Sample of 2nd draft script.

Below is the opening sequence of my second draft of my script....yes, I'm running with the idea of the Lion and the Zebra. Ordinarliy, I don't watch anmiated films with animals, probably because there's so many of them...seriously, they drive me nuts. Maybe because with every good animal film oput, there's at least 4 others that come out at the same time ripping it off and cramming the same characterisations/themes/current pop hit etc.etc.

As you can see by the profile, my movie taste varies but essential I like either something action packed or something that's well constructed script-wise, character-wise, dialogue-wise or storyboard-wise; That's just me. (But remember, I hate blogging as it seems to the reader that my opinion is more valid than the next person, which is not the case. I'm simply stating my likes and dislikes rather impatiently with the keyboard so I don't want comments saying "What! You like good moives and you put Schwarzenegger films down?!"....)

Anyways, I'm posting some of the script as it may be the last time anyone ses the idead here as I plan to kull this back- 2 reasons really:

1. Length: I want this film done THIS year so I dont want to be animating till I'm 30 just to get it finished

and

2. I want to experiment with what I noticed "American Gangster" did. And that was showing scenes of the character's life as it was happening, with no real lead-up as such or background information to the scene. It was just 'this is going on', piece it together yourself what what's presented now and later.

Quick example: Opening scene with Denzel Washington setting a guy on fire- You don't have a clue in this 5 seconds or so sequence who the guy is, who Denzel is or why he's ssetting a guy on fire- BUT you instantly get an idea and/or an opinion of Denzel and begin fastly piecing together the events and the story by the time you see him again walking down the street with his mentor.

Characters come into a scene from somewhere and is going somewhere (Ed Hooks), so in relation to the script: Norton (the Lion) is coming into the bar scene after a confrontation with Terry the monkey (gaining infromation from that) which leads him to the situation that the viewers will be shown. (This will make more sense when I do a proper synopsis and 3rd draft, or you can get the idea from the storyboard ideas previously posted).

Anyways, enjoy, see what you think, it's only progress (you'll notice this is set in London with no indication of the period in time. Also not: the title "the Sting" isn't linked to my reference/inspiration for the next incarnation of the script...it will all make sense later, trust me.)

‘The Sting’
Second Draft
September 2007

By Paul Mason
S2585694

EXT. “Grasslands BAR”- Downtown London- late Night
Pouring rain hammers down onto the cold dark pavements of a deserted London street. In the vague blackness of the night, faint light can be seen to come from the small hatched windows of the bottom section of an old three storey building.

The bottom section of the building houses a small public bar. The outside of which is lined with scattered garbage cans and narrow lane ways.
The name of the pub, “Grasslands Bar” glows in a neon green at the top of the doorway. Despite the lateness, the pub seems to have a small gathering of people inside.

Int. “Grasslands BAR”- Downtown London- late Night
The bar is quiet and the lights are dim. The inner architecture of the bar is constructed from thick wooden beams like that of an old style inn, with wooden tables and chairs throughout. The overall look resembles a steak house restaurant. Dry grass lines the floor.
At the corner head of the bar under a low hanging light, three men are gathered quietly. As we draw closer we realise the men are in fact wild animals.

TOMMY, an antelope, and FRANKLIN, a wilder beast, both sit at the bar deep in contemplation and sipping from pints of beer. SEDRICK, an old ZEBRA, cleaning beer glasses behind the bar with a tea towel. He glances up at the clock on the wall. It is 11.30.

Sedrick
I’m worried about Terry lads...it’s not like him to be late...

Ext. “Grasslands BAR”- Downtown London- late Night

TWO DARK FIGURES are scuffling in a narrow alleyway outside the side of the Grasslands bar, lit slightly from the Green haze of the neon sign. The LARGER FIGURE, in a soaking wet suit, punches the OTHER FIGURE mercilessly to the pavement. As the OTHER FIGURE staggers to his feet, the LARGER FIGURE grabs him by the shoulders and tosses him into a brick wall. The sound of Garbage cans scattering is masked by the pouring rain.

NORTON (larger figure)
Come now Terry, I think you’re telling me Porky pies.

NORTON kicks TERRY in the stomach. TERRY, a chimpanzee, slowly struggles onto all fours. He looks wearily up at NORTON, who is standing over him. He is revealed to be a lion.

Terry
I...mmm...(spits out blood)I’m telling the truth! If I had any dosh gov’, I’d give it to ya!

NORTON
You owe me money Tez and where do I find you? About to go into the Jack Tar! Is Sedrick giving out free Britney’s now, ay?

NORTON kicks TERRY in the ribs. A scrunched up sheet of paper falls out of TERRY’s jacket. NORTON bends down to pick it up, TERRY notices the paper and tries to get to it first but NORTON shoves him out of the way and onto his back.

NORTON
Allo...What’s this?

NORTON unravels the paper. The Page has a large Photo of NORTON, which looks like it was taken zoomed in from a hidden camera. The letters on the top of the page read “£1,000 Reward”.

NORTON
Why, that’s a pretty picture Terry..

Terry
It...it’s not what you think Gov’...!

NORTON
(Menacingly)
Well I guess you’d better fill me in then...

NORTON’s shadow blocks the light, shrouding TERRY’s terrified face.

FRANKLIN (VO)
I’m sure he’s fine Sed. Bugger’s probably out enjoying the stroll in the rain...

...more next post.

CFCA- Just playing with Photoshop

I was just fiddling around with digital painting with Photoshop. This is just a small section of a page I did for CFCA. Basically it was just in preparation for Concept art work for my final project. I think I need a little more practise...
Click on the images to enlarge.

Spider-man trailer- 2D

It's funny- You see some cool 3D stuff like the previuos trailer (or "The Incredibles") and you start to think about a 3D film again and then you see something in 2D that reminds you how much more flexible it is...and you get torn in your head as to what path to take.

Cool Marvel 3D- superhero action

Just a quick one- stumbled upon this which I thought was Fantastic- perhaps Superhero action of CFCA characters for the portfolio (weight, jumps, weighted lifts, run cycles...)

CFCA Comic work

Progress pages I've pencilled for Cult Fiction Comics Australia (CFCA) whilst I've been on Holidays- It's not much but trying to fit this in while moving house and working can be difficult :P. These are pages 6, 7 and 8 with 9 on the way.

superman doomsday trailer

I am a huge fan of DC comic cartoons created by Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Adam Burnett and co. right thru Batman:The animated Series, The New Adventures of Superman, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. My favourite films of theirs, including World's finest, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and this one are a huge inspiration to me and I hope to emulate a similar storytelling and animation style for my film.

The Players- The Sting Opening titles

This is another example of the look I wish for my film. Robert Shaw's character Doyle Lonnegan is An Irish heavy in the film (who is the Mark/target for the sting). I could keep my character Norton a Pom and work from there...

The Sting

A small clip of the look I wish to give my film....possibly. I would have preferred to have the scene with Kid Twist going into the Bar and Detective Snyder walks in...the look of that scene would be perfect if I decide to do my film in a 1930's style.

I wanted my film to have the storyboarding of a comic book which is ironic as Robert Redford in an interview on the Sting DVD stated that directer George Roy Hill was fond of the Storytelling ability of Comic Strips.

My film won't be about Grifters but I felt the mise en scene and costumes of the period to be quite interesting and the arciture of the buildings, alleyways and the above ground train track provideing great diagonals to be visually exciting.

The question I've been milling on for the past few days is do I do an original story with a character (superhero? Bounty Hunter?) or take my previous script based in London, change the location and nationality of all the characters (except the standover man, who I could keep Cockney) and use that...

Original Storyboard Ideas- 2007- for 2008

These are storyboards loosley based on a script I wrote last year for Scriptwriting 2. I did the stroyboards for Advanced character animation final assessment, which focussed on the acting of characters in a scene to highlight the drama- What conflict is there, what are the objectives/wants of the characters in the scene, what is the emotional cocktail/what are the characters feeling during the scene etc.

Basically, the story is about a Bar owner, Sedrick, who is sick of him and the other local shop keepers being pushed around by Standover man, Norton. The spin is that all the shop keepers, including Sedrick are prey to Norton, who is the Predator. The prey wish to turn the tables on the predator by pooling their money together that would normally pay Norton for the week, and place a bounty on Norton's head- hoping a bigger animal might come along and take care of Norton for them. (Norton is a lion by the way.)

However, Norton catches wind of the plan by shaking down one to the shop keepers and confronts Sedrick in his bar to bully him and the customers for Sedrick to admit he organised the bounty and to submit to Norton. However, Sedrick has had enough of th coumminity and himself being pushed around and stands up to the Lion.

Anyways, I don't want to give away the ending but I mainly put these up as a blue print for what I may use for this year's film.

All stuff here copyright (c) 2008 PM- not that I can see anyone using it, but hey, it is the internet after all :P

Gesture assessment CGI -

Was a 3d Acting assignment for last year. I'm thinking of sticking to more traditional 2D animation for my Final film, as 3D did cause me to lose alot of hair for a result I wasn't 100% pleased with.

Happy New Year...Now back to work!

Happy New Year!

Just a quick one to kickstart my work for this year's projects . I intend this blog to note all my work in progress stuff as I try to sort my ideas for my final film and portfolio.

Next post I plan to attach some storyboard panels from a script I wrote for uni late last year which is at the moment the front runner for my short film idea.

Note to self: Wish to stay faithful to my inspiration material: "The Marvel Vault", Justice league Unlimited, The Sting starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman, The Tick, Punisher War Journal- Civil War, Superman: Doomsday, The Godfather, Fleischer's Superman.

Anyways, stay tuned for further development.