THE REAL LIFE AVENGERS:

THE PITCHA DOCUMENTARY BY REN BALL, MIKE HOAD

AND LEX WILKINSON

OVERVIEW:In the heart of London, a small group of ordinary young people are living extraordinary double lives. Meet the Rain City Superhero Movement, whose mission in life is to fight crime and help the needy, all whilst dressed as comic book heroes.

The Real Life Superheroes

THE STATS:London Crime statistics from metropolitan policeJan 2012 / 2013 – 787,785Jan 2013 / 2014 – 702,881

A known 6,437 different people slept rough over the year 2013 in London, but hidden homeless is estimated at an approximate 400,000.

CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS:So why do these people strut around central London in their comical outfits? Are they just craving a bit of attention, or do they really make a difference to peoples’ lives? This observational documentary reveals the impact that the Rain City Superhero Movement has on crime, and on their local charity in their community.

TRANSMISSION TIMEWe plan on Showing the program at 8:00 on a Thursday evening.The main reason is due to this being a prime time for documentaries being shown. This time period will be competing with the likes of Channel 4 but the lighthearted nature of our program should attract the younger audience among the serious documentaries.

THE STORY:We follow the story of LoneDon Knight, the leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement in London, as he organises patrols with fellow superhero Strobe. LoneDon Knight’s recent work for a homeless charity sees he and his group helping the homeless, by providing them with food, water and blankets.

LoneDon Knight and Strobe

THE STORY:However, this can be quite a challenge for the group, as the police do not allow unscheduled handouts. The fact that the team is dressed conspicuously makes them an easy target for the police to approach, and there can be a lot of tension between them.

THE STORY:The Rain City Superheroes Movement is judged negatively upon their appearance, often being heckled by members of the public, the majority of onlookers thinking they look ridiculous. Despite both of these conflicts between them, onlookers and the police, we learn that they are a serious group of people who just want to help out, and maybe even some day, change the world for the better.

THE LOOK:The look that we are looking to achieve will be one to reflect the origin of superheroes. The comic book.The colouring will be high contrasting colours surrounded by a large amount of black to create definition. Ideally each shot will have a form of action to further this feel of a comic book.

VISUAL STYLE:The intro sequence will consist of a fast-paced editing style. There will be shots of everyday life related to superheroes e.g. people wearing superhero clothes, film posters, comic con event. This will give an effect of a modernisation. The patrols will be filmed hand-held to emphasise the reality of what they do. In terms of practicality, hand-held would allow us to capture the action easily.

VISUAL STYLE:The rest of the film will be slightly slower paced. The interviews being the main meat on the bone. It will be shown in a mature and sensible manner, presenting them in a serious light. The aim is to show the viewer that the Rain City Superhero Movement aren’t just crazy or silly. They’re doing something good.

WHY SHOULD YOU COMMISSION THIS?We firmly believe that this documentary is perfect for BBC Three and its audience. It represents young people in a positive light, inspiring and enthusing its viewers. The characters are engaging, not only because of the excellent community work they do, but also because they’re dressed in costume, which gives a great balance between entertainment and a meaningful topic.