Song of the Sea - Ordeal Phase - Notes

• I really wanted to emphasise Scarlet’s lack of confidence and uncertainty in her decisions due to her mother's tyrannical ways at the start of the scene. This will both make the audience or viewers feel sorry for her, resulting in a more captivating story, and will make her transformation even more dramatic.
• I am trying to achieve this through Scarlet’s timid body language, the way she speaks, and how every time she tries to make a point her mother interrupts her and overrules everything she says.
• This is also why in the opening of the ordeal phase scene, both Scarlet’s fear and Maeve’s rage are very exaggerated.

• The transformation needs to be very clear and dramatic. So I started the scene with Scarlet very sad and scared, which is a stark contrast to how the scene ends with Scarlet gaining confidence and feeling happy.
• Another aspect I wanted to use to make the transformation better is the locations and settings. The scene goes from a dark, cold, daunting, underwater chamber to a warm beach, illuminated by a beautiful light. 
• Ferdinand is very gentle with Scarlet which is also in contrast with the way Maeve is very abrupt and harsh.
• I think this will help the transformation effect as both the people and settings change.

• The end of the ordeal phase is when Scarlet mentally breaks free of her mother's clutches. I have signified this through the breaking of her gemstone necklace by Ferdinand. (The necklace is a symbol of Maeve and her power over the Sirens)
• I want to make the point of transformation really clear so I’ve made a definite action which sparks the final transformation from Siren to Mermaid. 

• I really wanted to try to use this scene to emphasise the character’s differences and climax Scarlet’s transformation as she gets through the ordeal.