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Synopsis:
A young woman gives birth to her brother’s child in an isolated part of Appalachia at the turn of the century. The brother tells his sister that it died of natural causes. Discovering her brother’s lie, she sets forth alone to find her son. Both brother and sister wander separately through a countryside scourged by three strangers.
Treatment:
Thematically, Outer Dark will explore isolation, confinement, fear, violence, abject poverty, as well as freedom from such constraints set against a rural Appalachian backdrop at the turn of the last century. While the tone of the piece is predominately dark, the ultimate goal of this production is to leave the audience with a sense of hope in the midst of that darkness. Therefore, the use of lighting in this film will be of primary importance in helping to convey such a notion, as well as the use of nonprofessional actors and actresses to perform honest interpretations of the scripted dialogue.
While this film will be made in a realistic style shooting 16mm film, a subtle element of mystery should point the audience toward an interpretation similar to that of a parable. In the contemporary society we live in, one in which fear predominates the higher institutions of our government, it is appropriate that this film is being produced at this time. While the violence that is perpetrated by the three strangers throughout the film will take on a mythic dimension, the resolution necessarily demonstrates that such absolute evil is not without redemption.
Style:
This film will be shot in mostly exterior locations. A small cast and crew will work on location in Western North Carolina, with a base of operations in Asheville, NC. A handheld documentary style will be utilized to film some scenes in order to convey a more intimate environment. This will be contrasted with tight shots and static camera set ups, the minimal use of artificial lights, and creative use of sound (a kin to that used in Lang’s M). Storyboarding will be rendered anticipating a cuts only approach to editing.
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