Distant Time Pre-Production Package

DISTANT TIME Pre-Production Package

by Vanruethai Chansue

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TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction

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Concept Treatment

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Visual Statement

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Script

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Pre-Visualisation

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Story Board Character Design Environment and Final Rendering Test Animatic Sample

INTRODUCTION DISTANT TIME is my MA Film Practice final project. The project was intended to be made a short-film but due to the COVID-19 the production was converted into an animation project.

This package contains a pre-visualisation of Distant Time, including concpet treatement, script, storyboard, visual statement, concept art, character design, evirontment design and animatic. The production has been poseponed for the moment. And we’re hoping to be able to product the final animation in a future.

Initial concept art for Distant Time 2

Director/Writer: Vanruethai Chansue Producer: Ji Young Park Director of Photography: Julia Kacalak Environment Artist: Jesse Rist Character Designer: Timothy Te Han Yeh Editor/Sound Designer: Mรณnica Fuentes

DISTANT TIME Production Package

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CONCEPT TREATEMENT

By Vanreuthai Chansue

Logline: A family decides to clear out their deceased daughter’s room. The father (Dave) finds it the hardest to over come his grief.

Theme: Loss, grief, guilt, memory, family, reconciliation.

Synopsis: An Southeast-Asian family is spending the day finish up cleaning their dead daughter’s room. Dave (65), the father, is the only one refused to acknowledge the activity. He disagrees with the decision but it has been 7 years since Chloe (17) their young-

est daughter has passed away. As Ali (25), their older daughter, and Linda (60), his wife, moves Chloe’s belonging to out and about to bring it to the donation. Dave found the book the he gave Chloe’s as a present. He rescued the book from the box and angrily accused the two women for not being careful. Something in Dave was triggered by the book. After Ali and Linda left for the donation shop, Dave went into Chloe’s room which is now empty. He takes a moment to reconcile with the fact that his daughter is not there anymore and he needs to live on. Later, Linda finds Dave falling asleep with the book on his lap in Chloe’s room. Linda sits with him and told him that she will never get used to this. Dave agrees. He is not alone in this. Ali disrupted the moment as she is trying cook their dinner. Dave realises that he still has his family and though most of the stuff are gone. He still have the book with him and he is keeping it safe in her room.

An early concept art of Chloe’s room.

Illsutration by Vanruethai Chansue

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VISUAL STATEMENT

By Vanreuthai Chansue

Phantom Limb (2013) dir. Alex Grigg

The House of Small Cubes (2008) dir. Kunio Kato

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Film

Still Walking, dir. Hirokazu Koreeda Still Walking, dir. Hirokazu Koreeda

Thunder Road, dir. Jim Cummings Thunder Road, dir. Jim Cummings

https://vimeo.com/174957219

A Ghost Story, dir. David Lowery

Apichatpong Weerasethakul Apichatpong Weerasethakul

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A Ghost Story, dir. David Lowery A Ghost Story, dir. David Lowery

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

The Farewell (2019) The Farewell, dir. Lulu Wang

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MUSIC These are the music that heavily influence Distant Time. The most influential song is By This River by Brian Eno, which I think it is the song that captures the mood of the story really well. I personally think that this song is the perfect soundtrack for the film.

By This River - Brian Eno Moonlight - Allman Brown Mindless Town - Roman Lewis The Secret in The Wall - Daniel Hart (OST A Ghost Story) It Never Entered My Mind - Miles Davis Quintet

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SCRIPT

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Distant Time Written by Vanruethai Chansue

FINAL SCRIPT (LOCKED): 26/06/2020

©Copyright 2020

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1503030@my.aub.ac.uk 07-492-599-315

FADE IN: 1

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

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The house is nothing special. A loose mixture of Western and Asian mismatched furniture; kitchen, living room, dining room in an open space. Simple, practical, but the scattered family photos make it feel warm.

DAVE (65), a greying middle-aged Asian man, is sitting on the armchair in the living space, watching the TV. His bare feet resting on the footstool.

On the other side of the room, LINDA (60), a middle-aged Asian woman with short black hair, is standing at the dining table peeling apples. The pieces are made into a rabbit shape and arranged on the small plate accompanied by a fork.

Hurried footsteps running down the stairs.

ALI (25), a young Asian woman, appears from the living room door. She carries a drawer decorated with cartoon stickers to the dining table. Dave glances at her as she walks pass him to the dining table.

She puts the draws on the table and rushes to the kitchen.

Ali comes back with rubber gloves on, holding a bin bag. She quickly puts the whole drawer into the bag and ties it. Dave discreetly observes her from afar.

LINDA (to Ali) What are you doing?

Ali pauses.

ALI (looks at Linda) I’m throwing this away. It’s very moldy.

LINDA Just throw the stuff out. We’re keeping the desk.

Linda shoos her to rescue the drawer.

Dave turns off the TV. He gets up and comes to the dining table. He takes one of the two plates of apple.

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(CONTINUED) 11

2.

CONTINUED: ALI Can’t we just get a new one? It’s not even a good desk anyway. (a beat) Dad?

Ali catches Dave's eyes. He didn’t respond and retreats back to his chair.

LINDA It’s perfectly fine. Just clean it.

Dave starts eating his apples in the background.

Ali rolls her eyes. She pours the content in the bag. She takes the bag to the kitchen. The bag lands in the bin.

ALI (walking back to the table) We should have done it ages ago.

Linda shoots Ali a look. Ali glares back and cocks her head.

Linda breaks the eye contact and continues cutting the apple.

LINDA (rising eyebrows) If only you had come to visit more often.

Ali pauses at the drawer. Her hand grips the frame. Clenching her jaw. Linda continues cutting the apple.

Ali remains silent.

Dave has stopped eating, watching the exchange.

Linda still peeling the apple.

Ali takes a shaky breath. Linda wipes her eyes on her sleeves. She doesn't look up. Ali lets go of the drawer and walks out of the room. The drawer is left on the table.

Once Ali is gone, Linda glances at the drawer. She sighs. She wipes her hand with a tea towel and brings the drawer into the kitchen.

The cupboard is opened. The cleaning product is sprayed a few times.

Dave turns to his half-bitten apple on the fork on his lap.

He stares at it.

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(CONTINUED)

3.

CONTINUED:

CUT TO: 2

EXT. HOUSE'S GARDEN - DAY

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The drawer resting outside the house against the wall. Being dried by sunlight.

BACK TO: 3

INT. ENTRANCE HALL/LIVING ROOM - DAY

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The living room door is wide-open, revealing the entrance hall. Boxes cluttering and dragging on the floor. People walking around the house.

Ali and Linda descent down the stairs with moving boxes.

Dave spies on them through the door. He walks around the living room.

Linda and Ali place the boxes by the front door. The boxes are over-flowed with a teenage girl personal belongings, notebooks, novels, textbooks, animals figurines and posters.

As Linda and Ali are organising the content, Dave approaches them quietly. He has his arms behind his back. Leaning forward to study the content.

DAVE (coldly) What's all this?

Donation.

LINDA

Dave continues observing. He pauses. Dave reaches down to pull an explorer book out of a box. A few objects spill out to the floor. He frowns tensely. Dave dusted the book.

DAVE Next time watch what you’re throwing out. You're getting other people’s stuff mixed up.

He turns around and stomps back to the living room. Muttering to himself.

LINDA (O.S.) (hopelessly) Seriously? He KNOWS what's we're doing.

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(CONTINUED) 13

4.

CONTINUED: The scattered belongings are thrown back into the box.

He sinks on the armchair. Hugging the book by his stomach.

ALI (O.S) (tiredly) Just let him be, Ma. Dave turns to the window, concentrate on the view outside, frowning.

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INT. LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON

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Dave walks into the living space with a glass of water. He finds Ali laying on the coach sloppily. She picks on a loose yarn from her top. She looks up as he approaches.

Dave sits on the armchair, placing the glass on the coffee table next to the book. She reaches for his arm and holding on to it. Resting her head there.

DAVE What's wrong?

ALI (desperately) Can you tell Mum to stop nagging please?

Dave reaches his other hand to pat her head.

DAVE Go easy on her.

Ali's face falls. Guilty.

ALI (mumbling) (a beat) I'll try.

They sits in silence. Linda abruptly enters into the room with her purse.

LINDA (checking inside her purse) Let's move! The charity shop is closing soon. We have to go to the supermarket too.

She checks her watch, then looks at Ali on the couch.

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(CONTINUED)

5.

CONTINUED: ALI We'll make it, Ma. She glares at Ali who is still laying down. Ali meets her eyes. She groans as she gets up.

ALI (turns to Dave) See you in a bit.

Dave waves his hand in respond. She follows Linda out. The front door slams shut.

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INT. LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

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The house is silent. Strong sunlight shines on the floor.

Birds chirping.

Dave is playing Sudoku on the newspaper on the armchair. The book is on the coffee table. His eyes snaps from the page and looks outside. He puts newspaper down and gets up.

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INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

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The backdoor closes. Dave returns to the living room with the drawer with stickers. He grabs the book with him.

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INT. UPSTAIR CORRIDOR - LATE AFTERNOON

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Dave emerges from the stairs entering the narrow corridor. He walks pass a few doors. One of them has a DIY sign "Chloe" on. He carries the drawer to the master bedroom at the end of the corridor. He enters the ajar bedroom door.

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INT. MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

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The bed is neatly made with plained duvet cover. Pillows are props up on the headboard.

He puts the drawer down on the bed, then, sits beside it. He looks at the book. Opening the front cover. Looking at the inner cover. He trances his finger on the page. Reminiscing.

CRASH! Dave jumps.

He looks around the room. Everything is in place. He puts the book down, and rushes out of the room.

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(CONTINUED) 15

6.

CONTINUED:

The open book on the duvet. The writing on the inner cover says “To Chloe. From Dad.� The corner of the page shifts from the breeze.

BACK TO: 9

INT. CHLOE'S ROOM - LATER

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A black photo frame is laying facedown on the floor.

Dave picks it up. The trees rustles from the outside. Strong winds blows. The windows are wide-opened. Dave places the frame on the window sill, and closes the window.

DAVE What a state.

He shakes his head and carefully moves the frame closer to an incense holder. A portrait of CHLOE (17) is revealed.

Dave looks at his slightly dusty fingers. He groans. Then, he brushes them off on his trousers. He paces out of the room.

Frowning.

A water tap is turned on, gushing water against the sink. The tap turns off.

Dave returns with an old damped rag. He wipes the frame clean. He also cleans the window sill where the incense ashes spilled.

Dave examines the area. He makes a final touch on the frame.

He smiles to himself. He folds the rag neatly as he walks to the bed. He sits down.

Dave is taken aback by the emptiness of the room.

The light from the window shines in. The shadows dance on surfaces. The room looks lonely and cold in contrast with warm light. Only heavy furnitures are there; the shelves, bed frame and the desk. The blue-tacks and tapes are left the wall. The bed is only a bare mattress.

the the the on

He stares at his hand on the mattress. Another hand is still holding the rag. He looks up at the portrait. He takes a shaky deep breath.

He looks at the rag in his hands. He rubs his fingers on the fabric as he contemplates.

CUT TO:

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(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

A gap of a missing drawer on the desk under a sunset light and dancing shadows.

BACKT TO: 10

INT. ENTRANCE HALL - EVENING

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It's dark out. Footstep to the door. Dangling keys unlocks the front door. It swings open.

LINDA (O.S.) (Walking in) Why is it so dark in here?

Linda enters the door with multiple grocery bags. Ali follows her in with more bags. They takes off their shoes. Placing the bags on the floor, then shut the door.

The ceiling light flickers on.

The sound of bags rustling to the distance.

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INT. UPSTAIR CORRIDOR - LATER

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Light switches on in the corridor.

Linda emerges from the stairs with her purse. She noticed the open door of Chloe's room.

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INT. CHLOE'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

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The room is dark. A dim light from the moon and lamp pose out side comes through the window.

LINDA (Walking in) Honey, why are you in the dark?

The ceiling light switches on. Brighten up the entire room.

Dave is sitting on the bed with his back against the wall. On his laps lays an open book. Dave jumps awake.

LINDA (CONT'D) (Jumps a little) Oh, Sorry! Do you want it off?

Linda's hand springs back to the switch. Dave blocks his eyes from the light and groans. He glances Linda before waving his hand dismissively. He rubs his face.

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(CONTINUED) 17

8.

CONTINUED:

Linda nods lightly. She places her purse on the desk before approaching Dave. She climbs on the mattress and sits beside him.

She notices that the tapes and blue-tacks on the walls are gone. She smiles inwardly.

Dave stretches his body as Linda shifts around to find a comfortable position. Leaning back against the wall.

Linda looks at the opened book on his lap. She picks the book up, her finger marking the page that was open. She finds the page with Dave’s handwriting. She reads it, then, places the book back on his lap. Dave places his hand on the book.

LINDA Is it good?

DAVE It's alright.

He marks the current page with the bookmark. Then, he closes the book.

LINDA Were you reading to her?

Linda looks at Dave. Waiting for the answer.

DAVE (looking down to the book) I guess.

Linda gives a fainted smile. She links her arm with his.

Resting her head on his shoulder.

Dave stares at the portrait across the room, asking himself if she could hear him? Linda looks at the burned-out incenses in the holder.

LINDA They say the smoke from the incense carries the messages to the spirits.

DAVE (Still looking at the portrait) I know. (pause) For next time then.

Linda's smile widen. She rubs her head on his shoulder. Then

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(CONTINUED)

9.

CONTINUED: her gaze wanders off into the space. Her smiles fades.

LINDA I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.

She stays motionless.

DAVE (looks away from the portrait) Me too.

He holds her hand. She holds his hand back. They falls silent.

ALI (O.S.) (shouting) MA! What do you want me to do next?!

Linda and Dave turns their head to the bedroom door. Clanging sounds of pots and pan.

LINDA She is hopeless at cooking.

Dave laughs. Linda shakes her head. She gets up from the mattress and arranges her wrinkled clothes.

DAVE What's for dinner?

Dad gets up as well, taking the book with him. He flattens the crumpled fabric on his trousers.

LINDA Steamed fish and bokchoi stir-fry.

DAVE (smiling) Sounds good.

ALI (O.S.) (shouting) Hurry up, Ma! LINDA Thanks for cleaning up.

Linda gives him a brief kiss. She smiles appreciably. Dave smiles back to Linda. She leaves the room.

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(CONTINUED) 19

CONTINUED:

10.

Footsteps walking down the stairs.

Dave looks back at the book in his hand. His gaze shifts to the completed drawer set on the desk.

He approaches the desk and pulls open the drawer with the stickers. Placing the book in it and slides it shut.

He turns off the light in the room. The warm light from the corridor shines in. He descends down the stair. Joining the hectic noise from the kitchen.

CUT TO: A damped rag neatly hung on the back of the chair next to the complete drawer on the desk.

FADE OUT.

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PRE-VISUALISATION - Story Board - Character Design - Environment and Final Rendering Test - Animatic Sample

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STORYBOARD

by Julia Kacalak and Vanruethai Chansue

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CHARACTER DESIGN

by Timothy Te Han Yeh

DAVE (65)

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ALI (25)

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CHLOE (17)

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LINDA (60)

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ENVIRONMENT

by Jesse Rist

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Chloe’s Bedroom Concept Art

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The House 3D Model

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Living Space Concept Art

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Props Concept Art

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Final Rendering Tests

Final rendering test by Jesse Rist and Timothy Te Han Yeh.

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ANIMATIC SAMPLE SCENE 1, 8, 9, 12

Here are the samples from the aniamtics. Please view in spread pages.

Sound design and editing by Mรณnica Fuentes.

SCENE 12

SCENE 9

SCENE 8

SCENE 1

Link to the full video: https://vimeo.com/508256712

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