First Story Board

 

Above is my first attempt at creating a storyboard for my opening sequence. I used a template from this site - https://boords.com/storyboard-template#pdf-storyboard-templates and used Adobe Photoshop software to draw the scenes. My lack of drawing skills was a bit of an obstacle however the storyboard does accurately represent the plan for each shot.

Camera Script Attempt

 Below is a rough camera script for my latest script.

Each of these shots were decided upon for specific reasons, for example, it was an intentional choice to shoot the murder victim's scene from a high angle in order to show the victim's powerlessness in that situation. The detective was to be shot in an over-the-shoulder shot in order to create a connection between her character and the audience. There would be close-ups of the objects on her dresser table to draw attention to the photograph of her and her father. 

Second Script Attempt

After researching the genres of Crime Mystery,  Drama and Police Procedurals I felt better equipped to create my own film opening, taking into account the codes and conventions typically associate with those types of media.

Below is my second overall attempt at creating a script.

In this script, I felt that the knowledge and skills of filmmaking that I have learnt were far better showcased. There is a daytime scene and a nighttime scene showing a progression of time. The addition of the news program playing as background audio whilst the character is getting dressed would also add an element of time indication. The character's back story was also touched upon, giving it more depth. 

Additionally, this sequence still creates a level of suspense, starting off with a cryptic murder scene, which the audience will want to know more about by continuing to watch the film. They would also be intrigued by the female detective and her past, due to the slight lingering over the photo of her and her father.

This script also allows for more techniques to be utilised when it comes to mise-en-scene elements such as the lighting in the dark nighttime scenes and the usage of props to establish the character's profession such as the police badge and gun.

Creating a Character Profile

 Based off my previous research into female detectives portrayed in films and tv shows, I created my own character profile for my film's main character.

(made using - storyplanner)

Character Research

 For my main character, I wanted to use a female police detective who would solve a murder mystery. This is because I wanted to portray a female protagonist in a strong and unconventional position, particularly for a film set in South Asia, where female police officers are quite rare. 

I did a little research into some famous female detective characters from films and TV shows so I could create a profile of my character.

1. Detective Kate Beckett from Castle

Detective Kate Beckett is a main character in the ABC TV show 'Castle'. She is a homicide detective who solves murders with the assistance of a writer named Richard Castle. Kate's character is very methodical and analytical. She has a strong moral compass and often uses her intuition as well as her reasoning to solve crimes. She is portrayed as a strong female character in a male-dominated field. She dresses professionally and stylishly and in one episode we even see a discussion she has with another female detective about how she wears high heels to convey her authority in her workplace. This not only indicates that she is conscious of the fact that she has to work against gender stereotypes but also the fact that she is very intentional in what she does. From the first season onwards she climbs the ranks in her profession steadily, showing that she has ambition and focus. 

Another important thing to note about Kate is her backstory. This becomes a focal point in the show, and it is the main reason why Beckett is a cop in the first place. Her mother was murdered and the killer was never found, which explains why an intelligent and relatively wealthy woman would choose to go into an initially low-paying and tedious job. This is a convention often scene in Crime Dramas and Police Procedurals, where detectives are often motivated to solve crimes due to traumatic incidents in their past.

2. Teresa Lisbon from The Mentalist

    Detective Teresa Lisbon is another strong female detective lead. She solves crimes for the CBI, with the assistance of Patrick Jane, a former psychic. Teresa is often described as a 'straight arrow'. In one episode, Patrick describes her high school self to her as "Driven to succeed to the point of developing an ulcer, no tolerance for superiors less sharp than yourself, shutting out girls that wanted to hang out with you, blowing off boys that want to get close. All the while, at every turn, wondering 'what is it I really want?'" 

As such, she is a very strong-minded woman. Similar to Kate, she did not have the best childhood. Her mother died in an accident when she was young and her father then turned to drink and would sometimes even become violent. Teresa had to step up and raise her younger brothers by herself and this is likely to be what moulded her into the determined and independent person she is. Her father died by committing suicide, and it is possible that Teresa chooses to become a detective because she wants to help others in a way that she wasn't able to help her own family.

3. Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 99

Detective Amy Santiago is often perceived as somewhat of a goody two shoes as she is a stickler for the rules and often does her best to gain the favour of her superiors. She is somewhat socially awkward and can sometimes find it hard to interact with her co-workers, however, there is definite character development in this regard as the show progresses. 

Amy is very competitive and there are many examples of this such as in the Halloween Heist episodes where she doesn't hesitate to betray her friends and colleagues in order to win the game. Her competitiveness is likely because she grew up in a household with 7 older brothers who all became police officers as well. She became her family's first female police officer and is motivated to prove her success in relation to that of her siblings by working very hard and climbing the ranks of her profession as quickly as possible. She lives alone in a New York apartment that is very clean and organized. She values her work above all else and is willing to sacrifice other aspects of her own personal life for her job which may be one reason why she does not have many romantic interests in the show.

4. Olivia Benson from Law and Order

Captain Olivia Benson is the commanding officer of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit in the show Law and Order. Similar to the previous detectives, Olivia's upbringing provides a definite linkage to the reason why she works for the Special Victims Unit. She grew up in a single-parent household in Manhattan with an alcoholic mother who emotionally abused her. Olivia's birth was a result of her mother's rape and since the Special Victims Unit also focuses on rape victims it is possible that this is why Olivia works in this unit.

She is portrayed as courageous and a great leader who will always support her colleagues and friends. She is level-headed under pressure and completely dedicated to her job. Her relationship status is usually single as she focuses a lot on her job.

Researching Codes and Conventions of a Murder Mystery

 Having analyzed the opening of a Crime film, I did a little more research into the codes and conventions that typically appear in Murder Mystery films: