The God complex : a short film

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation will be to investigate the process of creation of a hidden character in film; one where the character, or its participatory role in the movie plot, are not necessarily prescribed or entirely disclosed to the viewer. A practical project in the form of a short film, titled The God Complex, based on an original script will accompany this paper and will serve as the fruit stemming from the research conducted for this paper. The dissertation will also enquire into the effects the narrative of such a film has on the viewer. Drawing inspiration from previous films, these effects will be examined in their production of ideologies and transmission of ideas from the filmmaker to the viewer. A methodology of the pre-, post- and production stages of the short film, from the inception of the idea for the script to the final export of the film, will be presented. A reflexive analysis of the short will follow, in which the scenes will be explained in greater detail.