A short film pitch proposes a horror/mystery film about a girl who receives creepy messages on her phone from an unknown stalker as she makes her way home. Upon arriving home, she discovers a body and realizes the stalker has been following her movements. However, a twist ending reveals that the girl is actually the stalker who enjoys recreating her victims' experiences and manipulating their fears. The film is aimed at a 16-24 year old audience and uses realistic yet unsettling cinematography and music to surprise viewers with the reveal that the seemingly innocent girl is the true villain.

1. SHORT FILM PITCH
ELLEN DEMPSTER

2. FILM NARRATIVE
Opening is someone receiving a message on their phone (probably a girl) being ‘I’m watching you’,
where they look around confused and delete the message. A few normal shots pass where another
message is sent saying ‘I like a (specific aspect of their outfit)’ they then look a lot more worried and
start going home. As they make their way home messages get a lot more personal and creepy, gets
to their home (castle grounds) opens front door another message pops up saying ‘welcome home’.
All lights are off except one which worry's the main character. Can see light through the door cracks,
they open the door confused and a body falls out, (acting as a jump scare). They catch the body and
gently lay it down un-alarmed. They then get out the phone and turn it on which is a picture of the
victim with a partner or something etc, they then lay the phone on the body. Creepily says ‘I
enjoyed re-doing your journey feeling your fear… Thank you’ caringly touches them. They then leave
the house and see a person walk past, they then smirk and get another phone out and starts typing.
The shot then focuses on the stranger as they get their phone out as they received a message. We
then see the message and it’s the exact same as the first one. ‘The stalker’ then starts following
them humming ‘every breath you take’ as it’s a song about stalking.
Another potential ending is focusing on the stranger getting out their phone. As they start looking
around the stalker has moved so they are panicked. Ends with their mouth being covered by the
stalker (acting as a final jump scare), maybe with black gloves on.

3. CHARACTER
I decided using a female as the
main character as its more un-
suspecting as stalkers are
presumed to be men. The girl
has pale skin and long brown
hair. She may seem edgy and
artistic, wearing minimal
makeup as she doesn’t care
too much on impressing
people, or taking time with her
appearance. She may have
dark nails and potentially seem
innocent and in her own space.
Her appearance will highlight the idea of her keeping to her self and giving an edgy I don’t care vibe. She
will be dressed in darker clothing, this will highlight the idea of her being an outcast and doesn’t fit in to
teen life and the typical girls you find in the characters age group. She will be young which will add to the
idea of innocence as she's only a kid so the viewer will fall into the trap that she's the person being stalked
and causes an emotional response from the audience as they worry for her safety.
Throughout the short film she is
never seen with friends which
gives the impression she is
lonely and vulnerable, which is a
perfect target for a stalker. She
is seen to mind her own
business and invest into her
work which may be artistic like
photography or drawing etc.
She has a lot of passions which become compulsive and twisted as she likes to
trigger peoples emotions by traumatizing and killing them. She then re-vists what
she does to he victim pretending to be them to get a sense of emotion and
understand the way normal people react and feel. Now she's started this
obsession she can’t stop and enjoys the process of finding victims.

4. FILM WORLD
MISE EN SCENE
The mise en scene will have a sense of realism within the beginning of the scene. As the
story develops the shots have darker lighting to intensify the revelation of the girl not only
being a killer but actually being the stalker. There will be a lot of close up shots to create a
more personal relationship between the girl and the audience as she almost manipulates
them to believe she's in danger. The most important props will be two phones and gloves to
add to the idea that this girl has thought out all her killings and knows what she is doing.
KEY SETTINGS
Castle grounds- Home
Park, in a car, school/ college (undecided opening location)
Outside of home or forest
ATMOSPHERE
Opening- normal and realistic, intensified with worrying for girl as texts become a lot more
intense as she try’s to get ‘home’, building adrenaline for the overall scene and keeps
audience hooked to see what happens next.
Ending- Dark and twisted as its revealed she is actually the stalker and is a killer. Leaves
audience confused and shocked as you cant trust anyone and judge someone on their looks,
as anyone is capable of being evil minded.

5. FILM STYLE
LOOK
Realistic as though it’s a normal day, twists half way through the plot and becomes intense using cool lighting and
dark clothing etc, to compliment the plot. I will potentially include hand held shots to bring the audience closer to the
character as she runs, heightening the panic and worry.
LIGHTING
Warm tonnes, looks natural and realistic, almost innocent and happy.
Cooler/ darker tonnes, to intensify the plot and add to the panic to the viewer for the character (low key will signify
the idea that it is a horror).
MOOD
Dramatic twist in mood as we discover the innocent and panicked main character is actually evil and kills victims in a
traumatising way by stalking them so they are aware someone is following them heightening their panic and fear.
When the film finishes I want the audience to be shocked from the outcome.
GENRE
Horror/ mystery
EDITING
Using filters to give the low key lighting within the shots, as well as intensifying sounds for example breathing heavily,
fast shots to build the tension as the main character rushes home worried for their safety and transitions between
shots which compliment the plot.

6. SOUND
MUSIC
Most likely use one provided on Final Cut Pro, a darker type of sound as the film is not light-hearted therefore I
need to ensure it'll work with what I'm trying to get across to the viewer. Potentially look into being allowed to
use an already created song, very dependant on copyright terms. If I can get away with this I will incorporate
‘Every Breath You Take’- The Police.
SOUND EFFECTS
This will be intensified heavy breathing, footsteps running, doors opening and closing etc. To match the action
while building the tension within the scenes.
DIALOGUE
My film will have a little bit of dialogue but will be more focused on facial expressions and the sounds created
by the character to create the scenes. I want the plot to be more focused on than filling time with dialogue
which is not needed. This gives me a chance to trial different shot types and explore more of a variety of
editing techniques, as I wont be confided by a light-hearted/realistic plot.
AMBIENT SOUND
Will depend highly on location, I will potentially film in a forest so will have to layer sounds like birds and wind
etc to add to the realism of the location as these sounds get lost in filming, we have to re-add them within
editing so I will carefully have to study my shots to ensure I capture the sounds which would usually be their if
the viewer was actually in the location.

7. AUDIENCE
My film we be aimed towards 16-24 year olds, which is why I have decided by using people within
the same age group as it means they can relate to the characters more and be invested within the
film. This also works to my advantage as it means my story plot is so unexpected it could potentially
intrigue the audience more as the revelation is shocking and interesting, if all aspects work together
to create my finalised version of the film, I have also incorporated the idea of potential jump scares.
My audience will be mainstream as most teens enjoy horrors therefore this film will interest them
and works well for people who like action films as well. Increasing the views on the film.
Gender probably aimed more towards girls as they think they can relate to the character and fear
for her safety as a stalker is scaring her. Until the twist at the end which they would not originally
know before clicking on the film. Their lifestyle is probably student, potentially working part time.
Enjoys socialising etc but has seen girls like the character before who prefer to be alone and don’t
seem to have many friends, so within the opening could potentially feel bad for her as she's alone.