REFLECTION 15 – MERLOT WITH MATES

We decided on a final title of our film, “merlot with mates”. It encapsulates the bridge between the two characters in our film, and its theme of having two friends reunite and instead of their usual beers and pizza, they bond over some cheese and a nice bottle of wine.

I realise by now that I haven’t even given a great description of the film we’re making, but I also wonder if it is worth spoiling what happens. What I do want to comment on is the progression and development of the final script from the original ideas we had planned out weeks ago. The idea was initially pitched as a simplistic take on the relationship between two people, and putting a lot of emphasis on how one has grown more mature and adult compared to the other. It was supposed to be a hyper-realistic film, but when I read the first draft I couldn’t understand the subtle humor or characters at all. They weren’t people I knew and it kinda of made me distance myself from being able to understand who or what these characters represented. In the end I feel like the script wasn’t my usual story, but the theme of approaching adulthood is something I definitely relate to, and that was why I initially decided to join this group.

I’m still a little concerned for the tone of the film, or even how it would translate the acceptance that the guest will feel towards the new changes in his friend. I’m not sure how much of it will come across as comedic, and how much will be read as dramatic, but in the end I hope it will be a great film no matter what direction we end up taking it.