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This is an odd short you have sent in. I didn't really understand at was going on until the host started explaining (though I'm sure that is everyone elses' though), and things got more interesting. But my question is, was the whole phone and family of four just the teenager's dream?
Maybe you can go into a little bit more depth and explain what happened at the end, though I did kind of predict something about the phone at the end and when the mom was going to pick it up, but I still liked the ending.
"I didn't really understand at was going on until the host started explaining (though I'm sure that is everyone elses' though), and things got more interesting."
Can you explain this part? I'm a bit confused. Other than that, the phone and four people are the dream. Glad you liked the short, espeically the ending.
Gabriel
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
"I didn't really understand at was going on until the host started explaining (though I'm sure that is everyone elses' though), and things got more interesting."
Can you explain this part? I'm a bit confused.
It's nothing, I figured it out (sorry I get stupid(er) when nighttime rolls around.) So it's nothing to worry about.
No problem, I totally understand. Thanks for reading my short.
Gabriel
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
The first is that I don't understand what happened in it. I was look forward to an explanation or a payoff and I didn't get either of them.
The second is that this is very wordy. If you tightened the script up, you could probably eliminate a page from it. Your opening sequence reads:
INT. LAVISH HOTEL - HALLWAY – DAY
A small crowd of five people walk; one leads the pack, while the other four follow.
Leading the pack is a male dressed in a fine stylish suit. With jelled hair combed to the back, this man walks dignified; his referred simply as the HOST.
The other four walk in pairs: a MOTHER and her SON, and a FATHER and his SON.
The mother (mid thirties) wears a regular professional skirt. Her white blouse is opened at the collar.
Her son (age 6) wears a dress shirt and dress pants.
The father (mid thirties) and his son (age 6) both wear polo shirts and dress pants.
A little bit of rewriting leaves you with:
INT. LAVISH HOTEL - HALLWAY – DAY
The HOST, walks down the hall, wearing a very expensive suit and slicked back hair.
Behind him, a WOMAN (35) in business attire leads her well dressed SON by the hand.
Behind them, a casually dressed MAN (35), leads his casually dressed SON.
I just cut your opening in half. The entire script could be tightened up like this.
Back to the story...
I just didn't get it. I don't know what people heard on the phone and I don't understand why the teenager screamed from his dream. And I don't understand the significance of the phone call at the very end.
I see what you mean about tightening up. I'll see what I can do. I tend to write narratively so it becomes a bit wordy.
"I don't know what people heard on the phone and I don't understand why the teenager screamed from his dream. And I don't understand the significance of the phone call at the very end."
The Mother heard a high pitch noise. I believe that I put into the script it's similar to when one scratches on the blackboard. People crinch against it so I used it for her. Especially since she is a mother with a small child, I found it click right with her. Mothers are very alertive by a child's noise so I used it as her means to die.
Referencing back to the mother, children enjoy making noise so I took that away from him.
The Teenager screams from his nightmare because he imagned himself as the mute Son in the dream.
The phone call at the end was what I thought would be an extra scare factor to make it appear as if it was going to really happen.
I hope I helped leviate your confusion. Thanks again for reading it.
Gabriel
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
This a very peculiar script. I had to read it three times but I still don't get it.
I think your script has to be rewriten. Try to remain simple (i.e. I was confused about the father and the mother. Are they related? Are the two children theirs?)
And avoid (IMHO) ending with a nightmare. It is too simple or too cliché.
You have there a very original subject. Don't spoil it.
Hey Gabriel, even though I truly didn't get what the hell was going on in this piece, I still really enjoyed it. It was freaky at first... obviously choosing to head right into this weird situation with the Host and four people... and the phone.
SPOILERS
I think the Host should explain what you've said in your earlier post about what the phone actually does to different people... 'cause I doubt anyone's gonna guess what you actually intended each thing to mean.
It sounds like an interesting and unique story that should be told with a little more explanation (but not too much because I think it should have a little mystery to it as well) and the story should at least not deserve, as Michel said, the very cliché 'waking up from a nightmare' ending.
There are a couple grammatical errors in it... there was one in the Host's dialogue I think. You should spot them if you read or rewrite it (which I hope you do, there's potential here I think). And the script, as Phil said above, needs a little tightening. There were a lot of wasted lines in there.
Good job though. Hope you can do a rewrite soon. I'll be sure to give it a read immediately.
I am planning to rewrite this piece but just not right now due to school.
"I was confused about the father and the mother. Are they related? Are the two children theirs?"
The father and mother are not related. Though, the children are theirs - one child for the mother and one for the father.
"And avoid (IMHO) ending with a nightmare. It is too simple or too cliché."
I understand. I'll see if I can fix it. What does IMHO mean?
"I think the Host should explain what you've said in your earlier post about what the phone actually does to different people... 'cause I doubt anyone's gonna guess what you actually intended each thing to mean."
I'll consider it. I really don't want to give it all way. I want people to make their own interpretations.
The tightening of the script I totally agree a hundred percent.
Thanks guys for the read and reviews. Gabriel
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
Well, like the others I didn't get it, but I am also not that bright so I wouldn't be surprised if this just flew waaay over my head like a David Lynch film, I don't really get those either(except for the Straight story)
I had no clue what was going on, but on the plus, this wasn't boring, which IMO is the most important thing in a story, so I'll give you that.
Anyways it was an interesting short, but I do feel it needs to be a little more clear what is going on.
It means In My Honest Opinion. There are other variations to it too like In My Opinion (IMO). That's what it means to me anyway... I can't see it being much different.
Hope the rewrite goes well once you get to it.
[Edit: Actually, "In my humble opinion" is the more conventional understanding. Bert]
This was a bit weird. it reminded me of some asian horror movie i've seen. I understand that the beginning was a dream but the call at the end tells you that it's all really happening. this is fine but its all so random. why is this all tied in with the teenager anyway? did something happen with the teenager and mother before? maybe you could clarify.
Sorry for the long absence but school is closely over - finally. Thanks guys for your reviews.
theboywhocouldfly
Many people have been commenting on that aspect of the script. it does not mean that your not bright. I've decided on not rewriteing this peice but rather input it into another script that my friend and i have been working on for closely a year now.
Parkster That's for your encouraging words and explaing IMO.
Shawnjkr Thanks for your input. Read what I wrote to the theboywhocouldfly. I'm making this a scene in a larger script rather than rewriting it.
Thanks guys again. Gabriel
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
This story is confounding. Like your first draft of “Closed In”, your ideas are not yet on the paper here, Gabe -- and you are gonna need another draft if you want people to understand this one.
I glanced at Phil’s notes and will not repeat them. But I would suggest you read them again carefully. He is giving you good advice there about tightening up your writing style. Don’t lose your own voice, of course, but if you can say the same thing with less words, then probably 97% of the time you should go with the shorter option.
I’m going to have to say that I found having two characters referred to as “son” to be quite confusing. Is there any reason these cannot all be members of the same family? Or that one cannot be a daughter? And when we first enter the phone chamber, it is a “rotary dial”, not a turning dial.
When the Host finally speaks, if you are going to end his first piece of dialogue with an ellipse, it is fine to begin his next piece of dialogue with an ellipse, like so: “…you are all so eagerly examining…” But it is redundant to have him say “whole entire lifetime.” Choose one word or the other, but not both.
Quoted from You
The father and mother are not related. Though, the children are theirs - one child for the mother and one for the father.
Now, I am not getting the need for this part at all -- I understand it -- but why? And the whole “son” bit gets particularly confusing when the mother dies and the father grabs the mother’s son and says, “come on, son”, leaving the father’s son all alone.
Just typing that last sentence gives me a headache, but the larger problem is that the audience will now assume that everyone is related. They haven’t read the script or the notes I’ve quoted above, so how would they know? And why does it even matter? Why does he call him son? This is the kind of stuff you will need to address in your next draft.
For the end, I think you are probably on the right track. I get what you are going for with the phone at the end, but I do not think it is quite strong enough as a payoff with just silence on the line. You should either fade out before she answers the phone, or have her hear something -- my choice would be her son’s voice -- saying something like, “Mom…are you there?”
But you’ll need to decide what works best. I’m just saying that I don’t think silence is it. I’ll be curious to see what you do with this on rewrite. Have you considered having the Host not speak at all? Just another thought. This one was interesting enough, but it’s not done cooking just yet.