Childrens Film Opening Script

Boy is in bed, quietly reading a book. The only light is just a small bedside light.
Boy slowly begins to drift off to sleep as the camera slowly fades out and eventually the book drops to the floor.

Boy: What's going on, where on Earth am I.

Narrator: Welcome, to the dreamland, you are inside your own head, free to do whatever you want, whenever you want. You can fly, you can visit grand landscapes and you can eat, whatever you want.

Will: Why am i made of plasticine?

Narrator: This is how the dream world works, don't ask me, you imagined it...

Will: Right...

Narrator: We're getting off the point my friend, the real question is, how do you leave?

Will: Well, I'll try the door over there...

Narrator: Yes, that could work, fill your boots, but wheres the fun in that?

[voice fades away slowly]

Will Walks over to the door, slowly, and a bright white light shines through.

the boys dog appears in the scene, made of plasticine like the rest of the set and jumps up to lick his face.

Dog: Ruff! oh terribly sorry old chap, got a chesty cough. But I'm so glad you're here!

Boy: Hello boy! WAIT, since when did you talk?!

Dog: I'll have you know, I speak 9 languages, including Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, Gibberish, Dog and Human, of course.

Boy: Whatever, lets explore...

STORYBOARD

shot 1: medium long, will laying in bed the falling asleep

shot 2: swirly lines representing entrance to a 'dream world'
shot3: out of focus P.O.V, will blinks in to focus
shot 4: medium, looks down at hands a feet
shot5: gets out of bed and starts walking around his room
shot8: long, walks down stairs

shot10: medium, opens front door and looks out
shot 11: extreame long, looks out at imaginary world

THE TEAM

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
BEAN HOLMES: animator
BREAD MAKER: director
WILL RITSON: actor
LEWIS REES: camera man

Stop motion with toys

FIRST IDEA

The first idea we have is of a young boy (Will) who will fall asleep one night, only to wake to find out he has transformed in to a cartoon version of himself, and can shape shift into anything. After this he explores an imaginary world, experiencing a world of weird creatures and settings, with the aim to find his way out and transform back to his usual 'human' self. When in this world, we want the boy character to be able to transform into anything he wants, i.e. a bird, car, plane etc, whilst exploring various 'worlds', such as; a jungle, space etc (basically a magical world) and meeting the inhabitants i.e. aliens etc. IDEAS TO BE DONE IN PLASTICINE OR LEGO

Analysis of childrens film opening

Toy Story - Will Ritson



To begin with, the opening to Toy Story has an all round happy and warm atmosphere. One elements that relates to this are the colours in the sequence. They consist of mainly light blues, browns and yellows. These colours appear quite neutral, and unimposing, as opposed to colours such as red. This also hints at a sense of security with the toys, and that alot of fun can be had with them. In addition to this, the cloud design of the wall paper on screen adds to this, as clouds and blue sky tend to be associated with warm summer days and fun. The opposite effect would happen if the skys were grey and gloomy.

In addition to this, the non-diagetic sound, the music in particular, is very upbeat and happy. This also adds to the sense of fun and security, and adds to the films all round atmosphere. In addition to this, the words "you got a friend in me" suggest an actual friendship with the toys themselves.

The mise-en-scene within the sequence is all of toys. The "buildings" made from the boxes suggest to children waching that fun can be had with everything. In addition to this, the room has toys everywhere, and in a way, the room looks like a miniature landscape, with the blue sky wallpapers, the boxes, and the toy race track. It is almost surreal.

Preliminary Task

Wallace & Gromit-Stopmotion & Character Creation

This clip shows how the makers of children's comedy film Wallace and Gromit made their film Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The clip analyses how the makers used Stopmotion to give the effects in the film of the Were-Rabbit; of how it moves and the construction of the characters. This could help us in the development of our characters and help us to make our opening scene more realistic, but still maintaining the effect of Stopmotion.

Features of a BBFC U Rated Film:

U Universal –
Suitable for all:
It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

Discrimination
No discriminatory language or behaviour unless
clearly disapproved of.

Drugs
No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless
they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear
educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable
for young children.

Horror
Scary sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to
cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome
should be reassuring.

Imitable behaviour
No potentially dangerous behaviour which young
children are likely to copy. No emphasis on realistic
or easily accessible weapons.

Language
Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.

Nudity
Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Sex
Mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and
references only (for example, to ‘making love’).

Theme
While problematic themes may be present, their
treatment must be sensitive and appropriate for
young children.

Violence
Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or
menace only.