Film Treatment

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 NEA FILM TREATMENT: The Party


Inspirations: Superbad, Booksmart, Dazed and confused


 

It is a comedy, one of those teen films that take place over the course of one evening. Storyline wise, it’s like Superbad in that everything seems to go wrong. Characters are very distinct and comedic. It follows a group of 15-year-olds who try and go to a party. I want mise-en-scene to communicate character and fit in with the retro feel of the film. A costume will clearly show who these characters are, also playing with the archetypal characters often seen in teen movies. A warm, 70s style colour palette - like that of Superbad and Dazed and Confused. It follows themes of growing up and exploring one’s identity in adolescence, but these lie more in the subtext, fundamentally I want the viewer to be able to relate these characters to people in their own adolescence and find humour in their misfortune. It also mocks ideas of the male gaze, and how female characters are presented through male protagonists in film which is explored in the character of Duffy, who we are aligned with in the beginning through cinematography, and his interaction with Lottie.

Three Act Structure:

As my film takes place over one night and has an open ending, the Three Act Structure is adapted to leave the viewer without a clear conclusion. It ends abruptly with a moment where the fourth wall is broken, so we are unsure what will happen to our characters.

ACT 1:

We follow Duffy as he walks to Luca’s house, we’re introduced to the Boys; Luca, Zayn and Hugo in Luca’s fancy basement. Character is established through dialogue. Zayn chugs some of Hugo’s drink and we discover that he has a severe allergy to Sodium Benzoate, he chokes, and the boys laugh and try to help him. The girls ring the doorbell. Duffy answers it and is immediately enthralled with Lottie.

 



Duffy leaves his house to go to the party

ACT 2:

The group leaves the house, and we meet them again walking across the park. Duffy talks to Lottie, He professes his affection for her and she turns him down. Things get awkward as Duffy seems upset, so Lottie calls for Maya’s help. Hugo overhears the conversation, Zayn tells him to shut up, and it seems that Hugo’s drink has given him newfound confidence. Hugo and Zayn begin to fight, Bea, who has been flirting with Hugo throughout the night tries to split them up. She then throws up on Hugo’s Nike's. Hugo is in anguish and his true identity is revealed, he calls his mum and leaves the others. Bea and Lottie leave.

Shot of Hugo's Nike's with puke on them


ACT 3:

Everything has gone wrong. Only Zayn, Duffy, Maya and Luca remain. Determined to get to the party despite the odds seemingly being set up against the group, they continue their quest. Duffy attempts to lighten the mood and bring some energy to the group, so offers everyone some crisps. Zayn scoffs at them in his drunken delirium but forgets to check the ingredients and begins to have an allergic reaction. Duffy discovers that the crisps contain Sodium Benzoate and panics, the film abruptly ends.

 

Duffy discovers the crisps contain Sodium Benzoate

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