Film Competition Ideas!

Who am I?

Focus in on a really obvious parent/teenage argument, but with youth/ Tobacco industry along the lines of:

Teenager : I don’t even know who I am yet, I’m so impressionable!

Tob ind : I don’t care about that, I’ve got child labourers to pay for and the Amazon wont de-forest itself!

Exchange

Wall Street style stock exchange/ Saachi&Saachi scene, shares in Smoking related death, stocks are up, invest more in press, screen time, Movies, Actors – it’s working, business is booming, but arrant people dying? Yes but we’re rich!!

Insider

We see inside a Tobacco head office admin department and find it staffed by children. The real face of the company.

An Old Oak

A tree surgeon is cutting down oaks as young couple sit under them – when asked why they are told that the tobacco industry needs the wood to burn to dry the tobacco and to make room for a tobacco plantations and drying shed.

/ FILM COMPETITION HINTS:

Getting started

A script is something that is challenging, something that breaks new ground!

Here are some hints & tips to help you on your way.

Why 90-seconds?

90-seconds is a time that is ideal for a viral / cinema advert. It is a challenging but achievable amount of time to make an impact and tell a story in.

Think about how much can be communicated in a commercial or viral lasting just over a minute!

What works?

Think about what kinds of documentaries get on television, this can help when deciding on what ideas do and don’t work. Have a look at the Smoke & Mirrors YouTube page for some inspiration.

Subject

The Smoke & Mirrors Competition focuses on uncovering the truth behind negative Tobacco Industry practices. We want your ideas, creative visions and campaigning actions on the issues.

So what will your film be about? How do you decide? There is no right or wrong way on this, but choosing a fact that you are passionate about will work best – so get thinking!

Here are some ideas:

• Showcase your campaigning activities
• Showcase personal interviews to make a point
• Create a fictional play about child labour, or tobacco farming

Will you include a character in your film?

Finding and choosing a character is crucial – it is important to bear in mind the following:
Will the character hold the audience’s attention?
Will the audience care what happens to them?
Will the audience be able to create an emotion towards them?

Character’s don’t need to be likeable but they do need to be compelling.
They have to be interesting in some way to keep the audience captivated.

Finding structure in your idea

It helps to have a plan. Remember your story is a journey, so you need to know where the journey starts and where it’s going. The best stories, like journeys, have highs and lows. If your journey only goes in a straight line, the chances are it will be very predictable. Style isn’t just about the look and the feel of the film; it’s how you tell your story.

A good way to practice thinking about structure is to read newspapers and magazines, pick out a story that interests you, and think about how you would tell that story in a short documentary.

So, choose a subject that you are passionate about.

Find a compelling character or theme.

Work out your idea structure.

These aren’t fixed rules, just hints & tips to get you on your way.