Screenwriting - character development

Sarah eats out

Sarah is having a meal with her boss – it is the final part of her performance management and she is nervous. They are sitting outside the Kensington Kitchens in the late afternoon. 

Boss:  Don’t you like your risotto Sarah?  

Sarah:  It’s fine Dom.  I’m just not that hungry you know.  Your pie looks good.

Boss: Yes, excellent!  I know I can rely on this restaurant for good, consistently good food.  Consistently high standards are very important – don’t you think Sarah?

Sarah: Yes, absolutely.  I’m really, really keen on having high standards in my work all the time.  Really.

There is a pause – the boss looks at her

Sarah: As you know I spent loads of time ensuring the Space’n’Time exhibition was as exciting and brilliant and well presented as possible.

Another pause

Sarah:  And I think it really worked with the kids.  Lots of the teachers said they thought it helped them understand the space-time continuum better…

Boss:  Yes Sarah, your work on that project was very good – but that was nine months ago.  I’m a little concerned about what’s happened since. 

And where we go from here.

Sarah: Well, I was working on the Dark Side of the Moon project with Jez, but then it was cancelled… and the Space Station Uranus project would have been ready last month, but Mark left.  The Rings of Saturn exhibition is going to be ready soon. I’m working hard on it!

Boss:  Hmm.  I know you’ve tried hard Sarah.  But the truth is that you need to be a team player to work here, to get these exhibitions on and the visitors in. Consistently.

Sarah:  I work really hard Dom and I am a team player.  It’s not fair to blame me for all of this.  I put a massive amount into my work. Always.

Boss: Sarah, no one’s saying you don’t work hard.  But you haven’t always communicated that well – and I think that needs to change.  Don’t look so worried.

You’ve had a difficult year at home and here, and I think you could do with a new start.  That’s why I’m suggesting a move….  Somewhere less stressful. South Devon.  It’s a new, small planetarium, but I want you to be in at the beginning.

So, what do you think?

Sarah: I can’t believe you’re doing this to me after 5 years. You’re just letting me go – just like that.  Well, don’t you worry about me.  I’ll go. Right now. 

Boss: Sarah, don’t get upset. Listen.

Sarah: I’ve done with listening.  I’m out of 

here.  Goodbye.

Sarah grabs her coat and storms off.  Then returns to pick up her bag.

Boss: Just take some time to think…. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.  Hey, this is an opportunity, not the sack!

Sarah rushes off clearly upset.  A loud sob is heard just before she turns the corner.

Week 6 Sound

I really enjoyed creating the soundtrack to the Hill Farm animation, even though it is not complete and there were many frustrations.
but here it is!

Explore film week 5 -editing

Explore Film Week 5
Editing a scene

Here is a link to my edit of the cafe scene.  I really enjoyed this task, although I didn't really find the sort of music that I think would have fitted well. (not copyright free anyway).
I used Movie Maker on windows to edit with.

Edit of cafe scene

Week 4 lighting challenge

Our cat Tiggi earned his keep today as star of my lighting experiments.  I used a bendy double headed light like this one.  I had a go at using the light from different angles and with some filters - acrylic coloured folders!  I know these might melt with a longer shoot or more powerful bulb, but they were handy and the red one was quite effective I thought.
Very happy to hire Tiggi out for movies, as long as I'm paid an extortionate fee and he gets unlimited thai green chicken (his favourite - he's half Thai water cat and half ginger tom!).

Here is the link to my film on you tube Several Shades of Tiggi - lighting challenge

Week 4
Storyboard for All along the Watchtower

I struggle with storyboards as I'm not a great artist.  This also means I probably don't do enough images.
What I've done reflects my gentler view of the scene, thinking more of All along the Watchtower as being from an era of peace and flower power.  So I envisaged lots of gentle arty shots of pretty gardens and British nature at it's best, along with a couple of cheeky bank robbers.
I think Corin Hardy's version is much more exciting though! Really good!

Film from week 2
Here is the link to the film I finally made with my very patient family acting in it.  It is less than a minute long and the theme of the film 'Opportunity Knocks' is not clear.  Let's just say there's something interesting in the envelope!  May be continued... (or not!)


Opportunity Knocks - start of film

film week 3 mise en scene

Week 3 film course
Pictures for set of breakfast scene.  I imagine a late 50s / 60s kitchen scene where mum is very definitely the housewife.  I think the kitchen will be functional and a little dull looking - perhaps grey and blue with formica table.
Mother will be 'well groomed' and concentrating on her housewifely duties.  Father will be engrossed in his newspaper and the boy will thinner and taller than my image - but with clothes too tight and as ill fitting as he is wearing.