I have an idea for a story. I just don't know how to go about it. That's why I seek help. If someone who is a better writer than I am is interested in the story, maybe they can come up with better ways to go about it. I'm kind of hoping for it to me similar in style to a Hitchcock thriller where you are thrown through a loophole some where towards the end and are left saying "whoa" when it's all done. One of my biggest influences is Vertigo.

Here is the story idea. It's called The Method Actor.

A young woman named Amy Loomis aspires to become an extrodinary actress with a bizzare personal project involving identity theft. Her elaborate plan is to follow around and observe another person, then steal their identity and literally become that person and pose under their name, appearance, and mannerisms.

The two women will come face to face with each other in a battle to protect and save their own identities, eventually leading to murder.

Its weird because there aren't really many movies involving identity theft out there, or at least not that I can find. Its interesting though because in so many real life situations, the authorities do little to help the victims involved in these cases. Its up to the victim to fix the problem and find the thief themselves, which perfectly sets up a revenge story.

But at the same time I want to have some fresh and original ideas of what someone can do with another person's identity besides use their credit cards or clear their bank account. How can an actor go out and pose as another person without having to wear the mission impossible mask? That's my challenge.

My other challenge is to keep this within resources so that it can be filmed with a micro-budget. Such as films like El Mariachi, Blood Simple, Evil Dead, Following, Pi, Clerks, etc.

Let me know if you're interested. PM, E-mail, response. Whatever.
Thanks.

Quoted from Brendan Its weird because there aren't really many movies involving identity theft out there,

Taking Lives.
Catch Me If You Can.
Dead Ringer.
The Talented Mister Ripley (not him.  the movie).

Off the top of my head.


Phil

What seems very similiar to your idea is Single White Female. Here is the link to the film: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0105414/

Hope this helps,
Gabe

Quoted Text What seems very similiar to your idea is Single White Female. Here is the link to the film: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0105414/

Just read the synopsis. Similar but not what I had in mind at all. I see the lead character picking someone out of the crowd at random and following them. Then eventually copies them and steals their information (SS, license, etc.) to pose as them. No plot twist involving twin sisters.


This is along the lines of what I have in mind for what the victim will go through.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jhUVSJIeDLg

I also wanted a lot of themes and dialogue involving acting.

I kinda of like the idea, but there are some things you have to consider. Who's the movie about? The actress, it seems.

If it's about the actress, you need to consider that the viewer needs to feel something for her. Do we want her to steal this identity? Or does it take a thriller twist where the bad guys ends up being the one taking the identity back? If so, why do we feel sorry for the actress for being in this situation?

Let's consider this for a possible plot: The actress is at the end of her rope, she's had no jobs in months and is living off scraps. In order to get into this breakout roll, she needs to essentially become someone, method acting. She finds someone who's the absolute perfect person that fits the character. But she's so desperate, she goes full ahead and steals the identity. She didn't really want to, but got carried away. Now she's on the bad side of a revenge story.

Being broke is a good idea. How I see it, she wants to take on something that'll make her extrodinary in her craft before she sets out to find an acting job in the business.

Mad Hatter, are you perhaps interested at all in this writing project?

The victim of the theft it seems would be , if not the lead character, then the one to pull for.  Maybe it all begins small, with her getting someone else's credit card returned to her in a restaurant, or something as innocous as a video rental card. But when she uses it once, she sees how it can be done, and she pushes it more and more.  OR - she comes into possession of her victim's online identity, and poses as her as she meets men on chat rooms, then robs them, etc, framing the innocent woman. That would an extra kick for the lead, she gets gratification in her one nighters with the men, then extra thrills stealing their wallets, and then seeing her victim going through all kinds of hell. Just a thought.

Drop me a PM if you're interested.

Quoted from mikep The victim of the theft it seems would be , if not the lead character, then the one to pull for.  Maybe it all begins small, with her getting someone else's credit card returned to her in a restaurant, or something as innocous as a video rental card. But when she uses it once, she sees how it can be done, and she pushes it more and more.  OR - she comes into possession of her victim's online identity, and poses as her as she meets men on chat rooms, then robs them, etc, framing the innocent woman. That would an extra kick for the lead, she gets gratification in her one nighters with the men, then extra thrills stealing their wallets, and then seeing her victim going through all kinds of hell. Just a thought. Drop me a PM if you're interested.

The lead actress being a waitress and originally stealing a credit card and then leading to other things was an idea I had.

I'm not interested in making her sleep around with men and steal her wallets though. I kind of want a strong leading lady who doesn't have to be a slut or a whore in order to get what she wants.

But if you are interested in the collaboration, maybe we can work something out.