Audience Research: Short Film Questionnaire

'In Control' Screeplay

‘In Control’ Screenplay

SCENE ONE - INT: BEDROOM

[JESS is asleep, she stirs - she sits up and gets her phone out. She scrolls through photos of ‘thinspiration’ on social media - photos of underweight girls. As JESS looks at the photo’s, she looks like she's in some sort of trance]

[JESS gets out of bed, then starts looking in the mirror: she lifts her pyjama top and checks her belly, pinching at ‘fat’. She then does the same with her legs, before trying to wrap her hand around the top of her arm. (Body checking) As JESS body checks, she looks distraught, on the verge of crying - disappointed? Angry? Hopeless?]

[JESS gets out some scales from under the bed and positions them on her floor. She takes a deep breath before she steps on the scales. We see JESS’ reaction - she looks shocked, hurt. She wipes angry tears from her eyes before placing the scales back under her bed and leaving the room.]

END OF SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO - INT:KITCHEN

[JESS walks into the kitchen, filling up a glass of water from the sink. Her MUM follows her into the room.]

MUM:

Good morning

JESS:

Hi, mum

MUM:

how are you feeling today baby? [places her hand on JESS’ shoulder - JESS flinches]

JESS:

[takes a sip of her water] Fine, just tired

MUM:

you going to have breakfast?

JESS:

I didn't think I had a choice [very sad]

MUM:

You wouldn't want to upset Dr Ford would you?

[JESS - looks at MUM, broken- JESS turns away from her mum as she gets out a bowl and pours cereal and milk into it before getting a spoon out of a draw]

MUM:

Jess, I know this is hard on you -

[JESS looks tired and bored of this conversation]

MUM:

I know you do want to get better deep down inside.

JESS:

[faces her mum and puts on a false smile] Mum, I'm fine. I have it under control. I promise.

MUM:

Dr Ford and I don't think you do, honey

JESS:

Mum - I. Am. Fine. [she sounds patronising, like she's speaking to a child]

MUM:

[sighs] okay, just eat your breakfast. [she opens the fridge pulling out a nutritional shake] but, if you’re in control, then you can drink this

[JESS looks at her mother, scared and betrayed]

JESS:

[voice very quiet] why?

MUM:

if you want to go to university and do all those other things then you've got to start gaining some weight, Jess

JESS:

[looks horrified] I have been gaining weight, mum

MUM:

according to Dr Ford - not enough

[JESS shakes her head. She picks up her cereal]

JESS:

I'm going to finish eating this upstairs

[JESS leaves the kitchen, meanwhile, MUM looks sad, shutting her eyes and taking deep breaths]

END OF SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE - INT:BEDROOM

[JESS walks into her room and puts her bowl down; she bends down, pulling a box out from underneath her bed. The box contains uni prospectus’, jewellery, photos of Jess and her friends - It’s a memory/future box - something Jess is using to motivate herself to get better. They are things that make her happy.]

[JESS appears to be sad, hopeless - it is obvious she wants to go to university and getting better, her illness is stopping her; JESS sits on the floor, flicking through her favourite uni’s booklet - starting at each page longingly.]

END OF SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR - THERAPY

INT:DR FORD’S OFFICE

[a small room - two chairs facing each other - JESS is sat on one, DR FORD on the other. DR FORD is writing something down in a notepad - JESS appears anxious, playing with her fingers]

FORD:

Jess, I'm going to be honest with you here

JESS:

okay

FORD:

you have lost 4 kilos in the past two weeks, and I can tell that you are not getting any better mentally. [JESS bites her lip anxiously, FORD looks serious, almost pained with what he is about to say] I am considering admitting you to an inpatient facility

JESS:

[Obviously shocked, horrified and worried] what? Why? I'm not even underweight anymore!

FORD:

you may not be underweight but you will be if you carry on like this, and besides, the anorexic mechanisms are still very strong. [pauses] I spoke to your mum yesterday

JESS:

what did she say?

FORD:

She said that your sister has been staying at friends houses for the past few nights

JESS:

what's Dianna got to do with this?

FORD:

she's staying there because she doesn't want to be there whilst you and your parents argue every night over dinner and then your night snack. It's not fair on her

JESS:

okay...I'm confused?

FORD:

[sighs] Jess, your mum and dad don't think you’re going to get any better. In fact your mum told me she feels as though she is watching fade away right there in front of them, and they can't do anything to stop it

JESS:

what do you mean?

FORD:

your mum believes if you are not admitted as an inpatient then you might die within the next year

[JESS appears shocked, hurt - in disbelief]

FORD:

you've been at a healthy weight for 2 months now and you still haven't got your period back, your refusing to drink the shakes and finish your dinner, you've started exercising again despite my recommendations against it and your mum knows that you're keeping track of your calories again

JESS:

how does she-

FORD:

that doesn't matter. You've gone backwards by six months Jess. You were doing so much better, and now you're back to the stage you were at when we first met

[JESS appears stressed - jigging her knee and fiddling with her hair]

JESS:

I just - I don't see the point in getting better

FORD:

[leans forward] and why is that?

JESS:

I'm only going to be more miserable, I'm never going to get to do anything on that list you made me write - I just, I think it's all pointless

FORD:

but why do you think those things, Jess?

JESS:

[shrugs] I don't know

FORD:

that's your anorexia, Jess. It's making you feel as though you don't have a purpose other than counting calories and losing weight. It's making you feel like a failure and see everything negatively. I promise you, if you were to go back to listen to me - stop exercising and calorie counting, drink the shakes and finish your dinner - your body will hit a set point, you won't gain anymore weight and you will start to be happy

JESS:

but I'll be fat [sounds defeated]

FORD:

will not let you get above a BMI of 21, I've promise you that. You will not be fat, you'll be healthy. You'll have your period. You'll be less tired. You'll be able to enjoy yourself more. If you don't listen to me - you'll end up in hospital or you'll die. And then you really won't achieve anything on that list

[Jess bites her lip, thinking and considering]

END OF SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE - INT: KITCHEN

[JESS is standing at the stove, cooking a saucepan of pasta. She stirs the pot occasionally, but appears preoccupied, biting her lip and picking at her nails, she sips a nutritional shake slowly, and takes a deep breath afterwards]

[OUT OF SHOT] MUM:

Jess, I'm home!

JESS:

I'm in the kitchen

MUM:

[Shocked - in disbelief] you're cooking?

JESS:

[turns to face MUM] yeah, I thought we could all have pasta for dinner

[MUM reaches for the nutritional shake that's open and stood on the counter next to JESS]

MUM:

having you been drinking this or pouring it down the sink?

JESS:

[laughs, seems much more at ease] drinking it, [she takes a sip from the straw to prove it] it tastes a bit strange though [turns back to the pasta]

MUM:

[looks dumbfounded] I'm guessing your appointment with Dr Ford went well today?

JESS:

[turns to face her] Yeah, he told me what you said. I'm sorry. I really am, sometimes I just forget about everything over than that drive to be thin. [Shakes her head as though shes reminding herself that that is not what she wants] I do want to get better, but it is going to take time...

MUM:

[smiling brightly - pulls JESS into a hug] Jess, honey, I know that! I don't want you to gain loads of weight, I just want you to be happy and healthy

JESS:

I know, I do

MUM:

[pulls away from the hug, wiping tears from her eyes] so what pasta are we having?

[the pair continue to talk as the camera zooms out and their conversation fades out into the gradually increasing music. The camera fades to black]

END OF SCENE FIVE

FADE OUT

END OF FILM -- CREDITS

Screenplay: Draft Two Feedback

I received some feedback from my peers on the second draft of my screenplay. The main feedback I got was to try and use less dialogue and more visuals, e.g. facial expressions to demonstrate the emotions and feelings of the characters. From this I have written a third and final draft.

Screenplay: Draft One Feedback

I got some feedback from my peers on my screenplay, in particular the structure and format in which I had written it. From this I have written a second draft which I will also get feedback on before writing a final draft.

Controversy: the Problem with Sensitive Topics

After researching into similar products, I have found that there is a lot of controversy surrounding two products in particular: the Netflix hits 13 Reasons Why and To The Bone.

Both of these products were designed to raise awareness surrounding their specific topics, and were not made with the intention to promote them or trivialise them in anyway. However, some people have taken offence to their content, and believe that they have promoted and encouraged suicide and eating disorders. I have decided to take a look at the controversy surrounding these two products. 

13 Reasons Why

I went onto the Netflix reviews of 13 Reasons Why and came across two very contrasting reviews. 

The first review describes its respect for the show shining the light on the topic of suicide and depression, and prompting the audience to talk about their thoughts and the way in which the show educates the audience on the potential triggers and reasons behind someone taking their own life. The review describes the show as a source of support for those going through depression and the incredible way it may change peoples perspective on life and the way in which they treat others.

The second review, meanwhile, thinks that the show covered these topics in a very bad way; offending some audience members. The review describes the way in which the film promotes that someone may get something good from taking their own life. The viewer says that they would accept something that started a conversation about suicide and suicide prevention, but they feel that this show did not do so effectively, and actually romanticised the topic.

The Guardian has also written a review on 13 Reasons Why and the way in which it 'dramatises' suicide, making it seem desirable to anyone young and facing problems within their life, presenting it as an escape. The key paragraph within this article is:

 'It’s a revenge fantasy, so it portrays suicide as an act that will achieve something. It’s aimed at a young audience, who are particularly susceptible to contagion, and particularly likely to experience suicidal thoughts. It normalises and legitimises the act. It goes into too much and too graphic detail about the suicide itself – which is expressly against Ofcom guidelines because, however horrible it is to watch, this can still be read as a how-to.'

This shows the way in which such sensitive topics can be damaging and misinterpreted, and the negative effect it can have to susceptible viewers - effects that may have fatal consequences.

To The Bone

I also went onto the Netflix reviews of the film To The Bone to see the kind of response that this film got from its viewers.

The first review is very positive, describing the honest way in which the film portrayed the character's struggles with eating disorders, and praising the way in which it presented sufferers experience with eating disorders and their decision to recover. The review also explains the way in which each sufferers experience is different, and therefore some people may not be able to relate to Ellen's experience within the film, despite having the same illness.

The second review focuses on the triggering material within the film, and the way in which it effected them by sending them into a relapse of their illness. They do mention how the film could be insightful for those without the experience of an eating disorder or a mental illness, but advise those suffering not to watch the film.

To The Bone has also received a lot of controversy in the media, as some believe that the film 'glamorises' eating disorders, and may be triggering for those in recovery. The Independent has written an article on the negative effects that the film may have on those vulnerable to the topic and the films misunderstanding of the potential cause behind an eating disorder. The key part of this review is:

'The UK’s national eating disorder charity Beat said in a statement: “We would strongly urge anyone that might be at risk of an eating disorder to think very carefully before watching this fllm.”

There have also been calls to ban the film because of fears the film might incite eating disorders, or make someone’s problem worse.'

From researching into the controversy surrounding both of these media products, I have found that there is probably no way that I can eliminate the possibility of triggering or offending some audience members. I have decided to include a warning within my film to warn the audience of the potentially negative effect or influence it could have within society. My main aim of the film is to raise awareness of mental illness' and eating disorders, and to show people that they do not have to be underweight or ashamed if they are a sufferer of an eating disorder. 

Target Audience Research: Looking at Similar Products

I have decided to do some research into films and tv shows that have a mental illness theme within them in order to get a better idea of their audience, and the audience's expectations on products with very sensitive topics being one of the focuses within the narrative.

I used YouGov Profiles to look up some films and shows that featured a character who has an experience with an eating disorder to start with. 

Skins

The first that came to mind was Skins. Skins Generation 1 features a main character, Cassie, who is in treatment for her anorexia. Throughout the first two seasons of the show, Cassie is shown to be rarely eating and rather thin, with many of the other characters worrying about her health, whilst some just think she is weird. Cassie's character is then revisited in Skins: Pure, where she appears to be fully recovered from her eating disorder but facing other difficulties in her life.

YouGov Profiles showed me that the average demographic of Skins fans are 18-24 year old females, confirming my suspicions that my film will have a more predominately female audience who are quite young.

Pretty Little Liars

The second show I decided to look up was Pretty Little Liars, as one of the characters featured in the main cast of the show, Hannah, is presented to have suffered with bulimia before the start of the show. Unlike Skins, Hannah's bulimia is not a regular theme within the show, and is only ever briefly touched upon. However, one episode does focus on her past with the illness, but after season one, the show's writers tend to rarely mention it.

Again, Pretty Little Liars demographic is a young-adult female audience. However, as clearly demonstrated within the other entertainment that the viewers enjoy, the audience's do not have much more in common beyond their demographics. 

Silver Linings Playbook

Following my research into shows that feature eating disorders specifically, I decided to look into media products that focus on Mental Illness as a whole. Silver Linings Playbook features a male character with Bipolar Disorder, and a widow with depression. Throughout the film, the primary focus is on the couple helping each other through their mental illnesses, despite both of them having very different experiences with them.

Once again, the demographic of this films audience is 18-24 year old females.

Each of these product's audiences confirm that younger females are more interested in sensitive subjects and therefore connect to the products involving these. This shows that I show target a similar audience, confirming that I should have a female protagonist as it will enable the audience to connect on a more personal level with the story line and the narrative of the film. Having a protagonist of a similar/younger age than the targeted audience will also enable and strengthen this connection.