1. THE LETTER
(A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER)
By Poppy and Caitlin

2. DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS
Sally – The main character, is in her early 20’s , living alone , she has dark hair, she is
wearing her pajamas ( long trouser bottoms and a vest top) and dressing gown over the top
(grey colour) with slippers (ugg style) as it is around 11pm. Her body language and attitude
suggest that she has no idea about what is about to happen (a threatening letter arriving).
This is from the
film ‘When a
stranger calls’
this is similar to
how our
character will
look.

3. THE PLOT
• The plot centers around the main character called Sally she lives alone in a
flat in a suburban neighbourhood.
• She is sent a letter which frightens her but her best friend Caren dismisses it
as a practical joke, Sally however is not so sure as she starts to suspect her
neighbour, Lionel of being behind the letter.
• As every time something happens that makes her feel scared or
uncomfortable he appears to be around.
• As the plot develops it becomes more evident that another character is
behind it all. The things said in the letter start to happen and the film
progresses to its final chilling conclusion.

4. WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR OPENING SEQUENCE
The opening of our thriller is cross cutting shots of the stalker creating
‘The Letter’, Sally drinking a cup of tea in her living room and her
eventually discover the letter in the post. All shots of the stalker will be
in a different colour (sepia effect) and all of Sally’s will be normal.

5. WHAT OUR OPENING SEQUENCE WILL CONTAIN
• The stalker is starting the letter (we will use effects such as sepia and strobe)
• We will have a close up of a coffee tin (to confuse the audience)
• The stalker is circling letters from a newspaper
• Sally is making a cup of tea (just her hands are shown)
• There is a shot of the stalker’s pin-up board, it has photographs of a young woman, he is
crossing out her face
• Sally puts the tea bag in the mug, we will do a shot from above the mug so you can see the tea
bag fall in
• There is another shot of the pin up board
• Sally pours the kettle and you see her face (she is the girl from the photograph)
• There is a mid to close up shot of the glue dripping off a paint brush
• Sally takes the spoon out of the sink (mid shot)
• Then a close up of Sally stirring the tea
• A close up of the stalker sticking down the letter cuttings
• Sally takes her tea and walks out of the room

6. WHAT OUR TITLE SEQUENCE WILL CONTAIN
CONT.
• The letter is now complete and there is a point of view shot of ‘The Letter’
• A mid shot of Sally’s arm putting the mug on the table
• An over the shoulder shot of the letter and the pin-up board
• A long shot of Sally reading a magazine
• A close up shot of the stalker’s hands putting the letter into the envelope
• A mid shot of the mug on the table – then Sally picks it up
• Then a mid shot of Sally drinking the tea
• Then a close up/extreme close up of Sally drinking the tea
• A mid shot of the stalker licking the envelope
• A long shot of Sally getting up and pulling the blinds – she then leaves the room
• A close up shot into an extreme close up of the envelope with Sally’s name on it
• A mid shot of Sally washes up – she hears a noise and leaves the room
• A mid shot of Sally opening a door and walking through
• A shot the post on the floor and Sally bends down to pick it up
• An over the shoulder shot of Sally lifting up the post
• She bends down to pick up some post that she has dropped
• And it ends with an over the shoulder shot of Sally lifting up the letter in shock

7. FILMS THAT HAVE INFLUENCE US
• When a Stranger calls
• Fatal attraction
• Play Misty for me

8. THE OPENING SEQUENCES
• When a stranger calls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgjLNu6Y2OE
• Fatal attraction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-CrgB08QUc
• Play Misty for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKLqioccJmU

9. OTHER CHARACTERS
• Barry - The stalker, he is a man of the same age as Sally, he is stalking her
because she rejected him at high school
• Caren –Sally’s best friend who believes that the letter is just a practical joke
• Lionel - A suspicious neighbour who seems to be there every time
something bad happens to Sally but is not the cause of these things

10. PROPS
• Living room: • Stalker’s Basement: • Kitchen:
• Slippers
• Desk table
• Sink • Front Door:
• Plain paper
• Pink mug • Post
• Pyjamas • The letter
• Other mugs • The letter in the envelope
• Dressing gown • Newspaper cuttings
• Scissors • Spoon
• Cup of tea
• Glue, cup and paintbrush • Kettle
• Sofa with cushions
• Pen • Coffee tin
• Window with blinds • Envelope • Tea bag
• Table • Rubber gloves
• Magazines • Black hoodie
• Black cap
• Mobile phone
• Pin-up board –
• Remote control photographs, paper notes and
pins

11. WHAT THE LETTER WILL SAY
• SALLY BEWARE IM WATCHING YOU THINGS ARE
ABOUT TO CHANGe