Screenplay (a-work-in- progress)
From Rom Com
SCENE 1– FOREST HILLS CEMETARY
The beginning takes place in the Forest Hills cemetery. The six main characters are sitting on tombstones in the middle of a game of Sincerity. Nick is new to the group, and at some point this becomes explicit. In addition, all six are wearing ornate (black-and-white?) clothing. At this point in the storyline, Hallie and Dylan are dating, but Hallie mentions jokingly that she is attracted to Nick. This is not merely a joke, however, as the camera work reinforces her words and the feelings are presumably shared. At the beginning, everyone is being very clever and interesting but not necessarily expository.
Close-up. Kati's hand on a violin string. She is playing Boccherini (? I like Boccherini. Any ideas? Mozart?)
If you're a good enough liar, it is impossible to tell what is a lie and what is the truth. (Or whatever. This is not gospel. The point is that whatever she says should be the "thesis" of the film as it were.)
EXT. Cemetery--Evening
Establishing shot. Six people are on the sidewalk outside Forest Hills Cemetery. They are closely grouped together. Some are laughing, perhaps one shoves another in a friendly manner. They are all dressed nicely and semi-ornately: suits, dresses, ties. They go in the gate.
The deceptively simple game of Sincerity, as played on June 16, 2007, was taken from the novel Prague.
Long shot. They are walking inside the cemetery. They are incredibly vibrant.
It's played like this. Six friends,
Mid shot. The camera pans briefly over the six players from the front.
two cousins,
Mid shot. AIMEE and KATI lean towards each other. This is almost theatrical.
two lovers
Mid shot of DYLAN and HALLIE. They are turned slightly away from the camera, talking soundlessly about something. Hallie is laughing. They are sitting close to each other but not touching. It is obvious that they are together.
one new to the game,
Close-to-medium shot of NICK. Profile. He looks pensive and slightly nervous.
(says something about statistics. I'm not sure what. Perhaps mentions the perfect male-female ratio, but whatever. During this the camera is never still.)
sit in formation on empty graves. Discussion proceeds, and everyone lies.
Far shot. From above, the six of them sitting. The camera withdraws.
I've always wished I were a natural blonde.
(something else that is a blatant lie)
During Sincerity, each person can only tell one truth. And that's where we set our scene.
Over-the-shoulder shot. The camera comes up from behind AIMEE. She turns around and says the last line directly into the camera.
Any ideas for dialogue past this, guys? I got nothin'.
SCENE 2– The Bet During this scene, Alex and Kati come up with a bet to see which one of them can seduce the most people. In this scene, Alex and Kati make the bet that will drive the majority of the film. We must really believe that they are rivals and will do anything to show each other up. Probably there should have been some of that in the previous scene. Everyone will have left. They are still in the cemetery.
