Development of Ideas

Initial ideas:

Thriller

Our original idea consisted of elements from the Black Swan. As a group we thought about using props such as a jewellery box for the musical element as well as the possible use of the spinning ballerina at the top of the jewellery box. We also chose to focus on one particular character that would have the psychological difficulty of split personality.

Whilst focusing on material we wanted within the opening scene we also wanted to add the aspect of dark thriller through the use of dull lighting – recorded during evening in surroundings that seem supernatural (eg, underground tunnels)

After thinking through the idea based on Black Swan we then thought it seemed too similar, so we decided to highlight effects of thriller through the use of characters in mime which adds a aspect intensity through hidden identity and the use of black and white colour.

Overall, we chose to follow the path of thriller as we found that after researching other people’s thoughts on film through the use of our questionnaire, the greater population engaged more with that genre. We then realized after viewing Black Swan that a psychological prospective would also be effective, however will be harder to portray. Statistical research found that 64% of people asked preferred some sort of intensifying thriller which would get them hanging off the edges of their seats.

Further development

In the end we decided to scrap the idea of ‘mime’ as it didn’t follow the psychological route we aspired to follow. We therefore stuck with the idea of the main character suffering from an illness or the idea of her being stalked by herself (split personality)

We researched different music and the type of tracks we would use if we went along with the ‘ballerina’ concept. We came across a variety of intense soundtracks found on Apples, Garage Band. After finding the sounds we chose to edit them to make them more original for our own work.

The ballerina concept was also then scrapped, due to the fact that we wanted more originality instead of relying on the storyline of Black Swan.

Because of this we’ve decided to carry on our research into the thriller genre by doing surveys and watching other movies for inspiration. Such as Jaws, Bewitched, Dracula, etc.

Final Development

Finally we removed the idea of psychological thriller and developed an idea focusing mainly on the aspect of crime and suspense; of a bunch of teenagers on a night out who come across a crime scene.

Firstly, a group of friends meet up and head towards the park. They start drinking and joking around, however two of them get into an argument and one walks off – wanting nothing to do with the rest of them either. Everyone else continues to enjoy themselves. As the sun begins to set everyone hits base and becomes familiar with their surroundings. As they do so, some of them hear a scream in the distance, however they avoid it and think they’re just hearing things. A few minutes later some more of them hear it again and begin to act upon it and start running in different directions as they start panicking and realising it could have been they’re friend they abandoned at the start of their adventure -  begin to get in touch with her and other friends…

SCREEN GOES BLANK

Zoom into the distance…

Quick flash of a body lying on the grounds

SCREEN BLANK AGAIN

- Show a final switch between body and everyone else’s reaction to increase the intensity.

…Title arises:            

New Type-up:

Starts of with everyone gathering at the park entrance – becoming familiar with who is there. Then everyone begins to walk a park trail into the distance – everyone laughing and having fun. Then two of the girls start having an argument and one of them walks of without making contact with any of the others and no one interferes – therefore no one stops her and makes her stay – at this point the sun is beginning to set and its becoming dark. Everyone else continues to enjoy themselves; drinking and playing games (eg, spin the bottle/true or dare…etc) they then begin to set base and get comfortable with their surroundings as they do so some of them hear a scream in the distance but don’t take any notice as they think they are just hearing things. But then a few minutes later some more of them hear it again and react to it – thinking it may have been they’re friend. The focus is now taken back by the flashback and the main focus is now on the girl. The flashback ends with various possibilities of what could have happened to her. Finally the camera is taken back to everyone panicking and running in different directions as they start to wonder where they’re friend could be; some are captured on film with their phones trying to get in contact with either the girl or a friend in general. The camera now starts to blur and lose focus on the main event; this emphasizes the way in which the actual characters may feel. As it does so, the camera begins to zoom into the distant darkness – Screen goes BLANK! …Then the camera begins to flickers between the darkness and a body lying on the ground; the body of their friend they had left at the start of their adventure. …Screen continuously flickers between the two, then goes BLANK again and finishes on the body and ends with a shot taken from the deceased ones view - up onto the faces surround her body and looking down on her.

FINAL IDEA: Our final idea was based on critical analysis on paranormal activity. It started of with three girls coming in to the alleyway and park. Afterwards one girls foot starts to hurt and she stops on the lamp post. After she has stopped her other two friends have started walking ahead and suddenly they turn back and she's missing. We will use various shots such as pan, medium shot, match on action and reverse shot. Another girl will come from behind and she will grab the girl who's foot was hurting.