Thursday, October 25, 2007

3days2nights: The Summons (Pilot script)

As Salaamu alaykum. Please advise. Keep in mind I am writing & directing considering $0 budget initially so do not make elaborate adjustments that will put this idea out of my reach.
Here his the cast we are seeking.
Character profiles:
1: Docile, meek (over humble)
2: Sister (voice of reason)
3: Nervous, spooked, suspicious (conspiracy theorist)
4: Blunt, direct, coarse (on a nerve-wrecking minhaj)
5: Antagonist (weakest link)
6: Anchor (disseminator of concepts)
We are seeking varying nationalities viz. White, Black, Pakistani/indian, Arab, Iranian. We also want to reflect different madhahab including shia.

3days2nights
pilot script
(The Summons)

Opening scenes:
Anchor: Reading morning newspaper
Anchor: Watching TV (world news, conflict, war… possible “news” voice-over)
Anchor: Turns TV off…
Anchor: Lies in bed (on back) at night contemplating…
DN: Dim light to dark
Anchor: Rolls over right into camera shot close up. Closes eyes to sleep.
DN: Hold for several seconds
Alarm sounds
Anchor: Eyes open
DN: Alarm shot from bed
Anchor: Hand slams snooze button
Anchor: Arriving at Masjid for Fajr
Anchor: Makes complete wud’u (slow motioned & intense)
EN: Stagger cuts
DN: Show arkan of salah (tasleem)
Anchor: Arrives at sunrise hotizon
Anchor: Sits to type letter
Anchor: Type from home keys (Jab J as hand double)
Voice-over begins…

As Salaamu alaykum yaa Mu’minoon.
This message I send with a heavy heart & clarity of obligation.
Our Ummah remains in constant peril in the absence of true implementation of revealed justice.
The burden of revival belongs to none other than those who testify
‘Laa ilaha illallah wa Muhammadan Rasoolullah’.
Unity & peace are the fruits of ideological roots sprouting from seeds fertilized with this kalimah (“).
Who will rise to the occasion if not we?
Who will invite to this Rahmah (“) if not Al-yuqinoon (“)?
Who will answer the call of Al-Jami’ (“) if not His faithful ones.
I beckon those desiring more than a mere existence fee hayatud dunyah (“).
One representative from every corner of the Muslim world…
To attend, to listen, to agree, to work...
Al Furqan (“) is our trust.
Was Salaamu alaykum

DN: Show words as typed
Anchor: Sitting on horizon at sunrise (time lapse) hands raised in dua’h
EN: sweep around from right to left side. Rear shot as main
DN: show footage of war & hunger & death
EN: Cut away to show attendees receiving letters & messages.
DN: All partial face shots for obscurity
1: In Masjid rocking & reading Qur’aan. Youth runs in & hands him the letter.
DN: Camera runs in as youth
2: Arrives in office to find letter on desk.
DN: Camera as letter being approached
3: Uses long string to open mailbox as if suspicious of bomb. Carefully extracts letter with tongs.
DN: Open back mailbox to film tongs reaching in
4: Finds letter in front pocket of thawb.
DN: Sweep from back to pocket
5: Finds note on windshield wipers. Looks around.
DN: shoot approach through windshield
DN: Camera shot low to capture face & sky.
6: Prints letter, retrieves from printer, holds letter out to proof, hold for a moment
Anchor: Folds letter, places in envelope. (Self-stick strip) Turns & hands 5 letters to young boy.

To be continued…
Episode 2 The Departure

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