Basic Premise…

This viral short film is a collection of testimonials and bizarre eye-witness accounts of an unexplained scarecrow increase around town.  I would liken this phenomenon to that of the unexplained crop-circles.  No one knows where they are coming from but all are agreed that it is strange and freaky. Bad Freaky.  Some think it is linked together with a mysterious caretaker gone missing years ago. Some think it is an evil sign of bad things to come, others think it is ghosts. Most don’t know what to think, but over all don’t like it.

Shot Sequencing

This is meant to feel somewhat disorienting to the viewer.
Through means of the editing style, it will have a frenetic and psychotic feel. Clips will sometimes be cutting off what an interviewer will say and perhaps re-visit it later in the film or not. Flashed still images of scarecrows and other bizarre imagery will create subconscious undertones of  horror.  Sound design will extenuate the momentary flashes to increase a feeling of fear.

Generally the accounts will be played one after the next, playing off of each other and the general notions of the caretakers tale.  At 1st the caretakers back story may be only hinted at, but later in the testimonials, the full tale will be revealed.  This will also be accompanied with a variety of different cut away shots from the interview, to the scarecrows themselves (with interview audio underneath), passing by, locked off, passing via horse and buggy.

B-roll shots of various antiques showing the period.  Shots eluding to ghostly activity or showing an actual ghost may be interesting in some of the flash moments.  Ghosts would be portrayed as normal sans there placement. IE :: An elderly women in a black dress pushes an old baby carriage in a random field.

Locations / Look

The interviews are shot in the daytime and can take place any where we want as long as there are no tell-tale objects that can date the shot to any one time. Forest backdrops, back roads, farms, views, etc. will work. The general look of the film will be similar to the graded images show above and below. A very heavy contrasted grain with almost a black and white feel will be implemented.  Subtle undertones of blue and yellow in the shadows and highlights for accent as well as occasional film displacement and damage.  Sometimes interviewers will be shown in shadow to give a more graphic feel and mysterious nature to the flow.

Casting

Each interview should have a slightly different vibe,  but they should all tell a slightly similar story. Actors should give performances that contain levels of emotion ranging from fear and anger,  to confusion and disgust. Everyone handles this situation a bit differently and has there own take.  Some people wish not to speak about it at all IE: they refuse to answer the questions and rudely walk away.  One interviewee is very kind and is willing to offer up her thoughts. She explains a bit about the caretaker as we jump cut through a series of shots around the property and though various relative antiques.  Clothing will be authentic as will film grading and look.  This will help the characters feel more in the period.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Over all this is a story about a character that we never see or meet and events surrounding him. Its all about building up the idea of the caretaker.  Character development.  We are creating that development though a series of accounts and testimonials.  People are professing their fears to the camera What makes this interesting to me is the connection from this film world to our real world, where people around town are seeing actual scarecrows. We are integrating the two worlds to be one. The drama lies in the fact that there is an over all tension building.

We are wanting to know more about this man and the scarecrow incidents that keep happening.  Are they related? What does it mean? Are we safe?

The total length of this will probably be in the range of 8-10 minutes  with the possibility of an directors cut.  It is meant to be short and to the point as well as leave you wanting more.