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Prostitution Exposition

The One Who Knocks

The One Who Knocks

Hi all. At the moment I am trying to develop a script for a short film with a length of roughly two minutes, the short film will be made in conjunction with a film contest that promotes prostitution awareness. I’ve got the general idea for my story firmly locked down, but there’s one aspect of the writing that I’ve encountered a roadblock on.

The main character of the film will be the prostitute herself.

Ideally, I would have loved to establish her vocation to the audience by simply guiding the camera through her apartment, lingering certain shots on particular items lying around in her home. Particular items of interest that when taken as a whole, would clearly communicate to the viewer that the girl is indeed a prostitute. Telling the story visually.

What I am having an issue with is how precisely to go forth in pulling this off. I have thought of certain ideas for various prostitution items that could be positioned in her apartment; such as the classic apparel (high heels, perhaps a short skirt and fishnets), something related to a STD (a doctors diagnosis, or maybe a medication) and I’ve also read about prostitutes carrying weapons, sexual toys and condoms in their purse. All of this, in addition to using a motif of the color red to symbolize the red light district.

What I am unsure of is if audience members will make the connection based solely on seeing these items in her apartment, especially as none of these items are exclusively linked with prostitution. And to be clear, I want to refrain from overtly showing the girl herself.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any other ideas for prostitution related items, generally any items a prostitute could have lying around? Or do you think that this approach is ultimately futile and that I should rethink my method?
 
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I'm already aware of prostitution.

What does the campaign seem to think the general prostitution consumer or purveyor is NOT aware of?
What POV is the campaign pimpin'?

Seriously.
For any meaningful advertising or PR campaign the organizers need to have a focussed objective.

With that bundle to kick around we'd be able to better provide a more comprehensive message for your 2m short.

GL
 
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A prostitution license maybe? Or a Department of Health card. If the film is set in Nevada, those would be common. You could pan over her wallet with the license condoms and cash spilling out.
 
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rayw said:
I'm already aware of prostitution.

What does the campaign seem to think the general prostitution consumer or purveyor is NOT aware of?
What POV is the campaign pimpin'?

Seriously.
For any meaningful advertising or PR campaign the organizers need to have a focussed objective.

With that bundle to kick around we'd be able to better provide a more comprehensive message for your 2m short.

GL
Click to expand...

Its more of a short film than an ad. Initially I decided against posting the whole story of the film as I (perhaps wrongfully) thought it was irrelevant to the primary question, but since I sense some curiosity...

The film tells the story of a prostitute of japanese heritage who sets out to accomplish this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_origami_cranes in her belief that it will attain her a wish. It will be implied that the wish revolves around escaping her current affairs, implied through showing that she is alone and unhappy.

As for the structure of the film, I was greatly inspired by this marvelous short film http://www.filminute.com/2011/ (it´s the one at the bottom of the Page called "Game" that was awarded the title of best filminute of 2007). The structure of this film will bear similarities. The film takes place inside her apartment, the first beat revolves around showing her folding a crane and displaying the collection of cranes she has already folded. In the second beat she is revealed to be a prostitute.

JakeSully said:
Condom wrappers (both, open, and stil intact) next to a roll of bills would help.
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Great idea, thanks :)
 
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Lucky Hardwood said:
A prostitution license maybe? Or a Department of Health card. If the film is set in Nevada, those would be common. You could pan over her wallet with the license condoms and cash spilling out.
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Would be great, but unfortunately we do not have those where I come from

I'm not so sure any of these would necessarily sell the set as the room of a hooker.
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I am unsure as well, t´was therefore I came here for advice
 
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IndieBudget said:
How bout showing her posting an ad online ? or show the copy...mebbe a pic of the gal in a red dress, then show the same red dress on the bedroom floor ??
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That´s a really inventive idea, thanks :)

How well do you know your character?
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Well, she isn´t as much as character as a symbol of all suffering prostitutes. I´m considering refraining from ever even showing her face, and only utilizing objective camera angles, rather than subjective ones.
 
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I think it needs to be more subtle than showing a prostitution license (wtf by the way) so I'd be more inclined to go with the condoms or online ad.

But can't you just show it, briefly? Society has a very clear idea of how prostitutes act. Why not have a quick shot of her standing by the side of the road dressed to, er, kill...? Or, in the UK, we'd have her sticking a wee advert in a phonebox.
 
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Prostitute or not, most woman are fairly hygenic and clean making a rubber wrapper buffet an unlikely scene.

In keeping with avoiding showing her face theme, if her role is a speaking one and she's working her johns out of her home (insane) she could be viewed sans in bed face jotting convention appointments in her little black book while on the phone with her pimp/madam.

Dialog would be along industry pressures: too many johns and not enough dark in the night to take care of 'em all. Feast or famine. Yeah, she heard about that new indie teen on the scene geeting kniffed, she'll be working from the shadows once the stiches are removed from her face. Stupid kid. Get back to school. etc.
 
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NickClapper said:
I think it needs to be more subtle than showing a prostitution license (wtf by the way) so I'd be more inclined to go with the condoms or online ad.
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Do those need to be prominantly displayed in a conspicuous public location like a business license?
Or is it like a fishing license that just needs to be whipped out when the fuzz comes by? :lol:
NickClapper said:
But can't you just show it, briefly? Society has a very clear idea of how prostitutes act. Why not have a quick shot of her standing by the side of the road dressed to, er, kill...? Or, in the UK, we'd have her sticking a wee advert in a phonebox.
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prostitution%20prostitute%20prostitutes%20hooker%20call%20girl%20callgirl.jpg


But maybe the OP is trying to avoid asking her to dress as such and "perform" in public.
It could discretely be done in less than ridiculous attire, but... I dunno. That might be a bit much of a favor to ask of a friend.
 
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Since you already have a thought on how to do it, this may not help much but I would start with showing a seedy neighborhood, where there are prostitutes found hanging out on every corner. Then I'd cut to an inside scene of a woman getting her child ready for bed. After she the child is asleep, have the woman getting ready for work - applying make-up (though I know you don't want to show her face), putting on stockings, garters, bright mini-skirt/short dress, high heel boots, etc and then cut to an outside shot of her walking from her building and settling in with the others on a street corner.

But images of what a prostitute would have around her place, instead of having condom wrappers everywhere, you can just have her open a new box and have a shot of her throwing away the box of condoms and just show her closet full of working clothes.
 
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I read she wants out: so she's a victim.
Is her appartment luxurious or poor (and falling apart)?
Some things are not 'in the items' but 'in the looks of the set'.
Is the money all hers or not?

Maybe you can add wigs to your itemslist?

And try to watch some episodes of 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl'. (Not as NSFW as it sounds, lol)
This UK series is a 'glamorous' look on a voluntary call girl, but it's based on a real blog, so you may get some (realistic?) inspiration for your 'itemslist'.
 
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I've begun to progressively grow more and more fond of the web ad idea, I'm thinking of incorporating it should I come to find a satisfactory approach.

I did originally consider incorporating cutaways in the manner earlier suggested, though I think of it as a little to "blunt" of an approach. I'm interested in telling the story in more of a minimalistic manner.

Though I will probably include a great deal of the suggested prop ideas as tucked away in the mis en scene of the apartment.

I will also refrain from using any dialogue. 1) I think there's a real beauty in a story told solely through visuals (married life in Up anyone?) 2) I'm not in contact with any actors i'd trust with this kind of material.


Anyhow, what do people think of the story of the film that i posted earlier in this thread
 
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I'm doing forced marriage, you're doing prostitution and someone else onf the forum is going for rape...

What's going on here ?


Seriously, here's how I'd do the opening scene so that everybody gets she is a hooker.

I would fade in on a man, shot from the back, knockin' at at a door. When the door opens, I would pan the camera down, so that we don't see her face but her body. When you reach the feet, they both enter the apartment. You follow the feet a little, and after a few seconds, you let them go their business in a separate room while you focus on visiting the apartment. The points of interest would be :

A tight planning involving male names. An envelope filled with dollars (that's how escorts are paid in France, they get the envelope, they hide somewhere to count and they come back to deliver the service). And that's all I can think of that wasn't already said. I've never been to a prostitute's house.
 
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NickClapper said:
I think it needs to be more subtle than showing a prostitution license (wtf by the way) so I'd be more inclined to go with the condoms or online ad...
Click to expand...

rayw said:
Do those need to be prominantly displayed in a conspicuous public location like a business license?
Or is it like a fishing license that just needs to be whipped out when the fuzz comes by? :lol:...
Click to expand...

In places here in The United States of America where prostitution is legal it is regulated. Hookers are required to have a license that shows that they have been evaluated for venereal diseases and have paid their prostitution tax.

It is more like a fishing license. If a cop or customer asks to see your license, you must show it.
 
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