I now have certain specifics completed for my high concept series. These being the show's title, tagline (to be placed on promotional materials etc.) and the characters and their names.
Title
Having read advice on the best ways to approach titling a film or series, I found the following tips...
- The shorter the better
- The title should hint at the genre of the film
- More often than not, your title will be accompanied by a short pitch or key artwork. This should all work in harmony and feel like a component part of a whole and well rounded concept
- Once you decide on a title, if a better one comes along, use it
- Check the titles ‘Goolgeability’ with the Google keyword tool. How many people actively search for that word of phrase each month?
- Don’t be clever. Titles are not something to be figured out. As film makers, we might like the idea of a title being a mystery or ephemeral, but audiences will just move right on by if they don’t ‘get it’ immediately
- The title should infer the central conflict of the film… [such as] ‘Jaws’ (the shark is going to eat people), ‘The Exorcist’ (there’s going to be an exorcism)
- Above all, ‘do what it says on the tin’. The title should honestly and succinctly reflect the story [1]
Having taken all of this into account, I thought of titles such as...
'Runaway Baby'
'Stolen'
'Hidden'
However, I felt that these didn't best describe the theme or outline the plot of the show, nor did they seem eye catching or appealing to me - so I didn't see them being appealing to an audience.
After more deliberation, I found a title that I think fits the show very well...
THE IDENTITY
Identity Definitions [2]:
"noun
1 The fact of being who or what a person or thing is
1.1 The characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is
2 A close similarity or affinity."
All of the above definitions support my decision in using the word 'identity' in the title. As this explains in one singular word what the theme of the show is, relating to the main character wanting to know who or what determines her real identity. The last definition also relates to the story arc of the hero character having been replaced by a new daughter, and that they have a close similarity to each other and their lives.
I also feel that having one powerful and catchy main word in a series title can capture an audience's and the public's attention, instead of a long, over complicated title. I also decided to add 'The' to the title, as in my mind the show is about the identity of the surrogate, who is she? Where did she go and who did she become?, the identity of the main character, who has she become as a person? who was she supposed to be? and the identity of the daughter that was used to replace her, where did she come from? Who did she become?
I also feel that the use of 'The' makes the title appear bolder and more eye catching.
Tagline
'You don't know what you've got until it's gone'
A common phrase used in the media before, however these are the words that I automatically think of when I think of the plot of The Identity. As the words refer to both the beginning and the end of the series' story. As the protagonist didn't even know she had different parents and different life opportunities until 27 years after she'd had it taken from her. And that she pushed her mother away after she found out the truth, but once her mother dies in the climactic moment, she realises that she should have appreciated the family that raised and loved her all her life.
I think this short but insightful tagline will also grab and audiences attention on promotional materials, asking the questions of what was lost? when? how?
Characters
Before naming each individual character, I researched tips and techniques on the best ways to create character names, as opposed to picking names at random. I found the following tips helpful [3]...
- Who chooses the character's name? The answer: your character’s parents choose the character name. So you must give some thought into the character’s backstory (and his/her parents) before choosing a character name.
- Make the name age appropriate. Decide the age of your character. Deduct that age from the year your story takes place. See the most popular names for that year.
- Make the name easy to pronounce. If you are writing a screenplay, you don’t want a name that is difficult to pronounce for your actors’ sake.
- Consider your character's background. A family’s ethnicity, history, and geographic location are tantamount in baby naming. Even if it’s a minor character in your story, take the time to figure out his backstory, his ethnicity, his parents’ backgrounds, the parents’ personalities, and a name that fits.
- Don't use similar names for two characters. Using two similar names will be confusing to the reader/consumer of your story.
- Consider your genre. Romance novel characters have historically been given more flowery, romantic names. Sci-fi characters most often have created names. Consider your genre before naming your characters.
- Avoid famous name association. There are certain names in our culture that are easily identified with famous or infamous personalities. Adolf, Oprah, Kanye, Madonna, to name a few. Unless it is part of your character’s story or background, avoid using easily-associative names. This also applies to fictional names, as well, like Atticus, Scarlett, or Katniss.
- Have fun choosing character names. Take time to see what “fits.” What was your character’s childhood nickname? Is that an embarrassment when his parents address him in front of his friends? Did your character change his name at any point in his/her life? If so, why? Does your female character want to change her surname when she gets married? Why or why not? Names are such an important part of one’s identity, don’t take it lightly. A name can provide great insight and backstory to a character if you do it right.
Using this advice, I have decided to create the character names in the order below, to make sure to incorporate backstories, age, era and personalities.
I started by first deciding how old each character is, resulting in the era they were born and selecting first and last names from those specific decades, alongside selecting names with suitable country origins and meanings. I then decided on their date of birth based on star signs suited to each character. I have also listed their age based on their month of birth and whether that would have occurred yet in an autumn / winter series.
EVELYN PORTER
The grandmother
Ethnicity: White British
DOB: 22nd January 1936
Age: 80
Plot Involvement: Evelyn is the main character Lauren Daniels's biological grandmother, father to Frank Porter. Dying at the age of 80 from heart failure, she wants to clear her conscience by telling Lauren the truth about her past, however she can only tell her a small amount of information before she goes into cardiac arrest and passes away early in the first episode.
Personality Traits: Independent, reserved, honest, strong minded.
Appearance: Elderly, grey hair, frail, a slight resemblance in facial structure to her son.
FRANK PORTER
The birth father
Ethnicity: White British
DOB: 6th March 1958
Age: 58
Plot Involvement: As biological father of Lauren, he took control of the situation after she was stolen as an unborn baby, and found a way to replace her, thinking this would fix things in an emotional state. Resulting in raising Amanda as their pretend biological daughter for 27 years. He chooses not to acknowledge that he and wife Kathleen ever had a different daughter, and wants Lauren to stay out of their lives.
Personality Traits: Determined, family-orientated, impulsive, aggressive, apathetic.
Appearance: Brunette, average weight, tall, aged facial features, comfortable dressed.
KATHLEEN PORTER
The birth mother
Ethnicity: White British
DOB: 1st June 1960
Age: 56
Plot Involvement: Lauren's biological mother, desperate to have the baby girl she'd been waiting for, she agreed to Frank's unusual solution of replacing her with a new daughter of the same age in 1989. Unable to show Amanda compassion and love because of the fact that she was a rushed replacement, she's never truly happy or close to her family. Once she meets Lauren for the first time, she's relieved to see her, but doesn't understand that she doesn't get to ignore what happened in the past. She's left with no one but Frank after Amanda's death.
Personality Traits: Gentle, inconsistent, quiet, loving.
Appearance: Brunette, thin, average height, looks slightly younger than she is, respectably dressed.
AMANDA PORTER
The replacement daughter
Ethnicity: White British
DOB: 24th July 1989
Age: 27
Plot Involvement: Illegally adopted as a baby by Frank and Kathleen Porter in 1989, Amanda was given their biological baby's name and was raised as their own. Shown little affection or approval by her parents for the last 27 years, Amanda turned to drug abuse, causing her mental state to be imbalanced. Revealed as the replacement daughter at the end of the second episode to Lauren, Amanda finds out that she was a replacement baby and goes off the rails. She tries to kill Lauren in a climactic moment, but after stabbing and killing her surrogate mother Helen, then attempting to kill Lauren, she is then stabbed and killed by her instead.
Personality Traits: Irrational, unstable, lonely, paranoid.
Appearance: Fair haired, thin, average height, quite attractive, dresses casually but slightly revealing and feminine.
HELEN DANIELS
Original Name: Julia Drennen
The surrogate mother
Ethnicity: White American
DOB: 14th December 1965
Age: 50
Plot Involvement: In England 1989, American 24 year old Julia Drennen (now known as Helen Daniels) became a gestational surrogate for a couple. Excepting a baby girl, Julia started to dream of her life with her baby, and realised she'd fell too in love with her to let her go. In a panic, she contacted a friend (Chris Hillman) who could help get her a new identity and out of the country. Without a trace, she ran away to America, now with name Helen Daniels. Raising her baby, who she'd decided to name Lauren Daniels, she stayed hidden with her for 27 years in a small town. Until daughter Lauren receives a call, telling her who she really is. Lauren is furious with Helen and washes her hands of her. Devastated, Helen secludes herself from the world as her daughter has left. However, as soon as Lauren calls, telling her she made a mistake, she disregards everything and anything to help her daughter and flies to England. Walking in on Amanda Porter trying to kill Lauren, she steps in to stop her, but Amanda stabs her. Helen dies in her daughters arms, telling her that she always loved her.
Personality Traits: Caring, idealistic, intelligent, fragile, family-orientated.
Appearance: Fair haired or blonde, middle aged, thin to average weight, average height, quite attractive, dressed respectably and casual.
LAUREN DANIELS
The protagonist
Ethnicity: White American
DOB: 2nd September 1989
Age: 27
Plot Involvement: As the main character/protagonist, Lauren spends her entire life living in a normal, quiet, American town with who she thinks is her biological mother. Until an elderly woman, Evelyn Porter asks to meet, she claims to be her grandmother and tells her that Helen is not her mum. Lauren comes home and confronts her mother, who eventually tells her the truth. Angry and in shock, she tells her mother that she never wants to see her again, packs a bag and leaves. She visits a family friend, Chris Hillman, and he reveals that he helped her to change her identity and leave England. He's also able to tell her the birth parent's names, Frank and Kathleen Porter and the town they live in. Lauren takes money from her home's safe and makes her way to the airport. There she meets romantic interest and sidekick Ethan Briggs, who happens to be travelling to England. They sleep together one night but Lauren leaves him and tracks down her parents' home. But finds Amanda instead, who she realises was her replacement after Helen stole her. Lauren finds her parents and angrily confronts them, they tell her the story of her replacement and Frank makes her leave. Later, Lauren calls Helen, claiming she shouldn't have travelled to England and that she made a mistake. She returns to her hotel room and falls asleep. That night, Amanda breaks in an tries to kill Lauren, but Helen, having travelled overnight, steps in - being stabbed in the process. Lauren is forced to kill Amanda. Helen dies in Lauren's arms as she cries, Lauren realises that she's lost the only real family she had. She tries to move on with a new life and reaches out to Ethan, who seems interested in starting a future with her.
Personality Traits: Strong minded, sarcastic, funny, vulnerable, caring, intelligent.
Appearance: Brunette, thin, average height, attractive, slight resemblance to her birth parents, dresses casual and slightly tomboy styled.
ETHAN BRIGGS
The romantic interest
Ethnicity: White and Black African American or African American
DOB: 18th March 1987
Age: 29
Plot Involvement: Ethan meets Lauren Daniels at an airport in America, when he steps in on a sleazy man trying to grope her. They get talking and he takes an interest in her, they part ways but happen to be getting the same plane to England. He moves to sit with her and they spend the flight subtly flirting and making quips at each other. Until she tells him why she's going to England and her backstory. He wants to help and she lets him, they track down her birth parent's address and decide to go the following day. That night they eventually sleep together. But Lauren leaves in the morning, Ethan had fallen for her and is disappointed. In the aftermath of the story, approaching the end of the episode, Lauren realises that she shouldn't have left Ethan and calls him, Ethan is glad to hear from her, having stuck around the area she was in just in case. They meet up, ready to see where their lives could go together.
Personality Traits: Compassionate, funny, caring, trusting, intelligent.
Appearance: Either mixed race of African American, short dark hair, average to muscular build, tall, attractive, casual but stylish clothing.
CHRIS HILLMAN
The family friend / source
Ethnicity: White American
DOB: 30th April 1959
Age: 57
Plot Involvement: Chris Hillman had known Julia Dennen for about 17 years when she asked him to help her in 1989. Working in identity theft, he has knowledge on ways to obtain a new identity. So in order to help his oldest friend, he risked everything and provided her with a new identity; Helen Daniels, and a passport for her to run away with her unborn daughter to America. Lauren Daniels, grew up knowing Chris as a family friend who remained close friends with Helen. Living near by, Chris was as close to being a second family member as Lauren knew. But once Helen was forced to reveal her past to Lauren, Lauren was shocked to find that Chris had helped Helen to run away. This starts Lauren on a path of feeling alone and feeling like nothing in her life is real - causing her to search for her birth parents. Chris is a minor character who only features in the first episode.
Personality Traits: Reliable, intelligent, caring, resourceful, secretive.
Appearance: Greying hair, an ageing face, slightly overweight, average height, casual and comfortable dresser.
Now that I have names and outlining descriptions for each, individual character of The Identity, I will be creating in depth character profiles for each one. This will include research on effective character profiles to improve my work.
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