Some of you may know that a group of friends and I participated in Toronto’s Chapter of the 48 Hour Film Project late last year. Good news, I’ve finally gotten around to posting the video up!
For the sake of privacy on behalf of some of my teams’, I’ve password protected the video (see below). I’ve also added the script below the video since that was one of my biggest contributions to the picture. Also please bare in mind that I wrote this all in roughly 5 hours, and we filmed everything in one single day. Hope you guys enjoy it!
Password: LooneyToons
Required Elements:
Genre – Film de Femme/Generation Gap
Prop – A Headband
Character – Riley Ludwig (A door to door salesman)
Line – “In another life if you’re lucky.”
WORKING TITLE: Motherhood
Written By: Amanda Lomonaco
FADE IN ON:
CU of Liz’ face as Kara talks to her in the bg, pacing back and forth and talking rapidly as Liz just sits and stares into the distance.
KARA
So I think the nurse will be here at around 11 a.m.
And I’ll use that time to go grab some groceries
And maybe pick up your prescription at the
Pharmacy. Then we have to make sure he knows your
Exact schedule. I already have a daily itinerary
Written up. I’ve installed a couple of cameras
Around the place in case he tries anything.
So, I’ll make sure I pick up the orange juice, as
Well because I know you have to have that…
Liz continues to stare into the distance as her daughter talks and paces. Liz starts to brush her mother’s hair and tie it into a bun. She’s meticulous in making sure not a single stray hair remains. She finishes her actions as she continues to talk. Her mother is barely responding the whole time
LIZ
Can we go have ice cream?
Kara carries on talking without acknowledging her mother’s statement.
KARA
Ok, so I have to make sure I get OJ, milk, kale,
I need to prep all your meals for the week still –
A knock on the door interrupts Kara mid run-on sentence. She hesitates for a minute as she re-calculates things in her head before answering the door.
As she opens the door Riley Ludwig stands on the other side with a smile from ear to ear. Riley is dressed relatively formally, with a duffle bag draped over his shoulder.
RILEY
Hi there. How you doing today?
KARA
Oh, good you’re early! Come in,
Please! Oh my God, I’m so grateful
You’re here early. I was trying to plan
My whole day around you getting here at 11am
But now I can get so much more done
Because I can go get groceries earlier…
Kara continues to talk at the same rate without even skipping a beat and guides Riley into the living room where her mother is sitting. She forgets to even introduce Riley and her mother to each other as she carries on into the kitchen.
KARA
Do you want some coffee? I was
About to make some coffee for
Myself
Kara walks into the kitchen as she speaks to Riley, leaving him alone in the living room with her mother.
RILEY
Oh no, I’m fine, thank you very much.
Actually, that’s what I’m here to talk
To you about
(without skipping a beat Riley turns to Liz and
Starts to remove some cans from his duffle bag)
Have you heard about Ener-go?
You’ll never need to drink coffee again.
In the distance Kara has continues to talk without acknowledging Riley.
KARA
… and I’ve posted her schedule
To the fridge for you as well as any
Emergency numbers in case you have any questions…
Liz turns her face to Riley as an enormous smile spreads on her lips.
LIZ
Rob Grantham?! Daddy got Rob Grantham
To come to my party?! I can’t believe it!
I could faint! I’ve been you’re fan for so long!
Riley is a bit taken aback
RILEY
Ha! I actually get that a lot.
No, sorry, my name’s Riley, Riley
Ludwig, actually. I’m just here to talk
To you and your… daughter? About Ener-go.
Liz suddenly notices the cans Riley has placed on the table in front of her.
LIZ
Oooooh this looks yummy!
Liz reaches for a can and opens it.
RILEY
Yes, yeah, please try one. I guarantee
you’ll love it! They come in 4 unique
Flavours. Each with the different benefits
Depending what your goals are.
Liz takes a sip as Riley talks and makes a face at the taste.
RILEY
Delicious right?
LIZ
No, this is awful.
Liz takes another sip and makes a face.
LIZ
Will you sing me Happy Birthday
To the beat of “Ride Tonight”?
That would be the best ever birthday
Present
From the other room Kara calls out to Riley
KARA
How was it that you said you took
Your coffee?
Riley is grateful for the refuge from Kara and walks into the kitchen as he answers her.
RILEY
Oh no, really, I didn’t want any coffee.
KARA
You may not want any now, but trust, me,
One hour with her and you’ll be grateful
For a cup.
RILEY
Well that’s what I was trying to say,
With Ener-go you’ll never need
To drink coffee again. It’s the perfect
Mix of protein and energy that keeps
You going for the whole day without
The addiction and headaches coffee can
Cause.
KARA
Oh, is this a new kind of meal replacement?
I’ve been looking for a new one, she
Always hates any of the ones I’ve tried
To give her.
RILEY
Ener-go, really isn’t a –
They hear Liz shout excitedly from the other room.
LIZ
Kara come quick, you have to see!
Kara runs into the living room in concerned panic to find her mother has stacked the cans Riley placed on the table into a mini pyramid. 3 of the 4 cans are now empty.
LIZ
I made a pyramid! I’m a pharaoh! Omg
Is that the stripper? That’s
Not a very good costume for a
Stripper, but I can’t wait
To see you take it off!
Kara suddenly pauses for a minute. She looks at the pyramid of energy drinks, at Riley’s duffle bag, and then at Riley. A burst of frustration floods her face, then a smile.
KARA
I’m sorry, there seems to have
been some confusion.
I expressly ordered a policeman
Stripper, not a door salesman.
Riley is taken aback for a moment as he looks back and forth between both women, then smiles at Kara.
RILEY
I’m sorry, I left my cop outfit
At the dry cleaners.
The two of them chuckle. They look back at Liz, who has suddenly passed out asleep on the couch.
[possibly a moment of concern then ‘don’t worry that’s a normal side effect, especially at her age]
RILEY
Dementia?
KARA
Early onset.
RILEY
That’s rough. My nan had
That, and it was tough enough
With her being 80.
It’s hard to find a moment… for
Yourself. Where they don’t come first.
KARA
Yeah, maybe… in another life,
If you’re lucky.
Liz starts to slowly wake up as if listening to a gentle lullaby in her head.
LIZ
This song! It’s this one. Don’t you remember it?
She suddenly gets up and begins to dance. She takes Riley in her arms and begins to guide him through the steps as she hums a tune.
LIZ
It’s what we danced to at our wedding. You should
Dance to this with your daughter.
I have to poop!
Liz briskly leaves the living room on the way to the washroom, leaving Kara and Riley alone together. They stare at each other and laugh once again.
RILEY
Well I have to say, out of
All the houses I have visited,
This will definitely be the most
Memorable one.
KARA
Well thank you…
Kara reaches her hand out to shake Riley’s
RILEY
Riley.
KARA
Thank you Riley,
Sorry I couldn’t help
You sell any more drinks.
RILEY
You have nothing to be sorry
For. I hope you have a lovely day.
Riley collects his things as him and Kara say their goodbyes. As she closes the door Kara leans against it and smiles. From the other room we hear a flush as Liz comes out of the bathroom and shouts out at her daughter.
LIZ
Well that felt great! What
Are we getting up to today?
Kara pauses for a moment and we see her relax.
KARA
Why don’t we just go for a walk?
LIZ
Oh! Can we get ice cream?!
KARA
Sure, mom.
THE END.
It’s the second time I’ve participated in the 48hour film project (the first time was in New Zealand), and I HIGHLY recommend it to ANY filmmaker. You don’t need very fancy equipment, or a massive team. We filmed this with two Canon EOS 7s , one tripod, and 5 people. It’s always a fun time, and I always learn a TON about the filmmaking process in a very short period of time. If you’re interested in the project, check out the 48 Hour Film Project main website to search for a Project near your neighbourhood.
Upside Down Flight 