My script idea

The following is a script I wrote for the film course. The script is about Chris, a man working from home, who's computer breaks just before he can send off an important email. Whilst panicking, there is a knock at the door. When he goes to answer it he finds Jeremy and Martha, sales representatives of unknown origin. They con Chris into signing a huge contract by telling him they have a new laptop for him and proceed to take what they're owed immediately. When Chris next wakes, he finds himself buried up to his neck on a beach, being taunted by Jeremy and Martha, who explain that they have a debt to pay off and he has signed his life away within their contract. The script has two scenes with the two locations: Chis' house and the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

The Contract

Written by

James Alexander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARD:

(Sound of typing. Black screen. Text appears parallel to sound)

The Contract

SCENE 1.

INT. CHRIS’ HOUSE, STUDY – DAY

CUT FROM TITLE. Chris Francis is sat at his desk, typing on his computer rapidly. He is then interrupted by his phone ringing. Continuing to work with one hand, he PICKS UP the PHONE with his other.

 

CHRIS

Hello? Ah sir yes… yes I’m just finishing up now. It’ll take two seconds and I’ll email it over straight away. Yes, sir I understand…yes.

 

As Chris continues to speak to his boss, we see the COMPUTER SCREEN showing his work. Suddenly the screen switches off. Chris presses buttons frantically but the computer is dead.

 

CHRIS

(Makes a noise of panic then composes himself) No sir nothing’s wrong… yes everything should be on its way. Could I talk to you later sir? I just need to check some things…yes sir ok thank you.

 

Chris PUTS DOWN the phone and begins hitting the computer and the desk repeating the words “come on”, getting more and more frantic. He finally collapses with his head in his hands and moans with frustration. He takes a deep breath and sits up. He begins to talk to himself.

 

CHRIS

Ok. I can save this. The computer’s dead but there’s got to be a way I can still send this stuff. There are computers in the library… but it’s closed on a Sunday. I could buy a new one… but I don’t have the money for a replacement. Come on think. There’s got to be something, anything!

There is a sudden loud knocking on the door. Flustered and confused, Chris moves to the door and opens it cautiously. Standing outside are two figures; a man and woman. Both are dressed formally and quite pale in complexion. The man is smirking while the woman stares expressionless at Chris.

 

JEREMY

Good morning sir. How are you today? My name is Jeremy Cranston and this is my sister Martha. Say hello Martha.

 

Jeremy and Chris look at Martha. She stays silent and still. Jeremy begins to giggle.

 

CHRIS

Err…hello?

 

Jeremy

I’m playing with you sir. She won’t respond, she’s mute.

 

CHRIS

Oh I’m sorry

 

JEREMY

Don’t be sir. She deserved it. Now! We’ve been told, by our employer, that you are currently in a spot of bother. Some sort of computer issue? Can we come in?

 

CHRIS

Wait. Hold on. I’m not just letting you in my house. How do you know about the computer?

 

JEREMY

We know a lot of things sir, and I can assure you we are only here to help. We’ve brought exactly what you need.

 

CHRIS

Unless you’ve got a new computer behind your back, you’ve got nothing I need. Good bye.

 

As Chris CLOSES THE DOOR, Jeremy stops the door with his foot.

 

JEREMY

Sir, please. I don’t think you have many options at the moment do you? We’ve got what you need.

 

Jeremy grins and Chris opens the door again.

 

CHRIS

Go on then. What are you selling?

 

JEREMY

We’re selling absolutely nothing sir. Our employer has no need for money. No, we have nothing for you to buy BUT we do have a present for you. Martha, the gift.

 

Jeremy turns to his sister as she reveals a laptop from behind her back. The laptop has a piece of tape across the top, on which is written “CRANSTON 666”

 

Jeremy

This is the Cranston triple six. Designed by Martha and marketed by myself, the triple six is a devilishly fast and reliable machine. And we’ll give it to you for free. Here you go. Take it.

 

CHRIS

I don’t understand. You just go around giving people free computers? You get paid for this?

 

 

JEREMY

We don’t get paid sir. We’ve a debt to pay off. And we don’t give computers to everyone. We provide those in need with what they need when they really need it.

 

Martha passes the laptop to Chris, who examines it cautiously.

 

CHRIS

Well…thank you. Much appreciated. Bye then.

 

JEREMY

I’m afraid that there is something sir. Martha! The contract please.

 

Martha pulls from behind her back a large amount of paper. On the cover is the word contract in large fancy font. All other words are incredibly small.

 

JEREMY

Now it’s very long and very boring and we really don’t want to waste your time talking you through every single page, line and word.

 

Jeremy pulls a fountain pen from his jacket as Martha presents the final page of the contract to Chris.

 

JEREMY

But I feel like you’re a very busy man who needs to be doing busy man things so if you just sign here we can all be on our way.

 

Chris takes the pen and looks quite worried.

 

 

 

CHRIS

I think I should probably read over the thing. Just in case.

 

JEREMY

Sir. Please trust me. All it contains is an agreement to provide feedback if we ask you about how the product has functioned for you, and a waver stating that the product was free and you can’t try and scam us for money.

 

Chris thinks for a moment and says “ok” before signing the contract. The moment he finishes, the contract is pulled away, and the pen snatched from his hand. Jeremy returns the pen to his pocket and grins once more.

 

JEREMY

Excellent. Thank you so very much sir for all you’ve sacrificed for us. Martha. Please show Mr Francis page two five one of the contract.

 

Chris looks confused as Martha pushes the contract page under his nose.

 

JEREMY

Line three, paragraph two. “I hereby trade over my life and soul to the siblings Cranston, as payment for their provision of one desire of desperation.” Legally binding and signed by yourself. Effective immediately.

 

CHRIS

What do you mean? You said it was free?

 

Jeremy takes the contract from Martha. She then pulls out a hammer and the Cranston’s enter the house.

 

JEREMY

Words are smoke sir. Contracts are fire.

Martha enters the house and Jeremy closes the door behind them.

 

JEREMY

And we burn.

 

Scene ends with the door closing

 

SCENE 2.

EXT. BEACH – DAY

CLOSE UP OF CHRIS’ FACE. He is unconscious, with some blood running from his head. As he wakes up, it is revealed that Chris is buried up to his neck in sand. Jeremy is sat to his right and Martha to his left (as they were arranged on the doorstep). The two are now wearing sunglasses.

 

CHRIS

Hello? What happened? Where am I? W-why am I buried on a beach? What did you do?

 

MARTHA

You’ve a lot of questions haven’t you? Shame we aren’t to answer any.

 

JEREMY

Don’t tease the man Martha

 

Chris remains puzzled and begins to struggle and panic.

 

CHRIS

I thought she was mute?

 

 

 

JEREMY

And I thought you would have learnt that I’m a liar. Now please. We do wish to enjoy watching the tide as it creeps in.

 

Chris looks forward and realises what’s going to happen.

 

CHRIS

You… you can’t be serious? This is murder! You need to get me out now. I don’t deserve this.

 

Jeremy and Martha both scoff.

 

MARTHA

It doesn’t matter who deserves it. We’ve got to pay our debt. We try and pick the bad ones but sometimes it’s easier to trick the dumb ones.

 

JEREMY

What did I say about teasing the poor man sister? Let the dying man have some peace.

 

CHRIS

Please. There’s got to be something I can do for you. Anything. I’ll do anything you want just please don’t kill me…please.

 

Both Cranston’s lean in to listen.

 

MARTHA

Go on

 

JEREMY

We’re listening

 

CHRIS

Well. I’ve got money. I’ll give you everything I have.

 

JEREMY

We’ve no need for the material or monetary thank you.

 

MARTHA

Besides, you already signed that over. Page eighty six line…

 

CHRIS

Ok! Fine. Well I could kill people for you. Do what you do. Work for your boss and trick people into death. I can do all that stuff.

 

MARTHA

That just makes you sound like a psychopath sir.

 

JEREMY

Can’t let murderers go.

 

CHRIS

Oh come on! What if…I took your debt?

 

JEREMY

What?

 

CHRIS

I take on what you owe and pay off your debt. You two get to live without that burden and I… get to live.

 

MARTHA

We could be free?

 

CHRIS

Totally

 

The brother and sister both look at each other and gesture towards Chris with there eyes.

 

JEREMY

We’ve decided to dig you up

 

They begin digging, but as they do, the music of an ice cream van plays. Martha stops digging and looks away.

 

MARTHA

Brother. Ice cream.

 

Jeremy stops digging too.

 

JEREMY

Good idea Martha. We’ll have some ice cream then dig Mr Francis up.

 

They both stand and walk off. Chris panics and shouts at them but all he gets in response is a cry from Jeremy.

 

CHRIS

No! Wait please! Where are you going? Don’t leave me! Help me!

 

JEREMY

Don t worry. We’ll get you one too.

 

There is a cut to a shot of the two walking back with their ice-creams. Jeremy has an extra for Chris. They are shocked when they see that the tide has risen.

 

JEREMY

Oh…forgot about the tide. Poor Mr Francis. Oh well, you get another ice cream sister.

 

They walk off shot and the scene ends.

Session 9: Rushes

In this session, after a long break, we finally got to see the footage we'd come out with after shooting. Of course, these are just rough rushes and the sound hasn't been fully worked on yet so all we had was the audio from the cameras and mics to play with, but It was interesting to see the sheer quantity we had produced. The audio was synced to the video so we were tasked with trying to cut it down and try and decide the order of shots. We did find some hurdles. We had a lot of shots but sometimes we couldn't find a way to switch between them cleanly. We also struggled with switching between different audio and syncing it up with the actors. However, This may be combated in the next session. All in all though, when we cut down all the footage, we had a nice short run time that seemed to get our story across.

Shoot day 1 & 2

On the first shoot day I was doing production. The day was split in to two for everyone. One half would do a job for the first half of the shoot, then the other person who had that job would take over. For the first half of the shoot I was doing production backstage. This pretty much consisted of doing odd jobs like making tea for the crew, as well as helping take pictures of the shoot. After tea, I got to take over the role of producer. This consisted of watching out for continuity errors as well as readying the sound and camera crew for the directors command. I felt Like I learnt more about what production was and I decided after the first shoot day that it wasn't really for me. I understand its a very important role but I didn't really feel like I would want it as a carrier. The reason I think I didn't enjoy this job was mostly because it felt like there was a lot of pressure on what I was doing and where I had to be. The first shoot day went very well and we managed to fit in all the shots we had scheduled for the first day. However, towards the end of the shoot, as it was getting late, the elder actor did seem to get progressively more tired.

On the second day my role shifted to my second choice, set design. my role took place in the afternoon segment of the shoot which was quite important as I was a part of the movement from our first, main location, to the second location. This meant moving the equipment required as well as all the props we needed. Me and Holly were set with the task of turning the front room of the house we were shooting at, into that of a drunken fathers. we also had to move around some of the furniture in order to make space and set up the shot we would need. a way of making sure everything was right was to have one of us sat in the corner where the camera would face and check what would and wouldn't be in view. When our job was done we helped return things to the main sight. I preferred the set design job as I enjoyed the process of placing the props and checking they were in just the right place.

Day 1:

Me reading the shoot schedule on the first day:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/signalfilmandmedia/15824526748/in/set-72157649732721051

Pictures being taken behind the scenes:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/signalfilmandmedia/15389671504/in/set-72157649732721051

Day 2:

Moving the equipment into the house:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/signalfilmandmedia/15899384328/in/set-72157649886201882

The table we covered in empty cans:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/signalfilmandmedia/15826412207/in/set-72157649886201882

Session 7 & 8: Pre production

In these sessions we chose our roles for the film and were told what each of those roles did during production. We watched some shorts with May, who took us through the different types of camera shots that were used and that we may use, as well as differing types of recording devices and the importance of lighting and set design. My chosen departments were production and set design. My role in pre production was to help write up the call sheets and risk assessments, as well as find travel routes to the set for transport. The process of the film starts in the preproduction. all the planning an setting up needs to be done if the shoot is going to go according to plan. the day needs to be timetabled so that there are adequate breaks for everyone. So that everyone knows where they need to be at what time, what their job is. Meals need to be booked or sourced. Set up time and makeup needed to be taken into account. Even the time the sun goes down had to be checked for our film so we knew how much of the day we'd have to shoot the day scenes. The set designers job is to make sure that a set is ready for shooting. Everything that is required to give a room atmosphere is positioned correctly and anything that can break that atmosphere must be removed. We also looked over the script and made some final alterations until we were happy with everything.

Bellow is a blank call sheet. In the planning sessions, it was the job of the production team to fill it in. The call sheet shows what scenes are being shot on that day, the times shooting and breaks should be happening and who needs to be where.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95522743@N02/16086662142/lightbox/
This is the call sheet for the first shoot day now filled in.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/signalfilmandmedia/16086661882/in/photostream/lightbox/

Session 6: Script writing

When we returned to construct the script, I decided not to put forward my idea. Though I was happy with it, I felt like it would be more fitting to begin a fresh with the ideas of the entire group and see what we could come up with. Both Zosia and Matt spearheaded the writing and did a superb job. We decided that the green house was our favourite of the location ideas we had come up with, also night being our favourite time setting. After that we developed both story and characters from the ideas that had come from the activities in the previous sessions. An elderly person and a young person seemed to work quite well in the setting, both were later decided to be male as that sex seemed to fit. It was decided that our conflict in the film would be caused by the father of the boy who then would get angry and destroy a plant in the greenhouse which would later be revealed to be the old mans. after this, the boy would meet the man, feel guilty, but ultimately end up tending to the plants for the old man. Matt wrote up a draft of this after the session which was sent out to us to read for discussion in the next session. However, everyone seemed pleased with the concept.

Session 5: Character and story

In this session we were introduced to writing and the writing process by Zosia Wand. We did a number of activities which helped us to understand the methods of creating believable characters with depth. these activities varied from reading short statements and attempting to relate to how a person would have felt whilst writing them, to sharing a piece of paper and adding a trait each until a full character and back story was created. Story wise we were told to take inspiration from anywhere. Both feelings and places can be expanded upon until an entire story is created. We ended the session discussing our film and we created a list of components we may all wish to see in the script. When I got home, I decided to take these new skills and develop a short script of my own using the list we had created. I really thought that what I had learnt about character development helped me to create something I was quite proud of.

The story of a film is split into 6 stages.
The first stage is the setup. this is around the first 10% of the film and is used to establish a setting and main characters. At the end we should also get a feel for what the main plot of the film will be.
The second stage is the new situation. this is 15% of the film and is the point at which the main character must react to the new situation they have been put in.
The third stage is the progress. for the next 25% the main character is shown working towards their primary goal that has been brought on by the previous stage.
The forth stage is complication. this is also 25% and raises a problem for the character to overcome and/or makes the end goal more important.
The fifth stage is the final push is 15% of the film. It involves the run up and completion of the end goal of the film.
The sixth stage is the aftermath. This is the final 10% of the film and shows what happens after the final push and what has happened to the main characters.

Further information:
 http://www.storymastery.com/story/screenplay-structure-five-key-turning-points-successful-scripts/

Session 4: Documentary

In the forth session (our second with Roy Stafford) we were taught about the history, production and marketing of a documentary. We were shown propaganda used during the second world war and part of a recent documentary about the fast food industry. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition between both the times they were made and the content in terms of how they were shot and the tone they gave to the audience. We were told that documentaries differed from drama. Documentary usually has a narration and footage of non scripted events, whereas drama may take a real life situation or problem to build the story upon. In terms of commercial success, documentaries seem more tailored to television as they can be segmented and easily advertised. they may struggle in cinemas as they lack a story to keep an audiences attention for a long period.