Apartment 27 was designed to be a break from the modern understanding of the horror genre, however in its infancy it began as a re-imagination of the ‘SAW’ franchise with 5 young adults trapped in a simple room that need to perform several difficult tasks in order to escape and win their freedom, the tasks would increase in difficulty as the performance went on and would eventually culminate in the betrayal and/or demise of our main cast.

Although many of these aspects remained, as I progressed further into the script a lot of complications dawned on me as I found myself continually copy/pasting ideas and concepts from the original source material leading to my immense disappointment with my first draft. A change had to be made, a drastic one. I decided to perform a complete 180 in my writing and instead directed my focus on the imperfections and plot holes that plagued the ‘SAW’ franchise in order to essentially learn from their mistakes.

My conclusion led me to a simple answer: As the SAW franchise expanded through its sequels the direction focused more and more on a somewhat ridiculous and complex story structure, as well as monumentally excessive amounts of gore. As the plot became more complex so did the situations or ‘traps’ our characters found themselves in and speaking of the characters; they were no longer identifiable and relatable human beings, but more like one dimensional sacks of offal whose only purpose is to be expended for a cheap showing of thrills at any given time.

Following this example would be the furthest thing from my original intended goal thus for my second draft and beyond I decided to primarily focus on creating fully fleshed out characters with back stories, goals, emotions, desires and intentions. This would allow me to move the plot forward in correspondence to the characters motivations and actions as opposed to artificially moving the plot forward with forced story developments that do not match, like a vast number of current horror genre stories seem to do (think of Bruce Lee, an accomplished martial artist, suddenly becoming a fishmonger because some doctor told him if he fights one more battle his hearts left ventricle will annihilate his sternum. Who is this Doctor? Where did he come from? Why a fishmonger specifically? It’s completely illogical and out of context and would only be implemented this way because ‘the plot demands it’ or to create a false sense of tension before the situation resolves in an equally enigmatic and nonsensical way).

Apartment 27 was designed to be a break from the modern understanding of the horror genre, however in its infancy it began as a re-imagination of the ‘SAW’ franchise with 5 young adults trapped in a simple room that need to perform several difficult tasks in order to escape and win their freedom, the tasks would increase in difficulty as the performance went on and would eventually culminate in the betrayal and/or demise of our main cast.

My focus became more so about the characters themselves and less about the situation they have been thrown into; I wanted to create an accurate representation of how certain types of people would react to a few given situations, these characters personas would need to match the interpretations of the general public to a certain degree in order for the audience to relate to them, but I would not allow them to devolve into stereotypes, I designed each character to be closer to a complex archetype rather than a simplified stereotype, thus I began mind mapping my characters, as a simplified summary: one character would have a strong will and average intelligence but the inability to process and execute key information under duress, another character would have an egocentric attitude with a distinct ability towards manipulation hidden behind an obnoxious bravado, while the another would contain a mind of innocence mixed with ambivalence, finally we would have a character who shows a downright disdain for all the others yet keeps their composure throughout the performance culminating in a self-sacrifice.

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A common theme between all of these characters would be the complete ambiguity of their moralities, which reflects my opinion on humanity in general; no character or rather no person can be defined by a few simple character traits, humanity is entirely more complex than that. Thus, my reasoning for my characters reflects my reasoning for humanity; nobody is utterly and truly pure of heart, while nobody can be completely heinous, every single human being is capable of both good and evil depending on their intentions, desires, motivations and given stimuli, for example: If you ask someone for something trivial or low risk like a measly slice of bread most of the time they would simply give you it without much hesitation, but if you asked for their last slice of bread they might still give it to you but they would think about it considerably more, if you asked for the last remaining slice of bread in the world after a nuclear apocalypse chances are you are never getting that slice of break without excessive force; the characters are what drive the story forward, once you have a concrete idea about your characters lives you simply need to put them in any situation and see how they react, the story will progress in a natural pace and remain entertaining.

Upon completing my characters, I implemented my initial story idea of 5 young adults trapped in a room with tasks to complete in order to secure their freedom, and the results were exceedingly more entertaining which led to fantastic reviews and a very successful stage performance.

Since then, I have continued to evolve the narrative of "Apartment 27" by delving deeper into the psychological and emotional depths of my characters, expanding their backstories, and introducing new, more complex challenges that test their limits and reveal their true nature. This process has allowed me to explore themes of resilience, betrayal, and the inherent need for connection amidst adversity.

Building on the success of the initial performance, I experimented with alternative endings to provide audiences with a variety of experiences, each reflecting a different philosophical perspective on fate, free will, and the essence of humanity. These variations encouraged audiences to return, eager to see how small changes in character decisions could lead to drastically different outcomes.

In addition to expanding the story within the confines of the stage, I began to explore other mediums to bring "Apartment 27" to a broader audience. I adapted the play into a short film series, allowing for a more intimate look into the characters' internal struggles and a visual representation of their psychological entrapment. This adaptation was designed to be immersive, using unique camera angles and lighting to enhance the claustrophobic atmosphere of the apartment, making the audience feel as though they were trapped alongside the characters.

The exploration of "Apartment 27" didn't stop at film. I also started developing a novel, offering a deeper dive into the characters' histories and the world they inhabit. This format allowed for a more nuanced exploration of the themes of morality and survival, providing insights into the characters' thoughts and motivations that were not fully explored on stage or screen.

Interactive workshops and Q&A sessions with the audience became a staple part of the "Apartment 27" experience. These sessions provided valuable feedback and insights, influencing subsequent revisions and adaptations of the story. The engagement from the audience was incredibly rewarding, as it demonstrated the impact of the characters and the story on diverse groups of people.

The journey of "Apartment 27" has been a testament to the power of character-driven storytelling. It has reinforced my belief in the complexity of human nature and the capacity for stories to resonate across different formats. As "Apartment 27" continues to evolve, my aim remains the same: to challenge perceptions, provoke thought, and engage audiences in a conversation about what it means to be human in the face of impossible choices.

Apartment 27 was designed to be a break from the modern understanding of the horror genre, however in its infancy it began as a re-imagination of the ‘SAW’ franchise with 5 young adults trapped in a simple room that need to perform several difficult tasks in order to escape and win their freedom, the tasks would increase in difficulty as the performance went on and would eventually culminate in the betrayal and/or demise of our main cast.

Although many of these aspects remained, as I progressed further into the script a lot of complications dawned on me as I found myself continually copy/pasting ideas and concepts from the original source material leading to my immense disappointment with my first draft. A change had to be made, a drastic one. I decided to perform a complete 180 in my writing and instead directed my focus on the imperfections and plot holes that plagued the ‘SAW’ franchise in order to essentially learn from their mistakes.