Pre-production

 Project Overview

Title : The Room Where the Sun Was Born

Logline :

 A young woman journeys through surreal dream-worlds in search of a mythical place said to contain the light of pure joy—only to discover that the light she’s seeking must be created from within.

Director’s Statement: 

This film is a deeply personal exploration of inner transformation, told through the language of visual abstraction and symbolic space. Inspired by movements like Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism, I wanted to construct a film where each environment represents an emotional phase rather than a physical space. The journey of the protagonist reflects a larger truth I believe in—that joy, identity, and clarity are not things we discover out there in the world, but experiences we shape through our own emotional agency.

 My goal is linear storytelling and instead guide the viewer through a psychological and emotional metamorphosis using light, sound, texture, and fragmented forms. The project is not only about finding light, it’s about becoming it.

Genre & Style

• Genre: Experimental Short / Poetic Journey

• Style: Surrealist, Symbolist, Dreamlike

• Aesthetic Influences: Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism

• Tone: Introspective, mystical, emotional

• Form: Linear narrative, abstract storytelling, visual metaphor, rhythmic editing

Casting & Characters

1- Rida as Aria

2-  Vania as SOL

3- Farwa as Elan

4- Zubyan as MIR

5- Aashir as Noa

Locations

1- Joy land mirror maze

2- Joy land haunted house

3- Forest infront of NSTP

4- Construction site

5- Local park

6- My bed room

Props used

1- TV

2- Flicking light

3- Sand

4- Rusty Chair

5- Mirrors

6- Scary mannequins

Script

Story Board 

Mood Board

Color Pallets

Scene 1 

Scene 2 

Scene 3 

Scene 4 

Scene 5 

Scene 6 

Film Treatment

Title: The Room Where the Sun Was Born
Genre: Experimental / Psychological Fantasy
Length: Short film (5 minutes)
Style: Visually surreal, dreamlike transitions, expressionist sets, symbolic imagery
Tone: Poetic, introspective, emotionally intense

Treatment:

Aria, a young woman burdened by emotional turmoil, finds herself in a shadowy, thunder-filled space known as The Room of Darkness. There, she breaks down, overwhelmed by confusion and desperation. Pleading for clarity, she realizes she must confront herself. With trembling resolve, she leaves the room, stepping into the unknown.

She enters The Mirror Hall, a long corridor lined with distorted mirrors that reflect different versions of her. Suddenly, Sol emerges from one of the mirrors, cryptically warning her about what lies ahead. Aria, unfazed, states that she seeks understanding, not comfort. She continues walking, determined to find answers.

Next, she steps into The Fear Room, a nightmarish space where her deepest anxieties take form. Elan, a figure from her subconscious, appears and admits to once standing where Aria now stands. He reveals he never moved forward, paralyzed by fear, but suggests that Aria might be the one to face it. She urges him to walk with her. As she runs toward the exit, the world behind her crumbles, and she arrives in a cold, cemented space.

In The Empty Room, Aria finds only a single chair. She sits, and Mir, a gentle yet manipulative voice, appears. Mir urges her to stay, promising safety in stillness. But Aria recognizes this illusion, safety as stagnation. With a quiet resolve, she stands and walks away, choosing change over comfort.

Emerging into The Garden, Aria sees a withered landscape where Noa sits beneath a barren tree. He speaks of a time when the garden flourished, before hope was lost. Aria listens, then softly insists that even one sprout can be the beginning of renewal. She leaves with this newfound belief.

Finally, Aria arrives in The Room Where the Sun Was Born, a luminous garden alive with color, movement, and sound. Ocean waves echo gently as the world flows around her. She does not find the light; she realizes she has become it. The journey was not about discovery, but creation.

Film Structure And Shot Plan

Scene 1: Room of Darkness

Emotion: Despair & Inner Conflict

Narrative:
Aria begins in a state of overwhelming distress, curled into herself, consumed by confusion and isolation. Her cries echo in the silence, representing her inability to navigate internal chaos.

Shots:

• Shot 1.1: Close-Up – Aria sits by her knees crying in a dark, minimal space.
  Purpose: To immediately place us in Aria’s emotional despair.
  Tone: Despair, isolation.

• Shot 1.2: Medium Shot – Her tear-streaked face illuminated by a flicker of light, caught in a moment of thunder.
  Purpose: To emphasize her emotional turmoil.
  Tone: Vulnerability, inner conflict.

Scene 2: Mirror Hall

Emotion: Self-Doubt & Disorientation

Narrative:
Aria walks through a corridor lined with warped mirrors, each reflecting a twisted version of herself. She meets Sol, who cryptically challenges her perceptions. She begins to question, but does not yet accept, her path.

Shots:

• Shot 2.1: Tracking Shot – Aria walks slowly past distorted mirrors, her reflection bending unnaturally.
  Purpose: To reflect fractured identity and growing unease.
  Tone: Uncertainty, introspection.

• Shot 2.2: Over-the-Shoulder – Sol appears in a mirror unexpectedly.
  Purpose: To create tension and emphasize the surreal, psychological dimension.
  Tone: Eerie, disorienting.

Scene 3: Fear Room

Emotion: Fear & Courage

Narrative:
A chaotic, nightmarish space brings Aria face-to-face with her deepest fears. Elan’s presence is intimidating, and his words destabilize her. Despite trembling, she moves forward.

Shots:

• Shot 3.1: Long Shot – Aria dwarfed by the terrifying, shifting space.
  Purpose: To highlight her vulnerability amid chaos.
  Tone: Panic, fear.

• Shot 3.2: Medium Close-Up – Tense dialogue between Aria and Elan.
  Purpose: Captures emotional conflict and the shift toward resolve.
  Tone: Determination, intensity.

Scene 4: Empty Room

Emotion: Stagnation & Tension

Narrative:
A deceptively calm space. Mir gently suggests staying. It’s tempting, but Aria senses the cost of remaining still. She battles the pull of comfort vs. the need to evolve.

Shots:

• Shot 4.1: Long Shot – Aria sits in a chair, center of a vast, empty room.
  Purpose: To communicate emotional inertia and silent conflict.
  Tone: Stillness, unease.

• Shot 4.2: Medium Shot – Mir enters behind her, voice soft but persuasive.
  Purpose: Highlights external influence on internal decision.
  Tone: Calmness laced with danger.

Cinematic Notes:

• Lighting: Dim, ambient glow, flat tones.

• Sound Design: Slight ambient hum; Mir’s voice is the focal sound.

• Camera Movement: Slow dolly in/out, accentuating emotional gravity.

Scene 5: Garden

Emotion: Hope, Renewal, Growth

Narrative:
In a garden that’s half-wilted, Noa speaks of lost growth. Aria listens and then gently touches the soil—choosing to believe again. There's a quiet revival in her.

Shots:

• Shot 5.1: Wide Shot – The garden space with Noa under a tree. Some greenery, but still patches of barrenness.
  Purpose: Visual metaphor for past growth and potential rebirth.
  Tone: Melancholy with rising hope.

• Shot 5.2: Close-Up – Aria’s hand touching soil, fingers tracing life into dirt.
  Purpose: To symbolize reconnection and belief in healing.
  Tone: Awakening, nurturing.

Scene 6: Room Where the Sun Was Born

Emotion: Joy, Triumph, Transformation

Narrative:
The climax of Aria’s emotional journey. She enters a luminous room and is no longer searching—she is the light. The space and self are now in harmony.

Shots:

• Shot 6.1: Wide Angle – Aria in the center of a glowing room, surrounded by shifting warmth and radiance.
  Purpose: Embodies the transformation and culmination of her journey.
  Tone: Radiance, completion.

• Shot 6.2: 360-Degree Tracking Shot – Camera circles her slowly as she embraces the light.
  Purpose: Symbolizes unification of self and transcendence.
  Tone: Liberation, empowerment.

Additional Shot Considerations:

1. Lighting:

   • Use low, dramatic lighting for early scenes (like the Room of Darkness) to create a sense of confinement.

   • Gradually transition to brighter, warmer tones as Aria moves through the garden and finally reaches the Room Where the Sun Was Born, symbolizing her emotional growth.

2. Camera Movement:

   • Slow, controlled shots to emphasize introspection and the delicate nature of Aria’s journey.

   • Use handheld or shaky camera during more intense emotional moments, especially in the Fear Room, to reflect the chaos Aria feels.

3. Sound Design:

   • Silence or low, backrooms sound early on in the film to heighten the feeling of isolation.

   • Nature sounds (wind, ocean, rustling leaves) during the final scene to evoke a sense of rebirth and calm.