'Morris: A Life with Bells on' Mockumentary

Morris: A Life with Bells On A life with bells on is a mockumentary style film, which did not receive any big distribution to big cinemas, at all, only straight to DVD. The film, aimed at a small niche audience, is a light hearted take on west-country Morris dancers. The film, funded and written by the director, was shown in portable cinemas (Moviola) which travelled around small rural towns and villages. The film was particularly low-budget and marketing was done via Facebook, Morris dancing communities, Twitter, radio, newspapers and cast interviews on GMTV. There were no billboards, posters on buses or banners. This is typical of a low budget film that does not receive sufficient backing. The mockumentary style, in my opinion, works particularly well. The past few years have seen a significant increase in using mockumentaries for a comedy film or TV series, such as 'The Office' on BBC2 and the film 'This is Spinal Tap'. I would like my trailer to follow the conventions of a mockumentary style film, because it is subtly amusing, instead of slap-stick, in-your-face comedy supplied by other films. Mockumentaries are usually aimed at an older, or more mature audience. This is the audience my trailer is aimed at.

First Idea

A mockumentary style film following a group of teenagers battling their way through Sixth Form College, trying to overcome relationships, jobs, and the Student Union. 3 characters which the camera follows, with snippets of interviews with each of them as well as a few other support characters.

Paul - Fancies Sam, has no other friends apart from the Josh. Sam is a little repulsed by Paul because of his Father's love of game hunting, Sam is a vegetarian, and she fights the Student Union to get an all-veggie-cafe in the Sixth Form Common Room.

Sam - The only female character, who doesn't get along with very many people, apart from Josh and Paul, although the days where she gets on with those two are few and far between. Constantly arguing with anyone and constantly protesting about something, Samantha is the Sixth Form's very own (younger) Anne Widdecombe.

Josh - Josh is the leader (and only member) of the Student Union, voted in by fellow Sixth Formers due to his promise to "Allow parties to be held in the common room - with alcohol." As of yet, he has not quite performed this particular part of his campaign - nor any of his other promises - which people are nearly always bringing up with him and he frequently loses his temper over it.

Narrative with example of the film 'Salt' (2010)

There are several types of narrative, from various people. For example, there is the 'Todorov Theory'. Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist linguist who suggested that stories follow a particular pattern:

-Equilibrium (normality).

-Disequilibrium (something happens which upsets normality).

-New Equilibrium (the new form of normality, which is not always good).

These three steps are easily recognisable in contemporary Hollywood Blockbusters. This particular theory makes for an easier viewing experience, the audience can clearly see what is happening, because of the blatantly obvious separation of circumstance.

There is also Vladimir Propp, a Russian critic and theorist who examined hundreds of examples of folk tales to see if they shared any structures. He identified 8 character roles:

1. The Villain(s)

2. The Hero

3. The Donor - who provides an object with some magic object

4. The Helper - who aids the hero

5. The Princess - reward for the hero and the object of the Villain's schemes

6. Princess' Father - who rewards the hero

7. The Dispatcher - who sends the hero on his way

8. The False Hero - who takes the Hero's credit and tries to 'get the girl'.

This particular theory is used most of the time in Fairy tales, and films aimed more specifically at a younger audience or children. Thus a lot of animated films use this particular theory, the more characters involved in a plot line, the more this theory is used.

The 2010 film 'Salt' starring Angelina Jolie was a big Hollywood blockbuster, and used Todorov's theory, similar to most Hollywood blockbusters. Evelyn Salt is the protagonist, depicted as a CIA agent living in Washington DC with a husband and steady career. (Equilibrium). Salt is then accused of being a Russian spy by a Russian walk-in from the streets of Washington, causing her colleagues to turn against her, forcing her to escape to check the safety of her husband. (Disequilibrium). When Salt finds out that her husband has been taken, she is alone against the CIA - her previous colleagues - and the plot unwraps as she attempts to outwit her various enemies, with disguises and clever planning. (New Equilibrium). The new equilibrium continues at the end of the film, when she reveals the truth to the CIA who let her go and she is still alone against the people who caused the problems in the first place.

Advanced Portfolio

To produce a promotional package for a film. To include a teaser trailer, a magazine front cover and a poster. The work must be presented on a blog format and edited to individual taste.