The Notes so far:
Yey!!
Send your submissions (Notes ideas etc) to:
petecuffe@hotmail.com
in Notepad format, if poss, so I can just Cut n Paste to here for all of our group to see!
As you can see we are still in the 'Mix and match and Add-to' phase of pre-production writing...
So best to Label ideas in some way to allow for easy identification I've done (in Pete's Notes 1 Below) "1, i, a," breakdown: use what ever is easy... it's all 'scaffolding' which is there to help us shape the story/script towards the sequence (s) we would like most to consider!!
Lorna's Notes 1. 14th July 2016
Where? Who? Action
External Door Shadowy Figure Parcel being delivered by the figure.
Leant against door, doorbell rings, parcel falls, sounds of smashing glass.
Parcel is opened.
Mirror in one piece, assumed present, hung on wall.
1st House.
Party Man Man looks in mirror and sees his reflection beckoning him to follow.
Takes mirror and follows its directions.
Hosts are concerned but not overly worried as he's 'changed his meds'.
1st House.
After party Shadowy Figure Party hosts are dead.
Shadowy figure walks past dead bodies and removed mirror from where it is laid in the room.
Later seen delivering it to another house.
Once again there is the smashing sound.
2nd House Drug Addict Drug Addict sees a number of disturbing visions in the mirror.
Time stops and they walk round the reversed image.
Switch back to real view in mirror and DA is unconscious following an overdose.
2nd House Shadowy Figure Shadowy figure once again steps over dead body/bodies to remove mirror from the floor.
They put the mirror in a car which is packed full, obvious the owner is fleeing.
Newspaper clippings of apocalypse are seen.
Bunker Bunker Occupants Only two occupants start seeing visions in the mirror.
Visions range from theft to murder.
The two try to warn others and tension grows.
Bunker Survivor Rescue Party Rescue party gain access to bunker and find only one occupant alive.
The room is wrecked apart from the mirror.
The last survivor is led out of the bunker clutching the mirror and obviously slightly unhinged.
PETE's Notes 2 MIRROR Notes 2. 19th July 2016
...Is a comedy or kid's TV??
...Is a web series??
...There is a witch present at the party!
...This MIRROR has an opposite counterpart of each person inside the Mirror world.... so if the characters at the party were relatively happy well adjusted and not interested in Evil in any way, with a Witch amoungst them, then the MIRRORED scenerio would be a party of Evil people with a (White) Witch in their midst.
There is a third world of utter passionless neutrality (where nothing happens because everything is in equilibrium)
Peopled by version of themselves that
...Dream of the good and the evil versions
...are people's true souls and therefore this is a working version of heaven/ghostly realm.
Ghost Watchers visit Farm & Farm Museum
...There is a covered up MIRROR: item of curiosity
...conjure up from the (far past) Spirits of 3 Thieves (One whose 'Missus' is expecting)
4th spirit of Policeman/evil Landowner not in Loop but is often fearfully referred / alluded to
Okay guys... you don't have to read the 'Strung Up' Synopsis for some brief production pointers:
We can all clearly see how this story synopsis has totally failed to fit the brief... even just in terms of characters alone!....
Character Breakdown
3 Thieves
RESC (Robert's Evil Spirit Character)
F Father
D Daughter
B Boyfriend
local Weirdos
National Weirdos
Owner of Spooky house
Reporters (On end of Telephone)
Old Pastor
Someone, somewhere
Police
Members of local church
Angry line of grannies
Ambulance Crew
Female Pastor
However, just to say...
1/ If you have any ideas to add, divert, pad out the story, tell different one, jot them down and send them in Ref: "Synopsis: Strung Up" Why do we want to do this..? In case
a script can be further developed into something bigger (but not the one we're going to focus on shooting first!)
2/ As we can see from the above example the synopsis character breakdown shakes out all the people in the Story needed to be considered in the synopsis.
Whatever story we decide to shoot (and it will be alot shorter and way more achievable!) there will be various breakdown considerations to be done.
Very simply, in Film and TV it kind of works like this:
Art Department's point of view there will potentially be Script breakdowns for : Locations, Props, Hair, Make Up and Wardrode.
For the Lighting/Camera Deparment they will be looking at: Times of Day/Lighting set ups, Camera moves/Camera support requirements.
(As Actors we generally (initially) break down the script into "Lines we say, things we do" and "Everything else we're not really that interested in")
These considerations (excluding the Actor's) are all mulled over from the time the script is more or less finalised. Production 'Values' are then deteremined as necessary and options on the appropriate resources are sought.
Then at some point choices are presented to HOD (Heads of Department) in these cases:
the Production Designer (& Art Director) responsible for the look of the production
and Director of Photography responsible for lighting and recording the action
This is all bourne in mind as to how it all fits together by refering to the script, having meetings and doing recces (for location shoots (which ours will be)).
After cross referencing with the relevant deparments the HOD's assemble all their pertainent info to get it agreed/signed off by:
the Director responsible for the action and story telling
and Producer responsible for making sure everyone is doing their job(s) and working
together as points are gone over and problems ironed out.
We'll be working alot more 'organicly':
"Oh Look ! I've a mirror which will just be right..."
"Let's use that one then!" (Which it hopefully will be, but what we lack in experience we will make up for by making videos as we feel we need to of various story elements to
see what we can bring to play to get the sort of Production Values we want.
A good example of this is Lorna's Mirror FX #1 (# = Shot)
This is a 'video sketch' up of an effect, suggested by Lorna and 'put on it's feet 'with everyone helping out to see just what exactly Lorna was saying.
Although it has been edited a bit, we can see immediately various aspects which, if it makes it into the script, would need to be addressed sensibly.
So. We need a short script to shoot. Please do contribute so we can cover all options before finalising. This is our way of selecting our production values in the script, the process to consider and decide upon the initial story elements.
If you can't think of anything further to add, maybe chose some of the elements already mentioned, in a sequence that makes sense as a story to you.
Think: Beginning, Middle, End.
Yey! Thanks for stopping by!
'Strung Up'
Synopsis: Strung Up
Which I first started working on before the first meeting, written up at last.
(If not intererested in this story line, Just read the production pointers above.)
-------------------------
3 Thieves (far past)
Unholy Trinity (creates strong Evil)
Evil in Thought & Deed
Easily led to do Evil (poor moral judge)
Betrayer
Have a terrible fate befall them directly induced by RESC (Robert's Evil Spirit Character) what happens to the spirits is really really horrible...
This appearence is hinted at extremely faintly at night coincides with Harvest Moon /Blue Moon
Their haunting takes place inside a dome of Evil polluted smoke suurounded by a barrier
(Over the years Barn is built on what was the site of the Farm musuem)
Middle Past: Father & Daughter (F&D) (Robert's Story) Main Characters
When young D conducts the feelings emanating from the 3 Thieves haunting
D suffers as a result as she is caught off guard.
Happens every time: Harvest Moon/Blue Moon according to her Father... (Very not often)
D asks questions and is told a yarn from an unlikely source ( probably an old woman)
3 Thieves souls are being claimed by Roberts Evil Spirit Character (RESC)
D feels strongly she wants to do something about it...
(F&D) By saving victims from completely reliving the terrible events their haunting (maybe saving the victims' souls).
Subject is Discussed with F = Maybe they should try to give the spirits closure so The spirits could move on and to stop them being claimed by RESC. on these special occasions
This leads to pursuit of knowledge of how to go about it:
Libraries, strange book collections and landmarks (Like Stonehenge) are visited.
Then people: individuals and small groups
Telling all sorts of lies to gain access...
Contact with local Weirdos and some at a National Level for info...
Encouraged into some pretty weird company and situations
Farm boy nearby (recently moved) becomes Daughter's Boyfriend (B): Totally practical guy
Great distraction for D temporarily, but always back to the studies.
F sees her different...
A breakthrough: a book with the right sort of ritual.
It is remembered book is in a Spooky house already visited and identified in photographs taken on that visit .
D cat burglars book.
Is captured. Spends time in a dungeon.
Owner of house and library gets out Big Special Book to do ritual on D from secret hiding place.
F enlists help of B to rescue D
F Breaks in and effects rescue and nicks Big Special Book
D is unpleasantly effected by experience: she starts to sees B a little strangely.
Book indicates D needs final ingredient for ritual.
B helps her obtain it, hoping it is a pleasant day out
Something happens (Tarot reading) which indicates to D that B has prior knowledge of people they deal with...
F & D Eventually decide to attempt to
Try to Exorcise the Haunting, put it to rest, But ritual Is unexpectedly witnessed by B...
Exorcise complete they all return to Kitchen and try to explain everything:
Have conversation covering what F & D know of the unholy trinity (3 Thieves) <START?>
<Montage opportunity>
D & B Leave F in Kitchen
F hesitates and does not take down the herbal hex protections...
In bed D & B discuss ideas of Scarifice for Evilness, Self Scarifice for Goodness.
Signs of all is not well are Faint at first...
Disturbances at Night (B investigates, D with Gun)...
See a less faint more disturbingly fresher haunting play through (no moon!)
Exorcism has failed!
Failed Exorcisism has set the 3 Thieves (far past) into a repetitive loop... with gaps between loops big at first but getting smaller
(A & B Events run CONCURRENTLY)
To all appearences B is acting strangely and is seen by D to be doing out of character potentially witchy orientated stuff.
D thinks he has switched their potion ingredients around somehow...
The objective viewers see a rational explanation / different version of events
(CONCURRENTLY B Events)
Some time later The haunting plays through again advancing the cut off point into a previously unseen horrific circumstance.
Situations of Evil start to happen in locality (animals dying people getting sick wrong stuff coming out of eggs/getting born.
Reports get into newspapers. Reporters ring up. F & D deny stuff.
Reporter collars B who pretty much blabs unhelpfully for F & D.
Nerves fray.
Odd local Weidos start calling by ...
Weird Stuff even happening in Daylight...
Tensions mount
Unpleasant things go bump in the night. Bad dreams. Many suspicious things happen, unsettling visions dreams & occurances involving, disturbing and distorting every event...
All appear to be Portents for Evil Arrival of Something Big (They research / are warned) could be something major if an EVENT occurs/is triggered
Old Pastor turns up with mighty skewed vews of what's to blame to happen.
Upon Leaving has a vision of evil (3 thieves etc) and is horribly skewered by neighbour's farm truck
Someone, somewhere else is crossing off their own list of ingredients "Soak Holy Blood mud" (But in Latin)
Time between loops getting shorter
Police turn up investigate death of Old Pastor.
Insist on looking around go into barn just during the pause between 2 loops... leave unaware of phenomena
News of death of Pastor gets out more National Weirdos turn up offering advice/friendship/threats and warnings etc
EVENT occurs / is triggered
Police & Members of local church turn up to heckle and petition for arrest of F & D. B crosses angry line of grannies.
A granny keels over at this point others faint.
Someone somewhere laughs and says it totally didn't need to happen.
Ambulance called more attention attracted
Under seige by the press, held back by police presence who also keep the whole bunch of weirdos back
Eggs thrown at the house while police on tea break
F&D&B Hole up in Barn.
Loop however ampilfies everyone's fear... Build up of which is missing ingredient. for **
Presence of such a built up of terror/fear induced and concentrated creates **emergence of RESC
(So!) the deaths become even more evily repurposed...
F & D realise <When loops occur on top of one (Feedback loop is off the chart) another huge event and portal opened!>
The Emergence:
Loops are getting really close to each other
Crowd outside are chanting ritual noises
Police are being controlled by Crowd leader
Feels very clautrophobic hemmed in the Barn inside the space exterior to the Barrier at the centre of the Barn.
Reality is distorted inside the Barn
Mistrust and whispers eventually culminate in accusation
Daughter (D) swears that (B) has Satanic horrible marks on his body (Because of close contact with him)
She is remembering 'seeing' them in all sorts of instances (Quick disturbing montage)
B is denying & denying & denying any knowledge of marks (can't see them)
In confined setup D convinces F to Turn on B... F's memories are becoming distorted too! <Mini Montage>
B is knocked unconcious by F/D combo
D goes about Stringing him up because F hardly helping
F trying to reason now with D, despite marks on B's body
D now believes B is currently Host for RESC!
D Just about to kill B: F wakes him up pail of water style
B wakes up pleads for D to see sense!
D laughs (She is not to be so easily fooled)
D raises Evil implement (probably a scythe) to Kill B
B is cringing in Fear (While strung up)
Barrier has expanded they are all now inside it
Crowd stop Chanting: Quiet from Outside
Marks disappear! F sees!
F steps in way of blow by D intended to kill B, in process F has cut one of B's bonds
F goes down. D goes hysterical because of her injuring F.
Crowd are still chanting Can't be heard inside barrier...
Noises from 3 Thieves ghost noises overlapped crashingly loud
B has struggled out of his bonds and retrieved an Agricultural weapon
D rounds on B they are squaring up. D attacks: B Defends
A fight ensues
B disarms D and looks like he's about to use killing blow
D "I'll kill you!"
B "No you won't!"
Turns weapon on himself and self sacrifices!
All Evil supporters are dragged by a massive force towards the centre of the Expanded dome of evil.
They are squished on the outside of the barn and fall down dead (including a paramedic and policeman)
Only truly innocent parties are left standing where they were (maybe a few surprises there.)
In the dim light of the Barn B is impaled on the Agricultural weapon
D is distraught upon the sudden realisation of her mistakeness! (Might not even be a word!)
F groans. D in a sate of shock very badly pulls it together to try and help.
A female Pastor enters the barn. She strides upto D and punches knocking her out.
Blackout.
(And a MIRROR is involved somehow.)
Pivotal idea is that intentions of killer overcome the intentions of being kind.
Scarifice for Evilness, Self Scarifice for Goodness.
Pete's Notes 1
York Writing Group: Producton Project 26th June
...of all the contributions at this meetingso far (Written up 4th July 2016)
Based on Chris's format idea involving a 'Tales of Unexpected'-esque Story with the format being:
A central character, owner of the mirror all of a sudden starts to see (/glimpse) people (other characters) in the Mirror die/have life changing events its owner/a person at certain times when the mirror is performing as a mystical/magical object, otherwise its a mirror. These Characters are then introduced into the story and the mirror-glimpsed-incident occurs.
The format allowed the idea of everyone getting in front of the camera to perform /acquire showreel footage from a video product we are pleased to be involved with and make: this is primary objective of our group.
The writing group discussed various ideas listed here in no particular order.
This listing is to see if further ideas extend for us which could be fun/useful to consider, in this project or others, while shaping up the Story intended for production to suit our primary objective.
Everyone have a read through and write down further ideas /email them all round/ bring to next meeting/script them/draw them
... they could be developments of ideas discussed or mashed up or new ideas or anything else it'll be good to be aware of/think about including in the form/content of the story.
All of Pete's Notes:
1 VISIONS IN THE MIRROR
i... Not always a death/ murder but can be a reveletion/pivotal life event for characters
ii...shows what seems to be a potentially avoidable future... Is or is self fulfilling: becomes unavoidable.
2 MIRROR ORIGINS/BACKGROUD
i...is advertised on, and acquired through Amazon (or somesuch) (Modern delivery method of (Ancient) magical artefact, after that listing, supplier/owner can't be taced.
Shadowy figure delivers Box (Containing Mirror), leans it against the door, Rings bell, leaves...
Door opens, box falls, Sound of Glass breaking. Contents inspected MIRROR is okay!
Hosts assume is present hang up MIRROR (Maybe Warning note in packaging which is hidden/ignored/overlooked)
Guests turn up...
ii...Is from an Area 51 Warehouse (Ref: Indiana Jones: Raiders and Crystal skull)
iii...Has an Evil Custodian
iv...Mirrors owner dies, it is passed on
v...Has been pinched
vi..Has words "Only Once" included in the frame / scratched on the back / in Latin indication how often people are exposed to its magicalness... or another comment/warning.. (or something needing
to be seen in a MIRROR (REDRUM))
vii...(Maybe has addition interpretation of 'You are alone')
viii...Has passport pictures of previous owners or people who have been killed/effected shoved in lining or on back.
3 MIRROR EFFECTS
i...Person sees a death of someone in the MIRROR, then witnesses it later.
ii...shows different people different things but is a POISONED CHALICE:
ie: a Materialistic person sees finiancial gain, which comes true but suffers a Life Loss for it to come about
A spiritual person has a live enhancing result (But maybe also tragedy)
iii...A pure person creates goodness with it.
iv... Character (1) sees the lottery being won by another Character (2), so 1 is constantly reminding 2 to buy a lottery ticket
v...When looked into by a couple: one sees someone dying, other sees money
4 MIRROR USES
i...is used to chop cocaine up on... becomes source of super-charged horrible evil, or is merely effect of drug on the individual (pyschosis) (possibly OUTRO)
5 MIRROR LOCATION
i...BUNKER IDEAS
ii...Is with characters in a confined cabin fever scenerio / Bunker /Bunker Party. People see events in mirror which cause them to warn others/create alliegences. Could all be down to pyschosis or
MIRROR is a High Tech device Ref: SIRI
a...you're going to be dying tomorrow
b..that interacts with each Pysche differently (or stuff is only in each person's own head)
c...Characters see people in the future, while future characters are looking back into the past
d...The Mirror is displaying images /distorted realities controlled by a MIRROR TECHNICIAN Character
iii...In Bunker 1 sees 2 kill 3, 1 warns 3 about 2, 1 kills 3 accidently or other ways in which the tension can be racketed up amoungst the confined people in the closed environment.
iv...Antiques Shop Window: someone walking past gets stuck in the MIRROR
v...Hotel function room / bathroom / changing rooms (gym?)
vi...B&B/ guest house / Room 13
6 MIRROR INTERACTIVITY
i...What happens when it is touched?
ii...People have no reflection Some /All (are they Vampires (can't be seen cos no soul))
iii...Allows people to see the future:
1 sees 2 being run over... wants to stop it
1 Figures out where accident is
Goes to stop it: Succeeds... or fails... or causes it!
(Another version perhaps where 1 does not want to stop it)
..Guy takes it off wall and carries Mirror to see where reflection is leading him.... (other people think he's on mediaction, reaction of: "Not again" (Maybe used to do it as a (disturbed )
kid.)
1 walking through party (with MIRROR) gazing intently at MIRROR
"Not Again"
Who's that?"
"Her Ex..."
"What's he doing here?"
"She's going back out with him again..."
"Is he on medication...?"
"Yeah - No, just came off, apparently...
??
"Just ignore him..."
1 with MIRROR walks through party: goes through door, appearing in middle of a field
throws MIRROR into pond... reality is 2 takes MIRROR off 1
"That's enough of that"
And replaces it on wall. 1 sees 2's reflection give 'Thumbs Up' to 1, when 2 in reality doesn't do it.
iv...reflection is not accurate/does not tally with real events ie does own thing or is evil or warning or winks (possibly OUTRO).
v... someone Breathes on it: sees writing
1st Time = "Meet me Upstairs" (Liason?) causes trouble as result of going there
2nd & 3rd Times =" " (get more dark & twisted)... doesn't happen to anyone else...
vi...People arriving at the party check their Hair & Makeup in Mirror (nothing Happens)
vii...When a person touches the mirror they disappear.
viii...When a person looks in the mirror time stops and they walk round the REVERSED IMAGE party and witness an incrimating act (in progress (someone pinching a wallet/purse/valueable)) or misinterpret an innocent act for something criminal ( person adding a concoction to a drink secretly which are actually Meds the person has forgotten to take..) or a hugely inappropriate situation.
ix...Because MIRROR is possessed/magical object/cursed different sorts of Interactivity for different people, consistant for each person, different across group.
Other MIRROR Ideas
x...does Mirror get shot? (Lorna's Set up) 1 sees 2 pointing shotgun at 3 in MIRROR, 2 is actually vision of 2 about to shoot MIRROR.
xi...whatever is lurking in MIRROR might be set free to influence people through other highly relective surfaces.
MIRROR Facts
xii...Glass is 3rd year annerversery, Crystal is 10
7 More MIRROR related thoughts
Everyone be on lookout for an appropriate Mirror design, but no-body aquire one, because likely hood is we'll two identical ones...
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More of Pete's Notes in ADDITION
Covered up MIRROR is part of cursed object collection in Farm Museum
P1... is removed by member of production of Ghost Watchers
...Hung up at Wrap Party?... (things start to get weird...)
...Ghost Watchers Presenter does spooky invocation ritual, starting off jokey, getting more serious
P2... gets everyone to drink Mushroom wine (made of magic mushrooms)
P3... scares the bejeezers off everyone , when they are in vunerable state:
P4...they see people captured in MIRROR ((from Lorna's script) stuck in evil loop of dispair)
P5...3 thieves are conjured up and then horribly killed/sacrificed (or just released)
P6...Invocation ritual unleashes weirdness on the production team/anyone present at ritual
P7... Stuff happens
P8...Production team end up being trapped in (Individual) Loops in MIRROR, loops which feature all the other Production team members...
P9...At end Ghost Watchers Presenter is seen to be really really evil in reflection and is responsible for taking the MIRROR out of the house which is now horribly littered with dead
bodies of the Production Team
P10 Father and daughter (from Robert's idea) see visions of Ghost Watchers Presenter and time travel to modern era (As you do) to track him down and kill him.
(MIRROR Fun Fact!
Apparently there is a prism on the moon, left by american astronauts which reflects back to Earth Laser Impulses sent by scientists to allow them to gauge accurately how far the moon is from the
Earth (and presumably to see if this figure changes...) <- that could figure at the end of a season!)
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