Film PitchNaia Martin

Plot

Short synopsis:

• A 19 year old girl struggles with thetruth after discovering she is theresult of a failed abortion.

Storyline:

• After experiencing a period of deep depression the girl‟s parents decide to tell her why she suffers from mild cerebral palsy. Her parents giver her a letter from her birth mother and the doctors note

from her birth. The letter leads to her desperation in finding this woman to discover the truth.

Characters• The protagonist is a 19 year old girl who has suffered with

depression frequently throughout her life due to her diagnosis of mild cerebral palsy at the age of 7. At a young age she was confused with her body and often wondered what was wrong with her. When she was diagnosed, her age allowed her to be fully aware of the situation – resulting in depression and anger. Now that she has discovered the reason for her disease she is desperate to find out why her birth mother did this to her.

• Helen is the birth mother. She was just 22 when she discovered she was pregnant, her family pressured her into having an abortion. When the abortion failed she saw it as a sign that this wasn‟t right and decided to go through with the birth but give her daughter up for adoption as she knew she wasn‟t ready to raise a child.

Plot Influences• I found the inspiration while I was reading articles online

• One article was about a pro-life speaker who was the survivor of an abortion

• There were numerous stories of real women who had gone through this devastating revelation, their strength inspired me

• Gianna Jessen was born despite the fact her 17-year-old mother had undergone an abortion procedure. Toxic saline solution was injected into the womb during the third trimester. Jessen, then in the womb for 7½ months, spent 18 hours in the solution. "It burns the baby inside and out," she said. "(The mother) is to deliver a dead baby within 24 hours." But a 2-pound baby emerged, and was alive. However, she was born with cerebral palsy due to the lack of oxygen to the brain.

• This is just one of many stories that I have used as the inspiration for this film

Stylistic Influences• The film Like Crazy is an independent film, directed by Drake

Doremus, produced by Indian Paintbrush and distributed by Paramount Vantage. The film uses a voyeuristic style as it feels like the audience is watching a part of someone‟s life, a real relationship – adding to the sense of reality. I hope to use this in my film because it has the indie style and it will emphasise the fact that these stories are the reality for some people.

• The film Martha Marcy MayMarlene is also an independent *film, directed by Sean Durkin,produced and distributed byFox Searchlight. In this film thetime frame isn‟t linear but jumpsfrom past/present, fromdream/reality. This editingis seamless * I will use this whentransitioning from past to present.

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Description: An introvert freshman is taken under the

wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.

Production Company: Summit Entertainment

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Title: Like Crazy

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Title: Martha Marcy May Marlene

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Distribution Company: Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Similar FilmsTitle: Trust

Description: A teenage girl is targeted by an online

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Title: Into the Wild

Description: A grad student abandons his

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Title: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Description:

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Distribution Company: Warner Bros

Budget: $25,000,000

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Target Audience: 7-17

Production Company• I think the unique storyline of this film will

automatically discourage major production

companies such as Warner

Bros, Universal, Paramount, New Line etc. because

they will be concerned with the grossing

opportunity.

• Therefore I am targeting the subsidiaries of these

production companies.

• Lionsgate

• Paramount Vantage

• Indian Paintbrush

Budget• This will be an independent film so only a small

budget will be needed compared to larger films.

• From the information gathered about other

independent films I think $500,000 will be enough for

production costs.

Target Audience

• The target audience for this film is going

to be 12-25 year olds.

• The typical member of the audience for this film will be a 16 year old girl who is still a student in school.

• She will be interested in the genre of drama and will have enjoyed films like My Sister’s Keeper and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

• She will be up-to-date with modern technology and will be interested in online advertising.

Rating• The BBFC state that the 12A category is

“awarded where the material is suitable, ingeneral, only for those aged 12 and over. Worksclassified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The „12A‟ category exists only for cinema films. No oneyounger than 12 may see a „12A‟ film in a cinema unlessaccompanied by an adult, and films classified „12A‟ are notrecommended for a child below 12. An adult may take ayounger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowingchildren under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.”

• Out of the BBFC rules for 12As the one that applied most to this was “Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.”

Promotion• The fact the film is targeted at teenagers and young

adults is important as it is the most lucrative market for cinemas.

• In 2007 18% of frequent movie goers went with no kids. 22% went with children under 17 and 26% with teens from 12-17

• There will be posters in shopping centres to interest the teen market and in cinemas to capitalise on cinema audiences.

• Trailer will be released on TV, online and in cinema theatres.

• Magazine cover and article to interest film fans

• There could be an internet campaign with a specific film website with production photos and updated info.

• Social networking will be utilised because the target audience are likely to frequently use the sites.

Locations• I will mainly use outside locations because I think

indoor locations can often be limiting as I can only

film inside my own house, which may not be

suitable.

• Also, the source of natural light will suit the genre of

the film and will help provide the hopeful mood that

I want to convey.

Cast• I have chosen to use my sisters as actors

• I used one of my sisters last year and she was easy to direct so I thought I would use her again

• Organising filming will be easy because they will fit around my schedule and I know when they are available

• The fact they are related is helpful because they will have a similar resemblance, which helps when playing family members

• I will only use two female actors age 21-25 because I don‟t want to overcomplicate the teaser

trailer and they are the two maincharacters

Unique Selling Point

• True story – rare for a Coming-of-age film to be

based on a true story.

• Unique storyline - I haven't seen a film advertised

that is based on a survivor of an abortion.