Idea For A Short Film....

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dmillz

New member
Well First I would like to thank these forums for teaching me so so much.
Anyways, I have an idea for a short film I'm thinking about making in the near future. (I'm not sure if the idea sucks or not so I wanted to see what you people thought)

The Movie is about a young teenage boy who is slightly depressed and attempts to kill himself. But before he can hang himself he is interrupted by his group of friends. They persuade him to come spend the day with them (they don't know he was trying to kill himself) As he spends the day with his friends he repeatedly attempts to kill him self( in various ways) But each time he is interrupted by his friends or some action in the movie.

I Currently have a few endings in mind but I haven't chosen which one would fit best.

Also, The way I wanted to shoot the film was like a normal movie about teenage people (such as kids or hurricane streets) but throughout the movie have short "montages" that propel the story line further while having unique effects and editing style(similar to some scenes in bomb the system).

But anyways, let me know if you find this idea amazing or just plain stupid.
Any constructive comments welcome, thanks.
 
Immediately the idea of a short film about suicide makes me a little nervous. Not because of the subject matter, but because suicide is presented in so many short films that it's typically cliched---such as the hitman teenagers swearing and shooting airsoft guns...

My advice would be to take this idea in the direction of a dark comedy. Make the audience laugh a bit.

If it is a drama, I'd fear the audience would give up in the first few minutes of the film. It's hard to expect them to sympathize with a character who is trying to kill himself the whole film. You can't play the same note the whole way through.

If that helps any.... super! lol
 
A slightly depressed person wouldn't be inclined to kill themselves while in the company of others.

Contrary to popular belief, those who are suicidal don't want to die. They want an escape. And death is such an option. And generally they don't want to involve anyone else. Someone generally wouldn't kill themselves in front of friends.

If that is really the way you want to go, he wouldn't do it every moment that is friends turned their heads. Just a practical note on it.
 
The idea is interesting as black comedy.

Although I would make the main character an adult. I find teen suicide a whole lot less funny as a starting point.
 
Maybe give it a tone similar to 'Dead Like Me'?

I tend to agree that most kids wouldn't try to commit suicide with their friends hanging around. And the more you repeat that 'gag', the more boring it's going to get. Instead, could it be a series of unrelated events that keep interrupting the kid and preventing him completing his 'mission'?

One funny take on this was the old Dabney Coleman movie 'Short Time', in which he plays a cop who thinks he has a terminal illness and so is trying to get himself killed in the line of duty because his life insurance will pay double. Might be worth a look.
 
I also think that would be a great dark comedy and I also think that you would be better off using adults as opposed to teens. At least early 20's.
 
Alright...thanks guys for all the comments, and I agree it would be slightly boring the way i thought of it.
Ill take all your comments into consideration.
Although I have no previous experience with shooting a dark comedy or any type of comedy at all....Ill have to do a lot of research.
But thanks again
 
Yeah I'd do a short about anything but suicide. That's like 75% of short films you see in film school. I often wonder if it's because new filmmakers think it's more edgy or because new filmmakers tend to be suicidal. :nads:

Noah
 
I think it's because new filmmakers are young and suicide is a real social topic amongst younger people. Just my thought.
 
Sad Max said:
The idea is interesting as black comedy.

Although I would make the main character an adult. I find teen suicide a whole lot less funny as a starting point.
Click to expand...
Black comedy is definitely the way to go. Go to Netflix and rent Harold and Maude.
 
The reason I picked suicide as a main factor is not because i think its edgy, or because i think its a good social topic, and its not because I'm a young filmmaker( though I am) It's because I'm not very good at thinking of movie ideas or writing screenplays. I don't got much else
 
dmillz said:
The reason I picked suicide as a main factor is not because i think its edgy, or because i think its a good social topic, and its not because I'm a young filmmaker( though I am) It's because I'm not very good at thinking of movie ideas or writing screenplays. I don't got much else
Click to expand...

Well at least you know your strengths and weaknesses. :)

Ever consider shooting a script written by someone else?
 
haha yea i do know what i can do and what i cant.
I have considered shooting other peoples scripts( and i have done that before)
I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have my friend who is a writing major at my school work with me and produce a script together.
And ill just stick to the cinematography.
But thanks for all the comments
 
Sad Max said:
When I was in school, there was this special look that the instructors reserved, for student films about student filmmakers...
Click to expand...

lol. My acting instructor had a similar look which she would reserve for people who thought real acting was trying to cry onstage. :)
 
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