(Please note that the last two days are a joint blog because I decided to focus on writing a short script over two days at BUStation).
So for the past two days I have been writing a very short script with Jessica Davies and some editing help from Becky Keegan.
The Fifth Day.
After spending four days working on LunchBox Live I decided it was time to focus back into the world of script writing; it has been a while since I have done so what with my coursework focusing on a Bible which involves characters and episodes outline.
Again I decided to work with Jessica and we spent a while deciding what we actually wanted to write about and what would be achievable. We had to think about budget, the length and genre (particularly if we wanted to get TV Production or anyone else to produce it). In the end we decided to have a go at writing our own advert for an imaginary website that does online dating.
We wanted something cute but obviously straight to the point. We decided to focus on the idea of an umbrella. An umbrella, we feel, symbolises 'love'; it shelters you from the rain (hard times) and is also a great sharing device. True it has been used many times and seems a bit clique but we were having fun :)
We discussed what location would suit best and thought about a cafe; however we decided against it as it might be hard to film inside a coffee shop (especially this time of year where it is cold and everyone wants a hot drink- very busy not to mention way out in town!) In the end we decided to be a bit different and have it set in a supermarket; so the basic scenario it starts to rain and both the protagonists end up in the supermarket wanting to buy an umbrella.
Then we needed some kind of conflict that resulted in them noticing each other. We came up with the idea very quickly and decided to have only one umbrella left! Both at the same time their hands would touch and their eyes would meet... happy ending right? Well not quite.
We thought if the characters suddenly ran into each and fell in love there and then it might feel a bit patronising to some viewers or too quick. We wanted to love to take a bit of time and not 'instant'. That is not how the real world works... (not in my eyes anyway).
So we decided to have the male protagonists offer the last umbrella to her in which she takes and wanders off leaving the poor guy alone still dripping from the rain.
But as he is leaving the store- the rain about to worsen his day he suddenly can't feel the rain drops. Its the girl and she is sheltering him from the rain.
So after quickly jotting down the main idea and our characters we quickly wrote the script out in a rough draft; the end result was clunky and full of mistakes but we were happy with our main story. Tomorrow we would edit.
Sixth (and final) Day.
Me and Jessica were ready to complete and finalise our script. We took out time and decided to focus on simple quick sentences: with an advert you have to deliver the audience the message precisely and quickly.
We spent the rest of the day working on the script and slowly but surely we came to a happy finalised script. Thanks to Becky Keegan in that day she helped us edit the script, even adding a tagline to make it feel professional.
So I present to you 'The Tale of One Umbrella' written by Emma Aldom and Jessica Davies. Hope you enjoy!
THE TALE OF ONE UMBRELLA
EXT. STREET (GREEN SCREEN)- DAY.
A woman, Maria, in her twenties sits on a bench. She has long brown hair, ruffled, unkept but pretty.
She looks downcast, much like the weather with its dark clouds surrounding her.
A couple walks by, hand in hand, in love. She stares at them sadly, looks to the empty space by her.
EXT. STREET 2 (GREEN SCREEN)- DAY.
A man, Tommy, in his twenties leans against a lamppost.
He takes his mobile phone and punches in a number.
FEMALE VOICE
You have no new messages.
He sighs before hanging up. A single drop of rain splashes against the screen.
He looks up, the clouds rumble with thunder.
EXT. STREET (GREEN SCREEN)- DAY.
Trickles turn into a downpour.
Maria runs through the street trying to shelter herself with her flower bag.
INT. STORE - DAY.
She runs into the store, breathless and hair dripping.
She pushes her way through the crowd, tripping several times as she does.
She reaches the aisle under the sign headed 'accessories'.
And there a single bright red umbrella. sits in the basket.
Her hand stretches our, her face full of relief. Then a hairy hand snatches the umbrella.
She leers into the face; her anger quickly melting to
Its Tommy; his ocean blue eyes gaze bcd into her chestnut brown.
TOMMY
I'm sorry was this yours?
MARIA
Yea thanks.
She walks off towards the checkouts; leaving him standing there disappointed by her lack of interest.
EXT. OUTSIDE STORE - DAY.
Tommy stands outside, shivering from the cold and the rain.
Suddenly the rain stopping dropping on his head.
He looks up and a bright red umbrella shelters him.
The owner of this umbrella? Maria. She catches his eye and smiles.
He smiles back.
'IT'S THE LITTLE GESTURES THAT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.'
'SHARE YOUR LOVE TODAY AT together.com WHY NOT?'
So I hoped you enjoyed reading it! Anyway what have I thought about the whole BUStation experience?
Personally it has been quite enjoyable and great to explore and expand my knowledge on the different parts of the media world. Although I do feel that six separate days are not helpful in retaining new skills and knowledge; after all I am a student and I am learning new and different things every day! I think it should be either a week or two collaborative project as we did at the end of Level C: so the scriptwriters could write a short script for any genre; whether that is advertising, horror or what ever and have it produced into a game or a short clip. I think this would have been much beneficial. Or even have one week of that and one week of learning a new skill such as visual director, sound mixer, presenting or what ever the person wants to learn.
Anyway that is all from me on BUStation.
Later! :)
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