Ideas! Ideas! Ideas!

- March 07, 2018

My partner and I had a long, intense discussion on what to do for the opening scene. The first idea I had was to have have the main plot be a guy impersonating someone else. It would begin with this teenager throwing a party at his home and shots of him talking with everyone there. The camera would follow him through the house as everyone is seen hugging and telling this man they love him. Towards the end, the guy is seen going downstairs to his basement to get more beverages for his friends. As he grabs the beer and the fridge door closes, the same guy is seen tied up on the floor next to him, bleeding and trying to scream. This would make it seem as if a man kidnapped and tortured someone and changed his look to steal his identity and infiltrate his life. It would freak out audiences as they see that a friend everyone loves and trusts is not actually him, meaning everyone around him is in danger. It also plays on the fear that it could happen to anyone.

However, I kept thinking and wanted a scene that had more to it than only a good ending and the same concept throughout most of the beginning and middle. So I began to think about some interesting shots and angles that could be utilized, and another idea ‘popped’ into my head. The opening could be six main characters seen walking down a busy street. Every time they pass by each other, some object will be exchanged in between them, whether it be a pocket knife or some toxic substance in a small bottle. The camera would switch from tracking shot to tracking shot and could include some point of view shots as well. There could be interesting cuts and transitions as the objects are exchanged secretly in front of crowds walking around them, creating a more visually appealing scene. Towards the end, a man would receive a key and enter a sort of storage locker where a person is seen tied up in a chair in a dark room. Suddenly, the six characters would be seen surrounding the screaming, tortured actor in the chair with masks on. As the lights go dark and the scene ends, audiences are left with a ‘creepy’ feeling from this cult that has formed. However, it is not entirely realistic/believable to all and cults are too apparent in films and tv shows such as American Horror Story (2011-present), Big Love (2006-2011), and The Master (2012).
My partner also gave some suggestions leading to large discussions. I quickly vetoed his options due to the fact that they were all too science fiction-like and some plots truly made little to no sense. He agreed with my ideas, but I plan on brainstorming further to come up with something better.