The Message: Fake Stories

The opening shots of The Message trailer are some stories showing Alex's work, awards she has won etc, printed in 'her' paper, titled 'The Daily Gazette'. The secondary stories relate to events by some of the victims. From a review of Robin McCarthy's new book, to the announcement of a new medicine (relating to Robert King), and a story about how Kurt Allen helped England win the Hockey World Cup. Apart from the first paragraph, the writing is stock due to the audience not seeing the text clearly. A mistake picked up later on in production was found: 2 articles had the same article text, but again this is not really noticeable.
These are the covers and certificates:

Certificate for Alex winning the 'Reporter of the Year' at the NJA's (National Journalist Awards), a fictional awards ceremony also mentioned in one of the reports.

A report where Alex's newspaper wins 5 press awards, of which Alex wins 2. The secondary headline is an exclusive review of Robin McCarthy's book 'Almost Midnight'. Robin is the 2nd victim, who is poisoned while writing the follow-up to this.

This relates to the certificate, where Alex wins Journalist of the Year, for the 4th time. The secondary article is about the miracle medicine keeping Robert King alive, although this is more subtle, as the article makes no mention of King, nor do we see King take the wrong medicine.

This is the final article, showing which reports Alex winning 3 BAFTA's for a current affairs show presented by her. The secondary story is on Kurt Allen captaining England in a 4-0 win at the Hockey World Cup.

The Message Cast List

This is the cast list for the characters within 'The Message' and notes on the role they are playing. Credits appear in order of appearance

Charli Bedford: Alex Davidson, a top journalist who uncovers a link between a series of unresolved deaths after a tip-off from an anonymous source, and must uncover the conspiracy before more people are killed.

Tom Foster: The Source, the one who gives Alex the information leading to the discovery of the 5th victim. While important to the plot, very little is known about him, and his face is never seen onscreen, wearing a hood in the trailer

Sam French: Jacob West, an art curator who is shot in mysterious circumstances before an exhibition starts. He is seen to be running away, and stumbles down the stairs, shot by a silenced pistol.

Emma Turner: Robin McCarthy, an author who's drink is poisoned while she writes her latest novel in a cafe.

Chloe Cronin: Angela Smith, A rights activist who dies after a 'mugging'. The mugger is played by Abi Eaton, who was originally going to be playing Robin.

Jay Hoggett: Robert King, a man who has been the public face of a new medical campaign that saved his life, dies from a heart attack after his medicine is switched. While this is not shown, this would be expanded in the full film, although a POV shot of the 'medicine' being taken is in the trailer. A report in the opening pan shows the 'miracle medicine' relating back to King.

Sam Driver: Kurt Allen, a famous Hockey player, found by Alex by the side of his training court. In real life, Sam does play hockey in goal for both Copleston High School, and Ipswich East Suffolk 4th.

Dan Widdowson: James Murphy, a journalist working for the same company as Alex, and the only person she trusts with the information. If this was a full film, Murphy would be a romantic interest to Alex, and would likely die or get severely injured towards the end of the film

James Parnell: The Prime Minister, the sixth target, who is going to be signing 'a historic bill' (the connection between the other victims) and the person who Alex must save.

Kaya Corbett: Janet Smith, a police officer who is working on the Kurt Allen case. Does not believe that Alex is guilty of killing him, and tries to help her when possible. Seen as part of a 'good cop, bad cop' routine in the trailer.

Matt Finch: Shawn Howard, a no nonsense officer who believes that Alex killed Kurt Allen, due to her ID being found at the scene. Similar character to the one Matt played in my AS coursework: DCI Howard. Although not the same character, they could be related.

Curtis Garrett: The Assassin, one of the people who is sent to kill Alex as she tries to work out who is behind the conspiracy, ultimately failing. Although not dressed as a 'typical' assassin, this reflects that anything could happen at any time, and that wearing normal clothing stops him from sticking out of the crowd.

The Message Ancillary tasks: Draft Poster and Magazine Cover

This is a post for the ancillary tasks for the Message: A magazine Front Cover and Poster.

1. Text 'UK Directors Special' gives magazine a feature to advertise, and relates to cover film as it would be a  British Film.
2.SPOTLIGHT!: Magazine Name and is related to films, implying type of magazine without specifying.
3.Date, Price and Web Information. Magazines are normally a month ahead (March issue released in February etc.)
4. Alex looking at document sets films tone and while similar is not the same image as the poster, implying it was taken specifically for the magazine. On a darker background, also setting films tone.
5.Other film stories relating to recent or upcoming films: Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers/Avengers Assemble (the latter is the new UK name), James Bond: Skyfall, The Muppets, Star Trek 2 and The Hobbit
6. Word Exclusive helps sell copies as the readers can't get the information elsewhere. Also ties in with the cover photo (shot for magazine) and message underneath
7. 'The only magazine on set' ties in to the word Exclusive
8.Small box with interviews, all relating to top banner (1.) and features British Actors and Directors from New and Upcoming films: Edgar Wright, Noel Clarke, Chris Nolan, Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Craig and more.
9. Publisher name and barcode, found on all retail copies but not necessarily subscriber ones.

1. Actor's name's appear at the top of the poster
2. Grey background to set tone of the film (also background of the magazine cover)
3. Alex stood facing the camera. Expression is curious to show mystery.
4. Shots of the five victims to show wider implications of the conspiracy
5. TITLE: The Message. 'Message' is a larger font than 'the', showing that it is the main part of the title. In a report style font.
6.COMING SOON: No release date but posters aim to raise film awareness
7.Studio Logos, most likely revise 'BlackJack Films', fictional production studio from AS coursework

The Message Storyboard

These are the original storyboards for 'The Message'. Note footage may change.

1.Studio Logos
2.Pan Across the reports and certificates Alex has earned, showing she is a top reporter.
3. Mid-shot of Alex, looking through report
4. Close-up of Alex, answering the phone
5. Close-up of the source, but we do not see his face
6. Shots of how the four victims died, in quick succession over a voice-over of their names from the source.
7. Long Shot of Alex looking for the fifth victim
8.Close-up of the fifth victim
9. Mid-shot of Alex looking through files again
10. Director Title Card
11. Two Shot of Alex and another Journalist speaking
12. Close-up of Journalist speaking

13. Mid-shot of victim 6, the Prime Minister, on a News Channel
14. Cut back to Alex at the table
15. Cut to Insert/Extreme Close-up of wallet/ID being picked up
16. Two shot of Police Officers knocking on a door
17.Shot Reverse Shot conversation between Alex and Police Officers
18. Actor Name Title Card
19. Two Shot of Alex fighting Assassin
20. Close-up of Assassin speaking
21.The Message Title Card
22.Release Date Title Card

The Message Script

This is the script for my coursework piece. Names may change, and I have decided on naming the protagonist Alex as it could represent either gender. This is due to only having cast a few parts at time of writing.

THE MESSAGE TRAILER SCRIPT. PLEASE NOTE NAMES AND LOCATIONS MAY CHANGE

INT. OFFICE. NIGHT
Pan across wall, where we see several certificates and news covers.

Cut to ALEX sitting on a desk, looking over sources. The main light source is a lamp in shot.

CLOSE-UP of Alex talking to THE SOURCE. Cross-cutting is used in the conversation.

ALEX

Hello.

SOURCE
I have some information for you. You remember the deaths of Jacob West, Robin McCarthy, Angela Smith and Robert King?

As the names are spoken we see a flash of each person, clearly dead, in various locations.

SOURCE (CONTD.)

Well I have information on a fifth.

EXT.ALLEYWAY DAY

As the source is talking of the fifth victim we cut to Alex searching for something. We see Alex’s reaction and then cut to a close-up of the fifth victim.

INT. OFFICE. NIGHT

Alex is sitting at the desk again, with extra/new sources. It cuts to records of the five victims, all stamped accident. The top record is the latest victim Kurt Allen.

TITLE CARD – FROM WILL DRIVER, THE DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOSIS (comma represents new line)

INT. MEETING ROOM. DAY

Alex is sat at a table with another journalist. They are talking about what the source has been saying.

JOURNALIST 2

So what you’re saying is that not only weren’t these an accident, but there’s a huge conspiracy? You need to be careful around people like these.

ALEX

I just need to find the link, maybe I can stop them before the next person is killed

J2

And do you know the name?

ALEX

Only that it’s somebody high up

Cut to PM James Johnson standing at a podium making a speech. This is seen through a news channel, with a rolling headline ‘PM to decide on controversial bill’, although we do not see the entire message in the trailer.

Cut back to Extreme close-up of a dropped wallet at the Kurt Allen scene.

EXT. HOUSE. DAY

Two POLICE OFFICERS are stood outside of a door. It opens to reveal Alex on the other side.

OFFICER 1

Excuse me, Mr/Miss Davidson, but we would like to ask you a few questions about the Kurt Allen case

Alex

I don’t know what you mean

OFFICER 2

Then why was your ID found at the scene?

TITLE CARD – Actors name(s) will appear

EXT. ABANDONED AREA. DAY

Alex is seen fighting  an unknown ASSAILANT. We then cut to a close-up of the assailant, covered in blood, as Alex grabs them, but they are almost laughing at their defeat.

ASSAILANT

You cannot win. We have been fighting this war for centuries.All manner of man has tried to stop us, and failed.

Alex punches the assailant who falls to the ground.

TITLE CARD – THE MESSAGE

TITLE CARD – COMING SOON