The Meeting research

I have started researching for my story. I have watched a couple of documentaries on Suicide .
Firstly I watched 'The stranger on the bridge' a channel 4 doc focusing on Johnny who nearly jumped off Waterloo Bridge in 2008. He was stopped by a random stranger and that stranger saved his life. Johnny is now on a mission to find that stranger, to say thank you.
This story became popular and was trending on the internet and social media, a campaign for people to find 'Mike', the stranger in question. Many people claimed to be Mike so it was difficult for Johnny to find who the real person is, especially as he was distressed at the time of the incident and blocked out everything.

This is a documentary and not a drama but it still helps me with my screen play as how I should treat the subject of Suicide. The doc has more positives than negatives and the words used by people are delicate and calm. In my drama I will make sure I treat the subject peacefully and ensure the character fits the part of someone who has suicide feelings. I want to make sure I don't have disturbing scenes or any neglect that could cause distress.

I also watched BBC 'Life after Suicide' 2014 documentary. This doc is focused on Angela who talks about life after her partners suicidal death 11years ago. She travels around the country to find other people who have similar experiences. Angela wants to learn more about why people wish to end there life so suddenly and how it has a massive impact on loved ones close to their loss.
This doc is really inspiring as it shows Angela talking about her experience, she quotes "We have to talk about this". A great quote on the subject. Angela doesn't just talk about her self but visits other people and finds out other experience people have.

This doc has really inspired my story on how I should end it. The doc focuses on the impact suicide has to family members, with my drama I am planning on having the character die, I am thinking how the impact it will have with other people. The doc starts with a negative but turns into a positive as Angela now shares what has happened to her and shares to other people, going to groups set up for this subject. The family is brought much closer together and feel more approachable and able to talk openly. Angela doesn't want to hide anything, she wants to say something.

I feel that this doc doesn't influence my story that much in terms of a 'happy ending or positive to negative'. This documentary is mostly research of what suicide is and how I should portray it in my drama ensuring I do it correctly. I still have more research to do but I feel this is helping me have more knowledge on showing suicide in my film.