director’s notebook
cinematography
casting
special effects
choreography
visual effects
locations
visual design
set design
screenplay
sound design
music
budget
casting
OddFX Characters:
Shelter residents: Diverse women, varied ages and backgrounds, reflecting domestic violence's international reach.
Special FX company: Diverse men, varied ages and accents. Many have travelled from different countries, drawn by the talent of Barrett Jones.
Casting Inspiration:
Naturalistic casting, similar to the series "The Bear."
cinematography
The lead character is a camerawoman.
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty: Special effects sets can be more visually compelling than the final on-screen product.
Subconscious Exploration: "OddFX" represents the subconscious, visualized through:
Distorted reflections.
Smoke-induced isolation.
Black Duvetyne barriers.
Imaginary worlds seen through various techniques.
Dramatic Lighting: Artistic lighting is crucial.
Camera Rig as ‘Character’: Cady restores and "dances" with a motion control camera rig. She jogs the rig towards her, then back—a waltz.
Lens as Perspective: We cut briefly to the motion control camera POV.
a representation of how film shapes our self-perception.
TWO WORLDS: HER LENS
visual design
A. OddFX Film Studio:
Visual Style:
• Exaggerated deep and ambiguous space.
• Highly saturated colors much of it created through lighting.
• Strong tonal contrast.
• Extensive variety of lines and basic shapes.
• Surreal contrast of visual components."
• Hyper-interesting and visually contrasting shots throughout.
Camera Work Suggested:
• Camera cranes, dollies, and Steadicam (smooth, mimicking dolly tracks) are permitted.
• No handheld camera or locked-off shots.
• Constant camera movement.
• Primarily wide lenses.
Atmosphere:
• OddFX represents the unconscious. The audience should never be able to draw a map of the place in their minds.
• Size and spatial relationships should be strange, surreal in juxtaposition and unpredictable.
sound design
TWO WORLDS: HER LENS
Camerawoman POV: The story is told from the perspective of a camerawoman.
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty: Special effects sets can be more visually compelling than the final on-screen product.
Subconscious Exploration: "OddFX" represents the subconscious, visualized through:
Distorted reflections.
Smoke-induced isolation.
Black Duvetyne barriers.
Imaginary worlds seen through matte painting holes.
Dramatic Lighting: Artistic lighting is crucial.
Camera Rig as Character: Cady restores and "dances" with a motion control camera rig. She jogs the rig towards her, then back almost like a waltz.
Lens as Perspective: We cut briefly to the motion control camera POV.
a representation of how film shapes our self-perception.
special effects
OddFX is set largely within a special effects company, which serves as a key location. Despite the film's focus on special and visual effects, OddFX is not a high-budget production. Recognizing the potential costs, experienced special and visual effects professionals know how to craft screenplays that avoid excessively expensive shots. Instead, the film utilizes the company's existing traditional equipment and setups.
That being said, we will feature a model explosion and a fireball. Both of these effects are integral to illustrating the main character's psychological state. Specifically, when the crew films a house explosion, it symbolizes Cady's liberation from her compulsion to mend and repair her failing marriage and family life. Later, when Rick, the director of photography, acknowledges his mistreatment of Cady, he invites her to create fireballs with him as a way to release their pent-up tension. This act proves cathartic and connective for both of them.
visual effects
OddFX plans to utilize visual effects as a cost-saving measure for creating background set extensions, creatures, and props. Specifically, static visual effects elements, such as non-animated creatures, set pieces, backgrounds, and set extensions, offer significant cost advantages. (Writer Director Catherine Craig has a deep background in visual effects.)
production design
TWO WORLDS: HER LENS
Camerawoman POV: The story is told from the perspective of a camerawoman.
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty: Special effects sets can be more visually compelling than the final on-screen product.
Subconscious Exploration: "OddFX" represents the subconscious, visualized through:
Distorted reflections.
Smoke-induced isolation.
Black Duvetyne barriers.
Imaginary worlds seen through matte painting holes.
Dramatic Lighting: Artistic lighting is crucial.
Camera Rig as Character: Cady restores and "dances" with a motion control camera rig. She jogs the rig towards her, then back almost like a waltz.
Lens as Perspective: We cut briefly to the motion control camera POV.
a representation of how film shapes our self-perception.
production design
TWO WORLDS: HER LENS
Camerawoman POV: The story is told from the perspective of a camerawoman.
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty: Special effects sets can be more visually compelling than the final on-screen product.
Subconscious Exploration: "OddFX" represents the subconscious, visualized through:
Distorted reflections.
Smoke-induced isolation.
Black Duvetyne barriers.
Imaginary worlds seen through matte painting holes.
Dramatic Lighting: Artistic lighting is crucial.
Camera Rig as Character: Cady restores and "dances" with a motion control camera rig. She jogs the rig towards her, then back almost like a waltz.
Lens as Perspective: We cut briefly to the motion control camera POV.
a representation of how film shapes our self-perception.
music
Camerawoman POV: The story is told from the perspective of a camerawoman.
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty: Special effects sets can be more visually compelling than the final on-screen product.
Subconscious Exploration: "OddFX" represents the subconscious, visualized through:
Distorted reflections.
Smoke-induced isolation.
Black Duvetyne barriers.
Imaginary worlds seen through matte painting holes.
Dramatic Lighting: Artistic lighting is crucial.
Camera Rig as Character: Cady restores and "dances" with a motion control camera rig. She jogs the rig towards her, then back almost like a waltz.
Lens as Perspective: We cut briefly to the motion control camera POV.
a representation of how film shapes our self-perception.
choreography
INT. ODDFX - STAGE - NIGHT
The stage is quiet. Cady climbs out of the tent where Prism and Parker sleep. She punches the on the rear screen projector, powers up the camera rig, and turns on MUSIC.
She studies the silhouette of the camera rig and camera, majestic and elegant. Picking up the joystick that controls the camera rig, Cady steps the camera back. Then forward.
She steps in unison with the camera. Forward, backward, to the side. Her movements become a tentative waltz with the camera.
Her confidence builds. She steps onto the lower camera platform and glides herself across and around the stage with the control almost like an ice skating dance with her partner - the camera and rig.
A powerful pas de deux. Cady dismounts, elated.
TWO WORLDS: HER LENS
locations
To minimize relocation costs, based on my production experience, all locations are written to be within a 10-mile radius in any city.
Primary Locations:
Woman's Shelter: A large, house-like structure.
Warehouse: To serve as "OddFX"
Primary Locations:
Woman's Shelter: A large, house-like structure.
Warehouse: To serve as "OddFX"
"Prime Locations - One Scene Shots"
• Primary Locations:
Schools: Two scenes, utilizing a single school location and employing different camera angles/perspectives.
Woman's Shelter: A large, house-like structure.
Family Home: A standard residential home.
Warehouse: To serve as "Oddfx" .
Local Grocery Store: A typical neighborhood grocery.
Camera Shop: A retail store specializing in cameras and related equipment.
"Prime Locations - One Scene Shots":
These are locations intended for single-scene usage, minimizing setup and breakdown time.
screenplay
Screenplay available upon request.
maybe talk about audience
budget
TWO WORLDS: HER LENS
Camerawoman POV: The story is told from the perspective of a camerawoman.
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty: Special effects sets can be more visually compelling than the final on-screen product.
Subconscious Exploration: "OddFX" represents the subconscious, visualized through:
Distorted reflections.
Smoke-induced isolation.
Black Duvetyne barriers.
Imaginary worlds seen through matte painting holes.
Dramatic Lighting: Artistic lighting is crucial.
Camera Rig as Character: Cady restores and "dances" with a motion control camera rig. She jogs the rig towards her, then back almost like a waltz.
Lens as Perspective: We cut briefly to the motion control camera POV.
a representation of how film shapes our self-perception.