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Lesson 9
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Dawn Greenfield’s Act 1: Opening Scenes ~ Lesson 9
What I learned doing this assignment is to build scenes with lead characters.
Introducing Jack (lead character)
INT: BIG NOSE SAMS MEETING ROOM – NIGHT
“Crack-Shot” JACK GUNTHER, mid 30s, tats, muscle-bound, good looking in a rugged way with brown hair and stubble, loads bullets in his Ruger GP 100 handgun.
BIG NOSE SAM, 50s, smokes a cigar. Sam looks every inch of a mobster from his rigid expression to his scars.
Introducing Jain (becomes Jack’s love interest)
INT. SECOND HAND STORE – DAY
Jack wanders around looking things over in a clueless way.
JAIN SMYTH, an attractive blonde (30s) gives Jack the once-over with interest and asks if he needs help finding something.
Jack sort of has a meltdown in between foul language as he curses the case worker, tells Jain about his sister dying and what he needs immediately.
Jain leads him over to the baby section where she helps him choose the right things, including a car seat. Jain suggests he have these things delivered. Jack agrees.
Introducing Mrs. Fernhold (antagonist)
INT. COURTROOM – DAY
The JUDGE is not impressed with Jack. He assigns MRS. FERNHOLD, 60s, a social worker, to Jack/Elsie’s case.
Mrs. Fernhold’s rigid, judgmental expression with slitted eyes could stop a dog from barking. She is not happy that the court awarded Jack temporary custody of Elsie.
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Lesson 9
Joel Stern’s Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned from this assignment: Writing a strong opening scene and introducing two main characters.
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
A 1930s RADIO plays Richard Wagner’s, “The Ring Cycle”.
German knick-knacks fill the room. On the coffee table the Milwaukee Journal’s HEADLINE: “Hitler’s Ultimatum to Poland”.
Through the front window a group of neighborhood kids play touch football on the lawn. A BOY stops, waves at the window.
BOY
Come on Ray, we need another player!
EXT. FRONT WINDOW – DAY
Watching with a painful look is pale, thin RAY, (18).
INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Ray’s father ERNST, (50) enters. Stocky and bald like a butcher from the old country. Ray snaps to attention sans salute. Ernst stops within three feet of Ray, their eyes meet… Ray’s eye twitches. SMACK! Ernst hits Ray’s face. Ray doesn’t even blink.
ERNST
You should be playing ball with your friends, not inside listening to opera! You must Americanize!
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