Teamwork suggestion: The definite introduction to psychopathy (video)

Iconoclast

Iconoclast

Jedi Master
ah well, here it goes...

for months i've had the idea in my head to write a script for a short video that explains the all-important subject of psychopathy to the uninitiated.
i looked at the recent output by various SOTT members and while good, to me those videos lack the certain 'something' - either content-wise or presentation-wise.

over the last weeks i've worked on a text-file whenever i found a little time.
i've realized that i could tinker with it til the cows come home, so i am posting it here and hope that a good 'distilling' through all these great minds on the forum will yield a clear and easily understandable script.

since i lack the video-editing skills (and the time!) necessary to produce the final video i hope that some talented soul here can take the final script and make it into a very professional looking presentation.

to sum up:

step A: forum members who want to refine or add to the script should feel free to do so.

after a general consensus that the script has been finalized,

step B: someone with the necessary skills creates the video


here is my script so far:
[notes:]
[this presentation is intended for a general audience and therefore doesn't mention subjects that are too controversial, that initiate an emotional shutdown/defense procedure - the goal is to keep their attention until the end]
[this should look like a dark movie trailer, with the appropriate sound effects (*boom* *boom*) and dramatic score]
[text must be displayed long enough for everyone to be able to read and UNDERSTAND it]
[text effects should look classy and professional. no usage of 'times new roman' or other ugly system fonts!]



[begin script]
[each new line denotes a new screen!]



science tells us
that approximately 6% of all people
are born with a genetic defect
that causes them to be psychopaths.

[images of bates, american psycho, hannibal lecter]

no, these are MOVIE psychopaths.

[images of bundy, dahmer, manson]

no, these are FAILED psychopaths.

REAL psychopaths are only detectable
by careful observation and medical examination.

they wear a "Mask Of Sanity".

they can mimic emotional responses perfectly...
...without feeling anything.

they look like you and me.

[images of crowds of regular people]

but they are unable to feel...

..empathy...
[pic/clip of people crying]

...love...
[pic/clip of couple]

...remorse...
[clip of someone apologizing]

...guilt...

GUILT

[clips/pictures of war and death]
[clips of state figures announcing war]
[clips of examples of huge corporations acting innocent - smoking/oil-spills/contagan/etc.]


psychopaths can easily tell their own from a crowd
[bush making eye contact with a fellow psychopath]

they consider regular people a different species
[clip of hitler, clip of racism in the US]

they are unable to understand our emotions
[suitable quote]

their brain produces the EXACT SAME reaction
to this picture
[mundane picture of house or similar]

or to THIS picture
[horrible picture of child torn apart by explosives]

[pause]
are you feeling horrified?
[pause]
good.
that means you are human.

these psychopaths tend to band together...
[g8 summit pic, corporate board pic, military leaders pic]

and in a dog-eat-dog world...
...they rise to the top.
[wall street pic, pic of people in power]

and with a lot of power...

...and NO CONSCIENCE

the world becomes their PREY.

[extended montage of war, tyrants, explosions, assasinations, death, etc.]

for ALL of human existence...
there have always been 6%
with this genetic defect.

[quick succession pics of pharaoes, nero, caligula, popes, henry VIII, stalin, hitler, clinton, bush, other brutal dictators etc.]

and WE have suffered the consequences
[extended montage of suffering, war, despair, death]

WE are their prey.

[quote from the movie Hollow Man: 'It's amazing what you can do... when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror any more.']


THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY.

PSYCHOPATHY IS A BIOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FACT.

there is only ONE antidote...

KNOWLEDGE

inform yourself!
[wiki, google keywords]

read: "The Mask of Sanity"
"Snakes in Suits"
"Political Ponerology"
[etc.]


KNOWLEDGE PROTECTS.
Click to expand...
help i can offer: quality control, selection of music, selection of fonts
 
As my initial thought after reading a script, I would think that you could use a good quote from each of "The Mask of Sanity," "Snakes in Suits," and "Political Ponerology" instead of "read them" (in the end). It might give the viewers of understanding where the quote came from and they might go ahead and read them. Just showing the titles of those books might not give much info. Just my thought. Overall, it looks great.
 
I'm interested.

I don't have any suggestions for revisions but once everyone is happy, let's collaborate.
 
Good 'first draft'. With these kind of things, unfortunately, you'll have to play the same game that the advertising firms do, in other words, SELL IT.

Zadius Sky said:
I would think that you could use a good quote from each of "The Mask of Sanity," "Snakes in Suits," and "Political Ponerology" instead of "read them" (in the end).
Click to expand...
You should first define your 'target market'. If you are approaching people who are not at all familiar with any of this, I would not quote from any of these publications.

I would rather use a quote like this one that's currently on the SOTT main page:

"The high office of president has been used to foment a plot to destroy the American's freedom, and before I leave office I must inform the citizen of his plight." - John F. Kennedy, 1963

That will have more punch power, since they know JFK, and thus, will be more susceptable to the rest of the information. Basically, use names dropping - JFK, founding fathers etc.

One should also somehow trigger their curiosity, to make them want to learn more. Maybe something along the lines of: Struggling to make ends meet? Wondering what's wrong with the world lately? It's not an accident, it's all by design. Meet the guys responsible.

Maybe at the end of the 'video' or 'Flash animation' have a link to a section on the SOTT page spesifically created for newcomers, with recommended reading etc.
 
Well thought out script! Quite effective, I think.
As I was reading it I could imagine it playing out in my mind.

I have some Flash animation and coding skills. With the right image and music selections, we should be able to make a great, short introductory film on psychopathy.

Zeitgeist ( _www.zeitgeistmovie.com ) has some great visuals and effective presentation, especially the beginning with all the guns blazing and bombs exploding. There's other great footage out there that we can incorporate into this film, as well.

Message/e-mail/reply to collaborate on this project :)
 
Hi Iconoclast.

This is a great idea. I've suggested some bits in the script (blue), and one change in the order (red) If some of the pics had attributed quotes included in the different montages (something from Snakes in Suits for the G8, mimicking emotions from Without Conscience or Sociopath Next Door etc) it might make the book recommendations at the end stick a little better.

Whatever music is included, it feels like it should be subtly scary, not overtly sinister. That's what made the opening of Tubular Bells so good as the theme to the Exorcist. It's actually very pretty, but goes on- and off-tempo in a "hard to put your finger on it" way. The effect is very unsettling. Something like that to draw a viewer in, without hitting them over the head (much as I love Carl Orff!)

Herondancer

Iconoclast said:
here is my script so far:
[notes:]
[this presentation is intended for a general audience and therefore doesn't mention subjects that are too controversial, that initiate an emotional shutdown/defense procedure - the goal is to keep their attention until the end][this should look like a dark movie trailer, with the appropriate sound effects (*boom* *boom*) and dramatic score]
[text must be displayed long enough for everyone to be able to read and UNDERSTAND it]
[text effects should look classy and professional. no usage of 'times new roman' or other ugly system fonts!]

[begin script]
[each new line denotes a new screen!]

science tells us
that approximately 6% of all people
are born with a genetic defect
that causes them to be psychopaths.

[images of bates, american psycho, hannibal lecter]

no, these are MOVIE psychopaths.

[images of bundy, dahmer, manson]

no, these are FAILED psychopaths.

REAL psychopaths are only detectable
by careful observation and medical examination.

they wear a "Mask Of Sanity".

they can mimic emotional responses perfectly...
...without feeling anything.

they look like you and me.

[images of crowds of regular people]

but they are unable to feel...

..empathy...
[pic/clip of people crying]

...love...
[pic/clip of couple]

...remorse...
[clip of someone apologizing]

...guilt...

GUILT

[clips/pictures of war and death]
[clips of state figures announcing war]
[clips of examples of huge corporations acting innocent - smoking/oil-spills/contaigen/etc.]


they consider regular people a different species
(compared to which, they are superior)
[clip of hitler, clip of racism in the US]

they are unable to understand our emotions
[suitable quote]

their brain produces the EXACT SAME reaction
to this picture
[mundane picture of house or similar]

or to (as to?) THIS picture
[horrible picture of child torn apart by explosives]

[pause]
are you feeling horrified?
[pause]
good.
that means you are human.


psychopaths can easily tell their own from a crowd
[bush making eye contact with a fellow psychopath]

these psychopaths tend to band together...
[g8 summit pic, corporate board pic, military leaders pic]

and in a dog-eat-dog world...
...they rise to the top.
[wall street pic, pic of people in power]

and with a lot of power...

...and NO CONSCIENCE

the world becomes their PREY.

[extended montage of war, tyrants, explosions, assassinations, death, etc.]

for ALL of human existence...
there have always been 6%
with this genetic defect.

[quick succession pics of pharaohs, nero, caligula, popes, henry VIII, stalin, hitler, clinton, bush, other brutal dictators etc.]

and WE have suffered the consequences
[extended montage of suffering, war, despair, death]

WE are their prey.

[quote from the movie Hollow Man: 'It's amazing what you can do... when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror any more.']


THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY. THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE.

PSYCHOPATHY IS A BIOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FACT. (MRI scan)

there is only ONE antidote...

KNOWLEDGE

inform yourself!
[wiki, google keywords]Cassiopedia link?

read: "The Mask of Sanity"
"Snakes in Suits"
"Political Ponerology"
[etc.]


KNOWLEDGE PROTECTS.
Click to expand...
help i can offer: quality control, selection of music, selection of fonts
Click to expand...
 
What is intended resolution of video?
Does someone here have a server capacity of hosting short raw documentary video sequences so we could create a ponerology doc video 'pool' and everyone who has them on their local pc's can upload them there to keep all in the same place; and who will create film will be able to chose from series of footages which contextually fit better? Video with channel logo on them are OK or logo should be smoothed out or cut?
 
herondancer: good changes. new updated script follows below. (i changed 'compared to which, they are superior' to 'compared to which, they feel superior')

nf3: yes, great piece of music - we could use this one for the calmer passages of the video and mix it with a more frantic/bombastic piece for the last third of the video - after 'the world becomes their prey'

CarpeDiem: i'd say we should make the highest resolution we can get (dvd-quality) and then make various versions for different distribution channels (youtube, bittorrent, etc.)
(oh, and i don't think channel logos are a problem)

also, the idea of a central upload space is GREAT - we could make a wish list of pictures/clips and whoever finds them on the net can upload them to the server!
can anyone set this up?


SCRIPT VERSION 1.1:
[begin script]
[each new line denotes a new screen!]

science tells us
that approximately 6% of all people
are born with a genetic defect
that causes them to be psychopaths.

[images of bates, american psycho, hannibal lecter]

no, these are MOVIE psychopaths.

[images of bundy, dahmer, manson]

no, these are FAILED psychopaths.

REAL psychopaths are only detectable
by careful observation and medical examination.

they wear a "Mask Of Sanity".

they can mimic emotional responses perfectly...
...without feeling anything.

they look like you and me.

[images of crowds of regular people]

but they are unable to feel...

..empathy...
[pic/clip of people crying]

...love...
[pic/clip of couple]

...remorse...
[clip of someone apologizing]

...guilt...

GUILT

[clips/pictures of war and death]
[clips of state figures announcing war]
[clips of examples of huge corporations acting innocent - smoking/oil-spills/contaigen/etc.]


they consider regular people a different species
compared to which, they feel superior
[clip of hitler, clip of racism in the US]

they are unable to understand our emotions
[suitable quote]

their brain produces the EXACT SAME reaction
to this picture
[mundane picture of house or similar]

as to THIS picture
[horrible picture of child torn apart by explosives]

[pause]
are you feeling horrified?
[pause]
good.
that means you are human.


psychopaths can easily tell their own from a crowd
[bush making eye contact with a fellow psychopath]

these psychopaths tend to band together...
[g8 summit pic, corporate board pic, military leaders pic]

and in a dog-eat-dog world...
...they rise to the top.
[wall street pic, pic of people in power]

and with a lot of power...

...and NO CONSCIENCE

the world becomes their PREY.

[extended montage of war, tyrants, explosions, assassinations, death, etc.]

for ALL of human existence...
there have always been 6%
with this genetic defect.

[quick succession pics of pharaohs, nero, caligula, popes, henry VIII, stalin, hitler, clinton, bush, other brutal dictators etc.]

and WE have suffered the consequences
[extended montage of suffering, war, despair, death]

WE are their prey.

[quote from the movie Hollow Man: 'It's amazing what you can do... when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror any more.']


THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY. THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE.

PSYCHOPATHY IS A BIOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FACT.
[pic of MRI scan]

there is only ONE antidote...

KNOWLEDGE

inform yourself!
[wiki, google keywords, cassiopedia link]

read: "The Mask of Sanity"
"Snakes in Suits"
"Political Ponerology"
[etc.]


KNOWLEDGE PROTECTS.
Click to expand...
POSSIBLE MUSIC:
clint mansell - lux aeterna
 
I've subscribed to this topic. I'll gladly surf up images and/or video footage based on: "a wish list of pictures/clips."
 
I think this is a great idea. I also think it would be great to have it approved by the Signs team and hopefully add a link to their site at the end, as it would be a collaboration using the SotT forum and a result of all the work that's being done here and on the site. The material on the site is essential for people to get.

I agree with the suggestions about using quotes from the differnt books being recommended. One thing I'm not sure of is if you would want to have a list of recommended reading at the end. I think the message should have a primary focus (as the content already seems to have) with a primary suggestion at closing - I think this would maintain a strong signal. When too much is thrown onto a person at once, they might not know where to start and so may 'put it off.'

Following herondancer's method, I put my suggestions in blue text and also added sound suggestions using the arrow symbols: <audio notes>

[notes:]
[this presentation is intended for a general audience and therefore doesn't mention subjects that are too controversial, that initiate an emotional shutdown/defense procedure - the goal is to keep their attention until the end]
[this should look like a dark movie trailer, with the appropriate sound effects (*boom* *boom*) and dramatic score]
[text must be displayed long enough for everyone to be able to read and UNDERSTAND it]
[text effects should look classy and professional. no usage of 'times new roman' or other ugly system fonts!]



[begin script]
[each new line denotes a new screen!]

<begin with the sound of a pulse/ heartbeat or the beeps an ekg machine makes>

[For the introduction, the screen could have an animation of an EKG machine that shows the spike when you hear a heart beat. After several pulses, each spike morphs/animates into the text of the first three lines below as they appear. On the fourth line (and when the word 'psychopathy' appears) the spike falls flat and screen fades]

<sound of the long beep you hear from an EKG machine makes when a heart stops (occurring during the word psychopathy)>

The science of Political Ponerology tells us
that approximately 6% of all people
are born with a genetic defect
that causes them to be psychopaths.

<begin climactic music - I think it would be preferable if we could use a track with no vocals; then we could insert various audio clips of both propaganda/psychopathic speeches and also inspirational ones like Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" and Network's "I'm as mad as Hell." I just listened to nf3's music suggestion, Lux Aeterna and I think it's a great one. The longer version would probably fit better>

[images/clipsof bates, american psycho, hannibal lecter]

no, these are HOLLYWOOD psychopaths.

[images of bundy, dahmer, manson]

no, these are FAILED psychopaths.


REAL psychopaths are only detectable
by careful observation and medical examination.


they wear a "Mask Of Sanity".


they can mimic emotional responses perfectly...
...without feeling anything.

they look like you and me.

[images of crowds of regular people]

but they are unable to feel...

..empathy...
[pic/clip of people crying]

...love...
[pic/clip of couple]

...remorse...
[clip of someone apologizing]

...guilt...

<audio here should fit with dramatic increase in the tone in the music>
GUILT

[clips/pictures of war and death]
[clips of state figures announcing war]
[clips of examples of huge corporations acting innocent - smoking/oil-spills/contagan/etc.]


psychopaths can easily tell their own from a crowd
[bush making eye contact with a fellow psychopath]

they consider regular people a different species
[clip of hitler, clip of racism in the US]

they are unable to understand our emotions
[suitable quote]

[perhaps the psychopaths MRI brain scan could fit with the below sequence?]
their brain produces the EXACT SAME reaction
to this picture
[mundane picture of house or similar]

as to THIS picture
[horrible picture of child torn apart by explosives]

[pause]
are you horrified? [deleted word 'feeling' as it seemed repetitive]
[pause]
good.
that means you are human.

these psychopaths tend to band together...
[g8 summit pic, corporate board pic, military leaders pic]

and in a dog-eat-dog world...(or 'and in our psychopathic culture...'?)
...they easily rise to the top.
[wall street pic, pic of people in power]

and with a lot of power...

...and NO CONSCIENCE

the (or 'a'?) world lacking an understanding of their nature
becomes their PREY.

[extended montage of war, tyrants, explosions, assassinations, death, etc.]

for ALL of human existence...
there have always been 6%
with this genetic defect.

[quick succession pics of pharaoes, nero, caligula, popes, henry VIII, stalin, hitler, clinton, bush, other brutal dictators etc.]

<sound of the ticks of a metronome increasing as the pics associated with the time periods pass up to current time>

and WE have suffered the consequences
[extended montage of suffering, war, despair, death]

WE are their prey.

[quote from the movie Hollow Man: 'It's amazing what you can do... when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror any more.']
[I think the quote above doesn't fit because it seems to indicate a ponerized man, rather than a psychopathic one]

THERE IS NO CONSPIRACY THEORY?.

PSYCHOPATHY IS A BIOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FACT.

there is only ONE antidote...

KNOWLEDGE

[signs logo and website if approved?]
inform yourself!
[wiki, google keywords]

read: "The Mask of Sanity"
"Snakes in Suits"
"Political Ponerology"
[etc.]


KNOWLEDGE PROTECTS.
Click to expand...
It may also be interesting if those interested in producing the video just make it, and then one could be selected by the group. Or the best parts could be taken from each and put together to form a super-duper-Captain-Planet (old cartoon reference) vid. Another way could be that people could just work on certain sections (a specific script coinciding with markers in the timing of the music would have to be established). I also like CarpeDiem's inquiry to see if there is any way to host all the clips to make for easier sharing. It could be possible with youtube (or something similar), but hopefully there's a better way to do it.
 
[For the introduction, the screen could have an animation of an EKG machine that shows the spike when you hear a heart beat. After several pulses, each spike morphs/animates into the text of the first three lines below as they appear. On the fourth line (and when the word 'psychopathy' appears) the spike falls flat and screen fades]
Click to expand...
Here's one interesting sound from the trailer of the movie Contact that sounds like a heartbeat (I think she thought it was the sound of a pulsar that Jodie put thru a speaker)

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kht_rJs38Y4
 
There is one song that constantly is in my mind when thinking of Ponerology video - it's Paris Combo – Les portes de l’ennui.
It has that incredible beat, rhytm, appeal, changing tone and beat so several 'points' could be made with the text one after one. There are sequences (passing of seconds) which imo would perfectly match to video scenery of images of Sharon, Bush, Condolizzard, Rumsy, Blair… just like a live human heart beats, in them a clock ticks. I sent mp3 to Zadius Sky, hope he will get it.

Also I think that incorporating somehow Dali images like Portrait of Missis Isabel (in Berlin), The Pearl (in Salvador Dali Fund) bended watch from his Desintegration of memory (in museum of Dali in SP, FL) and especially his The Face of War (in Rotterdam) and The Dream
Maybe even like dividing the frame in two and when speaking that they are not humans to show on one side of the frame these (or other) Dali images, and on the other side – Boticelli the Spring, Leonardo Human and others – it would be like making a strong visual call to people’s senses that THEY are different, to show that with the help of Great Artworks. I don’t know, if I made myself clear here, it’s just what I think.
 
nf3 said:
herondancer said:
Whatever music is included, it feels like it should be subtly scary, not overtly sinister.
Click to expand...
Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell
Click to expand...
That music is really touching, not just hearing it, I felt it. I was little nervous if there was lyric but there wasn't (since I can't hear lyrics well). Great music.

I think having more than just one music is reasonable. Be sure they 'fit' with some section of the video instead of being out of place.

CarpeDiem said:
I sent mp3 to Zadius Sky, hope he will get it.
Click to expand...
You sent it to me? I'd like to hear it, but I didn't get it as of yet.
 
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