Declan Keeble - Film Treatment

TREATMENT
DIVISION - Short Narrative Fiction Film, Drama Genre
LOGLINE
Two men from different walks of life become
acquainted in a hotel, and see that despite their
differences of affluence and social background, they both
share a common interest.
SYNOPSIS
The film takes place in the Midland Hotel in Bradford
throughout the course of four days. Two men, Roger and
Danny, are temporarily accommodated at the Midland for
the duration of their affairs; Roger, a sharp and stylish
managing director is on a business trip, whilst Danny, an
unambitious fashion-averse plumber is staying in Bradford
for a company training course. In converse to Danny, who
for the duration of his visit spends his time socially
isolated in his hotel room and venturing out into the
hotel bar at night, Roger delves into his companys
expenses and enjoys the luxuries of such a hotel. The bar
represents unification and impartial judgement, the main
themes of the short film, where we see the two lead
characters meet for the first time and the division
between upperclass and lower-class diminishes. Through
the use of this key location and the characters of Roger
and Danny, the film illustrates that we as people have
more in common than what our material wealth and
background would suggest; we are not defined by the
things we possess, but by our actions.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Roger Peterson
Roger Peterson is the managing director of Jague, a
public limited company selling and exporting print
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supplies. MR. Peterson took over the business from his

father after his death. Unlike his father, Roger lacks
the common sense and attitude of the business world, but
his knowledge of the market and smooth talking has seen
him close many deals and retain clients. Roger and his
colleagues have commuted from London to Bradford to see
some new clients and discuss future strategies of the
local centres with the regional director.
Roger is a young adult (age dependant on available
actors), slim in appearance, and has a taste for the
opulent things in life.
We learn that Roger is initially narcissistic and
judgmental but upon meeting Danny evolves into a more
accepting person - this happens in the short time of a
evening/night so shows that a person can change whenever,
no matter the circumstances.
MR. Peterson supports the Leeds Rhinos rugby team.
Danny Weekend
Danny Weekend is a plumber apprentice of The
Manchester Plumbing Company and has travelled to
Bradford for a training course that should result in him
securing a permanent job with the firm . MR. Weekend is a
very unambitious and fashion-averse male who only strives
through life by others telling him what to do. He is a
very socially isolated and lonely person unless he is
with his friends.
Danny is also a young adult (age dependant on
available actors), slim in appearance - bulkier than
Roger if possible(dependant on available actors)and does
not care about his appearance.
MR. Weekend supports the Leeds Rhinos rugby team.
STORY STRUCTURE
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The narrative will begin with the arrival of both

characters at the Midland Hotel. Roger and Danny will
check in at the lobby and advance to their rooms. The
rest of the narrative is then concerned with the
activities of both characters during the following days,
e.g. in one evening MR. Peterson will be dining in the
ballroom with his colleagues and other business
affiliates, where as MR. Weekend may remain in his hotel
room or the hotel bar. The core part of the story then
regards a scene in the bar on the last night of their
trips, where Roger and Danny meet, and the dialogue
between them allows for characterisation and portrayal of
the films social message - no matter where we come from
or how affluent we are, we are all human; we are all the
same; therefore we shouldnt make impartial judgments
based on objective information (e.g. appearance), and
there shouldnt be a class divide; we should all be
united as people and express our individual differences.
Dialogue occurs as result of MR. Weekend asking the bar
man to turn on the television to watch the rugby game
which leads to MR. Peterson questioning Danny as to
whether he supports the Leeds Rhinos rugby team. The
characters realise that they both support Leeds Rhinos
and the conversation progresses from there - the barrier
between upper and lower-class reduces and they both see
that despite their differences of wealth and background
they both have something in common.
STYLE
The film will have a aspect ratio of 16:9 to give it
a cinematic effect that fits with the story, e.g. the
21:9 aspect ratio would not be applicable as it is mainly
used in blockbuster films.
Some of the scenes will be played side-by-side with
both characters doing the same thing, e.g. walking to
their hotel rooms. Some scenes will also join - there
will be two side-by-side frames to start with, until the
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two shots merge and both characters are in the same

frame.

Also, in a scene where Danny is sat at the bar on his

own there will be a Dolly Zoom of MR. Weekend to portray
his isolation from the world.
FORMAT AND OTHER PRODUCTION INFORMATION
The short film will be shot on a video format as a
pose to film. The reasoning for this is that
accessibility to technology to utilise film is not
possible. A video format would be much more convenient
and efficient in terms of meeting deadlines during
production week, the filming process, and for the
utilisation of footage during Post-Production.

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