Deeper character analysis
So who is our protagonist???
Stephen is our protagonist because the story primarily follows him and how he reacts to the events that unfold around him. We are introduced to his home, his wares, essences of his routine-driven life, and how he functions in his home. We slowly uncover his fears and paranoia and it isn't long before we put the pieces of the puzzle together and realise that his fears stem from his childhood and how the religious influences in his life were too forceful in some areas of his life.
Each time something creepy happens in the story, Stephen reacts more and more overtly, which signifies that he is having to fight against his own views and beliefs, to perhaps accept something that is out of his control.
Where does the Salesman fit into this?
His own social and spiritual upbringing has led him to be a very unique individual, with somewhat twisted yet totally justified (at least to himself) views. He is drawn to Stephen in a spiritual way, after noticing that he doesn't leave the house much, and that when he does, he is very much to himself and unassuming... the Salesman wants to understand Stephen and play on his lonesomeness. The Salesman targets Stephen to fit in with his own needs, and he comes to realise that he can play with Stephen's emotions to manipulate him, as he is vulnerable underneath it all.
The Salesman is 'rounding up' people like Stephen to be like followers of him. His own lonesomeness has become so intense that he feels the need to be in control and somewhat feed out the spiritual manipulation that was forced on him growing up. He wants people to become reliant on - or need him and knows that through preying on the unassuming, not particularly spiritual people, he can achieve his aims.
- Ultimately this back story will be harder to demonstrate on screen because we only see the Salesman briefly twice, again indicating that Stephen is the protagonist because we can go deeper into his character.
Personal context/background: Stephen
I see Stephen as a private person, quite intellectual who has had a good education and perhaps home tutoring. He is neat in presentation, but casual at the same time. I see him as having a religious mother but staunchly atheist father- thus their relationship would have had an unusual dynamic. As a result, Stephen is a little bit quirky in his ways- sometimes he is very particular wherein other things he can be quite flippant. He has tried to shut out any concept of spirituality or religion after seeing how much it controlled his mother’s life, but has after locking it away for so many years, he realises in the film that it was/is more fear of the unknown that controls his thoughts and opinions. He’s now in his late 30’s, and when reading often listens to classical or opera music.
Personal context/background: The Salesman
He is a man of mystery, but is very self-expressive at the same time. He is passionate about his work but not in good ways all the time. He has been led astray in the past by cult leaders and religious groups, and somehow found his own route that is not very distinct but he feels in control and tries to exploit people with it. He was a kind of reject growing up, hence how he was so easily led by others. He tends to pick on people that mirror the type of person he was growing up, or in contrast people he wanted to be like but failed. He is extravagant and odd, with mannerisms like that of the Grinch mixed with Willy Wonka and a spiritual preacher. (Odd combination but they’re what come up in my mind when trying to place him). He is one of those people that doesn’t look right in society, so much so that people don’t even question it any more.
Wardrobing
StephenHere is the overall concept of the colour palette we are going for with Stephen!
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I want Stephen's outfit to almost blend in with his surroundings... hopefully all going well his home would be a wooden villa, with wooden floors and beige/brown/cream tones on the inside (hopefully if we get a good location). Furniture will be dated, with one particular comfortable chair he sits in for reading in his lounge. There will hopefully be a large old mirror on his lounge wall, a wooden bookcase and small coffee tables about the place with books and papers stacked. He is a modern guy intellectually and technologically, but his home reflects his upbringing. There are random things that signify religious influence in his life but they are not of much importance.
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Costume:
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The Salesman
Costume:
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