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Schizophrenic Patient Analysis

Decent Essays

This script presents as an original, character driven story about self-discovery. The concept of schizophrenic patient and his psychiatrist going on a road trip journey has merit. The goal for John is clear: he wants to find the devil. The stakes appear to be more emotion and mental.

The strength of the script is John. He’s a troubled and confused man. He believes in peace, but doesn’t know how to find it. It’s really more about John finding inner peace and love. The idea that at the end the devil turns out to be him, is clever. It’s very psychological.

Although the ending is up to some interpretation, one can’t help but think that John has been trying to kill something inside himself (the devil), but at the end he realizes he has to …show more content…

The audience also has to care about the central characters. In this presentation, not all the events feel convincing or credible and the characters require more depth.

For re-example, Sarah needs to be more realistic and the story needs to highlight her conflict and struggle about being married and running off with her patient. Right now, Sarah is very unlikable. She has a hard exterior, she seduces her patient with sex, which is not ethical and she seems to have no conflict or struggle about her actions. This makes her displeasing.

Sarah also never really redeems her actions. She doesn’t seem to care that she’s seducing a patient that is schizophrenic or that she’s enabling his criminal activities and even participating. She has no fear of being caught or that she’s giving up her career and possible freedom. She really doesn’t seem to be helping John psychologically. It’s not clear if she really cares about John or not or if she’s using him to get back at Richard. Her emotions are rather flat.
Although the narrative description says Sarah loves John, the audience doesn’t feel her genuine love for him. John and Sarah actually have very little chemistry with each …show more content…

Then create an inciting event that drives the protagonist’s goal. Something should trigger John to want to find the devil. It’s unclear right now what that trigger really is. By the end of the first act, the goal for John (if he’s the true protagonist) should be clear (find the devil) and he should have a plan of action. On a smaller note, Sarah could also be the protagonist and the story told from her point of view.

The second act should focus and center on John achieving his goal. While, again, it does focus on John’s search for the devil, the tension isn’t strong or compelling. If he’s going to rob a bank add more tension like he might be hurt or caught. Create a stronger midpoint that changes the direction for John or Sarah. Continue to develop their relationship and chemistry. Clarify how Sarah helps John. Make Sarah a more likable character. Give John what’s called an “all is lost” moment when he has a psychological breakdown or he feels he’ll never be able to accomplish his goal. Also, make the police more realistic.

In summary, the idea of a psychiatric patient and his therapist going on the run, or going on a road trip, or a therapist being kidnapped by her patient has

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