Evaluate how the written extract meets the requirements of a pre-production script (D1)

Brief:

My script idea was to create a horror slasher with an escaped convict as the villain and a father as the hero. My target audience is 15 and above, which fits the darker tone and serious style of the script but, there is no described gore which, when filmed, could lead to it being rated an 18.

The script I created meets the brief by it being a complete short film of 5-10 minutes in length. I have used the correct format and layout in the script: correct margins, font, actions and dialogue etc. However, due to it being a short slasher, I have struggled to add real character development. On the other hand, I have made the climax dramatised. I satisfied these requirements by making the climax of the film interesting and intense, as well as, leaving the resolution as a cliff hanger for the potential of a full feature length film.

Key elements of this type of script include, character actions to display tenseness and other things like describing fight scenes - I have included these character actions frequently as they are elements of a horror slasher script. Another element are dark areas like night time, buildings with lights off or at night etc. My script fulfils these by being at a house at night time which makes the audience more nervous as it is harder to see and identify the villain or anything that may be scary. However, it may deviate from the horror slasher script and may be perceived as an action script.

Feedback Questions:

1. What genre do you think this is?

2. Can you imagine this sequence being in a real film?

3. Does it read like the genre should and why or why not?

4. Do you think it would be intense or scary if it were made into a film and why or why not?

5. Who do you think the target audience for this film is?

6. Why do you think it is directed at that target audience?

Answers:

All the responses were similar - they explained how it fit the genre they chose and everyone gave appropriate answers to the questions.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Comments on Script:

From question 6 - "Because it's got a more adult and explicit topic with the graphic fighting"

From question 5 - "15+" and "18+" and "Teens to adults"

From question 3 - "Yes because the script contains conventions of a horror film"

These comments show some success from my script as the one from question 3 states that my script contains conventions of a horror film; this means that this person identified that it was a horror film and could see what made it horror - this suggests that my script is successful in meeting the horror requirements. The answers from question 5 are similar but different. The client brief is supposed to be 15+ which is what one person guessed however, another person thought it was 18+ which is just over what the brief wants. This could suggest that I may have made the script too graphic or I didn't describe it enough to make it seem like a 15+. One more person said teens to adults which is quite broad and is around the brief's required age (15+). 

In response to question 5, I took one comment from question 6 and they said it was more adult and explicit which backs up the teens to adult answer from question 5. It does meet the brief in the sense that it is violent and fairly explicit because of the fighting. However, this could be perceived as action or horror. The majority of people selected the genre to be horror which is a success and meets the client brief. 

Overall, I believe I have met the brief as I have built tension throughout the entire script and I have used horror slasher aspects like fight scenes but also tense scenes where the audience may feel scared and nervous to see what comes next. I also don't think the script is extremely graphic and does appeal to the 15+ demographic whilst still being intense. I can see why people may perceive the script to be action related however, I believe I have added enough horror conventions, as I have used a location that is dark and eerie which is a convention of horror and also building tension through character actions like Richard and Convict searching for each other but they don't always know where each other are. Another convention is when Convict is knocked out but comes back when the family thought they were safe but they weren't. However, if I were to redraft I would add more conventions to make it seem more horror related. I could have made the script more concise which would cut down on time creating the script and filming the film. 

See P4 for Script.