A Film Noir Title Sequence

TREATMENT SHEET

By Darren Parker, Jennifer Hutton and Pauline Wiley

Cast list:

The disappearance of Nancy Adams

Nancy Adams – Shannon Hogg Rita Peirce – Rebecca Ord Walter Adams – Darren Parker Detective/ Bad Guy – Will Hamilton Henry Peirce – Harry-Jon Morgan Bar Tender – Jennifer Hutton/Unknown Extras

Synopsis

Nancy Adams is a troubled female character that cheats on her husband Walter. Nancy tells her friend Rita what happened the other night, when Walter was away Rita is shocked and worried for Nancy as Walter is known to be violent especially to woman. When Walter finds out a massive argument breaks out in the bar; because Nancy is scared of Walter she runs outside upset. A mysterious looking man is watching Nancy from afar, this man goes on to assault and kidnap her. Nancy’s worried husband goes looking for his wife but can’t find her he gets a detective involved who finds an important clue at the scene of the crime.

Outline of Noir Opening Title Sequence

Beginning – The start of the opening title sequence shows a high angle shot looking down on Nancy and Rita walking down a staircase they are ready to go on a night out with their husbands. Whilst they are walking down the stairs the high angle shot will lead into a match on action showing them walking down from the back then at the front at the bottom of the stairs.

Middle – A long shot shows the couples enjoying their drinks this leads into a zoom in close up showing Nancy’s argument and the anger on Walters face. Whilst all of this is happening, there is a shallow focus showing that a detective having a drink at the bar. After that Nancy runs, frightened out of the bar the shot used to capture this will probably be a pan.

Ending – from Nancy being in the bar to standing outside an elliptical edit will be used. A close up will show Nancy’s facial expression. A shot reverse shot might be used shown Nancy then the kidnapper then back to Nancy this suggests something may happen to Nancy. An over the shoulder shot will show a long shot of Nancy from the kidnapper’s perspective. From Nancy’s perspective a pull focus will be used as she spots the kidnapper coming towards her, she screams then the camera blacks out. Her worried husband comes out of the bar this will be a log shot going in to a medium shot of him looking for his wife, he can’t find her so he goes inside worried he tells the detective what has happened. A medium two shot is used showing Walter and the detective finding Nancy’s makeup case then a close up is used showing a dissuaded cigarette end this is the important clue the detective needed.

Technical information:

Set – 1950s New York Location – Hartlepool Sixth Form College and The Studio (Hartlepool) Rating – 15 Sequence Running Time – approx. 2 Minutes

Props Needed:

- Compact Mirror - Cigar/Cigarette - Makeup Kit - Drinks

Costumes:

- Nancy and Rita will both be wearing cocktail dresses - Walter and henry will both be formally dressed wearing suits and hats - Bar tender will wear a white work shirt - Detective will be in a suit - The bad guy will have a hat on wearing a trench coat his face will hardly

be showing

Locations

The main location we would like to film at would be the studio in Hartlepool just off Church Street the low-key lighting in the bar is perfect to produce our urban 1950s New York theme we need for our title sequence. Our other location is Hartlepool Sixth Form College we want to film in this location because on particular staircase is quite noir themed and would be perfect to fill the opening of our title sequence.