Moving into unchartered territory. I have screened my short film today, and keep getting comments like “It was a nice change of pace”.. “you’re brave to go it alone”… “that was an unconventional move”.. I have to say – it all translates as “COULD IT HAVE SUCKED MORE??” Originally, this project was supposed to be a group undertaking; I, however, being my usual self, decided to take a vacation right smack in the middle of planning. I did not know at the time of booking said trip that all planning, script writing and such would take place in my absence.. So – I arrived a little late. ”My” group was already well into shooting when I came back, so I was offered a choice between joining my group or go it alone. I chose the latter. However crappy the film may be, it’s all mine – and I have a strange affection for it; like for someone’s kid that keeps showing up uninvited. Or the ugliest cat in the shelter. It may not be what I had in mind, but it chose me.
The story is one of friendship gone awry – two girls meet a third, and chaos ensues. Lovely Maren plays ‘girl in red sweater’(‘GRS’), the protagonist. She and ‘camera girl’ (‘CG’; played by me) are waiting for ‘tall blonde’ (‘TB’; aka our dear Mariette) on a rainy day in Kristiansand. The girls meet up, ‘TB’ and ‘CG’ are introduced to each other. While running playfully in Wergeland park, ’GRS’ falls down. She feels humiliated (she doesn’t take humiliation too well) and you can already sense something dark brewing in her pretty head. Later on, as the three girls enjoy a light chat on a sunny afternoon ‘GRS’ becomes increasingly jealous of the friendship between ‘TB’ and ‘CG’. The two girls become aware of the building tension, though unsure of its origin and what to do about it. As ‘GRS’ and ‘CG’ are leaving together, ‘CG’ tries to get to the bottom of ‘GRS’s anger. Words are exchanged, and ‘GRS’ walks off.
The backdrop for the movie is a dense forest. The point of view is that of ‘camera girl’ (also the photographer). She starts out on a wide path, but ends up lost in the woods. While walking she has flashbacks to the previous events with the trio of girls. At one point she falls down and hurts herself, and is unable to get back up. By now she is alarmed and is frantically looking around for help. As she turns her head, ‘girl in red sweater’ is standing in front of her. ‘CG’ looks up to see ‘GRS’ holding a rock over her head. ‘CG’ has no way of escaping as ‘GRS’ brings the rock down..
Being a huge Lynch fan, I wanted to convey a mood, rather than a story. My original idea really had no linear story – it was a sequence of episodes with a fuzzy ending. I realize that such films are for more experienced filmmakers – still I thought it might fit into the genre of short films. Well – long story short; I didn’t go that route. My little short (barely making the one minute mark) is nevertheless a series of chaotic events, designed to instill a sense of uneasiness in the viewers. I’m not sure if I managed to convince my audience (classmates and instructors), though.
Anyways – I based the theme on Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’; hence the walk in the woods. If you haven’t read ‘Heart of Darkness’, or seen Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’ which is based on Conrad’s novel you can read about them here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Now
(Forgive me, those who deplore the use of Wikipedia.. look it up yourself, then)
Hopefully I will soon be able to upload ‘A Walk in the Woods’; if not, well.. you’ll have to make do with my summary..
