Pre-Production

This post will cover up all the major actions that were taken ensure a smooth and efficient pre-production for the main project. Things like One Liner, Story Boarding and script would be shared here.

One Liner

Story Boarding

For the story boarding, I did all the sketching digitally, using the app Ibis Paint.

Script

Screenplay

The screenplay played an essential role in my short film Insanity since it brought structure and complexity to the project even after completing the script. Whereas the script established the dialogue and general action, the screenplay enabled me to picture each scene with clear cut details, camera movement, and emotional beats. It served to close the gap between the story on paper and the story-on-screen, making sure that the tension, atmosphere, and psychological aspects were conveyed precisely as planned. Without the screenplay, the movie would have been missing the definite direction required to bring the dark and haunting universe of the Surgeon to life.

Budgeting

When it came to the costumes, I did not see the need to spend much. Right from the start, I had a very clear idea of the type of clothing that would suit the tone and style of the screenplay. The look of the character was already well thought out to suit the dark and creepy atmosphere of Insanity. Instead of emphasizing the expensive clothes, I concentrated on choosing simple but significant items that complemented the psychological richness of the narrative. This not only was faithful to the world I envisioned but ensured consistency between the script and the end visual presentation.

Scheduling

Assessing Risks & Precautions

Location

Since I had little to no time; I had to act fast and get a location which was easy to shoot at and would take less time to go to. After much thought I decided to use my bedrooms sitting area, there was a lot of mess because it was practically just right outside my bedroom but the potential was there. I also chose this because before I already had shot my preliminary "Silent Toxins" here. (Could only show the front view picture due to family privacy reasons).

Casting & Rehersals

With no time to waste; deadlines and assessments approaching in fast; I had to think of a quick and effortless way to attract a student body to participate in this casting phase. Instead of going full fletch pasting the casting posters around the campus, I just sent them as an E-Invite in 2 to 3 student body groups. Honestly speaking I had little hope of anyone coming but then came a whole bunch of friends and fellow classmates ready to help me in this endeavour.

This is the E-Poster/Invite I made particulary for casting. I sent these in Instagram and Whatsaap student body groups but also got the time to make a visual representation in "Blender" & "Photoroom" of how these would'hv looked if placed around campus.

The effort and emotional perspective each and everyone of the students put in their acting skills were remarkable. But I just wanted someone who could convey their emotions through facial expressions and actions. I went around the campus to see how they would look in different lighting styles and locations but nothing seemed fruitfull.

                     

Another thing that came into issue that many of the students could not come to my house as they had transportation and timing issues. Hence I decided to reherse with my old crew one last time, to see how they would help me out in this situation.

I let the actions do the talking and after school timing when the campus was empty; I started to let them act. The persona I wanted to implement and what I expected was how they were going to do different actions related to the script in an expressive way. For example, if one of them were using a weapon, I wanted so that their hand actions and breathing pattern would tell the audience how the character must be feeling. As the whole script indicated that the face of the surgeon will be shown just during the last climax scenes, I also wanted them to be facially expressive too. Not being under the radar, I even decided to judge them on how they would look as the doppleganger, with the mask and all, but unfortunately, It didn't work out.

One of the things I rehersed with Umar; who wanted to be the surgeon, was to show fear and paranoia with his eyes. The way this was to be executed was durectly coorelated to how the surgeon was feeling whilst he was hallucinating.

Then came the part when we finally see his face and know that someone is behind him. Here the emotional spectrum needs to be leashed and only paranoia and anxiety should have been shown in an efficient manner.

This is one of the second times where the facial expression needs to be focued on but this time if we look back at Abdurrehman who is playing the doppleganger, he is doing this efficiently but not accurately.

This was to check how Umar would represent his body language effectively. Since the surgeon mainly had to show his body movements instead of sheer facial emotions (which indeed also were important), I wanted to see how he would indulge in this sequence.

The action sequence which was to determine how he would control his actions whilst potraying something dramatic like shooting a gun and killing someone.
No time left to lose, I came home exhausted but got the idea to take help from my little brother. He was already an angry head and showed his emotions by his "actions" when he was furious. So after a pizza night promise, I got him to "try" and play the surgeon, whilst I would play the doppleganger.

The Surgeon

A ruthless serial killer, roaming the streets of an unknown city in an unknown country. His motto says to kill only those who deserve it, but something else forces him to take the scalpel and put it on himself instead. This character has to be played with patience yet examplary emotional control; Khubaib has got both.

Mood Board & Actor Image

The Doppleganger

The one who haunts all, I will play the alternate version of the surgeon who will awail any chance to come and make him end his own damnation filled life. My face will be covered with a mask but I must show resiliance in the eyes and convey anger and confidence with them.

Mood Board & Actor Image

Note: All images used in the making of the mood board belong to their rightfull owner and are being used for educational purposes only.