Over the past few weeks I have been contemplating what it is exactly that happens in the middle. I have a beginning, a sketch of a middle, and an end. I just need to fill out the sketchiness a bit better.
So. Here are some of the ideas that have been thought out for the middle.
1) Using hospital sounds throughout, using various means to let these sounds in.
2) Using sounds of the crash and how she ended up in a coma as the sounds throughout.
3) Using a first person perspective and have no character in her dream world.
4) Providing point 3 is used, have it in stop motion but use a pen camera to go around the garden.
5) Providing point 3 is used, show who the character is using reflections and shadows.
Result of the mulling-it-over process:
I want the audience to really connect with the little girl, Emily. She has been through some pretty horrific stuff for her age. But to really do this properly, I think there is a time were we need to forget Emily as a separate character, but show the viewer that they are Emily.
From here, I am thinking of outlining the specifics in a rough/thumbnail storyboard into next week.
Story & Sound Requirements:
1) In the beginning we don't know what has happened. We don't know there has been a crash, or a comatose induced state for our character/avatar at the outset.
2) We see the little girl in the bed and get some sign that it wasn't good, but see it out of context with the dream world state.
3) A minute in these two things come together so we can focus on the rest of the plot I've got for the audience.
4) From when we first see the little girl in the bed, a metronome beat of the heart monitor is heard throughout.
5) The little girl plays solitary games, on the swing, skipping stones and hopscotch.
6) When she leaves the swing there is a grinding noise similar to the crunch of metal from the crash.
7) Moving between activities brings her across the path to the large house that's really dark. From it she can hear noises from the hospital.
8) The noises gradually keep getting louder and she covers her ears, she can't avoid hearing them anymore. The heart monitor is laced in as well.
9) Suddenly the noise stops and she takes her hands down. It's quiet. The almost muted sound of the heart monitor gradually becomes louder again.
10) She takes a deep breath and smiles, an indication she has overcome her trauma.
11) The sounds from the house indicate the machines are about to be turned off, so she starts running toward the door.
12) Just as her hand closes around the handle, the plug is pulled and the heart monitor stops.
13) She falls through the dark doorway. Everything disappears in a flash of white. Screen blackout and silence.
14) Emily wakes up in the hospital.
END.
This is what the story is looking like now. I'm much happier to have it fleshed out a bit better, and have something more concrete for the middle.
