Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New Script


Gigolo Script

Characters:

Jenny – College student in her early 20’s. In a relationship with Savannah that is getting exponentially more abusive emotionally and she is scared it will soon become physical. Does not want to break-up/ leave Savannah.

Savannah – Goes to the same college as Jenny, knows she is out of control but is helpless to stop it. Paranoid that Jenny will cheat on her and leave her. She is controlling and insensitive.

John – Neighbor who lives in the same dorm and is aware via hearsay of what is going on between the two women. Becomes overly heroic and macho in the face of domestic violence. Naïve and hopeful for a relationship with Jenny.

Scene opens panning from Jenny to Savannah in the bed together after having had sex. Jenny looks content but is apprehensive. Savannah is turned facing the wall, she rolls over and looks at Jenny then her room. A close up is shown, she has deep bags under her eyes.

Savannah attempts to fondle Jenny under the covers but Jenny pushes her away.

Jenny: I have to go to class soon.
Savannah: When?
Jenny: We can’t right now-

Jenny get’s out of the bed and starts to dress.

Savannah: Why not?
Jenny: Calm down.
Savannah: I am calm.
Jenny: OK then.

Jenny is fully dressed and we can hear her putting something else on in the background, Savannah sits up and puts her shirt on then starts looking at the rest of the room.

Savannah: Why is this picture over here?
Jenny: What picture?
Savannah: It’s always on your desk, why is over here?
Jenny: I don’t know, it’s just a picture.
Savannah: Did you move it? Did someone else move it?
Jenny: Don’t start this again.
Savannah: Just tell me and I’ll drop it.
Jenny: I’m not-
Savannah: Tell me!

Savannah has moved into her personal space threateningly. Jenny backs towards the door.

Jenny: Stop it! Get out! Now! (She says while going out into the hallway followed by Savannah who has now put the picture frame down.)
Savannah: TELL ME WHO HE IS! I KNOW YOU’RE WITH SOMEONE ELSE! (They are now exiting the hallway into the living room.)
Jenny: There. Is. No one. Else. (Jenny says reaching the dorm door)

Savannah makes eye contact with Jenny, her breathing quickens and she begins to get closer to her face.

Savannah: You went somewhere last night. Where did you go?

Jenny stays silent and resolute, and starts opening the door for her to leave.
Savannah suddenly shuts the door with Jenny still trying to open it. There is a jump-shot at this instant of the door shutting from outside and someone walking down the stairs. Screaming and pounding on the door is heard from outside. The passerby is John, who goes up to the door wondering what is going on. Both females are screaming inside. Jenny opens the door again for her to leave, John rushes in and pushes Savannah down, pinning her on the ground with his hands on her throat and shoulders. Savannah becomes even more angered.

John: You motherfucker!
Savannah: (Choking)
Jenny: You don’t know what you’re doing! Stop!

Jenny’s voice cannot be heard with the yelling between John and Savannah. Savannah kicks him and scratches him, further infuriating him. He starts to punch her brutally, and she gets knocked out. Jenny is still trying to pull him back from her, and he finally relents. He gets up slowly and turns towards her. Once he gets up Jenny runs to Savannah and tries to help her.

Jenny: (screaming) What have you done!? Why would you just come here and do this?!?!
John: She was hurting you! I heard it!
Jenny: She didn’t hurt me! It may have sounded that way but she would never hurt me!
John: She did! She’s done it before too.
Jenny: You don’t know what you’re talking about.
John: Yes I do. She’s insane, she’s hit you-
Jenny: No-
John: Yes, you two argue all the time, she’s been trying to control you. You shouldn’t be with a person like that.
Jenny: (scared and concerned, still clinging to Savannah) What!?
John: (Flashes a creepy smile and has a wild glint in his eye)I love you Jenny. Why don’t you be with me?
Jenny: (starts backing towards the kitchen looking horrified)
John: Where are you going?!?!

Jenny quickly gets off the floor and runs to the kitchen. John follows her at a slow and deliberate pace. We see Jenny run up the stairs to her room and open a door at the top, cut to John walking through the kitchen and taking a kitchen knife. John begins to walk up the stairs, and there is a POV of him walking up the stairs cutting to a POV of a different day as Jenny walks down the sidewalk towards her house. The POV is low and partially hidden by bushes, we are watching as Jenny walks towards her house. Cut again as he reaches the top stair and turns toward the door and opens it. Cut again to the same POV and setting as he walks behind her normally and she begins to turn her head. Cut to John turning the door knob of the room and a high angle of him entering the bathroom is seen, it is dark and the only place to hide is a standing shower which is darkly lit.

Cut to his hands flicking the light switch to find that there is no one inside. He rushes out of the bathroom and goes into the bedroom looking for her, turning his head slowly until he sees a window open. He goes toward the open window. Cut to him walking onto the roof from outside. Another cut as he walks past the patio and Savannah welcomes Jenny. Another cut and he is closing in on Jenny at the edge of  the roof. Jenny is cowering from him as he closes in with the knife, he closes in and we see a pov of his hands coming towards her when there is a sharp fade to a different setting. The setting is in the school and Jenny is getting up from a seat behind John, when she looks over his shoulder and sees him flipping through a sketchbook and there are many photographs and pictures of Jenny inside it, which Jenny sees.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

1. Script

Gigolo Script

Synopsis:
A girl sells sexual favors in order to pay for her tuition. Other girl saves her from her abusive male John. This is a drama/action film.

Note: Passerby 2 is male. The Man's character will now be a woman, there will not be cross-dressing.

Script:
The film opens with a voice over before the title.

Girl: I do it because I need the money I don't need sex. I just want  go to school.
Pan to a girl half-covered in bed, a shirtless man suddenly joins her.

Man: You ready for another round? (Man puts his hands on her arms)
Girl: It'll be extra. (Girl cringes at his touch, begins to slide away from him)
Man: Put this one on the house. (Man insists keeping his hands on her)
Girl: Now it's two hundred extra. (Girl gets out of bed, starts to dress)
Man: Get back here. (Man sits up and looks at her defiantly)
Girl: Actually, I just remember I have some homework to do, so can you leave now? (Girl is looking away from him, at the door)

Man: Fuck homework. (Man puts his legs over the edge of the bed and beckons her with hands.)

Girl: NO. (Girl opens her room door for him to leave)

Man: Okay, you'll take 50 won't you? (Wide shot to see both of them.)

Girl: Get out of my house. (girl goes out dorm room door into hallway, headed for door.)

Man has shirt in his hand, gives threatening eye contact following her. Girl walks down hallway anxiously. Girl reaches the door barely keeping composure. Man grabs her wrists and slams her against the door.

Man: Sometimes you need to give out a freeby or two, don't you know economics?

 Man begins to physically beat her. Close up of man getting into her face.
Setting changes to outside the dorm room door, sounds can be heard from the other side. Passerby walking down stairwell can hear her screams. Passerby looks and goes up to door, but then leaves. On the other side of the door, the girl slumps down to the bottom of the door and there is a close-up of her hand, followed by a close-up of the door handle.

Man: I dare you to touch it, bitch. (Shot seen from the girl's perspective.)

The next shot is of her hand curling around the door handle. Switch from that to a shot from the side of the man kneeing her in the chin. Next shot is or is nearly floor level and is of the girl hitting the ground. The guy begins to unbuckle his pants and walk towards the girl when the door swings opening hitting him. The passerby is pushing on the otherside, but the guy begins to overtake her. Girl on the floor crawls forward and kicks his ankle/shin. The man is hit and recoils in pain, letting the passerby in. The passerby when inside turns away from the door, and is facing the man. Man reaches for door, but instead pushes passerby down. A floor shot at an angle sees the girl crawl under the table, or get up on the other side of the table. The next shot is of her holding a knife from the man's perspective. A close-up of the man. The passerby knocks the knife from her hand, and the man picks it up and backs out of the door.

Man: You tell anyone shit, I'll fuck you both up!

Man flees out of the door, Passerby follows him saying,

Passerby: Hell no!

Passerby chases him downstairs and then to his car. They pass by another man going up the stairwell. The man reaches the car and gets in before the first passerby can stop him. This shot is seen from the  parking lot and towards the back of the car. He revs the engine, this shot is seen from the passenger seat, with the man in the foreground and the passerby seen through the driver-side window. He goes to press the gas, but the man passerby is blocking his way. He makes direct eye contact, the viewer anticipates that the Man may run him down, then the other passerby comes from the passenger-side door and beats the man in the front seat. The other guy drags her from beating him further.

Passerby 2: Stop! Stop!

Girl comes down from stairwell with cellphone. Intense tension between Passerby and girl is evident. Passerby nods and walks by her, over the shoulder angle. Passerby 2 is seen from the other 2-shot opening the door and taking the guy out of the car. Both passerby and Girl sit on curb.

2. Breakdown the Script

A. # of Actors required: 4

B. # of scenes and length of time Actors must commit: 

Girl = All scenes, <5minutes
Man = All scenes, <5minutes
Passerby = 2 scenes, <3mintues
Passerby 2 = 1 scene, <1minutes

C.# of Locations: 2 

1. Dorm Room
2. Stairwells & Parking Lot

D.Stunts:
<15 fighting stunts <2 Knife stunts

Fighting stunts will involve minor punches/kicks/slapping. No special effects needed.

E. Costumes:

Man = 1 button-up shirt.

Girl = Regular preppy-ish clothes.

Makeup:

Fight Make-up needed.

F. Props:

1. Kitchen knife


3. Location Scout
Setting is a dorm room.(This is a Metz dorm room)
Note: It will not be so messy in the film.

(I am considering editing out the parking lot scenes)

5. Storyboard














6. # of days shooting = 1 Day primarily, 1 Day spare.

7. Spreadsheet Schedule


8. Contact Sheet:

     Actors, Stnad-bys, & Crew

Aspen Aten - 502-939-5491
Stephanie Black - Facebook Only/ Roomate
Nick Brinker - 901-487-7118
Kaitlyn Chandler - 901-233-5952
Nialah - 504-442-0127
Evie Crowder - 901-674-0960
Travis Fowler - 479-857-4020
Trista Vercher - 901-573-0937

Self-Critique

Now that I've been informed that the death, guns, and roses project is going to be a short, individual project I'm probably going to change the pitch significantly. It will no longer be about gigolos but the same theme will be employed. It will be about a college girl who sells her body to pay for tuition and her abusive male John.

1."$leep Around""No Death, No roses" "$EX"
2.Violence and Chase scenes.
3. Original source = Always had the idea. Unrequited love is interesting to me.
4.Inspired/Affected
5. New Synopsis:

Film opens with Girl in bed, having just had sex with a man. Man and woman have dispute. Man gets abusive, Girl attempts to escape. Passerby comes to her rescue and fights at climax with man.

6. Action/Drama
7. What does the inclusion of Gigolos add to the piece? Is the domestic violence physical? Not really well developed.
8. Now that we know it's just gonna be individual, I think I'll make it shorter. I also want to address a realism that is used in serious film making.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Pitch Again & Assignment Write-Up

This film is about a female gigolo.(She has relations with women for money) Another (male) Gigolo who does not care about love, falls in love with a woman who is actually a female gigolo(the main character), however she does not love him.

Coincidentally they get called by the same woman one night and when they encounter each other a fight breaks out and he tries making her fall in love with him with force. He does not succeed in the end at capturing her heart, but instead is united with his real true love, the woman who called the female gigolo in the first place. The message of this film is that you can't make someone love, and simultaneously that love conquers all.

Characters

Female Gigolo - Stoic, sexy, mysterious. Flirts but does not want to start a relationship with Male Gigolo.

Male Gigolo - Cocky, afraid of commitment, explosive. Anger management issues. Is determined to snag the Female Gigolo.

Woman Caller - Woman sees the situation between the leads and attempts to intervene.

Most of the structure of this film will be a long fantastical chase sequence. This part of the film will be more action than romance. The dialogue here will be sparse but meaningful.

Assignment Write-Up

This last assignment (the spies) was quite stressful time wise. I'm sure if we had more time it would have been even more epic but I don't feel bad about showing the work we have done. It was really hard to get the footage we did get, it's troubling to see everyone just shrug at it sometimes. It was fun as well, thinking back on it, but money-wise and time-wise this was an expensive film even though we shot and edited in just one week. I don't think I will be doing that again either, shooting and editing should be more spaced out. I also thought at times just like Jill did, and felt like we were just a bunch of kids that got a hold of a camera and started dancing or something- however, I don't know if that's a bad thing. We did learn a lot, afterall.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

No Death, No guns, No roses Pitch

No Death, No guns, No roses Pitch

Synopsis: A ghost wanders the halls of MCA, it is unknown to the other students, faculty, and staff that said ghost actually goes to MCA. The ghost is trying to get an education and prosper as an upstanding citizen. Unfortunately the ghost has an awkward disposition and has facial deformities of paleness and creepiness. This scares off almost everyone who comes in contact with the ghost. This is a comedy and the main reason for making it is to make the audience laugh.

-Inserts of a normal College Class environment.

-Ghost enters

-Blood-curtaling cries are emitted by all and people run for their lives.

-The ghost walks into the classroom normally, sits at a desk and clicks mouse.

-Ghost wanders into boys bathroom, meets antagonist

-Antagonist tries to capture boy with techniques of "the ghostbusters". It fails

- Priest is brought in to exorcise the demon, and splashes holy water on him

- Ghost awkwardly backs out of his way

-Administration finally realize how to get rid of the ghost, and have him fail all his classes

-Ghost drops out.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

1. Script

Scene 1:

[Fade in from black/stable wide shot of GIRL walking her dog in Overton Park. The dog is rambunctious and breaks away. Cut to a scene of the park-dog sprints across the frame from left to right. The camera cuts to a low angle shot of a stuffed dummy dog being thrown into Rainbow Lake. Camera Cuts back to the shocked GIRL.]

GIRL: [close up of her face] Oh no! My dog!

[Over the shoulder shot of GIRL. SPY 1 enters frame, sopping wet, with dog in hand.]

SPY 1: Don’t worry! I saved him!

[Insert shot of SPY 1’s arms handing stuffed dog to GIRL. Cut to medium shot of GIRL holding real wet dog and looking down at him excitedly.]

GIRL: Gee, thanks!

[Cut to wide shot. GIRL looks up and SPY 1 is gone. Cut to extreme long shot of GIRL. Camera pans to the right and focuses on SPY 1 behind tree. Camera rests on SPY 1 for a moment then continues to pan to the right to reveal SPY 2 hiding behind a similar tree.]

SPY 2: Hippo Jesus windsurfs at dawn.

[Close up of SPY 1’s face. She has a knowing look. Cut to black.]

Scene 2:

[Scene opens to establishing shot of Robinson Editions Building. SPY 1 steps into shot from the right and flips her shiny and freshly coiffed hair. SPY 1 engages what seems to be a microphone in her earring by lightly pulling on it. When she squeezes it we hear the electronic noise. Camera cuts to an aerial shot of her crossing the street towards Robinson Editions Building. Camera cuts to the inside of Robinson Editions. We see SPY 1 sitting at a dimly lit table. In the background, we see a BIG BOSS MAN surrounded by enthusiastic women and a few bodyguards. Close up of the man’s face, he is clearly disengaged the company he keeps. He says nothing. His distant thoughts are suddenly interrupted as he notices SPY 1 from across the room. He turns his head ever so slightly but very quickly. Cut to a shot that starts at SPY 1’S feet, moves to her legs and continues up to her face. SPY 1’s face is finally shown. Over the shoulder shot of SPY 1 standing up and walking towards BIG BOSS MAN. The dolly is following her through the crowd. GIRL bumps into SPY 1.]

GIRL: Oh, sorry… [keeps walking]

SPY 1: Don’t worry about it.

[SPY 1 takes another few steps towards BIG BOSS MAN and stops suddenly. She turns her head toward GIRL. Cut to SPY 1’s stable POV of GIRL leaving out a doorway across the room. GIRL opens door and bright yellow light streams in. Cut back to the initial camera view of SPY 1 with head still turned. SPY 1 then steps out of the frame following Girl. Cut to the other side of the door which is brightly lit with yellow light. SPY 1 opens door quickly and rushes in the doorway only to be met by a double footed kick to the face. SPY 1 is slammed against door and slumps to the ground. Cut to SPY 1’s POV of GIRL standing over her. GIRL has her hands on her hips in a dominating pose.]

GIRL: [Bringing hands to her face mockingly.] Oh nooo! My dog!... Bitch!

[GIRL begins to sprint toward the stairs but SPY 1 trips her. GIRL and SPY 1’s fight continues. As they fight GIRL lures SPY 1 up the stairwell. At the top of the stairwell GIRL kicks SPY 1 back and exits out onto roof slamming the door behind her. SPY 1 jumps up and opens the roof exit. Cut to other side of the door opening and SPY 1 climbs out. Cut to Wide Establishing Shot BIG BAD BOSS GUY and posse lined up ready to fight. There is a long moment of tension. Everyone is poised for a battle royale when suddenly the BIG BAD BOSS GUY steps forward. Music begins. BIG BAD BOSS begins singing to “Kay Sera”. Huge dance sequence begins on roof. The dance number switches between 4 locations: Robinson roof, The Pyramid, fountain downtown and light up bridge. In mid song we are back on the roof when GIRL pulls out her stuffed dog from the park. She puts it to her ear. We hear ticking. GIRL throws stuffed dog at SPY 1. Cut to silent mushroom cloud. Cut to shot of a real dog (same from beginning) jolting awake in a pet bed. Cut to dog POV. It looks around confused at a normal apartment. SPY 1 walks up.]

SPY 1: [Bending down.] Wanna go for a walk?

[Dog jumps up. Both leave out front door of apartment.]

2. Breakdown the Script

a. Actors

SPY 1- Lexi Shanuck

GIRL- Stephanie Black

SPY 2- Brandon Myer

BIG BAD BOSS MAN- Travis Fowler

Female Back up Dancers:

o Aspen

o Kamilah

o Trista

Male Back up Dancers:

o Marco

o Nick Plugh

o Fedincio

o Justin

Dog-Molly or Sealy

b. Actor appearances

Lexi-Full length.

Stephanie-First Scene

Travis-Bar scene and Roof dance Scene.

Brandon-Park scene.

Backup Dancers- Bar and Roof Dance Scene.

Dog-Opening and Ending scenes.

c. Locations

* Overton Park
* Confederate Park
* Robinson Art Gallery
* Roberson House

d. Stunts

* Rolling and falling down staircases.
* Mock hand-to-hand combat.
* Dancing.

e. Costumes and makeup.

Make Up:

* Fake blood.
* Standard female makeup.
* Fight makeup.

Costumes:

§ GIRL

o Outfit #1

· Frilly Skirt

· Bow in hair

· Curly Hair

· Light colors

o Outfit#2

· Slim Blk Pants

· Blk pointed boots

· Blk lowcut shirt

· Hair straight

§ SPY 1

o Outfit #1

· Tan/Blk Trench Coat

· Sunglasses

· Fedora

· Newspaper

o Outfit#2

· Sexy Blk Dress

· Blk high heels

· Hair down

§ BIG BAD BOSS GUY

· Black Fedora

· Black Suit(or dress clothes)

§ SPY 2

o Outfit #1

· Tan/Blk trench coat

· Blk Fedora

· Newspaper

· Sunglasses

o Outfit#2

· Blk Button up Shirt

· Dark Pants

· Dark Shoes

§ Backup Dancers

· All in Blk

· Sunglasses

f. Props

* Stuffed dog
* Newspaper
* Martini glasses
* Dog Leash

3. Location Scout

Robinson's Gallery









 

Confederate Park



4. Confirm Locations
 Robinson Editions
Confederate Park
Roberson House



5.Storyboard. Note: Page numbers slightly off due to revisions in script.
















6. & 7. Days and Spreadsheet Schedule


8. Contact Sheet

Actors & Crew:

· Apen Aten- 502-939-5491
· Brandon Myer -912-977-6390
· DeMarco-870-589-0490
· Kamilah Jones- 678-644-8171
· Kaitlyn Chandler-901-233-5952
· Krickett King-870-378-5483
· Lauren Willoughby-512-657-8120
· Lexi Shaunak-901-590-9257
· Maggie-901-848-5817
· Rachel Beasly-256-361-3011
· Trista Vercher-901-573-0937
· Travis Fowler-479-857-4020
· Stephanie-Facebook
· LAtee-Facebook

Locations:
· Robinson Editons-901-619-4478