Seeing Through Film

So, for those of you who do not know, I have a new project-blog-thingy. It’s called Seeing Through Film. (I am still not quite sure about the title.) I just made my first real post today. It’s about “The Valley of the Gwangi.”

I feel pretty good about it. I am not really sure what direction I want to go with on the blog, but I thought I’d just start experimenting. I have been studying German Expressionism for the longest time, and intend to write a post regarding that some point before school starts in January. But I am not sure when that will happen. I also don’t know when I am going to post next on it.

I originally thought that I wouldn’t post much on it during the school year, but since I am taking two film classes this coming quarter, I think I will try to incorporate those into the blog. It should be fun. Tell me what you think. =)

Blood

I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of something tearing. I had no idea what it was, and I felt something wet dripping onto me. I listened very carefully, and while I lived in the dorms, everything was very quite, except for a very faint, sickening ripping noise. My eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light coming in through the window. I could see dark patches on the bottom of the bunk above me, and that dark something was dripping from the mattress. I moved slowly to see it better, and the noise stopped. I immediately stopped moving. I knew, as if someone were telling me, that if I made any noise, if I moved a centimeter, I would be next.

The sound became louder, there were faint, pained grunts. I dared not move, but I felt needed to help whoever was up there. I was convinced it was someone I knew. Suddenly, a large object was shifted, and an arm swung over the side of the bed. It was covered in blood, with large gashes along it, stitched back together with thick, black string. I shrunk further into my bed, and wanted to scream, but I could not. It would come for me next.

There was more tearing. At that moment I knew that it was my friend up there. My friends sliced arm. I also knew there was someone else up on that bunk, someone besides the monster. I knew that it was cutting them open. Removing parts. Sewing them back together.

I couldn’t move.

Again, something shifted. There was more cutting. A body was pushed to the edge, his arms and head flopped over the side. Eyes rolled back into his head, mouth wide open in a scream of terror. Stiff.

I screamed.

Script: Fad (working title)

This is the script that I wrote last night, for a weekend scriptwriting workshop. It was actually really, really awesome. I am also fairly pleased with the results, and would thoroughly appreciate some critique. I want to turn it into a movie at some point, but I want it to not suck first. I really like my story arc, and a couple of the scenes are very vivid in my head. What I really need is some help with the dialog. Because, it is shit.

Any pointers that you writers might have for a n00b would be really appreciated. Also, thoughts from everyone else would also be really nice. Thanks. =)

FAD (Working Title)

EXT. WWU CAMPUS – OLD MAIN LAWN – DAY

NATHANIEL COEN (Early 20’s), skinny, blond, and JESSICA HART (Early 20’s), short haired brunette, walk through the grass, holding hands. Jessica eats an energy bar.

NATHANIEL

You know what I like most about summer?

JESSICA

Ummm… Sun?

NATHANIEL

Well, sure, but I was gonna say, the fact that I don’t have to spend all my free time working on homework. It’s pretty damn nice to have time to hang out.

Jessica stops eating and looks at Nathaniel suspiciously.

JESSICA

Are you OKAY?

NATHANIEL

Sorry, I am being really cheesy, aren’t I?

(pause)

Looks around.

NATHANIEL

Have you noticed how quiet it’s been lately? I haven’t seen anyone around at all…

Jessica continues to eat.

JESSICA

Yeah, it’s probably just because it’s summer, everyone is off doing cool shit instead of still being stuck at school like us.

NATHANIEL

Yeah, you’re probably right. Hey, you wanna go get some ice cream?

Jessica hesitates.

NATHANIEL

(hurridly)

I’ll pay.

JESSICA

OKAY, these things are cheap, but they sure don’t taste good.

Jessica smiles, and throws the remaining energy bar in a trash can.

INT. ICE CREAM PARLOR – DAY

STEVE (20’s), THOMAS (20’s), and BRIANNA (20’s) are at a tall table by the window, eating ice cream.

Nathaniel and Jessica enter. Nathaniel walks up to counter. Jessica stops at the table.

STEVE

Hey, Jess. How’s it goin’?

JESSICA

Pretty good. Are you coming to the movie tonight?

Jessica gets a chair and joins them.

STEVE

Nah, I gotta work. Sorry.

Jessica furrows her brow.

JESSICA

How about you guys?

BRIANNA

Ummm… I dunno. I don’t really like horror movies…

THOMAS

Well I’m going. Even if these guys flake out.

Leans over to Jessica, looks at Brianna and Steve.

THOMAS

(whispers loudly)

They probably just want to bone.

Jessica smiles.

Nathaniel walks up with ice cream. Hands one to Jessica.

JESSICA

Thanks.

NATHANIEL

Hey guys.

Nathaniel sits down.

BRIANNA

Hey Nate.

JESSICA

So they’re all flaking out on us. We’ll be all alone tonight.

THOMAS

Hey, I’m going.

STEVE

Don’t try to guilt trip me, I’ve got other shit going on. The store got this huge shipment of those new “E-BARS” that everyone is raving about. It’s gotta be the most popular thing since the invented soda cans…

Takes bite of ice cream.

STEVE

Anyway, they called all us stockers in tonight to work extra shifts. We have to empty the entire candy section, and replace it with those things.

JESSICA

Why? That seems really weird.

STEVE

Don’t ask me, I don’t eat that crap.

BRIANNA

They’re actually pretty good, they really grow on you. You should try to score me some tonight.

THOMAS

If you’re gonna steal, you should steal something expensive.

Thomas gets up from chair, throws bowl away, grabs his bag, and takes a bar out of it.

THOMAS

These are so cheap, it almost seems pointless.

Thomas opens bar and takes a bite.

THOMAS

See you guys tonight.

Thomas exits.

BRIANNA

I gotta go too.

Brianna stands up.

BRIANNA

Steve, you coming?

STEVE

Yep, see you guys later. Have fun at the movie

Steve and Brianna throw away garbage, exit.

EXT. BUS STATION – DAY

Nathaniel waits, wears headphones. A homeless man rummages through a garbage can, pulls out half eaten E-Bar. People stand very still, no loud noises.

Bus pulls into station. Nathaniel gets on, pulls down his headphones.

NATHANIEL

This bus goes to the grocery store, right?

BUS DRIVER stares straight ahead.

NATHANIEL

Excuse me?

Bus driver realizes someone is talking to him, slowly turns head.

BUS DRIVER

Seventy-Five cents.

Bus driver turns head back to front.

Nathaniel gives the driver a perplexed look, puts money in the slot, and takes a seat in the back.

Other people file in to bus drone-like, and sit in every other seat.

INT. GROCERY STORE – DAY

The store has quite a few people in it, but it is very quiet. Everyone has shopping carts filled with boxes of E-Bars, and they are moving very slowly through the aisles, they stare at the food on the shelves.

Posters advertising “The NEW E-BAR!” are placed densely throughout the store.

Nathaniel stands in an aisle completely full of the bars. A banner hangs from the ceiling, which says: “Try the NEW E-BAR! 5 for $1! Limited time only.”

Nathaniel holds a basket with a carton of milk and some flowers in it, he looks up and down the rows of E-Bars, and at the people who are methodically placing box after box into their carts.

NATHANIEL

(whispers to himself)

Holy fuck…

Nathaniel walks to the front of store, sees the long, silent lines of people waiting to check out.

A look of shock and bewilderment passes over his face, he puts his basket down, and leaves.

INT. OFFICE – DAY

Thomas and Brianna sit at computer stations at a long desk along the wall. The desk is covered in wrappers. They stare blankly at the computer screens.

Nathaniel enters.

NATHANIEL

Morning.

Thomas and Brianna don’t respond.

NATHANIEL

Hey, guys? You OKAY?

Steve enters the room, eating an E-Bar.

STEVE

Hey, don’t worry about them. We stayed up late last night. They’re probably just too tired.

Steve takes a bite of the bar.

Nathaniel stares at him.

STEVE

What’s up, you OKAY?

Nathaniel hurries over to Brianna, shakes her. She is unresponsive.

NATHANIEL

Brianna, are you OKAY? Hey, come on. Answer me.

STEVE

Dude, I told you to chill.

Nathaniel shakes Thomas. Thomas’s head lolls to the side. Nathaniel jumps back with a look of terror. Turns to Steve.

NATHANIEL

What the fuck is going on?

STEVE

What are you talking about? Why are you so antsy?

NATHANIEL

Are you that blind? Have you seen anybody?

STEVE

What’s wrong with them? So, they’re relaxed. It’s probably these bars, they’re actually rather good.

Nathaniel points at Brianna and Thomas.

NATHANIEL

So what about those two? They’re just “relaxed?”

STEVE

Hey, man, stop freaking out. They’re just tired, I told you that. Here…

Steve holds out an E-Bar to him.

STEVE

…Have one of these, it’ll make you feel better.

Nathaniel KNOCKS it out of his hand, near hysterics.

NATHANIEL

Get the fuck away from me.

Nathaniel backs towards the door, turns and leaves quickly.

INT. NATHANIEL AND JESSICA’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – DAY

Jessica sits on the couch with a pile of E-Bars next to her. She holds one limply in her hand. She stares at the television, playing some sort of rerun.

The front door SLAMS shut, and Nathaniel enters the room still wearing his coat, bag and shoes. He rushes over to Jessica.

NATHANIEL

Jess, hey, honey, how are you?

Jessica does not respond.

Nathaniel kneels next to her, grabs her hand.

NATHANIEL

Jess, answer me. Please.

Jessica slowly looks at him, takes a bite of E-Bar.

NATHANIEL

Fuck. Stop it! Those things are making everyone crazy.

Nathaniel tears it out of Jessica’s hand, throws it to the ground.

Jessica looks after it, points.

JESSICA

(slowly)

Hey… I was eat… that…

NATHANIEL

Jess, we gotta get out of here. Come on.

Nathaniel tries to pull Jessica to her feet. She struggles free, and then limply falls back onto the couch.

Jessica reaches for another E-Bar next to her.

NATHANIEL

No. Stop it, we need to go, come on.

Nathaniel tries to lift her again. Jessica SCREAMS. Nathaniel jumps back in shock.

NATHANIEL

Jess, you’re scaring me…

Jessica stares at Nathaniel, slowly rises, offering an E-Bar. Nathaniel knocks it out of her hand and starts to back away.

Jessica gets angry. Advances on Nathaniel.

NATHANIEL

Please, no, no, no.

Nathaniel pulls his hair.

NATHANIEL

No, this is not happening. No… God. Please…

Jessica sees another E-Bar on the coffee table, she reaches for it.

Nathaniel grabs it. Jessica SCREAMS again. Nathaniel stuffs bars into his bag, and backs away from her. Jessica grabs at him, but is too slow.

Nathaniel grabs more, quickly turns and runs out the front door.

Jessica remains standing in the middle of the room, bewildered, and mildly agitated. She moves over to a bar that had fallen on the floor, and picks it up.

EXT. DOWNTOWN – DAY

The sky is grey, drone-like people walk down the sidewalk. Nathaniel runs down the middle of the street, tears running down his face.

He stops, looks all around, grabs his hair, his face.

NATHANIEL

Why… Fuck… What am I supposed to do?

Turns towards an alley, runs into it, empties bars out of his bag into a dumpster. Turns, looks around.

NATHANIEL

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!

People on the street ignore him.

A homeless man sleeping in the alley, is startled awake. Stares at Nathaniel. Nathaniel runs up to him, grabs him by the collar.

NATHANIEL

WHAT, THE FUCK, AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!

Homeless man holds out an half eaten E-Bar. Nathaniel tosses him to the ground.

NATHANIEL

FUCK! You too?!

Frantically, Nathaniel grabs a garbage can, and runs with it out into the street. He spreads garbage all over the road.

Tears down street signs, signs on the wall.

Breaks windows.

Removes spray paint from his bag, writes: “Have a FUCKING E-Bar! They make you FEEL great!” all over the buildings.

Nobody notices him.

EXT. DOWNTOWN – NIGHT

Dark. Empty. Nathaniel sits in an alleyway, covered in spray paint and garbage, clutches his knees to his chest. Rocks back and forth.

NATHANIEL

(mutters under his breath)

Oh God… no… what do I do… what do I do…

He stops rocking.

NATHANIEL

Jess…

Buries head in arms, starts crying.

EXT. DOWNTOWN – MORNING

Nathaniel, dirty, tear stained, sleeps on a pile of garbage in the alley. The light wakes him up. He sits up slowly.

Nathaniel looks around, rises, gathers his bag, and walks towards exit of the alley.

Nathaniel looks carefully out into the street, which has a few people shuffling down it. He walks out into the sidewalk, they do not see him.

Many places have sign advertising the E-Bar. The street is covered in garbage, the remnants from the day before.

Store fronts are damaged, doors left open.

Nathaniel reaches an outdoor supply store, and enters. He grabs a tent, large bag, sleeping bag, and other useful items off the shelves, and walks out the front door without paying.

Nathaniel enters a food store, and fills his bag with food.

EXT. WOODS – DAY

Birds and other animals make noises, it’s not nearly as still and quiet as the city. Nathaniel sets up a tent.

EXT. SHACK IN WOODS – DAY (MONTHS LATER)

A small, shoddily built shack stands among tall trees. Green light filters down from the tree tops.

A fire pit about 10 feet away from the shack is smoldering from the night before.

Animal skins hang from branches around the shack.

A human sized wooden carving sits near the fire.

Nathaniel, dirty, wearing tattered clothing, beard, exits shack.

NATHANIEL

Morning Jess. Sleep well?

FADE OUT

THE END