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.