Ellen

This TV film, created by a team of "breakthrough" film makers aired a few weeks ago on Channel 4. After watching it I believe it contains a number of shots and settings I would love to experiment with in our film opening. The concept of the slow motion party scene captured briefly in the trailer is something I would love to incorporate into our opening. The plot draws focus to the life of  a young teenage girl, and the neglect by her family that  ultimately leads her into a highly vulnerable position. Ellen's character is immediately established to the audience as boisterous and disrespectful through her responses to other characters in her life in spite of any consideration for the relationships. This attitude only exaggerates her affection toward Joe Dempsie's character Jason, and although he is initially portrayed as her escape from life on the estate, he later proves to pose a danger to Ellen. A poignant message is delivered to conclude the film, where again use of slow motion creates emotional intensity. Although the film does not explore a greatly elaborate plot, the drama is character driven, a message relevant to modern day society is delivered through the fate of Ellen. In a bedroom, surrounded by a number of older men the camera dolly zooms out in conjunction with the repeated line "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?". Out of the room, then the house, then the street onto the next road highlights the almost ignorance of people and their perception of who is deemed vulnerable.

In an interview for Radio Times, Sarah Quintrell says “I feel there is a section of our society – young females – who aren’t heard because we have this idea of vulnerability in our society. We have a perception of what a vulnerable girl looks like and that is maybe someone who’s quiet or malnourished or skinny. Vulnerability comes in many guises but one of them fools people and that’s if a girl is mouthy, difficult, smoking, drinking – she has sex and decides to explore her sexuality. She seems to be almost living like a grown up and rather than using those things as a sign that maybe they need someone to step in and check they’re okay or give boundaries, we use that as a sign to write them off"