Pitch, Treatment, Synopsis and Narrative

Pitch


Adelle and myself had to pitch our initial version of our film to the class in a creative way. This was part of the post production and needed to explain in full our intentions. We decided to create a Power-point Presentation accompanied by myself and Adelle explaining as we went along.

Feedback from our Pitch;

Treatment


A treatment is a 'Package' pitched to an organisation that would produce and distribute our film. The treatment we made we would like to pitch to Warner Brother Pictures and New Line Cinema, these are film and distribution subsidiaries belonging to the conglomerate; Time Warner.


Our Treatment


Take a Chance? Would you follow Michael Domino into the world or sophisticated crime? Our film; 'Chance' is a brand new and fresh take on a modern Crime-Heist film. The codes and conventions of the genre have not only been hit, but developed! more back story, more money, more crime, more twists and more of that famous mystery and double-cross. That's why we believe this is the next big Crime Blockbuster to hit the screens of the world. With your sponsor and association, we can distribute worldwide to every country in the world. Think Oceans.....Think The Bank Job......Think Snatch......Think  better!


Narrative

The Narrative is the way a film is constructed. This is typically split into three acts, 1, 2, 3. Act 1 introduces the characters, where they have come from, their current situation, and then the setting; so where they are. Act 2 includes a conflict of some sort, where a problem arises and the characters is further developed. Act 3 contains the characters changed development and the solution is anounced.

There are two different types of narrative: Linear and Non-Linear.

Linear narrative - this is when the story line is in chronological order and flows without jumping between acts.

Non-Linear - this is when the story-line jumps back and forth between acts to establish information allowing the story to develop. For example: Forest Gump would be an example of non-linear narrative as the storyline cuts from and to the present explaining his life and how he got to that point in his life. Toy Story on the other hand would be an example of linear narrative as the storyline progresses in the 3 act construction of the film.

Hyper-Link Cinema

Hyper-Link Cinema is a method of narrative which demonstrates several narratives progressing along side one another, eventually unfolding together to reveal the conclusion.

After a lesson in school about 'Narrative' and 'Storyline Features' Adelle and myself decided to rewrite our final idea into a three act description of the sequence, this would show the linear storyline of the entire film and then a description in detail of the two minute film opening.

Synopsis

Michael Domino (Sam Nixon), a conman of immense strategic experience and leader of a team, has been imprisoned for 10 years after being caught on a high tech fraud operation involving a Las Vegas casino, several New York banks and a multi millionaire’s car theft; some say he became careless after his father’s passing.  Now Michael has been released from prison he intends to return to his stable life with his beloved wife. However his wife, Rose (Adelle Auckland) seems to have run away and begun a new life with Michael’s con-associate Danny McCardy (Daniel Knight). Michael unknowing of this affair is offered a job from Danny and the journey of the heist entails more twists and turns for Michael to prove himself better than his father; a famous con-artist who broke into one of the largest UK banks ever recorded.

Storyline/Narrative

Act 1

Michael leaves prison and returns to his house in the city. Michael returns home to find his house empty. Michael discovers an envelope and 1 new answer phone message in the living room. The message is from his wife who explains she is leaving him because of the schemes and the money. Michael then opens the envelope and finds his wife’s wedding ring located inside. Michael becomes upset and angry. Michael then begins his ‘new’ beginning by cutting his hair, shaving, showered and in a fresh new suit. Michael’s friend Danny calls to tell him to “meet me in Swiss in an hour”. At this stage the audience are presented with Michael’s wife in Danny’s bed. At this stage Michael is unaware of the affair and meets up with Danny to forget about his wife and gain some more money.

Act 2

  Michael meets up with Danny in the Swiss and talk about a new job over a couple of glasses of whiskey. Michael then decides he is in , not only to get over his wife but to prove himself as a better con-artist than his father; a famous con-man for planning and carrying out a heist in one of the biggest banks in the UK. Michael and Danny decide to get the team together for the job, the two of them visit several experienced conmen and engineers who they believe could work in their team. The characters are introduced one by one and interviewed by Michael and Danny. With the team together, preparations are made for the job; the equipment is assembled and a nearby shop is purchased as the base of operations.  They discuss and talk over what’s going to happen and why they have chosen the target. The target is Kevin Hatchet, an experienced con-artist, who double-crossed Michaels Father and now operates the largest bank in the UK. Danny begins to receive mysterious phone calls and Michael begins to become suspicious as he doesn’t want anyone double-crossing him. A few days later, the team are ready to hit the bank. 

Act 3

 The heist unravels with many twists and turns on the way (almost getting caught) however the volt is broken into and the team break out in disguises as security guards.  The team escape with goods and return to the Swiss to celebrate. However, what the team don’t know is that Michael has double crossed Danny because it flashbacks to Danny’s mysterious phone calls and Michael discovers Danny is seeing Michaels wife. Michael sets Danny up but will Michael get away with it and his proven himself a better has con artist than his father?