Exchange feedback on Mastery Cycle 5

[Diane Keranen]

LOGLINE: Social media influencer, Brandy, has an opportunity to gain followers by interviewing Phillip, a BASE-jumper who recently caused an online uproar over his most recent jump.

ESSENCE: Both Brandy and Phillip expect audience adoration and manipulate/deceive each other to get it.

SCENE:

EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT

Outside a coffeeshop, BRANDY, 20, highly made up with the latest make-up trends and dressed in a tight-fitting, sexy dress waits. She checks her phone. Just then, PHILLIP, 22, tall, thin, yet muscular with a curly hair and a messy fade style wearing a t-shirt and jeans walks up to her.

PHILLIP
Brandy?

BRANDY
Yes. You’re Phillip. I recognized you right away. Good to meet you in person.

PHILLIP
Sorry I’m late. I had to meet an associate.

Brandy starts recording with her phone.

BRANDY
No bother. Hey friends… look who we have with us!

PHILLIP
What’re you doing?

BRANDY
Just getting some video for my channel.

She moves so both of them are in frame.

BRANDY
That’s right. Phillip Stanton. I’m so happy we could get together to talk about your adventures.

Brandy holds her phone to record their meeting. His question answered, Phillip complies.

PHILLIP
Adventures, Brandy? Hello followers. I consider them necessary actions to live by. A philosophy of life, if you will.

BRANDY
Yes, of course. Let’s go in and get comfortable.?

PHILLIP
I have a better idea. Come with me.

BRANDY
Where to? We should meet here. It’s a familiar location for my viewers. That’s part of my branding.

PHILLIP
Just come on.

BRANDY
But I really think I should maintain my style.

PHILLIP
I understand. I’m sure you’re right. I don’t want to give you a bad interview. I did that before and regretted it. They will love this. I promise.
(waits for her to respond)
I’m asking. Please.

PHILLIP
But, if you don’t mind, please don’t record yet. Later. When we get there.

BRANDY
Okay. It’s off.

She pretends to turn off her camera.

Phillip leads her across a busy street seemingly unbothered whether there is traffic that needs to brake for him. One driver yells at him, and Brandy rushes to stay close to Phillip who just ignores the irritated drivers.

Brandy gives them an apologetic look. She hurries to keep up with Phillip.

He enters the lobby of a high-rise office building.

PHILLIP
May I?
(gestures that she give him her hand)
This way.

Brandy takes his hand. He guides her past the front desk to a door.

She doesn’t see him take something from his pocket. He opens a maintenance door. He gives a quick look around then enters. Phillip closes the door and peels up a bit of tape to use to tape the folded paper to the door.

Phillip looks to see if Brandy saw him do this. She didn’t. He continues on. She follows.

BRANDY
Are we supposed to be here?

PHILLIP
It’s out of the way, but unlocked. If we can get in, we’re okay.

Phillip leads her to a maintenance elevator and pulls her in. Brandy pulls up her phone that has been recording this whole time. She pretends to start it recording.

BRANDY
Back again with Phillip Stanton. We’re about to discuss his latest jump.

He smiles for the camera, leans in close with Brandy and winks at the viewer.

PHILLIP

Hi everyone. We’ve got some exciting surprises for you. You’re gonna love this.

BRANDY
You can see I’m not at my usual location but I can assure you, this will be worth the change in venue.

The elevator stops. Doors open. They step out.

EXT. SKYSCRAPER ROOFTOP – NIGHT

They are high over the city.

BRANDY
(selfies herself turning to show the skyline)
Look at this my lovely followers. It’s gorgeous.

She notices Phillip is walking toward the edge near a small structure.

BRANDY
Let’s catch up.

She hurries to catch up.

PHILLIP
Look at this.

BRANDY
So, Phillip, how did you manage to jump from the SkyTower building last month?

PHILLIP
It’s a matter of confidence, really. I packed my gear and borrowed a dolly and just hauled everything up to the roof. Sometimes they lock the doors, but with a few persuasive techniques I’ve developed to gain access to jump-off points, this is all mine.

BRANDY
What about your buddy, Colton? The police caught him didn’t they?

PHILLIP
Yeah, sure. That was unfortunate. I hate that he got caught up in nonsense charges. I feel worse that he busted his leg. But he knows how to handle himself. We never turn each other in. Besides, they have need evidence if they want to bring any charges and as long as we are careful, they won’t find anything. When you jump. You take everything with you. If you don’t jump. You might get a trespass warning, but so what. That’s nothing. We’re not hurting anyone so we just keep quiet.

He smiles.

PHILLIP
(to the camera)
Take that as a lesson everyone. It’s not a matter of what they let you do, it’s a matter of what you know how to do. And always protect each other.

BRANDY
That’s fascinating. Can you tell us how you got started at this BASE jumping?

PHILLIP
That’s a long story, let’s do this instead. We can talk about that later.

He drags a big pack from behind the small structure. He takes out some gear and starts suiting up.

BRANDY
Amazing, look at that. Is this what you jump with?

After a few minutes, Phillip is suited up.

PHILLIP
Now you.

BRANDY
What? Are you kidding?

PHILLIP
C’mon. I’ll talk you through each piece of equipment.

BRANDY
I don’t know about this. You’re not going to make my jump over the edge are you?

Phillip looks into the camera.

PHILLIP
What do you guys think? Should Brandy jump?

BRANDY
No way!

PHILLIP
Come here. Just look.

He coaxes her to the edge of the building and a short wall that marks the outer edge of the building.

PHILLIP
Just look.

Brandy turns the camera to look out over the city. She baby-steps closer to the edge. She crouches down so she can stay behind the short wall.

Phillip laughs at her.

BRANDY
Only for you my dear followers.

Brandy is terrified. She holds her phone over the edge to peer down. Phillip stands right at the edge and an up-wind blows his t-shirt and hair in steady upward waves.

PHILLIP
This is what living is all about. If you don’t know where the edge of your experience is, how can you know what you’re capable of.

BRANDY
I’m capable of not jumping.

Phillip laughs at and with her.

PHILLIP
Jumping has to be your own choice. I would never force you to jump. C’mon, put the gear on and we can keep talking at the same time. Sitting talking isn’t my thing.

Over the next few minutes, Phillip shows Brandy and her audience the gear he has on and helps put some of it on Brandy just to show and describe how each part of equipment works.

Phillip looks over to the rooftop door and sees a security guard coming their way.

PHILLIP
Looks like it’s time for me to go. Excuse me, Brandy, but may I?

He takes her phone and records the view. He steps on the short wall.

PHILLIP
I’ll get this back to you as soon as I can.

He reaches up to his helmet, starts his Go-Pro and jumps off of the building.

EXT. FALLING ALONG SIDE OF SKYSCRAPER – NIGHT

Phillip yells “WHAHOOOO” as he falls and releases his parachute. He holds Brandy’s phone in one hand and records all the way down.

After he lands, he takes off his helmet and talks into his camera.

PHILLIP
That’s how it’s done. Live life your way.

EXT. SKYSCRAPER ROOFTOP – NIGHT

The SECURITY GUARD, 50s, out of shape, approaches and takes Brandy into custody. He looks over the edge to see Phillip gliding away.

GUARD
Who’s your friend there?

Brandy thinks for a moment with Phillips words going through her head.

SOUND OVERLAY – PHILLIP
We never turn each other in.

BRANDY
Nobody. I was here by myself.