Film Opening Idea

    Distal muscular dystrophy (DD) is a condition marked by the progressive degeneration and weakening of muscles, particularly the in arms and legs. This is the affliction the protagonist from my film, Ryan, suffers from. To combat DD, Ryan resorts to bodybuilding, hoping to prevent the loss of muscle caused by the disease. Weightlifting is not a pleasant recreational activity to Ryan, but a necessary evil in order to live a normal life. He needs to obsess over exercise and dieting for survival.

    The film opening will aim to showcase the repetition and precision in Ryan's life; his research on DD as a medical student, the measurement of each calorie that enters his system, the control of every rep in his exercise. We don't want to portray the gym as an escape or an opportunity for mental wellness, but rather the opposite - a constant obstacle Ryan needs to address. 

    Working out at a public gym, Ryan finds a flyer to a powerlifting competition, which is his opportunity to reinvent his perspective on the gym. After the film opening, powerlifting will give him a sense of direction and a community to share his interests with, shifting his mentality on the gym entirely. 

This plot is still in the works, and the details of each scene are still in progress. Here's a mind map on certain story elements I want to explore:

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more updates on the film opening.