Film Opening Ideas #4

In this post I will talk more in depth about problems and issues the book causes Hazel.

I have decided that I will not reveal a problem or an issue that has been caused by the book, in the opening two minutes as I don't want to give the audience too much insight into everything that is going to happen - its good to keep an element of mystery so that the audience stay enticed. However, I have decided on Issues Hazel has before and after the book that could be portrayed in my opening through the flash-forwards, and that would be present if my opening was made into a full length feature film.

My main idea that I am sticking to is that Hazel suffers with anxiety and that it is mild towards the beginning, however gets very serious towards the end. As she reads more and more into the book and realises what she must do to make things right she becomes extremely anxious and this would be one of the focuses of the film. My aim is to portray Hazels character during the flash-forwards as damaged and numb due to all the misery and anxiety the book has brought to her, I plan for the actress to use body language in a way so that the audience notice she is not settled and actually, is quite uncomfortable. When my opening goes back to the beginning, after the flash forward, Hazel has a very mild form of anxiety and it is very controllable however this may not be entirely apparent to the audience because she may just appear normal to them - this is part of her anxiety story, no one is aware of it because of her skill in concealing it. The more she conceals and her fears get stronger, the worst it all becomes, and I have decided that one of the social groups I am therefore representing are those suffering with  this disorder.

Aside from anxiety, I have decided on some problems that the book would have caused for hazel between the beginning and the end (when hazel throws the book away which again, is shown in the opening). Hazels Parents will break up due to constant arguments as they notice they are slowly loosing their daughter as her behaviour because of the book deteriorates, she becomes angry because of it. Hazel also chooses to continue reading the book which deceives her and tells her that her boyfriend was cheating on her, which leads to her constant false accusations, leading to her boyfriend having enough and actually cheating on her - everything she reads in the book turns into a reality. Although romance isn't at the forefront of this story I have decided to include a romantic relationship involving hazel just so that there can be more depth and 'normality' to it, I wouldn't plan for the film to show much of the pair being 'in love' as it is more about the book and showing how the book destroys it - I wanted to include something else in Hazels life that was realistic but that the book could also destroy, to show just how evil it was.