7:00 AM
direction:
Michał Bernardyn
script:
Maria Żynel, Michał Bernardyn
cast:
Maria Żynel, Paweł Czajor
artistic supervision:
Stanisław Szymański
cinematography and editing:
Michał Bernardyn
music:
Bordo
sound:
Jakub Stadnik
production manager:
Andrzej Robak
production:
PWSFTviT, soul seed media
CASE STUDY
7:00 AM — a morning, memories and a practical film production exercise
“7:00 AM” was created as a student fiction film by film production students at the Łódź Film School and at the same time as a narrative music video for a song by the band Bordo. The film was intended not only as a short fictional story, but also as a practical exercise in the complete film production process — with a large crew, clearly divided responsibilities and cooperation between multiple departments.
A story beginning at 7:00 AM
An alarm clock rings. The girl switches it off, but silence does not follow — more alarms begin sounding around the room. It turns out there are more than a dozen clocks, each of which has to be silenced separately.
What appears to be an ordinary morning gradually becomes a more unusual story. The protagonist tidies an overflowing wardrobe, waters the flowers and finds a torn photograph of a young man in a drawer. In her hands, the photograph begins to put itself back together.
Everyday life with a touch of magic
We wanted to combine ordinary, recognisable actions with subtle elements that disrupt the realistic logic of the world.
As a result, the protagonist's morning gradually becomes more personal. Rituals, objects and the photograph begin to reveal her emotions, while a knock at the door brings into the story someone who until then had existed only as a memory.
A film told through details
The short running time required very economical storytelling. Instead of dialogue, meaning is created through objects, gestures, the positioning of the characters and successive elements of the space.
The alarm clocks, overflowing wardrobe, flowers, photograph, mirror and bed are not merely set dressing — each one plays a role in telling the story and guiding the viewer through the successive stages of the morning.
A full production crew
One of the main objectives of the project was to recreate the working conditions of a professional film production. The film involved a large group of students, each responsible for specific roles within individual production departments.
In addition to direction, cinematography and editing, the production included production management, production assistants, art and props departments, sound and work with the actors. The finished film was therefore the result of collaboration by the entire crew, rather than the work of one person.
Scope of work
- fiction concept
- script
- direction
- production preparation
- working with actors
- cinematography
- set design and props
- sound recording
- production management and organisation
- editing
- post-production
- narrative music video production
- film production
STUDENT FILM
Film as a practical production exercise
“7:00 AM” was created in an environment where the production process was just as important as the finished film. The students were able to work through the successive stages of production and experience in practice how the different departments of a film crew work together.
This organisation made it possible to approach the short film as a complete production: from script and planning, through preparation of the set, art direction, cinematography and sound, to editing and the finished film. Its narrative structure also allowed the film to function as a music video for a song by Bordo.