The Hum
A note.
A bar.
A melody.
A song.
Creating music is one of the most innately human experiences.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
1
ALEX PAULSEN
Unfortunately, many kids never get their hands on an instrument.
Three point six million kids in America are without the opportunity for a musical education. These children are not only missing out on an important social and cognitive development activity, but an opportunity to feel human.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
2
ALEX PAULSEN
Concept
“The Hum” is a 90 second short film that captures both the challenges underserved youth face, and the transformative power of gifting a musical instrument.
It follows three disadvantaged children in varying challenging environments: a child emotionally trapped between arguing parents at the dinner table, a child socially isolated at a bus stop, and another child physically isolated as he waits alone for his parents to get home from work.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
4
ALEX PAULSEN
The gift of a musical instrument in each of these scenes transforms their worlds. As they open their instrument cases, they start to hum a tune while the sounds of their environment disappear around them. Then, they play.
Here the energy turns, as we see each child performing a song, spotlighted on a stage in a beautiful black and white film emulation. They are empowered and lost in the music.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
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PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
As the piece concludes, we show a series of on screen titles to resolve the story, give context to the issue, and hammer home the important work that the NGO (tbd on which NGO) is doing.
work in progress
Partnership
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
This is a collaboration between Farallon Films and Director Alex Paulsen. Farallon will fun production. For post, Alex will take over editing, and Chris Taylor will handle color.
There are handful of NGOs whose mission is to provide instruments to underserved children:
Hungry For Music, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Save the Music.
While the ultimate goal is to partner with one of these NGOs to distribute and sponsor the video, we’ve chosen to pursue this partnership after production.
Approach
Two Worlds
Two worlds will be visually juxtaposed to show these children's lives with and without their instrument.
The world without instruments is cold, lonely, and without hope. Each child’s situation is unique, but they all share some type of isolation, whether it be social, physical, or emotional. They all appear helpless in their situations.
The world with instruments is completely different. Now equipped with a creative outlet, each child is empowered: they have agency to explore a hobby and express themselves. Graded in a black & white film emulation and shot at heroic angles, the children appear strong and confident.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
10
ALEX PAULSEN
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
11
ALEX PAULSEN
Cinematography
The camera’s movements communicate the emotional beats of the story.
In the first world, smooth & slow movements reveal each child’s situation. A slow dolly out reveals a child socially isolated at a bus stop. Another slow dolly out displays a child stuck at the dinner table while their parents argue. A static, high-angle, off-centered shot of a child alone in their bedroom conveys physical isolation.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
12
ALEX PAULSEN
Cinematography
As the energy pivots in the second world, the camera changes. As each child beautifully plays their instrument, the camera flies around them, smoothly floating as the music soars.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
13
ALEX PAULSEN
Music
The musical composition will be a 3-instrument classical accompaniment consisting of a keyboard, a violin, and a cello. First starting small, the piece will then build to a climax over the course of ~40 seconds.
We’ll partner with an experienced classical composer, and create the track prior to production, as it will inform the character’s performances.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
13
ALEX PAULSEN
Tone
Inspiring, empowering, beautiful, sentimental.
Characters
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
Background
The children these NGOs support are underserved and this is central to each character. Their wardrobe and performance should convey this type of upbringing.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
Performance
In an ideal world, we’d cast actors who have experience playing their specific instrument. The next best option is casting actors without musical experience. Having the music composed beforehand will be critical, allowing the actors to familiarize themselves with the piece and practice performing it.
Story
OPEN ON: Bus stop.
A group of middle schoolers crowd around a phone. They joke and laugh freely. We push past them to reveal a 13 year-old boy, sitting alone, staring blankly into the camera. We slowly move out – he’s isolated at the bus stop while the cool kids have their fun, again. The darkness of night slowly seeps in.
CUT TO: Dining room.
A 10 year-old girl stares vacantly into the camera. We slowly zoom out – she’s sitting at the dinner table and her parents are fighting, again.
CUT TO: Living room.
A 11 year-old boy gazes into the camera. We slowly zoom out – he’s by himself in the living room. Another night, alone.
CUT TO: Bus stop.
[CU SHOT] Back at the bus stop, the 13 year-old starts to hum. He then starts to open a case that seems to have appeared by hit feet.
CUT TO: Dining room.
[CU SHOT] Picking up the tune, the 10 year-old pulls a keyboard out of the case and hums to herself.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
18
ALEX PAULSEN
work in progress
CUT TO: Living room.
[CU SHOT] The 11 year-old hums the final note of the song as he gets his cello into place.
MONTAGE: Studio space, B&W color grade. A series of close up shots show each child with their instrument, ready to play.
CUT TO:
The girl, sitting at a grand piano, strikes a bold note.
The boy, holding the cello, plays a low chord.
The other boy, with a violin, produces a searing note.
(They’re all separated, but in the same studio environment, each lit by an overhead light.)
We cut between each child playing. The camera is free-flowing, mirroring the energy of the song.
The kids are alive. Feeling the music.
MONTAGE: Original locations. Full color.
The girl, back at the dinner table, has her fingers flexed as she holds down a key. The kitchen has become brighter.
The boy at the bus stop holds the cello like a statue. The bus stop has become brighter.
The boy in the living room, holding his violin, removes the bow from the strings. The living room has become brighter. We catch him smirking slightly.
They are all posed like they finished a performance.
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
work in progress
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
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ALEX PAULSEN
CUT TO: Studio space, B&W color grade.
The trio, together now, sits on stage, unified and empowered.
FADE-ON SUPER: Give them a chance.
(The words ‘a chance’ gets replaced.)
SUPERS:
Give them an opportunity.
Give them a life.
Give them a community.
Give them an instrument.
(‘Give them’ fades off).
SUPER: an instrument.
FADE-ON SUPER: NGO Title
work in progress
REFERENCES
PRODUCTION | BLUE OX
PARABOLICA
BLACKOUT
OFFICE CODE
LEAGUE GOTHIC
CHONBURI
NEUE HAAS DISPLAY
FONTS
1
CREATIVE | ALEX PAULSEN
Production
PRODUCTION | FARALLON FILMS
22
ALEX PAULSEN
Production
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3 child actors aged 12-18 years old
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Wardrobe for all 3 talent
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3 locations: stage/studio, bus stop, and house/apartment
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Art Direction for the 2 house/apartment scenes
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3 instruments: cello, violin, and keyboard
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2 production days
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Steadicam & dolly
