1. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER
“Ghost Killer” – is set in a convergence of Japan/China – an unnamed Asia that never was. It is a time of ghosts and
demons. It is long past the legendary warrior eras of the Samurai/Ronin. Now the world lives in ignorance and denial of
the war of men and ghosts – a war that continues to rage in the world.
Ghost Killer is the story of the young girl: Hanako. It is her coming of age story and her journey to becoming a warrior
wielding the Ghost Killer. The short film described below sets up her relationship with her Apoh (Grandmother) who
teaches her the way of the ones who carry the living weapons – Guei Dai Katana –known as Ghost Killers - handed down
for generations from Grandmother to Granddaughter.
Much like Firefly was set in a alternate reality convergence of the wild west, science fiction with Mandarin Chinese
sprinkled in for good measure – Or Buffy based in European monster stories of vampire and ghouls – Ghost Killer is set in
an alternate reality of our current day, on the outskirts of a modern Asian city where ancient evils in Chinese and
Japanese “Guei Gu” (Ghost Stories) come to life. The wielders of the Ghost Killers are the mortal barriers between the
unsuspecting citizens of their lands and the denizens of the afterlife.
Extreme Marital Arts – sword Fighting
Contemporized Asian monsters and ghosts
Young Girl hero
Set in an Alternate Reality of Today
Contemporary version of Kung Fu movies – continuation of American Anime
2. GHOST KILLER Concept
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EXT Temple - Mid-day. Fade into hi shot of a busy
village – banners announce ‘Ghost Festival’ crane
down to Interior of Buddhist temple A little girl –
Hanako - kneels praying at the joss altar in the
deserted courtyard. (Gong)
Camera: Crane down to INT
Cut to: INT Temple Courtyard CU of
Hanako as she looks up surprised at
first and then frightened-
Dialogue:
Hanako: What? Oh no!
GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
1 1 EXT: City and Temple 2 1 INT: Temple Courtyard INT: Temple Courtyard22
…she gets up and starts running out of
the temple.
1
00:17
A
B
Shot Ends: 00:10
3. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
Cut to: Hanako looking down the main
street - it is deserted - the sky is
changing – darkening as if a storm is
coming in - birds are flying away from
camera POV… a breeze begins to pick
up. Hanako looks towards camera
reacts and begins to run
Camera:
2
Cut to: OH helicopter shot - Hanako
runs down the middle of the narrow
main street of the now deserted city.
The window shutters and doors are
slammed shut one by one – like a
wave ahead of her. Shadows begin to
cover the street behind her.
Camera: moves with Hanako center
frame
EXT: Street Level1 EXT: Village Street EXT: OH Street4 13 1
00:27 00:37 00:47
5
Cut to: Street level – camera follows
Hanako as she runs past tables full of
food and offerings to the dead. Hell
bank notes burn in braziers…the
smoke drifting into the air. The
shadows are consuming the food and
the smoke like some monstrous
tornado. The storm of ghosts is
catching up to her
.
Camera: dolly shot moves with
Hanako center frame
4. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
Cut to: low POV - We see Hanako
running towards camera on the street
she is looking behind not watching
where she is going – She looks back
over her shoulder as she runs…The
storm of ghosts have almost overtaken
her just as a figure jumps between her
and the advancing darkness - pushing
her to the ground.
Camera: slow dutch
3
Cut to: Hanako falling into FG –slow
mo - the figure attacks the ghosts in
the BG. Hanako settles in the
foreground - the figure in a radiant
blue tunic wielding a bright sword
battles a ghost as she loses
consciousness – fade to white.
FADE to White1 EXT: Street 7 16 2
00:55 01:03
7EXT: Street
5. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
4
Cut to: CU Apoh’s face leaning in
(where did she come from?)
Camera: Push in - dutch
1 INT: Hanako’s Room 9 18 1
01:15 01:17
10
Cut to: CU Hanako’s looking up
surprised -
Camera: Pull out
INT: Hanako’s Room INT: Hanako’s Room
A
B
Fade from white: Int Hanako’s bedroom –
camera resolves on a small wall mounted
altar. A stick of joss burns – the smoke in the
half-light streaming through the window – little
aerial seed pods dance in the light. camera
cranes down to Hanako waking up with a start
and sitting up - She cries out as loud as she
can closing her eyes.
Camera: Camera cranes down
Hanako: “apoh!” Shot Ends: 01:13
6. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
Cut to: med wide shot - Hanako throws
herself into her Apoh’s arms. Apoh
winces a bit in pain and holds Hanako
close stroking her hair…then pulls back
to look at her – holding her little face in
her hands.
Apoh: “I’m right here little flower no need to
shout. Was it that dream again?”
Hanako: “I...I thought I was dead! The
ghosts ate me…uh then someone came to
save me…uh oh it was terrible!”
Apoh: “Ai-yah silly little flower it was a
dream…now, now Hanako.
5
Cut to: behind Apoh – we see
Hanako’s face begin to smile as Apoh
comforts her. Hanako beams, nods
and embraces Apoh.
Apoh: “Someday soon…(she hesitates and
begins again) …you will see these dreams
for what they really are. I am going to the
market now. I will even bring you some
dried plums.”
1 12 111 1
01:27 01:37 01:45
13
Cut to: ext courtyard - Med hi oh shot:
Apoh steps out into the courtyard of
her tiny home. She makes her way to
the Tea house removes her shoes and
gently slides the paper covered door
open.
INT: Hanako’s Room INT: Hanako’s Room EXT: Apoh’s courtyard
7. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
Cut to: medium shot of Apoh as she
removes her quilted coat to reveal a
radiant blue tunic and pulls a beautiful
sword in its scabbard from the folds of
her robe. Camera follows Apoh’s
movement as she places the sword in
its place on the altar
6
Cut to: over Apoh’s shoulder -she
leans back out of frame as she pulls
her hands back to reveal a small
painting of Hanako just below the
sword stand. The scabbard is
engraved with Kanji.
Camera: slow push in - dutch
Apoh: “Someday soon little flower -
someday soon.”
1 INT: Tea House INT: Tea House16 115
02:10 02:15
INT: Tea House1
01:52
14
Cut to: INT tea house – The little room
is immaculate and full of warm
shadows. Apoh hobbles to the small
altar and kneels, claps her hands twice
and bows.
8. GHOST KILLER Concept
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GHOST KILLER Duane Loose
Title Card fades in:
Fade in English title under kanji:
Ghost Killer
7
17 Title Card: “Ghost Killer”
02:20
16
Camera pushes into the kanji - fade
BG to white until the kanji are the only
thing we see on screen.
鬼杀
18 - 19
Hard cut to: fast credit screens (no
crawl), on white BG in sync with heavy
Taiko drumming (kanji + English)
End
02:25 02:37
Credits2 INT: Tea House
Ghost Killer
