I have to finish my manifesto by tomorrow at 5, with the way it's been going that doesn't seem possible - at least it doesn't seem possible if I keep going with my original idea, but I can change it a bit to make it more manageable for now and always expand on it again later if I so choose to:
I've tried truncating the story to a smaller scale, especially in the department of actors and locations.
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We start the film with voice over of a doctor telling a man that he has to be careful that even though he's undergone surgery stresses on his heart can still lead to another attack, this is accompanied by the sound of a slow heart beat
The man arrives home as this plays over and he prepares the kettle. (same scene as planned before)
Shaving scene
Google illness, finds others
Taking Precautions
It attacks anyway
Accidentally injuring it
Luring and killing it
A slow heartbeat can be heard, it goes for the entirety of the film
DOCTOR (V.O)
It's important to understand that even though you've had the operation now, you're heart is still sensitive and needs to be looked after more carefully than before. Extra stress or shock could lead to problems in the future, be careful what you do with yourself, even a scare can send you over the edge
PATIENT (V.O)
Yes doc I understand
Gib shot down of a man getting out of his car and walking towards his house, he goes to unlock the door but feels something watching and hears a peculiar noise, loos behind at his lawn and sees nothing, he walks in briskly, locking the door behind him
He experiences the jump scare with the kettle and curtains
He calls the police, they say they found nothing, asks if he's been on any medication - he's on heart medication
VO of him talking to doctor, telling of his condition, the doctor says its a type of post traumatic stress or subconscious thing that he is experiencing
He prepares for bed and starts shaving, the noises start up again, he keeps going awaiting the jump, he finishes shaving finally only to experience it when he
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Same opening scene, and first jump scare - but then the two patients don't meet, instead one learns from the other about the entity and how to avoid it. Shaving scene follows, then he accidentally harms the creature and finds ways to lure it in and harm it. - Simple
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Instead I just decided to cut my original idea down to the first two scenes and use that as the entire content of my manifesto:
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Contents
1. Overview x
2. Script x
3. Character Bios x
4. Artistic Intent
5. Production Design x
6. References and Influences x
7. Ethical & Legal Considerations x
10. Shotlist
11. Storyboards and Lighting Schematics x
12. Resources Required
13. Shooting Schedule & Draft Call Sheets
14. Location Information
Title
"Jump Scare"
Logline
A film in which a man with a recently diagnosed heart condition is haunted by a supernatural entity that wants to literally scare him to death.
The five minute opening scene of this film, in which the patient describes his ailment to The Doctor who's just trying to get out of the room and who decides to take matters into his own hands and breaches the Doctor's privacy. As well as the first jump scare of the film.
Script:
''JUMP SCARE'' by Bootje Myburgh
Over black we hear the sound of a slow heartbeat, it continues:
THE MARINE (V.O.)
I get this feeling that there's something in the house with me, and not just at home, like it's following me everywhere I go and it's not just the presence, it's real, like I see it, like a hallucination--but a violent one Doc
FADE IN
INT. Hospital Halls
The Doctor is walking through the halls of a hospital, it's in slow motion, he has a clipboard in one hand and pockets a golden pen with the other, as he walks through the halls he nods to the nurses
THE MARINE (V.O.)
And I'm scared because it's causing a lot of stress on my heart, every time it's this visceral jump and I see this face come out of nowhere and there's this horrible screaming sound, it's like someone's playing a prank on me but it's, it's something evil--
The Doctor is sitting behind his desk, across from him is The Marine telling his story
THE MARINE
--it happens infrequently at any point in the day I just get this horrible chill down my spine, hear noises in the house and follow it and turn around, or look to the side or something and this evil-like, well just--facelunges out at me and every time that pressure on my heart returns like with my attack
THE DOCTOR
How many times has it happened now?
THE MARINE
Since my surgery last month, about four times, and it doesn't always go as far as a jump, but I've had that paranoia come over me way more times than that
THE DOCTOR
That's actually perfectly normal for someone who's just undergone a heart attack, especially someone who was as seemingly healthy as you, I've heard similar stories with many of my patients, it's not really a medicalcondition per se, it's shock - your brain is having trouble processing it and has created a subconscious fear of going through that experience again, there's not really much I can do to help, I'm afraid it's a psychological problem
THE MARINE
Yes doc, but it's not--I-I'm awake when these things happen, in fact I'm awake all the time now because I'm losing sleep because of it, maybe there's something wrong with my pills or maybe just, maybe you could just help relieve my sleep deprivation
THE DOCTOR
If you're not sleeping than that's the source of your troubles, after a while it becomes hard to tell the difference between being awake and not--
The Doctor's phone vibrates on the table and the screen lights up, he gives it a quick glance
THE MARINE
Hey Doc, it's just it didn't happen before the surgery, there must be something that you could....
THE DOCTOR
It really isn't my area of expertise, I could maybe get you medication for the insomnia, but the actual ailment that you seem to be suffering from comes from a psychological place, if you're not seeing anyone already I could recommend a psychiatrist to you?
THE MARINE
Your past patients, did they have the same experience as me, like did they see this thing too, or...
THE DOCTOR
Not exactl--similar experiences, as I said it's normal after such a traumatic exp--
There's a knock at the door and a nurse pops her head through:
THE NURSE
Doctor, I'm sorry but your needed urgently in the west wing
THE DOCTOR
Yes, I'll be right out
The Nurse nods and close the door again
THE DOCTOR
I'm sorry, I have to go, maybe we can reschedule this appointment?
THE MARINE
I'm afraid man, this thing is playing some serious games with my heart, it's getting worse everytime and it sounds like bullshit but you said it yourself, stress and fright can kill you, one of these days my heart's gonna stop
The Doctor's phone buzzes again, he picks it up this time:
THE DOCTOR
Tell you what, I'll make a note
He takes his gold pen and writes down on a pink post it note, he shows it to The Marine
THE DOCTOR
It says to get you something to help with the insomnia, and I'll put it right here in your file
He opens his file cabinet, which seems to be sorted by the type of ailment, and takes out The Marine's file and sticks the post-it note to it
THE DOCTOR
Next time you come I'll have that ready to go, but I have to leave now--
THE MARINE
This appointment took me a week to get and the attacks are getting worse, I'm gonna have another heart attack proper
THE DOCTOR
You're putting too much pressure on yourself, I've done what I can, what you need to do now is maybe just take a break from work, have some time off
THE MARINE
That doesn't help, it happens it home - I told you it happens everywhere I go, how am I supposed to go on with my life if this doesn't get fixed
THE DOCTOR
I don't know. And frankly it's not my problem, this is a personal matter that needs to be sorted with a psychological professional, it's not my area of expertise
His buzzes, there's the nurse's shadow at the door
THE MARINE
My life is in danger, how is that not your area of expertise?
The Nurse knocks
THE DOCTOR
I'm coming
THE MARINE
I'm not leaving until someone helps me
The Nurse enters again, she lingers in the doorway
THE NURSE
Doctor? Doctor you're needed urgently
The two men look at her
THE NURSE
It should be quick though...
THE DOCTOR
Okay, I'll be back in 20?
The Nurse confirms this with a thoughtful nod
THE DOCTOR
Yeah 20 minutes, if you don't mind waiting I'll come back with the pills you requested, how about that?
THE MARINE
Sure
The Doctor takes something out of his desk and starts for the door
THE DOCTOR
Okay then
He hurries to the door and the nurse excitedly exits into the hallway, on the way out The Doctor gives The Nurse a pinch in the butt and she giggles as they both walk away in a hurry
The Marine sits in silence, he's exhausted, he looks at the filing cabinet. His eyes light up a bit as an idea pops into his head.
He looks towards the door that was left ajar, gets up, pokes his head into the hallway and closes it gently.
He makes his way across the room to the filing cabinet, opens it where he saw his file, looks at his own file and the pink post-it, he looks at the other folders - they are all heart attack victims. They all seems to have undergone the same surgery as he did - he starts opening a could, only looking away to check over his shoulder as a shadow passes by the door. There are notes of similar experiences to what he had.
He starts taking photos of the other files with his phone.
The Marine closes the cabinet, picks up his jacket and exits the office, starting to walk down the hall. He walks past a service cabinet, inside of which there is rummaging, through the bottom of the door two sets of feet can be seen, pants down by the ankles, The Doctor's golden pen falls and rolls towards the door.
The Marine walks down the hallways, and looks around nervously, a shadow passes behind him, he keeps walking. In a reflection he sees something and as he walks past a hallway he sees another shadow, he ignores these and heads out of the building.
The Doctor walks back through the hallway, he's buttoning up his shirt, he walks past another nurse who looks at him and he looks back. The title shows as the music crescendos:
_JUMP SCARE
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX - NIGHT
The camera pans down as The Marine exits his vehicle and walks towards his apartment door, there's a sound in the driveway and he looks around - nothing but darkness. Hurriedly he unlocks the door and enters.
INT. MARINE's APARTMENT - NIGHT
The Marine enters his house, takes off his jacket and pins it to a coat hanger, he looks through his window, ensure it's locked and closes the blinds.
He walks over to the kitchen and puts on the kettle, as he walks back to the lounge there is another sound and he looks down the hall, there is a figure standing between the rooms, he closes the door and as he does so:
He walks over to his desk and flips open his laptop, with his phone open he one by one googles the names of the different patients.
This is played as a montage with the kettle slowly starting to boil as The Marine sees each name with the person's time of death, flashing in between are messages from their social media accounts where people congratulate them on their surgery or wish them luck, with condolences and goodbyes being given only a month or so later. He finally finds one who is still alive, but when he googles him an article comes up about the patient attacking The Doctor at the hospital, he friend requests and sends the peculiar patient a message saying "I have the same condition, we should meet up, I suspect The Doctor might be accountable", the kettle comes to a boil here and he goes to turn it off.
As he takes it off the stove and starts pouring he hears the sound again, this time it's followed by a crash.
He goes to the hallway door, picks up a bat and opens it slowly, he navigates his way down to the bedroom, inside he finds a picture frame on the floor smashed, he picks it up - it's of him and his old army pals.
He takes the picture with him as he walks back to the living room and finds the curtains wide open again, with wind moving them back and forth.
He places the picture on his desk and slowly approaches the window, which is indeed open.
He looks out at the driveway again and slowly reaches out closing the window.
He stares out for a bit, seeing only darkness, and as he's about to go close the blinds there is a sudden crash against the window, the face of the demon shows for a split second and he falls backwards, the sound of the heartbeat now fast. He holds his heart and grunts, the baseball bat lies on the ground, there is the sound of a messenger notification and on the computer screen there is a reply from the Ex-Patient.
He walks over to the kitchen and puts on the kettle, as he walks back to the lounge there is another sound and he looks down the hall, there is a figure standing between the rooms, he closes the door and as he does so:
THE MARINE
Fuck off
He walks over to his desk and flips open his laptop, with his phone open he one by one googles the names of the different patients.
This is played as a montage with the kettle slowly starting to boil as The Marine sees each name with the person's time of death, flashing in between are messages from their social media accounts where people congratulate them on their surgery or wish them luck, with condolences and goodbyes being given only a month or so later. He finally finds one who is still alive, but when he googles him an article comes up about the patient attacking The Doctor at the hospital, he friend requests and sends the peculiar patient a message saying "I have the same condition, we should meet up, I suspect The Doctor might be accountable", the kettle comes to a boil here and he goes to turn it off.
As he takes it off the stove and starts pouring he hears the sound again, this time it's followed by a crash.
He goes to the hallway door, picks up a bat and opens it slowly, he navigates his way down to the bedroom, inside he finds a picture frame on the floor smashed, he picks it up - it's of him and his old army pals.
He takes the picture with him as he walks back to the living room and finds the curtains wide open again, with wind moving them back and forth.
He places the picture on his desk and slowly approaches the window, which is indeed open.
He looks out at the driveway again and slowly reaches out closing the window.
He stares out for a bit, seeing only darkness, and as he's about to go close the blinds there is a sudden crash against the window, the face of the demon shows for a split second and he falls backwards, the sound of the heartbeat now fast. He holds his heart and grunts, the baseball bat lies on the ground, there is the sound of a messenger notification and on the computer screen there is a reply from the Ex-Patient.
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A supernatural entity that is too weak to collect souls properly like others of it's kind, it instead feeds of those naturally weaker - people with heart problems and pays it's dues by scaring them to death.
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Character Bios
The Marine
The protagonist of our story, this military man is forced into early retirement when he suffers a heart attack, after surgery he starts experiencing supernatural encounters with a being that is putting a lot of pressure on his heart. Tired of his doctor's seeming incompetence and due to his growing suspicions the man decides to investigates only to find himself the latest in a long string of heart surgery patients haunted by the mysterious entity.
He is a man determined to find solutions, but also someone who struggles with the sudden shift in his world. He's used to being capable and reliable, now he has to adjust to a new world where running is dangerous for him and where he feels himself becoming more and more insignificant. He's a strong man forced into a weak body and he's having trouble with the transition.
The movie sees him starting to accept his newfound situation, the arc set-up is one in which he has to come to accept his new state of being and learn to live a happy life and not drive away those closest to him. This is of course cut short along with a vital artery when he dies.
The Doctor
A man who isn't particularly attractive but who every woman in the world seems to have a crush on. The doctor made a deal with a demon to provide it weak-hearted targets in return for his supernatural sex appeal.
He struggles somewhat with the immoral choice that he's made, it's also sent him down a dark path in which he has become a sex addict. By the point that he is confronted buy two of his patients he has grown tired of his situation and feels the fleeting relationships that he has are empty and meaningless.
He agrees to help, even though knowing that he will lose his sex appeal, his arc is one of coming to accept who he really is and not rely on the superficiality that his increased sex appeal offered. At the end of the film he encounters a cleaner who walks in on them slaying the demon and his charms are no longer effective, he has selflessly sacrificed his own power to help others, at the end when his powers don't work The Nurse is still into him, saying it's because of his actions and personality, not due to his artificial charm.
The Ex-Patient
A diagnosed schizophrenic who has earned himself a restraining order because of an attempt to confront the doctor, who slept with the patients' wife at the time of his surgery.
He has become a recluse in his fight for survival, he has devised different ways of avoiding the entity and not getting killed by its frights. Strategies like always listening to music, never shaving, not having reflections or sharp objects in his house and turning corners slowly.
This character is a shell of his former self and has become a mess in his efforts to stay alive, he is at the end of his rope but believes that his strategies are working. He has a long standing relationship with the entity, which he simply addresses as Scary Face.
The Nurse
The Nurse has a relationship with the doctor character but he cheats on her with someone else, leading her to become somewhat depressed and ends up helping The Doctor's displeased patients. She is young and finds herself in a situation that she doesn't fully understand, her relationship with the doctor is strained but even after what he did she finds it hard to dismiss his unnaturally effective charm.
It adds comedy to the scenes with all four characters, especially the interrogation scene, but it also leads The Nurse to become a stronger individual, she is the one in the third act who point out the monster can be killed and ultimately the one most intent on doing so.
The Demon
A supernatural entity that is too weak to collect souls properly like others of it's kind, it instead feeds of those naturally weaker - people with heart problems and pays it's dues by scaring them to death.
Artistic Intent
Slow movements : The camera movements will be slow and consistent zooms will be used, this helps establish the atmosphere as well as slowly draw the audience more into the mystery. The idea is that the horror is descending on us and that it's like looking closer and closer down a hole.
Locked camera : The camera will not move much as it is, the film is intended to have a locked off approach, wherein the audience isn't necessarily along for the ride, more observing, at points even taking the point of view of the creature.
Off center framing : Asymmetry will be applied to give the film an off-kilter look and assert the idea that something is wrong.
A clinical type of approach : In general the film will have a very clinical approach to action, thematically appropriate to the subject matter and location of a hospital.
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Production Design Concepts
The entity itself will play off horror movie tropes - specifically the type of designs usually seen in jump scare filled movies where the monster's basically just a scary face. This is alluded to by the Ex-Patient character who calls the entity Scary Face.
The creature designs from Sinister (2012) and Insidious (2010), who are essentially just a scary face in a suit.
I am also taking inspiration from creepy-pastas and internet jump scare videos, things like Jeff the Killer.
This machine above is an instrument used for sounds commonly heard in horror movies (called the Apprehension Engine), I thought it would be a unique design choice to give my monster one of these. I haven't seen it in a horror movie before, breaks the fourth wall to a degree, is visually interesting yet narratively coherent and adds more texture to this world.
I am also thinking of incorporating the weaker aspects of the demon's persona into its design, the idea is its lesser than its peers and this could be presented in a variety of ways, like certain unpronounced features (weak jaw, small shoulders) or a physical disability (spinal dysraphism - which is weak but also somewhat unsettling).
So key features of my design:
- Suit
- Scary Face, usually painted (like Sinister, Insidious or old viral jump scare videos)
- The Apprehension Engine
- Weak physicality/deformity
The other characters will have costuming specific to their characters, The Marine for example will be neat in his dress and possibly wear some kind of garment related to army uniforms, the Doctor and Nurse's costumes are pretty straight forward.
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References and Influences
Yorgos Lanthimos (The Losbter (2015), The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)) : His locked off style and clinical look at the characters and situations are something I wish to incorporate into my film, technically I will take a lot of inspiration from Lanthimos in how how he executes a scene. His incorporation of music is also a key technique I will be applying.
Insidious (2010)/ Sinister (2011) : The jump scares in this film are directly inspired, and this film somewhat parodies, what is seen in these two films (and others like it - e.g. The Conjuring). The slow burn, extreme quiet with creepy escalation until a final jump and loud noise is taken from these films and will be applied in my film in the jump scare scenes.
The Incredibles (2005) : I am taking specific inspiration from the scene in which Mr. Incredible discovers the villain's evil plan, in the scene the pace of the editing increases and the music crescendos as he discovers superhero after superhero dead. This specific scene is one I want to take inspiration from for my scene where The Marine does his research on the Doctor's past patients and finds them having died one by one.
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Intentions for Sound Design
One of the big sound design elements I intend to incorporate is the constant presence of a heart beat which is a very important thematic connection to the plot. This relates directly to the main character's own heart, so it grows faster or slows down depending on his emotional state.
Musically I want to go with something like Alfred Schnittke's orchestral works, something I stole from Yorgos Lathimos, one of my primary stylistic inspirations. He uses the piece String Quartet No. 2: I. Moderato in The Lobster (2015), this is the same piece I am currently using for the opening, that which transitions into String Quartet No. 2: II. Agitato as the title appears on screen. I love the horror strings that are used in these pieces and want the score permeated with that stabbing sounds usually associated with Psycho (1960).
For most of the jump scare sequences music will be absent and quieter noises of foliage and ambient noise will be amplified to increase the suspense in these scenes, the creature applies the use of the apprehension engine though - a musical instrument concocted specifically for use in horror movies, so these haunting noises will also be present during quieter scenes, although used sparsely.
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Ethical and Legal Considerations
The biggest thing I have to take into consideration is of an ethical nature: people can actually be scared to death so I need to not only be careful with a possibly sensitive subject, but also give fair warning of the jump scares at the start of the film.
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Resources Required:
- Doctor's coat
- Stethoscope
- Scrubs
- Facemask
- Clipboard
- Phone
- Filing Cabinet
- Desk
- Chairs
- Marine's uniform (army jacket?)
- Kettle
- Blinds
- Car
- Gold Pen
- Laptop
- Bat
- Picture Frame
- Folders
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