My Idea

My Initial Idea

My Initial idea is that I am going to be doing the first episode (a pilot) to a 10 episode series.

Storyline:

My main character develops Amnesia because they are in a terrible accident. I do not know how yet but I know that it is a terrible accident. my main character develops either short term or long term memory loss, which means that she forgets things that they have done in their life.

How my main character develops Amnesia

I was quite sure how my main character gets injured, so I asked a few of my peers the following question ‘If you were in an accident, how would you want to be injured?’ for example, a car accident or falling down the stairs etc. Here are the responses I had received:

Click here for responses

Updated Storyline:

My main character develops partial Retrograde Amnesia because of a bad situation that had happened. Still not sure about back-story.

My main character is a teenager who is in college, they have one best friend and one friend (either girl or boy).

I’m doing a TV Drama about a character who is a teenager that goes back to college. Unfortunately, they develop partial retrograde amnesia (long term memory loss) because of a terrible accident.

FeedBack

I think that the concept is interesting, it’s good you have chosen long term memory loss as opposed to short term as that is seen as the typical storyline. I think it will be good to have the best friend as a boy as this could move the story along and create a sub story (romance). – Laura, 18

Laura’s piece of feedback on the concept is positive and refreshing because it is telling me that I am going in the right direction. I like this suggestion that she has given, I might consider it.

Final Storyline:

I want to do a pilot (the first episode) to a 10 episode series. It is about a boy that develops Amnesia,which is caused by a bad situation. The theme is Amnesia and the Genre is a Drama. My Main character (Tyler) develops Retrograde Amnesia, which means that he has long term memory loss (registering new information but has lost most memories from before the accident). He remembers his mother and his best friend Leanne however, other stuff is blurred.

FeedBack:

It sounds like interesting concept, have you had any ideas to the bad situation? I also think in this plot it would be good to show how having a stable support network can help towards the situation. – Chloe, 16

Chloe has given positive feedback on the concept as well as giving a suggestion on what I could include which is beneficial to my project. I was thinking of having a stable supporting character like Leanne to help Tyler.

I like it because it’s new, never really heard or watched something like that before. It’s really good, if it’s a series you could start of by having a monologue, so somebody else is actually telling the story while its be recreated in the background, to give emphasis, with the incident, it could perhaps be an ongoing recurring dream of his that he just can’t put his finger on. – Tahrima, 18

I enjoyed reading Tahrima’s response because it includes feedback and suggestion. I am pleased that she has not heard or watched anything like my idea, which means that it is unique. I have done some research myself and I have yet to come across a TV Series with an idea similar to mine, a series that is based around Amnesia. I like Tahrima’s suggestion on doing a voiceover at the beginning whilst telling a story visually and the ongoing recurring dream I could see that being a good idea and I will take it consideration, however, I feel dream is more of a movie type idea.

I like the idea of having a boy that develops amnesia as it explores common social issues shown in the real world. This would allow your viewers to empathise with the characters and plot. Possibly having a narrative that covers his struggles to cope with everyday life could help the story along with his interaction with other characters that he fails to remember. – Charles, 18

After reading Charles’s feedback, I like the recommendation of my episode having a narrative of my main character’s life, however, I still do not know if I will use it or not. I agree with Charles’s feedback, it has helped me a lot, I have to look up on Amnesia a bit more so that its concept is accurate.

How Tyler Develops Retrograde Amnesia

Tyler is walking home drunk, his girlfriend has broken up with him and sees a couple, they’re holding hands (doing what couples do) so he starts to say negative things for example, they wont last. After that, the guy tells Tyler to piss off so he does however, the guy whispers you dumb tramp, which only him and his girlfriend were supposed to hear.

Unfortunately, Tyler hears the comment and he comes back to the guy, Tyler says something and then spills alcohol on the guy’s girlfriend. She complains and then the guy takes a swing at Tyler, but is blocked, so Tyler punches him in the belly and then the face.

The guy falls to the ground and Tyler keeps punching him because he is drunk and angry, suddenly, the guy’s girlfriend sees something heavily and then hits Tyler over the head with it. Tyler falls to the floor and then there’s a closeup on his face and all you hear are sirens.

FeedBack:

I think it’s interesting, because it’s a realistic and not over used situation, e.g, the ever used car crash. It would show how losing a bond with someone can affect your views and emotions as well as the idea of having to slot yourself into a life you can’t remember which makes you appreciate how much of your life is based on your memories and how they make us who we are.

I think in this situation it’d be a cool contrast if you could see the change in dynamics in his relationships with those around him. As over time and as we get older, our interests and the way we interact with people change, so as the accident could affect the personality traits or interests he has and this could affect the way he interacts with people, and this also shows the social effects of the accident as well as the medical effects. – Chloe, 16

I really like Chloe’s feedback because it goes into the sociological side of what the scene is portraying which is great because that is what I was going for, that is what I want the audience to be thinking and feeling. Also, it is what I am trying portray about how precious memories are. I like how Chloe pointed how I did not go the traditional car crash accident, instead I went for a confrontational situation, finding it more realistic and that is a phenomenal thing to read. Chloe’s feedback is positive and insightful because her comments on the scene was exactly what I was thinking of when I was reading the scene (the incident) as well as what is yet to come.

It’s good, I like the fact that it’s a confrontation rather than an accident that causes the amnesia cos it gives the viewers a better insight on the character. –  Tahrima , 18

Tahrima’s feedback is short but accurate, this is accurate because I do want to give an insight on the character and I am glad that describing this scene has portrayed that to her and hopefully the people who are watching will feel the same way.

How Tyler Develops Retrograde Amnesia (Updated)

Tyler is sitting on the side of the walkway drunk because his girlfriend has broken up with him and sees a bystander who is not in the mood, stares at him. Then the bystander sees him looking and says what, he replies and keeps staring as the bystander is walking along.

Then makes a rude noise (kisses his teeth) and hears it then the both curse at each other, the bystander says you wanna go as in fight, Tyler says come on then and then they start to fight.

Then the guy takes a swing at Tyler but is blocked, so Tyler punches him in the belly and then the face. Tyler is holding the bystander against the wall telling the guy that he is worthless, the guy rises for the bottle and hits him over the head with it.

Once Tyler hits the floor, the guy panics, tosses the bottle and runs away. Then there is a closeup of Tyler on the floor and all you hear is sirens.

Feedback:

That sounds really good. They reason why I think it is good is because it sound dramatic and would draw you in to see what happens next. – Anna, 14

I agree with Anna’s response. It is satisfying to know that the scene that I’ve written engages them because I feel that is what pilots (even movies) are supposed to do , otherwise what is the point. In addition to that, I feel more relived that the change I had to make was a good one.

That’s actually really good I can picture it in my head. The reason why I like it is because it’s the type of thing that happens everyday (people breaking up and people fighting on the street) I can picture it  in detail in my head. Especially after he gets hit with the bottle I can picture it being focused on him with blood on his face and the sirens. – Oghenero, 16

Oghenero’s feedback is great to read because she said that she can visualise the scene in her head and that people can relate to the situation (people getting drunk because their girlfriend or boyfriend has broken up with them) which is excellent because that is what I want to do. Also, I think that people like what they can relate to and hopefully the audience will think the same.

I think the idea is good, something viewers can relate to, a break up and being down because of it so that’s good. It is really good because like I said viewers can relate so it’s universal. –  Catarina, 17

Catarina’s feedback is quite similar to Ogheneros because she thinks the scene will relate to viewers which I want. I like how she has used the word Universal because, I would like my scene and episode in general to be universal rather than aimed at on individual group or person, creating awareness as well.

After the Flashback:

The opening is cuts of how empty their house is and then the my main character sitting in a chair in of the TV looking like a vegetable. Then their parent sees what they’re doing and then takes the remote, turns off the TV and then says something.

The effects of my main character having amnesia

•  He has forgotten who his ex girlfriend Lexi is.
• He is a very sensitive guy
• He is unable to walk by himself, he has to use crutches
• He has been a home for 5 months
• He is panicky and confused.
• He has to see a therapist
• He remembers his mum but forget her dad etc.

His father abandoned them after the incident but his mum tells another him another story (which is that his dad died when he was a baby) Tyler didn’t question it.

Conclusion

All of these element are the effects of my main character having Amnesia, I have chosen these because I think they will get the audience to have sympathy for the character as well as making it interesting to watch. The first episode will enable me to measure audience’s reaction to the programme. either negative or positive this will help me in the following episode as their criticism will be taken into consideration. Secondly, the pilot enables me the producer, to understand the feeling towards my project (the drama) and respond to it accordingly. Thirdly, the pilot gives the public audience an insight to what the drama is all about, which will engage and prepare the audience for the second episode, as well as the following episodes after that.