indecisiveness

Some thoughts for a general plot and run-through of my opening. Keep in mind these are all theoretical, not set in stone yet. All of these are supposed to be historically accurate and authentic to the criminal world.

First Idea:
Group of friends that have to flee the country due to them getting in trouble with the law and drive across Russia while facing corrupt cops and violence with rival mobsters

Opening: Originally, I was thinking of a car theft scene based in Russia. Two friends who are originally on a commission to torch a rival businessman’s car for their boss, however, they decide to take it for themselves. While they are eyeing the car, they get out and block the doorway to the building the car is outside of. However, they manage to set off the alarm to the car they are stealing and are forced to wait by the doorway until it’s finished. They are successful and leave with the car. The whole purpose of the opening is to show the corruption and the crime prevalent in Russia throughout the whole movie, with the people they encounter and the situations they land themselves in. The plot is a bit weak, but it would redeem itself in its production.

Second Idea:
A movie that follows a man through his rise in the criminal world in New York from a local gang to being a boss in the mafia. Loosely based off "Little Odessa"
This is probably going to be the most difficult one to shoot because of the people I would need during this film. The film would take place in the late 90s in New York or Florida (If I don’t get to film it in NY during spring break) Establishing shot: The outside of a Russian restaurant/nightclub. An interior shot that pans left and right throughout of people dancing with live music (would need to obtain copyright music to authenticate the 90’s “vibe” of the movie) playing in the background. The camera lands to the main protagonist drinking with a group of girls and pans to another man, which says something (inaudible to the viewers) to his friend. The protagonist sees this and looks worried. He leaves the table hurriedly and goes to the bathroom to evidently avoid him. The man follows him and takes a shot in the stall, the scene ends there, leaving the viewer to wonder if he survived. Not the strongest idea, but would introduce the setting and context of the movie well.

Third Idea:

Discharged Army soldier goes to his distant cousin he never meant for help to start a new life, ends up working for him, however, he has a moral dilemma as his cousin is a gangster and a killer. He’s soon established in the criminal world and his cousin has asked him to kill someone for him. Similar to "Brigada", a famous TV show with a positive portrayal of criminals in Russia.

The opening of the film would be the main character building a “samopal”, a handmade pistol commonly used in the crime world in Post-Soviet Russia throughout the ’80s to the 2000s. It would film the whole process, filming him making it using different camera angles with specific music in the background (I haven’t picked any yet) The end shot of the opening would be over a specific location where the viewer can infer that’s where he would be going next (example: a particular house, restaurant, or city.)

I definitely know I want to do the crime genre, but there are too many good songs to go with these scenes and I can’t seem to choose one with lyrics that I can base my opening on...

I admire people who do this for a full movie....