Brainstorm Ideas
Treatment
Title
The Guy Next Door
Production Company
Bad Heart Productions
Genre
Mystery/ Thriller
Conventions used:
Target Audience
Teenagers and young adults (18+) because it will include violence and some psychological issues which can be disturbing for many younger viewers. Explorers – those who seek discovery and value difference and adventure (psychographic). Letter code B In the demographic table – middle management, teachers, creative and media people as our film is aimed at those who can think methodically throughout the film and are imaginative.
Outline
The Guy Next Door begins with an equilibrium of a happy couple (Lauren and Mark Darcy) living a very normal life together until a very suspicious man moves in across the road from them. Lauren goes out to work as normal until she suspects someone is following her. She informs her husband about it but unfortunately he doesn’t take it seriously. The next day when Lauren goes to work, she realises that one of her close colleagues is missing, and she thinks her stalker has something to do with it. As Lauren tries finding her, she receives an unusual email that freaks her out at first but then tells her to come look for her friend. As Lauren continues searching for her friend she comes across the strange stalker from before and believes he is the one emailing her about her lost friend so she decides to follow him. She follows the stranger into a dark alley way and gets kidnapped herself but not before finally seeing her stalker’s face that looks so familiar. Whilst being kept hostage, Lauren thinks it was her husband who pranked her by kidnapping and scaring her but finds out that the kidnapper (Mateo Floyd) is actually her husband’s twin brother that supposedly died at birth. Mateo wants to gain his twin’s attention and believes that by kidnapping those closest to him is the only way.
Character breakdown:
Lauren Darcy
A strong independent woman, that works in a top leading firm in London. During one of her normal days, she suddenly gets kidnapped by someone who she suspects has been stalking her.
Mark Darcy
The husband of Lauren, who is an author that writes mystery/ crime novels that has won many Book of the Year awards.
Matteo Floyd
he unknown twin of Mark that kidnaps Lauren and re-enacts parts that happen in her husband’s bestselling novel.
The Guy Next Door
Production Company
Bad Heart Productions
Genre
Mystery/ Thriller
Conventions used:
- A battle between the protagonist and antagonist
- Low key lighting
- Suspenseful music
- Change in angle of shots
- Short takes/fast paced editing
Target Audience
Teenagers and young adults (18+) because it will include violence and some psychological issues which can be disturbing for many younger viewers. Explorers – those who seek discovery and value difference and adventure (psychographic). Letter code B In the demographic table – middle management, teachers, creative and media people as our film is aimed at those who can think methodically throughout the film and are imaginative.
Outline
The Guy Next Door begins with an equilibrium of a happy couple (Lauren and Mark Darcy) living a very normal life together until a very suspicious man moves in across the road from them. Lauren goes out to work as normal until she suspects someone is following her. She informs her husband about it but unfortunately he doesn’t take it seriously. The next day when Lauren goes to work, she realises that one of her close colleagues is missing, and she thinks her stalker has something to do with it. As Lauren tries finding her, she receives an unusual email that freaks her out at first but then tells her to come look for her friend. As Lauren continues searching for her friend she comes across the strange stalker from before and believes he is the one emailing her about her lost friend so she decides to follow him. She follows the stranger into a dark alley way and gets kidnapped herself but not before finally seeing her stalker’s face that looks so familiar. Whilst being kept hostage, Lauren thinks it was her husband who pranked her by kidnapping and scaring her but finds out that the kidnapper (Mateo Floyd) is actually her husband’s twin brother that supposedly died at birth. Mateo wants to gain his twin’s attention and believes that by kidnapping those closest to him is the only way.
Character breakdown:
Lauren Darcy
A strong independent woman, that works in a top leading firm in London. During one of her normal days, she suddenly gets kidnapped by someone who she suspects has been stalking her.
Mark Darcy
The husband of Lauren, who is an author that writes mystery/ crime novels that has won many Book of the Year awards.
Matteo Floyd
he unknown twin of Mark that kidnaps Lauren and re-enacts parts that happen in her husband’s bestselling novel.
Storyboard
Script
Lookalike
*FADE IN*
Long shot of kitchen – Lauren is cooking and Mark is writing a novel on the table.
CUT TO
Lauren: How’s the book going?
Mark: Not so great, writer’s block again.
Lauren walks over to Mark and sits next to him.
Lauren: It’s good so far.
Mark: I know it is, but what can I do now?
Lauren: hmm, don’t you think it would be a good idea if she wore a red coat… you know to stand out?
Mark is quiet, thinking about it. He suddenly gets up and walks to Lauren.
Mark: Oh wow, that’s actually a really good idea!
Mark leans over her.
Kisses Lauren on the cheek.
Mark (whispers): Thank you, Angel.
CUT TO
“One week ago”
Matteo’s narration: Every man has his weakness.
Lauren is going to work, walking down a busy London road.
Matteo’s narration: His weakness is her.
Lauren walks into a coffee shop and drops her coins whilst ordering.
Matteo helps pick up her coins, face slightly hidden.
Lauren looks at him strangely.
Lauren: Thank you…
CUT TO
Lauren is on the train.
Lauren gets off the train, Matteo follows.
Matteo continues to follow Lauren home, but keeps his distance.
Matteo’s narration: She doesn’t even know, but he does.
CUTS TO
Lauren is sitting in bed with Mark.
Lauren: I think someone is following me
Mark puts his book on the nightstand and turns off the light.
Mark: Angel, I doubt that. It’s been a long day just go to bed.
CUTS TO
“At 7:30am”
Lauren is walking down the street going to work.
(Build up in music starts)
Matteo is walking behind her but not keeping his distance.
Matteo’s narration: It has to happen now.
Matteo reaches out and grabs Lauren.
(Build up in music stops)
Black screen.
Lauren is breathing heavily.
Lauren is sitting on a chair in the middle of a garage.
Matteo (whispers): Hello, Angel.
Lauren is freaking out. Matteo chuckles.
Matteo removes the tape from Lauren’s mouth.
Lauren: Mark?
Black screen.
Matteo (chuckles): It’s not Mark.
Lauren: Who are you then?
Matteo: You should ask your pretty little husband. If he even remembers me.
Lauren: You know my husband? How?
Matteo moves over to her other side and removes her blindfold slowly.
Lauren looks at Matteo’s face and freezes.
Close up of Lauren’s shocked face, make-up ruined.
*FADE IN*
Long shot of kitchen – Lauren is cooking and Mark is writing a novel on the table.
CUT TO
Lauren: How’s the book going?
Mark: Not so great, writer’s block again.
Lauren walks over to Mark and sits next to him.
Lauren: It’s good so far.
Mark: I know it is, but what can I do now?
Lauren: hmm, don’t you think it would be a good idea if she wore a red coat… you know to stand out?
Mark is quiet, thinking about it. He suddenly gets up and walks to Lauren.
Mark: Oh wow, that’s actually a really good idea!
Mark leans over her.
Kisses Lauren on the cheek.
Mark (whispers): Thank you, Angel.
CUT TO
“One week ago”
Matteo’s narration: Every man has his weakness.
Lauren is going to work, walking down a busy London road.
Matteo’s narration: His weakness is her.
Lauren walks into a coffee shop and drops her coins whilst ordering.
Matteo helps pick up her coins, face slightly hidden.
Lauren looks at him strangely.
Lauren: Thank you…
CUT TO
Lauren is on the train.
Lauren gets off the train, Matteo follows.
Matteo continues to follow Lauren home, but keeps his distance.
Matteo’s narration: She doesn’t even know, but he does.
CUTS TO
Lauren is sitting in bed with Mark.
Lauren: I think someone is following me
Mark puts his book on the nightstand and turns off the light.
Mark: Angel, I doubt that. It’s been a long day just go to bed.
CUTS TO
“At 7:30am”
Lauren is walking down the street going to work.
(Build up in music starts)
Matteo is walking behind her but not keeping his distance.
Matteo’s narration: It has to happen now.
Matteo reaches out and grabs Lauren.
(Build up in music stops)
Black screen.
Lauren is breathing heavily.
Lauren is sitting on a chair in the middle of a garage.
Matteo (whispers): Hello, Angel.
Lauren is freaking out. Matteo chuckles.
Matteo removes the tape from Lauren’s mouth.
Lauren: Mark?
Black screen.
Matteo (chuckles): It’s not Mark.
Lauren: Who are you then?
Matteo: You should ask your pretty little husband. If he even remembers me.
Lauren: You know my husband? How?
Matteo moves over to her other side and removes her blindfold slowly.
Lauren looks at Matteo’s face and freezes.
Close up of Lauren’s shocked face, make-up ruined.
Character profile
Name: Matteo
Gender: Male Age: 36 Height: 5ft 11 Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Matteo is unknown twin of Mark that kidnaps Lauren and re-enacts parts that happen in her husband’s bestselling novel. Matteo is very hurt because of his brother who think abandoned him and left him apart from his life. Matteo has a short temper and doesn't like it when people question his ability to do things. |
Name: Mark Darcy
Gender: Male Age: 36 Height: 5ft 7 Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Mark is a author of one of the best selling novels in around town he is known for his mystery/ crime novels that has won many Book of the Year awards. Mark is has a very serious personality with a grumpy attitude. He is the wife of Lauren Darcy who met at a conference in the city and fell in love. Mark is very hard working man who loves his career who is determined to win a lot more awards. Name: Lauren Darcy Gender: Female Age: 29 Height: 5ft Hair: Black Eyes: Brown A strong independent woman, that works in a top leading firm in London as one of the best lawyers in town. Lauren is the husand of Mark Darcy who are newly married couple in the neighbourhood. Lauren is a very heard working women with a very serious personally however her love for Mark is strong. During one of her normal days, she suddenly gets kidnapped by someone who she suspects has been stalking her, while she makes her way to work every morning. |
Schedule and call sheet
Location
This is the house in which the couple in our film are living in. We wanted to establish this in our trailer in order to make it clear to the audience that the couple are serious about their relationship to the extent that they share a house together. Multiple scenes in our trailer are filmed in this house, many of them including shots of the couple in the kitchen having a conversation, to them reading and conversing in their bedroom.
Busy London street in which the female protagonist goes through each morning to get to work. One of the scenes in the trailer, our female lead (Lauren) is seen entering the cafe (shown above) and orders her usual. Matteo (the creepy/mysterious lookalike) is seen helping her when she drops her change on the floor. This is the first encounter between the female protagonist and the lookalike so we wanted this moment to happen in a public place so that nothing much happens and things are kept secret, but the audience are still able to witness the surprised look on Lauren's face.
This setting helps creates an urban setting which helps our audience understand the genre of our films straight away. when filming we have the rule of third in mind and we want to make sure we get the main focus of the female character who will be sitting on a chair in the middle.
We need a setting were we can have our female character walking up and down the road we need this to be normal setting. We want our film to start as equilibrium as we have decided to go with Tzvetan Todorov: Theory of Equilibrium which states that all tentative structures start in a normality- state of equilibrium. Then this is disrupted and the narrative explores this, returning to a new equilibrium (new balance- not the same as the first balance/equilibrium) by the end of the narrative. Therefore we felt that this would be the best location to start off the film.
Props
Rope- We decided to use this as our prop in our film trailer because we felt that this would help our audience to understand the genre of our film a lot more, as the rope can be seen as semiotics a theory by Umberto Eco who suggest that "anything can be taken as a sign"
Duck tape- This was used on Lauren which gave a clue to show that she has been kidnaped, this helped our audiences understand the genre of the film this prop also help the audience to understand the narrative a lot more. The prop can be seen as semiotic as anything can be taken as sign. it also help draw a lot of questions in our audiences mind when watching the film trailer which we wanted our audiences to experience so our audiences get hooked into out film.