Script to Screen: Script

Unit 3: Storytelling and Commission - Script

The Lonely Performer

Written by 

Anthony Faulkner

Ext. Venice Scene 1, Early Afternoon. 

   CLOSE UP. Showing the sky reflected in the water.

   PAN UP. Canal boat passes by the camera, to reveal Venice. 

   CAMERA ZOOMS OUT. 

   WIDE SHOT. Showing the Venice exterior with the clothes on the lines and the plants hanging from the buildings, we see children running over the bridge.

   EXTREME CLOSE UP. Legs running over the bridge, children laughing.

   CAMERA PANS UP. to reveal a poster on a wall about Anzolo the magician in the venetian theater.

   FADE OUT TO WHITE.

INT. Scene 2, Venetian theater.

   FADE BACK IN.

   WIDE SHOT. Showing the interior of the venetian theater, with Anzolo walking onto the stage.

   EXTREME CLOSE UP. Anzolo getting ready to perform, deep breathes and looks into the audience. 

   

CUTS TO:
   EXTREME CLOSE UP. Lonely guy's face in the audience having a stern expression.

   

CUTS TO:

   MID SHOT. Anzolo pulls out a pack of cards and shuffles them.

   EXTREME CLOSE UP. Shuffling to then picking one card out of the pack.

   MID SHOT. To reveal the card.

   EXTREME CLOSE UP. of the card Nine of Hearts.

   CAMERA ZOOMS OUT. as Anzolo is shuffling the cards.

   MID SHOT. he picks out the nine of hearts to show that its the right card.

  CAMERA ZOOMS OUT to behind the single audience member (Over the shoulder shot) as Anzolo bows to him you hear the person sigh of boredom.

CUTS TO:

    CLOSE UP. Anzolo turns around thinking of what to do next then he gets an idea and turns around all happy and ready to perform another trick. 

    CLOSE UP. Anzolo reveals the card again but this time throws it into the air.

(As he throws the card up)
 

CUTS TO:

    MID SHOT PAN (right to left). the card thrown up in the air and zaps it at the highest point to reveal that it has turned into a trombone.

   (As the trombone is falling) MID SHOT PAN (Left to Middle). Anzolo catches the trombone.

CUTS TO: behind the single audience member (Over the shoulder shot) he makes a thinking sound as intrigued to what is going to happen.

  CAMERA ZOOMS IN. MID SHOT. Anzolo puts the trombone on the floor and covers it with his cloth, he starts to wave his hands and magic comes from them onto the cloth.

  LONG SHOT. Showing the magic around the cloth. 

  CLOSE UP. Anzolo releases the cloth to reveal another character playing the trombone.

CUTS TO:  

   CLOSE UP. of the single audience member as he leans in his seat in surprise and smiles at the musician.

   CLOSE UP. Archy looking annoyed

   CAMERA PANS DOWN. to his clenched fists, he then waves his hands creating magic lighting going towards the trombone player.

   CAMERA PANS. with the lighting streak at the feet of the player. trombone music still in the back ground.

   MID SHOT. puff of smoke. trombone music stops.

   CLOSE UP. Anzolo face looks happy as it goes silent.

   CLOSE UP. Anzolo goes to perform again but is interrupted by the trombone and now a juggler.

   EXTREME CLOSE UP. juggling and trombone.

   WIDE SHOT. to see lots of puffs of smoke on the screen and the noise gradually increases with circus acts. 

   EXTREME CLOSE UP. Anzolo's face getting really angry

   CAMERA ZOOMS OUT. to reveal Anzolo ripping his shirt and doves flying out of his chest towards the camera.

   FADES TO WHITE

  

INT. Scene 3, Mental Asylum Attic, Late Afternoon.

   MID SHOT. of Anzolo sweating and exhausted with a ripped shirt on, taking an exhausted bow. 

CUTS TO:

   CLOSE UP. Doctor looking impassive, he then looks down. 

   CAMERA PANS DOWN. reveals his clip board where we see Anzolo's name on it, he then puts a red cross through it and gets up off his chair.

   MID SHOT. (Camera by the chair with Anzolo on a little wooden stage in the attic covered in white protection). Anzolo looks down towards the ground looking like he has no hope. Footsteps walking away.

CUTS TO:

   CLOSE UP. (Over the shoulder shot) of behind Anzolo looking at the ground as the doctor walks away. Doctor opens the door.

 CUTS TO:

   CLOSE UP. Door opening with the doctor walking through and closes the door as we see Anzolo through the bars. 

(When the door closes) THUD. CUTS TO BLACK. 

FIN.