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The Challenge Requirements

Picture
To complete this challenge, you must create a movie that meets the following criteria:
  • Length: 3 minutes or less
  • Genre: Film Noir (end product must be black and white)
  • Character Name: Dodge Sturgeon
  • Line of Dialogue: "You can't do that on television."
  • Prop: A rubber ducky

What is film noir?

Film noir is a movie term used to describe the stylish Hollywood crime dramas that were popular in the 1940's and 50's. Film noir is filmed in black and white and is usually about a main character who is one of the following:
  • a private investigator
  • a law-abiding, good citizen who is lured into a life of crime
  • a police detective
  • an old-style ganger (mobster)


The main character often narrates the action using voice-overs, which allow the viewer to hear the character's thoughts.

Also, film noir frequently include a character known as a femme fatale (translated: "fatal female") who is responsible for double0crossing the main character at the last second.  If there is no female character, then other male characters may do the double-crossing.  The idea of unexpected betrayal that puts the main character in a life or death situation is key.

There can be romance in a movie from the film noir genre, but the romance is usually tragic and does not end happily ever after.  The plot of a film noir usually centers around a crime, a mystery to be solved, or an event that forces a difficult decision on the main character and leads him into a life of crime (which he ordinarily wouldn't have chosen).

What is film noir NOT?

  1. Film noir is NOT a comedy film.
  2. Film noir is NOT a horror film (no horror movie serial killers or monsters allowed).
  3. Film noir is NOT a science fiction film (no aliens allowed).

Resources on how to shoot film noir movies:

example of film noir: a scene from "Notorious"