[David Stamps]

David M. Stamps Finds the Essence

What I learned is that there is a lot of interesting elements that go into doubling your quality. More specifically, I got just how important, entertaining and moving a script can be when it comes from the Essence.

Script I choose: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

Scene 1 Location: WAR TORN BEACH OF NORMANDY

Logline: A Motorman has just been blown to bits, MILLER, a capable yet terrified gives the men the inspiration to continue while he’s standing right beside them.

Essence: Be the one who makes it because of your courage and your wit.

Scene 2

Location: THE ROPES CLIMBING THROUGH A DANGEROUS DEATHTRAP OF A PHALANX OF GERMAN SOLDIERS PREPARED TO CUT THEM DOWN WHEN THEY MAKE THEMSELVES VULNERABLE.

Logline: As they travel up the rope some other soldiers lose their lives by losing their balance. Another way to die. Death is all around them.

Essence: Winning wars requires human sacrifice.

Scene 3

Location: A SUICIDE RUN FOR TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF SOLDIERS. ALL MOWED DOWN BY ENEMY FIRE, IN THEIR PRIME, FOR A WAR THEY DIDN’T START.

Logline: This is what it feels like to follow orders when you know you’re going to die.

Essence: If you decided to die for your country before you were a grown man, did you weigh your situation wisely.

Scene 4

Location: SUICIDE LINE

Logline: Here are comrades who are also friends in a moment of sheer panic Sgt. Miller, puts his life on the line.

Essence: In war every man lives by the courage of another man ultimately.

Scene 5

Location: THE CLIFF OVER THE SUICIDE LINE

Logline: The American Forces take over the German stronghold.

Essence: Perseverance and comradery in war is everything.

My selection for most profound essence:

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

THE MOTORMAN IS RIPPED TO BITS.

BLOOD AND FLESH shower the men behind him. The mate takes the controls.

A YOUNG SOLDIER

His face covered with the remains of the motorman. Starts to lose it. Begins to shudder and weep. His name is DeLancey.

THE BOYS AROUND HIM

Do their best to straight ahead. But the fear infects them. It starts to spread.

A FIGURE

Pushes through the men. Puts himself in front of DeLancey. The figure s CAPT. JOHN MILLER. Early thirties. By far, the oldest man on the craft. Relaxed, Battle Hardened, powerful, ignoring the hell around them. He smiles, puts a cigar in his mouth, strikes a match on the front of DeLancey’s helmet and lights the cigar.

DeLancey tries to look away but Miller grips him by the jaw and forces him to lock eyes. Miller smiles. DeLancey is terrified.

Delancey

Captain, are we all gonna die?

Miller

Hell no, two thirds tops.

Delancey

Oh, Jesus…

Miller

I want every one of you to look at the man on your left. Now look at the man on your right.Feel sorry for those two sons of a bitches, they’re going to get it, you’re not going to get a scratch.

A few, including Delancey, manage thin smiles. Miller releases his grip on DeLancey who moves his jaw as if to see if it’s broken. Miller pats him on the cheek and moves on to the bow