Storyboard/Planning Process of 'Fool Me Twice'

Extended Character Persona

The previous picture of the antagonist Solomon shows the famous Stanley Kubrick 'Glare' shot. With the mouth slightly ajar, head tilted forward while the eyes press against the eyebrows giving a deranged look. This shot is to imply the character is not mentally stable or some supernatural force has taken over him.

Full Metal Jacket

Clockwork Orange

Here are a few films Kubrick has included the famous 'Glare' shot in.

Character Persona

Being exiled and isolated for a long period of time we tried to give the antagonist Solomon a relic'd look. A khaki trench coat and a white bob hat was to imply the clothes didn't match and were stolen. The inspiration that led us to deciding on Solomon's persona was a mix between the eccentric ukulele performer 'Tiny Tim' and also the american sing/song writer 'Tom Wait's' whom Heath Ledger analysed before starring as The Joker.

Tiny Tim

Tom Waits

Antagonist
Solomon

Film Opening Analysis

Editorial Decisions... During filming 'Fool Me Twice' we included a sepia mask effect on the camera. The purpose of this was to highlight the deranged follower's (antagonist) perspective. I thought this worked well because although exaggerating the sepia effect helped the audience truly empathize with the antagonist's damaged past and also the sepia is generally red which symbolizes blood and connotes violence. The handheld camerawork and the tracking editing through the tree's also augmented this affect.

Sepia Edit

Location Hunting

The Setting

While in the process of location hunting we came across a secluded woodland area that seemed fit for the film opening. Over flowing with withered tree bark and derelict buildings  this location stood out and appeared more relevant than the rest. The opening of 'Silence of the Lambs' is also shot in an empty park/wood. Any isolated or desolate ground is perfect for the opening of a thriller.

Hameldon Wood
(Our Location)

'Misty Wood'
Clay County, West Virginia.
(Silence of the Lambs)

Plot

Fool Me Twice

The Plot

The Film opens with two, young, Caucasian males walking through a woodland area. As the film progresses and the type of shots differ, it suggests they are being followed. The deranged tracker is eventually made visible wielding a combination spanner to reinforce the sense of realism in the clip, also teamed with a shot-reverse-shot sepia screen to highlight his point of view. Nevertheless the follower tracks one of the protagonists and an extreme close up shot show's the antagonist striking him. The story follows that of a generic thriller film opening with the tracker in pursuit of the only surviving protagonist. This scene is then interrupted with the end credits of the short film clip. Given a big budget and a longer time period, the film would have followed on as so... Anaphora would be a predominant theme throughout the film 'Fool Me Twice'. After the short two minute opening, the movie would flash back three years earlier where both the antagonist and protagonists where childhood friends. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that Gordon (the smaller protagonist with the black leather jacket) had taken a turn for the worse. With his father suddenly coming into a large sum of money  a vicious greed over took his once innocent mind. Unknowingly to Gordon his father was a wanted drug lord. Gordon began stealing small amounts of his fathers money day by day assuming he wouldn't notice. Nine months swiftly passed and the stolen blood money soon accumulated. It came to Gordon's father's attention of the missing money and he was outraged. Threatening him with his own life Gordon panicked and threw the blame onto the innocent orphan Solomon (the antagonist). Jamie by-standing this evil was as much to blame as Gordon. His father and his clan tracked down Solomon and took the law in to their own hands banishing him to a deserted prison in Mozambique where he was given scarce food and water and also tortured. After two years of this punishment Solomon became immune to the pain and was able to survive off the little supplements that he was given. One of night guards fell asleep and Solomon saw this as an opportunity to gain vengeance. Stripping him of his uniform and weapons, Solomon's disguise was sufficient enough for him to pass off as a guard and aboard ship back to the United Kingdom. Arriving back in his hometown Burnley, he gains background knowledge on his once best freinds and pursues them through their daily routine making them live in fear. The story then reverts back to the original two minute clip and follows on from there.

Film Opening Draft

The Lesser Key of Solomon

 This was our initial idea for the film opening. The film was based in the 1950's hence the attire and haircuts. We tried to include connotations of this era such as the vinyl player, a tobacco pipe and the old fashioned banister and stairway. Due to the time period of the opening we added an old film grain effect to the camera to solidify the vintage look. In reflection we understood there would be a few anomalies and errors in the full filming process so decided to progress with the present idea 'Fool Me Twice'.

Me with a camera filming actors Jamie Glasgow and Samuel Hartley
in the 'Lesser Key of Solomon'.