(26) Script Draft & Plot Outline

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Planning The Story
Story development and script writing are arguably one of the most important aspects of filmmaking. However, it's often an unappreciated area in amateur or student work. People are often so preoccupied with the visuals or editing that story is neglected, and this severely damages the quality of the work. The story is what keeps the audience engaged; focusing on cinematography and editing will only add visual flair but no memorability.

I have spent a very long time developing and tweaking my story so that it is thorough and meaningful. By doing so, it allows me to ensure my film serves its function: to enlighten and make a social commentary. Every moment in the story adds meaning or aids the narrative.

Plot Outline
A short summary of my film plot is:
'Political tension between two tribes (White Cloaks and the Riverfolk) rises in the wake of a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, a young man is conflicted by his emotions and his drive to act with rationality and compassion. A tale of radicalisation and consumption.'
I have created a detailed plot outline for my film. It is broken up into nine segments - or chapters. This will make it easier to read given its complex nature. Here it is:

1. The Town Crier
A young man named Egon is walking through a field when he encounters an elderly man sitting in a chair surrounded by signs reading 'non-partisan' and 'we care about you'. The old man begins to ring a bell while shouting 'Preacher and his men hailed heroes after seizing south Riverland!'. Egon doesn't think much of it and continues on his way. 
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2. The Preacher
Egon walks to where he hears a distant shout of a man. As he approaches, he sees a man (the Preacher stood among a crowd. The crowd is content watching him. He is shouting about taking land from 'savages'. He stops shouting to ask Egon where he is going. Egon replies that he doesn't know. The Preacher warns him of the 'Riverfolk' and not to go to the River at risk of being beaten violently or killed. Egon continues walking, shaken from the incident. 
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3.  Bleedingheart
Egon cautiously approaches a body of water, realising he is nearing the Riverland, he treads carefully. Suddenly, he comes across a woman knelt by the bank, staring out to the water wistfully. Egon makes a noise stepping on leaves which gains her attention. As she approaches him, Egon falls back in fear and shock. She claims she won't hurt him, asks his name and offers help to stand. Egon is cautious, asking if she is a 'river type'. She says she isn't and helps him up, introducing herself as 'Bleedingheart'. Bleedingheart asks Egon to walk with her, asking why he's afraid of the Riverfolk. She leads him to a section of barren land, explaining that it was the Riverfolk's before the Preacher invaded, killed them and took its resources. She then leads him to a Riverfolk settlement and Egon realises they are peaceful. 
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4. Terror
Elsewhere, an estranged member of the Riverfolk is seen murdering people and causing havoc. He then sets himself on fire and dies. Meanwhile, the Preacher and the Town Crier use this attack as motivation for hate crimes against the Riverfolk. A short sequence reveals one of Preacher's men attempting to kill a member of the Riverfolk, however, Bleedingheart interrupts and stops him. The man retreats. Bleedingheart and her followers watch nervously. 
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5. The Tyrant
The Preacher is seen giving a speech to a crowd about the Riverfolk. A crowd member interjects, accusing Preacher of hypocrisy. The Preacher has a guard drag the man away, screaming. It is later revealed the man was beaten to death. Preacher goes on to say how any defenders of the Riverfolk are traitors and need punishment. He motivates his men to march and kill the 'biggest traitor of all', Bleedingheart. 
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6. Hope is Gone
Bleedingheart is seen on the riverbank with her followers. On the other side of the bank, Preacher's men emerge. Bleedingheart walks into the water, sacrificing herself for her people. She is shot twice, before falling back into the water. Egon runs in after her, bringing her back to shore. He sobs over her body as the Riverfolk and White Cloaks hold hands. 
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7. Consumed
Egon is stood looking out earnestly. His fist clenches, angrily, signifying his radicalisation and how hate and emotion has consumed him. He storms angrily towards the Mainland, putting on his coat. 
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8. An Act of Hate
Elsewhere, Preacher's men dance around a fire triumphantly, vocalising a chant boasting of their murder of Bleedingheart. The Preacher is watching them complacently. Behind him, a silhouette of Egon emerges. It is implied that Egon kills the Preacher.
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9. A New Preacher is Born
A young man is walking through a field, he can hear a distant voice of a man shouting. The man is heard to be shouting about making the White Cloaks pay for what they did to Bleedingheart and the Riverfolk. The man shouting stops, asking the young man walking past 'Where are you going?'. It is, at this point, revealed that the man shouting is in fact Egon, though he appears to have assumed an appearance more similar to that of the Preacher's. The young man opens his mouth to reply and the credits roll. 

Script
After ordering the plot and developing the story, I knew I had to write it out into script form. This is the script draft I have at the moment: 

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