I ask about single location films. I said I'd get back with my results. The most common device used in good single location films is a second perspective. Rather than an A to B story, they have two A to B stories. Rope has one murderers fear of being discovered against the other murderers need to flirt with being discovered. I am going to settle in and write a single location thriller/horror. A group of hostages are forced to play a game where one player must die per round.
Screenwriting : Single location study results by Craig D Griffiths
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Isnt that the main plot of The Hunger Games?
What's your hook/twist/new/POV spin on an old concept?
There are a lot of low budget, single location contained thrillers with essentially the same premise, so on the one hand I'm with Dan, better have a new spin, Craig, but on the other hand, it's all in the execution.
I saw the Hunger Games as a triumphant story, struggle against a corrupt system. The games was just the system of control. The Quick And Dead, The Running Man, Death Race all have a deadly competition at their core. So mine is definitely execution dependent. Just like a ghost story, it's all in the telling.
Dan, my is hostages are forced to choose who dies next. Who they chose is based on a game they are forced to play. It is set in a cage in a cavernous warehouse. As the story progresses they begin to blame each other for decisions. Each decision has consequences. It is more of a study of people facing death under extreme stress.
And hopefully scare as all get out.
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I have a single location thriller percolating in my mind. I think it could be a great low budget feature. Stay tuned!
I'm currently writing a contained romcom. One location. There are a couple films which use this technique that I like. THE INVITATION is very good. I also like TWO NIGHT STAND, although it does have a 3-4 locations, the majority of the film takes place in one apartment.
Craig
How "big" is this single location? Are you writing with a Producer's mind & "budget" to do yourself?Single locations can be big as a building (DIE HARD) or a boat (ALL IS LOST, LIFEBOAT), or a coffin (BURIED). Still comes down to basic storytelling. Drama.
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I haven't tried writing single location stories, very difficult for me. Speaking of breaking the rules, I really need to outline, which I hardly ever do, in order to achieve a single location script.
Jody Ellis : can't wait to hear what you have on your back burner. Good luck, girlfriend.
I have a single location Romcom, two old friends meet again at a Symposium on climate change, after 20 years silence. She's in remission from breast cancer, he is recovering from a painful divorce. It's called Love After.
Dan, for me the challenge is a single room/sound stage situation. The challenge is blocking shots to make it interesting. You can't add running scenes or a chase for tension when people are stuck in a cage. I am thinking of making it. I have enough gear from making shorts. Even have a 5m camera crane in my garage.
Who or what has "forced" them to play the game? How are dead bodies removed? Or are they? The old Twilight Zone would have done it in reverse, where people don't want to get out because they're trapped inside a Cold War bunker in a post-nuclear war setting. Whoever does exit has only minutes to live before radiation takes its toll.
Erik they are abduct and taken to the warehouse. Why, by who isn't answered, just the cruelty of the torment.
Single location films often come from plays. I have just finished a new full length play and and working with producers to have it put on stage. However, I am also thinking about how I will make it into a film. You might want to initially approach it, or even write it as a play for the theater. (Rope was from a play.)
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I'm directing a single location short film, and I can tell you it's the hardest thing I've ever done. Trying to keep the tension and the shots interesting and coherent with so many people in the room is actually very difficult.
Robert, Fences is also such a film, adapted from a play, unfortunately IMHO, with all its heart-breaking and topical themes, the poetry of it's prose, and the immense talent of its main actors, it feels claustrophobic, stagey, and oh so wordy.
I think it's a lot easier to make a short, granted, challenging, Kal. I attempted to do that in. RENDEZ-VOUS and LAST SUPPER. They can be viewed on my IMDB site, if you're interested...
Single locations require tremendous creativity to hold our attention within a limited space. A steadicam is ideal for such a setting, giving needed movement and raising tension regarding what we CAN'T SEE in the frame.
@Kat how's the short going. I've only made one single scene short "Blood Brothers". When will yours be out in the world?
Our one location, 4 characters, short was the hardest thing I've ever done. Originally it was written as a play so I added a lot of actions including a quasi-fight scene to break it up. I think it's all about pacing. We're doing some sfx and hoping to premiere next spring at Tribeca.
I've done a few single location shorts - Gramma Ott, one location, 3 characters, no FX - Forever, one location 3 characters (+ one OC), no FX. You need to be very creative with blocking, lighting and camera.
I have a one location short, you can watch it on IMDb. It's called Rendez-Vous. Be glad to hear your thoughts