Between Fear and Love – A Short Film Concept

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This is a short film concept that reflects on what truly matters in life – human connection. It is based on conversations with people of different ages and backgrounds, those we pass every day without stopping to notice. Through carefully chosen questions, the project builds a contrast between the beauty of everyday life and its darker, fragile side.

PROJECT IDEA and PLAN:

The film begins with conversations with people. They are asked about what they find beautiful in life and in the world around them. Their words are accompanied by images of nature, urban landscapes, smiles, and small everyday moments that highlight the positive side of life.

Prepared questions:

  • When do you feel most connected to the world around you?
  • What small, everyday moment makes you think, It’s good to be alive?
  • When you look at other people, what is the most beautiful thing you see?
  • What act of kindness, whether you gave it or received it, has stayed with you as a definition of human beauty?
  • How would you define beauty in a way that goes beyond physical appearance?
  • When was the last time you felt truly, deeply happy? Can you describe that moment and the feeling in detail?
  • What’s a simple, everyday thing that you never get tired of seeing, hearing, or doing?
  • What are you most grateful for right now, at this moment?
  • What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self about finding joy?

As the film develops, the narrative begins to shift. After building a sense of beauty and optimism, the final part introduces a strong contrast. The images and words reveal how frightening, unstable, and fragile the world can be. This sudden change is meant to create a strong emotional reaction and encourage reflection.

Prepared questions for the second part of the film:

  • What is the one thing in the world that truly worries you?
  • What one thing about the future makes you feel nervous?
  • How do you cope when things feel unstable or overwhelming?
  • After seeing or experiencing the dark side of life, what is the most important lesson you take away?
  • What is the one positive thing you keep after a negative event?

Despite the darker themes, the film focuses mainly on the positive side of life – appreciating the beauty around us, relationships with others, and the relationship with oneself. The aim is to show that peace and happiness can be found in simple moments and in being open.

The film also touches on a personal perspective. Fear of judgment and rejection prevented the project from being created earlier. The message highlights how fear can take away our most meaningful experiences, and how openness toward the world and other people can lead to genuine happiness.

During the editing process, color and music play an important role. The film begins with warm tones and gentle, joyful music, which gradually shift into colder, grey visuals and more unsettling sounds, emphasizing the emotional contrast.

(vha)

I often come across very similar content online, focused on noticing beauty in the world. However, I believe that the most important step for this project would be to actually record it and bring the idea to life. Only through the process of creating it would I be able to identify more mistakes and areas that need improvement.
This concept was my first project idea, developed even before I started working on the website.

At this stage, I would focus more on refining the questions and the way I communicate with people, so they clearly understand what I am asking and feel comfortable enough to open up. I also see the need to gather more inspirations and visual references. Most of this concept was developed in written form, without creating a moodboard, which I later realized would have been helpful.

I have a vivid imagination and can clearly see this project in my mind, but translating it into a moodboard – through images, colors, and atmosphere – would make the process easier and encourage further work. Ultimately, the main barrier in this project was myself and the stress I experienced. This concept made me realize how many experiences can be lost simply out of fear of taking the first step.

So, the next step would be to create this short film.