Thursday, November 5, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My First Script
This was a project for my scriptwriting class. We had to create a character by picking a pair of shoes and a hat from a list the prof gave us, and then write a script with dialog and at least one scene change between that character and another that is ourselves. Did that make sense? Oh, ad the first line had to be "Is there a problem?" Anyway, here's mine.
I realize that since this is a blog and not everyone reading this may know me very well, just know that anything that is actually crucial to the storyline is in the script. In other words, you don't really need to know me to get the other character; it should still read fine.
Oh, also, this is only the second or third draft, so it's nowhere near being ACTUALLY finished....but it's sort of finished for now.
Hope you enjoy!
Fade In:
EXT. CITY STREET SIDEWALK - DAY
It's the middle of the day in a large city. There is a WOMAN in her twenty's, wearing a WWI FLYING HELMET, a 1940s style outfit, BRIGHT COLORED HIGH HEELS, and a huge CARPET-BAG type purse. She is alternately rummaging through the purse, using her CELL PHONE, consulting a PIECE OF PAPER and pacing, every so often beginning to hail a taxi, then becoming preoccupied with something else.
AUBREY strolls onto the scene and takes notice of the other woman and the distressed state she is in.
AUBREY
Is there a problem?
The woman (LILY) seems not to notice at first but then sees Aubrey and comprehends she is being spoken to.
Lily
Oh! What? Uh, um, no. I'm...I'm fine.
(Pause)
Well, actually that's not true. Well, I am fine, it's just that there is a problem.
Lily goes back to her pacing and rummaging.
AUBREY
Is there anything I can do to help? Are you meeting someone? Or do you need to be somewhere?
LILY
Both.
(Pause)
LILY Con't
You see, I'm off to rehearsal for this fantastically depressing play, which is why I'm wearing this ridiculous hat, and I have the address right here. I've been to the place before, in fact, just yesterday, but it's disappeared! It should be right where we're standing, but as you can see, it's gone!
AUBREY
Huh. Well, that does seem like a problem... But whole buildings don't just disappear overnight. Are you sure you don't just have the wrong address?
LILY
No, I'm quite sure of it. As I told you, I was here yesterday, and this is the same slip of paper with the address on it, so the address can't very well have gone and changed itself over night. Or could it?
Lily contemplates this thought, but then dismisses it.
AUBREY
Do you mind if I have a look at the address? I don't have anywhere to be today, it's my day off. I don't mind helping you look for it.
Lily hands over the piece of paper.
AUBREY Con't
Well, you're right. This says 517 South 109th Street. If there were such a building it would be right here. How odd...
Aubrey looks around to check the address. She looks at the slip of paper and notices dates and precise times on it.
AUBREY CON'T
Are these times when you have to be at rehearsal?
Lily nods while still looking around searchingly.
AUBREY CON'T
Well then, you still have ten minutes. It must be here somewhere, so I doubt you'll be late.
LILY
Well, I have five minutes really. If you're on time, you're late. If you're early, *then* you are on time. And as it is, I still don't know how to get in, and so I'm going end up being on time - which is late. You see, that's what happened yesterday --
EXT. same city street sidewalk - yesterday - Day
This is a much busier day than the current day. Crowds of people fill the street. Current Lily and Aubrey are still on the sidewalk, though everyone is oblivious to them as if they were not there at all. They get jostled off to the inner edge of the sidewalk.
Lily from the day before is spotted in the crowd by the same hat she is wearing. Her outfit is not the same as the current day's, but very similar. Lily is shoving through everyone as quickly as she can.
LILY (past)
Excuse me...pardon me...ah, please, excuse -- MOVE!
The crowd around her moves slightly from the outburst; it is enough for her to scoot by to get closer to the buildings.
LILY CON'T
Well excuse you!
(to herself)
Eek gads...
Past Lily glances at the slip of paper, scans the building numbers at the top of the doors. She glances at her WATCH --
LILY CON'T
Blast! I only have a two minutes!
She scans the buildings again and a small door that wasn't noticed before a few feet down catches her attention. It blends in and doesn't have an awning or doorman like most of the others. She runs over, clutching her personal effects and dashes through the door.
EXT. City Street Sidewalk - Current - day
Most of the people on the street fade away as Lily speaks
LILY
You see?
AUBREY
No, I'm afraid I don't.
LILY
Well yesterday I nearly didn't make it on time. Well, I was on time --
AUBREY
Which made you late.
LILY
Precisely. Which is why I got here early today, but I can't find it! And now I only have five minutes to get there!
Lily becomes frantic. She rips the paper from Aubrey and begins pacing, looking at the buildings.
She walks up to one, stares at the wall, looks at Aubrey.
LILY CON'T
It was right here!
Somewhat suddenly, the street begins to fill with people, and someone walks right between Lily and Aubrey.
AUBREY
What? But there's no door there!
Aubrey struggles through the increasing crowd towards Lily.
LILY
But it was!
Lily looks back at the wall, and the door is there!
Aubrey is still working against the tide to get to Lily, suddenly sees the door between people, and stops.
Lilly smiles at Aubrey, waves and begins to open the door.
LILY
Thanks for everything dear! It was lovely meeting you!
AUBREY
Nice to meet you too -
LILY
Lily. Ta-ta!
Another couple people pass between them, and once they clear, Aubrey is staring at the place where Lily was. Both the woman and the door gone.
FADE OUT
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Matrix
I could say that I was slightly let down, but I don't think I really was expecting anything spectacular. It was good, but not anything too extraordinary. Let me explain my reasoning.
The plot: decent enough. Not a strong storyline, but enough to keep the movie moving and interesting. The concept is a very good one; the whole alternate-reality, and conception of life. I have to say, one of my favorite parts of the movie was a scene when they are eating on the ship, and the younger boy is ranting off about how perhaps sweet wheaties tasted isn't really the way they taste, but what he was tasting was tuna, or something else. That maybe chicken is just a sort of default taste, which is why everything tastes like chicken! It reminded me of something my mom has told me; she said that when she was younger she wondered if perhaps the colors she was seeing were possibly different than what other people saw....even though two people would both call a color red, the other person may be really seeing what she saw as blue. Of course, we're pretty sure that can't be possible....but the storyline I think somehow rings truth in at least the smallest measure in all of us. We all question God, and faith, fate, destiny. I think everyone wonders at some point whether we are just a small marble some other being is playing with, or actually just hidden away in some airport locker in some alternate being's world (Men In Black). Or perhaps, as I wondered as a child, that maybe we were just someone else's play-things, or someone else's dream...
The dialog: Besides the short dinner table rant, I found most of the dialog, cheap and cliche. Could definitely have been more original.
The acting: Let me just say....I'm not a fan of Keanu Reeves. The rest of the cast was pretty decent. I couldn't take the "Agent" guys very seriously though....their monotone and seriousness was slightly funny. :-)
Over-all-ness of the movie: I really didn't think it was a bad movie. As I told my friends I watched it with, I'm glad that I've seen it, but I would be perfectly fine never seeing it again.
Also, I have to note that I thought the romance was completely unnecessary. I know, a girl revoking romance! But actually the other two girls watching didn't like it either. I understand that the kiss at the end is not what woke Neo up, but that is what is implied. Really??? It's SO cliche and almost insulting that they find the need to insert that because they think they need to keep the female audience.
Really, tell your story and tell it well; the best way that you possibly can.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
L'art du cinéma
It was amazing.
Tiring, but wonderful.
True, it's a student film, low budget to the extreme, at best the crew have a few years of experience under their belts...but for what it is, it's brilliant. The movie is set in modern times, but has a defined 1940s style and feel to it. I'm a Production Assistant, which means I do anything and everything the director/producer/art director tells me to. I hold cameras, fix props, take stills, hold cords, etc. Not the most glamorous job, but I am so thankful for it. I also got thrown in as an extra for today's shoot on set. I got to dress 40s-esque, so I wore a skirt that came up to my waist, a button down shirt, my "pearl" necklace, and curled my hair the tightest it would with dark lipstick that would show up, since we're shooting in black and white. (!!!) :-D
Even better than the fact that we are shooting in black and white, is the fact that we are shooting on FILM!!! Real film. The kind that comes on the reels that you have to physically cut yourself. Ah! That is my favorite part of the film. Not only do I think it's more true to the art form, but it will fit the 40s feel so perfectly. The sound of film rolling is now one of my favorite sounds in the world. It's so beautiful... To hear the flick of the switch, "Rolling," and the shutter of the film as it passes through the camera, miraculously recording everything it's aimed towards...it took everything in me to not squeal out of delight whenever the film camera was turned on. I somehow held out until the shot was over, accompanying it with excited jumps if the scene went particularly well. Even our producer said that he was sure his heart palpitated when he first heard it.
Just to be there on set is a wonderful experience...I get to see everyone working together, see how it all falls into place, and I get to be apart of it! The most wonderful part of it all is that it feels so natural to me; it's re-affirming that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. At this point I don't even care what it is I'm doing, as long as I'm involved. I am thrilled to see this film progress, study everyone's relation to each other and the film itself, and learn as much as I possibly can.
I'll most likely keep you posted on what's going on with the film and my thoughts on it. :-)
Recommended movie to watch:
Casablanca
(For the 40s feel, and because it's a classic.)
