BSA 227 W14 : Finally a Script!

I quickly wrote something in class today that would involve compositing that we can actually do, I've gone with a similar silly style as the thing I wrote for Patrick yesterday, where I don't worry too much and actually have fun writing:

INT. HOUSE - DAY

DWAYNE sits on the couch, he's wriggling his fingers - a flame hovers above them.

ZAYNE enters.

ZAYNE

DWAYNE!

DWAYNE

ZAYNE!

Dwayne and Zayne are twins.

ZAYNE

Dwayne!!

DWAYNE

Zayne?

ZAYNE

You shouldn't play with fire like that DWAYNE, one of these days you'll set the whole place aflame

DWAYNE

And you shouldn't lecture people all the time ZAYNE, it gets tiring quickly

Dwayne puts out the flame despite his protest, smoke escapes - the tips of his fingers are raw and skinless

ZAYNE

Yeah, yeah, if anything happens to this place it's coming out of your pocket this time...and could you take out the rubbish once in a while?

Zayne starts wrapping up the heavy rubbish bag.

Dwayne is applying a salve to his scorched fingertips. Bone is visible.

DWAYNE

You are always nagging - you nag. Anyway I heard the Crystal Clear Cleric was looking for the Amulet of Angst

2.

ZAYNE

Who the fuck cares about that health freak? He hardly leaves his house, how is he supposed to locate the Amulet?

DWAYNE

I don't know, I think he's doing it online, probably hire some normy to grab it for him - anyway it's no use if you know what I know about the Amulet.

ZAYNE

And what exactly would that be?

Zayne walks past the couch again towards the door carrying the trash bag.

DWAYNE

Hold up.

Dwayne stops him, rips open the rubbish bag and chucks in the empty tube of ointment.

A food container and banana peel fall to the ground in the process.

DWAYNE gives him a filthy look, closes it up again - and mends the broken bag with his magic.

DWAYNE

(watching Zayne mend the bag)

You know with all this magic you'd think we'd be more financially stable...

Zayne is unimpressed

ZAYNE

Speak for yourself...loser.

A single tear runs down Dwayne's cheek.

Zayne walks through the door taking the rubbish bag outside.

Dwayne starts playing with the fire again.

EXT. BACKYARD - DAY

Zayne is putting the rubbish in the bin, his nose twitches, he sniffs and turns around.

3.

The house is a burned rubble, smoke ascends into the sky, Zayne falls to his knees and screams:

ZAYNE

NOOOOOO!!!!

Zayne sits on his knees defeated as the screen starts fading to black:

ZAYNE (O.S)

...Ensure that the range hoods to your oven are kept clean, if you spill any fat or oils make sure you clean them immediately - is there a fire extinguisher in your kitchen? Do you need one?

FADE IN FROM BLACK:

INT. LECTURE ROOM - DAY

There are two people sitting in the room, Zayne stands in front of a whiteboard, a marker in his hand.

ZAYNE

These are all things you need to consider, fire safety is not a joke - I know from experience.

One of the two people looks homeless and is eating a plate full of sandwiches, the other is half asleep:

ZAYNE

The most important lesson I've learnt and one that seems elementary but bears repeating is: Don't play with fire folks.

Zayne's eyes are tearing up, his voice cracking.

ZAYNE

I know because of what happened to my brother last year...if you have any questions ask them now...

The one person is now fully asleep, snoring, the homeless man hesitantly raises his hand:

ZAYNE

Yes?

4.

HOMELESSMAN

Is there anything to drink?

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Zayne has a folder under his arm and is putting a backpack.

The homeless man walks out of the room behind Zayne, he's moaning:

HOMELESS MAN

What kind of fucking public forum doesn't have beverages, fucking disgraceful

Zayne ignores him and starts walking in the opposite direction.

VOICE

Zayne Payne?

Zayne turns around.

There is a mysterious figure in a hood at the dark end of the hallway, the homeless man awkwardly squeezes past murmuring under his breath.

HOOD

(projecting his voice so that Zayne can hear)

Inspiring...

ZAYNE

It's not supposed to be inspiring, it's supposed to be informative. Who are you and what the heck do you want you mysterious fuck?

HOOD

I want to talk to you about...your brother!

ZAYNE

He died in a fire accident a year ago, the whole house burned down, it resulted in a downward spiral that launched me into a state of eternal depression, I've made it my mission to ensure it never happens to another unfortunate soul--

5.

HOOD

Yeah...I..I know, I have more information about your brother's so called, alleged "accident".

Zayne's eyes squint, this is audible.

ZAYNE

I didn't finish, don't you want to know what motivates me to do what I do?

HOOD

Your brother didn't die by his own hand - or fingers? He was murdered.

ZAYNE

Stop speaking in riddles, you're being unnecessarily vague - it's frustrating and inefficient, just tell me clearly.

HOOD

Okay

The hooded figure takes off his hood, underneath is a young man, his eyes full of tears.

ZAYNE

I don't recognize you, whomst you?

HOOD

No you wouldn't, but do you recognize the name Anthony Burke?

Zayne thinks for a moment.

ZAYNE

Uhh..No actually

HOOD

Well how about The "Crystal Clear Cleric"?

ZAYNE

Now you're talking clearly.

HOOD

Then we're crystal.

ZAYNE

Well not exactly, what about him?

6.

HOOD

Well I worked for him for a spell last year and he tracked down the Amulet of Angst to your brother, I was hired to retrieve the amulet and in the process killed your brother by pouring a barrel of gasoline over his head.

ZAYNE

It was curious how he became that crispy...and I didn't listen to the coroner *tch* *tch*

CUT TO:

FLASHBACK

INT. MORGUE OR OFFICE - DAY

CORONER

The autopsy's in and there's something off...

ZAYNE

My brother never gave his reckless behavior much thought...

CORONER

No, I think this man was burned to death intentionally and not of his own hands - or fingers?

ZAYNE

I'm gonna make it my mission to ensure that something so needless and easily avoidable never happens again...

CORONER

There were traces of gasoline.

ZAYNE

I'll inform the world of fire safety.

CORONER

You're not listening...

FADE OUT:

7.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Zayne hangs his head.

ZAYNE

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

HOOD

I was too ashamed, but the memory has haunted me without relent

ZAYNE

You should have told me sooner no matter how ashamed you were back then, I'm not mad, just disappointed. Next time I expect of you to do the right thing and be honest, if you do something bad there is no shame in admitting to it, oft you'd find forgiveness rather than wrath...

The Hood cringes

HOOD

I'm not five, and you're not my dad. Anyway I have someone else to assassinate, some old dude with a big fortune and small line of succession.

The Hood picks up a fuel container and walks away.

Zayne stands alone in the hallway and drops his file, papers on fire safety spill across the floor.

ZAYNE

My mission now is to go talk to the "Crystal Clear Cleric" and convince him to forever change his ways - non violently.

The Hood pops his head back around the door:

HOOD

Huh?

ZAYNE

Never mind.

CUT TO:

8.

INT. CLERIC'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Zayne and the Cleric are standing in the room, both have hands by their sides - the cleric is wearing the amulet (he is also dressed in gym clothes and wears a headband).

CLERIC

We could have met in a public place, I am no longer housebound now that I have rid myself of social anxiety.

He strokes the Amulet sensually, a moan escapes him.

ZAYNE

What you did to get that is wrong, selfish and at the expense of someone else, specifically my dead, deceased brother.

CLERIC

But I wanted it.

ZAYNE

It doesn't matter what you want, taking something that isn't yours is a lazy and evil way to satisfy your own needs. Working hard for something is the way to go you know.

CLERIC

Stop preaching at me, are we gonna fight or what?

ZAYNE

No, I believe in solving my problems with words, next time you should try talking or bargaining with the person that has the object you desire.

CLERIC

You should have talked to your brother like this when he was still alive and told him not be so reckless, but it's too late now.

ZAYNE

I..I did.

Zayne looks away and thinks..

ZAYNE

The last thing I said to him...maybe all this lecturing doesn't work, he didn't listen anyway, no one ever does...

CLERIC

You know I actually have somewhere to be after this...

The GHOST OF DWAYNE appears:

ZAYNE

DWAYNE?!

GHOST OF DWAYNE

Zayne.

CLERIC

Huh?

GHOST OF DWAYNE

I am the ghost of the dead twin brother Dwayne

Zayne stares in amazement.

GHOST OF DWAYNE

I just wanted to say that your lecturing never helped, from beyond the grave it broke my heart to see you adopt that as your life's mission. You just aren't that good at it, I'm sorry. And I know you know, I do and Dwayne probably did too, but the last memory you shared with your brother was unhappy because of your constant fucking nagging.

Zayne looks away from the Ghost of Dwayne and at the Cleric

ZAYNE

No, you aren't going anywhere.

Zayne's hand gets surrounded by a ball of energy.

ZAYNE

We'll fight to the death, looks like that's the only solution...

The Cleric strikes up a ball of energy as well.

The two characters stand facing each other.

The Ghost of Dwayne awkwardly backs out of the room.

FADE OUT TO TITLE:

TO BE CONTINUED...

BSA 204 S2W14 : Seance Scene

I wanted to change my idea for Ash's class and decided to write up a new script - this is what I came up with (the idea being that the main character is a spiritual medium who isn't stuck just between the physical and supernatural worlds but also between jobs):

INT. HOUSE DINING ROOM - MIDDAY

EILEEN sits staring blankly forward

JOHNNY

Do you get what I'm saying?

EILEEN looks to her side before she answers:

EILEEN

Yeah JOHNNY, we've been over this...

JOHNNY

I know that, but things have changed, you have to move on now, you can't be stuck here forever

EILEEN

I know but...

JOHNNY

No more 'buts' Bill, you have to make a choice now, there's no more sitting on the fence

EILEEN glances to her side again

EILEEN

What are you saying exactly?

JOHNNY

Bill, I'm saying this time it really would be forever

EILEEN

Are you saying what I think you're saying

JOHNNY

I think I am

EILEEN

JOHNNY please...

JOHNNY

Bill, I'm saying you have to move out now, once and for all

EILEEN

But JOHNNY, why?

JOHNNY

Because you're dead now mate and it's getting weird

We reveal that the two are sitting around a table with candles, there are three seats - two of them occupied by EILEEN and JOHNNY and one spare with no one in it.

EILEEN looks towards the empty chair before she answers:

EILEEN

He says it's not his fault - I'm in the same mess you are y'know, worse off to be perfectly honest

JOHNNY

It's unfair what happened to you, and I understand that you can't help being so attached to this place - but we've had this conversation many times before, when you were alive

EILEEN

I never knew it was so serious?

JOHNNY

To be honest I cared more about getting you to move on with your life, that’s a little hard at current...but the same rules apply

EILEEN

How so?

JOHNNY

Well now you’ve just got to move on into the afterlife is all

EILEEN

You know it was never the place I was attached to?

JOHNNY

What do you mean, you love this old dump…

EILEEN

Yeah, but it’s never what kept me here you know

JOHNNY (swallows)

What kept you here Bill?

EILEEN (with tears in her eyes)

He says...He says it was you JOHNNY, it was always you…

JOHNNY starts weeping and a RINGING noise starts going off

The stopwatch is ringing and EILEEN turns it off:

EILEEN

Alright, that’ll be 200, but if you wanted to talk longer it’s 100 for every extra hour

JOHNNY

Oh yeah, alright…

JOHNNY momentarily hesitates, then wipes at his eyes

JOHNNY

no that’s fine, I’ll just take the hour, can I still say something to him before you go?

EILEEN

No sorry, I’ll have to charge extra to bring him back…

JOHNNY

Yeah no I understand, that’s algood - this way

HE gets up and walks to his left

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - MIDDAY

JOHNNY is walking down the hall, EILEEN follows:

JOHNNY

So you make a pretty good living of off this stuff?

EILEEN

Yeah it’s alright, not really a reliable source of income but it works for the moment?

JOHNNY

You study?

EILEEN

Not at the moment...I haven’t really decided what I want to do - next year.

JOHNNY stops:

JOHNNY

Right here. You charge a pretty steep price, I would have thought you’d be set financially

He reaches up to a cabinet and starts rummaging

EILEEN

Yeah you’d think...nah, there’s not that much work as you might imagine, spiritual mediums have never been high in demand…

JOHNNY takes out a jar from the cabinet and climbs off the chair

JOHNNY

How’d you get into that then?

EILEEN

Oh it was just a hobby at school, turns out I had a knack for it - not really much of a career in it though

JOHNNY

Right...I’m sorry but this is all I have

EILEEN (taking money disappointedly)

We agreed on 200, this is less than half...

JOHNNY

I’m sorry love, but that’s all I can do now, if there’s anything else…?

EILEEN

No that’s fine

EILEEN leaves the house disappointed and the opening montage starts.

This is very much unfinished and not close to what I imagined it should be, but I still think it's worth sharing here.

BSA 204 W14 : Reservoir Hill & BIG TEXT

In class we watched some episodes of the New Zealand Webseries Reservoir Hill (2010) which is about a girl who moves to a new town where she finds that she looks exactly like a girl who went missing six months prior.

The show did well for itself critically and even snagged itself a digital Emmy, this is mainly due to its relationship with its audience I think, at the time viewers were allowed to send advice to the main character which would be communicated via texts through her phone, these instructions would then directly influence the character's actions and the narrative as a whole.

It's a really cool idea that probably could be applied again and be used more effectively as it allows the writers to choose what they want to use as well as give them more inspiration and motivation for the characters. It's a really, really cool idea that actually fit with the technical innovations at the time.

I think conceptually it works very well, especially as a young adult thing. It was pretty bad in execution though...

We also did an exercise in BIG TEXT where we once again had to translate a poorly written script into something more properly formatted and phrased:

BAD VERSION

MY VERSION:

BSA 231 W13 : Quick Catch-Up

Okay where am I? Not far that's for sure. Did more shoots, don't remember what the last mentioned on here was but just finished Matthew Butler's, Kevin's and currently on the SIT Pro Rugby thing, I'm learning here and there, mostly it just feels like burning time though. Which is something I need (time that is). Good thing is I've learned to said no, (fucking finally) something I've been doing very often actually. The problem remains that I've already agreed to other things months or weeks ago that I have to do now, this blog helps a bit I suppose, don't have to think can just write. Marcus' shoot is coming up, Izaiah and Sebastian are doing pick-ups, I think Matthew has to as well and after it's Kiarne's - that's not mentioning the compositing and screen arts films I've agreed to help on - then there's think and create (Kathryn's gonna mark my performance on that really poorly). I've also agreed to help two people outside of school over the weekend - one sound, one camera, and they both want to meet or film this weekend which makes things difficult. The next thing I have to do is organise my own shoot, try and do it in a day and inside where its warm. Just need a story, no inspiration though - hate everything I come up with. Just want to watch a movie for once - that would give me some inspiration.

BSA 204 W13 : Web Series and Comedy Pilots

In class we watched a couple of web series episodes - more from the ones that we've already watched.

Stake Out 




I really liked Stake Out, it's hard to remember everything discussed in class - or maybe it's just hard to write it all out - to me the quality in this series is in it's simplicity, room for creative freedom and tight writing.

This is actually an entertaining web series - from NZ (!?) - and not bad, not bad at all actually.

No Activity

Flat 3 



This was just trash

Comedy Pilots