[Edwin Ondatje]

A & B. How did this process work for you and what I learned going through this process?

A bit confusing at first. It helped me to put a systematic approach to the development of movie ideas that sell. More importantly, how to let go of ones that don’t.

[Edwin Ondatje]

The process helped me by learning a systematic approach to developing movie ideas. Most importantly, how to let go of ones that can’t sell.

[Edwin Ondatje]

Day 1, Assignment 1:

A) An pernicious teen and her dog fall into an ancient
mystical mirror, back in time landing at the feet of [T]he Nostradamus.

B) Yes it can be a Contained Movie. Location(s): Family attic, darkly lit room made to look like something from Nostradamus time, 2 actors & a trained dog.

C) DIFFICULT SITUATION: After having an amazing meeting with Nostradamus, they try to go back, but the mirror has changed back to a normal mirror?

Day 1, Assignment 2:

What I’ve learned from this exercise is how to write and think with a Producer’s eye. The ultimate objective is to make it easy to collaborate with a top-notch production team.

TITLE: The Cloverfield Paradox

The human race has 5 years of energy remaining on earth. The powers at be organized an experimental mission named “The Cloverfield Project” to find an energy solution using the Shepard Particle Accelerator. If successful, the earth will have an unlimited supply of energy. After over two years and 46 attempts; the crew determines they have 3 tries left. The 47^th attempt causes a collision between two dimensions, several fatal events, and a female astronaut from another dimension. The Protagonist and one other crew member left to successfully get back home only to find that things on earth have changed for the worst.

AS THEY DID IT: Paramount Studios $45 Million Budget (Full Movie Crews & Departments)

A. People (7 Crew + 1 Crew from Other Dimension (OD) + Command Control Voice + Molly + Protagonist’s Husband & 2 kids, Newscaster) / I would cut Molly and 1 crew from the script.

B. Stunts (Ext. 3 crew fix component of their ship, Captain sacrifices himself and is thrown with faulty component into space, miniatures used to cut to the second part of the sequence. 22 Member Stunt Team)

C. Extras (Minimal <10)

D. Wardrobe (Simple Space uniforms, actor’s casual nighttime clothes.)

E. Hair and Makeup (Full Department)

F. Kids and Animals (Kids’ ages seem to be about 4 yrs. old, and then teens.)

G. Quarantine None-2018

COVID GUIDELINE VERSION:

A. People (6 Crew + 1 (OD) Crew + Husband + use stills of younger versions / 2 Teens + 1 (V.O.) Command Control, Newscaster (V.O.),

B. Stunts (Use creative editing, stock footage & CGI in lieu of most of the stunts)

C. Extras (None)

D. Wardrobe (Keep Astronaut uniforms, and have actors use their own casual clothes.)

E. Hair and Makeup (2 Hair & Makeup, Actors/Actresses did their own H&MU with acceptations to Special Effects)

F. Kids and Animals (Do stills of younger versions of kids, teen versions used in critical look back scene near the end.)

G. Quarantine (Everyone on set has a mandatory 14-day quarantine before
filming.)

[Edwin Ondatje]

Sorry Everyone,

I’ve completed three scripts; 1 Short, 1 Feature, 1 Limited Series Pilot. None published. I have nine more in outline form. Always open to learning new writing methods through this class. The goal is to hone my skills as a screenwriter, with the ultimate goal of eventually producing my own work once I figure out financing.

Ed Ondatje

[Edwin Ondatje]

Cheryl,

Is this all for today’s assignment? Please advise. Thank you.

Ed O.

[Edwin Ondatje]

Contained Screenplay Ideas:

Concept #1:

A terminally ill, devoted mother/wife finds herself in Limbo negotiating terms with GOD to let her spirit stay earthbound until she fulfills her promise to her family. But then she begins to have a contentious debate with GOD about her life experience, the numerous injustices, and literally puts GOD on trial. Location: Green Screen + any large room + stock footage

Concept #2:

A grieving father and scientist obsessed with helping his slain daughter; creates a time machine to travel back to her wedding day to warn her that the groom is a psychopathic killer. He will retry until he convinces his daughter to head the warning before it’s too late. Location: Family home and Daughter’s church dressing room.

Concept #3:

A mourning widow in severe depression looks for a way out. A friend invites her to an online meeting that she attends. The meeting turns out to be a paid scientific study that specifically focuses on the manipulation of her memories to help her manage her depression. Her goal is to spend one more day with her deceased husband telling him all of the things she never got to say to him. Her depression’s root was just the fact that she took him for granted. Location: A Beach House interior and exterior that includes a beach.

Concept #4:

A 6-year old, inquisitive, sharp-witted child and her pet dog stumble onto an ancient mirror within a forest part of her family’s mountain property. The dog begins to bark incessantly at the mirror. Right then the child turns to identify someone approaching, and when she turns around… He’s gone? She scratches her head because she can still hear him, but cannot see him? After several minutes of searching, she realizes that the bark is coming from the mirror. She slowly places her hand onto the surface to find that her hand penetrates a translucent-like surface; somewhat like water. She quickly pulls her hand back out fearing the worst. She musters up the courage to stick her head through the magic mirror and spots her dog lounging on a big bear rug, next to a roaring cabin fire. She commands him to come back, but he’s not going anywhere. She finally relents and steps into the room where he is. She grabs him, turns to step back into the magic mirror, but can’t because the mirror is now a regular mirror? Location(s): Exterior forest location, Interior of a Swiss mountain cabin.

Concept #5:

A 13-year old scientific genius stumbles onto a device that will replicate anything captured in a picture. His laboratory is in his parent’s basement. He tries to keep this finding a secret. Later that week his mother goes to clean up down in the basement, finds several expensive-looking pieces of equipment, and begins to interrogate the young genius. Mother being the community gossip mentions her findings to a girlfriend whose husband is a US government Intelligence Officer. Now he must find a way to hide this replicator out of sight before the US Government goons find it. Location: Family Home – Basement.

[Edwin Ondatje]

I agree.

[Edwin Ondatje]

Hi Everyone,

I’m an aspiring Screenwriter hoping to add a few valuable skillsets, with the ultimate objective of selling my first feature before the end of 2022. My past work experience was in Banking: Commercial & Mortgage and Real Estate. A friend and I worked on a training video for Bank of America together in 1985. She ended up taking that really bad video and began her producing career with Lifetime. Thirty-plus years later she and I reconnected. She was ending her producing career when we had breakfast. She inspired me to get back on that path and go for it… So here I am. I’ve put together a concentrated Entertainment Curriculum consisting of dozens of online classes through Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning, numerous books on Filmmaking, Screenwriting, and everything within Pre Production, Production, and Post Production. I believe in fundamentals and hope to emulate leaders like Stephen J. Cannell, Tyler Perry, and Aaron Spelling. The industry has been going through titanic changes in it’s topography… I see opportunity! I’m looking forward to this class.