Devices in "The Lost Ones"

Finished writing the script for our project yesturday so today in Sainsburys Cafe, over a "Big Breakfast" comprising of bacon, sausage, egg, beans, tomatos, hash browns and a large Apple Tango, I wrote this analysis sumarising some of the main artistic & scriptual devices! Enjoy <3 

PM x
Six String Studios

An analysis of the script for ‘The Lost Ones’.

by Patrick McCallion

In writing the script for The Lost Ones, I have tried to add certain artistic elements and features that I believe will give the film more depth and merit. In this analysis I hope to summarise many of these elements.

Who is the Lost One?

One of the questions I’ve tried to address whilst writing this script is “in this situation, who actualy is the lost one?”. On paper, it would appear obvious that Violet is the mans “lost one” having been taken from him prematurely, however you could also argue that the man is the one who is lost within his own emotions, and the ever clinging presence of Violet, thus giving the title of the film dual meaning. A trend I’ve tried to continue throughout the script.

Dual Meaning of the Script.

I have tried to write this script in a style that can give the text multiple meenings. The dialogue when heard the first time round, sounds like the couple are preparing for a wedding  but also Violet has moved away to pursue a career and the man misses her. However, on a second viewing, the dialoge takes on a completely different meaning. For example, take the line “You’ll get used to it. Atleast its all over now. You can relax!” If you were unaware of the twist ending, you would think the man was referring to Violets new job, however on a second viewing it can be enterpreted as a statement about Violet’s passing and how she can finally rest in peace. These dual meening lines are dotted around the script in various forms – “I can’t believe it’s coming around so soon” could mean either the couples wedding day or the anniversary of Violets death. “I wish we had more time, you know, to sort out the flowers” could mean Violet wishes she could have more time to sort the flowers for a wedding, but it could also mean she wishes the couple had more time to be together, and to sort the flowers for a rememberence service. These are just a few of the dual meanings in the dialogue.

Cut Scenes

I have written some surreal cut scenes into the script, where we see characters in various guises stood against a black background. This is a technique I first saw in Oliver Stones film Natural Born Killers. I have used these cut scenes to show hidden emotion within the characters that you may not see on the surface and also to hint at Violets ultimate end. The bulk of the shots show hidden emotion (see Scene 4) however I have used some of the latter scenes to add film noir influence to the project.

Film Noir Influence

In some cases, I have used typical Film Noir writing techniques to drop hints about the twist ending. The first main example of this is when the man starts to light a cigarette, in black and white which is remenent of old American detective films. I wrote this in to show that the man is on a quest for something (in this case to dismiss the memory of his girlfriend). The most important use of film noir is at scene 6 when in black and white, Violet holds a cigarette to her lips. I felt this would identify her as a femme fatales character and would suggest she is leading someone (in this case the audience) astray.

Colour

I have tried to use colour in my script to portray certain emotions. Whenever red light is written in the stage direction, It is at a time when the man is longing for Violet, or remembering her, acknowledging she is dead. However when the pub is in a blue light it is a time when the man is pretending Violet is still living, and reliving the times they spent talking together.