Film synopsis

A 16-year-old boy, named Tommy Wilson developed a dangerous cognitive state of mind when he witnessed the murder of his mother when he was just ten-years-old. His ever-expanding obsession to find his mothers locket and her killer immersed him into a life of deadly crime. As Tommy’s past life returns to haunt him, his mind slips into severe confusion. The police are desperately trying to solve the murders but Tommy is smart; the murders become more brutal and his conscience grows lesser. He would stop at nothing. His grandparents become increasingly concerned and they believe that there poisonous secret might be the key to help him.

Treatment 2 

Film title: Lost Obsession

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Duration: 2 Minutes

Audience:

·      Age certificate- we have chosen a certificate of 15 because of our genre of thriller it will be frightening for a young child to watch with scenes of violence.

·      Gender- our film is aimed at both genders.

We think our film would be a niche film, because it is a low budget production with no well known actors or locations.Plot: The scene begins with an opening shot of an old room and the song lucy locket playing over the scene. The camera pans around an old dingy room slowly revealing piles of old news papers.The camera then zooms in to the news papers to see some headlines and pictures of woman laying dead, there are articles on the front of each news paper about the deaths of these women. There are around 5-7 news papers gathered, the camera again satrts to pan further around the room until it reachs a picture of a woman framed on a cabinet. This picture is of a woman wearing a locket. The camera then turns to see the silhouette of a boys figure sat in a corner next to the cabinet with the picture on it.

We then have flash back scenes from the boys eyes, seeing him as a younger boy witnessing his mothers death by a man he doesnt know. We see the murderer snatch a necklace locket from around his dead mothers neck and walk out of the house. We see this from the boys point of view, and he is sat underneath a table witnessing all of this.
The scene then flashes back to the silhouette of the boy sat in the corner. The camera then zooms up closer to see the boys hand touching the picture of the woman which we have now found out from the flash back is his mother and we hear the boys voice saying 'dont worry mummy we will find it' as he runs his hand over the locket on the picture.

Special elements: In the first two minutes of our film we have a flash back scene to show what has happened in the past which reflects the whole relevence of our story.

Treatment 1

Film title; Lost Obsession 

Duration of film- the duration of the full film would be 90 minutes long.

Audience:

·      Age certificate- we have chosen a certificate of 15 because of our genre of thriller it will be frightening for a young child to watch with scenes of violence.

·      Gender- our film is aimed at both genders.

·      We think our film would be a niche film, because it is a low budget production with no well known actors or locations.

·     

Genre- Mystery/thriller

Plot of our film:  
Our plot is about a 16 year old boy who has an obsession with lockets. Since he witnessed the murder of his mother when he was just ten years old he has turned more and more vengeful of the killer, this is because his mothers killer took the locket necklace from around her neck after he murdered her. This particular locket contained a picture of his mother and the only picture of his father, his father died when he was just a baby. Our plots contains flashbacks of his mother’s death so we then get emotionally attached to the boy and understand what he’s going through. An incident occurs that traumatizes him mentally and which starts the killing spree he goes on to find his mothers necklace, this incident happens when a woman is walking down the street wearing a necklace that to him looks identical to his dead mother’s, the boy doesn’t think and instantly goes to grab the necklace, when the startled woman fights back the boy hits out in rage and accidentally kills the woman. When he takes her necklace and opens it and it reveals a picture of a baby and not the picture of his mum and dad he realizes that he has done wrong. Although the boy seems regretful at first we soon learn that he has developed an obsession, the boy now sets out to find his mothers locket, and every woman he sees wearing a locket he then stalks and kills her. The police are involved trying to desperately solve the murders through the film, all the while getting closer and closer to the killer. These evil killings continue throughout the film to innocent women, with the boy getting more and more frustrated his killings get more and more brutal to every woman. His concerned grandparents grow worried of the boys mysterious disappearances, and believe the only way he’ll get over his mothers death is if they reveal a deep secret that could change his way of thinking, a secret that his mother had sworn the grandparents to keep quiet about. Going against these wishes the grandparents reveal to the boy that his father is in fact still alive and his mother was just trying to protect the boy from the monster she believed his dad was. The boy is overjoyed and desperately wants to meet his father; his grandparents then arrange this meeting over the phone. We then see the grandmother on the phone to the dad, when the audience then see the fathers face they will realize that he was the man who killed the boys mother 6 years ago. The boy is on the way to meet his father for the first time, unbeknown to him that is father murdered his mother. Meanwhile the police are on the brink of catching the killer with new evidence that has been brought up and a witness statement that has come up. Realizing whom the killer of all these women is the police go to the boy’s grandparents to question the boy. When the grandparents tell him he’s gone away to meet his father, the police believe he’s trying to make a run for it and go on the hunt to find him, with the directions of the confused grandparents. At this point the boy is nearly coming into contact with his father, the tension builds, as he is almost face-to-face with his father. The police are getting closer the boys destination. The boy finally sees that face of his father and a flash back then occurs to his mothers death again and the face of the killer flashes in the boys mind and his feelings bubble as the realization sinks in that the man, his father stood in front of him is in fact the man who killed his mother. The boy turns into a rage and goes to attack his father just as the police arrive on the scene, the police seeing the boy in a rage aim their guns at him, his father noticing this acts in pure shock that his only son may get shot that he dives in front of the bullet for his son. The whole atmosphere is quiet as his father lies dead in front of him, the boy has an opportunity to make a run for it, but in a moment of realization he just stands as the police run towards him, he leans down to his father and reaches to the gold chain hanging from his fathers pocket, as he lifts it out he holds the locket, in his hands, slowly opening it to see a picture of his mother and father, the police grab the boy to arrest him, the boy clutches tight to the locket and smiles in relief.

Special elements: Our film would stand out from others because in our film we will be using flash backs into the life of our killer to show why he has a mental problems. These flashbacks show the death of his mother, which is the key plot to the whole story, and the whole reason the killer is killing women for the locket. 

The genre: Thriller

The genre of film that we are interested to use for our own film that we have looked into and researched is mystery thriller. By looking at our research of the definition of thriller, we realized that our film fitted this genre perfectly as the description was similar to the outcome we are hoping to achieve for our own film:

If the genre is to be defined strictly, a genuine thriller is a film that rentlessly pursues a single-minded goal - to provide thrills and keep the audience cliff hanging at the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax. The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menacing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible. Life itself is threatened, usually because the principal character is unsuspecting or unknowingly involved in a dangerous or potentially deadly situation. Plots of thrillers involve characters, which come into conflict with each other, or with outside forces - the menace is sometimes abstract or shadowy.

The history of Thriller

No list of suspense or thriller films can be complete without mention of English film-maker/director Alfred Hitchcock.He helped to shape the modern-day thriller genre, beginning with his early silent film The Lodger (1926), a suspenseful Jack-the-Ripper story, followed by his next thriller Blackmail (1929), his first sound film (but also released in a silent version). Hitchcock would make a signature cameo appearance in his feature films, beginning with his third film The Lodger (1926), although his record was spotty at first. After 1940, he appeared in every one, except for The Wrong Man (1956). Although nominated five times as Best Director (from 1940-1960), Hitchcock never won an Academy Award.

This director helped to inspire us on the genre of the film and give us different ideas that we could use in our own film. For example: Hitchcock's films often placed an innocent victim (an average, responsible person) into a strange, life-threatening or terrorizing situation, in a case of mistaken identity, misidentification or wrongful accusation. We have decided in our film that we will focus on one main character throughout, where the narrative shows their life story including their past. In some scenes this character will be seen as a victim, which will help to create suspense for the audience however a twist will be revealed further into the film.

Here are a few films that serve up thrilling tales of terror, intrigue, menace, revenge, obsession and insanity that were influenced by Hitchcock and also influenced our group:

•    the film-noirish and intriguing Niagara (1953) by Henry
  Hathaway, with Marilyn Monroe as the voluptuous and trashy
  femme fatale who schemes to kill her unstable husband (Joseph
  Cotten)

•    director Robert Aldrich's violent and fast-paced film noirish
  thriller Kiss Me Deadly (1955) featured Ralph Meeker as a hard
  nosed detective amidst fears of nuclear apocalypse.

•    The Night of the Hunter (1955), director Charles Laughton's
  sole film, brilliantly-played with Robert Mitchum as a Bible
  thumping, homicidal preacher victimizing two young children
  with a secret about the location of stolen money.

•    director Orson Welles' unique crime thriller, Touch Of Evil
  (1958) with a pre-Psycho Janet Leigh as a terrorized wife,
  Charlton Heston as a Mexican-American narcotics agent, and the
  director himself as an evil border-town cop

•    director Michael Powell's perverse, tense and reviled Peeping
  Tom(1960), with Carl Boehm as a psychopathic, reclusive
  cameraman – the film was released prior to Hitchcock's Psycho
  (1960), and helped pave its way.

Twists

During and after the 1970's, major motion pictures began to "play tricks" more regularly on audiences, partly in homage to the "Master of Suspense" Alfred Hitchcock, but also after the re-discovery and appreciation of acclaimed B-films - film noirs in particular that used plot twists fairly regularly - and found that audiences reacted well to them. For example, Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) was one of the first films to caution audiences to not reveal the "shocking secrets" - other films were to follow.

Spoilers may generally include the revelation of the criminal or culprit, some other secret identity, or some other major plot event that changes the entire direction or perception of the film. Plot twists often help to make film-viewing a renewed experience, because a lot of the hints and red herrings in the film (that were missed during the first viewing) take on new meaning during a second screening. Spoilers: When narrative elements, usually reserved for late in a film's plot development, are divulged to others who have not yet seen the film, they are termed spoilers. It is usually considered malicious, unfair and a major faux pas to reveal 'spoilers' without a warning, because their publication can 'spoil' or ruin the enjoyment of experiencing a film's twists and surprises for oneself - without advance warning. However, some advance marketing of teasers and other ads have often revealed a film's entire plot. Film critics often fastidiously avoid providing spoilers in their reviews, in order to not offend their readership.

In our film we have chosen to have many twists and turns throughout to leave our audience on the edge of their seats and excited to what is going to happen next. We have chosen to do this by having unknown culprits and a non-predictable ending to shock our audience and create tension. 

http://www.filmsite.org/thrillerfilms.html

Suitable only for 15 years and over

No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs

Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest  terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme

No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

Referenced from:www.bbfc.co.uk

Why our film is rated certificate 15

As a group we feel it is appropriate to rate our film a 15 because of the content and theme of the film being to the genre of a; Mystery/Thriller. The plot will contain a small flash back on a ten year old boy witnessing his mother's murder. His mother's murderer then leaves with her locket in their hands. The boy is significantly damaged from his haunting past. He becomes obsessed with retrieving his mothers old locket; which he previously bought her, containing a picture on his mother and father. At the age of 16 the boy then goes on to commit 4 other murders. Our film would contain violence but violence would not be our main theme in the story. Our film is likely to contain some strong language and images of violence linked with murder. The plot will be based around the confusion of the murders and the hunt for both the murderer and the connection between the mysterious deaths. Our film may contain some imitable behaviour as as it contains, in total; six murders but we are not going to portray the murders in great detail to protect against anyone trying to copy them. Our film will contain scenes of family's in distress as they struggle to deal with the deaths of their loved ones and as they struggle to find the murderer. Our film will not contain drug use/misuse. To conclude: Because of the issues that have be raised in the film as a group we feel the film will have to be rated 15 because of the contextual themes and the plot line.

We have chosen to use a locket as our main symbol. The locket represents the boys memory of his mother. The boy believes if he finds the locket, that got stole when she died then he could accept his mothers death and move on with his life. Because he is only a young boy he cannot move on from his mothers death without some closure. The locket is personalised because it contains photos of both his mother and his father who he believes is dead.Because the locket contains those photos it makes the locket more important to him.

Lockets are very common in woman so a lot of woman tend to wear them on a daily basis, this is the reason why the boy killed so many women. He killed many women for their lockets to find out if the lockets they were wearing was his mothers. Once the boy has killed a women and opens her locket to realise its not his mothers, he just leaves the locket next to the body because no other locket is valuable to him, he just wants his mothers locket back for sentimental value. By leaving the locket behind with the body this is how the police connect all the murders in the film, and eventually connect the boy to the murders through the lockets.

We have chosen the genre of Mystery/thriller, Mystery thrillers generally include suspense, excitement and tension. Thrillers are good genres if you want to stimulate the viewers mood to make them anticipated to watch the whole film. Thrillers give viewers adrenaline and combined with the mystery genre will make the audience want to work out the rest of the film. Thrillers like to make the audience uncertain, tense and want to surprise them. Thrillers and mysteries also consist of plot twists and cliffhangers. The storyline of these genre of films are normally based around a problem which could be a escape mission or a murder. Thriller often overlaps with a mystery storyline. However these genres on there own they have two different story lines. For example, a mystery consists of someone having to solve a problem or finding something, these films have very little violence, menace and threat. Where as the violence is quite intense in thrillers and the villain is more ruthless. When these genres are mixed together it allows the film to appeal to a larger audience and also expands what could happen in the film.