Unwritten is a 23-minute short 16-mm film about Michael, an aging writer who

has stopped writing. The viewer experiences Michael’s interpretation of the world around him and it is through his eyes that reality is perceived. In a daydream, with the help of one of his fictional detective characters, Michael unlocks his suppressed memories. Throughout the investigation into Michael’s past, his perception of reality changes. This journey triggers a rebirth within Michael as he releases his painful past. Through the use of themes and metaphors Michael’s state of mind is unveiled to the viewer.

In the introduction of the film, a dream sequence Michael is confronted with a door to his past. An extreme close up of his eye signifies his perception of the world at that time in his life. Upon opening the door to his past, Michael is awakened out of the daydream. He sits alone in his office and is haunted by time as he stares at the clock. He states, “ Today is my birthday.” But no one is around him to experience it in his reclusive life.

Michael reenters a daydream; an investigation into why he had stopped writing begins. Michael craves to retrieve the feelings from his youth when nothing was impossible and all layed ahead. In Michael’s journey he confronts a time in his life where this feeling has returned. In his late twenties he encounters a young lady named Elizabeth while working at the university who reminds him of what he has lost. Elizabeth is energetic and playful, which are characteristics Michael no longer possesses. Michael has become bitter and lost faith in others. His eyes open, he reclaims his hopes and dreams in her and a rebirth has taken place. She inspires his writing to change from the third person to first person. In the past, he wrote about detective stories and fictional characters. He now realizes his past is important and vital. As the investigation continues into his suppressed memories, he realizes that his views were flawed. His relationship with her was not as it seemed, and without her he abandons writing. The probe continues into his return to a reclusive life, which brings him to recount his mother’s memories. A parallel between Elizabeth’s abandonment and the loss of his mother begins to unfold.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Michael confronts his past where he releases the painful memories. He realizes he had a say in the matter of his existence. Things did not just happen to him - he was an active participant in his life. Michael was truly living when he was writing, but when he stopped writing, he ceased living.  In the final shot of the movie Michael is writing the story that the viewer has just witnessed. The camera returns to Michael where he again states, “Today is my birthday.” But now his perception has changed and this statement has new meaning. It is through self-examination that an individual can truly grow. Letting go of the past allows us to move forward. There are basic relationships in life that are played out from our youth. Certain conversations we carry throughout our life that keeps an individual in a certain reality. But once these conversations are released, life has new meaning. Michael’s incompletion of his mother’s loss carried on throughout his life, but by completing this conversation he has moved forward.

Influences in the film are Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberry’s, Robert Wiene’s Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. These films are structured around the journey into a character’s mind. In the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari the main character’s (Francis) perception on reality is flawed and it is through his eyes that the viewer experiences the story. In Wild Strawberries the main character Isak Borg journeys into his past and it is through self-examination he finds an inner peace. Another influence is Apocalypse Now; Coppola’s use of superimpostions creates the character’s state of mind for the viewer. The combination of images allows a space to be created or a thought. These superimposed images become more like a memory then an event occurring in the present.

In Unwritten, Michael’s character is unveiled through the use of themes and metaphors. One the major themes in this film is the light bulb, when the light is turned on, Michael is awaked. When he abandons writing the light is turned off and he ceases truly living. Another metaphor is nature, it is through nature that Michael feels unjudged and accepted. Michael strives for the perfect moment and finds it in nature and Elizabeth. These two elements are his passion and motivation. Time is another theme used through out the film and holds relevance in Michael's old age and what he has missed in life. The most important thing in the world for Michael is time and he wanted to spend it with her (Elizabeth and his mother). Through the use of the photograph Michael’s memories are evoked. This theme is used in present time color with the elder Michael and in his late twenties when he is writing. I also tried to set themes with color throughout the film. White symbolizing purity, innocence and happiness, for example the white blossoms on the tree. The wardrobe during the “happy times” Elizabeth and Michael’s mother are dressed in white. During the argument scene on the staircase Elizabeth is dressed in black. Her dress symbolizes the dark period in his life. The use of color and black and white footage separated the present and the past. Also color was used to show the pure moments in Michael’s life, for example the first time he saw Elizabeth and moments in his childhood.

I have spent the last 18 months writing and working on this film. My budget was around twelve thousand dollars due to a huge shooting ratio. We shot a total of 7 hours of footage, which is close to what they shoot a feature film. I had every single shot story boarded and at times we would add a shot if something caught our eyes. Making a film is a team effort and I am grateful for all the help I received. Every person volunteered his or her time and effort. During the making of this film I learned to deal with personalities of all varieties. Also, when people are working for free I did my best to accommodate them with good meals and work around their schedules. However, one of the major difficulties was working around location and people’s schedules. I look forward to making a film when I can pay individuals for their efforts and decrease the difficulties of schedules. I have come to realize that one of the secrets to directing is even if I have no clue to what I’m doing, act as if I do. One of my favorite lines is, “That has exactly what I wanted, it was perfect, lets do another take.” My confidence grew as a director as the film furthered and I felt more comfortable with heading the project.

I have learned a great deal from making this film. I truly know all the work that goes into creating a movie. I have filled every position from writer and director to food service. In the past I have heard other filmmakers say their first film near killed them and this is something I can relate to. But I do look forward to making films in the future and hopefully I will have less to do. I plan to get a print made of Unwritten in order to submit it to various film festivals. In the future in plan to do a comedy, I need to do something lighter. My friend and I have already been writing the new film, which we plan to shoot next spring.