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If you have a few coins to spare for one of our own, Eric Dickson. The crowdfunding campaign for The People in the Trees began today. It's a found footage horror indie featuring scream queens Cathy Podewell (Night of the Demons), Camille Keaton (I Spit On Your Grave), Jenna Kanell (Terrifier), and Marian Sing (Halloween 201. Check out the teaser and if you like what you see, throw 'em a couple bucks.
******************* The People in the Trees (was The Creeps) by Eric C. Dickson - Horror - Four graduate film students join aging B-movie actress Kim Stiles as they venture into the woods to shoot their micro-budget thesis film. The plan was simple: Scout some locations. Find inspiration. Shoot the movie. By morning, only one of them will be left alive. And their masterpiece will be complete. 91 pages - pdf format
It sure is. I've been out of the writing thing for awhile, dealing with real life. This one was put together quick in response to a few "cabin in the woods" ads I saw.
The name is reasonable, but is neither enormously enticing nor enormously relevant to the survival theme of the story.
The front end, like many found footage stories, tried the patience a tad.
Good news:
It worked as a script and as a film concept. It would make an enjoyable film as it is. With a little extra development where we see the group really forced to choose against each other, I think it could be really good.
Thanks for taking a look guys! I am taking a couple days before I start some re-writes.
As you mentioned the idea of them turning on each other more...
I do think the whole idea of "choosing who lives and who dies" should be more prevalent earlier on in the story. Perhaps through dialogue when Scott and friends are scouting locations and Scott discusses the idea that "everyone should stick to their roles". This makes him look a bit like the selfish one of the bunch.
They should argue more about what film they are doing and who's doing what. Sort of show the competitive nature of these so-called best friends. As that tension builds, it will make more sense when they are given the choice of saving each other or themselves.
I do think the character Perry is the most hungry to make a film and his annoyance with the camera in everyone's face makes him out to be the one most likely to turn. I like that he doesn't turn and makes the choice to save his friend Scott.
Perhaps the head Creep should tell Perry that they spared his life because they want him to complete his film. And then he chooses sides and saves Scott. Only for Scott to turn on him and shoot him.
Your suggestions have already planted seeds for the rewrite. I appreciate it.
When Perry booby traps the floor with vegetable oil, he and Scott don't slip and hurt themselves after running back inside. There's definitely some holes in the story that need fixed.
I'd like to add Scott slipping and landing face first into the carpenter nails. And Perry has to slowly pull it out of his cheek. Or maybe his lip. A nice visual.
I've added a lot of tension between the characters Particularly between Jerrod, the alpha male, and Scott, the self appointed boss and writer/director.
I also added some heated discussion in the woods concerning the direction of the script and Scott's refusal to share his ideas. Jerrod calls him out for not including the rest of the crew in the screenplay's direction.
I can't see showing too much of the crew turning on each other since they "die" and disappear at different points in the story. But I did add dialogue during Chewie's death scene that proves how she deliberately turned on Kim and chose to save her own tail.
The only other death we don't WITNESS is Jerrod's. I think I'd be giving too much of the plot away if I show his actual interaction with the killer. We already have a dialogue heavy scene with both Chewie and Perry. And we already know what happened with Jerrod because Scott tells us later, in the end.
Thank you, Will, for your careful notes. As of now, the latest draft (not on SS) is being looked at for production in LA. If it sinks, I'll be taking your notes into careful consideration for the rewrite. I'll probably do another couple drafts anyway.
I have since done a rewrite and sold to West Sixth Films. Looks like some Elm Street alumn may be on board to star. I should know official cast in a couple weeks