Narrative/ Plot Overview

 

Overview:

My short film is the story of two school children who go on a team-building exercise in the woods as punishment for various misdemeanors. Their teambuilding leader is unexpectedly killed by a creature in the forest, leaving the kids to fend for themselves. After a series of close calls with the creature, the kids eventually make it back to base camp where they find the teambuilding leader very much alive. He reveals that he faked his own attack and that the whole thing was one big teambuilding exercise.

Act 1:

The film opens with the characters on the way to the retreat and the characters are introduced: Caroline and Emma- Caroline is very organized and rational but can be controlling at times whilst Emma tends to blow things out of proportion and be dramatic. The teambuilding leader is named Dale he is Australian, eccentric and enthusiastic.

It is revealed that Caroline and Emma are best friends, but they are angry at each other. The reason they have to go on this retreat is because the school think that they cheated on a test- Emma copied Caroline and now they’re both being punished. Heather and Dean hardly know each other but have been paired up because there is no one else.

Dale explains to Caroline and Emma that their first activity will be orienteering. He takes them to a clearing, gives them a map and sends them on their way. Not long after, they hear a scream and run back to the clearing, where they find tufts of hair and Dale’s bloodied Hawaiian shirt.

Act 2:

The group panics. Emma and Caroline have an argument because Emma wants to stay and wait for help, but Caroline thinks they can make it back to the lodge before it gets dark. Emma takes control deciding that they need to wait where they are for help to come. It starts getting dark, so they huddle up together feeling defeated and scared. Neither of them can sleep and they end up bonding. Emma admits to Caroline that she copied her exam and then tells her that she should take charge. In the morning, Caroline takes charge, and they start walking.  It doesn’t take long before they reach the lodge- in all their panicking they weren’t that far away after all.

Act 3:

The group makes it back to the lodge where they find Dale very much alive. Dale explains that the whole thing was a teambuilding exercise and that they passed with flying colors- they worked through their differences and ultimately made it back in one piece. The girls are stunned, and the film ends with a still of their reactions.

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