Section 6: Character outlines and shooting script

Character Profile

Stephen Smith:

Stephen Smith is a hardworking, 18 year old, student who lives in a typical suburban area with his mother. On the night of his eighth birthday his dad silently packed his bags and left. Ten years on he’s set for one of the most prestigious universities as he has spent most of his life working towards a goal yet unknown to himself.

Also unknown to him is his mental condition of Schizophrenia which has been passed down to him genetically; generation to generation.

Janet Smith:

The mother of Stephen Smith, who suffers from depression and has done ever since her husband disappeared ten years ago. She is 36 and works two jobs. One as a cleaner at a factory and the other as a gym receptionist.

She met Stephen’s dad at the age of 17 but just after her 18^th birthday she found she had fallen pregnant. Realising she would neither be able to give it up or get rid of it she kept the baby and dropped out of college two months before she was set to graduate and married Paul, Stephen’s father.

Paul Smith

The father of Stephen Smith and former husband of Janet Smith. Ten years ago he left and went to live in Canada, in the hope that his wife and son could never find out about his terrible mental illness. At 42 years of age he has become lonely and bored of his solitary life away from his family. Now cured of his own mental condition it pains him that he had to leave his son and wife behind without the knowledge of his sons impending mental state, but he doesn’t want them to carry the burden of his past.

Detective Inspector Derek Thompson 

A 49 year old veteran of the police force still chasing his one big catch. He lives a nice family life; a wife and two children one of which has left home and doesn’t want to know him anymore. He has worked in the police force from the age of 20 and slowly worked his way up through the ranks. He has worked on many different cases which have hardened his heart and left his wife feeling unloved, something which he has failed to detect.

Shooting Script

Scene 1- INT (Stephens home)

Shot 1

Sound- only diegetic no effects or music (phone alarm)

Big close up high angle shot – phone on desk and then the alarm goes off, Stephens hand come into shot and turns it off. (Still cam)

Shot 2

Sound- diegetic again (Stephen movements and noises)

Low angle Mid long shot- Stephen gets out of bed and puts on a shirt over his nightclothes and then yawns.(still cam)

Shot 3

 Sound- diegetic again (Stephen movements and noises)

Low angle long shot- Stephen walks down the stairs ready for sixth form (camera pans left and tracks out to low angle long shot) and he walks out the door waving by unenthusiastically to his mother Janet.

Scene 2-EXT (Stephens street)

Shot 1

Sound- diegetic whilst Stephen shuts the door (door closing)

Big close up- Stephen’s hand closing the door (still cam)

Shot 2

Sound- Music comes on after Stephen shuts the door (light but ominous)

Worms eye mid close up- Stephen walking up street to school (pans right until camera is behind stephentrack)

Shot 3

Sound- music starts to go low toned and ominous (heightening the sense of danger)
Ped down - camera behind Stephen as he walks down the street to school(turns to an extreme long shot and turns to low angle shot)

Shot 4

Sound- music low droning tones

-          Stephen movement noises  (walking)

Eye level long shot- Stephen walking back home down the path, then camera peds down and tilts up into worms eye mid shot to look at stephen walking through the gate

Scene 3- EXT (Woods outside of Stephens town)

Shot 1

Sound- birds, phone alarm (no music)

Extreme close up- Stephen’s hand holding his phone. Stephens phone alarm goes off and his hand stops it

Shot 2

Sound- same as scene 3 shot 1

Birds eye close up- Stephen lying on floor waking. Rubbing his eyes with hands covered in blood

Shot 3

Sound- music (high pitched tones/droning)

High angle mid close up- Stephen sits up (shot angle transitions into eye level) looking at hands confused and scared

Shot 4

Sound – music continues but extra noises (slight musical tune)

long shot eye level- Stephen stands up into camera field of vision, and sees that he is covered in blood. Track out to mid long shot eye level- Shows Stephen covered in blood from head to toe

Track in to high angle shot- Stephen turns and runs down hill.

Shot 5

Sound- music (choir voices- high pitched)

Pan left into eye level big close up- Stephen looking around wildly, then Stephen runs to the right out of the shot

Pan right and ped down to low angle shot extreme long shot- Stephen comes back into camera field of vision whilst he is running away.

Scene 4- opening credits  

Sound- music drum beats high pitched sound