Not all secrets stay hidden under the surface…

The Shadow in the Lake

One mans quest to find his daughter leads to questions he may never want to answer

Logline

Plot Twists Serious Plot Build up of music Binary Opposites in locations/characters Fast paced Isolated ares Realistic Mental health issues Foreshadowing

Common Conventions

Begins with a panning shot of the house panning across (few seconds)

Cuts to Sam in the kitchen making a packed lunch, softly singing along to music in the background.

Tracks Sam around kitchen, see pictures of the family posted everywhere and shows glimpse of missing posters.

Close up shot of Sam breathing heavily, eyes glazed over as if remembering something.

Calls up to Ellie to come downstair to go Pans up to Ellie at the top of the stair case, she is dripping wet

and does not appear to react Cut to park scene where you see Sam pushing Ellie on the

swing, someone approach Sam to talk and mentions being sorry to hear she is still missing

Cut back to wide shot and Sam is pushing the swing with no one on it 4

Opening

Sam and Ellie are spending quality time at the park together. People keep telling Sam that they are “here to help” which is confusing for him. People cannot see Ellie, but Sam can. Ellie is always dripping with water.

Ellie is on the roundabout at the park but suddenly, she disappears from Sam’s view when he is speaking to somebody. He shouts, running around, desperately trying to find her. “She was literally just there!” Suddenly someone stops him and tells him that Ellie has already been missing for 3 years.

Sam is alone at home and is worried and confused – he has become a recluse and drinks away his time. His estranged sister, Laura, comes to his aid and cleans him up. She decides to help Sam let go of Ellie by helping him to exercise his fantasy.

At first, it was just a ploy to help Sam, but the siblings uncover some truths about Ellie’s mysterious disappearance. Ellie keeps appearing to Sam, where he runs after her, but she is no where to be found. Laura does not know about Ellie’s appearances to Sam.

Laura finds out about Ellie’s appearances to Sam and begs him to get help but he refuses and shuts her out, Sam starts to begin to realise that it is not really Ellie that appears but a figment of his imagination.

He starts to remember what happened the night Ellie disappeared and goes to Laura for help. Together they go to the lake and find Ellie’s body at the bottom. Sam remembers the night he drowned her because he thought he was helping her.

Ends with them both deciding to out the body back in the lake and never speak about what happened. Sam decides to get help.

Plot for the whole film

Voyeuristic Shots

Cliff Hanger

Foreshadowing

Voice over (from Laura, as if she is recalling the story and telling it to us)

Narrative techniques

Early 40’s Unemployed – used to be a lawyer Looks disheveled Wife has left him Estranged sister Schizophrenic Traumatic childhood Spontaneous Always cracks bones Likes to bake

Samuel ‘Sam’ Loch

8 years old Daughter of Samuel Loch Died from drowning in lake Wears the same outfit Always dripping wet Adored her father Pale, blonde hair, big blue eyes Uncomfortably, unusually quiet Was popular at school Missing Loved nature Loved swimming

Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Loch

• Sam: -Tall, -broad build, -brown hair -Unkept hair/beard -Jeans -Untucked shirt -Pea coat

9

Appearance/Costume• Ellie -Petite -Short -Blonde hair

-Long hair - Dark eyes -Summer dress

Late 30’s Single Sister of Samuel Primary school teacher Very involved aunt Helps Sam to find Ellie Traumatic childhood Always has a plan, keeps a cool head Extremely honest Has a habit of fiddling with things when she's nervous Great care in appearance

Laura Loch

Kara Loch -Mother of Ellie- -Ex-wife of Sam- -Left Sam shortly after Ellie disappeared

-Young and couldn't handle Sam's illness and losing their daughter

• Friends of the family• Police looking into Ellie's case

Extras

Locations

Titles