Short Shot Progress: Idea #3

Last I posted, I was planning on burning someone at the stake for my video. Leaping from that last step, I have decided to tell the same story from the perspective of wood.

The idea is that trees, representing humans, grow up dreaming of what they will become. Some dream of becoming a guitar and touring the world, rock-star style, while others are content to become a bench or some other type of furniture. The sad truth, however, is that most just get pissed on by animals or chopped up by humans for firewood and roasting wieners. The latter being every tree's worst nightmare.

I have listed my collection requirements:

WS of Trees (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles (some still and some motion)
MS of Trees (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of Trees (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
*Vertical elements

MS of Guitar being played (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of Guitar being played (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
MS to CU of Guitar being played (:10-:20) zoom and pan to finer details (wood grains)

MS of Furniture (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of Furniture (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles

MS of Outdoor Bench (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles (some still and some motion)
CU of Outdoor Bench (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
*Wood planks are horizontal (I can juxtapose these with the vertical trees)

ECU to MS of Hatchet w/ Wood Handle (:10-:20) zoom out from grain to see hatchet (tree killer)

WS of Man w/ Hatchet walking toward trees (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
MS of Man w/ Hatchet walking toward trees (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of Man w/ Hatchet walking toward trees (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles

WS to ECU of Man w/ Hatchet walking toward camera (:10-:20) from high and low angles
*The object is to create drama by using slow motion and music crescendo to build tension (the tree fearing that it will be chopped for firewood)

WS of Man w/ Hatchet chopping tree (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
MS of Man w/ Hatchet chopping tree (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of Hatchet striking tree (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
ECU of Hatchet striking tree (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles

WS of chopped pieces of firewood (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
MS of chopped pieces of firewood (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of chopped pieces of firewood (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles

WS of fire burning (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
MS of fire burning (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles
CU of fire burning (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles

CU of ashes (:10-:20) from at least 2 different angles

I started shooting footage Monday and continued on Tuesday, but my camera acted like a real bastard and did not work, so I have to try again tomorrow to finish collecting these shots. I'm hoping for clear skies... at least no rain... and preferably above-freezing temperatures.

I plan to not only mix my shots, but I'd like to juxtapose elements in the shots, such as placing a shot of the vertical trees next to a shot of an outdoor wooden bench with horizontal planks. I would also like to learn some time-shifting techniques, so I can use this feature to add drama. When the trees see the man approaching with the hatchet, I can use slow-motion to build up the tension. The climax is the hatchet striking the tree and the resolution is everything the tree feared... not becoming a guitar or other cool utility, but burning to ashes.

It is a sad story. It also shows the process of how a tree becomes firewood... and eventually ashes.