mise en scene

 

 

+ red apple, blood pills

script

(Voiceover- Eve): When I was twelve, I got a rabbit for Christmas, white like a dove. Dove and I were best friends for nine months, as long as she lived, until she was found with a twisted little body, in a pool of her own blood.

(Fade from black to Lucy’s face (before voiceover starts), extreme CU. Camera floats around her features. Focus is soft. Warm sunlight behind Lucy catches her hair (which is down) and gives her a halo effect. Slightly slow-motion. Soft ambient sound, music, female laughter. Long take. She is wearing a dark red top and a red necklace. We are outside, in what looks like a garden.)

Boy: (harsh sounding – non-diegetic sound stops) Eve, you ready to go? 

(The lighting becomes more realistic and grey. Eve and Lucy are sitting cross-legged, talking to each other with their heads close together. Boy’s POV, down on them. Should be somewhat jarring- looks real and not idealised CU. Eve is in white. Boy standing above them, looking at Eve. Eve is now looking at Boy, in a relaxed, happy mood. Boy is wearing a green T shirt and jeans. Lucy is giving Boy a death stare.)

(Eve stands up energetically)

Eve: Yep. (Turns around) Bye, babe. I’ll see you tomorrow?

L: Mhmm.

T: Bye Lucy (pointed)

(L stares at him)

E: (Turns away from L, oblivious, and pecks Tommy) Where have you been all day? 

(He puts his arm around her, and they start walking away.)

B: Well, you know. My dad wanted me to help him with the shed so… (voice fades away) 

(Extreme CU on Lucy’s hand shows her digging her nails into her skin)

 

TITLE

(Red Dove)

(Eve and Lucy are on Eve’s bed, talking, each bent down on their knees. Their tone is excited and good-natured. Eve is in pastel, Lucy in dark warm colour. The camera starts in LS and very slowly dollies in)

L: Did you see that yellow dress Julie wore last weekend?

(Lucy holds up her phone to Eve, giggling. Eve raises her eyebrows and tries not to laugh.)

Eve: (humorously) Stop!

L: I’m not saying anything… (both burst into laughter)

L: (stops laughing) Hey- (puts her hand up to Eve’s face and strokes her lips with her thumb. Eve is having a nosebleed.)

(Evie puts her hands to her face)

E: This is so weird. (Looks at her bloody hands) I never get nosebleeds. 

(L passes her a tissue box with her non-bloodied hand)

L: Don’t worry babe, it makes you look hot. 

(Both giggle. Some blood is on Eve’s shirt.)

(E puts tissues to her face. L watches her. Camera cuts to an MS of L. Without warning, L brings her thumb to her mouth and starts sucking the blood off of it. Eve meets her gaze and gives her a puzzled look. L shrugs her shoulders and smiles, nonchalant.) 

(Grey lighting. From around a wall, Eve looks at Lucy and Boy- POV shot which gets closer. Lucy is wearing pastel. Boyfriend wears a red hoodie. They do not see her. Boy is leaning against the wall, Lucy is opposite to him. They are not touching but are close to it. They are evidently talking but most of it is too far away to hear – ‘Hey, do you have a new cologne? You smell really good.’- L laughs and touches B’s shoulder. B smiles sheepishly and says something. L gets closer to him so that she is almost leaning up against him and starts whispering in his ear. B pushes her, lightly and playfully, she laughs more.)

(Eve pulls behind the wall quickly. She is wearing pink. She looks up and tightens her jaw, as if she is trying not to cry. She breathes deeply, fiddles with red necklace.)

(E looks round again and now only L is there, looking straight at her. Music note. L locks eyes with her and walks towards her. Her expression is initially annoyed, frightening, but transitions to a friendly smile as she is walking. Big acting moment)

CUTAWAY- sound bridge 

(L is tipsy but E is very drunk, blubbering, is leaning on L for support. L is laughing.)

L: Can you walk up these stairs for me babe? Come on- (starts half-dragging her.)

(Bedroom door opens. Rectangle of light spills into dark bedroom, their shadows are long in it.)

(Lilly puts her on the bed.)

L: Arms up. 

(E obliges. L takes her shirt off and puts it to the side. L pulls an oversized shirt over her torso. E’s trousers are pulled off her ankles. L opens the covers and E goes underneath them. L starts getting changed, E looks at her, glassy-eyed.)

E: Will you stay? (Touches L’s arm.)

L: Always. You’re my girl. (Smiles and kisses her forehead.)

(E appears to fall asleep. Sweet-sounding score. L gets into bed. L wraps her arms around her and falls asleep. Fairy lights give them a halo of warmth and illuminate the polaroid photos on the wall. These photos show Eve and Lucy or (young) Eve and Dove.)

CUTBACK

Eve: (quiet) You’re being weird.

L: What are you talking about? God, you’re so paranoid all the time. It’s exhausting to be around.

E: Really? Because it looked like you – 

L: I thought you wanted us to get along? Jesus. Since when are you so boy crazy?

(silence)

L: (light-hearted) You know I love you. You’re my girl. (holds her face) 

(Eve smiles)

(Eve drops her smile and leans in quickly for a brief kiss on the lips. L tilts her head to the side and continues smiling)

(shallow to deep focus shows Julie in the background, behind Eve’s (who is now smiling) shoulder, looking at them.)

(L looks at Eve, suddenly takes her hands away and pushes E away from her)

(L runs past her towards Julie.)

L: Oh my god Julie, did you see that… (voice fades)

(Both girls talk and laugh in Eve’s direction. Score comes in so their conversation is inaudible. Julie puts on a red cardigan over her (non-red top) and they walk away, talking closely and looking back.)

(Getting ready for Halloween. Warm lighting. In a teenage girl’s room (not the one we see previously) Lucy in front of a mirror, doing her make up. Eve walks into the room (pictured in mirror) and sees Lucy, looks surprised to see L and as if she might turn around but Lucy speaks to her before she can.)

(Eve is in a dark red devil costume.)

L: (Judgemental. Doesn’t turn around) Didn’t you wear that two years ago? To Jason’s?

E: Yeah.

L: You should’ve been Alice for me. (Lucy is dressed as a white rabbit) 

(E stares at her. L picks up some fake blood.)

L: Come, let me put some blood on you. (warmer)

E: Devil’s don’t drink blood. 

(L rolls her eyes. E goes to her anyway and bends down. L goes to put blood on her lips by tube malfunctions- top won’t come off. L struggles with it, tries to bite it open- L: Ah fuck- explodes in her mouth.)

L: Oh my god, ew. 

(It is also all over her hands) 

(E stares at her. The lighting is grey. E lifts her hands to L’s face and strokes the blood. End shot- side profile of Eve, standing, putting her hand to L’s face, L looking up at her, her expression intense but inscrutable, as a white, bloodied rabbit)

treatment

Plot summary

We are introduced to Lucy, Eve, and Eve’s boyfriend (nameless.) Our introduction to Lucy is very stylized as we are seeing her through Eve’s eyes. Eve recounts the story of her slaughtered bunny rabbit, Dove, which contrasts with the romantic image and music. Boyfriend takes Eve away from Lucy, and she does not seem happy about it. A CU shows her pressing her nails into her palm with agitation.

A quick snapshot of the girls’ relationship shows Lucy ingesting Eve’s blood from a nosebleed. 

Lucy heavily flirts with Boyfriend, and Eve is watching them. She looks very upset. Lucy sees her watching but acts as is nothing was happening.

A cutaway demonstrates the genuine affection in the girls’ relationship. Returning from a party, Eve is very drunk and Lucy is tipsy. Lucy drags Eve up the stairs and to the bedroom. Lucy undresses Eve and dresses her in pyjamas before putting her in bed. Eve asks Lucy to stay and falls asleep. Lucy gets in bed with her, and they fall asleep in each other’s arms.

Eve confronts Lucy, and Lucy deflects. Eve kisses Lucy. Lucy pushes her off and talks about her with their mutual friend Julie, even though she seemed to like the kiss at first.

Getting ready for a Halloween party, Lucy tries to put some fake blood on Eve. The tube malfunctions and blood sprays on Lucy’s face. Lucy is dressed as a white rabbit and Eve as a red devil. Eve touches the blood on Lucy’s face, and seems to have a moment of realization. 

Three Act Structure

1 . Set up

- Introduction to Lucy, Eve, Boyfriend

- Dove’s story

- Established tension between Lucy and Boyfriend

o Plot point 1- Lucy flirts with Boyfriend

2. Confrontation

- There is a shift in the friendship dynamic

- Eve is unhappy and confronts Lucy

o Plot point 2- Eve kisses Lucy and Julia sees

3. Resolution 

- The relationship dynamic appears even more strained 

o Plot point 3- Lucy spills fake blood on herself, prompting Eve (and hopefully the audience) to realise she was Dove’s murderer 

Themes/motifs

White and red

- The title – Red Dove 

- Eve starts off wearing white. As the narrative progresses, her costume becomes darker and redder until eventually she is dressed as a devil for Halloween

- Lucy starts off wearing red. Her costume becomes lighter and eventually white when she is dressed as a rabbit for Halloween.

- Boyfriend is first pictured in a green top, and then is shown in a red jumper when Lucy is flirting with him. Julie is mentioned to have worn a yellow dress and wears non-red when witnessing the kiss- puts on a red cardigan when walking away with Lucy

- The opening voice over contains the mention of blood (on a white rabbit), when Boyfriend takes Eve away a CU shows red nail marks from Lucy digging her nails into her palm, Lucy ‘drinks’ some of Eve’s blood, the closing shot shows Lucy covered in fake blood

Haloes

- Lucy has a halo of light in the opening shot

- Both girls are shrouded in a halo of warm light in the sleepover scene 

Biblical allusions

- Lucy = Lucifer, Eve = Eve- Eve is good, Lucy is bad 

- We start in garden, the film gets darker throughout (the fall) due to the influence of Lucy (like the traitorous snake)

- Lucy becomes more white while Eve becomes more red- Lucy effectively steals Eve’s identity and manipulates them into changing places 

Rabbits

- Story of the rabbit Dove in the opening voice over

- Lucy dresses as a rabbit for Halloween and, like Dove, ends up covered in blood 

- Jordan Peele- “(Rabbits) are very cuddly but they also have a sociopathic expression”- used in Us

- Alice in wonderland- world of kilter, “You should’ve been Alice for me.”

Appearance v reality

- Stylized cinematography and warm lighting used when Eve is infatuated with Lucy, cold, darker lighting when their relationship becomes darker 

- Dove = symbol of love and loyalty- perverted by Lucy’s obsession

- Lucy’s animal costume (appearance) reveals her true nature (reality)

- Both girls’ feelings about each other are ambiguous 

- Lucy and Boyfriend appear to have some animosity, but then are suggested to be having an affair 

Inspirations

Thirteen

- Two adolescent girls form a very close and affectionate but extremely toxic friendship

- One of the girls turns out to be particularly twisted- she tries to steal her friend’s life

- The (innocent) girl turns to self-harm and drugs due to the twisted girl’s influence 

- Lighting becomes darker throughout the film, until it is in black and white 

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjx-dBY6dtU

Us

- Jordan Peele- “(Rabbits) are very cuddly but they also have a sociopathic expression”

- Lots of white rabbits- creepy feel 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire 

- Each woman has their own colour- Marianne is red and Heloise is green- their relationship makes their colours brighter 

- Lesbian tension 

The Virgin Suicides

- Very idealised, feminine aesthetic and excessive violence

- Male gaze- the boys see the girls as angelic, do not really know them but put them on pedestals 

The Secret History 

- Richard’s descriptions of Camilla- sees her in this heavenly light and not as the very flawed individual she is 

- ‘The sun came suddenly from behind a rain cloud, flooding the room with glorious light that wavered on the walls like water. Camilla’s face burst into glowing bloom. A terrible sweetness boiled up in me. Everything, for a moment – mirror, ceiling, floor – was unstable and radiant as a dream.’

Bones and All

- Adolescent romance- ends with Maren eating Lee- consumption is symbolic of their love

- Vampirism (nosebleed scene) and romanticism 

- Lucy is metaphorically taking the blood from Eve’s life 

Vertigo

- Love and obsession

- Significant colouring- characters switch colours- erosion of identity 

Jennifer’s Body

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdEhNc9vuKI

 

Required short films- Operator

 1st impression from the title- sci-fi, about a man doing a train job, ominous

Incredible acting, off-screen sound and action- keeps project low-budget, allows the spectator to imagine- engages them, incites possibly more fear 

Opening- diegetic sound, panning, CUs, shifting focus- disorientating- spectator immediately engaged

180 degree rule broken- operator transitions from just one in a row of many to the main character- slow dolly-in- attention drawn in, realisation, tension- CU- can see operator's expression

Very long take- realism, tension- cut when woman goes into fire- shift in mood

Gemma hangs up- long moment of silence- relief, shock- from CU to MS- moment to breathe

Required short films- tight jeans

 1st impression of title- comedy about teenage girl

Characterisation and dialogue:

Dialogue is written very realistically, comically, fast-paced and with realistic South London vernacular

Characterisation is clear- dumb one, smarter one ect. 

Characters wear different colours of the same hoodie and jeans uniform- part of the same social tribe- tight jeans kid and tight shirt man are part of different social tribes

Heavy subject matters- sexual politics, slavery and racism- discussed in a light-hearted way, in a mundane story and setting (shot on location)- more effective- mix of comic and thoughtful- "we basically populated this planet bruv", slavery's sexual component, white mother's tokenised mixed children

Very simple cinematography- mostly one long take in long shot, panning from side to side- transitions to CU when "that's why they made us slaves innit"- shows shocked expression of friends, conflict between their views 

Required short films- Slap

 First impressions from title- comedy about friendship

3 Act structure:

1. Connor defending Archie against the homophobes

2. Connor coming to the party dressed as a woman

3. Connor punching Archie 

3 boxing scenes which punctuate the story:

1. Establishing Connor's hobby and friend group dynamic

2. Archie has not shared Connor's secret, Connor does not want Lola
to know

3. Connor in mental turmoil, his friends are no longer there for him

Extremely good acting, realistic accents and vernacular, well-written script

Opening shot- CU on make-up and magazine cut out

Music- opening sequence- intimate, touching, switch to diegetic when Connor's dad calls to reflect the transition from calm, freeing experience to panic as the real world sets in

Mirrors- reoccurring
motif- who Connor presents himself as vs who he really is

• Suspended in the mirror in a moment of panic when his dad comes home
• 
• Looking in the mirror when revealing his hidden identity to Archie
• 
  
  
  
• Broken mirror = fractured identity 
• Looks in the mirror to find the courage to cross-dress to the party
  
• Bathroom- Connor is by himself in the mirror, with alsdk in reality
• Bathroom- Connor cowers over the mirror- ashamed of his identity, as if he is trying to hide himself, vertical lines  of tiles 'trap' him, sickly lighting reflects his mood

• 
  

Shaky camera at eye-level during boxing scene- viewer interpolated 

Jump cuts, rhythmic score, breaking the 4th wall as Connor puts on (and takes off) his dress- fractured identity- mix of boxing (masculine) and dancing (feminine), tension rising 

Archie gets attacked- framing makes Connor seem trapped and shadowy within his home, shadow reveals his double identity- his deception traps him and makes him into a worse person

Literally hiding from the light, society, his friend

Rock music, Connor centre-screen, low angle, tracking backwards, determined look- Connor appears powerful, brave,
spectator is rooting for him

Nina's party- walks into red light, in front of red balloons- danger, is alone in the frame while everyone else is in a group- isolation, vulnerability. People move into the frame from his POV- crowding around him- overwhelming, dangerous, impression that everyone is laughing at him. Slow-motion- emotional, shock, embarrassment, analysis of everyone's reaction. Gentle music plays as Connor spins- innocent, free, vulnerable

Diegetic sound when Connor is crying- realism, real world destroying him

Editing- shot takes of Connor, Archie, Lola as they confront each other- confusion, panic, continuity editing- follows rhythm of conversation

Metaphorically and literally steps into the darkness, away from society and friendship, taking the camera (us) with him. Buzzing noise increases in volume- increasing tension

Melancholy score plays while Connor punches his boxing mate- spectator understands that sadness is the cause of his anger

Required short films- Echo

 First impressions of title- friendship breakup, sad, flashbacks

Plot point 1- gets the call- we believe her

Plot point 2- gets out of the taxi- we question her

Plot point 3- "how did he know about dad"- real event

Reliving her trauma

Mise en Scene- beginning- red catches spectator's eye- red = injury, more attention to main character in turquoise 

Open ending- was the last phone call the real one? Why does she do this? What really happened?

Very good acting

Boy gets on bike and drives away, car drives up behind him- is the boy going to get into an accident? Boy that cried wolf situation?