I chose to do a film proposal on a short fantasy novelette I wrote years ago because I felt more passionate about it and it would be cool if it was made into a movie!

Film Proposal

Logline:

A young girl born into a great responsibility is hunted by those who seek to steal her crystal and struggles to embrace her power while she journeys back to her magical home.

Synopsis:

It was one hundred years until another quartz crystal arose to another Auzerian, Rayna, making her a Guardian and leader and protector of her people. Struggling with her own powers and expectations of what it means to be a Guardian, Rayna disobeys the rule to never leave the Wall of Auzeria and explores the unpredictable world beyond the crystal forest, the only home she has ever known. But soon Rayna faces what her ancestors were trying to protect the Auzerians from all these years and is hunted for her crystal by men who seek to steal its power. With the help of a stranger, Rayna is left to use what the Guardians taught her and to trust her own intuition to find her way home.

Treatment:

Genre: live action movie

The first scene begins with the main character, Rayna, hiding in the forest at night. She reminisces of her home in the crystal forest and explains the history leading up to her role as a Guardian to her people. Rayna then uses her power for the first time under the moonlight. In the morning she meets a mysterious stranger, Guylan. They begin their journey together and he suspects there is something special about her.

Guylan soon finds out who she really is when she is captured by those who are hunting her to steal her crystal and is surprised to find out his uncle is behind the endeavor. Guylan helps her escape and as she flees the camp site she recalls a comment from his uncle and realizes that Guylan is actually an Auzerian that was taken by his parents when he was younger, the reason why the Wall of Auzeria was created. She goes back for him. During a confrontation with the uncle, at golden hour, she accepts who she is by putting the crystal necklace on for the first time before she dives off a waterfall. At night, as Guylan and Rayna get warm by a fire, more information is given about Rayna’s first encounter with the hunters.

When it is morning they run from the hunters pursuit and Rayna starts to glow as they get closer to the Wall of Auzeria. This is where she fully embraces her power and uses it to defend them from the hunters. As the hunters flee, Rayna uses her power to create a wall out of branches and his uncle makes one last ditch effort and Guylan gets stabbed with his knife in the process. The uncle falls back and is consumed into the wall of branches. Rayna uses her power to try and heal Guylan and finds his crystal peeking through the wrapped knife handle next to him. When he is reunited with his crystal he wakes up. The Wall of Auzeria opens and a beautiful scene of the crystal forest is revealed. And Rayna says, “Welcome home”. Voiceover of Rayna’s thoughts hint at a possible sequel.

Author Statement: 

Vision:

After being immersed in learning about the world of metaphysics, including crystals and energy healing, I’ve felt like I’ve encountered sprinkles of magic and wonder in my life. This story is important to me because I express elements from my own personal life through the main character such as my doubts, insecurities, trauma as well as realizing my own inner strength and power. I’ve heard of the saying, “take your power back”. But I’ve come to believe that it’s not something that can be taken away. It may be dormant at times but always ready and waiting to be reawakened.

I think this story is important to tell for anyone needing inspiration to know their self-worth and how you are special by simply being your authentic self. “You see all the stars in the sky? There are billions of them in the universe. From here, they all look the same. Small magical lights in the sky. Now imagine the sun. The sun is just a star. Up there in the universe, it may seem like every other ordinary star. But down here, it’s powerful and gives warmth and lights our days. It gives life to all those living on this Earth. The sun sets each night and you know it will rise again the next day, shining its light and doing it all again. The sun may not realize all that it does for us and not think it’s special from where it is. But you see, all it has to do is shine. And to us, just being what it is, it is special.” - Guylan

 

Theme:

The theme is universal and about choices. Whatever your circumstances, you have a choice on who you want to be or who you want to become as well as what to create in your life. And by overcoming your own doubts and insecurities you can embrace your inner strength and power and make magic happen.

 

Visual Statement:

Cinematography:

Wide angles will be used to set the scene. Medium shots to help show the story along. Then closeups for details and show intensity in moments such as the first scene where a closeup of Rayna’s face is shown while she is hiding from hunters. Then a top view of when she is looking at her crystal and remnisnicing of home. And a medium to wide angle shot when she uses her powers for the first time.

Camera will be still on a tripod for a clear picture and to easily watch what is going on rather than a shaky camera. Easy flow to watch story unfold.

Technical:

The colors in the film will be natural for most scenes in nature. Bright but not harsh. Lots of natural lighting with sunlight during the day. Rays of sunlight for magical ambience and on occasion in combination with use of shadow to focus on a moment. Golden hour for the waterfall scene. Moonlight during night scenes like in the intro.

TV Show References:

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024 on Netflix) because the use of magic with elements and the main character’s reluctance at first of his role and great responsibility he was born into.

The Wheel of Time (2021 on Prime Video) because the use of magic and journey in nature scenes. Also, the natural lighting used and the main character is learning to use his power and finding out how strong he is.

Audience and Marketing:

Teasers will be released on social media like Instagram and YouTube, one month prior to film debut. Ads will be utilized to reach target audience on both platforms as well as collaborations with influencers in the metaphysical niche to promote on their channel and page. Trailer in theaters and TV like SyFy, Freeform, WB and regular channels like ABC. Posters in theaters and malls also one month prior to film premiere.

Target audience is for young adult and older adults who like the tv shows I mentioned and for those who like fantasy and magic. There’s also a large metaphysical community that would be interested in crystals and the energy healing elements in the film.