Dealt script

Dealt script.

Scene 1
The beginning of my short film will be seeing the main character, Kate getting ready for what looks like work. She is smartly dressed. She will then call her young son who is asking her about his fathers whereabouts. There will be music in the background until about five seconds before she picks up phone.

She dials the number.

Kate:
Hi mum, Is it ok If I talk to Jack?...(5 seconds)
Chuck’s been away for days(sighs)…(3 seconds)
I have no idea where he is (4 seconds)
I spoke to the lawyer and it’s getting sorted….Okay…Thanks mum.
Hello Jack, It’s mummy……(3 seconds)
Are you being good for your grandma?....(5 seconds)
I know…I know…Daddy is away working…(2 seconds)
He won’t be back for a while (4 seconds)…
I know you miss him but he is really busy.
(Her voice breaks as If she is about to cry)
Jack….I wont you to know that your mummy and daddy still love you no matter what….Okay?...Jack…be good for your grandma and I will see you tomorrow….I love you Jack…Bye…Bye.

She puts the phone down and leaves the room, the camera focuses on pieces of paper with divorce written on it.

Scene 2
The second scene will start off with The doorbell ringing. The camera will focus on the door and then on the back of Kate walking up to the door to answer it. Her friend is then invites her friend in for a coffee.

The two women sit down with their coffee.

Jackie:
so…You’re finally going to do it then?
Kate:
Yes I have filled out the papers….Now all I need are Chuck’s signatures….And it will finally be over…It’s not easy you know….I mean…On Jack…..I keep thinking about how Jack will react.
Jackie:
Young couples divorce all the time…..And it’s not like he isn’t going to see Chuck at all is it?...I’m not saying it’s going to be easy….But it will be so much better in the long run…And maybe you can both talk to Jack…You know, together? I have seen them when they are together…have you even seen him this week…I mean…at all?

Kate:
Nope….I think he’s still drinking somewhere…with his friends…I hate that I never know where he is….it’s so frustrating…When I need him the most, he’s never here…He could be in a right state and I would not even know it….I dread to think…I used to think his gambling was for fun…damn (she sighs)
Jackie:
You don’t need to worry anymore…He’s been dealt his last card…You don’t need him Kate…Seriously…Look how he keeps making you feel…You worry constantly about where he is and how he is….You’re strong….And you definitely don’t need him…I mean…You have basically looked after Jack on your own for his whole life…and you have taken care the house without his help.
Kate:
God. Who would have thought that Kate, the perfect housewife would be getting a divorce at 26? Who gets a divorce at 26? (she sighs)
I always thought that I would turn out like my mum and dad….Still married when your 90 and old kind of thing.
Jackie:
Come on Kate! No one does that anymore…The perfect nuclear family is virtually non existent! I mean…it’s not the 60’s anymore!
(Kate laughs)…We need to go out! Hit the town! What do you say?!
Kate:
No….I can’t…I’m taking Jack out with my mum soon…
Jackie:
Ok…another time maybe?

The two are interrupted by a phone call.

Kate:
Hello……Yes….I’m his wife…What?...Is he ok? Ok….What ward? Ok I’ll be there.
Jackie:
Kate is everything ok? What’s the matter?…Is it chuck?
Kate:
He’s been involved in a drunk driving accident…..He’s ok….
Jackie:
You can’t keep doing this…
Kate:
It’s ok….It’s fine….Look…Will you stay here and wait for Jack while I drive to the hospital?
Jackie:
Yeah….sure…

Kate rushes for her car keys and picks up the divorce papers. She quickly drives away leaving Jackie at the doorway.

I have started my script and plan to finish shortly.

Drama Conventions

Drama conventions.
As my production genre is drama, I must follow the conventions associated with the genre. All drama filmsare serious presentations or stories and have a variety of characters which the audience consider ‘real’ and the problems which they face must be easily identifiable with the audience, dramas deal with problems such as drug addiction, poverty, political unrest, the corruption of power, alcoholism, class divisions, sexual inequality, mental illness, corrupt violence towards people or issues. These films have successfully drawn attention to the issues by taking advantage of the topical interest of the subject. There are many ‘sub genres’ associated with drama such as; Crime drama, Characters can be developed with themes based on crimes, criminals and policemen. legal drama’s, which are similar to crime drama’s.
Tragedy where the character is destroyed by a combination of a personal failing or a error in their judgement. Docudrama, Actors play characters which relate to a current event, real events are dramatised. comedy drama, melodramas and romance. The other sub genres are; political dramas, social problem dramas, mental illness dramas, sports drama’s and war dramas etc.
The problems which the characters in my film deal with are, Alcoholism and addiction, love and divorce. This fits in mostly with the sub genre, tragedy. This also relates to a broad audience as many people face such difficulties in there life of know someone who has, This could be a result of the current climate (the recession and the state of the economy will affect peoples jobs which will then affect their life’s) The audience can relate to such simple ideas and would not get too confused with the concepts which I put forward with my production. The sequence which I will take from the film would be a meeting between two friends discussing the problems and issues of their life’s and how this affects their friendship as the two lie to hide the truth. This will then be interrupted by a phone call which will change the life of the character and will result in the other character finding out the truth of the other person’s predicament.

On the Internet movie database, there is a list of the top ten drama genre films, I have chosen to talk about three of them to show how the drama genre changes and varies with it’s issues it puts across to the audience.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) This is about young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Set in the 1940's, the film shows how Andy, with the help of his friend Red, the prison entrepreneur, turns out to be a most unconventional prisoner. This deals with so many different issues such as; crime, suicide, police brutality, wrongful conviction, freedom and friendship. This gained so many awards and it was a hit in the box office, many people could relate to it’s tough but loveable characters.
Schindler's List (1993) Schindler's List is based on the true story of Nazi Czech business man Oskar Schindler, who uses Jewish labour to start a factory in occupied Poland. As World War II progresses, and the fate of the Jews becomes more and more clear, Schindler's motivations switch from profit to human sympathy and he is able to save over 1100 Jews from death in the gas chambers. This film is a moving true story which tackles many heartbreaking issues such as the holocaust, corporal punishment, cruelty, heroism and hope. This also gained awards and is a film that most people watch because they are a bout factual events and brings you closer to a man who saved over 1000 people from death.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
This was originally a film which an insane asylum stands in for everyday society, it is a comical reflection of the Establishment urge to conform. Playing crazy to avoid prison work detail, manic free spirit Randle P. McMurphy is sent to the mental hospital for evaluation. This film deals with oppression, compassion, euthanasia, mental illness and human rights. This film gives the audience conflicting emotions, it gives the audience a view on how institutions work as it depicts the institution as something far more similar to a prison than a hospital.As my production is short I will use simple themes, which are easy to scrip and film, I will try and take note to the conventions when watching drama films so I can get it just right when I’m filming.

Aims and context

Aims and context
As the chosen genre of my creative production is a drama, the convetions which I have used must be specific to the genre and target audience. The themes which I have used in my film are; Alcoholism, family values, addiction, love and divorce. As these are issues which are adressed to much more mature audiences, my intended target audience is going to be aged 25 upwards as these are adults who have had direct or indirect experience with my themes and issues which are put forward in my film. The setting of my film is in a middle class suburban neibourhood which may allready have unintentionally target the specific class, I don't want this film to be class- specific but an average middleclass adult may believe that this certain film may appeal to them. As The above themes and issues are adressed in my film, they may attract adults from many different backgrounds and social classes, which is the aim of my film. This film is designed to target adult couples because the theme of love is strong throughout and it sends a posotive message across.
Many drama films have a simlar structure, Pride and prejudice (2005) Deals with different relationships, from many different points of view of the different characters. my film will follow two characters at a maximum, as it is understandable and easier to establish the characters.

Synopsis

Dealt synopsis
Chuck’s wife and son become increasingly worried of Chuck’s absence and lack of care for the fragile young family. After learning that Chuck gambles and drinks after work, his wife gives him an ultimatum: He needs to get his life back on track, stop the gambling and drinking, and spend more time with his family, or she will leave him and take Charlie. Chuck tells her it’s all under control but the truth is that his boss is constantly putting pressure on him by threats of taking his job away.
He agrees to go on one last drinking session with his boss, which then leads to a high stakes poker game. Being highly under the influence of alcohol, he gambles away his home and drowns his sorrows. His boss gives his wife a call, telling her that he has driven home in no fit state.
Kate gets her things ready to leave with Charlie as Chuck arrives home with a damaged car only to find his wife standing on the driveway with Charlie in her arms and packed suitcases on the floor. He gently breaks the news to her that he lost their home in a poker game and Kate tells him it’s over and leaves with his son in a taxi. Distraught, he gets back into his car and follows them. Still heavily under the influence of alcohol, he swerves off the road and crashes. His injuries cause him to fall into a coma. Two years later, he wakes up and realises how his life spiralled out of control and begins to embark on a journey which leads him to find his wife and son, The parents get back together and gradually rebuild their lost time, the family are once again happy and Charlie has the attention and affection of a strong father figure. This appeals to the audience because it ends on a happy note. It also shows the audience the ups and downs of family life and ways in which it can be altered for the greater good.

Filmmmmmmm!

My chosen genre is going to be a drama. my chosen film is an idea which i had for my AS film coursework. It is going to focus on the relationship of two characters who are experiencing problems with daily life, the husband has a gambling problem and the wife is considering divorce.