shots.
• How the technology helps develop the storyline.
• The transitions, fades and effects used. eg Cutting between shots or fading out of a shot to leave the audience in suspense.

As these existing media products, did well at the film industry I believe to make our media product more professional it will be good to gather all of our group members analyst of the films of which they feel could be used within our media product.

Roles & Responsibilities

So to make it fair for all of the group, we decided to share out and highlight each persons individual responsibilities, below I have listed each responsibilities and the person responsible.

Film Responsibilities;

• Producer - Adele Dibble
• Director - Sam Clark
• Camera operator - All of our group
• Editor - Sam Clark
• Sound editor - Holly Sandford and Sam Clark
• Storyboarding -  Rob Abel
• Script Writer - Adele Dibble
• Treatment - Holly Sandford
• Costume - Holly Sandford
• Make-up & Hair - Holly Sandford and the Actors.
• Location manager - Sam Clark and Holly Sandford
• Continuity manager - Adele Dibble
• Lighting - All of our group
• Talent scout - Rob Abel
• Props manager - Sam Clark and Holly Sandford

Ancillary Products;

• Photographer - Sam Clark
• QuarkXpress editor - Holly Sandford
• Photoshop Editor - Sam Clark