treatment

1. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
FILM
IDEA 1
Darkest Secret
‘Opening the box of secrets’
Intending on it being a 10 minute short film but will
definitely be between (5-15mins).

2. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
KEY CHARACTERS
Kate
The protagonist in my short film is called Kate.
This is because it is a fairly common name which
shows she is a relatable and everyday character.
She is 45 years old and works as an office worker
so on the NRS scale she would be in section c1
(lower middle class).
She was happily married for 20 years to David. The audience
see the vulnerable side of her character and I think this will
allow them to build personal relationships with her as they
are likely to feel like they know her.
She is a loyal character and believes in family values. In the
film we learn that she is a very devoted wife and even once
she discovers his shocking secrets, she still chooses to
remain steadfast in her support of his character.
I am planning for her to be wearing very neutral colours such
as grey because it is typically associated with loss or
depression. I think it can be described as a dreary and gloomy
colour which mirrors the detached and emotive character as
well as the mood in the opening of the film.
David
David is the late husband of the protagonist, Kate.
The audience do not know the cause of his death
however they are left to assume that his death is
somehow linked to the shocking revelation that
could be made public if there is sufficient evidence
to reopen the case.
The audience are only able to relate to him through
photographs so they don’t have the opportunity to build a one
on one relationship with him, in the same way that they can do
with Kate.
The part he played in the crime is assumed but never
confirmed. However, the audiences opinion on him is going to
be formed through the eyes of Kate in the first instance, but
then in finding information from his past they are likely to
assume he is guilty.
The audience will be forced to make a judgement on him without
him being there to represent himself. They are likely to form
a negative relationship and opinion about him based on the
evidence that is found in the end of the film.

3. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
SYNOPSIS
Act One
A middle aged woman is driving her car home from work when a
particular song comes on the radio. She turns the volume up
and is clearly upset but at this stage it is unclear as to the
reasons why. To regain composure she pulls over and turns the
radio off, the rest of the drive home is silent and the mood
is sombre.
She pulls into the driveway and parks the car, she unlocks the
front door and enters her house. On the coat rack is a man’s
jacket. She caresses it and smells it as she wipes away her
tears.
Act Two
She makes herself a cup of tea and sits down at the table
looking at the post. We then see that around her are flowers
and condolence cards. We see a death certificate on the side
and from one of the cards we learn that it is her husband who
has passed away.
She opens a number of cards but the fourth envelope is
addressed to him, inside is a written letter with a picture of
three girls and a mind map with a possible link…
The phone immediately rings before she has a chance to
thoroughly read the letter. A friend has called to see how
Kate is doing and she says “I can’t imagine what you are going
through. It must be so difficult …” and is remembering all of
the positive and happy memories of him. At this point Kate
picks up the letter again and for the first time she actually
sees what it says. She tells her friend that she has just read
something strange and that she needs to phone her back. She
ends the call and stops and stares at the piece of paper
Holding the letter Kate goes looking for some clues. She goes
to his bureau in his office and starts looking through the
items. She comes across a box file which she starts to look
through. In it she finds photographs, a lock of hair and other
belongings together with a list of names.
She takes the names and goes to her laptop. She googles the
first name – nothing. The second name on the list also reveals
nothing. The third name brings up a missing persons article,
the fourth foul play suspected and so it goes on.

4. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
Act Three
She phones her back, trembling she explains to Jane that she
thinks her husband had killed someone. Jane automatically
doesn’t believe it and laughs and Kate reiterates that she
thinks her late husband has killed someone. She explains that
the evidence is all there and that she doesn’t know what to do
in a very panicky phone call.
Jane then says to Kate that she has a decision to make, and
must decide how to preserve the memory of her husband. She
either is to bury the truth and destroy the evidence or the
truth must be revealed.
It then cuts to a shot of her outside with the photo of the
young girl in her hand. She lights the corner of the image and
throws it on the fire to burn the evidence.
She was not prepared to let the truth come out.

5. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
TARGET AUDIENCE
I would expect the target audience to be middle aged since
this film deals with an emotional topic throughout. Aiming the
film at 25-40 year olds will make it more relatable because at
this age they are more likely to be able to understand and
empathise with the protagonist. However, I think it could be
relatable to any age/person who has dealt with grief and loss
since they may have had similar experiences.
Additionally, in this age range they are likely to have
children which I think heightens the awareness of life
progression and will allow them to connect emotionally with
the character in the film. This is important because the
emotional response desired would be provoked in those people
who have experienced the loss of someone close to them.
In addition, looking at some of the BBC’s drama’s, many are
targeted in my opinion at middle aged audiences however they
can often also appeal to younger audiences, for example The
Bodyguard is favoured by a younger audience as well as an
older audience. This is why I will target my film at those
ages 25 as well.
I would place the target audience in the C1 and C2 category of
the NRS Social Demographic Scale of lower middle class and
skilled working class. They would typically have junior
managerial, administrative, professional jobs or be skilled
manual workers. I believe they are likely to be in this social
demographic grade because they will be able to relate to the
lower middle class character.
Typically, in relation to Blumler and Katz’ Uses and
Gratifications Theory 1974, I would expect the target audience
to watch firstly for diversion from their own everyday life
since I think the drama genre allows an audience to escape
from their own problems and think about other people’s lives.
But also for personal relationships, whereby the audience may
connect with the protagonist and feel like they know her.
In reference to Young and Rubicam’s 4C’s scale, I would place
the target audience in the Reformer category. This is because
they typically value their own independent judgement meaning
that they will likely watch the film and make their own
judgement on the characters and the events as well as think
about the questions raised in the short film surrounding the
husband and his role.

6. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
Form and Style
I will be shooting this short film on a digital hand held
Canon camera. This gives a better quality than recording on a
normal phone and is easy to set up and use whilst still giving
a good quality image.
I will be editing using software called Adobe Premiere Pro
because this is a very professional piece of editing software
which is easy to use and allows me to add transitions, edit
shots etc.
The drama genre typically exhibits real life situations with
realistic characters and settings and so the style of the film
will be live-action which essentially involves filming real
people.
Market Place
I could see my short film on a website like Short of the Week
or on YouTube. This is because I think more people would view
it if it is distributed online.
I feel that there is potentially scope for a prequel of my
short film which could show the events leading up to his death
and the crimes he had previously committed. Perhaps even the
way he covered his tracks.

7. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
SCRIPT (scene)
INT. (DINING TABLE)
Kate is sat at the dining table in a fairly grand family home.
She is opening and reading condolence cards for her late
husband. She then opens an envelope which looks a bit
different from the rest. Before she has a chance to thoroughly
read the letter the phone rings, playing a chirpy ringtone.
She looks over at it taking a deep breath before picking it up
to answer.
FRIEND
Hi Kate I hope everything’s ok. I can’t imagine what you’re
going through, it must be so difficult.
KATE
(Taking a deep breath) I know…
FRIEND
You have so many amazing memories with him, just think of all
the good times you’ve had together.
At this point, Kate picks up the letter again and for the
first time she actually reads fully what it says.
Shocked expression.
KATE
I’m sorry, I’m sorry I have to go I’ve just read something
that doesn’t make sense…
FRIEND
What… are you okay Kate???
KATE
I’ll phone you back.
She immediately hangs up the phone holding the piece of paper
in front of her re-reading it intensely.

8. MEDIA STUDIES PITCH SARAH POORE
SCRIPT (scene)
INT.
Kate is sat in front of the mess she has created after
searching through the bureau for information and the truth.
She rings her friend back in a much panicked state.
JANE
Hello?
KATE
(Trembling) Jane… Jane! I think he… (Breaks down crying)
JANE
(Laughing) What? Kate you’re not making any sense… What’s
happened?
KATE
I just… Jane, I think… I think he was a serial killer
JANE
(Mocking tone) Oh my -
KATE
- No seriously the evidence is all here… it’s all here what
do I do?
There is a long pause.
JANE
You’ve got a decision, only you can choose how to preserve his
memory. How do you want him to be remembered?