Idea for my next script...let me know what you think.... (Basic idea)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

A young child experiances a very tramtic event early in his life, and as a result begins having symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)(Also, technicaly, a tramatic event can NOT cause OCD, but, the stress the individual suffers FROM that event DOES, AND CAN casue OCD to trigger in the brain)
As he get older, his obession that he must carry out, is that of killing. (Extreme yes, but possible? Deffiently) Authorities are at wits ends to capture the killer.
I am very confused as how to begin it…I have two ideas, let me know which u like the best:

  1. First scene, Showing the child and the tramatic event, then going into my second idea…

  2. Start it showing this idea, which is based in a Church, and the man is grown up, and is in the confession booth, and he say simply, “Help me, Father forgive me, for I have sinned”, reason being, he doesn’t like his compulsion, but his mind tells him he must, if you are famillier with OCD. I would then go through the script showing just flashes of the first idea, and you piece what happened earlier in his life throughout the script.

Anyhow, let me know what you all think of this!
Downhome…
PS…

I don’t believe in writing about what you know nothing about, and this, I have quite a bit of knowledge…

I started an intense study of it when I myself was prescribed Fluvox. when I was 16 (I’m now 20), because I began to have OCD symptoms…however, I have it almost totaly under control now. I wasn’t no where as extreme as what I’m bringing up, that is VERY rare, IF it has ever been noted at all. I just had the urge to look at the clock every minute as I tried to go to sleep, tic’s, etc…you know the basic symptoms…

2

From my understanding, the stress necessary to cause an escalation of OCD to psychotic manifestations would have to be ongoing and unrelieved. A childhood trauma with a family secret, with the family always fearful of being discovered and obsessing on it for years might be plausable. You could probably write effectively about what OCD feels like, but do lots of research not only on Catholic confessiion ritual, but psychotic behaviors and how the public is likely to view that as realistic.
Best wishes and enjoy.

3

I would suggest that you avoid opening with the trauma. It might be best to just imply it through the family obsession Cyn suggested, maybe with occasional flashbacks that don’t really reveal the nature of the event.

An interesting approach, artistically, would be to never define the event specifically–the unknown is always more disturbing than the known.

Cyn is also right about the research–getting the priest and confession right will do a lot to solidify the script.

4

Cyn and Balance have given you very good pointers.
I agree that you should not open with the trauma itself. That’s telling too much, too soon.

Write on, and good luck!

5

Thanks everyone, I agree, I’ll go with #2. Anyhow, thank you all for responding…it means alot to me, keep it coming!!! :slight_smile:
…Downhome…