The Film Pitch

Film Pitch

1) Describe your Film in detail – Give an Outline of the Story

‘Why Me’ is about an adolescent student who suffers from severe depression. He’s inability to overcome the illness forces him to write a suicide note. However he fears death and accepts that he’s not ready to carry out such an action, and puts aside the thoughts of suicide and gives life one more chance. At school he tries his complete hardest to be normal, and eradicate he’s pessimistic feelings and thoughts of suicide, but he just can’t. Finally, inspiration comes and whilst looking for a novel in the library he finds a book called ‘how to overcome depression’, he now has to make a choice which he dreads, either to commit suicide or triumph over his depression.

The film in simple terms is a journey through the characters life, from the moment he writes the suicide note to the moment inspiration comes, and between this journey we come to understand the symptoms of depression, its affects and how the illness has defined who he is; a lonely miserable person with a pessimistic attitude.


There are three acts in the film. The first act is about the nasty symptoms of depression such as finding it hard to read and watch TV. It also explores he suicidal feelings, he has recently been thinking about suicide and he now believes that he’s ready to commit it, however whilst trying to write a suicide note he finds it difficult and painful and he gives up.

Act 2 explores the affect of depression and the he’s suicidal feelings. Depression clearly affects he’s school life as he feels and look lost, useless and worthless. In the exam he cant write the essay as he hears the painful scribbling of the suicide note.

In act 3 inspiration comes and when looking for a novel he finds a book called ‘How to overcome depression’, he believes it was fate and begins to read it whilst reading he feels therapeutic and realizes how easy it is to overcome it, he falls to sleep but the audiences don’t know. Whilst sleeping he dreams about overcoming depression and he performs the steps of overcoming it such as running and seeing a therapist. At the end he wakes up and he hears the scribbling which is a reference to suicide, we never knew whether he commit suicide or whether he triumph over it the last words are ‘I guess I have to decide’.

2) Location of the film and key characters

The film is set in various locations. It’s mainly set in school; this location plays a crucial role in the film, I use this location as it enables us to explore the disastrous affects of this illness. The fact that it’s a school gives us an insight into he’s isolation and furthermore how it has affected he’s work and grades.


I also choose to use his bedroom we here see the symptoms of depression, everything which happens in this scene has a meaning and has been carefully chosen, for example he’s inability to read, choose a channel and concentrate are all symptoms of depression.
The park location plays a significant role in the film, up until this stage the film is very gloomy and dark, but the scene in the park is the uplifting even though it’s a dream the audiences don’t know this, its moves us as he’s in the process of triumphing over this illness.
I also a use a therapist office to reinforce this victory it also a dream but the audiences don’t know, even though we only see a glimpse of this it enriches us as we are now aware that Mark is seeking help, and therefore we believe that overcoming depression is inevitable.

Character - The protagonist characters Mark suffers from severe depression. He’s a typical everyday student. He lives a life of isolation and misery. The character relates to those who are depressed and he justifies the reasons for being depressed and not seeking help, as it’s the easy option (but not the right one).
In school he acts as a normal individual, but in reality and deep down he suffers from depression and he hides this fact, the depression has become part of his life and has undoubtedly made him who he is.

We don’t show why mark is depressed, by not showing he’s past and how he has become depressed we able to appeal to all those teenagers who are depressed. All teenagers are depressed for very different reason its impossible to create a film which depicts all these problems as there is so many such as death of a family, drugs, poverty ect the list goes on and on. This film however stays in touch with the core of depression which is not how you have become depressed but the symptoms, its affects and how to overcome it.

3) The Message – What message is being communicated in film?
Is it obvious?
Why will people want to watch your film?

The message of the film is to create awareness on the issue of depression, stats show that those who suffer from depression hide it. Thus this film encourages, motivates and inspires people to break out the trap of depression and seek help.
The film communicates the need to seek help if you are depressed, as it can worsen. The need to obtain support by seeing a therapist or reading about how to overcome it.
It will educate those who may not know about depression and the symptoms of it.
Many people who watch the film will judge the character and maybe remark on how stupid he is for not being able to choose a TV channel. This film promotes the need to limit the sense of judgment, and make people want to put themselves in other people shoes before they judge them.
Therefore when people watch the film and come to understand the reasons for his misery at the end of the film they won’t be so judgmental.
The target audience is predominantly teens, as they are the major group who suffer from depression. Teen will want to watch the film as they can relate to it, and want to seek help afterwards. It needs to be made for its own sake, its different, there is no film out there which depicts such an issue explicitly.
The story line is very appealing, moving, and addresses such a real issue with such validity and truth. The truthfulness of the film and its education it offers will satisfy the audience as once they watch the film they wont feel sad after watching a depressed film, they will in fact know what depression is (plus extra bonus) and watch it in an entertaining form.

4) Target audience
Who is the film aimed at?
Who is your target audience and explain how this film will appeal to them.

The film is aimed at people who suffer from depression, people who want to learn about it and its nasty affects. Its major target audience is teens as they are the group who are more likely to suffer from depression. For this reason it intends to explain the effects of depression and the urgent need get help.
Having said this it appeals to young adults and adults as they too suffer from depression. In simple terms the main target audience is those who suffer from depression.
Try
‘Why Me’ attempts to have a universal target audience it aims to create awareness and educate people from all age ranges about depression. For this reason everyone over the age of 13/14 should watch the film
The film certainly appeals to this target audience. This is achieved in many ways; it’s achieved by the theme of the film ‘depression’ this will generally appeal to them as many teens suffer from it. The character and location creates a sense if realism as the protagonist character is a student and its set in a school.

5) Your opinion
Justify why your film needs to be made, what sets it apart from other dramatic short films

The film needs to be made in order to benefit people. Many people view depression as a mood swing which leads to people being unhappy or dull for a short period. What people don’t know is that it has serous affects, and can make living normally impossible, it can most notably lead to suicide, it’s not a talked about issue. This justifies why it should be made, people are uncomfortable about talking about depression because its so depressing. I strongly believe that we need to create awareness on depression, as it can cause various risks and problems. I believe that creating a film in a way that teaches people, advises people to obtain support and presenting it in an entertaining way which will hopefully encourage people who are depressed to go and seek help, and furthermore provide people with an insight into depression.