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Day 10 Assignments
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INT – SCHOOL – DAY
Alyssa arrives at school and immediately sees the teenage girls, surrounded by their clique. They see her, whisper to their friends, and they all laugh as Alyssa passes by.
During school, Charlotte approaches Alyssa and introduces herself, seemingly anxious to make friends with her. Alyssa is polite, but feels uneasy about her.
As Charlotte leaves, the clique girls approach Alyssa. Alyssa asks them about Charlotte, but they look at her blankly, laugh at her, and say they have no idea what or who she’s talking about. They joke amongst themselves that Alyssa is crazy, and seeing things.
They leave, and Alyssa looks dubious. She looks around for Charlotte, but doesn’t see her anywhere.
Alyssa shrugs it off, and heads off to class. As she rounds a corner, she finds herself face to face with Charlotte. Alyssa screams, then composes herself. Charlotte stares at her coldly, a freaky, menacing look on her face.
Alyssa feebly asks why the other girls didn’t know who she was, and Charlotte says, somewhat emotionless, that they don’t see anyone outside of their own, private little group. Alyssa nods, seeming to accept that as a logical explanation.
Alyssa then says she needs to get to class, and walks around Charlotte, who doesn’t move out of the way. As Alyssa leaves, Charlotte stares at her, a serious, cold look on her face.
The clique of girls enters the science class, filled with lab tables with Bunson burners on each table. Charlotte stands at the back of the class, staring coldly at the girls as they take their table, but no one pays her any attention. Charlotte’s expression intensifies as the girls settle in at their lab table.
As the girls sit, the Bunson burner at their table explodes, setting the girls’ clothes on fire. They scream in terror, trying to put the flames out. The teacher grabs the fire extinguisher and puts out the fire. The girls aren’t seriously injured, but are terrorized. All the students surround them, horrified, as chaos erupts. At the back of the class, Charlotte is now gone.
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Chris Grant’s Level 1 Horror Emotion Scene
What I learned is – I don’t usually write scenes without dialogue but this was a good lesson just to focus on the emotions. They can generally be conveyed without dialogue. It’s actually a great way to create a first pass.
EXT. BARREN BEACH MORNING
Hard waves at sunrise. The ocean coughs up it’s dead.
Everywhere, dead animals, seaweed, logs, plastic. It’s like a vomiting of all that the ocean doesn’t need.
In the center of the sand, not far from the break, A HUMAN-SIZED mound rolls back and forth on the froth.
Five or six fishermen approach slowly. They think it’s a seal.
Something about it is off. This no dead seal they say. That’s a…
Human.
Just as quickly, they jump back, climb over each other to get away. Some make the sign of the cross. Because..
The body is riddled with bite marks, wounds that appear more as tears. The leg bones are completely denuded.
One of them rolls it over. The bloated midsection, distended from sea-water and gas. Suddenly, it sighs.
The men jump back revealing Cristian standing among them.
He pushes the abdomen down and water spits from the mouth, like a gargle. He says it’s just seawater and gas from rigor mortis.
But then it sits up straight, as if trying to say something. The men freak out and start running back down the beach. Some pull out their phones to take pictures.
The mouth falls open, gargling as if to say something. Cristian gets near. What’s left of the face is bones and strands of hanging flesh over teeth.
As he places his ear next to the mouth, the head rolls sideways towards him. The eyeball rolls out of the socket. He hears the words “Diablo.”
Did he really hear that? Or was it a vision. Cristian snaps back away from the corpse. The other men ask what it said.
He says it’s a natural recently deceased body response. Just rigor mortis acting like life.
The men snap photos of the corpse. It won’t be long before everyone in town knows…
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Paul’s Level 1 Horror Emotion Scene
4. What I learned from this assignment is that it really helped in ensuring that I had covered all my bases, including the emotions a movie has to provoke to considered a horror movie.
Title: No Man’s Land
INT. BAR. NIGHT.
The bar is full of guys who have come to watch on TV the inauguration of the new president of their island state, Ms Evily, who campaigned on an androphobic platform.
MAN 1
Hey, let’s have some quiet!
MAN 2
Yeah, she’s gonna speak.
The bar quietens down as the men get ready to listen to the president’s inaugural speech.
FEMALE MC
I give you our new president, Ms Evily.
Ms Evily approaches the podium. The nearly all-female audience greet her with hysteric cheers.
PRESIDENT EVILY
Thank you, thank you…
MAN 3
God, she’s weird. Look at those eyes!
The camera picks up a reddish glint in Ms Evily’s eye. Men in the crowded bar shout their disapproval.
MAN 1
It’s not just the eyes.
[Anxiety]
MAN 2
Shut up! Let’s hear what she got to say.
The noise subsides again.
PRESIDENT EVILY Tonight marks a new chapter in our country’s history. A new chapter in humankind’s history. A new chapter for women.
[Apprehension]
MAN 1
And the end of the book for men!
Others in the crowded bar, echo his statement.
PRESIDENT EVILY
To mark this radical, progressive change, I now announce that my VicePresident, will not be my runningmate, Steven Jordan.
The TV camera focuses on the surprised expression on Steven Jordan’s face.
PRESIDENT EVILY (CONT’D)
No. I will always be consistent with my campaign promises. Women will replace men. I now proclaim Judy Ryan my vice-president.
An uproar of cheers in the audience on TV. The men in the bar look at each other, perplexed.
[Apprehension/Anxiety]
PRESIDENT EVILY (CONT’D)
And my second measure as president is to set the example in how we will deal with men – that plague on humanity.
Again, her eyes show a reddish glint.
PRESIDENT EVILY (CONT’D) Secret Service, do your duty!
Two female secret service agents rush across the stage and grab Steven Jordan. The audience applauses.
PRESIDENT EVILY (CONT’D)
What are you waiting for?
One of the secret service agents takes out her gun and shoots Jordan in the head. He falls to the ground to the sound of the female audience in ecstatic applause. His body is unceremoniously dragged off the stage.
[Shock]
Meanwhile, the men in the bar are in shock.
MAN 3
What the —-?!
MAN 1
I told you she meant business.
MAN 2
Hey, I need another drink.
Man 2 turns to the barmaid who is transfixed on the TV screen.
MAN 2 (CONT’D)
Excuse me, Miss. Another Sam Adams.
[Surprise]
The BARMAID turns around. Her eyes now have the same electric red glow as in Emily’s eyes. She has a fierce, violent expression on her face and has grabbed a corkscrew. She jumps over the bar and stabs the man in the jugular vein. He falls dead.
Before his friends can react the few women in the bar approach the men, pull out kitchen knives and stab the men at random.
[Shock]
Some men manage to escape with their lives. The women cheer as the men flee.
WOMEN
Death to men! Death to men! Death to men!
END
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4. In this lesson, I learned how to easily build in the key emotions “anxiety”, “surprise”, and “shock.” I also learned where those emotions go in a script.
1. Pick a scene that you could write from the first Act of your story.
2. Create an outline of the scene that includes each of these emotions — apprehension/anxiety, surprise, and shock.
3. Write the scene as a first draft.
INT. DININGROOM – DAY
A radio is playing strange sounds over a broadcast of the news.
RADIO
The lockdown is to take effect starting Tuesday night. All residents are required to stay within the bounds of their yard…
A sudden sharp noise comes over the radio and HUSBAND smacks the top of it hard. SON sits at the table eagerly awaiting food as YOUNGER DAUGHTER sits strapped in next to the table. CARETAKER rushes around the table, setting plates down as she does.
HUSBAND
Bullshit! This damn thing never works!
The radio seems to quiet a second and Husband starts to look satisfied. Caretaker looks over while carrying some plates. The radio suddenly screeches and she nearly runs into OLDER DAUGHTER as Older Daughter comes walking into the room on her phone. Younger Daughter starts crying.
OLDER DAUGHTER
Sorry. It’s just the radio. Hey, can I call you back later this evening? It looks like the table is already set and I… Okay, copy that. I’ll call back around 6:30. Thanks.
Older Daughter hangs up her phone and settles at the table. She tries to calm Younger Daughter.
OLDER DAUGHTER
That radio is scary, huh? It’s okay.
Caretaker finishes setting the table and takes her own seat. One seat remains empty as the family begins to chatter.
A few moments later, MOTHER appears looking completely exhausted. Older Daughter looks over at her.
OLDER DAUGHTER
Getting better?
MOTHER
Getting worse.
Mother takes her seat and starts to eat. The chatter is quieted and Caretaker has to restart conversation.
CARETAKER
On the bright side, it sounds like we still have a few days until lockdown begins. Perhaps we can all take a walk tomorrow.
SON
Do you really think they are going to lock things down? I can’t imagine…
The radio suddenly pops loudly and dies out, startling the whole family.
HUSBAND
Son of a BITCH! This fucking radio!
Husband grabs up the radio and throws it into the garbage. Older Daughter looks on.
OLDER DAUGHTER
There goes our connection. You’d think they’d have a better way of updating us on the lockdown than radio broadcasts.
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Bob’s Level 1 Horror Emotion Scene
What I learned from this assignment is that each scene will need to have its share of horror to keep the audience’s interest.
Apprehension: The repetition of the horror that might occur if the fraternity holds its planned party.
Surprise: Nad is startled by the loud metallic music and darkness as he enters his room.
Shock: A robed figure threatens to harm Nad.
INT. OMEGA CHI FOYER – NIGHT
Nad enters the foyer. To his right is the fraternity bulletit board. A copy of the Halloween Party flyer is the board. Someone has drawn a large red X over the flyer.
Nad tears the flyer off the board. As he does, the house
phone RINGS. Nad picks up the phone.
NAD
Hello.
VOICE
(from phone)
Hello, Nad.
NAD
Who is this?
VOICE
Are you still going forward with
the Halloween Party?
NAD
Who’s asking?
VOICE
Halloween is a scary night for a
party. Lots of bad things can
happen.
NAD
Whoever this is, I’m not interested
in your advice.
VOICE
I warned you before, you’re not to
have any more parties.
NAD
You don’t have to come. We won’t
miss you.
Nad starts to hang up the phone.
VOICE
If you hang up, I may need more
than Mort’s blood to X-out the rest
of your flyers.
This stops Nad. He looks at the flyer.
VOICE
Do you want to volunteer your
blood, Nad? You are, after all, the
party planner.
NAD
Whoever you are, you’re sick. We’re
just having a little fun.
VOICE
What’s fun for one may not be fun
for another.
NAD
I’m hanging up.
VOICE
I’d be careful in that dark, old
house if I were you. Lots of
secrets in there.
Nad hangs up.
INT. STAIRWAY – NIGHT
Nad looks at the defiled poster in the dimly lit staircase as he climbs the stairs. He rubs his fingertip on the red X and tastes the smudge that came off on his finger. Can it be? He grimaces.
INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Nad enters the hallway and walks slowly toward his room at
the end of the hall. The hall lights cast shadows on the wall beside him.
INT. NAD’S ROOM – NIGHT
Nad comes to the entrance of his room – a triple with bunk
beds on the right as he enters. He goes to turn on the
lights.
Nothing.
Suddenly, music erupts into the room. Black Sabbath doing
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath at deafening volumes.
A FIGURE comes leaping into the entrance way. Nad makes out the outline of a robe. The grim reaper appears to be holding a dark paddle. He brings it down.
Nad falls back away from the figure, trying to get some
traction to avoid the paddle.
But he can’t get out of the way. The paddle comes down,
stopping inches from his head.
The lights come on.
Nad looks up and sees his ROOMMATE in the robe, laughing.
Behind his roommate are Blago and an inebriated Uncle Barf.
NAD
What the fuck?
BLAGO
Told you he was a pussyshit.
Probably peed his pants.
(to Nad)
He was thinking about canceling the
party.
Nad’s roommate reaches out and helps him up and hands him a joint.
UNCLE BARF
Nah, he’s going make this the
biggest party ever.
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Judith’s Level 1 Emotion Scene – L-10
What did I learn doing this excitement is all the preparation that we have done is a great help.
INT./EXT. CAR – DAY
Jake cusses under his breath when he sees the Ronald on his dock. His fishing gear piled next to him sitting in a chair.
JAKE
What the fuck…I told him go away.
He exits his Mercedes and steps in a mud puddle. It sloshes on his shoes.
EXT. DOCK – DAY
Jake races toward the fisherman.
Jane moves out of the car. She watches Jake move toward the dock. Bites at her lip.
As Jake approaches, Ronald’s fishing pole arches into a ninety-degree angle and slips into the lake below.
When Ronald doesn’t respond to losing his fishing pole, it stops Jake in his tracks. He proceeds slowly and cautiously up to the man.
JAKE
Hey, you…
No answer.
JAKE
I’m talking to you.
Standing back at a distance and moving slowly, Jane twists her hair.
JANE
What’s going on?
Jake motions for her to be quiet. She stops. Watches as Jake moves around to the front of Ronald.
JAKE
Fucking A….
He motions for Jane to stay back, but she can’t help herself. She darts to Ronald. Touches her throat. One look at Ronal’s face and she screams! She pulls back into herself.
JAKE
Damned if I know.
Jake looks closer at Ronald’s face. Touches him. No response.
JANE
Look at his face.
JAKE
I see it.
Moving in to feel his face, Jane reaches, closes her hands, then pulls back.
JANE
It looks like a bite mark.
Pulling out his cellphone, Jake dials.
JAKE
Fucking A. Outta of power.
JANE
I’ll get my phone from the cabin.
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Dan’s Level 1 Horror Emotion Scene
What I learned doing this assignment is… which horror emotions are best suited for each act.
INT. GRADY HOME, KITCHEN – DAY
Nora cleans up the table. Hands Kendall her open backpack resting on the chair as she passes by.
Just then, the kaleidoscope falls out of it. Nora picks it up.
NORA: This is cute. Where’d you get it?
Kendall raises her brow at the sight of the object. How did that get in there?
KENDALL: Oh. Uh…
Nora clocks Kendall’s apprehension. Concern creeps onto her face.
NORA: Did you and Dad go to a toy store or something? Why do you even have this?
Kendall bites her lip. Knows how this will look.
KENDALL: I… don’t know how that got in there.
Jack walks into the room.
JACK (re: kaleidoscope): Is that from the estate sale?
Nora’s face drops in disappointment.
NORA: You’re stealing things now?
KENDALL: Seriously, Mom, I one-hundred percent have no idea how that got in there.
NORA: It must have just… hopped into your backpack, right?
JACK: It was on a table. Someone could’ve knocked it in there by accident.
NORA: Jack, please. (to Kendall) Why would you steal this? It doesn’t belong to you.
KENDALL: I didn’t steal it!
NORA: I hate how easily you can look me in the eye and lie.
KENDALL: I’m not lying!
JACK: It’s not a big deal, Nora. No one’s gonna miss it. It’s gotta be worth 20 bucks.
NORA: It is a big deal! (to Kendall) Please just… go to your room. (hands her the kaleidoscope) And take this with you. I don’t want to look at it.
Kendall stuffs the kaleidoscope into her backpack and storms out of the room.
INT. KENDALL’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Kendall sighs, lying on her bed. She takes out her phone, looks at a photo of herself holding a beaming TODDLER (her late younger brother). She puts the phone away and swallows her emotions.
Kendall turns to her backpack on the floor. Reaches out and grabs it, pulls out the kaleidoscope.
Kendall sits back and looks at it.
KENDALL: Thanks for getting me in trouble.
Kendall puts the object to her eye. Twists the front part to see:
AN ETHEREALLY BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF COLORS AND SHAPES
The way the colors move are almost impossible. It’s too beautiful for words.
Kendall giggles at the view.
She twists the tube again… to see:
THE BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF COLORS… SUDDENLY SHIFT INTO A DISTURBING DEMONIC FACE
Kendall gasps at the sight of the image. Then –
A THIN, NAIL-LIKE DAGGER juts out of the kaleidoscope, and goes RIGHT INTO KENDALL’S EYE.
She SCREAMS as her eye bleeds out.
INT. KENDALL’S ROOM – THE NEXT MORNING
Kendall wakes up in a jolt. She checks her eye, and sees it’s totally fine. Looks at the backpack, to see the kaleidoscope poking out of it. It was all a dream.
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I learned that it’s important to have action reactions and different levels of horror to make the story reach different emotions from the audience.
EXT: DRIVEWAY – DAY
The car pulls up to the Tomkins farm. A confederate flag waves in the breeze. Racist signs telling people of color to leave the country line the grounds.
RAJ 40s Indian American sits in the driver seat.
RAJ
Can you believe this shit?
SON 30s Asian American rides in the passenger seat.
SON
This isn’t good.
In the backseat, ELLIE, 30s black gapes out the window.
ELLIE
I’m not going in there. Call Joe. Tell him what’s going on.
SON
I can get a signal.
ELLIE
Then let’s go.
Raj parks the car in front of the gate.
ELLIE
What are you doing?
RAJ
I’m busting these assholes.
ELLIE
Let’s come back with the police.
RAJ
Fuck that.
Raj jumps out of the car.
On the porch of the farmhouse. JONAH 30s, GRANNY 60s, RUTH, 20s and MIDGE 7 stare out at the vehicle.
RAJ
Hey! Were from the US Department of Agriculture. Here for an inspection.
Granny climbs down the stairs and walks toward them with purpose.
GRANNY
Get the hell out of here before I-
Jonah catches up to her and grabs her.
She smacks Jonah.
JONAH
I got this mom.
GRANNY
Don’t you let them in here.
Ellie and Son get out of the car.
ELLIE
Raj. Get back in the car.
RAJ
I’m not gonna let them intimidate me.
Raj defiantly stands by the gate.
Jonah has a gap toothed smile as he approaches.
JONAH
What can I do fer you?
RAJ
We’ve found abnormalities with the poultry coming out of this farm. We’re here to inspect.
JONAH
Was it the turkeys the chickens or the ducks?
SON
The chickens.
JONAH
Danged chickens. Always getting us in trouble.
RAJ
But we need to check on everything.
Son holds up the papers.
SON
Here. If you want to see our orders.
JONAH
No that’s okay. We’ve got nothing to hide. Come on in. Welcome to the Tomkins farm.
He again smiles a wide mouthed grin.
Raj walks in. Son hesitates but follows Raj. Ellie stays back.
ELLIE
You guys go. I’ll stay in the car.
JONAH
What are you afraid of Missy?
Ellie looks around the farm.
JONAH
Don’t need you’re type in here anyway.
Ellie glares at Jonah. Follows Son and Raj into the farm.
Jonah kicks the gate shut and locks it. The perimeter is lined by barbed wire. There’s no clear way out.
JONAH
Welcome to the Tomkins farm.
Jonah leads them toward the house.
Ruth stands on the porch with a shotgun aimed at them.
ELLIE
Oh shit.
Ruth squeezes the trigger. BLAM!
Raj, Son ands Ellie hit the dirt.
Jonah laughs.
JONAH
She’s a deadeye.
Jonah picks up a dead groundhog a few feet away. Holds it up.
JONAH
You planning on staying for dinner. Stew tonight.
They get up.
RAJ
No. Let us do our jobs. We’ll be out of your hair soon.
He leads the down to the barn.
Opens the barn and lets them in.
They step in.
They gasp and hold their noses as they see animal carcasses butchered and bloodied on the ground by the door. Flies buzz around.
Son bends down to inspect them. Takes pictures.
SON
This is not going to-
Suddenly the barn door slams. They’re locked in.
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Lisandro Boccacci’s Level 1 horror emotion scene
What I learned doing this assignment is seeing how all of these steps got me to this point, finally writing out scenes, but with so much of the character work and plot work… everything seems to have a natural progression.
INT – HOSPITAL / OPERATION ROOM – DAY
the ex-cop is laying on table. the doctor is finishing up stiches on his lower chin.. a nurse grabs a pair of scissors and before she cuts. She looks at the doctor.
nurse:
its bad… really bad…prepare yourself.
she cuts the face bandages to get to the next gash on his face… the doctor is horrified at how sliced the ex-cops face is.
Doctor:
oh my god… poor bastard.
the ex Cop’s face is sliced up repeatedly across the face…his nose is left in cut up chunks. the ex-cop’s heart rate starts to flutter rapidly. The nurses and doctors react to the situation. The ex cop flat lines… the nurse is fast to perform defibrillation on him. After a few shocks his heart rate is up and back to normal.
INT – HOSPITAL / ROOM – NIGHT
<font face=”inherit” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>The ex cop wakes up in a hospital bed…he breathes hard. he gets up and staggers his way to the bathroom. He checks the mirror… and notices his face right away… he touches his face…tries to pull of the bandages… but it hurts to much…he loses his temper and </font>forcefully<font face=”inherit” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”> rips the bandages off his face… blood is dripping everywhere… he stubbles on the floor and crawls towards the call for help </font>button<font face=”inherit” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>INT HOSPITAL / FRONT DESK – NIGHT</font>
Nurse 2 sees the call for help .
<font face=”inherit”>Nurse 2:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>Oh shit.. I need assistants in room 502.</font>
<font face=”inherit”>she gets up off a chair and runs </font>towards<font face=”inherit”> that room. Nurse 3 near by hears her calling and runs towards 502.</font>
<font face=”inherit”>INT- HOSPITAL/OUTSIDE – DAY</font>
<font face=”inherit”>He is sitting outside… staring emotionless.. smoking a </font>cigarette.<font face=”inherit”> An officer is sitting on a public bench next to him. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>Ex – cop:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>Im gonna kill the fucker that did this to me…. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>officer:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>you know who you’re talking to over here…</font>
<font face=”inherit”>Ex-cop:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>i know </font>exactly<font face=”inherit”> who i am </font>talking<font face=”inherit”> to… you </font>wouldn’t<font face=”inherit”> be an officer today if it </font>weren’t<font face=”inherit”> for me… and all the times </font>I’ve<font face=”inherit”> saved your ass from a </font>pinch<font face=”inherit”>….its disrespectful as fuck. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>Officer:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>so what do you want to do?</font>
<font face=”inherit”>Ex-Cop:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>we’re gonna need everyone who is with us and do this one thing… </font>
<font face=”inherit”>officer:</font>
<font face=”inherit”>everyone? you serious? thanks impossible, and you know why </font>it’s<font face=”inherit”> </font>impossible.
<font face=”inherit”>Ex-Cop:</font>
Nothing.. and I mean nothing on this green god given earth will sit right with me until I settle this score. assemble everyone in a fucking week. EVERYONE.
officer:
ok. you know we all have your back, and we are gonna do what you call for but something like this… its a big favor.
ex cop:
its gonna be like nothing we’ve ever done… and I do have a plan… ill be out in a week. I just need you to trust me. can you do that?
officer:
yeah boss.
<font face=”inherit”>A police car pulls up to the curb. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>Officer: </font>
<font face=”inherit”>the crew sends their condolences. we’ll be seeing you in a week. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>he gets up and gets in the police car and it drives off. </font>
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