We were inspired by an article written by Charlie Sierra about building the back story to film characters in which he quoted from Riding the Alligator, a book written by Pen Densham, an Academy Award nominated filmmaker.
In one of the chapters in the book, he provides a check list of questions every writer and director should ask of themselves when they are developing their characters. The purpose of this is to outline a deep understanding of your characters for both the actors and director, and for motivating a character’s choices or actions.
My Character Interview
As my film trailer focuses on the story of a teenage boy caught in a muder investigation, we decided to have him being interviewed by a anonymous interviewer, as if in a police station. This is a creative way to introduce the character while showing his stance on the murder cases. Moreover this format matches the seriousness of the trailer and adds to the thriller genre.
Script:
Max: I told you… I don’t know what’s going on. I’m trying to figure this out myself!
Interviewer: What connection do you have to the victims.
Max: What? No I didn’t know them. I feel like I’m going crazy why is no one listening to me. I don’t know why these letters are coming to me. I don’t know why this is happening. I don’t know anything.
Interviewer: Hmm… this is all sounding suspicious. Is there anyone you would like to call. Perhaps a lawyer?
Max: What? A lawyer? You can’t be serious… I’m innocent.
Second Hot Steating Exercise
For our other character of Olivia Blake, we wanted to delve deeper into her character in order to evoke maximum sympathy from the audience when they see her as a victim. We took inspiration from Stephanie Smothers from the film 'A Simple Favour', using the idea of a 'Mum Blog' adapting it for our characters hot seating.
Second Hot Steating Exercise
For our other character of Olivia Blake, we wanted to delve deeper into her character in order to evoke maximum sympathy from the audience when they see her as a victim. We took inspiration from Stephanie Smothers from the film 'A Simple Favour', using the idea of a 'Mum Blog' adapting it for our characters hot seating.
A creative approach which will enable the Production Team to develop their characters. This excerpt seems to position one suspect as naive and vulnerable.
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