1. Six minutes, one story, and a lifetime of presentation regret.

On the eventful day of November 5th, 2024, Sir Zia introduced us to the infamous six-minute activity. The task was simple yet challenging: each team received three slips of paper, each containing a location, an object, and a character type. Lacking a hat to mix the slips, my pouch was (reluctantly) sacrificed for the cause.

Our team consisted of four members: Aisha, Aleena, Fatima, and I. The slips we received were as follows:

Location: Psych Ward

Object: Vase

Character Type: Anti-hero

With only six minutes to develop a compelling storyline for our preliminary project, we had to think quickly. At the end of the time limit, we were required to present our idea to the class, outlining the plot, our usage of the assigned elements, and the types of shots we intended to use. One might assume that brainstorming a cohesive concept under such pressure would be difficult. 

However, for a group of introverts who, even after three months in media class, still hesitated to speak up in front of an audience, the real challenge was the presentation itself. Ultimately, Fatima and I stepped up (not so much by choice, but by necessity), while Aleena filmed the process. That video, however, will never see the light of day; you’ll just have to take my word for it. Screenshots are the best I can offer.

The Storyline:

Our preliminary concept revolved around a woman who kills her lover, convinced that she is saving him from something far worse. The vase serves as the murder weapon, making it a crucial element in the narrative.

We envisioned opening the film with a wide shot of the vase on a table, adorned with roses or snapdragons. Roses symbolize love and obsession, while snapdragons represent deception. The next scene would transition to the psych ward, where the protagonist, now a patient, screams on the bed. Fast cuts between this scene and a slow zoom-in on the vase would heighten the tension.

As the girl’s screams fade, the next shot depicts the vase shattering, immediately followed by an overhead shot of the protagonist staring blankly at the camera. The shot would slowly pan down, drawing the audience into her unsettling gaze.

In just six minutes, this was the idea we developed. To our delight, Sir Zia did not reject it, and in fact, he encouraged us to pursue it further for our preliminary project. Motivated by this, we decided to refine and expand upon our concept, pushing ourselves to create something truly compelling. 

P.S.: Public speaking may be a valuable skill, but after that experience, I have one question: why do my feet look like that in the video?