2. SUMMARY
• What is the genre of the film?
Genre of the film in horror/ crime.
• What will the opening two minutes of the film entail?
The opening sequence of the film will show the last few minutes of Chase’s life before he was arrested by the police for
several murders. He will slowly walking round his kitchen tidying up, and the sequence will cut between Chase and the
police car. He will be putting the rubbish out, putting away blood stained cutlery, taking sips of blood out of dirty mugs
and putting different jars of various organs into the fridge.
• What is the film about overall?
The film will be centred around Richard Chase’s life, and how his difficult childhood (filled with mental illness) resulted in
him becoming a serial killer. It will portray his time in mental hospitals as well as the many murders he committed.
3. SETTING
• What will the set look like?
Richard Chase was arrested in 1977 so the setting will have to be fitting to that era. The sequence will be set in his kitchen. A dirty and neglected kitchen, with signs of
serious harm having occurred in it. The old style, retro fridge and cupboards will have mould growing inside of them, and be filled with jars of different fluids/organs. The
tap will be slowly dripping, with the sink filled with bloody water. There must be a window in sight as that will be how Chase knows the police have arrived, as blue lights
will flood the kitchen.
• Where will this be filmed?
Could easily find someone’s house. For example, a grandparent’s house. Air BnB also possible to rent out for a day. Boarding houses also.
• Details surrounding the colour palette?
The colour palette shall have to be fitting to the late 70s. Burnt oranges, creams, browns, mustard yellows. These will all be extremely faded and dirty however so will not
appear to be vibrant. Perhaps some patterned curtains/ wallpapers.
• Lighting?
Cold, minimal lighting to desaturate the kitchen’s colours and Chase’s face to make him appear washed out. When the police arrive, blue flashing lights will be shone
through the window, glaring into Chase’s eyes.
• Practicalities?
All seems to be fairly practical. Cross cutting between a police car may be difficult as obviously don’t have access to a police car. Use normal car and use close up shots
of speed dials, steering wheel, lights to avoid this problem?
4.
5. CHARACTERS
There will be someone playing Richard Chase himself. There will also possibly be two people playing police.
• Appearance:
Richard Chase will appear unkept and dirty. He had longish, unbrushed hair and a moustache. He will wear a fairly basic outfit, fitting to the era (see next slide). Overall
just appearing extremely an extremely neglected appearance wise. This will mean that the audience can understand, from the outset of the film, that Richard Chase was
a troubled man, with priorities elsewhere than his appearance to others.
• Actions/Behaviours in sequence:
He won’t be doing anything with a specific intention, but instead just tidying up his kitchen. Blood stained cutlery will be put away in the draws, taking sips of what looks
like blood out of dirty mugs (one of his obsessions), putting various things in the fridge. However, this fairly laid back (yet eery) scene will be cross cut with the police car,
on their way to arrest him for the several murders he’s committed.
• Dialogue:
There will be no dialogue in the kitchen scenes with Chase, but just an old radio playing contrapuntal music. However, whenever the scene is cut to a shot of the police
car, this music will fade and the police will be frantic and shouting.
• Practicalities (Who to cast? Where to get costumes/props? Specific hair and makeup?)
Could cast any students (Boys in A1, Teachers even?). Costume- easily in someone’s wardrobe/costume department. Props can easily be made (e.g. using red food
colouring on cutlery). Hair and makeup easily done by most people themselves.
6.
7. TECHNICAL IDEAS
• Camera (specific shot types, movements, camera angles):
- Handheld shot- authenticity, feeling of urgency, wanting to stay hidden.
- High angle shots- seems as if someone is watching from the cupboards above (like CCTV)
- Extreme close up shots of Chase’s eyes/fingers.
• Editing (pace, visual effects, transitions):
- Use of cross cutting between Chase and the police car creating a sense of urgency and hurry.
- Long takes creating a slower pace in the scenes with Chase, but shorter takes with the police car as they are
hurrying.
• Sound (music, foley):
- Use of contrapuntal music on an old radio.
• Titles/ Credits:
8. APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE
• Why will my opening sequence be appealing?
This opening sequence will be appealing to an audience as it will bring in
audiences from the 70s who perhaps remember this exact case happening. It will
also appeal to those who enjoy the horror genre/ are interested in serial killers.
• Why will the audience want to carry on watching the film?
The audience will want to carry on watching the film as they want to know how
Richard Chase reached this point in his life. They will want to uncover his childhood
and upbringing, as well as previous murders he’d committed.
