Wake Up

Funeral for a Friend are releasing their new album, Tales Don’t Tell Themselves, on the 14th May and so at the moment are running a lyric writing competition. Funeral have long been one of my favourite bands and so here’s my entry as well as their latest single.

FFAF – Into Oblivion (Reunion)



Wake up

Now that I’m coming home
I can see those familiar places
That stopped me being on my own

There’s snow on the beaches
It’s raining on the pier
I’m lost in these one-way streets
My friends are my family here

I’m getting up at twelve and going back to sleep
It’s another short day of a very long week
And I don’t know if I can wake up

When I walk back through your door
You make my world worth fighting for
I don’t know why I ever left you
I don’t know why I let you go

This is how life should be easy

Going back to the influences of Switchfoot and beliefs in destiny comes this more optimistic song than ‘The average life…’. Unlike another love song about a boy in love with a girl ‘This is how life should be easy’ deals with the concept that love is a universal cure for making everyone in the world united in happiness. This idea can equally be seen in Switchfoot songs such as ‘We Are One Tonight’ from the album Nothing is Sound.

Switchfoot – ‘We Are One Tonight’



This is how life should be easy

When I wake up with you it’s like I’m still dreaming
Anything can happen when I’m lying next to you
Every time you touch me I have this wonderful feeling
Because I know this is reality, it’s true

Chance didn’t open my eyes
I saw the beauty in front of me
And heard your sweet voice that comforts me now
Like a drum of destiny

Take me down to the sea and we’ll play in the sand
All my problems are gone when you around
You complete my world with the touch of your hand
For once I was lost and now I am found

Close your eyes and use your imagination
To dream of a more peaceful nation
This is how life should be easy
You make me believe that it’s true

The sand washes over my feet
And the sun gleams in my squinting eyes
As I feel the crisp cold of the tide
Now I’m finally glad I made up my mind

Script for 'Cross-Over'

This week’s script is for the story ‘Cross-Over’ which I outlined last week and follows very closely to the synopsis but has been elaborated to last around three and a half minutes.

Scene 1

INT: Bedroom – Day

An alarm clock is heard as ANDY leans over putting his hand out to turn it off and sees it reads 5:30am. ANDY swings his legs out of the bed and sits up placing his hand on his head and sighing. ANDY stands up and walks over to his hung up uniform, picks it up, and walks out of the room and turns the shower on.

EXT: Icelandic Hotel - Day

ANDY drives past the hotel entrance in his van and pulls into the car park. ANDY gets out and locks the door and then walks with his head down into the hotel.

INT: Locker Room – Day

Inside the locker room ANDY walks past the other workers who are talking amongst themselves. ANDY opens his locker and places his coat inside. As ANDY turns to close his locker he sees the picture of his wife and daughter smiling and pauses to look at them for a second. As he pauses ANDY sees and takes out his sports car magazine and turns as he closes his locker and walks back out of the locker room.

INT: Laundry Room – Day

ANDY is sorting his way through the many different suits and dresses whilst flipping the pages of his magazine. ANDY takes a suit off the rail and checks to make sure it is clean and then clips a tag onto it as it puts it onto a separate rail. As ANDY checks the next suit he puts his hand in one of the pockets and pulls out a dirty tissue which flakes over his hand and over the suit. ANDY looks disgusted at the mess and throws the tissue down and wipes his hand before patting the suit down.

Scene 2

EXT: Hotel – Day

ANDY walks over to a wall by the front of the hotel and sits whilst taking a cigarette out of a packet and lighting it. Posh sports cars and Rolls Royce’s pull up to the car pool area at the front of the hotel and drivers get in and park them for the guests. ANDY sits arched with his hands on his legs as he watches the posh cars pulling up and tokes on his cigarette. ANDY then looks over at his van and shakes his head as he stands and throws his cigarette down to stamp it out. ANDY walks back towards the entrance of the hotel a posh Jaguar pulls up. The DRIVER of the Jaguar opens the door and steps out of the car whilst leaning on the door.

DRIVER‘Are you gunna park this or what?’

ANDY looks around surprised and realises the driver is talking to him. The DRIVER then points to the hotel logo on his uniform.

DRIVER
‘You do work here?’

ANDY growing annoyed turns round fully to look at the driver.

ANDY
‘Yes but its not my job’

The DRIVER looks fed up and closes his car door and turns round angrily.

DRIVER
‘And they say there’s unemployment, you lot don’t want to work’

ANDY then walks up close to the DRIVER and raises his finger.

ANDY
‘Oi!’

Just as ANDY starts to speak the MANAGER of the hotel walks out and pushes ANDY aside immediately and places his arm on the back of the DRIVER and starts to walk him inside. The DRIVER looks round angrily towards ANDY as the MANAGER fuses over the man and puts his hand in the air and clicks towards one of the employees to get them to park the car. ANDY shakes his head as the car drives off and stands there in disbelief.

Scene 3

INT: House – Day

ANDREA is stood in the living room by the ironing board as she irons a large pile of clothes whilst watching JULIA playing a board game on the floor. The radio is on in the background.

RADIO
‘…a quick traffic update, There has been an accident on the M4 southbound involving a Jaguar and a lorry, traffic backing up and suggest alternative routes, M25 is now moving…’

The door bangs as ANDY walks in through the front door and takes his shoes off. JULIA looks up from her board game and sees ANDY walk into the living room and stands up and quickly runs over to ANDY and puts her arms around him. ANDY looks at ANDREA bluntly and then storms off into the kitchen and ANDREA follows him and puts her arms around him. ANDY looks around and then puts ANDREA’S arms down and storms off upstairs.

Scene 4

INT: House – Night

ANDY is asleep in bed and the clock reads 3:00am with the sports car magazine open and resting on the covers. A banging sound is heard and ANDY wakes up and sits up quickly looking around him. ANDY swings his legs around the bed to stand up and walks over to the door slowly. ANDY takes his dressing gown off the back of the door and puts it on as he walks into the hallway. By the window ANDY sees a picture of his family on the floor with the curtain swaying in the wind over the top of it. ANDY bends down slowly and picks up the photo and stands up whilst looking at it. ANDY moves the curtain out of the way and puts the picture back on the windowsill and sees the window is open. ANDY closes the window and then hears a thud behind him. ANDY is still facing the window and raises his head up slowly. Thud, thud, the noise is heard again. ANDY turns around slowly and sees a suitcase behind him at the top of the stairs. Looking surprised ANDY walks over to the suitcase and stares at it in shock. A man in a ripped up suit jumps out. ANDY trips over the suitcase and falls through the man and back onto the floor. The man looking in shock walks closer towards ANDY.

DRIVER
‘I didn’t see it coming’

ANDY in shock crawls backwards on the floor and stares up at the man and then looks curiously at him as he realises he is the DRIVER from the Jaguar earlier. As ANDY crawls he looks away and then back and sees the DRIVER has disappeared.
ANDY then turns and stands up using his hands as he hears the same sound behind him. The DRIVER walks he keeps on dropping the suitcase and then heaving as he tries to pick it up and it is clear it is too heavy for him to carry. ANDY starting to piece together what is going on stares from the wall at the DRIVER struggling with his suitcase.

ANDY
‘If your dead, you can’t take that with you’

The DRIVER still holding his suitcase stands still for a few seconds before turning his head round to one side and then looking fully at ANDY

DRIVER
‘But it’s all I have’

ANDY looks down at the floor and then back at the DRIVER with a pitying look as the DRIVER stares back at ANDY. The DRIVER then turns and drops his suitcase handle and starts to walk off slowly into the distance and gradually disappears leaving his suitcase on the landing.

Scene 5

INT: House – Day

ANDY wakes up on top of his covers and can hear the sound of ANDREA making breakfast. ANDY sits up quickly and puts both hands either side of him on the bed. As ANDY goes to stand up he feels his sports car magazine and places it on his lap. ANDY stands up holding the magazine and walks towards his bedroom door. As ANDY takes his dressing gown from the back of the door he puts one arm in and then puts his sports car magazine in the bin before putting his dressing gown fully on and walking out of the door. ANDY walks into the kitchen and puts his arms around ANDREA’S waist who is stood by the cooker frying bacon. ANDREA turns he head to ANDY

ANDREA’Is there something you want’

ANDY kisses ANDREA on the cheek.

ANDY
‘I’ve already got everything I want’

JULIA then gets down from the kitchen table and places her arms around ANDY and ANDREA and ANDY turns to JULIA and puts one of his arms around her and pulls her in close.

The average life of an average boy in love

The average life of a student would have been a more appropriate title for this song as this is what it is mainly based upon such as ‘getting up at twelve and going back to sleep’. Following last weeks song of ‘No More Old Memories’ I’ve written a song which deals very much with the now, although the title of an average life opens the song up to more audiences. As with most of my songs the rhythm of this song was influenced by another, Yellow card ‘Ocean Avenue’, and so is sung in a similar style. The content follows more of the typical love story style songs such as Whetus and ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ as the song has a narrative following one boy’s love for his best friend who in the end notices someone else.

Yellow Card – ‘Ocean Avenue’



The average life of an average boy in love

Going out on the town with one hours sleep
Just so I can see you and not admit defeat
I’ll get up at twelve and go back to bed
This could be a night where I end up dying

Take you out onto the dance floor
For you’re my best friend who I adore
I hold you close as he stares from the bar
This is the moment where you go forever

I stare at you from across the hall
I notice you and your beautiful
He touches you, my world falls through
The average life of an average boy in love

Buy two drinks but they’re both for me
To drown my soul from this atrocity
To forget that I’m on my own in this din
And realise that loving you is such a sin

I closed my eyes to take the world away
To pretend that everything was going to be okay
You helped free me from my shy days
You always keep me from my shy ways

I’m better off with you, but you can’t say the same
I’ve tried to tell you, but you look the other way
I may be just a quiet boy, but I’m in love
And he can buy it all away today

Cross-Over

This story has similar themes to ‘The Quiet Photographer’ as it again focuses upon life and spirituality but with more of a focus on morality. Based slightly on the Sixth Sense through seeing the dead and helping them to move on ‘Cross-Over’ also features influences from British realism such as the works of Ken Loach. The main character is a working class man who hates the class structure and believes life is unfair but eventually through seeing the dead realises what is more important in life. This story fits into many genres of Horror, British Realism and Drama to make it more individual as this is quite a common format as seen by characters such as Scrooge who is also visited by the dead until he appreciates more than just money.

Premace: What if you realised you had the power to recognise spirits who needed help crossing over into heaven?

Controlling idea: Life can be seen through what has been lost.

Synopsis:

Andy has been working as a cleaner at the Icelandic Hotel for four years now and still nothing has changed. Every morning at 6 am he goes into laundry and sorts out the posh punters suits and dresses from the previous nights cocktail parties and poker games. Then when the stiffs are out to breakfast at 10am he collects his cleaning trolley and starts on the rooms. Andy once thought these would always be spotless and clean to match their charming looks, but obviously, looks can be deceiving. Around 3pm Andy heads back down to his locker room in the basement of the hotel and hurries to get changed and get home.

One day Andy goes out front for a smoke to watch all the expensive cars pulling into the car pool area. As he puts out his smoke an old man in a suit gets out of his Jaguar and demands that Andy parks it for him. Andy explains that it’s not his job and the man makes a comment on the slackness of the working class. Annoyed, Andy argues with the man that not everyone is lucky enough to have all these nice things. The manager runs over after hearing the commotion and pushes Andy aside and then gently walks the man inside and calls over a driver.

Back home Andrea is doing the ironing in the front room with Julia sat playing a game whilst listening to the radio. As Andy walks in through the door Julia runs up to him to give him a great big hug. Andy just looks at Andrea with a sombre expression and pulls off his name badge as he walks into the kitchen. Andrea then tries to comfort Andy but he just grabs his sports car magazine and stomps his way upstairs.

Andy wakes, startled, as a noise is heard inside. Worried about an intruder Andy gets out of bed and slowly walks out of the room. On the landing Andy sees a picture of his family on the floor, covered by a curtain swaying in the wind. Thinking this was the noise Andy is startled when a man dressed in a suit approaches him. Andy realises this is the same man that he argued with earlier that day. Realising he is dead Andy explains that he has to move on. The man says that he can’t because his suitcase is too big and he can’t leave it as it’s all he has. Eventually Andy makes the man realise he cant take his possession with him, and so the man leaves with nothing.
The next morning Andy wakes up to the sound of Andrea making breakfast. Andy runs down the stairs and grabs Andrea and Julia and gives them a great big hug. Andy, realising he already has everything he wants, gets his sports car magazine and places it in the bin.

No more old memories (lets make some more)

This weeks song is built upon a past song I once wrote called ‘Ready to Go’ yet this song focused upon being ready to change something wrong whereas I wanted the focus to be more happy and to be from this changed perspective. The song was influenced by The Goo Goo Dolls hit song ‘Iris’ from the album Dizzy Up The Girl and Angels and Airwaves.

Angels and Airwaves – ‘Do it For Me Now’



No More Old Memories



No more old memories
For I used to fear that
Running was my calling
And living was a race

I am a living being yet
A master in disgrace
For letting all these people
Make me forget my place

But I’ve lived this life
And it’s helped me grow
I’ve changed from before
And I’m ready to go

To remember all the good times
Is to think about you
And to have many more
Is to let me take you too

Viewing my life
With a spectators eye
I can see why I struggled
And why I prayed to see
The wonders of this life
That have come to me

Script for ‘The Quiet Photographer’

This is the script for my second film synopsis posted on the 3rd March. Quite a lot of the original synopsis has been shortened or simplified to make it into a short film of about 5 minutes but it still holds the same ideas. Now that I have been blogging for a short while there will now be two posts a week with Mondays as a story or script and Fridays a song or poem to make the content easier to follow.

Scene 1

INT: Studio – Day

Lots of workers run around with paper work whilst others are helping the models get ready with make-up and props and technicians fixing lights. GARY is kneeling on one leg in front of them with his camera flashing as he takes pictures. GARY hands his camera to someone walking past and then stands up and walks out of the studio.

INT: Office – Day

The office has more people with paper work and sectioned desks as GARY walks past them and happily greats them. JEREMY throws a copy of a magazine onto the desk that GARY walks up to.

JEREMY
‘They think you’re one of the best’

GARY stands by the desk and picks up the magazine to look at the picture on the front cover and then at JEREMY.

GARY
‘Its only because I have the best team’

JEREMY takes the magazine from GARY’S hands as GARY walks away from the desk to his locker which he opens and takes out his jacket.

JEREMY
‘There’s a new girl coming in tomorrow’.

GARY puts his coat on and then walks over to JEREMY whilst looking at his watch. JEREMY picks up a photo of GARY and another woman, looks at it, and then turns it towards GARY.

JEREMY
‘So how is the wife?’

GARY looks towards JEREMY disapprovingly and turns to leave.

GARY
‘See you tomorrow’

Scene 2

EXT: House – Dusk

GARY pulls into the drive way and then steps out of his car, taking out a bunch of flowers as he does. GARY then stands by his door and sighs before locking it and walking up to his house.

INT: House – Dusk

GARY walks through the front door sees his wife JULIA stood at the top of the stairs. JULIA walks down a few steps whilst looking at GARY and then stops and starts to play with her wedding ring.

JULIA
‘Your late’

GARY looks towards JULIA lovingly and then holds up the bunch of flowers as he sees her playing with her ring. JULIA then turns and walks back up the stairs.

JULIA
‘Your dinners in the over’

GARY is still staring up at the stairs and then looks down at the flowers in his hand.

INT: Office – Night

GARY is sat at his desk with the bunch of flowers in a vase on the table as he is looking through a bunch of large photo albums. GARY is looking at a picture of him and his wife together and then closes the album and slouches back in his chair. Looking at the flowers GARY takes the albums off his lap and stands up abruptly as he walks towards a large stack of unorganised boxes and starts to organise the albums. As GARY takes the box over to his cupboard he sees a box labelled ‘memories’ at the back of all the other boxes. GARY takes this box out and places it by his chair as he sits back down. GARY leans forward and opens it up, to reveal an old looking camera and some dusty looking albums.

GARY
‘I remember this…’

GARY, still leaning forward starts to flick through the album and sees pictures of a younger self and other people. GARY focuses upon a picture of himself dressed up in a prom like suit with a girl dressed in matching dress with a comment under it which reads ‘Me and Sophie 98’. GARY looks up from the album and looks quite shocked and then continues to look through at more pictures. GARY stops on another of him at Art College.

GARY
‘We had to break up…’

GARY then stares at one picture of him and the same girl cuddling each other.

Scene 3

INT: Living room - Day

GARY looks up slowly and realises he is not sat in his office anymore but is in some kind of living room. A girl walks into the room and then sits down next to GARY placing her arm on his leg as he looks around in shock.

SOPHIE
‘Are you alright?’

GARY jumps back into his chair and stares at SOPHIE who is sat with her mouth open in mid sentence. GARY looks around and sees the clock has stopped ticking. GARY jumps and looks around to see a man stood next to him dressed in all white with his arms folded.

GARY
‘What is going on?

GARY'S GUIDE pulls a confused face but then smiles at GARY and holds his arm out.

GUIDE
‘This is your photo, and your chance to change anything you want’

GARY looks about with an excited and confused gaze at the room as if trying to re-picture the event in his mind. The clock starts to tick again and GARY runs his hand down SOPHIE’S face in amazement.

SOPHIE
‘Lets go out’

SOPHIE takes GARY’S hand and stands up slowly pulling his hand to help him up as GARY, still gazing at SOPHIE, twists off the sofa and stands up.

EXT: Park – Day

GARY and SOPHIE walk through the busy park holding each other’s hands. SOPHIE points towards an ice cream van and turns to look at GARY who places his hand on his head and shakes it playfully as SOPHIE pulls him towards the queue.

GARY sits down on a bench and SOPHIE sits on his lap with her legs resting across his. GARY looks cautious as he slowly wraps his arm around SOPHIE’S back but then starts to smile. SOPHIE puts her finger into her ice cream and wipes it on GARY’S face and GARY jumps back and tickles SOPHIE and they both laugh.

GARY walks over to a tree and leans on it as he slides to sit down whilst holding SOPHIE’S hands and guides her down next to him and SOPHIE sits on his lap. SOPHIE rests her head on GARY’S arm and closes her eyes as GARY looks down at her and smiles to himself. GARY feels something in his coat pocket and pulls it out to reveal a brochure for an art college with the dates for term starting on the 24th September. GARY looks at his watch and sees the date is the 22nd. SOPHIE turns her head and sees the broacher that GARY is holding.

SOPHIE
‘We are going to make it work, aren’t we?’

GARY looks upset and puts the broacher back into his pocket and looks down at SOPHIE who is gazing into his eyes.

GARY
‘Course we will’

SOPHIE leans back into GARY and GARY looks out across the park and sighs.

Scene 4

EXT: Gary’s old house - Night

GARY walks up to his door and turns to SOPHIE, putting his arms around her and they both hug. SOPHIE then walks off and GARY holds onto her hand until she has gone out of reach and stands to watch her leave. GARY turns back and walks into his house.

INT: Gary’s old house – Night

As GARY walks into his hallway his GUIDE appears before him.

GUIDE
‘You had already left her by now last time’

GARY stares at his GUIDE and then walks past him and heads up the stairs to his bedroom. His GUIDE is sat in the corner of his room with his arms folded. GARY sees his suitcase packed on his bed and mounds of paper work about his art college, and then stops moving and stares down at the bed and then across to his GUIDE.

GUIDE
‘You left her for a reason’

GARY nods his head and looks upset at the thought of it.

GARY
‘I know’

GARY looks on his bed and sees his old camera, picks it up and holds it close to himself. GARY then looks over to his GUIDE.

GARY
‘Take me back’

INT: House – Night

GARY looks up from his photo album and looks around and sees the flowers on the table. GARY looks down at the picture of him and SOPHIE, peals back the plastic and takes the photo out of the frame. GARY holds up the photo and stares it, then rips it up as he starts to cry and then closes the photo album and throws it across the table and breaks the vase. GARY stands up and walks out of the study.

GARY walks to the top of the stairs and sees JULIA stood at the bottom of the stairs wearing her coat with a suitcase by her feet. JULIA looks up at GARY who, already upset, looks shocked.

JULIA

'It just wasn’t meant to be'

The taxi horn beeps and JULIA turns to leave and as she does she takes her wedding ring off and throws it onto the floor and then closes the door behind her. The sound of the taxi leaving is heard as GARY turns and runs back into the study and opens up the photo album and starts going through the pieces of torn up photo. As he does this GARY falls down to the base of the chair and places his hand on his head and starts to sob.

Scene 5

INT: Office – Day

GARY walks in through the doors of his office and walks past the many bustling people with his head down low. One of them starts to talk to GARY and he ignores them as he pushes his way past. GARY walks around the corner and nocks into a woman sending all of her paper work to the ground.

GARY
‘Oh I’m so sorry, wasn’t looking’

GARY kneels down and helps pick up the paper whilst looking at the floor. GARY and SOPHIE stand up and as GARY hands the paper work back they hold hands temporality and SOPHIE looks excited.

SOPHIE
‘Gary’

GARY looks shocked and struggles to think of anything to say.

GARY
‘Sophie, what are you doing here?’

SOPHIE

‘I’m the new girl’

Both SOPHIE and GARY look at each other in amazement.

GARY
‘Well let me show you around’

GARY and SOPHIE walk down the office whilst gazing at each other and GARY shows her around.

There is Nothing in this World as Precious as You

This song was influenced by a many of the songs by The Smiths who in my eyes are one of the best bands of the 1980’s. Formed in 1982 with the title ‘The Smiths’ formed as a reaction to bands making over complicated song names. At the seventh Smiths gig they signed a deal for a single, ‘Hand In Glove’ which became a big hit in the U.K. 1987 however saw the band split yet front man Steven Patrick Morrissey went onto his solo career. See the link for a more in depth history. The picture (above) is from Morrissey live at the Reading Hexagon 2006 as he is one of my main influences and the song (below) directly influenced this song.

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead



There is Nothing in this World as Precious as You

Don’t you like my precious things?
I’ve worked hard and it shows
As the diamonds glisten
From my fake powdered nose

But as I drove my Rolls home
Up the mountain trail to my chateau
I slipped on my heels
And I flew into the valley below

I’m not lazy just because I won’t sign
Up to this corporate world, as I was unaware
That’s what this world was made for

And now I cry for I’ve died
And heaven is hell
As there is no five star hotel
To cater for my last farewell

Yet others here smile as they carry away
Many moments for which money can’t pay
And now all this waste has faded
I wish I had your love to get me through this day

There is nothing in this world as precious as you

Your love never dies and will always be true

Kiss me if your Love is Pure

Whilst the huge script is pending I’ve continued to develop more songs. Related to the issues of choices and memories from my story ‘The Quiet Photographer’ came this song which deals more with the present choices and knowing when you have found your one love. A youtube clip of the Alter Bridge song In Loving Memory accompanied to the love story of Wash and Zoe from the cult TV series Firefly by Joss Whedon heavily influenced this song. This TV series continues Joss’s easily relatable characters and with the song really makes you miss anyone close to your heart. This fan site FireFlyFans.net has all the latest news on the firefly world.

Alter Bridge – In Loving Memory



Kiss me if your Love is Pure

This silence can do more than speech
Making more than passing words meet
This silence can say I love you
Where words are never real

Spoken from thought to mouth
Using lessons learnt with time
When it only took me a second
To realise you should be mine

Kiss me if your love is pure
I will know when I am sure
Don’t tell me that you love me
Show me I’m the one you adore

A moment to touch your hand
And to look into your eyes
Why waste these lips with words
When our kiss has no formal ties

Nothing but feelings
Simple and pure
I’ve said I love you a thousand times
And each one of them my lips once more

The Quiet Photographer

Since my first story post I have developed many ideas through my songs and poetry and so this week I’m writing another story, but this takes a metaphorical approach. The idea for this story was developed from past experiences and that feeling of never knowing if you have made the right choice. The controlling idea is based upon this but questions the moral issues around changing your choices with the photo as a metaphor for life.

The end of the story however sees the main character accepting his present which originates from my firm belief that every choice we make in life is for a reason and that each choice we eventually make will lead us on our paths. The guide in the story is a spiritual belief in spiritual guides, guides who watch over us and help us in making choices, which is why he is led to know he made the right choice. This story was also developed with the help of Kate Howlet who helped me to bounce ideas around and develop the final controlling idea.

The story reflects a film called The Family Man directed by Brett Ratner (2000) in which Nicolas Cage is in his perfect job but then through his guide realises he would rather have the love of his life over his job and money. This goes the other way to my story as he had made a wrong choice and had to be forced to correct it, whereas my character explores the possibility of changing and his guide stops him from changing it in order to get what he wants. The youtube clip highlights the feeling of regret that Nicholas Cage eventually feels in his wrong choice.

The Family Man



The Quiet Photographer

Premise: What if you found a magic camera that captured not only the image but also the moment in time?

Controlling Idea: Take a picture, name it, frame it but never hear the answer to the question, what if I could change it.

Synopsis:

Gary is a small time photographer and is very happy to be able to do a job he is passionate about and come home to his loving wife Julia. Recently however Julia has been acting quite odd as she no longer talks to him about her week’s events and has been very distant. After travelling home late from the city after his last shoot for the day Julia shows her discomfort and after an argument Gary ends up sat in his office and decides its time to clean up.

Whilst poring over countless photos he stumbles across his old camera with a photo album stashed inside that he had forgotten about since he left for university just over 8 years ago. Looking back through the pictures he starts to reminisce over the good old days but then sees a face he had also forgotten about, his past girlfriend Fred who he was dating until he left for university. Upon gazing at the same photo and remembering all those days long since gone everything starts to feel more real, and look more real until it sounds more real as Fred asks ‘are you alright?’ Shocked as his apparent transformation into the photograph Gary panics until he hears a gentle voice.

The room freezes and a man introduces himself as Adam who calms Gary down as all this is far too much for him to understand. Adam informs Gary that the camera he discovered was no ordinary camera and that time itself is captured and so can be reviewed at your leisure and events can be changed.

Gary then lives out the day with Fred and reminisces over the things he missed doing and realises how happy he was back then and compared to now he wishes he never left her. On going home however Gary remembers what day it is, the day before he left when he broke up with Fred. Sure he wants to keep her this time he consults his parents who remind him that he would be distracted by her and wouldn’t concentrate on his work and may never become the photographer he wants to be. Realising this Gary calls for Adam who explains to him that he is happy and made his choice for a reason.

Accepting this Gary breaks up with Fred for the second time and is then transported back to his office. Upset, Gary tears up the photo. Sure at his place in the world Gary goes to find Julia who is stood by the door with a suitcase packed as she has been upset for a while and is divorcing him. Distraught that he may well have made a mistake for the second time Gary heads to bed.

On his way into work the next morning Gary is so upset that he doesn’t see the woman coming round the corner and nocks into her. On helping her up Gary realises who it is, Fred. Shocked at the coincidence Gary asks what she’s doing and it turns out that she is the new employee that everyone has been talking about.

Travelling

This week I have once again been inspired to write a song. I was listening to Motion City Soundtrack, a band that I listened to a lot when I was travelling from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and it got me thinking about travelling and how life changing it all can be. When trying to find similar songs I remembered The Cure and their song Pictures of You which is a very influential song about remembering someone and how important the memories are. So this song is a multitude of feelings that I have towards my many memories of travelling.

The Cure - Pictures of You



I found a few blogs with people discussing world travels and one personal blog, Liesing Life, gives you a general feel to people that travel and the types of experiences they can have. This is all very interesting to me as I am travelling around Europe in the summer and so hopefully that will give me a whole new incite, and hopefully many more songs!



The fun we used to have

I’m having that feeling of childish reprise
I’ve turned into someone you wont recognise
Not because I’m different, unhappy or sad
But because I’ve realised what a good life I’ve had

There’s nothing better I can think to do
Than look at these pictures of you
And sit here and reminisce
Over those times I shall surely miss

Sunset walks in unfamiliar places
Running wild with smiling faces
It’s still summer in my eyes
Even though it’s freezing cold outside
Every time I think about the fun we used to have

Song writing

One of the most appreciated arts is that of music. Whether it be classical music with its high class connotations or popular music all ranging through multitudes of styles and artists music can be appreciated even if one does not have the ability to understand language. For me this can be a problem for writing songs as it demands a high ability to be able to not only produce lyrics but to find a harmony between the words being sung and the music being played of which my ability is limited. However the reason I started to write lyrics was not to accept this challenge but simply because I was inspired by events in my life at the time and through one argument managed to write my first song.

The lyrics for this song were influenced late Monday night when I was anxious about what to do with my life and if I was doing the right thing which is a worry I’m sure most have felt at one point or another. This song also reflects a spiritual belief that you can have anything in you life as long as you believe in it wholeheartedly without a single doubt presented in the line ‘just believe your belief and it will be’. This can be seen in many songs but for me the best representation can be seen from the Christian rock band Switchfoot. Songs such as ‘Dare you to move’ from the album 'The Beautiful Letdown' in my interpretation tells you to take a chance and if you want something to take it.

Switchfoot - Dare you to Move



As with most of my songs they are written with a rhythm in mind which for this song was from a band I had just recently heard of called Halifax. According to wikipedia they fall under the genres of rock and pop-punk but really any song that I listen to may give me an idea for a rhythm which I can then keep in mind when I am writing my lyrics.

If All I Want I Want to be Me

Have you ever had that dream?
Waking up and feeling unclean
I’m having the same nightmare
Where I cant get anywhere

I’m in the right place for me
But there’s something else I need to see
That’s right in front of you
Whatever you saw in me I now need too

Be alive to find my dream
The only way to make your reality
More than a mission of more to be
If all I want I want to be me

Don’t say the words but hold them close
With rested hands know what you want the most
A girl, that job your destiny
Just believe your belief and it will be

Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it
Don’t tell me you haven’t felt that way before
The end is coming if we don’t do something we adore
If you love yourself then you can love me
If all I want I want to be me

Script for Sea Food

Finally I have finished the script for the story I previously posted. For this I have made a slideshow video with some possible locations and the eerie sound that influenced its creation.



Scene 1

INT: Locker Room – Night

A group of boys run around the locker room. PETER and BEN are stood at their lockers near to each other as they crouch down to change out of their football clothes. BEN stands next to the mirror on the locker door whilst putting on layers of aftershave and checking his hair as PETER looks at him in playful disgust. BEN passes him the comb and PETER starts to comb his hair. BEN taps PETER playfully on the shoulder.

BEN
‘I can’t thank you enough for setting me up with Laura’

PETER nods as BEN closes his locker and walks away. BEN goes to shut his locker but stops to stare at a picture of the two boys and girlfriend.

PETER
(Sighs)

INT: Football club – Night

PETER and BEN walk past the many tables to the exit. The CAPTAIN is leaning on a large table with a group of football players and a white board talking strategy. When he sees the two boys the CAPTAIN looks up and stops talking.

CAPTAIN
‘You boys be careful’ (Laughs)

BEN looks at PETER wondering what he is on about. PETER shakes his head and shrugs his shoulder as he hurries BEN towards the door. The CAPTAIN dismisses the football players, has a drink of water from his sports bottle, and stands to leave. As the CAPTAIN walks away from the table he rests his newspaper down to reveal the front headline ‘Harbor Boy Found Mauled’.

Scene 2

INT: Girls Bedroom – Night

LAURA is stood by a large mirror holding a pair of hair straightners whilst KATE is sat on the bed leaning over to her desk trying out different types of perfume.

KATE
‘So. How’s things going with Ben?’

LAURA rests the hair straightners by the sink and passes a hand through her hair. LAURA picks up a heart locket with a picture of her and BEN inside, closes it and places it round her neck. KATE sits up from the bed and places both her hands round LAURA’s neck to fasten the locket.

LAURA
‘Really well’

KATE puts her hands down and stands up to walk over to the mirror.

KATE
‘What about Peter, he still jealous?’

KATE turns he head and smiles sarcastically towards LAURA. LAURA glares at KATE as she sits down on the bed and starts to put her high-healed shoes on.

Scene 3

EXT: Harbor – Night

PETER and BEN walk through the harbor gazing at the boats as they walk past. BEN pulls a score sheet from his pocket and starts to count the numbers. PETER raises his hands out into the air and looks up as if he is admiring the boats. BEN, still counting the numbers doesn’t raise his head from the score sheet but turns to his side as if to speak.

BEN
‘Who scored in the 26th min...'

Ben looks up and realizes there is no one there. A gust of wind then rattles the boats and blows the score sheet out of BEN’s hands. BEN looks around confused.

BEN
‘Peter?’ (Shouting) ‘Peter’

Looking around BEN looks scared as he wonders around the boats, crouching down to look around them. The sound of footsteps makes BEN run round the corner to see if PETER is there. BEN stands on a large object and feels it is soft. Wondering what it is BEN slowly looks down and sees it is the captains half eaten body. BEN places his hand on his mouth and runs over to the wall, leaning over as if to be sick. PETER then places his hand on BEN’s back so that BEN can hear him breathing heavily. BEN turns around slowly and sees PETER stood behind him. PETER then lunges into BEN knocking him onto the floor and then starts to eat. This reveals the sign on the wall, 'sunset paradise cruises’. The sound of the boats continues to creek as BEN falls unconscious from the shock.

Scene 4

EXT: Bus stop – Night

A bus approaches and stops letting LAURA and KATE off the bus. LAURA and KATE both look around as there is no sign of the two boys and KATE checks her watch to see what the time is.

PETER
‘Hello ladies’

KATE and LAURA both jump as PETER walks in between them as he approaches from behind. PETER turns and then smiles at LAURA putting out his hand to hers. LAURA looks at PETER slightly confused.

PETER
‘Ben couldn’t make it’
LAURA looks slightly disappointed but then smiles as PETER links arms with her and starts to walk her away.

KATE
‘So are we still eating?’

PETER looks sick at the thought of food and places his hand over his stomach.

PETER
‘I’m full’

Valentines Day

In line with the 14th of February, Valentines Day, I decided to search for romantics and their love poems and songs to get inspiration for my own writing. Whilst surfing the web I discovered many differing opinions on the true meaning of love and Valentines Day making claims that love is dead by people suffering break-ups which I wont link to due to some content issues! Yet there are some who still believe in ‘The Power of Love’. The global voices Valentines Day poetry contest blog has a competition running for the best love/valentines poetry. On seeing this I couldn’t help but have a go at writing an entry myself, the script for my scary story will have to wait for this one time opportunity.

Speak for we all have love

One day when sitting under the pier
I ask of you to take hold of my hand
And walk for a while on the cold gritty sand
So I can show you off to my friends, from a far distant land

How will we get there, you hastily add
(From here we can see the world)
As I show you my blog, this crazy new fad
To share our love to all who will see
This Valentines Day atrocity

If love is evil, and love is dead
(Through lover’s pain of breaking up)
Then what is here, but a morgue of red roses?
Love is much more, its hear as we speak
A united army of voices and souls
Take control of our world, cherish and speak

Making a scary story

Hello and welcome to my weblog maintained for the module On the Web, which to me is really a place to express my ideas and to further my knowledge of writing and scripting stories for short films. My previous experiences on making films throughout secondary school and college have always shown that having a strong idea is key to any good film although it is only recently that I have finally come to understand the importance of having a good script. One cannot expect to make a great film unless first they have a good script. And so here I am presenting my ideas on-line. This blog will also act as a place for expression in other forms of writing such as poetry and even song writing, my cosmic garden shed, the quiet place for writing.

The idea for this story was actually given to me by my girlfriend the other night when we were sitting down watching the first episode of season 3 Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’ve always found that Buffy makes great use of narrative structure and the monsters always convey a deeper meaning such as in episode 2 season 3 ‘Dead Man’s Party’ when Buffy realizes she can’t bury her issues, and so an army of zombies who literally can’t be buried come to express her emotions. Check out the wikipedia site about Buffy. When my girlfriend spoke about her day she mentioned how the creaking of boats in the harbor at night would make for a really good story and this got me thinking for the rest of the episode about how to combine scary elements with a simple narrative and deeper meaning.

Sea Food

Premise: What if you found out your best friend was a cannibal and used you as a tasty snack to eat.

Controlling idea: You only find out who your real friends are, when you have something they want.

Synopsis: On their way home from the football club in the local town at night Peter and Ben decide to walk through the tide filled harbor to explore whilst Ben waits for his girlfriend. Having lived in the town for three months you would have thought Ben would have heard the rumors about the strange disappearance of people who were all last seen at the harbor at night. Yet unknown to the dangers the boys proceed whilst checking the latest football scores at the back of the paper.

At the house near the top of the hill the two girls, Laura and Kate are getting ready to meet the boys in town. The hds sizzle and the smell of perfume fills the air as Laura Natters about her new boyfriend Ben. Peter had introduced the two of them last month at his welcome back house party but had never expected things to go this far and unknown to his feelings Laura blissfully discuses her friend.

Suddenly back at the harbor a breeze blows the paper from Ben’s hand making the headline ‘Harbor boy found mauled’ visible yet as he turns to grab it he realizes Peter is nowhere to be seen. Shouting out for his friend Ben remembers how he hates being alone in the dark. The creak of the boats on the wind, with the gulls scuttling overhead and the strong salty smell of seaweed lingering in the air adds to his fear. As he turns the corner to the boathouse Ben walks over a soft and sticky rock, cracking as he walks over it. The strong smell of men’s deodorant overpowers the sea air. Smells like the captain. Ben looks down and yelps as he sees the half eaten man resting next to the jetty. Before he can turn, he feels a cold hand placed upon his back…

At the bust stop just off the harbor Laura’s heart sinks as she only sees Peter stood there waiting. He gives her his hand and explains that Ben had a prior engagement, but Ben had given him everything so he can look after her just as well.

I think that this story says something about friends going against each other in such a way that Peter eats his friend Ben because he wants to have the relationship that he has. Not quite up to Buffy standard as the boat theme doesn’t really enter the story, sailing off into the sunset with the perfect girl, but Peter being a cannibal shows jealousy and wanting to become someone else. Well that’s the story, next comes the script.