Some points to consider...

After a fair few meetings with the group, Joe handed out some very helpful information on DVD. It contained lots of essential points on how the film would/could be portrayed/shot/viewed etc.

More importantly however the film is a portrait of masculinity. It aims to explore how Trevor (the elderly man) has to deal with no longer being able to fulfil the protector/ provider role that his generation was formed into. The piece studies how classically the male is defined by his physicality and what the effects are when age inevitably reduces the strong to the weak. The plot will focus on three key events in a rather linear narrative. Essentially the dramatic driving force is a rising tension between the youths and terry. So:

• The initial contact between the youths and the couple. Hazel is walking back from the shops, lugging around carrier bags. As she moves back to her house she spots the youths outside kicking around a football. They strike the ball at her and she drops her bags, items spilling everywhere. She goes into the house and demands Trevor takes action. He speaks to the youths and threatens to call the police ‐ they move on.
• The youths are outside again and are causing more trouble. I’m not sure of the details but it needs to end with Trevor being humiliated and faced down by the kids.
• The final meeting between the two. Unable to deal with the situation Trevor lashes out with a hammer. Perhaps some remark is made about the grand daughter for him to lash out in this way. The child he hits is left crying and we cannot feel positive about Trevor’s action. It is horrific.
  

What is important is that between these 3 events we have a mounting conflict and lack of confidence within Trevor. Specifically this should come about from pressure from his wife who insists he goes out and ‘deals with those bloody kids’. Trevor should therefore be placed under the burden of expectation. It would be specifically interesting if we see hazel losing respect for Trevor when it becomes clear he is scared of the youths after the second encounter. This could become even more prevalent if Trevor has recently retired and hazel was still in work.The film throughout must be from Trveor’s perspective. The short time period essentially demands that any narrative is simplistic. We must fulfil this requirement but compensate with the complexity of the characters. If we think of this ultimately as a portrait of Trevor and his coming to terms with the ageing process then we could produce a very successful film.