1. Pseudo-Dix Huzaifaa Farrukh, Humayun Babar and Taha Babur’s
An anachronistic satire on the Hollywood Ten and the hatefulness of McCarthyism.

2. The Infamous Ten

3. Inspirations
The Usual Suspects— usage of multiple, non-linear narratives with unreliable narrator(s).
Murder on the Orient Express— all the suspects actually being guilty of the crime.
Chamber Pieces— inspired by the concept of having a chamber piece as the entire “real” story is set in only one locale.

4. Synopsis
Pseudo-Dix is a critique on both Communism and the equally vicious McCarthyism. The Hollywood Ten gathering are initially presented as the real ten but then a rumour spreads that one of them is an imposter. Gradually, all ten come up with their own versions of how they got involved with the American Communist Party and try to verify their presence in this meeting. But, as the story reaches its climax, it becomes evident that none of their stories match and thus the entire absurdity of the situation is revealed: all ten are imposters with each thinking of himself as the guilty one, unknowing that the other nine are equally false as hisself.

5. Colours and Colour Palettes
Following a very Wes Anderson style of filmmaking, we have decided to fill the screen with only hues of red and yellow (Soviet colours).
Thus we’ll be reinforcing the thematic colour red.

6. Shot-by-shot (somewhat) description of the opening
The credits roll in for a good seconds and then the establishing shot is seen of the garden which is a part of some abandoned manse.
Then, we see each of the ten walking inside in a mystique fashion; no word is uttered and only the foley sounds are heard— of their feet and the mud grinding under it.
We then see full body shots of each of the ten getting seated
There’s a half body shot of pseudo-Trumbo getting seated (to establish him as the impromptu leader).
The half body shot is continued as Trumbo addresses the other nine.
A knock is heard from across the door (off-screen) from where the Ten entered the garden and a messenger walks in. He directly goes to Trumbo and whispers something. Trumbo is shocked for a slight second but masks it with disbelief. He then circulates the rumour in a slightly comical fashion by telling both the people sitting at his left and right one after the other.

7. Shot-by-shot (somewhat) description of the opening
The rumour then spreads to the four on Trumbo’s left and four on his right and ends with the one directly parallel to Trumbo hearing the news from both on his sides.
Uncomfortable glances are thrown here and there and until Trumbo re establishes order.
He asks in a thunderous voice as to who is the imposter, McCarthy’s agent?
No one replies as a couple of the other nine’s faces are shown on the screen— blank.
Then Trumbo replies, “Very well then. We’ll have to find it out the other way.”
The piano and violin score that’s been building up until now gets louder than bombs all of a sudden and drowns all sounds and we see the name of the film, Pseudo-Dix, appear on screen followed by the director’s name.
End of opening scene.

8. Mise-en-scène
The opening is set in a botanical garden that is unusually yellow (dry) with a huge, circular table that is covered by an equally huge, circular red cloth. The chairs are close to each other as to make the passing of the rumour easier.

9. Characters Dalton Trumbo Alvah Bessie Herbert Biberman Lester Cole
Edward Dmytryk
Ring Lardner Jr.
John Howard Lawson
Albert Maltz
Samuel Ornitz
Adrian Scott

10. Plot Devices
Flashbacks
Horde of unreliable narrators

11. Range of Shots An aerial shot of the garden in the beginning.
Individual tracking shots of each of the Ten as they’re separately entering the garden.
Dolly shot that circumambulates the table as the rumour is spread.
A half-body shot of Dalton Trumbo as he’s the most notable of the Ten and thus assumes the role of leader.

12. Camera Movements
Dolly shot that circumambulates the table as the rumour is spread.
Very brisk movements as the opening is soothing in the beginning and only after the rumour spreads that chaos seeps in.
After the rumour spreads, slightly abrupt camera movements to enunciate the mayhem that is building up.

13. Sound A soothing score that consists of a piano and violin.
Loosely based on Ramin Djawadi’s Light of the Seven.

14. Credits Presentation Design: Huzaifaa Farrukh Story: Huzaifaa Farrukh
Plot: Humayun Babar & Huzaifaa Farrukh
Presented to class: Huzaifaa Farrukh & Humayun Babur
Support: Taha Babur