ABSTRACT Writing and Directing the Short Film, Barry Jacob K
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ABSTRACT Writing and Directing the Short Film, Barry Jacob K. Robinson, M.A. Mentor: Christopher J. Hansen, M.F.A. The following thesis discusses the creative process behind the short film Barry, addressing the pre-production, production, and post-production phases of the film. This includes personal and professional goals for the project, influences on the film and my filmmaking approach in general, an analysis of the film, the methods used in producing the film, and personal reflections on decisions made throughout. Barry is a project that has evolved through a long process of analyzing personal beliefs, fears, and aspirations. In many ways, the film is ambiguous; this is by design. The process outlined in this paper will hopefully shed light on some of the more obscured elements of the film while still allowing the reader and viewer to experience and project his or her own interpretations and experiences onto the final work. Writing and Directing the Short Film, Barry by Jacob K. Robinson, B.A. A Thesis Approved by the Department of Communication David W. Schlueter, Ph.D., Chairperson Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Baylor University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Approved by the Thesis Committee Christopher J. Hansen, M.F.A., Chairperson James M. Kendrick, Ph.D. DeAnna Toten Beard, M.F.A., Ph.D. Accepted by the Graduate School August 2017 J. Larry Lyon, Ph.D., Dean Page bearing signatures is kept on file in the Graduate School. Copyright © 2017 Jacob K. Robinson All rights reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................... 1 HISTORY AND GOALS .................................................................................................................. 1 A Brief History ........................................................................................................................ 2 Personal and Professional Goals ............................................................................................ 4 CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................................. 7 DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................................ 7 The Filmic Prologue ............................................................................................................... 7 Barry as Prologue to Fuzzy ................................................................................................... 14 Influences .............................................................................................................................. 16 CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................................ 36 ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................. 36 Location ................................................................................................................................. 36 Characters and Relationships ............................................................................................... 44 Narrative ............................................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................................... 49 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................... 49 Delegation ............................................................................................................................. 49 Location ................................................................................................................................. 51 The Look ................................................................................................................................ 51 Casting .................................................................................................................................. 53 Directing Actors .................................................................................................................... 54 Music ..................................................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................................ 57 A MAJOR SHIFT ......................................................................................................................... 57 Script Adjustments ................................................................................................................. 58 Regarding the Prologue ........................................................................................................ 63 Additional Production Roles and Final Casting ................................................................... 64 CHAPTER SIX ............................................................................................................................... 68 BARRY FILM ................................................................................................................................ 68 CHAPTER SEVEN ........................................................................................................................ 69 PRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 69 Adjustments on Set ................................................................................................................ 70 CHAPTER EIGHT ......................................................................................................................... 75 POST-PRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 75 Picture ................................................................................................................................... 75 Sound ..................................................................................................................................... 77 Music ..................................................................................................................................... 79 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................... 83 iv APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................................. 86 ORIGINAL BARRY SCREENPLAY ................................................................................................. 86 APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................... 107 UPDATED BARRY SCREENPLAY ................................................................................................ 107 WORKS CITED ........................................................................................................................... 129 v TABLE OF FIGURES Fig. 1. One of a series of shots introducing the tenenbaum family .................................. 20 Fig. 2. Jack's girlfriend sits across the room ..................................................................... 21 Fig. 3. Jack responds to his girlfriend's questions. ............................................................ 21 Fig. 4. Jack's girlfriend stows the perfume bottle away in his suitcase ............................ 21 Fig. 5. In Good Morning, minoru declares to his father that grownups talk to much ...... 24 Fig. 6. Frank's cartoonish papier-mâché head ................................................................... 33 Fig. 7. Holden welcomes rachel to kiddie land. ................................................................ 71 Fig. 8. Bud accidentally reveals an inner struggle to rachel. ............................................ 71 Fig. 9. Rachel struggles with her skates while holden and sid take a break. .................... 71 Fig. 10. Sid reacts to rachel being his new co-worker. ..................................................... 72 Fig. 11. Holden lets rachel know that sid is nothing to worry about. ............................... 72 Fig. 12. Holden assures rachel that everything will be fine. ............................................. 72 vi CHAPTER ONE History and Goals The following thesis addresses development, production, and analysis of the short film Barry, a project completed in fulfilment of the Master of Arts in Communication for Baylor University. In addition to providing an analysis of the script for Barry, this paper details the works that have influenced the film and my approach as a filmmaker and addresses the methods by which the film was produced. It should be noted at the outset that this work is divided into two distinct halves, separated by a major shift. When preparing the paper for final presentation I felt it prudent to leave much of the first half in tact; that is, the discussion of influences and process is in its original creative state before the major shift occurred