Thursday, December 10, 2009
Final Project write-up
This living nightmare of a film seems to have turned into what it should have been all along! I couldn't find the motivation to truly find the direction it needed but after working all night i believe a nice piece has formed out of my film of disastrous shortcomings. With help from my friends Jeremiah and Andrew we scored out a nice assemblage of synth tracks and electric guitar. All of the sound is aided to various degrees by a tape delay. I wanted to grant more tact to the historical story feel to the piece. While scoring a strong concept emerged that bonded to the piece inseparably. There are times in our lives when emotions are entangled. While sometimes we think we can tell how a character feels by what they say or do, i wanted to use sound to add complexity to the emotions characters are feeling. Visually my actors did really well and with a somewhat minimalist soundtrack - at certain times - the believability of the piece skyrockets. I still notice a few shots that could provide some confusion but the shortened edit and the more poetic style to the piece gives the audience more room to fill in the blanks. I altered the ending to hit the viewer harder and attempted to realize the full potential of audio reacting with our subconscious. The final clip fades to black on one final bass note with an image of BJ reacting to the shotgun in his face frozen onto the screen. In the darkness we are left to think of the final image and then focus more on the sound of the final bass note reverberate. A shotgun blast suddenly explodes and the viewer is left to combine BJ's head with it as well as the soft sound of exploded chunks falling on dry leaves.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
alll righty! sooooo it's been a while since i've posted.. i feel i should make notes on how shooting went and what editing is looking like at the moment.
Filming was as hectic as it could be without falling apart completely. I had to get creative with the lights that i had (fireplace, lantern, candle, fourwheeler headlights, etc...) because i had to move to a cabin with no electricity without notice... However, this did not necessarily turn out horribly as a few shots turned out nicely. There were, still, a few poorly lit scenes that either i will just have to get over or reshoot. I DO plan on going back and shooting a few precise shots and taking some audio recordings for presence and sound effects.
I am proud of my actors for sticking with me so far and i hope they won't mind going out there again. They have all been great and did well at holding believability. This will help as i am at a point where i can take this film in two direction. I can keep it a serious film, straightforward action and gore that isn't over the top; orrrr i can cut this biatch up, keep the serious acting, and have the editing take itself wayy too seriously while reshooting some of the deaths with over-the-top gore... I will see how this editing goes and possibly in two weeks go do follow up shots for what i have decided. I'm very anxious to see how this turns out... anxious being the key word.
Filming was as hectic as it could be without falling apart completely. I had to get creative with the lights that i had (fireplace, lantern, candle, fourwheeler headlights, etc...) because i had to move to a cabin with no electricity without notice... However, this did not necessarily turn out horribly as a few shots turned out nicely. There were, still, a few poorly lit scenes that either i will just have to get over or reshoot. I DO plan on going back and shooting a few precise shots and taking some audio recordings for presence and sound effects.
I am proud of my actors for sticking with me so far and i hope they won't mind going out there again. They have all been great and did well at holding believability. This will help as i am at a point where i can take this film in two direction. I can keep it a serious film, straightforward action and gore that isn't over the top; orrrr i can cut this biatch up, keep the serious acting, and have the editing take itself wayy too seriously while reshooting some of the deaths with over-the-top gore... I will see how this editing goes and possibly in two weeks go do follow up shots for what i have decided. I'm very anxious to see how this turns out... anxious being the key word.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thriller Script (edit 2)
The Rite Stuff
Scene 1: opening
CLR
Outside Cabin - Dusk
(Shot opens up to embers dancing above a fire; slowly pans down to a crackling fire and slowly and then trucks backwards revealing three characters sitting around the fire and talking while smoking.)
Alan: You ever wonder if John Wayne Gacy Jr. felt bad for what he did?
Jacky: You think of serial killers often?
Alan: I’m serious. I heard that when he killed his first victim it was because he thought his lover was attacking him with a kitchen knife and ended up killing the boy with it. Afterwards Gacy realized he jizzed himself from the intense moment and became addicted to the feeling.
Gerry: (laughs) And you decide to bring this up when we are far away from civilization and our phones have awful service?
Jacky: Alan Brennan… The next Jeffery Dahmer.
Alan: I’m just curious!
Gerry: That’s how it all starts.
(B.J., who has been hiding in the woods, jumps out screaming with an animal mask on.)
Alan: HO-LY… shit! (everyone jumps only Alan had a voiced reaction however.)
(beat)
Jacky: B.J.?!
Gerry: What the fuck bro!? Did you seriously drive all the way out here just to scare us?
B.J.: (laughing hysterically) That. Was. Priceless! You should have seen yourselves! Like deer in headlights! Except for Alan over there… I think he pissed himself.
Gerry: You really must not have any friends if you’re out here prancing around with an African mask.
B.J.: Ha! I’m not the one who reserved the cabin for the weekend and only brought your girlfriend and your “partner”. Sounds like an orgy to me.
Gerry: Yep you’re right! Fours a crowd though so go home…
Alan: Don’t you work on the weekends?
Jacky: He doesn’t have a job..
B.J.: Whatever, I have a job! Full time job of rockin people’s faces off. Speakin of… (reaches for the joint.)
Gerry: Iiif you say so… (passes it to him)
B.J. (In between his two puffs.) Have you taken them to the burial ground yet?
Alan: The what?!
Gerry: There’s an Indian burial ground not far from here.
Alan: And why didn’t you tell the Anthropology Major?
Jacky: We were going to surprise you in the morning… great job!
B.J. It’s a lot cooler at night anyways.
Alan: I’m down.
Jacky: Nuh-uh. You guys have fun. I can sit and work on my article anyways.
B.J.: Let’s go let’s go let’s go! (scene cuts as he says this line.)
Scene 2
CLR
The burial ground - Night
(Shot moves down the side of an overgrown deer stand on the mound and they move through thick brush towards it as the camera levels. An owl hoots in the distance.)
Gerry: Yeah no one hunts in this stand anymore. Every time someone tries to fire a gun from the mound… The gun won’t fire. But the moment you step off, it’s like nothing was wrong.
B.J.: My firearm’s working fine.. (cuts to B.J. as he is shown from behind clearly taking a leak.)
Gerry: Oh so you got the burning to stop after that Malaysian whore?
B.J.: You mean what I got from your mom?
Gerry: (beat) you do realize we are brothers?
B.J.: Fucking amazing?! (holds an object we can’t quite see and comes running over.)
Gerry: Where did you get that?
Alan: Lemme see –
Scene 3
CLR
Outside Cabin - Night
(shot comes up of a piece of ceramic pottery in fire light. They are all around the campfire drinking beer.)
Jacky: What does it say?
Alan: It’s hard to tell. There are only fragmented phrases but I think it mentions a boy.. (beat) who. gets lost… from his tribe.
B.J. Laaame
Alan: (ignores B.J. continues interpreting) The boy is given some kind of choice between objects… that determines what kind of man the boy will become…
Gerry: We should definitely take this to your professor when we get back.
Alan: For sure.
Scene 4
CLR
Outside Cabin - Night
(Shot of Bathroom as Alan walks in, almost glances into the mirror. He walks over and pees and stares at the wall in front of him, lost in the photo in front of him. Unaware, he wavers closer and closer until his center of balance forces Alan to just use his head and stop his fall and still be able to pee in the toilet. He then uses one hand to push himself off the front wall and shakes his head.)
(He then zips and walks toward the sink. As he reaches to turn the sink off, he picks something out of his teeth and is disgusted with his drunken state. He washes his face to rejuvenate himself a little.)
(They are all still sitting outside. Gerry takes pictures of the cabin and some of his friends as Jacky and BJ sit by the fire drinking.)
B.J.: SHHHIT!
Gerry: What?
B.J.: I think someone just threw a rock at me.
Jacky: Tell them to do it again.
B.J.: I bet it’s Alan screwin with me.
(Camera cuts back inside as Alan is getting done washing his face and drying it with a towel. He then proceeds to open the door.)
(cuts back to B.J. and he gets hit again.)
B.J.: Aghh-Ok! Where you at douchebag?
(A large thud* is heard behind the cabin. B.J. leaps up and holds a finger to his mouth. Then he sneaks off to the side of the cabin.)
(Camera cuts to a side shot of Alan and a large black figure looming over him in the doorway. Alan freaks, slips and nails his head on the counter. THUD!*)
(B.J. is behind the cabin looking down the ravine for Alan and sees a shadow duck off behind a tree.)
B.J.: (chuckles to himself) And he thinks he can scare me? (Quietly heads down the ravine after him)
(Alan is still lying on the floor of the bathroom writhing in pain and looks to see that there isn’t a figure there anymore. He gets up still feeling his head throb.)
Alan: That was slick… (Kicks at the puddle of water on the floor and then looks around but no one is there to catch the pun. Shakes head slightly)
(Alan walks outside and Gerry is taking pictures and Jacky
Alan: Where’s B.J.?
Gerry: He went lookin for you.. Where’ve you been?
Alan: The bathroom..
Gerry: The whole time? What were you doing in there, buffing the bishop?
Alan: That’s funny… I got sick , threw up, washed my face, slipped, and hit my head on the countertop… Fuck my life…
Jacky: Someone going to tell B.J. that Alan’s been here?
Gerry: I don’t have a connection out here… (beat) Let’s let him wander around a bit.
Scene 5
CLR/BNW
Woods, Night
(B.J. is wandering and hearing sounds of sticks hitting pine trees. He thinks Alan is trying to scare him. Wanting to beat him at his own game, B.J. pulls out the drumsticks he always carries in his back pocket and starts hitting the trees in response. First simply hitting once and then playing with rhythms, paradiddles, etc… The responding noises lead him upon a stream which runs into a small embankment covered with foliage. He comes upon three seemingly constructed circles of bedrocks, each one enshrining a different object. Two of which have two different plant growing out of them.)
B.J.: (of course, quickly takes what is in the center circle, a ceremonial blade with a goat horn for a handle.) Nice… (He unsheathes it and at the same time a piercing screech echoes through the woods.)
B.J.: What the… Fuck was that? (Gives up on the sneaking and decides to yell for Alan.) Hey Alan! Did you hear that? (nothing)
(B.J. leaves the foliage and begins to trek back to camp. He begins to hear brush rustling from location all around him. The scream comes again only this time it sounds as though the sound blew right by him. B.J. becomes startled. The woods seem much more alive now, trees waver, the sun casts long shadows because of it’s low position in the sky. He looks around rapidly as the camera takes more of a 1st perspective throwing the bearings of the audience. The noises get more and more intense. This beast sounds violent and it moves so fast you only see a blur. B.J. thinks he can hear where the next pass will be from. He looks and gets a glimpse of it coming at him. [done with an ambiguous figure quickly approaching and using skipped frames so it jumps forward.] He puts his back to the tree in front of him and listens for it to approach. This time the shriek is bloodcurdling. It gets louder and louder until B.J. swings out from behind the tree and thrusts his dagger at the creature. At the moment he jumps out, the high pitch ring instantly dissolves out into a cry of pain from Gerry. Gerry’s face is already pale as his writhing hands cling to B.J.s shoulders. B.J. looks down to see blood gushing out of the deep wound in Gerry’s gut. B.J. tries to back away but Gerry, gasping for air, tries to grab at B.J.. Confusion is across Gerry’s face as B.J. pushes him off. Grabbing at whatever he can, Gerry reaches and pulls B.J.’s shirt with one hand and the other pulls one of the drumsticks that was sticking out of B.J.’s back pocket. B.J. yanks his shirt out of Gerry’s hand as Gerry topples over face first plunging the knife deeper and finishing the job. Gerry lays face down with left hand underneath him [including the drumstick which is clutched in it] and only his right hand blindly outstretched in front of him.)
Scene 6
CLR
Outside Cabin – Night
(Alan and Jacky are still outside the cabin. They throw the Frisbee back and forth across the top of fire. B.J. walks up.)
Jacky: There you are!
Alan: Where’s Gerry?
B.J.: Is he not with here?
Jacky: He went looking for you.
B.J.: (shrugs) I didn’t see him…
Jacky: Oookay. Well… catch! (throws Frisbee at B.J. and he is slow to the draw. He gets hit.)
B.J.: What the hell Jacky!!!
Jacky: Jesus… lighten up.
B.J.: I need to take a leak. (walks to the cabin.)
Jacky: You could at least throw it back…
(B.J. doesn’t respond and continues inside. Shot moves inside the cabin as B.J. walks in and sees Gerry’s keys on the counter. He takes them and puts them in his pocket then moves to the bathroom. There he washes the small bit of dried blood off his hands. He stops for a moment and stares at himself in the mirror. He’s sickened and finally comes to takes in what happened. He vomits in the toilet and lingers above the rim for bit as he breathes heavily. Then he gets up to wash his face and then realizes he has only one drum stick. He knows things are complicated and is still assessing his plan of action.)
Scene 7
CLR
Dawn - Inside Cabin/Outside Woods
(Alan and B.J. are lying on their cots asleep as Jacky is restless for Gerry hasn’t returned. She decides to go alone and search for him. Shot shows B.J.’s head silhouetted by the dim light through the window. As Jacky exits light shines on the front of him showing that B.J. is actually still awake with his eyes peeled.)
Scene 8
CLR/BNW
Dawn, woods
(Jacky sees a body in the distance laying face down in the leaves.)
Jacky: Gerry!?!
(Runs over to him. She stops before the body and freezes out of breath wondering what to do. Jacky pushes Gerry over to reveal his bruised face and bloodshot eyes from the settling of fluids over night. At this moment the color of the scene drains away starting with the sight of the body and everything is again Black and White. A wound in the stomach is apparent as the bloody knife lay next to him. Jacky doesn’t have to check that he’s dead.)
Jacky: Oh.. shit.. SHIT! (pause) Gerry…
(Fighting back tears, she attempts to compose herself and slow down her breathing as she then gains courage up to search the body. Jacky reaches to lift up the shirt first, the blood sticks to the cotton as she pulls it back. Being a stomach wound, bile from the intestinal juices digest Gerry’s body inside and out, the fumes hit Jacky in the face. Quickly the shirt is dropped and Jacky nearly vomits. She remains on her knees staring unmoving at Gerry’s lifeless body. Finally she lets out a scream and breaks down into tears slowly reaching out to feel his cold face. Grabbing the bloody knife next to Gerry and looking it over, she wonders where such a device could possibly come from.)
Jacky: Who the hell did this to you?
(beat)
B.J.: Jacky! Are you all right?
Alan: We heard you scream from the Cabin.
(B.J. and Alan walk up as they then see Gerry’s body next to Jacky. B.J. runs up shotgun in hand to get a better look at the corpse. Alan stares motionless, unable to quickly grasp what has happened.)
B.J.: Gerry!
Jacky: You don’t have to check him. He’s dead…
Alan: …What happened?
Jacky: I don’t know! I found this lying next to him but I just don’t understand…
B.J.: (quickly jumping up to see what she found) What is that? Some sacrificial dagger? (taking it from Jacky)
Alan: (snapping) Someone just sacrificed my best friend and left him out in the fucking woods? We have to do something!
Jacky: Like what Alan?! Whoever it is, is long gone by now!
Alan: HE’S DEAD JACKY! WE HAVE TO GET HELP!
B.J.: NO! we don’t… if we get help, who do you think will get blamed? I don’t see anyone else out here!
(At this moment Jacky notices what lies in Gerry’s left hand, a drumstick.)
Jacky: Not to mention your fingerprints are all over that knife.
Alan: Who the hell uses a ceremonial blade to murder someone?!
B.J.: Then we take the knife and toss it, and leave the body.
Jacky: If we do that the cops will think it was us! People know we came up here together.
Alan: Are ya’ll not worried about who did this?! They could come for us!
B.J.: People know you came up here. I’ve got my own ride…
Jacky: Fuck you B.J.!! He’s your own Brother!
Alan: She’s right we can’t just leave him here.
B.J.: If you tell anyone they are going to think it was us!
Jacky: Most likely just you…
B.J.: and why would they think that?
Jacky: I’ve seen how you look at him… You’ve always been jealous of Gerry.
Alan: What the hell are ya’ll talking about!
Jacky: Jealous of his talents, his success, his girlfriend.
B.J.: You’re full of shit.
Jacky: You’ve got no job, no life, no love. I’ve seen the way you look at me. Wishing you could be him. You’re so fucking worthless.
BJ: Shut up Jacky!!
Jacky: Don’t blame me for being a failure BJ! You were jealous of everything Gerry was and wanted it for yourself!!
BJ: Shut up!!!
Jacky: Wanted it so bad that you’d rather him not have anything because compared to him you WERE SHIT!!!
BJ: SHUT! (Hitting Jacky with across the face with the butt of the gun) UP!!!
(Alan being surprisingly quick to react grabs at the gun and attempts to wrestle it from BJ.)
BJ: Let go Alan! And I won’t shoot you!
(Alan headbutts BJ in the face and BJ loosen his grip enough for Alan to rip it out of his grasp as BJ falls to the ground beside Jacky. Alan instantly has the gun on BJ. Jacky is still dazed on the ground.)
Alan: Did you kill him?!
BJ: What..
Alan: Did you kill Gerry?!!
BJ: What do you think?!
Alan: ANSWER ME!!
Jacky: (still somewhat dazed) of course he did.
Alan: I want to hear him say it.
BJ: Of course not he’s my own brother!
Jacky: LIAR! (she jumps to get on top of BJ but Alan pushes her off and faces her with his back to BJ. Bad move.)
Alan: Jacky you don’t KNOW THAT!!
(As Alan says this, BJ rises up behind Alan with the blade in hand, swiftly reaches around his throat and gives him a Columbian necktie. Alan falls and holds himself up on a tree gradually sliding down as his hand leaves a single diagonal smear down the side.)
Scene 9
BNW
Outside Cabin – Day
(BJ reaches for the gun and Jacky is already bolting towards the cabin. She rounds the side of the cabin and there is a wood axe leaning on the wall. She picks it up and puts her back to the wall at the corner and tries to silence her breathing and listen for BJ. There is a moment of silence as she waits anxiously, hoping he rounds the side she’s on. Luckily he does and we see a barrel peek around the corner. She swings down aiming for his hands but he lets go and the gun and ax hit the ground. BJ grabs her and begins to drag her inside the cabin.)
(Jacky bites down hard onto his forearm)
BJ: AAAAGGHH!! SHIT!!
(Jacky runs back to the ax but trips and falls around the corner twisting her ankle and let’s out a scream. BJ sees hears this and laughs. He walks around the corner to see her laying face down on the ground in pain.)
(Jacky rolls over, gun in hand. And cocks the shotgun once.)
(beat. BJ stares at her wondering if she‘s got the guts.)
BLAM!!)
(BJ’s head is demolished as his body instantly falls backward to the ground.)
(Jacky rolls over and instantly has time to think about everything, her eyes well as the shot fades out. The fire still is smoldering as we see her tear off in the car.)
(The Credits Roll)
End.
Scene 1: opening
CLR
Outside Cabin - Dusk
(Shot opens up to embers dancing above a fire; slowly pans down to a crackling fire and slowly and then trucks backwards revealing three characters sitting around the fire and talking while smoking.)
Alan: You ever wonder if John Wayne Gacy Jr. felt bad for what he did?
Jacky: You think of serial killers often?
Alan: I’m serious. I heard that when he killed his first victim it was because he thought his lover was attacking him with a kitchen knife and ended up killing the boy with it. Afterwards Gacy realized he jizzed himself from the intense moment and became addicted to the feeling.
Gerry: (laughs) And you decide to bring this up when we are far away from civilization and our phones have awful service?
Jacky: Alan Brennan… The next Jeffery Dahmer.
Alan: I’m just curious!
Gerry: That’s how it all starts.
(B.J., who has been hiding in the woods, jumps out screaming with an animal mask on.)
Alan: HO-LY… shit! (everyone jumps only Alan had a voiced reaction however.)
(beat)
Jacky: B.J.?!
Gerry: What the fuck bro!? Did you seriously drive all the way out here just to scare us?
B.J.: (laughing hysterically) That. Was. Priceless! You should have seen yourselves! Like deer in headlights! Except for Alan over there… I think he pissed himself.
Gerry: You really must not have any friends if you’re out here prancing around with an African mask.
B.J.: Ha! I’m not the one who reserved the cabin for the weekend and only brought your girlfriend and your “partner”. Sounds like an orgy to me.
Gerry: Yep you’re right! Fours a crowd though so go home…
Alan: Don’t you work on the weekends?
Jacky: He doesn’t have a job..
B.J.: Whatever, I have a job! Full time job of rockin people’s faces off. Speakin of… (reaches for the joint.)
Gerry: Iiif you say so… (passes it to him)
B.J. (In between his two puffs.) Have you taken them to the burial ground yet?
Alan: The what?!
Gerry: There’s an Indian burial ground not far from here.
Alan: And why didn’t you tell the Anthropology Major?
Jacky: We were going to surprise you in the morning… great job!
B.J. It’s a lot cooler at night anyways.
Alan: I’m down.
Jacky: Nuh-uh. You guys have fun. I can sit and work on my article anyways.
B.J.: Let’s go let’s go let’s go! (scene cuts as he says this line.)
Scene 2
CLR
The burial ground - Night
(Shot moves down the side of an overgrown deer stand on the mound and they move through thick brush towards it as the camera levels. An owl hoots in the distance.)
Gerry: Yeah no one hunts in this stand anymore. Every time someone tries to fire a gun from the mound… The gun won’t fire. But the moment you step off, it’s like nothing was wrong.
B.J.: My firearm’s working fine.. (cuts to B.J. as he is shown from behind clearly taking a leak.)
Gerry: Oh so you got the burning to stop after that Malaysian whore?
B.J.: You mean what I got from your mom?
Gerry: (beat) you do realize we are brothers?
B.J.: Fucking amazing?! (holds an object we can’t quite see and comes running over.)
Gerry: Where did you get that?
Alan: Lemme see –
Scene 3
CLR
Outside Cabin - Night
(shot comes up of a piece of ceramic pottery in fire light. They are all around the campfire drinking beer.)
Jacky: What does it say?
Alan: It’s hard to tell. There are only fragmented phrases but I think it mentions a boy.. (beat) who. gets lost… from his tribe.
B.J. Laaame
Alan: (ignores B.J. continues interpreting) The boy is given some kind of choice between objects… that determines what kind of man the boy will become…
Gerry: We should definitely take this to your professor when we get back.
Alan: For sure.
Scene 4
CLR
Outside Cabin - Night
(Shot of Bathroom as Alan walks in, almost glances into the mirror. He walks over and pees and stares at the wall in front of him, lost in the photo in front of him. Unaware, he wavers closer and closer until his center of balance forces Alan to just use his head and stop his fall and still be able to pee in the toilet. He then uses one hand to push himself off the front wall and shakes his head.)
(He then zips and walks toward the sink. As he reaches to turn the sink off, he picks something out of his teeth and is disgusted with his drunken state. He washes his face to rejuvenate himself a little.)
(They are all still sitting outside. Gerry takes pictures of the cabin and some of his friends as Jacky and BJ sit by the fire drinking.)
B.J.: SHHHIT!
Gerry: What?
B.J.: I think someone just threw a rock at me.
Jacky: Tell them to do it again.
B.J.: I bet it’s Alan screwin with me.
(Camera cuts back inside as Alan is getting done washing his face and drying it with a towel. He then proceeds to open the door.)
(cuts back to B.J. and he gets hit again.)
B.J.: Aghh-Ok! Where you at douchebag?
(A large thud* is heard behind the cabin. B.J. leaps up and holds a finger to his mouth. Then he sneaks off to the side of the cabin.)
(Camera cuts to a side shot of Alan and a large black figure looming over him in the doorway. Alan freaks, slips and nails his head on the counter. THUD!*)
(B.J. is behind the cabin looking down the ravine for Alan and sees a shadow duck off behind a tree.)
B.J.: (chuckles to himself) And he thinks he can scare me? (Quietly heads down the ravine after him)
(Alan is still lying on the floor of the bathroom writhing in pain and looks to see that there isn’t a figure there anymore. He gets up still feeling his head throb.)
Alan: That was slick… (Kicks at the puddle of water on the floor and then looks around but no one is there to catch the pun. Shakes head slightly)
(Alan walks outside and Gerry is taking pictures and Jacky
Alan: Where’s B.J.?
Gerry: He went lookin for you.. Where’ve you been?
Alan: The bathroom..
Gerry: The whole time? What were you doing in there, buffing the bishop?
Alan: That’s funny… I got sick , threw up, washed my face, slipped, and hit my head on the countertop… Fuck my life…
Jacky: Someone going to tell B.J. that Alan’s been here?
Gerry: I don’t have a connection out here… (beat) Let’s let him wander around a bit.
Scene 5
CLR/BNW
Woods, Night
(B.J. is wandering and hearing sounds of sticks hitting pine trees. He thinks Alan is trying to scare him. Wanting to beat him at his own game, B.J. pulls out the drumsticks he always carries in his back pocket and starts hitting the trees in response. First simply hitting once and then playing with rhythms, paradiddles, etc… The responding noises lead him upon a stream which runs into a small embankment covered with foliage. He comes upon three seemingly constructed circles of bedrocks, each one enshrining a different object. Two of which have two different plant growing out of them.)
B.J.: (of course, quickly takes what is in the center circle, a ceremonial blade with a goat horn for a handle.) Nice… (He unsheathes it and at the same time a piercing screech echoes through the woods.)
B.J.: What the… Fuck was that? (Gives up on the sneaking and decides to yell for Alan.) Hey Alan! Did you hear that? (nothing)
(B.J. leaves the foliage and begins to trek back to camp. He begins to hear brush rustling from location all around him. The scream comes again only this time it sounds as though the sound blew right by him. B.J. becomes startled. The woods seem much more alive now, trees waver, the sun casts long shadows because of it’s low position in the sky. He looks around rapidly as the camera takes more of a 1st perspective throwing the bearings of the audience. The noises get more and more intense. This beast sounds violent and it moves so fast you only see a blur. B.J. thinks he can hear where the next pass will be from. He looks and gets a glimpse of it coming at him. [done with an ambiguous figure quickly approaching and using skipped frames so it jumps forward.] He puts his back to the tree in front of him and listens for it to approach. This time the shriek is bloodcurdling. It gets louder and louder until B.J. swings out from behind the tree and thrusts his dagger at the creature. At the moment he jumps out, the high pitch ring instantly dissolves out into a cry of pain from Gerry. Gerry’s face is already pale as his writhing hands cling to B.J.s shoulders. B.J. looks down to see blood gushing out of the deep wound in Gerry’s gut. B.J. tries to back away but Gerry, gasping for air, tries to grab at B.J.. Confusion is across Gerry’s face as B.J. pushes him off. Grabbing at whatever he can, Gerry reaches and pulls B.J.’s shirt with one hand and the other pulls one of the drumsticks that was sticking out of B.J.’s back pocket. B.J. yanks his shirt out of Gerry’s hand as Gerry topples over face first plunging the knife deeper and finishing the job. Gerry lays face down with left hand underneath him [including the drumstick which is clutched in it] and only his right hand blindly outstretched in front of him.)
Scene 6
CLR
Outside Cabin – Night
(Alan and Jacky are still outside the cabin. They throw the Frisbee back and forth across the top of fire. B.J. walks up.)
Jacky: There you are!
Alan: Where’s Gerry?
B.J.: Is he not with here?
Jacky: He went looking for you.
B.J.: (shrugs) I didn’t see him…
Jacky: Oookay. Well… catch! (throws Frisbee at B.J. and he is slow to the draw. He gets hit.)
B.J.: What the hell Jacky!!!
Jacky: Jesus… lighten up.
B.J.: I need to take a leak. (walks to the cabin.)
Jacky: You could at least throw it back…
(B.J. doesn’t respond and continues inside. Shot moves inside the cabin as B.J. walks in and sees Gerry’s keys on the counter. He takes them and puts them in his pocket then moves to the bathroom. There he washes the small bit of dried blood off his hands. He stops for a moment and stares at himself in the mirror. He’s sickened and finally comes to takes in what happened. He vomits in the toilet and lingers above the rim for bit as he breathes heavily. Then he gets up to wash his face and then realizes he has only one drum stick. He knows things are complicated and is still assessing his plan of action.)
Scene 7
CLR
Dawn - Inside Cabin/Outside Woods
(Alan and B.J. are lying on their cots asleep as Jacky is restless for Gerry hasn’t returned. She decides to go alone and search for him. Shot shows B.J.’s head silhouetted by the dim light through the window. As Jacky exits light shines on the front of him showing that B.J. is actually still awake with his eyes peeled.)
Scene 8
CLR/BNW
Dawn, woods
(Jacky sees a body in the distance laying face down in the leaves.)
Jacky: Gerry!?!
(Runs over to him. She stops before the body and freezes out of breath wondering what to do. Jacky pushes Gerry over to reveal his bruised face and bloodshot eyes from the settling of fluids over night. At this moment the color of the scene drains away starting with the sight of the body and everything is again Black and White. A wound in the stomach is apparent as the bloody knife lay next to him. Jacky doesn’t have to check that he’s dead.)
Jacky: Oh.. shit.. SHIT! (pause) Gerry…
(Fighting back tears, she attempts to compose herself and slow down her breathing as she then gains courage up to search the body. Jacky reaches to lift up the shirt first, the blood sticks to the cotton as she pulls it back. Being a stomach wound, bile from the intestinal juices digest Gerry’s body inside and out, the fumes hit Jacky in the face. Quickly the shirt is dropped and Jacky nearly vomits. She remains on her knees staring unmoving at Gerry’s lifeless body. Finally she lets out a scream and breaks down into tears slowly reaching out to feel his cold face. Grabbing the bloody knife next to Gerry and looking it over, she wonders where such a device could possibly come from.)
Jacky: Who the hell did this to you?
(beat)
B.J.: Jacky! Are you all right?
Alan: We heard you scream from the Cabin.
(B.J. and Alan walk up as they then see Gerry’s body next to Jacky. B.J. runs up shotgun in hand to get a better look at the corpse. Alan stares motionless, unable to quickly grasp what has happened.)
B.J.: Gerry!
Jacky: You don’t have to check him. He’s dead…
Alan: …What happened?
Jacky: I don’t know! I found this lying next to him but I just don’t understand…
B.J.: (quickly jumping up to see what she found) What is that? Some sacrificial dagger? (taking it from Jacky)
Alan: (snapping) Someone just sacrificed my best friend and left him out in the fucking woods? We have to do something!
Jacky: Like what Alan?! Whoever it is, is long gone by now!
Alan: HE’S DEAD JACKY! WE HAVE TO GET HELP!
B.J.: NO! we don’t… if we get help, who do you think will get blamed? I don’t see anyone else out here!
(At this moment Jacky notices what lies in Gerry’s left hand, a drumstick.)
Jacky: Not to mention your fingerprints are all over that knife.
Alan: Who the hell uses a ceremonial blade to murder someone?!
B.J.: Then we take the knife and toss it, and leave the body.
Jacky: If we do that the cops will think it was us! People know we came up here together.
Alan: Are ya’ll not worried about who did this?! They could come for us!
B.J.: People know you came up here. I’ve got my own ride…
Jacky: Fuck you B.J.!! He’s your own Brother!
Alan: She’s right we can’t just leave him here.
B.J.: If you tell anyone they are going to think it was us!
Jacky: Most likely just you…
B.J.: and why would they think that?
Jacky: I’ve seen how you look at him… You’ve always been jealous of Gerry.
Alan: What the hell are ya’ll talking about!
Jacky: Jealous of his talents, his success, his girlfriend.
B.J.: You’re full of shit.
Jacky: You’ve got no job, no life, no love. I’ve seen the way you look at me. Wishing you could be him. You’re so fucking worthless.
BJ: Shut up Jacky!!
Jacky: Don’t blame me for being a failure BJ! You were jealous of everything Gerry was and wanted it for yourself!!
BJ: Shut up!!!
Jacky: Wanted it so bad that you’d rather him not have anything because compared to him you WERE SHIT!!!
BJ: SHUT! (Hitting Jacky with across the face with the butt of the gun) UP!!!
(Alan being surprisingly quick to react grabs at the gun and attempts to wrestle it from BJ.)
BJ: Let go Alan! And I won’t shoot you!
(Alan headbutts BJ in the face and BJ loosen his grip enough for Alan to rip it out of his grasp as BJ falls to the ground beside Jacky. Alan instantly has the gun on BJ. Jacky is still dazed on the ground.)
Alan: Did you kill him?!
BJ: What..
Alan: Did you kill Gerry?!!
BJ: What do you think?!
Alan: ANSWER ME!!
Jacky: (still somewhat dazed) of course he did.
Alan: I want to hear him say it.
BJ: Of course not he’s my own brother!
Jacky: LIAR! (she jumps to get on top of BJ but Alan pushes her off and faces her with his back to BJ. Bad move.)
Alan: Jacky you don’t KNOW THAT!!
(As Alan says this, BJ rises up behind Alan with the blade in hand, swiftly reaches around his throat and gives him a Columbian necktie. Alan falls and holds himself up on a tree gradually sliding down as his hand leaves a single diagonal smear down the side.)
Scene 9
BNW
Outside Cabin – Day
(BJ reaches for the gun and Jacky is already bolting towards the cabin. She rounds the side of the cabin and there is a wood axe leaning on the wall. She picks it up and puts her back to the wall at the corner and tries to silence her breathing and listen for BJ. There is a moment of silence as she waits anxiously, hoping he rounds the side she’s on. Luckily he does and we see a barrel peek around the corner. She swings down aiming for his hands but he lets go and the gun and ax hit the ground. BJ grabs her and begins to drag her inside the cabin.)
(Jacky bites down hard onto his forearm)
BJ: AAAAGGHH!! SHIT!!
(Jacky runs back to the ax but trips and falls around the corner twisting her ankle and let’s out a scream. BJ sees hears this and laughs. He walks around the corner to see her laying face down on the ground in pain.)
(Jacky rolls over, gun in hand. And cocks the shotgun once.)
(beat. BJ stares at her wondering if she‘s got the guts.)
BLAM!!)
(BJ’s head is demolished as his body instantly falls backward to the ground.)
(Jacky rolls over and instantly has time to think about everything, her eyes well as the shot fades out. The fire still is smoldering as we see her tear off in the car.)
(The Credits Roll)
End.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Temporary Write up
ok so i'm sticking with one idea now. I say temporary because there are always details that change for me. I will film at the school at night and attempt to use after effects to create an antique film look. The use of skipped frames and dust and scratches will hopefully aid in the feel of the movie.
So the plot is that a guy, Rick, is going to an art school and ends up meeting a fellow student while working late. They hang out often and start growing fond of each other. Strange enough that he never sees her around classes during the day and begins asking friends whether they've even met her before. He decides to ask her whether she actually goes to school. It isn't until 2 nights later that he actually sees her in the auditorium only this time he is with a friend (another girl). Out of jealousy (For time's sake the spirit can be referred to as Anne) Anne kills Rick's friend. Rick runs only to find that she isn't confined to the school and winds up in his bedroom. In an attempt to free himself from this obsessive ghoul Rick uncovers her past and seeks out her redemption so she may move on. Only she isn't necessarily willing for this assistance and ends up becoming threatening for Rick to join her in her despaired existence.
Possible Endings being that he uncovers how she died of giving herself an abortion in the MCA bathroom after her boyfriend left her. And she accepts what happened after talking to Rick about it and Rick kills her old boyfriend or... Rick kills himself and joins her because he realizes he loves her more than any "living" girl he knows.
Here's some stuff to help with understanding the style i may be going for.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2006/10/blacksundayjma.jpg
http://www.archive.org/details/CarnivalOfSouls_ipod
So the plot is that a guy, Rick, is going to an art school and ends up meeting a fellow student while working late. They hang out often and start growing fond of each other. Strange enough that he never sees her around classes during the day and begins asking friends whether they've even met her before. He decides to ask her whether she actually goes to school. It isn't until 2 nights later that he actually sees her in the auditorium only this time he is with a friend (another girl). Out of jealousy (For time's sake the spirit can be referred to as Anne) Anne kills Rick's friend. Rick runs only to find that she isn't confined to the school and winds up in his bedroom. In an attempt to free himself from this obsessive ghoul Rick uncovers her past and seeks out her redemption so she may move on. Only she isn't necessarily willing for this assistance and ends up becoming threatening for Rick to join her in her despaired existence.
Possible Endings being that he uncovers how she died of giving herself an abortion in the MCA bathroom after her boyfriend left her. And she accepts what happened after talking to Rick about it and Rick kills her old boyfriend or... Rick kills himself and joins her because he realizes he loves her more than any "living" girl he knows.
Here's some stuff to help with understanding the style i may be going for.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2006/10/blacksundayjma.jpg
http://www.archive.org/details/CarnivalOfSouls_ipod
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Writer's Dump
For starters I need to start sleeping more so i don't miss class. :/ Sorry Jill. I don't want you to think that i'm not working on film scripts so i'm going to publish what i have so far.
Ok so i have a plethora of ideas that are as scattered and random as the thoughts in my head. I could even possibly mix and match different ideas with each other but for now i'll just write them down as separate film ideas.
1. Genre: Psychological Thriller
Plot: An under-appreciated student falls for a girl who just so happens to have a boyfriend. At the same time his sleep patterns are skewed to the point that his "dreams" mix with reality. At first they seem inspirational and help him with finding himself and his creativity, but soon he begins having a arachnoid being talking to him. The spirit threatens harm if he does not perform certain tasks. One of which, "coincidentally", is to murder the boyfriend of his crush.
Concept: I want the story to be open when dealing with taking sides. As in life everyone has their own opinion and there isn't one person who is necessarily right or wrong. I want the audience to wonder what they would've done and hopefully have differing opinions on the subject with at least a few people feeling that the student was "justified" in the end.
2. Genre: Cult Horror
Concept: Done in black and white with the inspiration of bella lugosi. Maybe a little flair of bruce campbell injected in as well. Straight up horror films seem campy to me so because they tend to exaggerate features in a way that pulls away from the suspension of disbelief. Which is why i want to do one that takes itself entirely too seriously and in a way pokes fun at itself. Plot to fit this concept is still undecided.
3. Genre: Horror
Concept: The general horror flick. spirits, gore. This one would be serious if i do it yet i don't want it to take itself too seriously. This would be black and white for i feel this adds to the use of imagination.
Ok so i have a plethora of ideas that are as scattered and random as the thoughts in my head. I could even possibly mix and match different ideas with each other but for now i'll just write them down as separate film ideas.
1. Genre: Psychological Thriller
Plot: An under-appreciated student falls for a girl who just so happens to have a boyfriend. At the same time his sleep patterns are skewed to the point that his "dreams" mix with reality. At first they seem inspirational and help him with finding himself and his creativity, but soon he begins having a arachnoid being talking to him. The spirit threatens harm if he does not perform certain tasks. One of which, "coincidentally", is to murder the boyfriend of his crush.
Concept: I want the story to be open when dealing with taking sides. As in life everyone has their own opinion and there isn't one person who is necessarily right or wrong. I want the audience to wonder what they would've done and hopefully have differing opinions on the subject with at least a few people feeling that the student was "justified" in the end.
2. Genre: Cult Horror
Concept: Done in black and white with the inspiration of bella lugosi. Maybe a little flair of bruce campbell injected in as well. Straight up horror films seem campy to me so because they tend to exaggerate features in a way that pulls away from the suspension of disbelief. Which is why i want to do one that takes itself entirely too seriously and in a way pokes fun at itself. Plot to fit this concept is still undecided.
3. Genre: Horror
Concept: The general horror flick. spirits, gore. This one would be serious if i do it yet i don't want it to take itself too seriously. This would be black and white for i feel this adds to the use of imagination.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
alllriight.. so it is time to corral my thoughts and formulate a direction for my next short. Working as a PA on a horror movie/webseries inspired me to go into an even darker direction than i have before. There are so many simple ways of using household materials, aided by light and camera angle, to create realistic gore. I've always been fascinated by the way blood looks in black and white. It holds a different context entirely. As if it takes the form of some dark evil oozing from under pure white skin. Perhaps it is the contrast created from black and white that creates this, and through dramatic lighting i can make color film react the same. Also speaking of contrast i believe in injecting a little humor into even the darkest of films. I usually hate horror films, which is why i want to tackle one myself to see if i can find a love for it myself. I've got a whole list of japanese horror movies on my netflix ready to cue so it's time to get watching. I truly feel every film i do will be an experiment, for myself at least. As each person's life is an experiment unto themselves; no one else has truly been where we are now.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
ok so i finally solved the issues in my plot. there is no martyr. only a man living in a world where oppression has grown tremendously and simple pleasures such as getting a hair cut are considered taboo. STORY opens as a couple is in a serious argument. quick flashes foreshadow events yet are ambiguous leaving the viewer to question what truly will happen in the near future. the images will consist of glimpses of various parts of a woman under low lighting with small traces of blood that are contrasted using a film noir style. it will all be shot at night and the argument will gradually reveal hints of the truth behind what is going on. the fact that the man wants a haircut is not revealed until the end leaving glimpses of scissors to guide the viewer to a misguided conclusion of him killing the girl. only in the end the girl kills herself out of shame for her husbands taboo acts of cutting his hair.
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