[Alex Dower]

Alex Dower’s World & Characters

What I learned doing this assignment: Red Herring; That mystery, intrigue and suspense needs to be built into every element

1. The Swan, <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Logline: A British woman working as a high-class prostitute in Dubai is with a client when he is assassinated. Fearing for her life she goes on the run, pursued by ruthless forces determined to cover their crimes and make billions from a new oil project

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Who killed Ibrahim and why? Why do they want Natasha dead?

Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie? <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>The Oil investors plan to sabotage a renewables project and cause civil war, in order to justify their oil project

Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script? <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>They want her dead: they chase her from Dubai to London, then into the countryside

2. Tell us the Intriguing World you have selected for this story.

Corruption within the oil industry (including politicians, lobbyists, investors)

3. With your top 2 or 3 characters, tell us the role they play and then answer these three questions:

Hero – Natasha:

A. What is the mystery of this character?

Why is she doing this self-damaging job? Why is she alone? Why is she stuck / frightened?

B. What is the suspense of this character?

Will she breakdown? Get killed / abducted? Is she strong enough?

C. What is the intrigue of this character?

Is she involved in the corruption? Will she just capitulate?

Villain – Yakob:

A. What is the mystery of this character?

Who is he and why is everyone so scared of him? Is the boss?

B. What is the suspense of this character?

He wants anyone who stands in his way dead

C. What is the intrigue of this character?

Is he involved with Natasha in some way – her ex-husband? Her boss? Is he in love with her? Who is he? Who else has he corrupted?

Suzanne (Natasha’s friend):

A. What is the mystery of this character?

Does she know more? Is her husband involved?

B. What is the suspense of this character?

Is she suicidal and willing to take Natasha with her?

C. What is the intrigue of this character?

Why is she so willing to leave her life behind and go with Natasha?

[Alex Dower]

Alex Dower’s Big MIS

What I learned doing this assignment was all the MIS: how to distinguish these elements, why they matter …

Thriller: The Swan

Logline: A British woman working as a high-class prostitute in Dubai is with a client when he is assassinated. Fearing for her life she goes on the run, pursued by ruthless forces determined to cover their crimes and make billions from a new oil project

1. What are the conventions of your story?

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Natasha <div>

Dangerous Villain: Yakob (Head Oil Investor)

<div>

High stakes: Massive oil deal, whistleblowers, murder, threats, very damaging oil project

Life and death situations: They want to kill Natasha to silence her

This story is thrilling because? Natasha is thrown into a terrible situation and simply tries to flee. However, realising she can’t escape and that her pursuers want her dead, she needs to know who is responsible and why. The ‘company’ stand to lose billions if their corrupt deal is exposed.

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?

Big Mystery: What is the main mystery of your story that will keep us wondering throughout the story? </div><div>

Who killed Ibrahim and why? Why do they want Natasha dead?

Big Intrigue: What is the covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie?

The Oil investors plan to sabotage a renewables project and cause civil war, in order to justify their oil project

Big Suspense: What is the main danger to your Hero that will continue to escalate throughout the script?

They want her dead and chase her from Dubai to London, then into the countryside

</div></div>

[Alex Dower]

‘The Stranger’ Thriller Conventions

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Henry (not very resourceful, though always felt he could escape / get violent) / Mark

Dangerous Villain: The senior police investigator John / the ‘bad guy’ Henry

High stakes: For Henry: that he might get beaten up or killed or framed; later: that he might be proven to be the killer. For the cops: that Henry might disappear; that they might not find the evidence they need.

Life and death situations: Getting caught, Boy in garden

This movie is thrilling because? It has mystery, tension, unknown elements that are slowly revealed, trust & betrayal. Also: the music.

3. What is the BIG Mystery, Intrigue, and Suspense of this story?

Big Mystery: who is who? Did he do it? Will they get him?

Big Intrigue: The police’s covert plan

Big Suspense: Mark: being discovered, danger to his son. Henry: being beaten up, getting caught …

4. Anything else you’d like to say about what made this movie a great thriller?

Great twists on the conventions: We are led to think our hero is Henry – a criminal – but then Mark is the Hero; they also look alike. ‘Villains’ with a covert plan are the cops.

5. “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” Hero & villain are not necessarily good or bad; playing with the conventions; use the layers (trust, reveals etc).

[Alex Dower]

Alex Dower

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