Four
Days
A film about high energy
physics, religion, diversity and social tolerance.
Four Days- der film is about
diversity. All the people of the world are different, this makes our world
an interesting and difficult place to live. With difference comes conflict.
Our World, our countries, our cities and even our communities are divided
by differences in culture, race, wealth, religion and many more aspects.
Four Days - der film will try to emphasize the point that people of different
ideals can live and respect each other. Strong relationships can be based
on and thrive on diversity.
Janet must cope with this knowledge, one that proves the existence of Heaven and Hell to a non-believer. When Janet and Frank die from the results of the particle accelerator research, Nayla will be given the task to carry the knowledge that Heaven and Hell exist to the people of Earth.
Treatment: The film begins with a collage of radio air play that present different religions, political, social and cultural views. This piece will compliment the beginning credits and will hint to the content to the film. The radio air play leads into the introduction of animation. The animation will take us into the future ten years and to Day Four in the film.
The first scene opens with powerful music and the sound of pounding footsteps, the College Professor is only stifled by the crashing doors as he makes his way down the long, narrow hallways. His students wait, as good students do, to be filled with the knowledge and wisdom of their professor.
He enters the room and begins to write on the black board. The hard scratching of the chalk on the board sounds like metal against cement as the Professor begins to fill the board with facts. The students provide a welcome receptor for the Professor as they write everything down, and take in every word. The Professor gives facts and data to prove that our world was created by the powers of science. He dismisses the words of the Bible as they are only stories.
The professor ends his discussion by stating to the students, by this time drinking in his every word, drawing a conclusion from my hypotheses, I can assure you that there is not a God.
This first scene sets the pace for the rest of the film, where we will see the contrasting ideals of Frank and Janet. Frank is a God fearing Christian, devoted to the church and to what it teaches. Janet is a Nuclear Research Physicist who is studying the creation and origin of matter. Their daughter Nayla rounds out this diverse and loving family. We will follow them through this story of diversity, tolerance and discovery.
Day One will begin with Frank and Nayla on their daily visit to the church. We are invited to listen to the beautiful organ music and share in the voices of people in prayer. The church and it's beauty are a deep contrast as we cut to Janets Physics Research Facility. The facility supports a 100KV VanDegraph Particle Accelerator. The facility is accented with a steady buzz of power transformers, assorted tones from controls and the whir of computers. Janet and the other scientists prepare an experiment with the accelerator. A failed detector causes an abrupt halt in the experiment and takes us back to the church.
We return from the turmoil of the lab to the welcoming sounds of the church. The music and the prayers continue as Frank greets Father Tim. They speak about faith and how important it is not to question faith. Frank and Father Tim share a close relationship that helps to foster Franks love of God.
We join Janet, Frank and Nayla together for dinner. They sit around a large table in a dining room that is cluttered with the interests of the family. From the radio we hear a program discussing the issues of the First Commandment. This scene brings you close the family and their everyday life. We will show the great differences in the family but also the tolerance and love that brings them together as a family.
Day Two passes with the TV Talk Show Scene that will foreshadow the end of the film. On Day Three we join Janet and her colleagues back at the lab. The film will spiral to a climatic ending when Janet discovers a way of reaching Hell and then returning to talk about it. Frank is called to the lab to share in Janets discovery. When the experiment is re-created, Janet and Frank find themselves in Hell. Back in the lab, a detector has failed and the experiment is reaching dangerous conditions.
The film ends with Frank being sucking of his life in Hell, a Hell that is unlike any that he ever believed. The fast driving music and folly of images will show the victims of this Hell strapped to chairs and tables, electro-mechanical devices used to draw the blood to feed the Devil.
Janet finds herself in a place she doubted existed for so long. The air is mild as it comes off a body of water, the sounds are soft and mystical. She must be in Heaven.
The last image of Janet provides a transition to Nayla walking in the city streets. The streets are filled with people as they buy at the market. The hustle and bustle are in contrast to the deep feelings and thoughts of Nayla as she walks along the street. As Nayla nears the camera the sounds that engulfs her slowly subside and the foot steps of her feet are all that is heard as she passes the camera out of frame, we fade to black. Project Justification Most of the confl country, community or between a friend or loved one stems from differences and lack of understanding. These differences include many aspects; culture, race, sex, ancestral, class, religion , among others. This film will point to differences in religion as our primary view. In addition to our primary focus the film will offer a look at differences in sexuality, transportation, media and perception of gender roles.
The story will arouse the feelings and the thoughts of a specific audience. The intellectual content of the film with its religion and atheist views, the dark film noir style, science fiction content and the strange experimental concepts will draw a mix of people interested in a thoughtful film.
The pre-production activities are scheduled to begin in January 1994. Production of the film will begin in May 1994 and continue for about two months. Production equipment will be acquired from Minneapolis Community Collage (MCC), Midwest Media Artists Access Center and other resources. The project will be editing at MCC with other post production facilities in Minneapolis being utilized.
With the deep shadows and dark corners of the physics lab and the general dark composition of the film it can be categorized as a mix between Film Noir and Science Fiction. Four Days - der film will be captured on black and white film. Animation will be used during three segments to help communicate time and place to the audience. Sound design will also play a major roll in the film. Special sound effects with music will complement the images, show the conflict and emphasize specific scenes.
Selected locations for the project will lend to it's authenticity and to the character of the film. The film will be shot in nine locations. These locations will include; St. Thomas Seminary, a Summit Avenue Mansion, University of Minnesota Physics Lab and classrooms, Randolph Elementary School, Saint Paul Cable Television Studios, downtown Minneapolis streets and Lake Superior.
A major portion of the film will be shot in the Williams Physics Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. This 20,000 square feet facility was built in 1964 and includes a 100KV VanDegraph Particle Accelerator, control room, radiation escape tunnels and a large collection of support and analytical devices to add to the atmosphere of these scenes.
The scenes that will include
the church will be photographed at the Saint Thomas Seminary. Built in
the 1800's, this church will provide a rich tradition and atmosphere
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A sole proprietorship will be established under the name of MacgowanProductionS. Private and corporate donations will be sought for pre-production, production, post-production and distribution costs.
Note that limited grant funding is available for student films. For this reason little effort will be made to attract funds from grants.
Company History: MacgowanProductionS was founded in 1991, on Acker Strasse 149, East Berlin. Established in Berlin to support the production of a short video on the Underworld Telephone System in East Berlin. Today MacgowanProductionS continues to make films. Since 1991 the group has produced or has been involved in production of seven works, three of which are short films.
Key Personnel:
Chris Macgowan, Writer, Producer, Director and Editor - Chris has been working with film media for four years. His credits include: 2789th Street, a short dramatic film about Urban Sprawl and its effects on our society. 2789th Street was screened at the Chicago International Film Festival and received a Merit Award. Foreshadowed Darkness is a short dramatic story of a blind person and the preconceptions that our society has toward blind people. Producer and editor on the public service announcement We're Not Los Angels. The program was used to educate and promote the use of Light Rail Transit. Camera Assistant on The Toilers and The Wayfarers, a dramatic feature film produced by KJF Productions, Written and Directed by Keith Froelich. Camera Assistant for INVOCATION, a music video produced and directed by DeJunius Hughes. Production Assistant on Gods Country, A short dramatic story written and directed by Gary Jenneke. Third Camera Assistant for Nachts Schreien Die Katzen, A student thesis film 'A Cat Screams In The Night' Directed by Kerstin Bastian. The film was produced by DEFA Center For Film Technology, East Berlin, Germany.
Tim McCusker, Cinematographer - Tim Co-directed and Co-produced a short film Point Barrow Alaska. Directed and Produced the short film Winter. Grip and Gaffer on Andrew Petersons Safe Storage a short film. Tim also works as a Gaffer and Grip on commercial, Industrial and feature films.
Mike Nelesen, Gaffer - Mike Co-directed and Co-produced the short film Point Barrow Alaska. Mike has worked as a Grip and Gaffer in the commercial, Industrial and feature film industries. Mike brings three years of lighting design to this project.
Jeff Frederick, Production Manager - Jeff is a Twin Cities based director, designer and writer. He recently completed producing a film with Moscow director George Souldaze under a Jerome Foundation Grant. Jeff Fredricks other work includes: Residence Director for the Guthrie Theaters The Royal Family, Director for the Hip Deep Show, a touring variety show which focus on issues facing young adults. Jeff also works as a stage manager, designer, carpenter and lighting technician for local theaters.
Beth Smith, Location Manager - Beth has been working in the film industry for three years. Her experience includes: Set Production Assistant, Assistant to the Production Manager, Prompts, Script Supervision and Second Unit Production Assistant for various feature films, music videos, television commercials and industrial productions.
Monte Swan, Location Sound - Monty brings strong skills in location sound recording to this project. Monte has recorded sound on Leon Dividing Totdski, a feature length documentary produced in Moscow. He recorded sound on various short films and boomed on War Of The Oaks. Monte has produced and directed two short films: The Giant Family and Artifice.
Laura Mae Bobick, Assistant
Director - Laura brings four years of industry experience to this project.
She has worked as a Production Coordinator, Location Manager and Set Production
Assistant for feature films, music videos and television commercials. Laura
was also the Rivertown Film Festival Coordinator for three years at the
University of Minnesota Film Society. She produced and directed her own
film called Cafe'.
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Earnings History: Generally, a short film will gross little money. The films are important to help artists gain experience and expose their work to the film community.
Advertising: The film will be marketed locally at theaters and other venues. The advertizing will comprise of press releases, posters and mailing.
The film will be marketed nationally and internationally by entry into film festivals. At the festivals press releases, posters and mailings will be used to promote the film screening.
The film will be screened
in the New York Independent Feature Film Market (IFFM). Press releases,
posters and mailing will be used to promote the film prior and during the
market.
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Type: Distribution in art theaters, museum tours, short festivals, cable television, broadcast television and the home video market will be pursued.
Exploitation: The film will
be released in July 1996. Exploitation of the film will continue for two
years.
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Tax Impact Independent Feature Project North is acting as a fiscal agent to MacgowanProductionS. Contributions to Four Days - der film will be tax deductible through this arrangement.
Income: Below is the projected
income for merchandising, ancillary income and distribution. Merchandising
0.00 Ancillary 500.00 (Film Festival Awards) Distribution 3,500.00 Total
Income 4,000.00
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Pre-production Plan Actual
100
Story rights and writing cost
0.00 0.00
200
Production Staff
17.00 17.00
300
Talent
22.00 22.00
400
Office Administration
123.00 744.68
Production Plan Actual
500 Location Expenses 3,982.00
3,184.61
600 Raw Stock 1,620.24 1,317.50
700 Camera Equipment 2,745.00
694.29
800 Grip Equipment 1,110.00
1,037.59
900 Sound Equipment 295.00
30.73
1000 Prop / Costume / Makeup
500.00 120.33
1100 Laboratory Processing
4,708.00 2,923.66
Post-production Plan Actual
1200 Titles and Opticals
75.00 0.00
1300 Sound Post Production
1,151.20 1,136.48
1400 Film Post Production
- Edit 640.00 395.50
Distribution Plan Actual
1500 Distribution 2,845.00
0.00
General Business Plan Actual
1600 Accounting 0.00 0.00
1700 Legal Fees 0.00 0.00
1800 Insurance 0.00 0.00
Plan Actual
Total 19,833.44 11,624.37
Contingency (10%) 1,983.34 1,162.43
Grand Total 21,816.78 12,786.80
Balance needed for completion:
9,029.98 BUDGET