Soundtrack

Any good film has an amazing soundtrack to go with it, take 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy; the soundtrack went to Platinum and continues to be sold in shops today. So, the soundtrack should capture the essence of the time period its representing but also have some more recent song to remind the audience of the time its set.
Re-Make/ Re Model -Roxy Music (1971)
This will be used during the tripping scene. Its fast pace fits perfectly to the tempo of the footage and has electrifying riffs that add a psychedelic aspect to the scene. In fact this was the song that sparked the whole film as its was the song that gave me the idea for the trip scene and then the rest of the film was made around that one pivotal moment.
Nights in White Satin- The Moody Blues (1967)
This is the song Simon plays when Mick tries to talk to a girl he likes but fails miserably. It is a classic 60's love song that is very nostalgic for some people as it was commonly played at school discos in the 70's. The lyrics that play are: "I love you, yes I love you, woah I love you" which really don't hide what this scene is about.
My Eyes Have Seen You -The Doors (1967)
The guitar solo of this song by the Doors will be played later on in the film when Simon is running down streets to get to Mick before he does Heroin. Like the song by Roxy Music it is faced paced and builds up to a great climax, it suits this moment of fear Simon has as he doesn't want to loose his friend to this drug that will take over his life.
White Rabbit- Jefferson Airplane (1967)
This song is played in the background of the party scene. Its a classic song of the 60's and sets the atmosphere of the film. in fact you could say the track is much like this film in terms of it builds up and up to a peak.
In Another Land- The Rolling Stones (1967)
This will be played when Mick and Ringo are experimenting with a whole magnitude of psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs. its enchanting and hypnotizing sound go hand in hand with the fact the two kids are experimenting with drugs. The lyrics "In another land" are somewhat a a metaphor for being taken to another place through excessive drug use.
Time- Pink Floyd (1973)
This will be bridge the final shot to the credits. 'Time's quiet and relaxing opening is fitting for the somber atmosphere left with the audience at the end. The sudden change in pace in the song will begin as the final shot cuts to the beginning of the credits.
Money- Pink Floyd (1973)
This song is off the album that is stolen from Mick. This plays at the moment Simon is at a party without Mick and Ringo and is played on a record player, he finds out it was bought off Ringo for £20 to buy Heroin. The song fits as the scene is about greed and money.
Be Together -Major Lazer (2015)
This plays just before 'Money'. This really is to emphasize that we are in the present day as opposed to actually being in the 60's.
Little Wing- The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
Plays when Mick is making the decision to either carry on taking drugs or go straight. However he chooses to continue the drug life. The guitar solo of the song is empowering and in context with the scene is enlightening for Mick as he starts to go down the wrong path.The song itself is about Jimi's Drug habits and how he cant escape them.
A Day in the Life - The Beatles (1967)
This plays after Mick has discovered that his dead dads record has been stolen. The genuinely sad and down tone of the song perfectly suit this emotional experience Mick is going through. It will be the only thing playing as Mick wallows in self pity.

Off the Record: Cast

For this cast I need a group of younger people who would fit the role of young, troubled, drug addicted teenagers.
Mick Morrison- Rick White
Simon Rodgers-  Oliver Jackson Cohen
Ringo "Turpin" Harrison- Stephan Merchant
Friend  #1- James Buckley
Friend  #2- Blake Harrison
Friend  #3- Jack Whitehall
Mrs Morrison- Kristen Scott Thompson
Mr Morrison- 1st choice: Tim Roth
                      2nd choice: Phil Daniels

Director- Sam Osborne
Producer- Mel Crooks
Co-Producer- Richard Lemmington
Assistant Producers- Simon Petertson/ Terry Higrave
Assistant Director- Derek Tupmann
Writter- Simon Malchovich
CGI - Watercolour Pictures®
CGI Assistant- Rob Patterson
Camera Operators- Jill Down/ Doreen Green
Camera Assistant- Niamh McKeown
Distributed by- Fox Searchlight Pictures
Production Company- Palm Pictures

In terms of casting I chose these particular actors due to there unique characteristic attributes. Oliver Jackson-Cohan has  suitably best friend-like mannerisms, although he's older than the character he still looks quite young so can pass as Simon. Stephan Merchant is the "funny guy" and will bring his sense of humor to the role, and due to his recent involvement in 2017's Blockbuster, 'Logan' his status is high right now so will bring more of an audience to the film. As well as that Merchant can do Pathos very well which would increase the impact of the later scenes including his death scene. As for the unnamed friends we have 2/4 of the inbetweeners which is a direct reference to one of the inspirations for our film. And also Jack Whitehall who is also a popular amougst younger spectators. All 5 of these actors are also very active on social media site, especially Twitter, so will promote the film themselves via these sites. Hopefully we can get Tim Roth involved in the project as he would have the have only a small part to play and would have the sympathetic and haunting tone to play Micks dead farther. If we cant get  him we'd have Phil Daniels, slightly older but has the acting capability to create this feeling, and would cost less to have on the project. In terms of production company we will be using our own production company but will apply for a bursary or grant from the National Lottery and BFI to help produce the film, and if it gets enough credibility from critics it will be distributed by Fox Searchlight pictures.

Off the Record: Story

1985. 20 year old History student, Mick Morrison living in Suburban London, but in love with psychedelic music. Slightly socially awkward but gets along with everyone, which is also one of his weaknesses as he becomes too involved with Ringo. Named after Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison. Has a keen interest in vintage things, such as collecting records. His most prized possession being the Dark Side of the Moon record his dad gave to him before his death.

 One day he decides to have a small gathering that quickly becomes a sex and drug fueled house party. along with his best friend, Simon and his drug dealer Ringo 'Turpin' ride out the party experimenting with LSD, alcohol and ecstasy. When Mick wakes in the morning he finds his house has been completely trashed and is beginning the process of tiding his room, he comes to find his favorite record has been stolen, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon. A record passed to him by his dad who died in a factory accident in 1976 when Mick was aged 8. Along side his best friend Simon, and a little help from Ringo the three set themselves on a task to track down everyone who turned up at the party and find the stolen record. However due to differences in the group and Ringo continuously insisting they give up, the group break up. Simon begs Mick to stay away from Ringo as he is nothing but trouble, Mick pushes Simon away as he loves the drugs Ringo gives him too much. Simon leaves and makes new friends. But while at another party hears the song "Money" being played, he finds out where the owner got it from, says he bought it for £20 from a bloke who goes by the name 'Turpin'. Simon immediately gets flashbacks to to seeing the name 'Turpin' being associated with Ringo. Reluctantly he buys the record off the man for £30 and heads straight to Micks house to give him the record and hopefully bring back their friendship. Having knocked at his door repeatedly and getting no answer gets in round the back to find Ringo and Mick about to do Heroin for the first time. Simon gives Mick the record if he promises to leave and never touch drugs again. Furious, Ringo demands Mick stays and enjoy the product he went through a lot of trouble to acquire. Simon tells Mick the truth and after punching him in the face kicks Ringo out onto the streets. The two have a deep conversation about Drug use and the importance of the record, to which he shows a letter thats left in the sleeve off the record along with a Polaroid with him and his dad. Meanwhile Ringo goes off behind some bins and ODs on all the heroin he bought with the money he spent the record.we fade to the two at a graveyard looking at his grave where they have sympathy for Ringo. The scene ends with   The song Time playing in the end credits.

1^st Re writes:

Having thought about the story and where I was going with it, I sat down and decided maybe the 80s was not the time period I wanted the story to take place. Having thought about drug culture, the time period people usually associate extreme experimental drug use with the 60s-70s, not the 80s. And although Ecstasy wasn't around till 87, I have found a substitute(s) that would fill the roll even better; LSD and Mescaline.

_{While reading "The Doors of Perception" by Aldous Huxley he mentions the discovery of Adrenochrome, and likens it to the observed symptoms in Mescaline intoxication. In fact it also appears in the film 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998, Gilliam)' In which an overdose causes main character Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp)  to have a bad trip which involves extreme hallucinations. However, research into Adrenochrome (C9H9NO3) during the 60s concluded the drug creates psychotic reactions and does not have any psychedelic properties, therefore can not strictly count as a psychedelic drug.} 

_{LSD is the main drug i'd wish to focus on in the film. I find it one of the most fascinating drugs that has shaped and influenced modern day popular culture. From its influence in music in the 60s and 70s, to the way is opens up some religious groups such as the League of Spiritual Discovery. it also opens doors of possibilities for what we can do in terms of special effects in 'Off the Record'.}

_{Due to this re-write the story will now be set from April 4th 1973; the year Dark side of the Moon was released.}

_{Final Re-Write:}

_{Having thought hard about this project for a long time, the main struggle of making it would be trying to recreate an authentic 70's world. However, due to the sudden popularity in vinyl records again it would be easier if we were to set this film in the modern day and use this trend in our favour; this way we can still keep the "retro" themes and slightly adapt the story to fit the modern world.. According to BPI the annual sales of vinyl records is exceeding the 1M mark. Also to pay homage to the 60's and 70's we will try to use various things from those decades in the modern day, such as: Films, Fashion, and Music.}

Drug culture in film- Realism or Glamour?

For this project I will be looking at drug culture in films and seeing if addiction and drug use is represented either as glamorous or realistic. Many films use drug addiction/use as use as a stimulus or as an essential part of the narrative. Some of the films i will be looking at include:
*Sid and Nancy (Alex Cox, 1986)
*The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese, 2013)
*Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Terry Gillian 1998)
*Pineapple Express (David Gordon Green, 2008)

Sid and Nancy:
This biographical story of the British punk rock band "The Sex Pistols" ex- bass player Sidney 'Sid' Vicious and his junkie, groupie girlfriend Nancy Spungen's addiction to heroin. The film (directed by Alex Cox) was based of the book, "I don't want to live this life" by Deborah Spungen (Nancy's mother). This film certainly shows Drug addiction in realism as it shows a poisonous relationship that is truly deadly in the way they treat each other. Despite the film not being accurate according to Sex Pistols front man John Lydon, the film is accurate in its portrayal of Heroin addicts slowly decreasing mental health, and the way they see the world. Gary Oldman's portrayal of Sid is his first and one of his best, as every inch of his body has been turned into the character: skinny, covered in self inflicted cuts and bruises, blood and vomit stained clothing.

The Wolf of Wall Street:
Again, the real life story of the CEO of Stratton Oakmont, Jordan Belfort. This film is different to the previous as it Glamorizes drug uses but at the same time shows the harsh realities of what excessive drug taking will do to someone. Having been to parties post the release of the Wolf of Wall Street, I have seen people take drugs only to then quote the film itself, to me this defiantly shows that Wolf of Wall street glamorizes drug culture more than the realism. The real Jordan Belfort said upon watching the film, "it was entirely accurate".

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:
Taking straight from the pages of the novel by Hunter S. Thompson himself, Fear and Loathing represents drug culture in the early 70s. Although this film does show some of the grim realities and situations psychedelic drug consumption will put you, the film mainly glamorizes drug use due to its director, Terry Gillian; former Monty Python star and advocate for psychedelic dug culture. Using an all star cast and great soundtrack the film makes out drug taking to be a roller coaster of emotions. It does show some realism in the way the main character has gone completely insane due to the non stop consumption of narcotics.

Pineapple Express:
When you think of Seth Rogen what do you think? Some people might say comedy films, but the majority of people will say, stoner. Rogen is a huge Marijuana advocate and is not afraid to show it. Pineapple express does not shy away from this either. Although, again it glamorizes the uses of Weed, it also shows the harsh realities of it but because Rogen advocates weed instead of being "that was horrible lets never do drugs again" he is more like "for weed, that was worth it". As a result he film and Rogen himself have become icons of the "Stoner" community.

Having looked at these films i think its safe to say that glamorizing drug taking will make the film more successful, As the last three films all were popular where as Sid and Nancy didn't even make the budget back. Obviously this is what people like to see.