1940
The French - Belgium Front
Three young men;
Two British Soldiers
James – Jimbo, Jim, Jimmy
Albert – Bert, Al
One German Soldier
Unknown
The year is 1940, the scene is set in war-torn France, two boys have been guarding a cross roads along the line within the town of Arras (North-Eastern France). Days have passed with minimal movement. Without an officer in charge, tensions are high and whilst the team stand firm, morale is low. Time moves slowly, the men are restless and paranoid. Thoughts that the chaps have been forgotten are creeping into camp. Ideas that these soldiers are now behind enemy lines is crippling trust and belief in one-another’s judgment.
Initially, the team had been ordered to hold their position at the crossroads within Arras, these orders were received more than 24 hours ago, and not any word since. German forces are rumored to be advancing on the town imminently in an effort to force the Allies back across the Channel. Surrounded by their makeshift gun post consisting of crates, ammo boxes and discarded household items laying about the street, the boys have just one Bren gun with limited ammunition and a couple of 303’ Enfield rifle with a few rounds remaining. After several gunfights and staggered contact with the enemy, supplies are running dangerously low, arguments are fierce and distant gunfire is a frequent presence, day and night. Jimmy had recently witnessed a close friend being shot and killed earlier this week, with this in mind, his rage for the Germans is at an all time high.
Little do the British boys know but there is in fact a German officer hiding a short way from the emplacement, directly in their line of sight. The Officer is unarmed, alone and frightened.
There is a gun lying in the middle of the street, the German continues to stare in desperation at it. The weapon is less than four feet from him, although, if he makes a move for it, he will be completely out in the open… but what else can he do!?!
Concept Artwork
I am planning on filming this in realtime and then building in 3Dimensional sets, if indeed it does go as far as production!
Here are a few intial drawings, depicting the type of setting I'm aiming for, the sort of colours I'm looking for and some shot consideration.
Props
As this film is going to be part 'live-action' and part 'computer generated', I have had to source a wealth of tangible objects which can surround the actors and dress the set. The set will then be 'blue-screened' entirely which will later be replaced with a 'computer generated' war-torn French street scene in a '300' or 'Sin City' style.
I have arranged together a collection of items such as chairs, tables, and other domestic articles which will be positioned in a fashion which will hopefully give the sense of a make-shift barrier / emplacement.
Clearly the idea is that the British soldiers have been forced to use found objects to build the emplacement due to the lack of equipment available along the frontline.
There is going to be a wireless radio sat in the corner of the gun emplacement showing that at some point the boys grabbed it in an attempt to enjoy themselves briefly.
This is the pistol which will be lying in the street, a Luger, this will emphasize the link between the German and the weapon (A Luger is a German Pistol) and clearly the gun is the factor tempting the German out in to the open.
The idea of the Teddy Bear is that it has been dropped in the street by a child. Again the theory is that one of the chaps has picked up the toy because he realizes how treasured the item would have been to a child and therefore he cannot leave it abandoned on the roadside. It also reminds the men of their families, perhaps their own children or younger brothers, the important factor is that these items remind the boys of home!
Models
Here are two examples of planes which I have modelled and will be used within the piece.
Spitfire
Lancaster Bomber
Animatic
I have also now produced an initial animatic so as to gain an idea of timing and spacing.
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