Rick Stanton - Writer Director Editor
Hi Killer Films
WHY you?
As a writer/director, discovering a film like A Different Man, genuinely representing difference within film and amplifies voices, brings a sense of validation in an industry that often feels distant and elitist.
This is a document I’ve written for you due to your highly motivating mission to provide a platform for underrepresented voices.
THE CONCEPT
A film built from a collection of short stories much like the film ‘crash’ all linked through the degrees of separation.
HOW
We will work together to create a new grassroots writers scheme for the unrepresented & uncredited. A scheme that will not just have one winner, but will be a launch pad for 10 to 12 new writers.
THE PROJECT “The Greyhound”
“From the epicenter of a community the karaoke singers sing, while a first grandchild is born, while the ignition of first love begins”
THE GREYHOUND - OVERVIEW
Imagine stepping into the lives of the characters we pass by in the LIFT
This is “The Greyhound”.
Over a single night in the life of a diverse London community, families, neighbors, & strangers paths all blindly cross as they navigate their lives.
The film is set in a postcode of estates & tower blocks which are illuminated by the hub of ‘the areas', chicken shop, off license, betting office, community Centre, school, mosque, and the pub “The Greyhound”.
The collection of short stories will paint a mosaic of London life, highlighting the diverse experiences and interconnectedness within our community.
Shot in an inspired style reminiscent of Richard Linklater's 'Slacker,' the narratives seamlessly transition from one compelling character to the next. Passing the baton of the audiences attention as the 10/12 stories all intertwine. This creates a free-flowing energy that immerses the audience into the multiple diverse households of the community.
This is a film about people. From the old cockneys to the Sikhs to the Rastas all building the landscape of London as a diverse city.
A positive look into the working classes without the stigma attached to ‘Benefit Britain’ pushed by mainstream media. This film will show good honest people all living on top of each other with the main goal to work hard, get by and enjoy what they have, all while putting the world to rights.
Peeking into the lives of the neighborhood we open the curtains on the people that make our community. By bringing the people typically in the background of film & T.Vs stories to the forefront, we will hero these characters.
The lollipop ladies addiction, the nail technicians hobbies, the job center security guards selfless act.
We will see who these people are beyond their NPC personas. A view behind their living room doors opening up their world and revealing their failings, achievements, hopes & desires.
Instead of just seeing youths in the chicken shop referring to the assistant as ‘boss man’ instead we get to experience life at home with “boss man” we get to see him as person rather than a prop.
- THE WRITING PROCESS -
THE BRIEF
The writers who enter the grassroots scheme will be briefed with the task to write a ten minute script based on a night in the life of their chosen scenario. The only linking theme they will be given is that each script must be completely set within the boundaries of a postcode.
DEVELOPMENT
Once we have chosen 10/12 scripts we will then go into development with the writers as a collective, working together collaboratively on ways to link the stories together, to mirror the essence of urban coexistence.
These stories must be told by writers from similar cultural backgrounds to their characters to ensure authenticity in dialogue, actions, and references. Reflecting genuine reactions based on their shared cultural experiences.
Using writer's from a diverse and working class background will ensure we:
Reframe narratives from underprivileged backgrounds, to be told from an authentic storytelling lens.
Steer clear of tired tropes that pigeonhole the working class into a narrative of struggle and despair.
Aim to break free from the shackles of 'disadvantaged' themes, presenting characters not as victims seeking escape, but as resilient individuals navigating life's complexities with depth and humanity.
- INTERCONNECTION STORY EXAMPLES -
Two lives that connect unknown to the characters
Story 1
Agata (Polish born woman 51) Jacob (Franciscan Friar 44)
Story 2
John (White British man 60) Fem (Jamaican decent woman 59)
Agata, a character who the audience instantly would like to be friends with is a kind proud humorous woman who is a valuable member of the community. As a volunteer in a soup kitchen run by Franciscan Friars. Agata is tangled within a classic will they wont they story with Jacob one of the friars who lives and works at the soup kitchen. However, he is unable to act upon his love for Agata due to his faith.
Sadly Agata’s story connects with a John & Femi’s long agonizing current existence of Femi waiting for a kidney to come available for a transplant . These stories will interlock as within a moment Agata has a sudden heart attack and is taken to hospital. This means that Femi gets the long awaited call to go to the hospital as a kidney “may“ come available.
This is one example of how characters within society can cross paths knowingly or unknowing.
- EXAMPLE TWO -
Story 1
Dilraj (Sikh man 36)
Story 2
Jackie (British Nigerian 40)
Jackie works in the bookies, she loves her job but worries about some of the customers who she witnesses generating increased debts as they itch their additions. She holds the trust of the customers she meets daily. In her spare time Jackie runs a weekly AA meeting, she has been sober herself for 11 years.
Jackie knows about Dilraj’s secret. Dilraj has a gambling addiction which is unknown to his family. He is ashamed as to gamble is against his faith. The audience sees how Dilraj hides his secret. However, it begins to unravel when Jackie meets Dilraj’s wife unexpectedly in her AA meeting. His wife confesses to Jackie about being an alcoholic.
This is too much for Jackie as she now holds both secrets of this husband and wife’s addictions.
Jackie comes up with a plan to enable a scenario for the husband and wife to come clean with each other. The couple are understanding of each others problems. However, they will never know how Jackie secretly helped them.
- STORIES -
Not all the stories in the film need to be like these examples. They can hold beauty in simplicity and joy such as a family witnessing the birth of puppies or celebrating news of a engagement or pregnancy.
Or they can be political if needed, the narrative is up to our writers allowing them to create works with complex layers and vignettes . While taking the audience on a journey to not judge people, as you never know what is in store for them behind closed doors.
- WORLD BUILDING -
The depth of our world is vital for enriching the film, as key characters subtly appear in the backgrounds of seemingly unrelated stories.
For example, Jackie may sit behind Agata on the bus to the soup kitchen. Though they don't interact, their presence in the community adds authenticity and richness. This attention to detail immerses the audience in our vibrant post code.
- HOW TO TRANSITION -
To keep the stories switching as a constant there will be characters used as transference, these can be a number of different devices including
E.G - a young person who works as a Deliveroo driver who will flow from households while over hearing/seeing his/her own perspective on events.
The CCTV security operator - with limited but recorded viewpoints of the movements of the locals
The Taxi Driver - providing longer distance transition between families
Cameras POV - freely turning/following/withdrawing from character to character to choose what the audience does or doesn’t see. This is important as the cameras choice will reflect the audiences.
- MUSIC -
The options here are endless with the possibilities of music from around the world to used as a tool to elevate life culture & emotion.
- CASTING -
With casting this supplies another opportunity for Altitude to give new talent the chance to show what they have to offer with a Des Hamilton approach to street casting. With a combination of trained and none trained actors together to keep the naturalistic feel to performances.