A summer course at the London Film Academy, taking part in the Young Filmmakers Academy course. In this course we learned about film-making in and out of the classroom, learning about directing, cinematography, editing and script-writing. In one of the films we made, I was tasked with editing.
Our class was set an assignment in the first week to write a short script which would be developed by us into a short film, one of which I edited. The script that I wrote was one of four chosen within the class of around 25 to be made into a short film by the group.
INT. BEDROOM- NIGHT
A mysterious person has a solemn expression on their face holding a lighter - being the only source of light- below their face staring at something ahead.
Grace
(seriously, focused, slow-paced)
Spirits... if you are present tonight give us a sign... any sign
there is an awkward silence as they look around the room, unclear as to what is going to happen.
Grace
Spirits... if y-
Alex
Give it a rest already, this is pointless.
Grace angrily gets up from the ground as the lights turn on, revealing a messy bedroom, covered in clothes, scattered popcorn and a paused movie in the background.
Grace
If you actually had any interest in this maybe it would work. I can't do this by myself.
Alex thinks, staring blankly at character 1.
Alex
Fine.
CAMERA CUTS TO A BIRDS-EYE SHOT OF THE TWO PEOPLE SITTING DOWN CROSS-LEGGED WITH THE OUIJI BOARD BEING REVEALED IN THE CENTRE. THE LIGHT DIMS
Grace
Ok. Place your fingers next to my fingers, and NO moving.
Grace
Spirits, are you with us tonight?
The pointer with their fingers on it slowly moves to yes.
Alex
You moved it.
Grace
No I did not.
Character 1 lifts their hands shrugging their shoulders.
Alex
Fine, if there are really spirits with us lets ask its name or something.
The pointer with their fingers on it slowly spells out the name T O M as tension builds up.
Grace
Ok actually play the game, you can't move the pointer?!
The lights around them fade in and out faster and faster until it eventually stops. Whilst the lights are changing Character 1 and 2 look terrified at each other until the lights flick back on like nothing happened.
There is a moment of silence as they look at each other
Alex
So original. Definitely haven't seen that before.
Grace
How could I even control that?
As Grace finishes their sentence a loud crash is heard. A vase has fallen on the other end of the room.
Grace
Alex! Why would you break my vase for the sake of this stupid game?
Alex
You're the one who wanted to play 'this stupid game' anyway, and you are clearly trying to mess with me.
Alex walks off, clearly bored of the game they were playing.
Grace
Hang on. Wait!
Grace abruptly gets up, following Character 2 as the lighting fades to a dark red as they leave the room.
As the camera pans around the room. Items on shelves, clothes and posters drop to the ground as tension builds up. The room is a mess. The room goes mad as the room becomes more trashed and more possessed.
Then it stops.
Alex opens the door to grab something but is in shock as he stares at the trashed room.