Khalid Bell Step 4: MANufactured

Title: MANufactured

Writer: Khalid Bell

The goal of this film is to question what defines a human. There will be no exact answer given in the film, but suggestions that lead to one answer or another. For example, some suggest humans are conscious beings; does that make any being, such as a clone that has a conscience, is human? Or does being human have something to do with the experiences of life? In that case, how do we classify newborns?

The movie’s opening scene is of a coated man walking down a shadowy hallway and stopping at a cell containing an inmate. He turns to the inmate and asks “Which are you?” The inmate gives a smart remark about the coated man having “the eyes.” The coated man then scans the inmate using an implanted iris. After seeing the inmate has mechanical lungs, he replies “You’ve been recruited.”

Scene two begins with the new recruit suiting up for what seems like battle. Meanwhile, there will be a discussion going on about the current situation. It is in this scene the viewer learns of the cloned humans and how the clones have taken over a research facility. The objective will be to reclaim, or destroy the facility. Because of the resources made available by the facility, it is preferred they capture the area, but destruction will be the fallback plan as the clones cannot be allowed to keep control of the facility.

In the third scene, a team of modified, born humans will surround and infiltrate the base. The ensuing battle will result in the new recruit making his way into the facility. While inside he will come across a cloned individual (I have not determined if this clone will be injured or have the two of them in a stalemate). This is the moment when the viewer discovers the motives of the clones. The conversation between the two brings up the question of rights for clones. The clones are made solely for war purposes and are considered disposable. Clones, having inherently gained a conscience, do not agree with the logic of them being a commodity. The clone argues that he is more human than the man in front of him, a man that will never run out of breath.

I have not decided between the base being taken or destroyed.

Visual Treatment:

The overall look of this will be dark. Most, if not all, shots will be either indoors or at night. The goal is to have a steady flow of information given to the viewer instead of a narrative/text introduction explaining.

Coated man walks down hallway

Turns to the cell containing inmate and asks "Which are you?"

Inmate looks up, looks back down and replies "You have the eye don't you? See for yourself."

Coated man's eye turns red

An X-ray of the inmates lungs appears and the coated man says "You've been recruited."