Detention - Summary
Genre: Modern Drama
Length: Approx 2 hours
Themes/subjects: ‘Consequences' is a film that addresses the morals and ethics of human relationships, the power of emotion and insecurity and manipulation. It questions Love, trust, and betrayal. Underlying these themes lie suggestions of alcoholism and domestic violence.
Outline: The play looks at the changing relationships of childhood friends Peter, Ami (his flatmate) and Gareth (his cousin). Gareth (an accountant) is older than the other two and has recently moved to London to pursue a career. He is in a relationship with Ami (a medical student), who lives with Peter (a journalist) in Brighton.
Ami and Gareth are beginning to find their (slightly) long distance relationship tested. One drunken argument results in Gareth hitting Ami and then leaving to drive home. That night Ami and Peter end up sleeping together, meanwhile Gareth has a serious car accident. When Gareth gets out of hospital Ami tells him what happened without mentioning Peter and after a very awkward talk they decide give their relationship one more go. But it seems that Peter has discovered deep feelings for Ami and when she tells him she's pregnant he tries to convince her that Gareth will not want the baby and he should support her. Ami is left to decide who she really wants to be with and when eventually given the final ultimatum, she chooses badly, loosing both of them.
Pace: The pace begins quite slow and laid back as the characters are relaxed in their surroundings and with each other. As tensions rise, so does the pace, only dropping again during the very emotional scenes towards the end when they are at their lowest, but also at their most delicate, when it is obvious their relationships are hanging by a thread.
Feel: Initially the feeling will be fun, friendly and warm. It will seem like we are about to go into a comedy. As the audience become more acquainted with the characters they should feel like they are almost sitting in the same room with a group of old friends until quite suddenly things get awkward. As the story progresses the mood deepens and watching becomes uncomfortable. The events that unfold must seem so real that the audience are shocked, angered and moved as if they were there themselves and the atmosphere so thick they could reach out and cut it. Every choice that is made should leave them thinking ‘would I do that?'
Visuals: Visually it will be realistic, natural and very intimate. The characters' reactions will play an important part in narrative; and will be enhanced with a revealing close-up.
Sound - Speech: The dialogue is very natural, conversational and realistic. The speech of the characters immediately shows they are at ease with their surroundings and with each other. Later on their speech becomes as disjointed as their failing relationships.
Sound - Music: Underscoring will rise and fall with the emotion, pace and tone of the dialogue. Original songs will range from ballads to dance music depending on the situation.
Sound - Silence: Silence will be strategically placed between the music to heighten tension in a scene and grab the attention of the audience by adding to the awkwardness and accentuating the characters emotions and expressions.
Editing: Editing styles will be employed to compliment the action: using quick, short cuts in an argument as each character fights to get their point across contrasting with long close-ups to show a character's internal struggle as their morals and emotions are questioned.
Exhibition: The story should appeal to both males and females aged around 16-35, though anyone with any experience of relationships should find something to relate to in the events that occur.
