R+P Post 6: Our opening sequence's characters and how we plan to represent social groups

There are three characters in our film opening but the audience only actually sees two of them.

Shania Morcott - Main Character

• Successful lawyer
• Organised
• Hardworking
• Independent
• 'Career woman'
• Middle class
• Mid-late twenties

As a female and the person being stalked, Shania does conform to a certain extent to the female victim archetype but we have expanded on this by having her being proactive throughout the film and trying to save herself - a conventional characteristic of a hero.

Shania was inspired by the character of Professor Annalise Keating from How to Get Away with Murder.

Keating is an undeniably flawed character who whilst at first seems to have it all - a successful career, a family and the secure knowledge that she knows what she wants and exactly how to get it - in truth she is putting on a mask to hide childhood trauma and an ambiguous moral code.

We wanted Shania to have these same inspirational qualities of confidence, intelligence and power, but from looking at Keating we also realised that Shania had to be human - she had to make mistakes, have insecurities and provoke strong emotions in the audience, which as a 'perfect' person she wouldn't be able to do.

That's why whilst Shania is an extremely strong character, to guarantee that she is likeable and easy to relate to, we have ensured that she is still somewhat 'flawed' and we have done this by making her seem isolated and lonely despite her success, showing her to be human. In addition, the breakdown the audience see her undergo as a result of the stalking and her increasingly irrational and fearful behaviour, will help with her character realism.

How we will create these representations

• Set 
• the inside of the house will be very organised and uncluttered with an almost minimalistic feel.
• the house itself is large for a single person to be living there by themself - Shania is obviously making a lot of money
• the street is large with similar houses - Shania can afford to live in a nice area

• Costume
• Shania will be well-dressed in smart business attire 

• Camera
• The use of low angle shots on Shania will help to connote her power and status

Runner

• Male
• Minor character - only purpose is to act as a red herring
• Twenties

The runner will be a white male, conforming to the stereotype of men being physically fit and able, whilst also creating a binary opposite with Shania.

Jeff Richardson - Antagonist

• Obsessive
• Possessive
• Convicted rapist
• Intelligent
• Patience
• Aggressive

The audience don't see Jeff in the opening but there are shots from his point of view throughout, which are accompanied by heavy, angry breathing.These characteristics coupled with the fact that Jeff is a male, means that he fits the archetype of a thriller villain.



The two main social groups that we are representing are women and ethnic minorities as we believe that they represent ongoing societal issues that need more acknowledgement in the media. We decided on a female main character that is strong and capable as well as black to challenge the stereotype of women being dependent and weak in addition to breaking the conventional portrayal of black women as simply the 'sassy one' or angry woman there for comedic value.