The film Paranoia follows a teenage protagonist who becomes increasingly paranoid as he walks alone at night. Snippets of a threatening conversation and rustling in the bushes increase his suspicion that someone is following him. When he tries to use a phone booth, a raspy voice answers instead of a dial tone, heightening his panic. Imagery of the devil appears in his shadow. The film aims to capture the feeling of paranoia a teen could experience.

1. CONCEPT
THE TITLE OF MY FILM (what is it called and why – justify your choice?):
(Working title) Paranoia. A simple title that explains the protagonist’s situation
MY TARGET AUDIENCE (check brief for details):
Teens (14-18). A realistic situation that could actually happen to teens.
THE 6-15 INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS I WILL INCLUDE IN MY FILM ARE (with detailed
explanations):
● The film contains an unsettling score which sets the mood for the short.
● It is filmed at night which is common in thriller. This creates suspense because the
audience doesn’t know what is hiding in the dark.
● The film deals with the protagonist having issues over what is real and in his mind.
● It contains a relatable set-up that someone in the target audience would experience.
● The film contains a stalker/chase sequence that is common in thriller films
● Low key lighting and chiaroscuro lighting is used which sets the mood and tone of the
thriller.
● He wears regular clothes so he is relatable to the target demographic.
A PLOT SYNOPSIS (your storyline – 200-300 words):
Our protagonist starts off walking alone, this is a wide shot and we see him walk into the
distance we then cut to him walking past shops, by one of these shops is a table with two
people having a normal conversation, our protagonist over hears only snippets which come out
threatening, the camera is on the people when we first hear the normal conversation but
switches to him walking by when we hear the snippets. He starts to act paranoid walking alone
(isolated), we have close ups and at this point. He is looking around for something but we don’t
know what, he turns down a street which is empty out of our wide shot that is tracking him, he
hears rustling in the bushes, he picks up walking speed along the road as suspense is building.
He checks his phone and there is no signal. He looks around and sees a phone booth, he walks
up and puts it to his ears and starts to fumble for change at this point a raspy voice comes from
the phone. When the boy dials the phone he presses the numbers 1-1-1 but on the screen 6-6-6
appears. The film closes with a shot of the phone booth with the boy running away in the
distance. Imagery of the devil is prominent in this short film, while the boy is walking we see his
shadow and devil horns in his shadow. The phone dialing is also imagery for the devil. The film
is called purgatory, purgatory is the state after physical death where souls wait to go to either
heaven or hell. This reflects the film, it implies that the boy is a sinner and is a dead man
walking.
CHARACTERS AND NAMES (with detailed explanations about their purpose in the film and
their background/relationship with other characters):

2. There is one character in the film and he is a normal teenager who is walking through the street
at night. He is never named in the film.
PRACTICALITIES OF FILMING/CONTENT (examples - how realistic is your idea, will you have
any health and safety issues, how simple will it be to find actors/actresses and locations with
detailed comments):
Filming is practical and can easily be done. A friend of ours will play the protagonist and it will
be filmed in an urban busy street and a suburban quiet street. There is a chance of rain while
filming and the short needs to be shot during the day. The sequence will be shot during golden
hour before sunset and this short timeframe will not be enough for one day so multiple days will
be used for shooting. Location scouting will occur during the day and shooting will begin later
that day.