A few months ago I had to come up with a few ideas for a script for my Scriptwriting class, you may recall me mentioning this in a few earlier posts. In total I came up with what I believe to be 7 original concepts for scripts, some of them probably ought to be scrapped (in fact most of them ought to) but there was one which appealed to me (if that’s the right word). One idea was more or less perfect for a project that I want to embark on.

Film makers and creative digital artists are forever testing their boundaries, seeing how far the public will let them go before they get slammed down. As a creative digital media artist, I too hear this call, I want to test my creative boundaries and see how far I can go. To reuse an old cliché, I want to reach for the stars. For a very long time I’ve wanted to create a gritty British drama; the kind of thing that you would expect to see on the BBC during the weekdays. I personally think that a project like this would definitely push me to my creative peak, it would enable me to stretch the boundaries of what I can achieve. I also want to deliver a message, a very important message that isn’t heard too much.

The concept is a gritty British drama serial that addresses the taboo subject of pedophillia. Certainly to my knowledge there has not been a series addressing this issue. The drama would orientate around a boy whose mother sexually abuses him, unbeknownst to the boys father or other loved ones. The focus on the drama would not be on the act, or on the boy or even on the mother; the focus of the drama would be on the father. When one comes into contact with stories of pedophillia they usually feature a male adult as the pedophile, whereas in reality it is indeed both sexes that commit this crime. That is the story that I want to tell, that is the issue that I want to address.

I am fully aware that there will be people disgusted by my idea of wanting to make a drama about pedophillia, but it is an important issue that has never been properly addressed. Why do people commit the act? What is the immediate effect that it has on its victim? For too long people have seen this topic as too taboo to deal with. I want to make a drama that pushes these boundaries, this is a part of our society that needs to be addressed and I believe that a drama such as this (if done in the right way) could help.

Chris Leydon.

Nothing in Return

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First week back at Uni and I’ve hardly paused for breath, it’s been one hell of a week. I suppose I ought to talk you through it, event by event.

Last week was the week which myself and the rest of my “Project Elements” group decided to shoot our film. Until 22:00 BST on Sunday  we did not have any actors for our film, not great when you’re supposed to be filming the next day. Dan Hayne and my dear friend Dave Tyrrell came to the rescue and agreed to make up the cast for the film.

Monday came and as a group we twoddled on down to Worcester for an evening shoot on top of Fort Royal Hill. Lights were ready to be switched on, cameras were rolling and the sound was recording; however the generator would not power up, I kicked it, threw it and bashed it but to no avail. After a quick phone call to Nick Cooper and Tom Evans (to come and pick up the generator and take it with them) we attempted to film some night shots with the little light that we had naturally available. Very soon we began to realise that we couldn’t keep filming with no light, consequently it was decided to call it a day. Ben, Chet and Dan headed back to Stafford, despite my advice not to, and I headed with Nick & Tom to a volunteering event to document it.

It must be explained that the following evening is a bit of a blur to me, however I do remember bothering people with cameras and the end of South Worcestershire Millennium Volunteers. I didn’t go to sleep that evening, instead I was panicking about our film and editing footage for another project.

The following day we were supposed to reconvene and begin filming at 4 o’clock in the morning with a working generator. Naturally things did not go to plan, Ben et al missed their train and by the time they arrived in Worcester it was light again so we could not film our evening scenes. The rest of the day was spent filming the rest of the video; I then left to capture the footage to HDD and the rest of the group departed for Stafford once again.

After capturing the footage to Final Cut and reviewing it I once again entered panic mode. Every single shot was either out of frame, out of focus, under exposed or over exposed; so much for being film students… I gave Stafford base a ring and we decided to reshoot all that we could in Stafford on Thursday.

Equipment was hell to get a hold of for the entire week, but with connections we managed to get all that we needed. On Friday we started the editing process and by 23:59 on Friday evening we had a finished film.

Today the film was presented in front of or lecturers and we receive feedback next week, so I shall let you know how it went.

In the meantime, without further ado, I would like to present the result of all of my sweat and turmoil; “Nothing In Return”.

Chris Leydon.