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Post by kenny on Jul 13, 2006 0:44:10 GMT -5
Since me and Bluesabre have been talking about this film, and it also involves four of the members of our motley crew, I figured I would start up this topic.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Jul 14, 2006 12:51:36 GMT -5
Before any further discussion on this occurs I think we need to see a full script and then have a discussion with Joseph. This could be our excuse to do a horr film and I don't want to pass that up. It would also be fun to do a joint production. I think that would distribute our resources very nicely and come up with something special. It might not be deep, per se, but it would be a start.
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Post by kenny on Jul 14, 2006 15:07:42 GMT -5
Yeah, it's about damn time we do a horror film.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Jul 24, 2006 14:34:08 GMT -5
I have written my own version of the script. It's very different. Basically the only similarity is zombies in a large size house. You guys can talk it over and change it as you please. I am very interested to hear Joe's response to it.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Aug 2, 2006 16:16:53 GMT -5
House of Horror- Draft1- R. Davis
Fade In
A candle comes to life, igniting the first title. Another candle and another is passed until a pause where the candle is passed under the face of the first storyteller. The main title appears.
STORYTELLER 1 (V.O.)
And the LAST ONE emerged from the bathroom, the afternoon shade on his face. His mouth was wide open, a choking sound issued and he pressed himself to the wall in shock. He stared back at the paling face, the body sprawled on the toilet seat cover. From the stairs, the KILLER descended. His mask serene, the knife clean and the blood caked rag hung harmlessly from his pocket. Thump thump. He descended. The Last One writhed and shrieked, the Killer stepped closer. His knife wagged calmly in his hand, back and forth hypnotically. The Last One sprang for the closet and slammed the door shut. But the killer opened the cloak room door. After his job was finished…
(If it’s possible to have him come from the garage up, as if ascending from Hell I’ll take that instead.)
CUT TO: Int. The Den- Night ignited by candle
A circle of friends sit in a circle, ignited by candles. (It can be a den in afternoon with some smoky incense, or no candles at all. I’m just trying to create mood and continuity with the opening.) Each story teller has an object. Storyteller 1 holds up the Killer’s stage mask.
Storyteller 1
The Killer did come forward after the murders. He admitted the story and that’s the one I tell. With a few details left out for the protection of the victims, of course.
The storyteller puts the mask down and the circle applauds politely. The Circle then turns to STORYTELLER 2. He holds up a glass of water.
ST2
The water we drink was probably at one point toxic. The water we drink, whether it’s from the tap or bottle can be contaminated with any number of toxins, metals, or disease. But strangely, tap water is even safer than bottled because it is inspected and regulated more closely. Even filtering your water with commercial products can’t make you completely safe from something you need to live. Sensationalist? Certainly. But we must be way of our surroundings and realize that even what we consider precious has thorns of its own.
DISSOLVE TO: Int. Living Room- Late Morning
JOHN and his SIX OTHER FRIENDS play games and chat. It’s a party and the sun is shining and the blinds are full open. On the couch is a couple ogling each other. John is entertaining ROB about something when ETHAN sits down to ask a few questions.
Ethan
So seriously John, it’s ten o’ clock and nothing is happening except those two. What’s the plan for the rest of us while your parents are out?
John
Well Ethan, we’re gonna play some more games up until ‘round twelve. Then I’ll take out on some pizza and we’ll bust the day doing whatever.
Ethan
No…John…that’s shit. We’re not doing whatever all day.
John
Well, Rob, Ethan, truth be told (he beckons them closer) I do have a little surprise in store for everyone.
John (cont.) …and I need your assistance.
Rob
Does it involve balloons or cap guns?
The camera shifts over to carpet level over to the ogling youths.
FADE TO BLACK
Int. Dining Room- Afternoon
The blinds are still full drawn. (Light, and consequently shadow, will be our element rather than darkness.)
The friends sit at the kitchen table, three boxes of pizza display their cheesy contents (not a specific direction!). The friends are enjoying their meals, guzzling soda and eating as teens do. John’s place of honor at the front of the table is vacant while he fills his glass with the last of the soda.
John
We’re kind of out of normal drinks. Unless everyone wants blueberry-pomegranate with elderflower. Or gourmet Mango-tomato-blackcurrant bought it yesterday.
Nervous stares pass around the table. John takes a slice of pizza.
John (cont.)
So you’ll just have to try the tap water.
Rob
Thank you John, but tell your parents to stay away from the pretentious section of the supermarket.
And with that the frenzy continued.
Ethan, at the far corner of the table, starts talking with SIMON, the teen who was ogling JESSICA.
(This is the part of the script where I characterize everyone so they don’t feel like cardboard. Any chance to change the nature of the characters happens here.)
Ethan
Simon, when did you meet Jessica?
Jessica
Well we met back in the 7th grade, in bio. And the whole group was awful but Simon was really nice and smart.
Simon grins like a just-pet kitten.
Simon
And so we’ve hit it off for nearly four years now.
Ethan (eyeing Jessica)
That’s bad word choice Simon, be careful how you phrase things like that. Um, Jessica, have you looked at other people. You’re both young, very nice people I’m sure you could try getting inside others, other minds.
MARK leans over next to Ethan.
Mark
Hey, lay off Ethan. They’re cute and both of them are better than you at Soul Calibur.
Ethan Mark, that game requires no skill. Excuse me, Simon, Jessica, but Soul Calibur is the epitome of bad game design. Please Mark, your opinion is so sorely misguided…
Mark Shut up, Ethan. Just because it’s friendly to new players doesn’t indicate inferiority in design.
(Feel free to change the above conversation for the second draft.) Ethan
Mark please, don’t be shit. That’s a futile argument for several obvious reasons…
The camera leaves them for John, Rob, and TOM in conversation.
John
So basically my folks are out house hunting but they also wanted ‘just a week to themselves’ as they put it. And who am I to say otherwise?
Tom (later refered to as Tim because I wrote this at two different times and didn't spend any time on his character. ((Versus the two minutes of thought each of John and Ethan.)))
But you did tell them right? I mean, yeah sure the pizza is good but you’re tricking your parents.
Rob
Not tricking Tom, moving under their radar. This is a stealth ordeal. Just a few days of solitude amongst friends. As long as no vases are smashed or lawns are ignited then the whole thing never happened.
John
No, they really don’t care as long as nothing is destroyed or damaged. Dad had parties in this house and wants me to have the same social life he had.
Tom
Yeah, that’s nice how your father is trying to relive his childhood through you. His actions are classically Freudian.
Rob
Yeah, but John’s Dad had cool friends.
John
That’s right Rob. All of my friends are smart asses. Ethan
Cheers John, you attract the finest!
Jessica gets up for a drink.
Jessica
So, Simon, did you see anything else to drink?
John
We’ve only got tap water left.
Jessica murmurs her approval and goes to get her cup filled. The classy wine glass fills with tap. Jessica returns to her seat and takes a sip, the conversations continues as she returns to her seat. Rob also moves to get some water. They RETURN OUT OF FOCUS.
John
So, for the rest of the day we’ll just talk and do stuff.
Rob makes an aside to Mark who has returned to his seat.
Mark
Yeah, a regular nerd party.
Rob
And proud of it.
Rob takes a gulp of water. The Party continues. ROB is starting to sweat a little. JESSICA hides her discomfort.
Rob
You know, I don’t feel so good. Kinda tired. The AC is on, right?
Jessica
Could be food poisoning. Does your stomach hurt too?
Rob
Yeah, I’m just a bag full of pizza and pain. I’m going to take a nap.
Rob gets up and moves with an ache. Not burdened by the pain to a crawl, but obviously afflicted.
John
How about we follow Rob’s example and take a little bit of a rest?
Ethan leans over and mentions to Mark:
Ethan
Rob’s pioneering spirit at work.
John (Cont.)
After nap time, and I’m unplugging the TV to enforce it, we’ll make some good old fashioned prank cell calls. Unless someone has a more interesting idea?
John looks around, silence.
Ethan
Here’s an idea. Let’s call your parents and tell them to buy food next time. Pomegranate blueberry and piss… was that also part of your father’s social life?
Silence.
CUT TO:
Int. Den- Afternoon
The blinds are shut and the friends are all in their own little sleeping places. CLOSE-UP: The sleeping face of Ethan. The sleeping face of Timothy. The sleeping face of Jessica, she shows a smile with the hint of a pained frown. There is a deep hurt she’s trying to conceal. In the kitchen John washes the last of the plates.
John tip-toes over to wake Ethan. He notices that Rob is missing. John goes upstairs to the bathroom where the light seeps through into the pale afternoon shadow. He knocks on the wall.
John
Um, Rob, what’s going on in there?
A DRY WHINE is muffled by the bathroom door. John is drawn inside to help his friend. Rob PRESSES himself against the shower doors, a STREAM OF DROOL trailing down his chin. The toilet seat is up and in the bowl swirls a DEEP RED SUBSTANCE. John TURNS to LEAVE. He FALTERS but doesn’t lose his balance. ROB’S body WRITHES and LASHES, he LUNGES at John and PUSHES him into the side wall. His FACE TWITCHES CONSTANTLY, the EYES and LIPS especially. His face can’t lock onto a single expression.
Rob (zombie)
Is this your trick, friend John?
John (screaming, struggling)
No, holy, no, I was going to dump hot water on Mark’s pants.
Rob
Lock all of the doors then.
Rob hacks out a glob of blood onto John. In the moment John tries to shove Rob aside, but he still clings to his arm. John moves for the door in an attempt to slam it on friend Rob’s wrist. The crack is a soft splintering, like and arthritic bone being crushed. John rushes for the phone in the Study, past the Den. He dials 911.
911 OPERATOR
Hello. You have contacted the state emergency service team. Our resources are currently strained due to a high level crises in the public water system. Boil all water before consumption.
A dry howl echoes through the halls.
911 operator (cont.)
…Drunken the water, lock the victim immediately in a windowless room. Lock all doors from the inside and outside as well to prevent intrusion and/or escape of contaminated residents. Emergency services should reach your area in 7 hours. –The phone beeps-
(We might want to keep or replace this scene with something more…interactive?... depending on the pacing and some alternate ideas.)
John returns the phone and locks all the doors from the inside and out. He runs back to the bathroom when Rob grabs him as he’s turning the corner. The turns everyone’s heads.
Mark
See, again. I’m not crazy.
Simon
Hey, Jessica isn’t here.
Tim
Guys, the doors are locked.
Ethan
Keys, search for keys.
-This is where the film can change depending on the location of the rooms. (Actually the opening is subject to change as well, of course.)
-Outline as I have it (I have dialogue to match but I don’t want to type it when it could all be scraped. I’d prefer to hear the changes and work towards them.)
-In the dining room Simon says he’s taking Tim to go find Jessica. Tim has been to the house before and can find the upstairs bathroom where Jessica likely is, Ethan and Simon are just school friends and don’t know the house very well. -Rob comes through the unlocked door, the three run towards the locked door and make it out into the hall. -In the corridor they encounter a zombified John. -Moving into another room they encounter a zombified Jessica. Jessica gets Simon, who is leading the others (of course. We might want to change that because its cliché. I don’t want to kill Ethan since he’s the most interesting character. The alternate is probably Mark since he is aggressive and would logically lead the others.) -Tim leads them into a room with a window. -They discuss breaking the window and other methods of escape (such as killing the others) while the corpse of Simon/Mark is consumed. -The zombies approach while the three continue the debate. Tim starts to feel sick. He becomes pale. -John the Zombie uses his key to open the door. These zombies are smarter as they increase in numbers. They fumble with the key and bang on the door. -Tim turns into a zombie like Rob did, driven into madness through a stress-strengthened disease. -Mark and Ethan run out of the room into the hall, chased by all the others. They catch Mark. -Ethan runs into the garage and slams that door shut. He opens the car port door and escapes. The story teller guarantees us of his safety. ***If you want all the characters dead: +This mirrors the opening segment where the killer simply opened the door to the closet where the victim hid. -Ethan runs down stairs to the garage, chased close behind by the zombies. -Ethan pulls the door to the garage open and slams it shut. The zombies however, simply open the door. -Ethan is waiting for the garage door to open such that he can escape. But the John zombie clicks the garage door button and his path of escape is locked. The zombies close in for their kill, howling, with the white light of day filtering through the open garage entrance. -The story teller gives the conclusion to the story, tells that there was no difficulty in selling the house considering how many were interested in new homes and were not concerned by any damages caused by the incident. -We show two kids walking through the garage, a dried glob of blood, and fade to black.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Aug 26, 2006 19:59:29 GMT -5
So, now that I've washed the blood off my hands I think its time to insert my two cents:
-What I liked- Director's patience: In retrospect I'm blown away. It almost made up for the gaping (and bleeding) lack of planning. (To say almost is an exaggeration, but at times it felt it.)Without it nothing would have gotten done and I give Joseph great credit for it. The props: Ample props, new props, and make-up were all in supply today. I couldn't be more pleased. Joseph has taken FM 3, our technical achievement, far forward. I hope he will continue to innovate. The challenge: Today was a bold step forward in many ways. Sure the planning wasn't up there (I'll get to it) and neither was the script, but it certainly was ambitious. We had a large cast, we had them visually prepared, and we had some promising results visually.
And of course working with everyone today was nice. Haven't really worked with someone new since...CoCd?
-What I didn't like- Unfortunately this list will be far longer The script: (I promise not to mention my own.) The lines we had to read showed little to no revision. They showed script showed basic (minimal) planning in terms of description of props, setting, action, and reactions. In future you need to describe these things, if just for the sake of the actors and other crew. Pay attention to detail and remember that the script is the blueprint for the film. If a pillar isn't there, even if its in your head, then it will fall. And as the director work the script over in your head. Is it like a book in that it describes the setting, the characters, the mood, etc.? The planning: Plan, plan, plan. It feels that the respawning zombies was not in mind. We could have avoided that with some focused previs before we got to filming. That would have been something to do during lunch at school. If just two people sat down and drew the room from above then a play-by-play could be formed. It would have looked and felt much better, much better planned at least. The zombies had nothing in mind, what were they supposed to act like, how do they sound? For a zombie movie it seemed like very little attention was put into the zombies. So of course, fit that right in the script. And as always, when you get there plan for the shot, plan for the shot, plan for the shot, plan for the shot. Once that's done then plan for the next one. If you have some more planning in mind for the next shot you might write it down. Or maybe its in the script, that would be nice. Or maybe it's in the storyboard, but that's a different story. Setting We should have cleaned the floor up too. Leave the things that make sense, put away (hide) the things that don't. Discipline We are here to put the director (and writer's!) vision on screen. So why don't we let them talk first? Even if you think you know, let the director say. When the director asks for a suggestion (and they should be the first to make a suggestion) give one please, right after the director says. Not before. And for the love of whatever religious figure you believe in, when the director says shut up, shut up. Please. No one cares what you have to say until Action. When they want you to have such and such a gun, take the gun. No complaints, shut up and take the gun. Nike my friend. Just do it. And wait your turn. The less you know, can you recite your lines?, the less you should talk. Of course, considering the lack of planning I can understand wanting to find certainty. But wait, relax, relax. The director will explain everything. When he is done ask questions. One at a time please. Pattern Director gets plan together, shares it with actors, they get in position and do a take while the director gets the camera set up. Plan, Actors then Camera. I say camera last because we often set the camera up, get all of our actors in position, and then end up moving the camera, lose our place, and the whole thing starts again. Scheduling-Just add forty minutes to your time.
I have more complaints but I can't think of them right now, I'll leave that for others.
By the way, I didn't hear, "That's good enough." which is good, so good. Music to my ears, in fact.
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Aug 26, 2006 20:08:42 GMT -5
Pulled from the Production Journal ( inakamichi-movie.tripod.com/id1.html): 26 August 2006- We're pretty much just getting started in serious filmmaking, but Joseph of JP Films ( home.earthlink.net/~biapayne/) has just gotten started. Now having gotten off of Fight Movies and into their first complex production, "House of Horror", he asked some of Dead Moose, Inc.'s members to make an appearance for the final scene of his film. Originally, it was Aniket, Richie, Kevin and myself. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Aniket couldn't make it- Nikolay, bringing an arsenal with him, took his place. While I think the craftsmanship could be improved (more camera angles, better (and more creative) shot compositions and acting), they're steps ahead of us in other departments: -Make-up. Only thing we did coming remotely close is Kevin bleeding from his eye socket in "Fight Movie II". We never actually applied gashes to the face for zombie characters. Maybe there's a reason why I haven't done "ZOMBIS!!! Holy Shit, They Made a Sequel"- because we just don't measure up in the field of make-up. -On a related note, costuming. Huge difference. Joseph has half of the stuff ready for us. We have no costumes. In our case, military garb. So, pretty much, during that first hour we were there, we spent time actually preparing for the shoot- applying the make-up and all that good stuff. During our regular filming sessions, the cast (and crew) is too busy fooling around and not doing anything. Once we did get to doing something, it was irritating how everyone would interrupt while some of us were trying to hear directions from... um... the director. From what I could gather, Joseph's directing style is to let the actors make their own little contributions- later on, plenty of improvisation was done, and each following take was just a continuation of where the last one stopped. I've done some of that before (not really in the mood to mention which film), but that was dialogue- not action. On the other hand, they seem a little bit too obsessed about how their blooper reels will turn out. Some of the pranks pulled by a couple of troublemakers on-set were funny (one involving, immediately upon entering the house, we hear a distant echo of that "Footloose" song), but I think the focus should be on making a better film. From what I can gather, as Joseph matures as a filmmaker, he will feel less and less inclined to post such reels. ...but that's probably just me and my overall hatred of blooper reels. I just feel they're overrated, and overused by school projects. (and in the field of Hollywood, notice how most of the movies that bother to show the bloopers during the end credits... are probably terrible movies (Jackie Chan and Pixar fans, back off; I know their personal style)) I am looking forward to the finished product, and you betcha I'll be pluggin' the living crap outta that thing when it comes out.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Aug 26, 2006 20:09:11 GMT -5
By the way, when do we get to see the scene?
At the risk of hypocrisy, Dead Moose tries to have fast turn over from shoot to release. Even if it is just one scene it helps to see progress.
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Post by Eric T. Jones on Aug 26, 2006 20:12:56 GMT -5
I'll promptly invite Joseph to the forums.
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Post by Skywalker on Aug 27, 2006 11:44:54 GMT -5
i personally think that from what i hear... it actually sounded like a fun film shoot. Something that i would've liked in my film shoots.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Aug 27, 2006 15:51:29 GMT -5
Was it fun? First, it's a zombie movie. Second, we're just fun people. third, when we're all dressed up like zombies its hard not to laugh a little bit. The only time, as usual, that it wasn't fun was when confusion reigned and everyone had a different idea of what was right.
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Post by panama on Sept 2, 2006 15:43:45 GMT -5
I'm glad to see all of your thoughts on my horror film so far. After my company finishes our last small film (CS: Urban Warfare), we plan to be doing only complex, plot-filled films from now on. We're still in process with shooting Battle Zone and House of Horror. I hope to have those done by the end of this school year. Also, I've been working on the story for the second Battle Zone (Battle Zone 2). I've already planed for it to be a mafia story with all new characters. I may have some small roles for you guys in Battle Zone 2, that is if you don't mind dressing up as a bunch of mafia guys.
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Post by panama on Sept 2, 2006 15:48:24 GMT -5
btw. please explain to me this whole "n00b, global moderator, administrator" thing. As well as how to get a picture up like you guys have.
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Post by kenny on Sept 2, 2006 17:00:06 GMT -5
Sure thing. I'll PM you what you need to know.
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Post by bluesabre1 on Sept 3, 2006 13:46:47 GMT -5
So when do we get to see the rough cut of what we filmed last week? I don't want to sound impatient but I think everyone is eager to see how it turned out just so we can put it to rest or consider reshooting it.
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