Screen Play

 Hey everybody! Today, my and one of my other group partners, Ngoc, worked on the screenplay for our movie opener. We took the lead on this portion of the project. Me and her sat down on a call together to structure this detailed screenplay. We wanted to make sure that we included every small detail, from transitions to camera movement to dialogue, etc. 

Our biggest challenge during this process was balancing descriptive visuals with being clear about what we are talking about in our screenplay. In other words, we had many creative ideas, but it was difficult to fully transcribe our ideas into words. We discussed for over an hour on how to write the beach scene. We wanted to make sure that it was as descriptive as possible but also made sense. Ngoc took charge of writing the basics of the screenplay, whereas I went into detail about everything and made the screenplay more specific. 

Ultimately, working on this screenplay with Ngoc allowed us both to see how our movie opener was going to be as a whole. It is no longer about simply having ideas; we now have a formal plan and structure when we film. While it was not exactly the most ideal thing for only me and her working on it, it was one of the few things we had to compromise on as a group since the other two members were busy, as it is winter break. As a result, me and Ngoc decided to work on the screenplay, and then the editing process will be left for Emijola and Jahzara to do when we finish filming.

Screenplay

 

1.     1.  EXT. BEACH - SUNSET

The sky is a wash of muted peach and lavender. The ocean is vast and teal colored.

Three girls who are best friends in identical white dresses and shoes stand at the water's edge, back to us, holding hands.

They are Emijola, Ngoc, and Raina.

The wind pulls at their hair and dresses. They are standing perfectly still.

A subtle, unspoken movement. Raina (on the right) and Emijola (on the left) each lean their heads inward, resting them gently on Ngoc's shoulders. Ngoc stands straight in the middle, bearing its weight. A silent moment of shared sorrow.

ARC SHOT

The camera begins with a slow, arching movement around the trio.

The camera completes its arc, now facing the three girls from the front. We see their faces, still leaning together.

DISSOLVE TO:

2.     2.  EXT. BEACH - SUNSET

MEDIUM SHOT

The urn is in Emijola's hands. She looks into the horizon. Slowly, she brings one hand to the opening of the urn.

She dips her fingers inside, then extends her hand out to her side. She opens her fingers.

A small stream of fine, gray ashes sprinkles from her hand onto the sand.

 

SLOW PAN LEFT

The camera pans left, away from Emijola's hand, over to the ocean horizon.

It continues over the rushing waves, finding the vast, empty horizon where the water meets the sky.

 

TILT UP

The camera tilts upward slowly, into the hazy, sunset sky.

MATCH CUT TO:

3.     3.  EXT. LOW ANGLE – ON THE SAND

The empty urn lies on its side in the foreground with white flowers lying behind it.

 

PEDESTAL UP

The camera rises upward.

Revealing the three girls walking away from the urn, up the beach, in the distance.

They are walking in three different directions.

Raina walks on a path to the left.

Ngoc walks straight ahead, up the middle.

Emijola walks on a path to the right.

They do not look back at each other. Only the distance grows.

FADE TO:

4.     4.  INT. JAHZARA’S BEDROOM – AFTERNOON TO EVENING (FLASHBACK)

The cold, sterile room. Harsh fluorescent light. A pool of warm afternoon sun streams from the window.

The door opens. Raina enters first, wearing her pastel blue floral crop top and shorts. She stops in the doorway, taking in the sight of Jahzara in the bed.

 

RAINA

(sighing, hand to her temple)

Oh gosh…

 

Ngoc and Emijola follow her in. They move to the right side of the bed.

Ngoc sits gently on the edge of the bed. She takes Jahzara's hand in both of hers.

NGOC

(inner monologue, V.O.)

I hope a miracle shines upon us and you wake up soon...

 

Ngoc rests her head down beside Jahzara's arms.

Emijola approaches slowly from the left side of the bed. Tears already welled in her eyes. She opens her mouth.

EMIJOLA

(voice cracking)

Jahzara…?

 

Her voice cracks. She chokes, unable to speak further. She simply stares.

 

MONTAGE – SUNSET DIMINISHES

A SERIES OF QUICK SHOTS, the camera recording the still room as the sun sets.

1.     Raina is pacing around the room.

2.     Ngoc is in the same spot.

3.     Emijola is still standing there, shoulders shaking with a silent sob.

4.     Raina leaves without looking back.

5.     Ngoc says her goodbyes and leaves.

6.     Emijola leaves.

7.     The pool of warm sunlight shrinks, then vanishes. The passage of time is complete.

 

SMASH TO:

5.     5.  EXT. SCHOOL STAIRCASE – MORNING (PRESENT)

A loud school bell rings.

ESTABLISHING SHOT - STUDENTS WALKING UP THE STAIRS.

 

CUT TO:

6.     6.  INT. CLASSROOM - MORNING

Ngoc's POV (POV SHOT)

She walks into the classroom. Her gaze sweeps across the classroom.

HER POV PANS TO THE LEFT: Raina is already at her desk on the far left side, surrounded by her new, loud friends.

HER POV PANS TO THE RIGHT: Emijola sits alone at a desk by the window on the far right. She pulls the hood of her black sweatshirt up, puts on her headphones, and turns her body fully to face the window, shutting out the noise.

 

BACK TO THE SCENE

Ngoc stands frozen for a moment. Her face showing clear worry.

She takes a breath and walks over to the right side of the classroom. She stops and sits next to where Emijola is sitting.

NGOC

(whispering)

Emi... are you okay?

Emijola does not give a response.

Ngoc continues to stand there in worry.

 

CLOSE UP - NGOC'S EYES

We hold on her eyes. The concern dissolves into a deep, hollow realization of her own powerlessness.

The classroom behind her blurs.

The camera ZOOMS IN slowly on her iris.

The zoom continues until the pupil fills the frame, and the screen is swallowed in blackness.

FULL BLACK SCREEN