Script File

Preservation

A group of friends have a weekend away but it turns into a life or death struggle when an old Inn reveals its dark menace.

  • David Kline
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Horror, thriller
  • Number of Pages:
    110
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Writer Biography - David Kline

David Kline is an award winning filmmaker with experience as a scriptwriter, producer, director and editor. After several years spent training and working as a nurse, including time managing a drug and alcohol dependence unit, he followed his interest in drama at University. He started his media career as a runner and medical adviser with BBC Films before training as a radio journalist then switching to television, working as a Researcher, progressing to Assistant Producer with BBC Sport.

He arrived in script work via a fortuitous, personal link to the US actor, director and producer Laurence Fishburne. David assisted Mr Fishburne in the development of a screen adaptation of a well-known novella (Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist') for Warner Brothers. David has since worked as a script reader and reporter for several UK film agencies including Script Factory, Scottish Screen and Northern Ireland Screen. He co-wrote ‘Housejackers, a contained thriller feature film that was optioned until 2023 by Poli Productions Ltd in Belfast.

He has written numerous short film scripts and produced several, including 'On the Edge' which won Best Drama (Diamond Award) at the European Independent Film Awards 2018 and 'Game Over' a co-write with Director Adam Jenkins featuring Blake Harrison, Gemma Whelan and Naomi Battrick, which was winner of the Performance short film award 2019 (sponsored by Hiscox insurance), winner of the horror / suspense category at Ealing film festival 2020 and was officially selected for both the LA Shorts International Film Festival 2018 and London Short film festival 2019. David has also written several spec full length, feature film screenplays in a range of genres from horror to thriller to family drama. He currently resides in London, UK.

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Writer Statement

'Preservation' is a high-concept, genre piece, ticking the boxes of pretty girls in peril in an isolated place up against a malevolent force. However I've tried to confound the usual codes and conventions of horror where women are largely portrayed as victims. Both my protagonist and antagonist are strong women. As a lead character and heroine Suzanne is tough, independent and resourceful but she comes up against an equally tough adversary. The story blends elements of horror, thriller, sci-fi, psychology, parapsychology, physics theory and contemporary cultural references.

I've tried to add bits of comic relief in the form of dark humour as well as irony and there are plenty of action sequences. I wanted to write a screenplay that has commercial viability, with, dare I say it, sequels or even a franchise possibility. My main characters, Suzanne Tate, an action girl / heroine and Dr Paul Collins, a parapsychologist, offer scope for further adventures. Dr Collins is the savant of the story, both motivating the search for answers and explaining the inexplicable. However he is flawed, full of self-doubt and not particularly macho. We do gain a sense of romantic interest between Suzanne and Dr Collins. He is partly based on a real-life psychiatrist I once worked with during my years in mental health work. He had a keen interest in parapsychology and the paranormal and its bearing on psychosis.