The Script

Another important part of the planning stage is writing our all important script, without it the storyboard will be quite tough to plan as we wouldn't know what or when to cut the shots as the characters Quinn and the Inspector are in dialogue. We know this is an important factor for the planning stage so got it done in as much detail as we thought was needed. We decided it was best to keep it misleading, and perhaps a little confusing at first which is exactly what we intend to make the two minute opening like, to confuse the audience a little and to make them ask questions.

INT. EPPING FOREST MENTAL INSTITUTE – DAY

Quinn Wakely is sat in an empty room on her own. Her face is expressionless and she is sat up straight; her clothes are very plain and simple. We can hear lots of faint voices over the top of each other. We then hear footsteps getting closer as a smartly dressed Inspector Hodges and a worried nurse walks into the scene. Quinn does not react as the Inspector attempts to communicate; his voice slightly muffled by the voices of Quinn’s thoughts.

NURSE

She has not spoken since we found her in the forest.

     (Pause)

I’ll leave you to it.

INSPECTOR HODGES

                       Thank you, nurse.

Inspector clears his throat and stands slightly uneasily as we hear the nurse’s footsteps vanish out the door. The door slams shut.

INSPECTOR HODGES

Good afternoon, Miss Wakely. I’m wondering if you could answer a few questions for me on the Epping Forest murders. Any information you may give will be used as evidence and a thorough investigation into your statements will occur. Do you accept these terms?

Long pause. Voices are getting gradually faster and louder. Quinn does not move, but her eyes dart around the room. Inspector Hodges eyes follows hers. After a while, the Inspector kneels down in front of Quinn and sighs. He speaks in a pleading, sympathetic voice.

INSPECTOR HODGES

I know its hard – reliving terrible memories. But people are dead and we need to stop the monster behind these attacks. That’s what you want too, isn’t it? You want it to end?

Pause. Quinn’s thoughts get louder and more confusing. Inspector Hodges pulls out a photograph from inside his blazer pocket.

INSPECTOR HODGES

          Do you know this man, Quinn?

At the sound of her name, Quinn’s eyes flicker to look at the photograph. The voices come to a loud but abrupt stop. There is a slight hum of a light bulb in the background. Quinn starts laughing hysterically as the scene around her flickers and blood appears on her face. Next minute she’s sobbing, and then she starts laughing again. The scene halts at the janitor’s closet and the light bulb is on the brink of blowing a fuse. We see the shadow of a figure hanging from the ceiling and then the light bulb explodes.

This has helped us greatly developing the characters and developing the entire story altogether, now that we know the dialogue, we begin to reveal characters true emotions and feelings. This is important as once the audience begin to discover the characters and how they work, the more emotions the audience will show when certain parts of the movie take place.

I have learnt that scripts are much more than just guidelines to what the characters say during filming. It's also used to build up character emotions and truly reveal the characters inner feelings, it is very important we portray that to the audience to build up tension and emotions during the scenes we have planned. I have also learnt that scripts go very well with the storyboards and the synopsis, together they build the entire structure of the film and all of our combined ideas.