Observations

"Observe someone that will become the basis for a fictionalised character"

For this exercise, I needed to watch someone during every-day life. They needed to be an interesting character, possibly demonstrated by what they wore or how they acted in a certain situation.

The person I observed was during a train journey. He was a male, aged around early twenties and wearing dark clothing. I watched him as he sat opposite two girls that were talking to him. Throughout this, he continually and gradually closed his eyes. When they were open, they appeared glazed over as if even then he wasn't listening to them. He was slouched in his chair with his head rested against the window. It was these actions that became the basis for my fictional character's story:

Physical Features:

Age: Early 20s

Clothes: Black top, black jacket

Hair: Dark brown, mid length, sweeps across face

Face: Stubble, light blue (sad) eyes

His Life:

Name: James Myers

Lives With: His mum and younger sister

Job: Works 3 different jobs, constantly commuting between them

Wants: His family to be financially secure

Why he can't have what he wants: His father (the breadwinner) has died, meaning he needs to support his family

Why an audience would empathise with him: Because of his past and hectic day-to-day life

Mannerisms: Often falls asleep because of his demanding lifestyle.

  From my observations, I established a story about a young man who's father had recently died due to an alcohol addiction. He now lives a busy life trying to provide for his mother and sister. His mother, once a happy and outgoing person has become useless since the death of her husband and is powerless to the grief she feels. James has to step up and be the new 'man of the house'.

  I think that an interesting way to start the film would be a scene of the two girls talking to him on the train. Initially to the audience, he may seem like a rude individual, however as the story unfolds, they understand that the exhaustion is the basis of his behaviour.

  What this character needs, (without sounding cheesy) is hope. He needs something to look forward to or maybe work towards. Because the idea is at its early stages, I am yet to think of the underlying theme and messages of the film.