When creating the visuals for the black class the aim was to lower saturation, too add
more blacks and greys, but also mix it with touches of the 'scene' style and anarchy.
Characters of the black class are those of rebellion who live in the run down, tightly
populated parts of urban society. They put off a tough, I don't give a shit attitude which
comes across in their style, a mixture of punk accents and contrasts of black and white
colors. Even in their state of repression, images of hope and and freedom should also be
assoicated with them
The general aesthetic I was trying to capture in the gold class was that of vintage class,
power and grace of the monarchy, but with a modern twist. Warm tones are the obvious
choice here, one mainly being gold. Also, prominent pops of red were an addition to not
only outline the seductive allure of the gold class, but also have the hint of power come
across.The architecture will be modern with a twist of old world grace, a lot of open
spaces but with touches of classic royalty. The dress will be similar, one with couture like
dreaminess mixed with defined lines and luxiourious fabrics.
Preliminary Research:
Before writing the treatment for Golden, I had to look up more information about this
“golden ratio” theory. I simply looked it up on Wikipedia and skimmed the article.
While I writing the screenplay, I occasionally read over some other scripts just to get an
idea of how to write transitions between scenes and how to describe settings well without
overdoing the details. I thought movies like I, Robot and Minority Report while writing
the screenplay, because I liked how they incorporate some vintage and modernistic styles
in the world created for the films.
Treatmant:
It’s 2189. The global society is split into four social classes based on the Golden Ratio, a
law based on physical features of the face and height/weight proportion. Teenager
NATALIE is ranked in the superior Gold Class.
Natalie moves from Alberta, Canada to New York City to live with her single, Gold-
status AUNT FAM while she attends Columbia University. Adjusting to life in the city is
easy for her, but she isn’t used to living in a place where people from the Silver and
Bronze classes mingle with higher classes.
Natalie’s aunt Fam introduces her to HARRIS, Fam’s personal assistant who has been
placed in the Silver Class, but met Fam back in grad school. Natalie doesn’t like him.
Fam warns Natalie that she needs to get use to being around “The Others” and grateful
not to be a member of the Bronze Class.
A few months in New York and Natalie is accustomed to her new surroundings. At
school she befriends a Silver Class member named TOR. Tor has been working on a
political movement known as United Classes protesting the Separation Law, an
amendment to the Constitution forbidding marriage between members of different
classes.
Natalie attends a council meeting with Tor for the United Classes. At the meeting, Natalie
is shown images of the exploited members of the Silver and Bronze classes, and she is
horrified by testimonies of White Class members, people from the lowest class forced to
participate in scientific experiments. Natalie is stunned when she sees Fam at the
meeting.
Back at her aunt’s, Natalie confronts Harris about the meeting, asking him if he would
know anything about her aunt being in attendance. Harris refuses to give any information
to Natalie. Tor informs her that Fam is in fact working under cover for the United
Classes.
Back from the meeting, Fam is confronted by Natalie who is angry with her for risking
her status as a Gold Class member…the punishment for what is called Class Treason.
Fam tells Natalie she is going to take her to the suburbs that night. The neighborhoods
outside of NYC are where members of the Silver Class typically reside. Tor and a
member of the United Classes go with them to the suburbs.
In the suburbs, Natalie is taken to Harris’s sister JEMMA’s house. Natalie is introduced
to SMITH, a young boy approaching the Age of Ruling for the Golden Ratio. It is clear
from his face that he would be placed in the Bronze or White class. Harris tells Natalie
that Smith is her cousin; he and Fam are Smith’s parents. Smith has been hidden to avoid
being placed in the White Class. Members of the United Classes reveal to Natalie that
they are actually trying to abolish the Golden Ratio laws.
She’s informed that Smith has been kept hidden so that he may not be placed in the
White Class. Fam’s pregnancy was kept a secret so that the government would not be
able to keep track of her baby for classification, but someone ratted her out shortly after
giving birth. Smith has since been moved from suburb to suburb between different
members of the United Classes in an attempt to keep him hidden to avoid classification.
Overcome with sympathy, Natalie agrees to help the United Classes.
Here is our scouted area for scene 4. The location needed to be a college
classroom. The classroom needed to look futuristic, because the show is placed in the
future. That’s why I took one picture from behind the desk, to see all the technology that
was there. I wanted the room to seem blank, nothing special, just a classroom with no
personality. I also wanted to show that this classroom held both classes, Gold and Silver.
I had a thought about “separate but equal,” so the Gold sit on the side with the windows,
where light comes. Their side is clean and nice. The Silver side on the other hand, has
some trash on the floor and is in the darker side of the room. We can also see from the
teachers desk that it is easier to see the Gold side so they have preference. Even in this
“integrated” classroom, there are class separations.
Shot 1: Scene 1
City Skyline: Clear separations between
different class districts
Shot 2: Scene 1
Fast zoom through city, passing through
different districts
Shot 3: Scene 1
Wide shot, high angle of airport. Planes
taking off
Shot 4: Scene 2
Overhead Shot of Airport Interior.
Shot 5: Scene 2
Over the Shoulder Shot. Man holding
hologram. Slow zoom on name
on hologram
Shot 6: Scene 2
Close up of Harris looking down,
light pan up
Shot 7: Scene 2
Flight board, pan across.
Shot 8: Scene 2
Focus on “CanadAIR”
Shot 9: Scene 2
Harris looks around crowded airport
Shot 10: Scene 2
Crowd walking around airport
Shot 11: Scene 2
Harris sees Natalie
Shot 12: Scene 2
Overhead shot of Natalie and Harris
Shot 13: Scene 2
Harris grabs Natalie’s bags
Shot 14: Scene 3
Gold Subway Car passes
Shot 15: Scene 3
The two sit on subway
Shot 16: Scene 4
The subway is seen again in the tunnel
Shot 17: Scene 4
Dialogue between Harris and Natalie
Shot 18: Scene 4
Natalie Rolls her eyes
Shot 19: Scene 4
Outside of Subway, looking in on the two
talking
Shot 20: Scene 4
Harris and Natalie sit in the subway
Shot 21: Scene 4
Natalie turns and talks with Harris
Shot 22: Scene 4
Gold Subway Car passes as Natalie and Harris speak
Shot 23: Scene 4
Natalie rolls her eyes
Shot 24: Scene 4
Harris and Natalie talk
Shot 25: Scene 5
Zoom in on Fam’s Apartment
Shot 26: Scene 6
Outside Fam’s Apartment door
Shot 27: Scene 6
Low angle as Natalie enters Fam’s apartment
Shot 28: Scene 6
Natalie speaks with Harris and Fam in Fam’s
living room
Shot 29: Scene 6
Pan around Natalie
Shot 30: Scene 6
Gold Subway Car passes as Natalie turns
Soundtrack – Snarky Productions: Golden 1. Black and Gold – By Sam Sparrow
a. The song Black and Gold is not only very seductive, but intimidating and
mysterious as well. It’s tune is perfect for an opening montage of intrigue. It
was an obvious choice due to the lyrics that explicitly state the classes,
“Black and Gold”
i. i looked up into the night sky
and see a thousand eyes staring back
and all around these golden beacons
i see nothing but black
i feel a way of something beyond them
i don't see what i can feel
if vision is the only validation
then most of my life isn't real
'cause if you're not really here
then the stars don't even matter
now i'm filled to the top with fear
that it's all just a bunch of matter
'cause if you're not really here
then i don't want to be either
i wanna be next to you
black and gold
black and gold
black and gold
b. It would be used as background to an opening montage to the film with
shots of the gold class being luxurious, getting ready, being powerful, etc.
with shots of the black class and their unfortunate circumstances but also
showing images of their planning for change and rebellion.
2. The Way You Look Tonight – By Frank Sinatra
a. This song would be used as background music to the third scene where
Natalie is first arriving in Fam’s apartment and setting up her room. Any
song with Frank Sinatra produces feelings of refinement as well as a
reminder of the ‘golden’ days of Hollywood. The gold class is a reference to
Hollywood celebrities of the day. They were seen as perfect, refined, and
graceful icons of the time. The throwback tune is also crucial to point out
the old world refinement present in the architecture and dress of the gold
class. I chose this song particular song by Frank Sinatra because its
references to not because its upbeat tune and well known status, but its
lyrical references to physical appearance.
i. Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.
With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart...
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.
Lovely ... Never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it ?
'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight.
3. Teeth – By Lady Gaga
a. This song would be used for scene 4 where Natalie is introduced to Tor and
they get in a heated debate on the Golden Rule and class structure. Natalie
still has the idea that those of the lower classes are inferior. She has much
confidence in not only her looks, but her political opinions. During their
argument, Natalie does not back down. She’s fierce in her explanations and
debates with efficiency. She radiates power. This song is perfect background
music. It’s intense, the tune is very sharp. It also shows the intimidation
Natalie is trying to show Tor, but also an undertone of attraction.
i. Don’t be scared
I’ve done this before
Show me your teeth
Don’t want no money (want your money)
That shit’s is ugly
Just want your sex (want your sex)
Take a bit of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bite my me
Show me your teeth
Let me see your mean
Show me your teeth
Just tell me when
Show me your teeth
Open your mouth boy
Show me your teeth
Show me whatcha got
Show me your teeth teeth teeth teeth
Got no salvation (no salvation)
Got no salvation
Got no religion (no religion)
My religion is you
Take a bite of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bite of me boy
Show me your teeth
4. Running Up That Hill – Placebo
a. This song would be used as foreground music in scene 12 where Natalie is
being prodded in the lab. It would be used as music to set the scene used in
the foreground. It would set the tone of the surroundings as the camera
shifts from the eerie syringes and medical tools. The songs eerie and
intimidating tune is perfect for the mood of this scene, it would induce fear
and the feel of the song is not only intimidating, but the lyrics provide a
feeling of isolation and no control.
i. It doesn't hurt me.
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
You be running up that hill
You and me be running up that hill
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...
You don't wanna hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.
There's a thunder in our hearts, baby.
So much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
5. Bad Things – Jace Everett
a. This song would be used in the closing scene of the movie. It would be an
acoustic version that the character Tor would be strumming on his guitar as
he collects money from the passerbys as the set changes from futuristic, to
common day New York. As he sings the song in a deep, intimidating voice the
camera would center in his on his dark, eerie smirk.
i. I wanna do bad things with you.
When you came in the air went out.
And every shadow filled up with doubt.
I don't know who you think you are,
But before the night is through,
I wanna do bad things with you.
I'm the kind to sit up in his room.
Heart sick an' eyes filled up with blue.
I don't know what you've done to me,
But I know this much is true:
I wanna do bad things with you.
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