Post Your Lesson 15 Assignment here

[Haley Chambers]

Margaret’s Fast Formatting!

What I learned: Techniques for formatting an action scene.

EXT. IRISH VILLAGE – DAY

Sunlit emerald grass and trees surround a small village.

Villagers suspend their tasks, run to the tune of a ram’s horn, gather in the center of the village, settle around…

…a gray-haired man (PREACHER) who raises his voice to the crowd.

PREACHER

May our great God shine down upon us and bless us this fine day! Let us begin this Lord’s day with praise for the one true God, the Father of us all.

The Preacher raises his hands…

SWOOSH!

… suddenly falls back dead, a plumbata (lead-weighted dart) stuck in his forehead.

Startled, the congregation jumps up.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Slingshot, arrows fly-

-men fall.

BLOOD CURDLING SCREAMS

Women and children run for their lives.

The contubernia, led by Coroticus, swoops down from a small rise just outside the village.

Coroticus sounds the charge.

COROTICUS

God be with us!

The soldiers in unison echo his prayer.

SOLDIERS

God be with us!

Coroticus and Marcus load staff slings (Sling shots mounted on the top of their javelins.)

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Their cast of lead balls from the slings take down two villagers with deadly accuracy.

The soldiers invade the village.

A COURAGEOUS young man (12) lifts a shovel to ward off Coroticus and, without pausing, Coroticus thrusts his javelin into the boy’s body.

The boy gasps, calls out.

COURAGEOUS

Ma-

Coroticus moves on.

Rufus lifts his bow and arrow, aims at a villager going into the doorway of his home.

SQUAWK! SQUAWK!

Rufus concentrates on his shot and ignores a large flustered chicken running by.

VALEN (9) grabs the chicken and sneaks up behind Rufus.

THUMP!

Felix appears at the villager’s doorway, knocks him down with the edge of his shield-

-grabs bread from the fallen man’s hands-

-stuffs it into his mouth.

Rufus lowers his bow just as Valen swings the chicken by its legs. The chicken’s flapping wings momentarily blind the soldier. Valen swings the chicken again and knocks the red-headed soldier unconscious.

Marcus hurls a plumbata at man aiming a knife at Hadrian-

SCREAM

-then scoops up a nearby woman, MARY ELIZABETH.

The screaming woman chastises him as he binds her hands and feet.

MARY ELIZABETH

You would kill God-fearin’ innocents?

MARCUS

You have no right-

MARY ELIZABETH

-Naught but a barbarian!

Marcus rips rope from his belt, binds her hands.

MARY ELIZABETH

Pict! No fear of God!

MARCUS

I follow the will of God! This mission is blessed by the pope himself.

MARY ELIZABETH

Heathen! Liar!

Marcus ignores her and turns back to the fight, only to see Brocchus dragging a woman into a house. His face contorts in anger.

Cassius notes Brocchus as he enters, laughs-

-runs after another villager.

Marcus starts after Brocchus.

SMACK!

Valen’s chicken impacts Marcus’ back.

Marcus turns, grabs the chicken, tosses it aside-

-puts a knife to Valen’s throat.

VISCERAL GROWL

Mary Elizabeth bares her teeth.

MARY ELIZABETH

You say you follow God! Let him live! He is but a boy.

Marcus, loathe to kill a youth, pauses-

-sheaths his knife-

-binds the boy’s hands.

MARCUS

(to Mary Elizabeth)

You may regret you saved his life. Both you and he will be sold to the Picts you despise.

Marcus pushes the boy towards Mary Elizabeth-

-Hadrian steps up behind Marcus, pulls at his arm, his face dark.

HADRIAN

Orders. Save only the women.

Marcus nods towards the struggling boy.

MARCUS

Still young enough to be trained as a slave.

Hadrian scans the defiant Valen’s face.

HADRIAN

(smirks)

As you will, Marcus. Hide him until we are finished.

Marcus grabs Valen, pulls him over to a loom of an unfinished rug, tips it over on top of the boy. Valen stills, his wide eyes peek out through the woolen threads.

Marcus enters a nearby house-

-a man runs out-

SWISH!

-Marcus’ knife flies out from a small peek hole (4-inch square) in the doorway, hits the man’s back-

-the man stumbles to the overturned loom.

-Valen calls out.

VALEN

Da!

Valen’s call alerts Cassius, who rushes over.

The man’s body falls onto the loom.

SCREAM

The loom shakes.

Cassius pokes his sword down through the rug and loom, looking for the source of the scream.

Hadrian holds onto two struggling women, SHANNON (20’s) and an overweight NESSA (30’s), while calling out to Cassius.

HADRIAN

Cassius!

Cassius turns from the loom to assist Hadrian.

Valen pulls himself out from under the loom and his dead father.

Marcus comes out of the house with a small, petite woman, ORLA, bound and slung over his shoulder. He dumps her next to Mary Elizabeth. Cassius and Hadrian leave their prisoners there as well.

The weeping women view the men of the village, strewn across the ground, dead or dying.

Brocchus steps into view, his hand clenched tightly onto the back of Valen’s tunic.

Marcus starts towards them, but Hadrian arrives first, breaking Brocchus’ hold, pulls the boy back.

HADRIAN

He will be sold.

Marcus steps between the angered Brocchus and Hadrian, who pulls the boy over to the captive women.

Cato sees the standoff between Marcus and Brocchus, motions to Coroticus with one hand as he pushes a sorrowful woman, BRONAGH (Bro-na) (20’s), in front of him.

Coroticus strides toward the prisoners, steps over the dead, calls out to his men.

COROTICUS

The work is done. String the women together.

Brocchus calls out to Coroticus.

BROCCHUS

I will finish the killing of the boy.

COROTICUS

Boy?

Brocchus motions to Hadrian and Valen. Hadrian pushes the boy down next to the women.

HADRIAN

The Picts will take him. Young enough to train.

Coroticus lifts his sword and moves towards the boy, but not before he catches the concern for the boy reflected in Marcus’ eyes.

He reaches Valen-

-lifts his sword-

-brings it down. The ropes between Valen’s feet sever.

COROTICUS

He will not be carried. If he can keep up, he will be sold.

[Roscoe Pond]

What I learned from doing this assignment is…. So many things. Especially meaning through all of the action. Boy, it made my sequences thrilling.</div>

INT. HALLWAY – DAY

Cop walks up hallway in police uniform. He listens to a single 2-way radio.

MALE (V.O)

Your ex-wife sent men to kill you. Can you defend yourself this time?

COP

Yes. My daughter was killed – but they came for me?

MALE (V.O)

They’re coming.

Cop walks to hallway corner and a killer swings a knife at him. Cop ducks and hits killer with fists… SLUG-SLUG-SLUG.

Killer quickly lifts cop off floor and throws him against the opposite wall.. SLAM… The knife slices cop’s shoulder who grimaces in pain. He hits the floor and killer raises knife ready to slice again.

Cop flips out gun and shoots killer in the stomach… POP-POP-POP… Blood spills.

Second killer rounds the corner and cop sees him raise his gun. Cop hides under first killer’s body as a spray of bullets fly at him… Bullets hit dead body.

Cop leans over dead body and aims gun. POP-POP… First bullet hits shoulder of killer who falls back around corner.

INT. DOOR – HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS

CLICK-SLIDE-SNAP… Cop reloads gun with another magazine. He opens door and steps inside stairwell.

INT. STAIRWELL – CONTINUOUS

Cop grabs his bleeding arm and looks down stairwell. He leaps down the steps.

INT. STAIRWELL – CONTINUOUS

Cop hears a door close and jumps down to next level. He sees double-door with security number pad. It’s locked and he aims gun at it.

FREDRICK

Wait.! I got it.!!

He’s a long time security guard who punches in numbers on pad.

COP

Thanks Fredrick.!

Cop stands back.

CRASH – Frederick is thrown as truck slams through doors. Cop jumps back onto floor.

Truck peels out as tires burn.

POP-POP-POP-POP – Cop aims at back tire of truck.

INT. PARKING LOT STRUCTURE – CONTINUOUS

The back tire blows out and truck drives down parking lot and slams into car. Killer gets out and runs to other cars to hot wire.

Cop runs to police vehicle and opens trunk. He quickly grabs sniper rifle and loads it.

… Killer hot wires car below and starts engine.

… Cop looks through rifle scope and fires… HIT-BUST.. back window glass falls as car speeds off.

… Cop gets into vehicle and chases car down parking levels. Tires screech.

… Cop catches up and hits car from behind. Killer rams into another car.

INT. POLICE VEHICLE – CONTINUOUS

Cop starts to get out when he sees a black truck driving at him. The third killer. He puts car in reverse and punches gas peddle.

… CRASH – truck rams into a different car.

… Cop drives in reverse back up parking lot levels.

… Third killer catches up to him with truck. He’s close as the truck touches police vehicle.

… Cop goes around final level and reaches the top. He rams into wall. HIT – killer rams car and knocks out wall on other side.

… Tires burn as police car is pushed over the edge.

… Cop leans up and aims gun at ruck driver. POP-POP-POP – BUST – Front window shatters.

Cop gets out of car and aims gun at driver.

COP

Who are you ?!

KILLER

Nobody –

COP

Who sent you – Come on – I need a name.!!

Third killer leans against the steering wheel bleeding from forehead.

KILLER

Your Ex…. Wife.

COP

Was this a test ?!

The killer dies and cop drops his gun. His arms still bleeds.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by  Roscoe Pond.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by  Roscoe Pond.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by  Roscoe Pond.

[Madeleine Vessel]

Madeleine’s Fast formatting!

“What I learned doing this assignment is how to make an action scene visceral. I really like the results of my first draft.”

Action scene for my project that includes each of these formatting techniques.

· Basic Formatting

· Dashes

· Ellipsis

· Sound then Explanation

· Mixing Sluglines into Action

· Stacking Action

· Stacking Dialogue

INT. HELICOPTER – DAY

The helicopter flies low over a high mesa on the Hopi Reservation.

The mesa drops off. Below, the view stretches for miles in either direction.

Two pickup trucks, miles apart, kick up dust as they approach one another.

The helicopter flies low over the nearest pickup truck.

FBI SPECIAL AGENT ALBERTA ROSSI photographs the truck.

ALBERTA
White Ford 150. Same license plate as the truck seen leaving the Hopi Cultural. Two in the cab. One in the bed. He’s holding a machine gun.

HOPI POLICEMAN
Dumb asses. Everyone who’s laid eyes on that mask since it was stolen has died.

ALBERTA
Are you saying, you’re the only one who can safely retrieve the mask?

HOPI POLICEMAN
(scared)
Me? No way I’m touching it. We need a medicine man for that.

ALBERTA
Fine.
(to Pilot)
Let’s take a closer look.

The helicopter dive-bombs the pickup truck.

POP! POP! POP! POP!

The helicopter takes machine gun fire from the man in the back of the pickup truck as it climbs.

ALBERTA
No marksman, that’s for sure… One more pass.

PILOT
I don’t get paid enough for this shit.

The helicopter dive-bombs the pickup truck.

The gunner in the truck bed lifts his gun, but before he can fire…

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

…Alberta’s nine millimeter shoots four bullets through the truck’s rear window.

The truck swerves. The left front wheel buries itself in a pothole

The machine gunner launches into the air…

…and plummets into brush.

The truck rolls…

…comes to rest on its roof.

The helicopter lands on the road.

Alberta and the Hopi Policeman jump out and scramble for cover.

The helicopter lifts off. It heads for the top of the mesa where it disappears from sight.

Alberta and Hopi Policeman cautiously approach the overturned vehicle.

POP! POP! POP! POP!

Machine gun fire comes from the brush, where the rifleman is hiding.

The Hopi Policeman gets low and covers Alberta with gun fire.

IN THE BRUSH

She moves cautiously toward the rifleman until —

RATTLING!

Seeing a rattlesnake coiled up, ready to strike, she looks for a way around it without giving away her location, but it’s to no avail.

Picking up the biggest rock she can find, she hurls it at the snake, smashing its head.

Stepping over the snake, she moves forward until…

AT THE MACHINE GUNNER’S HIDING PLACE

…she comes up behind the machine gunner, lying on his stomach, his machine gun aimed in the direction of where the Hopi Policeman disappeared from his sight.

ALBERTA
Drop the gun… Roll away from it. That’s it.

She picks up his machine gun.

ALBERTA
Hands behind your back.

Alberta handcuffs the machine gunner, pulls him to his feet, and pushes him ahead of her toward the road.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Someone inside the truck fires on them.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The Hopi Policeman returns fire.

Not a sound comes from within the truck.

Leaving her prisoner with the Hopi Policeman, Alberta approaches the truck.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A burst of gun fire comes from within the truck.

A bullet strikes Alberta in the side.

She feels her side, comes up with a hand covered in blood.

ALBERTA
Damn.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

She shoots into the truck.

A man crawls from the truck with his hands up. He drops the ceremonial mask on the ground in front of him.

As Alberta picks it up, turns to join the Hopi Policeman —

The second pickup skids to a halt behind her.

An armed man and woman pile out. She’s the professor we saw previously at the cocktail party.

The professor raises her gun –

BOOM!

She shoots Alberta in the left shoulder.

Alberta falls on her face, concealing the mask with her body.

Blood soaks through the back of her shirt.

The professor goes to check Alberta’s carotid artery for a pulse, but then, spying a huge scorpion crawling on Alberta’s neck, she recoils in fright.

The professor struggles to composes herself. She waits for a few seconds, and…

…viciously kicks Alberta in the ribs.

When Alberta makes no response —

PROFESSOR
She’s dead. Transfer the goods… Then let’s get the hell out of here.

IN THE BRUSH

A movement by the Hopi Policeman’s prisoner gives away his location.

BOOM! BOOM!

The Hopi Policeman fires.

His bullets go astray.

BOOM! BOOM!

The professor fires, kills the Hopi Policeman.

BOOM! BOOM!

She fires again.

The handcuffed man falls forward out of the brush onto the road.

The professor joins her companion and helps him transfer the last of the loot into the second pickup.

Leaving Alberta bleeding out on the ground, they jump into the truck and barrel off in the direction from which they came.