THE WAXWING SLAIN

Our plot & story have changed greatly over the course of planning and research.

Back when the conceived story was called Seb's Home, we initially had a narrative that showed events seperated by years, and had no psychological element to it what so ever.

Now, though, The Waxwing Slain has a much narrower scope, and more of a focus on the psychological elements that drive the character of Seb. To show this, I've made a clear Plot Blocking graph in this post to help with creating the script and storyboard in later stages of planning.

REALITY - EVENT 3

The final sequence of the 'reality' strand shows Seb, alone, after Josh leaves him quietly and awkwardly, at the precipice of true isolation. We wanted to bring a sense of finality mixed in with uncertainty and doubt with these closing few shots, and also find a way to effectively wrap up 'Pale Fire', the themes of the short, and the arc of Seb.

REALITY - EVENT 2

During this section, we show Seb making his way to a yet unknown location, passing terrace streets, empty underpasses, and dilapidated industrial buildings.

This section will give us a chance to slow the pace somewhat, have more of 'Pale Fire' be read to the audience, and also give the audience time to comprehend the tone of our short.

REALITY - EVENT 1

We first see Seb in his bedroom, sorting a few final items out before running away form home. The computer screen shows an Attendance Alert from school, and on the desk is an adapted, condensed copy of 'Pale Fire', which is read throughout the short.

With the final few items packed away, he leaves without a second glance. No family member makes an appearance.

REALITY - EVENT 3

In this section of the 'reality', Seb meets with his friend, Josh, by an abandoned pub just outside of their intended destination, Soar Lane.

We've decided to mute any dialogue between the two here, instead wanting to save it for the key scenes that come later in the narrative. The non-diegetic reading of 'Pale Fire' by our protagonist continues throughout.

REALITY - EVENT 4

A few shots establish Soar Lane before Josh questions Seb's packed bag and reason for being off school.

This acts as a lifeline for Seb, who finally sees a way to tell someone about how he feels, and escape the apathy he's had for years. However, Josh brushes his confession aside, somewhat unintentionally, and completely demoralises Seb. He now has no escape from the path that he is on.

The story is separated into two distinct strands:

CREDITS ROLL

'REALITY'

&

SEB'S MIND - EVENT 3

Here, we link 'Pale Fire' and the short at its most explicit moment, as a line of repetition in the poem ('Cells interlinked within cells interlinked within cells interlinked within one stem') is represented by cutting between various prison 'cells' in Seb's life; his bedroom, school, and a more obscure image of a cluttered closet which he struggles desperately to escape from.

SEB'S MIND - EVENT 2

In this section of the 'mind' strand, we show Seb sitting down in the chair under the spotlight, A4 adaptation of 'Pale Fire' in hand. However, he remains silent. We want to lead the audience to draw their own interpretations of what these images mean.

We also show Seb walking down a hallway barely in sight, representing Seb's fruitless chasing of what he sees as a 'normal' life.

SEB'S MIND - EVENT 3

The actions of Josh crush Seb, and, to represent this, we want all of the images established in the 'mind' portion to come to a bleak end.

The hallway is empty. The chair is also empty, the spotlight off. All that plays on the screen is a loop of static, representing Seb's disconnect from reality. The short comes to a hopeless and melancholic end.

SEB'S MIND - EVENT 1

This first event is meant to establish some locations and images, primarily that of a stage lit by only one spotlight, the will be re-visited and concluded within the duration of the short.

By its very nature, this pyschological aspect of the short is far more free-flowing and fluid, meant to reflect Seb's emotions visually, and the reading of 'Pale Fire' through the same means as well.

SEB'S MIND - EVENT 3

The most explicit link to 'reality' comes shortly after, whereby Seb watches, from the chair on the stage, what seems to be a live broadcast of the events of 'reality' shown moments before; Seb and Josh meeting, both of them walking to the park e.t.c.

The emotional involvement of the Seb in the chair is meant to reflect the hope of salvation Seb feels in the 'reality' scenes.

SEB'S MIND