Trunkload

Student short film: 'Trunkload'.

Genre and Themes: A physical comedy. Vintage style silent film. Using exclusively black, white, grey, or red color themes.

Logline: A highly corporate, jaded used car salesman, under the threat of losing his job, struggles to find a suitable car for his most difficult client yet. A group of circus clowns. Looking for the perfect clown car.

Project research question: ‘By intentionally limiting key audio and visual storytelling aspects, inspired by the silent film era. How can restrictions potentially influence untapped creativity within cast and crew?’ 

I intend to create a 10-12 minute short film, that curates a fun and explorative environment for anyone in collaboration. Encouraging talented individuals involved in the production process to fully manifest their limitless creative potential, within the paradoxically limited technical boundaries. 
 

The team for 'Trunkload', is made up of incredibly talented individuals, from the same university and study, working together in collaboration with me to make the film a reality. I'm incredibly fortunate to have such enthusiastic collaboration from these creatives, and the support from funding will not only ensure a fun final film, but more importantly the best experience that they deserve to have while making it. 

Director/Writer - Kate Saunders.

Producer - Kate Saunders.

Assistant Producer - Anna Nakano-Broers.

1st AD - Jorja McKeown 

2nd AD - Niamh Ryan

DOP - Saskia Milnes

Camera Operator - Joel Hodson 

1st AC - Jady V

2nd AC - Sophie Kelsall

Art Department - Sharon Saunders, Shannon Knight, Ryan Saunders

Costuming - Sharon Saunders 

Gaffer - Thomas Harms 

Key Grip - Ollie Craighead

Grip - Olivia Murray

Sound Recordist/Boom Op - Kobi Thomas

Editor - Saskia Milnes, Kate Saunders

Script Supervisor - Andy Wang

Composer - Quentin Stark

Foley Artist - Connor Gourley

Makeup Artist - Ed Perkins, Sharon Saunders

BTS - T Weston

How your support will help us:

Your generous support will be going entirely towards funding the process, recourses and success of a honors film project. As well as the team made up of predominantly fellow students, all working towards development of 'Trunkload' as part of their year of study. 

Any, and all, contributions are helpful. Funding; Locations, vehicle hire, food, cast, and costuming.

We plan to shoot parts of the script in a real vehicle dealership store, as well as large parking lot areas, close to Wellington central. We will be hiring as many funky, old, new, or funny cars as possible, to be incorporated as props for the appropriate scenes. Which may be resourced from any local car clubs, or anyone in ownership of any type of vehicle that wishes to be involved. 

All camera, sound, lighting and general shooting equipment will be accessible by Massey University, without additional cost. Though food and art department will have to be provided by us, and will rely on the target donations to cover all these needs.

The films integrity depends heavily on the magic of the art department. With our diligent costume designer, Sharon, creating incredible clown outfits, makeup, and resourcing materials from her own pocket money in preparation for the shoot. But is quickly losing options with what she can afford. To give the support our team needs, this will not only reimburse those who have already invested in this, but also ensure we have the right coverage for everyone, particularly in the art department, to have the opportunity to do their very best. 

'Trunkload' Synopsis: 

Wishing to spend more quality time with his circus loving daughter. A used car salesman, Ernest, attempts to purchase two tickets to the local circus. The booking fails due to insufficient funds, but changes the number of tickets to one, just for his daughter.

His tranquility gets obliterated by his uptight boss, who threatens to fire him due to an inadequate sale rate, unless he can secure his next one. Soon after, the latest customer approaches the reception, revealing to be a rowdy group of clowns, looking for a suitable car for their show. Needing his job to support his daughter, Ernest is determined to secure their purchase quickly and simply. But time starts running out, as the eccentricity of the clowns continuously derail his repeated attempts to pitch discounted company cars. Instead, choosing to stress test and mess with an absurd range of vehicles, that never seems to adhere to their needs, being too big, too small, too long, too sporty, why is there even a dog driven sleigh in a parking space. 

Bringing Ernest to his wits end. Eventually the clowns take him to the perfect clown car. Blinded by desperation, he confirms the trade. The clowns then gift Ernest not one, but two free tickets to their show, and they leave satisfied with their purchase. Only later realizing the fact that he just sold his own car.

Inspiration:

The project overall takes a lot of inspiration from both Buster Keaton's 'Cops' (1922), and Charlie Chaplin’s - ‘The Circus’ (1928).  

I'm also exploring how revisiting technological restrictions, inspired by the silent film era, potentially elevate audience engagement for a conventional modern comedy. 

By having no dialogue, the narrative will be driven by timely and intentional music/foley. Also the monochromatic visuals will have a more contemporary and unexpected flare of red for specifically the clowns.

How my background informs thematic decisions: 

There's an affinity with anything I consider vintage or old school. I get a kind of nostalgia that's not mine, and comfort from these ascetics. Likely due to the fact that I grew up as the youngest, even among grandchildren, with a large age gap from my siblings. So I was surrounded by family members in the older demographic, influencing what I’ve come to familiarize, and identify myself with. 

Thank you for reading through this project!

This project is a passion as well as a study. I believe that more films should be open to new and fresh ideas, even if that means taking a trip to the past. 

This experience will greatly impact my study for my final year in University. Supporting my research, through film, into exploring the universally applied ‘Less is more’ statement. The science behind the relationship between ‘freedom of choice’ and creative restriction perhaps being an unexpected benefit. Consistently finding that my scrappy solutions to restrictive creative scenarios, forces me to think innovatively, often leading to a unpredicted end result. That may be much more satisfying than would have been otherwise. Which is almost always a consistent catalyst of history's greatest discoveries, knowledge, and art. 

If any of this resonates with you, or just want to show your support. We are incredibly grateful for any donations, or if you happen to know anyone that would love to hear about this project, and get involved, let them know about it! Any and all types of contributions has a positive impact.