Non-Linear Treatment

Here is the film treatment I created for the Non-Linear Script lectures. In the end I decided against creating this film and to work on other peoples projects, however I may reuse this idea in the future. I hope to create projects over summer and experiment with other roles.

Non-Linear Film Treatment

Art Film/Drama

Through excruciating repetition of emotional abuse, a young woman’s snap in mental health becomes a catalyst to the violent end of her relationship.

-logline

Covered with blood a woman finds her partner murdered. Already having to deal with mental illness we see the events leading up to the boyfriend’s death. As her fractured mental state unfolds, the invisible symptoms of her abusive relationship start to come to light.

-Synopsis

Plot Structure

Woman finds partner dead > What happened?

Happy relationship > On the surface (muted dialogue)

Symbolic fractured scenes/cuts

Emotional abuse > Repeated scene but with extreme close ups and clear dialogue

Decline in mental health > sporadic editing of close ups and symbolic scenes

Catalyst/Climax > Murder

Repeat of finding body > Initial Equilibrium

After death > New equilibrium

Themes

Mental Illness through symbolism and flash editing

Emotional abuse through repeated scenes but with extreme close ups

Isolation

Symbolic Cinematography

Characters

The Abused- Young woman suffering depression is emotionally abused unbeknownst to everyone around her

The Abuser- Seemingly good boyfriend is actually controlling and aggressive abuser

Locations

Pub

Flat/home

Dark room

Inspiration

Confessions (2010) - Tetsuya Nakashima > A grieving mother turns into a cold-blooded avenger to pay back the people responsible for her daughter's death.

Gone Girl (2014) – David Fincher > after finding out her husband is being unfaithful, Rosamunde decides to frame her husband for being unfaithful.

Thirteen (2003) – Catherine Hardwicke > Due to her troubling life at home, Tracey, a young innocent becomes corrupted through friendship with an older girl and self- destruction.

Battered Woman Syndrome >The battered woman defence is a defence used in court that the person accused of an assault/murder was suffering from battered person syndrome at the material time

Depression/PTSD > mental health disorders