Pre - Production: PSYCHOPATH RESEARCH

When creating the character of Francis, I always wanted him to be twisted and have a certain charm to him, so, began looking into psychopaths due to there charming nature yet twisted personalities.

Looking at Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201401/how-tell-sociopath-psychopath) Scott Bonn explains traits of a psychopath compared to sociopaths and how they can be distinguished.

''Psychopaths, are unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy with others, although they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them, and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they have families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature.

When committing crimes, psychopaths carefully plan out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. Unlike their sociopathic counterparts, psychopathic criminals are cool, calm, and meticulous. Their crimes, whether violent or non-violent, will be highly organized and generally offer few clues for authorities to pursue. Intelligent psychopaths make excellent white-collar criminals and "con artists" due to their calm and charismatic natures.''

I want Francis to have stereotypical traits of a psychopath, to be charming, manipulating, and have very good social skills. This will allow him to have power as a theatre Director and CEO of the company, along with being able to charm people with his people skills and able to mimicking real emotions to make him look like a normal guy.
In the quote above they state that psychopaths often have a steady job, which is why Francis is going to be a CEO and theatre director, that way he has a normal job along with power in his hands as the director, literally 'pulling the strings' as he tells everyone how to act and what to do. Opposite to sociopaths, psychopaths are very chilled out and calm, they think rationally and don't just lash out until the crime itself happens.

I think it's very interesting how there is so many sides and traits to a psychopath as when writing a mystery film it's crucial to make sure the characters all have different sides to them. Francis being a psychopath fits perfectly with his character and who he is.

I watched the video above to give me an idea of different film psychopaths that are already out there. There is so much variety of the types of people they are however, they do all have some similar traits such as;

-Intelectual

They all have a certain way of speaking and are very thoughtful with their words.

-Emotional

Most seem to have an emotional reason behind doing what they do. In my characters case, Francis has an emotional tie to Bethany and has been attached to it to years due to his power being taken away from him.

'Patrick Bateman' in the 2000, 'American Psycho' has similar traits to Francis. He enjoys the finer things in life and portrays himself as a charming man. Although he murders, not

all psychopaths do and some often just enjoy the control and power which is why his traits relate very much to Francis. He is a successful businessman and everyone around him is delighted and charmed by him.