Kelvin Garvanne
Forum Replies Created
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Kelvin Garvanne: First Three Decisions
Out At Home : Based on a true story, Emmett Ashford overcomes adversity to become the first Blackumpire in Majr League Baseball.
My profound truth is a person is responsible for choosing their own life path.
My movie will cause people to realize that pursuing their life path has costs. They can not follow their chosen path without challenges, especially if their path goes against accepted social values and beliefs.
Doing this exercise I realized the Emmett Ashford story can be told through several vehicles: SPORTS, HISTORICAL EVENTS, and BUSINESS.
Emmett challenged what his peers and society thought was the life path for a Black man. Emmett challenged what the sort of baseball thought was the role of an umpire. Emmett challenged the constraints of a chaning society struggling to resist and accept color lines being broken. Emmett chose to leave his wife and family to pursue his life path because his wife didn’t believe it was possible to achieve. Emmett Ashford was haunted by leaving his family, something he did not want to do because his father had left their family.
This exercise helped me consider more aspects of the lead characters personality and his antagonists. Emmett was challenged by his past, his present, his future, his desire to achieve something others couldn’t imagine, which defied the place a Black man was expected to take in America at that time, and event the role a father and husband should assume in their family.
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The Oppression Phil experiences is narcissism, self love. His primary goal was to be “talent”, to experience celebrity, to be the object of adulation. The first time Ned approached Phil Phil he was a fan and said, ” thanks for watching.”
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Kelvin Garvanne: Analysis of GROUNDHOG DAY
1.The change in GROUNDHOG DAY is the realization that a day can make a difference in an individual’s life and in the lives of others that an individual touches. The song, “What A Difference A Day Makes” could have very well been played every morning at 0600. Coming to the realization that the choices a person makes in a day are life changing is the transformational journey of Pittsburgh television weatherman Phil Connors.
2. Rita, the up and coming news segment producer, is the change agent in Phil’s journey. Phil is the sarcastic, narcissistic, and cynical transformable character. He is reminiscent of Ebenezer Scrooge in the film A Christmas Carol.
3. We are lured in to the story because Phil is introduced and then his cold personality is posed next to Rita, his warm up and coming foil. The audience is told she wants to spend time in Punxsutawney, PA. after Groundhog Day to capture the charm of the place and people.
4. Phil belittes people, ” people are morons”, and their position, “for your information there is a major network interested in me.” as soon as we meet him. He ridicules Rita, people who eat blood sausage, and mutters to the bed and breakfast waitress that she probably can’t spell espresso or cappucino. Philis pretensious along with his other character flaws. Phil begins to consider what is really imporant to him after he realizes he is imprisoned in a day and there must be something more to what he is choosing to do. Phil evolves from being self absorbed to considering how he can be a positive force in other people’s lives. He learns piano, studies French poetry, makes ice sculptors, saves a young boy ho falls from a tree, and even has compassion for a man who lives on the street.
5. Initially Phil enjoyed the things that satisfied his flesh; sex, food, booze, and tobacco. Then he realize he wanted something more. I made of the story in my mind that he succumbed to the reality that life had more meaning than just loving himself but he desired someone else to love; authentically and deeply.
6. Until Phil considered the enormous value of each day he was bored and considered killing himself. He already had sex with a few women, stolen some money and bought material things, and consumed things that had no consequence on his long term health.
7. The moment Phil sees Rita he recognizes the only way she would be interested in him if he fell out of love wth himself. Phil falls out of love with himslef so others would care for him and ultimately she could love him. The most profound moments of the film include when Phil decides to learn piano and study poetry when the old man who lives on the street dies, and when he sculpts Rita’s face out of snow.
8. ” She’s fun but not my kind of fun”, “People are moron.” ” I have missed you so much, I don’t know where your head is at but can you call in sick.” and “Sometimes people just die(nurse) and Phil says, “Not today.” The next day Phil quotes Chekhov and shares a report that is almost an elegy.
9. When Phil takes piano, when he stops trying to have one night stands, when he asks Rita for help. Phil must be vulnerable and sincere when he explains his dilemma. Later, when he explains to Rita he has errands and then executes a series a series of compassionate actions I understood how he was manifesting his transformation.
10. You can only receive true love when you are willing to love more than yourself. -
Kelvin Garvanne
I am Kelvin Garvanne and “I agree to the terms of this release form.”GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class. -
I Kelvin Garvanne agree to the terms of this agreement.
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I am Kelvin Garvanne. I wrote and produced a short film, wrote two feature screenplays, and two one hour television pilots. My intention is to learn how to create depth in my characters. I speak Spanish and Italian, have lived in Spain and Colombia, and have traveled extensively. Recently I traveled to a nature conservancy in Kenya.
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This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by Kelvin Garvanne.
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This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by
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Kelvin Garvanne Synopsis for Interview:
TITLE: HOLY FOOLS
GENRE: ACTION DRAMA/ THRILLER
Logline: A disillusioned college student travels to Colombia,South America to escape from his disfunctional family. When he learns he has no return ticket he decides to get home on his own. He embarks on an adventure to leave the country on foot with an alleged drug trafficker. While traveling in the jungle they encounter a group of women who run a facility to help illegal immigrants who were injured while trying to get to the United States. The women are being menaced by drug traffickers and the student and his companion intend to put and end to it.
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Kelvin Garvanne
GENRE: ACTION DRAMA/ THRILLER
TITLE: HOLY FOOLS
I am behind in my work so I had to interview a first A.D. I know who has produced two films. He also worked on a project in South America.
The interview process was very helpful because he asked about the script and scheduling, budgeting, and logistics( hiring local cast and crew; especially the armorer.) He mentioned security issues for the cast and crew, and of course health protocols.
He wanted me to decide on the time period. The actual story occurred in 1981 but it can be executed in the present and money can be saved on wardrobe, picture cars, and locations.
He suggested I think about the streaming companies that are looking for content for the small screen. He thought I should carefully research Spanish speaking talent and be able to suggest who might interest funding sources.
He cautioned me to create compelling back stories for protagonists and antagonists otherwise the audience will not care. I explained the concept is the synthesis of Midnight Express and Lillies of the Field.
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Kelvin Garvanne
GENRE: ACTION/DRAMA
TITLE : EVERY SECRET THING
I have had work issues that have presented barriers to completing asignments. Unfortunatley, I cnsider this class an audition and I have not presented myself well. I learned that the action drama and thriller genre have to use action and not writing to engage the audience. The idea is to keep the audience experiencing the story with the lead protagonist(s) and antagonists(s). The first ten pages of my completed script are included in this post. I am willling to work on HOLY FOOLS before we complete our course on Wednesday. My email is kgarvanne@gmail.com for any classmates wanting to speak after class is completed.
INT. SAN FRANCISCO POLICE HEADQUARTERS. MORNING.
DET. SAM RUGGIERO beefy jaded North Beach Italian motors his way through the teeming lobby. He hesitates by the elevator then strides to the stairwell.
INT. DET. GENE HARRIS’ OFFICE
GENE HARRIS, lean seasoned street sage has his blinds drawn while he practices fly fishing in his office sanctuary.
The door ABRUPTLY opens and Sam BOLTS inside.
SAM
Councilman Jenkins’ nephew was killed in a robbery.
Harris, in mid-stroke, drops his fly-fishing rod and reaches for his jacket on the back of his door.
CU/ SFX. The rod floats in the air and crashes against a photograph of a smiling Gene Harris and a young African American man holding a certificate. The fishing rod shatters the glass before the frame hits the floor.
EXT. HALLWAY Harris and Ruggiero glide down the corridor to the stairwell.
EXT. UPSCALE SAN FRANCISCO STREET. MORNING.
Harris and Ruggiero navigate through a phalanx of POLICE, PRESS, FORENSICS, and BYSTANDERS.
Harris is paralyzed when he sees KARIM WATSON a slim stoic African American youth being driven away in the back of a SFPD squad car.
Karim Watson is the same young man from the shattered photograph in Gene’s office.
CUT TO.
PEMBERTON CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS. SAME MORNING.
The bustling office is filled with SCRAMBLING VOLUNTEERS carrying out an assortment of support duties.
INT. PEMBERTON’S OFFICE.
MICHAEL PEMBERTON, polished and unscrupulous city prosecutor is watching three television screens. He is surrounded by several aides including:
MIRIAM RODRIGUEZ, pretty overachiever, and CHUCK CASEY a seasoned Machiavellian campaign veteran.
PEMBERTON
This kind of shit wins elections.
Pemberton fingers the television remote anxiously. The staff is stares attentively.
ON SCREEN.
REPORTER
“Karim Watson was a youthful offender who avoided prison time by becoming part of a community group called the Community Builders.
The program, partially funded by city and state funds, taught inner city youth the construction trades. After completing the program
they were given assistance finding employment.
San Francisco police detective Gene Harris was one of the founders and proponents of the Community Builders program.
The police department has not yet issued a statement.
PEMBERTON
Here’s a fucking criminal given tax payer’s money to learn how to
steal.
(He claps his hand and chuckles.)
A gift dropped in my lap.
RODRIGUEZ
I scheduled two news conferences for this afternoon.
(Passing paper)
Here’s a list of interview requests.
CASEY
Don’t jump so fast. Let everybody else talk.
Harris created the program, let him have a conference.
(Pauses for acknowledgement)
Has Jenkins said anything? Wait on this one.
Cancel all that shit and get a camera crew to cover you paying
your condolences to the Jenkins family. That’s politics children.
RODRIGUEZ
If we rally voters around this we can win the election tonight!
CASEY
This isn’t a movie kid.
PEMBERTON
Everybody sit tight. Don’t do anything until I say so.
Pemberton turns up the volume and the campaign team turns their attention back to the television..
INT. HARRIS HOME. DEN. EVENING
CANDACE HARRIS, regal matriarch, talks on the phone while watching television.
CANDACE
I haven’t spoken with him all day.
O.S The door opens and closes.
He just came in. I’ll tell him. I love you too.
Candace rushes to the foyer. Gene, exhausted; is leaning with his back to Candace against the door.
GENE
Mondays are a bitch.
Candace greets Gene with a full strong embrace.
CANDACE
We’ve been through tough things before.
GENE
This is real different baby.
DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. HARRIS FRONT PORCH. MORNING
Gene opens the door in the same clothes as last night.
The middle class neighborhood is bathed in brilliant late summer sunlight. The morning paper covers the WELCOME mat.
“SUSPECT ROBS AND MURDERS COUNCILMAN JENKIN’S NEPHEW”
“Suspect was part of police run program for inner city offenders.”
Gene sees NEWS TRUCKS and REPORTERS congregated throughout his street.
The newspaper front page article is accompanied by a photo of Harris with his arm around Karim Watson’s shoulder at a group graduation ceremony.
INT. POLICE STATION. LATER SAME MORNING. HARRIS’ OFFICE.
Gene packs his belongings as Sam looks on. He crouches down to pick up the
SHATTERED picture. We see a signature that reads:
“Thank you for saving my life. Karim”
GENE
I can put out some fires if I’m not around.
SAM
No fire in here.
Gene keeps packing.
SAM
Don’t be a fuckin’ martyr! Give up Raheem.
GENE
Karim.
SAM
Yeah. Just walk away.
GENE
Karim Watson is not a murderer.
SAM
HELLO! Did you see what I saw?
GENE
Karim Watson is a good kid.
SAM
You’re a better cop.
GENE
I’m doing the right thing.
SAM
You can’t save every loser in San Francisco.
GENE
These are kids.
SAM
He gets in the house doesn’t know what to steal because everything looks nice and the owner walks in. BAM! He bashes his skull in and tries to get away. Not original.
GENE
Why hasn’t this happened before?
SAM
Who knows, everything’s bound to happen once.
Gene opens his desk draw and starts tossing papers in a wastebasket. He fingers a CARD reading LAKE VIEW REALTY and puts it in his front chest pocket.
CUT TO.
EXT. HARRIS STREET. EVENING
A HOARD OF MEDIA surrounds the perimeter of his house, he quickly grabs his cell phone as he drives past his house.
GENE
I’m going to Anthony’s place. Get some things and meet me.
Don’t go straight there drive around.
Call Karen and tell her to come too. Don’t use any land lines.
I love you.
Gene makes another call.
Hey, I need a car. Park it at the spot. We’ll hook up later.
(Muttering)
It’s like these fuckers are on the inside.
Harris ends his call and continues into the night.
CUT TO.
INT. ANTHONY HARRIS’ APARTMENT. NIGHT
ANTHONY HARRIS, urbane hip hop casual student watches his father from his computer chair.
GENE
This is a cool little spot. I lived with my aunt in college. I bet you really do your thing up here.
ANTHONY
The news is crazy dad.
You stuck your neck out for these niggers and now look.
GENE
Anthony, I saw you in him.
ANTHONY
I’m not a ghetto felon who murdered somebody while he
was supposed to be working.
GENE
All that separates you from him is a father.
ANTHONY
Are they going to fire you?
GENE
I have too much time to get kicked to the curb.
(He gives Anthony a reassuring look to his son.)
CONT’D
You have any beer?
ANTHONY
I don’t think mom could handle beer on your breath.
(Anthony returns the reassuring glance with a matter of fact stare.)
O.S. The DOORBELL interrupts the moment. Gene signals Anthony to answer it as he moves into the next room.
INT./EXT. APARTMENT DOORWAY
Candace waits with KAREN HARRIS, a stylish high-maintenance cutie.
Anthony opens the door and before they can utter a sound he signals them to be quiet and hurries them inside. Gene rushes into the living room and embraces the two women before they can speak.
INT. LIVING ROOM . EVENING.
The family is huddled around a small dining table cluttered with TAKEOUT FOOD CARTONS.
GENE
The market is perfect. I can rent it out and have it help pay for itself.
CANDACE
How can we afford it?
GENE
The down payment is like a car note.
KAREN
Why couldn’t you get a place in Tahoe?
ANTHONY
Yeah dad, there are no boutiques or body salons.
KAREN
A more popular destination would appeal to a greater number of renters.
GENE
True, but this place has some of the best fly-fishing west of the Mississippi.
KAREN
Niche market appeal makes sense. Maybe I’ll help decorate.
ANTHONY
Then he won’t have a down payment.
CANDACE
Can they charge you with anything?
GENE
I didn’t commit anything.
ANTHONY
They wouldn’t fire you to save face?
GENE
That would open a whole bag of issues the city couldn’t handle.
O.S. THE DOORBELL RINGS. The room immediately becomes mute.
Gene gently approaches the door and places his eye smack up against the peephole.
Quickly he opens the door.
SAM RUGGIERO squirms in and greets the family.
SAM
Good evening Candace. Hello Karen. Hey Anthony; you’ve gotten big.
The palpable chill is punctuated by no responses.
Sam reaches into his pocket and passes Gene a single key and then a key ring with one key. Gene pockets the key ring but not the single key
GENE
I won’t need this. I decided to buy a cabin.
SAM
You’re still welcome to use it, a lot of memories in that cabin.
CANDACE
(Disgust) Of what?
SAM
We’re not perfect Candace.
GENE
Want something to eat?
SAM
I’m good, just wanted to drop off those keys.
CANDACE
And we don’t need it.
SAM
Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.
GENE
Thanks for the car.
Gene walks him to the door and turns to see his family staring at him in silence.
INT. COUNTY JAIL. MORNING
Gene is accompanied by BISHOP R. J ARMSTRONG, community icon and venerable church leader. Karim Watson is enveloped by bright jail overalls. His slender arm is handcuffed to the wall. Shackles encircle both ankles. He is slouched in his hard plastic chair.
GENE
I deserve an explanation.
ARMSTRONG
We are here because we love you and will support you any way we can.
Killing a man is serious Karim.
SILENCE
ARMSTRONG
They will want the death penalty but we might be able to save your life.
KARIM
I don’t want to live in here forever?
GENE
When you get the injection they strap you to a table like a science project.
SILENCE
CONT’D
Was it an accident?
SILENCE
I have always helped you when you asked for it. I’m still here for you.
ARMSTRONG
The family is willing to forgive you if you are sorry. Are you?
KARIM
They made me do everything. They were going to kill Rasheed.
GENE
Who is Rasheed?
KARIM
He’s gone too.
ARMSTRONG
Was he in the program?
KARIM
You think your program can help everybody don’t you?
ARMSTRONG
It helped you.
KARIM
But I’m still here.
A PRISON GUARD enters the room and takes KARIM away. Tears begin streaming down his face before he is led away.
GENE
I don’t remember Rasheed.
ARMSTRONG
I’ll look over my files. Have you spoken to his family?
GENE
No. They haven’t changed.
ARMSTRONG
I have to go to the hospital. Please call me this afternoon.
GENE
Thanks for coming down.
ARMSTRONG
I’m here for you too Gene.
GENE
Thanks.
The two men embrace and walk separate ways as they leave the visiting area.
INT. COUNTY JAIL BOOKING AREA. SAME DAY
The BUSY routine of booking, releasing and shuttling prisoners transpires like an ant farm.
Gene sees Sam and flags him down.
GENE
Sorry about last night.
SAM
You’re cool.
GENE
Candace still blames you for everything we went through.
SAM
That was five years ago. Wives do that, I left mine so I don’t have to relive
shit every day.
GENE
Candace is cool.
SAM
I don’t care, she’s not my wife. Call me when you have something.
GENE
I visited Karim Watson. He was set up somehow.
SAM
Every criminal has a plan, when it fails they end up with us.
GENE
Somehow he was forced to do it.
SAM
That’s like me and strip clubs.
GENE
I’m serious Sam. Either help me or get the fuck out!
SAM
I’m waiting for forensics and I thought you were leaving town?
GENE
I got people working on this. I’ll call you.
Sam salutes Gene with a pregnant folder and walks off.
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Kelvin Garvanne –
Genre: ACTION DRAMA
Title: HOLY FOOLS
AUDIENCE and LEAD CHARACTERS: I realized I can reach a larger demographic for the film by including a female lead. Developing the female character who Travis and James decide to help will create ambiguity and the possibility for a sequel. Travis might be going back to South America for her and not a life of crime.
BUDGET: I can hire talent with more box office draw (Don Cheadle, LaKeith Stanfield, Donald T. Glover, Eva Mendes, Jessica Alba, Eva Longoria) the production values and action scenes by increasing the 25 million budget by 5 million. There is a scene where a friend of Travis is assassinated by a sniper in a helicopter. Also, there can be more action scenes depicting gun fights between Travis and his men and the thugs who menace the rural center for vulnerable illegal immigrants.
Holy Fools is based on facts that have been changed to protect those involved. The extra 5 million dollar budget will help bring the story to life more realistically.
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Kelvin Garvanne –
Genre: ACTION DRAMA
Title: HOLY FOOLS
Concept: Two alleged drug traffickers escape Colombia on foot only to fight drug traffickers they encounter in small jungle outpost for illegal migrants.
Audience: Men 18+
Budget: 25 million
Lead characters: Travis Cooper; Army veteran who becomes a drug traffiker after returning home from overtaking the island of Grenada. Travis is disillusioned about America because of his experience and decides to take what he wants in life. James Davenport; an adventurus college student who gets stranded in Colombia and decides he will get out on his own becasue he doesnt want to contact his family.
Journey: Travis was an American soldier who swore an oath to defend the Constitution, his fellow Americans and their allies. He decides the mission to overtake Maurice Bishop was not honorable. He also wants to marry Dolores,his high school sweetheart, who makes deliveries for an international freight forwarder. Travis chooses drug traffiking as a means to get the best things in life. James learns about free international courier flights offered by GFL; Global Freight Logistics, a start-up international freight company. He arranges a free flight to Bogota,Colombia. His intention is to visit a country he is studying for his Latin American affairs major at Johns Hopkins University. James’ parents are divorced and he is angry at his two brothers and mother for not remaining in contact with their father and husband. James only tells his father he is traveling to Colombia. When he goes missing nobody knows where he is for six months. By then, James has already decided to help Travis escape Colombia before he is formally charged with criminal charges for trafficking.
Opening:
Bogota, Colombia…El Dorado Airport. 1981 James shuffles through the crowded,sweaty, and tense international airport. He uses a mixture of Italian and broken Spanish to get his bags and make his way to the customs agent. Soldiers with automatic weapons at the ready eyeball every person with the same discerning scrutiny. Every feels guilty of something and are waiting tentatively to be discovered and charged.
Interior bathroom…El Dorado Airport. Travis is in an aluminum stall of a stark white bathroom. He is adjusting a small vest sewn inside his wife beater t-shirt below his short sleeved tropical shirt. He steps out of the stall after he completes his adjustment. A stocky man dressed in a cheap linen suit is at the urinal. When he sees Travis he offers to sell him counterfeit American dollars. Travis refuses his offer. Finally, the man shows Travis several fake 20 dollar bills. When Travis comes closer he pulls out a gun and demands him to take off his clothes. He tells Travis he will buy some of his cocaine with his “chimba” dollars. Travis tells the man he is crazy and walks to the bathroom door. He opens the door and he is taken into custody by two men in suits and two armed paramilitary soldiers. Travis is paraded through the terminal to an unmarked van parked in the airport terminal entrance. The crowds watch in fear and relief. They hope the capture of Travis will satisfy their appetite for the day.
Customs agents hurry James through the line while cursing and berating him and stealing his American Marlboro cigarettes and a few items of clothing they took a fancy toward. James tries to remain calm and writes the name of his cheap hotel on a piece of paper. He searches the faces of the taxi drivers shouting for customers from behind metal barriers like you see at a concert. He moves toward the most benevolent looking driver and gives him the piece of paper. An armed security officer parts the metal barriers enough so James can squeeze through and receive a swarm of drivers. The driver he made contact with tries to help him with his bag but James blocks his hand and fights his way into the back of his taxi.
Ending:
They escaped Colombia by stowing away on a tourist boat in the Panamanian jungle. They went to the American embassy in Panama City and asked for diplomatic immunity. Embassy officials demanded they remain in Panama and contact family members to get funds to fly to the Staes. James contacts his family and asks for a ticket to Florida. James had become fearless after traveling with Travis. Travis says he knows people in the Floriad Keys that will help them. Unfortunately they try to kill them and they are forced to escape. They hitchhike from the Florida Keys to Washington D.C.
James and Travis sit in the back of a DC cab when Travis sees Dolores driving a GFL van. He demands the driver to cut her van off and let them out. When they jump out Travis approaches her window and startles her at first. Dolores is happy, afraid, and shocked to see him. She tells him to come by her apartment later. When she pulls away, Travis guards his emotions and they start walking to James’ old group house. James has to go to the bathroom and decides to visit Kim, a girl he used to have sex with some six months before his ordeal. Reluctantly Kim lets him into her aprtmetn building. When she opens her door, Jack; his former roommate, is inside. They clearly just finished having sex. James doesn’t care and announces he just needed to take a s%$t.
That night James and Travis both go to Dolores’ apartment. Dolores makes them dinner and cold beers. She tells Travis that she can’t deal with him any more. She can’t jeopardoze the future of their 5 year old son. She ahs a job and wants to start her life over without his drama. She asks him to leave. Travis shares his heart with James as they walk away from Dolores’ building. Suddenly, Travis turns to James and announces ” I’m going back.” James is stunned and knows when Travis is determined to do something he will do it. Travis shakes his hand and walks away. He never sees Travis again. That was 40 years ago.
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After watching the two ACTION/THRILLER genre hits: Crimson Tide and Enemy of the State I realize that the scenes that are a respite from the action and suspense are tactically used to provide exposition. The protagonists and antagonists are in a foot race that turns into a sprint without us knowing. The spec thriller I intended to write might have to be a high stakes drama unless it’s written like the classic MARATHON MAN.
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Kelvin Garvanne Action Thriller(s) Crimson Tide and Enemy of the State
I had never watched these two films back to back. I learned that there is a formula for every genre and Tony Scott and Simpson/Bruckheimer understood how to execute it very well. They had developed compelling scripts and hired Victoria Thomas, a very competent casting director. Jason Robards is a well respected actor and he played what might be considered small roles in both films. Meanwhile, Lillo Barancato played smaller supporting roles in both movies. Ryan Phillipe portrayed a small role in Crimson Tide and would later become a lead performer.Both movies have engaging openings. Each level of protagonists; leads, secondary leads, and ensemble performers, all advance the story and add to the complexity of the protagonists journey. The leads in both movies had families and those dynamics were introduced in an economical way to indicate they were important. However, they didn’t slow down the pace. Scott was able to use Will Smith’s comedic skills and charm to insert humor and levity despite the fact that mortal danger was constantly looming over Smith’s character.
The films didn’t seem constrained by budgets. Enemy of the State included helicopters, explosions, car chases, fight choreography, and weaponry.
The action thriller I intend to write, HOLY FOOLS, would benefit from introducing the danger that exists in every step of the lead’s journey. The story could be told using recognizable leads with secondary roles filled by talented “unknowns” and well known character actors.
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Kelvin Garvanne Specialty is DRAMA
This course has made me think a lot and of course that can lead to procrastination…the writer’s arch enemy. I wrote dramas but was fascinated by the ACTION THRILLER GENRE for this assignment. I watched two action thrillers in order to learn how I might fuse those conventions into my dramas.
GENRE: ACTION THRILLER
TITLE: ENEMY OF THE STATE (1998)
Will Smith is Robert Dean; a high paid labor attorney, who must solve who destroyed his finances, implicated him in corruption, discredited him with his wife, and is trying to kill him. The life and death danger escalates when a person he knows from college dies shortly after he runs into him and pleads for help. The implication of danger is evident within the first five minutes of the story. The protagonist is unknowing, unwitting, but resourceful.
Dean faces unrelenting and resourceful enemies. They are proficient with technology, terror tactics, and an unparelleled level of expertise that is characteristic of their special government agency. They will readily kill anyone to achieve the mission goals.
Dean has to trust Edward Lyle, alias Brill, portrayed by Gene Hackman. Lyle is a formaer three letter agency operative that went underground. Lyle comes out of hiding to avenge the death of a deceased friend’s daughter. Dean wants to find out why she died because they had an affair in college. Lyle is fearless, resourceful, and willing to murder to save his life.
ACT 1
INCITING INCIDENT
A powerful Congressman is murdered while walking his dog along a quiet lake area. The Congressman wouldn’t cooperate with a National Security Agency (NSA) operative who wanted his vote for important surveillance and intelligence legislation. An organized crime family boss is taped discussing illegal activity and wants the tape from Dean. Dean refuses to return it.
TURNING POINT ACT 1
Dean is in a lingerie store shopping for a Christmas gift for his wife. Across town, a man who had been taping wildlife in the nature area reviews tape and sees the murder of the Congressman. He calls his friend at a left leaning and says he has a compelling story and will be on his way to share it. The man’s phone is tapped, his apratment is being surveilled and he realizes he has to run for his life. He goes on a neighborhood foot race against the NSA operatives. He runs through a labyrinth of spaces and winds up in the lingerie shop where Dean is shopping. He drops the tape of the Congressman’s murder in one of Dean’s shopping bags. When he runs outside he gets on a bicycle and races away only to get hit and steamrolled by a fire truck.
ACT 2
NSA goons ransack his home and begin the terror campaign that thrusts into a series of marital, financial, and professional setbacks. However, he thingks he is being subverted by the organized crime family.
TURNING POINT
His college lover is killed and he meets the former NSA agent that promised to take care of her. Lyle( alias Brill) was on an operation abroad and his partner, her father, didn’t make it back home. Lyle explains how sophisticated his enemies and rules out the organized crime boss. Lyle reluctantly helps Dean to his phonorromise to her deceased father.
ACT 3
Lyle and Dean go on the offensive against the NSA by using their tactics to degrade their resources and credibility in the NSA. They are running an unauthorized operation and Lyle creates a strategy to reveal what their leader is doing.
Dean and Lyle are captured and the NSA leader demands the murder tape.Dean has learned from his time with Lyle. He devises a plan, on his own, to get the NSA and organized crime boss to kill each other. Ultimately he gets his life back and Lyle disappears. Later, Lylepops up in a video from an undisclosed tropical beach.
Enemy of the State and Crimson Tide are two completely unpredictable action thriller. They are formulaic but the skillful execution leaves you at the edge of your seat. Tony Scott directed both films. Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson produced both. Victoria Thomas cast a very capable ensemble of major movie stars( Will Smith, Denzel Washington, and Gene Hackman as leads and secondary leads like Jon Voight, Jason Robards. Then she has James Legros, Viggo Mortenson, Regina King, Vanessa Bell Calloway). Thomas cast Barry Pepper, Danny Nucci, Max Craven, Rocky Carroll, Lillo Brancato and a host of great rising performers.
Crimson Tide (1995) directed By Tony Scott, pitted Gene Hackman (Capt. Ramsey) and Denzel Washington(Executive Officer /Lt. Commander Hunter) against each other on the nuclear submarine U.S.S. Alabama. When a Russian rebel leader overtakes a military base and threatens to launch nuclear missiles the submarine is on high alert to respond with nuclear weapons.
ACT 1
Ramsey selects Hunter to be his Executive Officer(XO) when he must replace his XO who is suffering from an appendicitis. Ramsey has a stellar academic record but no combat. The political situation in Russia deteriorates when a rebel leader takes over a military base and he gets ahold of nuclear missiles. Ramasy and Hunter must deploy to the high sea and remain on alert in the event they are ordered to launch nuclear warheads.
ACT 2
The Alabama is ordered to launch missiles but the message can’t be verified due to damaged communications assets. Ramsey and Hunter play out a bitter leadership rivalry that leads to a double mutiny. Each one is taken into custody by sailors loyal to their couterpart.
ACT 2 POINT
The ship is hit by a Russian submarine attack and takes on water and losses several sailors in flooded lower decks. The time is ticking on geting communications assets operational so tey can verify the oreder before Russian subs can activate their warheads and initiate a nuclear holocaust.
ACT 3
Sailors loyalty is tested as they are pitted against each other in separate mutinies. Hunter and his faction are detained in the officer’s mess while Capt. Ramsey was held in his personal quarters. Communications Speacialist Vosslo is in a race to get the communications systems workig in 12 minutes. The race to complete that task is mitigated by the sub losing ability to ascend to a level where they can use their exterior communications system.
The actions taken by Ramsey and Hunter are reviewed by a Naval review command and they are both judged to be right and wrong. Ramsey requests an early retirement and that Hunter is given command of his own submarine.
Tony Scott was a master at directing action thrillers. Simpson-Bruckheimer were equally adept at producing the action thriller genre. They also had success with the BAD BOYS franchise. Simpson would die from the extravagences of his lifestyle and Bruckheimer would become a successful one-hour TV procedural drama producer.
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Over the last two days I created a LinkedIn page dedicated to writing and sharing films that I have seen recently. I have to manage the site better because right now I am following myself! I renewed my IMDBPro membership and have included writing credits and current activities. I appreciate the importance of reading about the business side of the industry and attending screenings that include Q&As afterward.
I still have to refine and revise my LinkedIn and IMDBPro pages but I am confident MY CREDIBILITY IS INCREASING!!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvin-garvanne-1970b1226/
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Hello,
I am having information management challenges. I am unable to locate my response to the Day 3.5 assignment. Did you see my breakdowns for BELFAST and PASSING?
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What I learned from this assignment?
My LinkedIn and IMDB profiles must be created and updated respectively.
I know more people than I realize and would benefit from sharing my activities and aspirations more regularly.
Focusing on a core group of individuals and learning who they represent and what they produce. I will focus on Untitled Entertainment, Anonymous Content, and Participant Media for this exercise. I know a partner at Untitled, three former agents who are now managers at Anonymous, and a business development person at Participant Media.
Budget for, and select, at least 2 relevant screenplay contests to enter every quarter.
Kelvin Garvanne’s Credibility is Going Up!!!
1. Writing Sample Every Secret Thing
Delivers on the genre in a strong way – (drama) YES
Delivers on business decisions – YES
2. Screenwriting Accomplishments
Contest wins – NONE
Smaller deals – One option of the screenply EMMETT, which I co-wrote.
Paid by a producer to write the tretment for a screenplay concept by an independent producer.
Movie produced – A SMALL CIRLCE 22 minute color film (1998) writer and co-producer. A Small Circle appeared in festivals in LA, NY, CHI, BOS, AND DC.
3. Google Factor
Nothing related to screenwriting.
4. My Network
Two producers in my network.
Seven connections connected to producers.
5.Education
No screenwriting education.
6. Borrowed Credibility
Worked for a manager/produced and read a large amount of scripts and wrote coverage.
Represented by a theatrical agency, Jana Luker Agency, that intends to rep literary clients. I have emailed Amy Luker Every Secret Thing and EMMETT.
Connected to a star – A well known character actor is interested in developing EMMETT as a vehicle for himself as a lead supporting actor role.
7. IMDB
Must subscribe to IMDB Pro in order to manage my credits better.
8. Other credibility
Earned a LA Area Emmy for co-hosting and informational series.
Worked as a 2nd and 1 st AD and director’s assistant.
Over 35 years of media experience in an array of above the line positions.
Received a THANK YOU credit for working to raise funds for SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT.
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My name is Kelvin;
interested in learning the process of gaining writing assignments.
wrote and produced a short film that went to festivals across the country in 1998.
one screenplay was optioned, written two more, written two limited series pilots.
was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. and currently live in Los Angeles.
speak Spanish, Italian, and Arabic.
received an Emmy for hosting an informational television series in 1998.
I want to become very successful and wealthy so I can become a philanthropist.
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I am Kelvin Garvanne
I agree to the terms of this agreement.
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Kelvin Garvanne.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Kelvin Garvanne.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by