Shortfilm Project

new schedule for 20-09-10

2009-09-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

GREAT work everybody.

NEW SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW:
MEET 6pm at West Mall aka Bukit Batok MRT station control.
1) injury scene
2)kitchen/balcony scene

BELOW is the part:

SCRIPT

She sits down on the couch, front view. She begins to mug and looks up for a while./
In view of frame behind shoulder. She sees the photo frame and then at him in the balcony . Sparked her curiousity./

She puts down the pen. View of close up./

A How we film: 2 cameras following the 2 people talk
B Close up parts with mouth
C Close up parts with no audio

From view of frame close-up front, we see her reflection and she touches it./

"You must be really upset." she says loud from that view./

"Huh?" from view in the kitchen where he takes up from drawer. He pauses to wonder if she was talking to him. She replies and he looks on./

"Your mum, you must have been really close to her?"

He smiles in reminiscence. "She had always been the one there for me since my dad passed away when I was 8... I was really sad she passed but now I'm okay. I concentrate on my work now." He says as he places cup on table and pours it out.

"Oh...what do you work as?”

“Hmm. I am a transcriber for an online news agency... Just, you know...stay at home and transcribe stuff interviews and articles. (laughs) It's crazy.” he finishes the pouring and brings the drink back into fridge. "Well at least with the advancement of technology these days, i don't have to see my boss face to face. That is a consolation."/
Cheryl laughs. "Well I hope it pays you well. That is all that matters these days isn't it? Good education, good job, good pay. I am graduating this summer, really trying hard to get a first class honors. The society is so competitive nowadays, it is important that i have the edge when i get out to the real world."
"That is true. But my job gets really dry. I don't really get to talk to anyone when I'm working. The only human voices i get to hear nowadays are from the transcripts." (chuckles, he pours finish the drink.)
"You're actually the first person I had a decent conversation in a long time you know?" as he takes the cup and walks off frame./
"Are you serious?"
“Yea.” he says distracted.( when he is out of the kitchen and walks to her in the balcony.)
He brought a large cup of drink for her at the balcony. She smiles at him but he doesn't notice. The text 'It was a cold drink but it warmed her heart.' is on the cup. Camera turns away oddly and quickly to bring us to colour./
LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field
We Landscape brings us to the view of the 2 back to back. She seems to sense something, turns to face him. 'Eric' she mouths in zoom, it echos to reality.../

Part 4-Talking Gets Personal
“Eric?” her mouth as well./

"Yar?"/

“You...ever had a girlfriend before?” back view sihouette./
Front view of 2. “Erm...” He chuckled and looked down with a smile. It was then that she realized the inappropriate nature of her question in the conversation./
After an awkward while for the both of them, he managed to murmur a “I met this girl online once, but it didn't work out.”/
back view, ''Oh..how come?' concerned./
"I guess,(pause) it just wasn't real enough." forced smile/
Eric looked back to the outside. Suddenly the flat was a void to Eric and he could feel the emptiness of its corners. Wide view of the emptiness as he stood alone in the balcony. Awkward Silence and empathic expression from Cheryl that leads into illusion./
LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field
Camera pans full circle, Close of dude then back to girl removing blindfolds. Cameraman in the middle . Cut back to exact same emphatic expression. Her blindfold is removed and looks at him with understanding. She reaches out to him with hand. He turns head sideways, recognizing a presence./
He smiles back at her. "So...what about you?"/

"No la, too busy..."She said lying too./
"No one in your university you fancy?"/
"Nope. Studies is my priority now."/
There was a silence. She placed the cup down and began wrenching her ankle which still stung from the fall on the way home./
“Are you okay?” he said genuinely concerned, walking to her./
“I fell.” she looks up at him./

PART 5-SILENT/WHISPERY PART
(SILENT SCENE)
He looks at the wound and walks off. Ambiguous in intent./
Girl looks as he walks off. She winced at a sudden jolt of pain caused by her own wrenching./
From back view,foreground boy, focus: girl. he returns with a box where he took out some bandage and lotion./
She was still in pain. He sat next to her on the right. She turned to him and propped her left leg on his lap./
He opened the pouch. He dabbed purple liquid on the affected area and wrapped cloth on her ankle. He smoothed the wrinkles on the tape out slowly. He watched her to see if he is hurting her. She is silent for a while./
She lunged forward, a silent wince. View of the 2 first, then on the arm as she grabbed his arm, wincing from the pain. A feeling of closeness affects him seen through the close up of his face from arm./
“Sorry...” He whispered./

“No it's me.” She whispered back. She fell back again onto the couch. Her hand loosened and slowly slid off his. He gripped her palm just before it left his And their hands that held settled down comfortably on the couch.
There was a long silence as he continued to bandage the area. We see him see her. He is more careful this time. We see him look at her as she lay on the couch. A woman so close to him now. He forgot about the wound he was fixing as he admired how her hair flopped like frozen ocean waves on the couch. Her face read a beautiful grin.Camera moves to his face for awhile./
“Cheryl... Maybe someone might have came home already maybe you can go check,'' he said without looking at her. Because there was no reply, he looked at her, "Cheryl?”/

She shifts listlessly obviously not listening. He realized she was comfortably lying back on the couch eyes closed and slightly smiling. He looks at her. Camera moves off her face to brighter blank wall.../
LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field
From sky down, we see that he removes his blindfold. He smiles from view behind her. She smiles from view behind him. Camera moves behind her head and into the darkness of the hair, follow up darkness of the next scene.../
View of the window, Dark furniture due to setting sun, camera pans to window, the sky should be a deep purple against the red setting sun./
We see a closeness of the two people, a sense of comfort from being together that evening. Maybe how skins of both of them in one frame at many parts./
We see his face looking out at a distant. A slight satisfaction and comfort can be seen from him. Probably from a level ground birds eye view./
In view of his back, we see him look out of the window. Camera pans to window and light brightens out everything, bringing us to the illusion.../

Credits-
Duality of objects seen before.
Eg. 2 toothbrushes
2 cups
2 pairs of shoes outside.

SCHEDULE UPDATED

2009-09-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

When You Came Over Filming Sequencing

Fun and exciting terms to be familiar with:::::

OVERRUNNING- we are filming overtime, meaning we might need to stay longer than planned.

UNDERRUNNING- we are filming faster than we expect, means more time to slack.

thats all.

WELFARE- There is a total of about 1HR ++ break time planned in the schedule and $10.00 relax money for crew (got a CHEERS @ film site). Anyone up for pizza dinner when filming in the house?

START:::::::::

2PM

Chinese Garden (Before actors arrive: Forest and trees shots. Test tripod scenes)

Jungle walking fast shots through forest

Walking out of jungle shots

Feet walking into/through clearing shots

Jerome is found deep in forest curled up.

Jasmine grapples for paper all around her.

2.45PM-3.30PM

Chinese Garden

Meeting scene

BOTH:

Pass by the girl who stands there in the clearing. He stops behind her.
Girl senses and turns (3 views: 2 panning, single from back, mouth close-up 'Eric")
Camera moves one circle, dude, girl- camera man in middle- she removing blindfold, back to the dude, she reaches out to him. then on couple view, she is alr touching her face.(2 views: 2 panning, double shot .)
Hand already on his shoulder, he turns to face her and removes his blindfold and he smiles curtly. She smiles back. (2 From behind heads shot.)
Faraway shot: Grass... Blindfolds... Far away people... End...

3.30PM-4PM

TRAVEL TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE VIA DAD's CAR/TAXI.

4PM-4.30PM

neighbor's door front scene for jasmine. Jerome BRREEEEAAAKK.

(3 views: single close-up face, panning back view, side view)

real door front meet for 'first time' and walk in.

(many many views: special glass bottle view.)

to stay or not to stay scene.

(many many views: special Jerome singularity)

4.30-4.50PM

BRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAKKKKK

4.50-5.20PM

close up of things

(old photos, personal things)

balcony scenes with soya bean drink and more

(front of window, back view, 45 degree angle.)

5.20-5.50PM

E ***tricky scene. Vocals recorded ONLY in kitchen. VISUALS of girl outside recorded outside...

kitchen scene jerome. Jasmine to read lines aloud, voice recording.

(close ups, side view with walk off, front view.)

couch injury scene. silent/whispery

(panning double view. 2 seperate cameras. stand on table shot as well.)

5.50-6.20PM

DINNER BREAAAAAAAKKKK + photo shoot for DVD cover :-D

6.20-6.40PM

toilet shot

( Only view of chest and above.)

jerome's room shot

(view from behind the camera)

6.45PM----------------------IT'S AAAAA WWWRRRRAAAAPPPP!

DRAFT 4 FINALIZED

2009-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

WHEN YOU CAME OVER (LENGTH 5MINS)

PROMINENT CHANGE IS THE RED AND BLUE PART

PART 1-Introduction

LOCATION A: A pathway, HDB flat lobby.
LOCATION 1: Forest.
CAST: Girl

Flashing images of trees.../

Flashing images of HDB flats/ show as parallel universes.

Walking fast through a row of trees./* remember direction of run: RIGHT.

In view of legs walking fast through a row of pillars./

Head moving fast across flats./

View of 45 up, unveil her face and image of chao mugger as she walks fast past camera./

In view of her front, she runs and trips over something and she goes off screen./

Camera pans out to show her on all fours the grass, unveil paper everywhere, still close-up. She grapples for paper, blindfolded, wondering what to do. Forest looms over her. A metaphor for education where we don't know what we are studying for./

In view from her level where she crouched after falling, from her last paper on the floor she picks up, she curses, wrenching her foot. She quickly picks up the last piece, stands up and runs off view./

She dashes at the landing of HDB, slightly limping./

LOCATION B: *HDB 2 sided doorway landing. CAST: Girl and Boy

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Close up view of doorway. , Reaches house door, she presses bell but no one was in./

Front profile of girl. She could not believe this. She doesn't call out, no one talks here. She takes out her BLACKBERRY, calls but no reply. (filmed with angela on the same book held on the day.) She grunts./

Urgent for the restroom, her legs wobbled and twisted into a knot./

Further viewpoint where we can see both doors of her house and her neighbors'. She looked at the neighbors door, considering whether she should use her neighbors. A look of contemplation where camera view follows her line of sight./

LOCATION 2: Forest
LOCATION B: Dark Studyroom
CAST: Boy

Trees and branches. Camera pans into deeper.Camera moves into view of a guy crouching in a deep part of the forest.../

Knocking sounds lead into reality comes in.../

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

He stirs and looks to the direction from where the knocking is from. We see that he is in a dim study room where the computer is the only thing lit. He rests on arm after awhile at his desktop as he finishes his stick. Puzzled for awhile and ignoring the first few, he goes to open door she he walks off screen./

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Moving through grass still in forest, We see walking male legs walking through thick greens, through tall lallang and soon into open grass./

He walks into clearing and walks past the girl standing there, he senses something near. They are facing back to back./

Knocking./

PART 2- Meeting

LOCATION C: Felicia's House

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

Using glass bottle effect to simulate peephole, we are in perspective of boy peering out at the girl fidgeting outside./

In view of inside the house, the door opens to capture girl's surprise when she it isn't the usual aunty but a dude./

From view behind the girl, He stared back at her. “May I help you?”/

From view from inside his house at her. Her voice higher than usual, visibly embarrassed. "I'm sorry I rushed out today and I forgot to take my keys and I need to use the toilet...” she smiled at him pathetically, holding her waist/

From view of girl, within the conversation, a glimpse of boy's reaction, looking at the locked door opposite./

From behind her, He does not look at her now, backs away to let her in. “Sure.” She kicked off her heels and scampered past him./

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

From front view shoulder up, she sits on toilet to 'relieve' herself, she looks around. She sees Soap bottles. An ivy green towel draped at a ledge beside a pair of jeans. A pair of toilet slippers. She turns her head, A magazine on the ledge, mens health? A shaver. A toothbrush in a cup. Singularity is being translated to the literal sense in following scene.../

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Scene cuts to boy sitting on sofa alone and waiting, view front./

Same view, she appears/

View of her waist up, cam follows her. she is rather embarrassed as she grabs her handbag again, but thankful.“I-I’ll go now.” she slipped her handbag onto her shoulder./

“Okay.” He stood up politely./

She turned and opened the door. That was when the umbrella holder adjacent to the door toppled down by her push. The umbrellas slid out in all angles./

He lunged forward. “It’s alright. I can”/

“I’m so sorry.” She squatted down to pick up the umbrellas and broom but kicked off the stack of shoe boxes from the wire rack and it fell down too./

View from the bottom up. He helps her. “It happens to me too all the time.” And the mess was cleared fast./

View from back, She stood up and opened the door. Peering out./

View of him arranging the last box. “You can wait here in my place till she comes home.” he suggested./

“Oh no, I’m fine waiting outside, I think I've disturbed you enough.” She said as she picked up her handbag again. She moves to the side off frame, we see him behind her./

“No you have not.” He insisted. View of him closer, looking at her from her behind./

View, back of her. She was visibly embarrassed, but busied with her shoe. At the gate, she turned back at him with a question that surfaced, “Sorry...but doesn’t an old lady live here? ” (awkward smile) She said as she slipped on one of her heels./

"Oh. You must mean my mum. She passed two months ago."

“Oh god no…” She gasped again, covering her face in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I din mean to bring up-” view of behind him of her./

“-its alright.” His face, as he interrupted. Trying to change subject. “Anyway, I’m Eric.”/

“I’m Cheryl.” her voice softens as she stands upright./

“Cheryl." he says, his view./

“Yup. She looks away and smiles back at him.”

“You really should stay for awhile. I can get you a drink or maybe something to eat? I have tao hui jui." View of both./

View of her, She pondered for a moment, looking sullenly at her own home that she was locked out of. She looked at him and he wore a look that made her smile./

From her view, he stands hehind her, “that will be nice.” She finally gave in. he walks to the kitchen and she closes the door behind them both./

She walked to the balcony to look at the view as he proceeded to the kitchen. She glances at him before he disappears into the kitchen. She turns and looks out of the windows./

Part 3- Talking Part

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

She sits down on the couch, front view. She begins to mug and looks up for a while./

In view of frame behind shoulder. She sees the photo frame and then at him in the balcony . Sparked her curiousity./

She puts down the pen. View of close up./

From view of frame close-up front, we see her reflection and she touches it./

"You must be really upset." she says loud from that view./

"Huh?" from view in the kitchen where he takes up from drawer. He pauses to wonder if she was talking to him. She replies and he looks on./

"Your mum, you must have been really close to her?"

He smiles in reminiscence. "She had always been the one there for me since my dad passed away when i was 8... I was really sad she passed but now I'm okay. I concentrate on my work now." He says as he places cup on table and pours it out.

"Oh...what do you work as?”

“Hmm. I am a transcriber for an online news agency... Just, you know...stay at home and transcribe stuff interviews and articles. (laughs) It's crazy.” he finishes the pouring and brings the drink back into fridge. "Well at least with the advancement of technology these days, i don't have to see my boss face to face. That is a consolation."/

Cheryl laughs. "Well I hope it pays you well. That is all that matters these days isn't it? Good education, good job, good pay. I am graduating this summer, really trying hard to get a first class honors. The society is so competitive nowadays, it is important that i have the edge when i get out to the real world."

"That is true. But my job gets really dry. I don't really get to talk to anyone when I'm working. The only human voices i get to hear nowadays are from the transcripts." (chuckles, he pours finish the drink.)

"You're actually the first person I had a decent conversation in a long time you know?" as he takes the cup and walks off frame./

"Are you serious?"

“Yea.” he says distracted.( when he is out of the kitchen and walks to her in the balcony.)

He brought a large cup of drink for her at the balcony. She smiles at him but he doesn't notice. The text 'It was a cold drink but it warmed her heart.' is on the cup. Camera turns away oddly and quickly to bring us to colour./

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

We Landscape brings us to the view of the 2 back to back. She seems to sense something, turns to face him. 'Eric' she mouths in zoom, it echos to reality.../

Part 4-Talking Gets Personal

“Eric?” her mouth as well./

"Yar?"/

“You...ever had a girlfriend before?” back view sihouette./

Front view of 2. “Erm...” He chuckled and looked down with a smile. It was then that she realized the inappropriate nature of her question in the conversation./

After an awkward while for the both of them, he managed to murmur a “I met this girl online once, but it didn't work out.”/

''Oh..how come?' sitting down and concerned./

"I guess,(pause) it just wasn't real enough." forced smile/

Eric looked back to the outside. Suddenly the flat was a void to Eric and he could feel the emptiness of its corners. Wide view of the emptiness as he stood alone in the balcony. Awkward Silence and empathic expression from Cheryl that leads into illusion./

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Camera pans full circle, Close of dude then back to girl removing blindfolds. Cameraman in the middle . Cut back to exact same emphatic expression. Her blindfold is removed and looks at him with understanding. She reaches out to him with hand. He turns head sideways, recognizing a presence./

He smiles back at her. "So...what about you?"/

"No la, too busy..."She said still staring into her cup, lying too./

"No one in your university you fancy?"/

"Nope. Studies is my priority now." Fake smile/

There was a silence. She placed the cup down and began wrenching her ankle which still stung from the fall on the way home./

“Are you okay?” he said genuinely concerned, walking to her./

“I fell.” she looks up at him./

PART 5-SILENT/WHISPERY PART

(SILENT SCENE)

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

He looks at the wound and walks off. Ambiguous in intent./

Girl looks as he walks off. She winced at a sudden jolt of pain caused by her own wrenching./

From back view,foreground boy, focus: girl. he returns with a box where he took out some bandage and lotion./

She was still in pain. He sat next to her on the right. She turned to him and propped her left leg on his lap./

He opened the pouch. He dabbed purple liquid on the affected area and wrapped cloth on her ankle. He smoothed the wrinkles on the tape out slowly. He watched her to see if he is hurting her. She is silent for a while./

She lunged forward, a silent wince. View of the 2 first, then on the arm as she grabbed his arm, wincing from the pain. A feeling of closeness affects him seen through the close up of his face from arm./

“Sorry...” He whispered./

“No it's me.” She whispered back. She fell back again onto the couch. Her hand loosened and slowly slid off his. He gripped her palm just before it left his And their hands that held settled down comfortably on the couch.

There was a long silence as he continued to bandage the area. We see him see her. He is more careful this time. We see him look at her as she lay on the couch. A woman so close to him now. He forgot about the wound he was fixing as he admired how her hair flopped like frozen ocean waves on the couch. Her face read a beautiful grin. Camera moves to his face for awhile./

“Cheryl... You should have left the door open. Your mum might have returned already... he said without looking at her. Because there was no reply, he looked at her, "Cheryl?”/

She shifts listlessly obviously not listening. He realized she was comfortably lying back on the couch eyes closed and slightly smiling. Camera moves off her face to brighter blank wall.../

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

From sky down, we see that he removes his blindfold. He smiles from view behind her. She smiles from view behind him. Camera moves behind her head and into the darkness of the hair, follow up darkness of the next scene.../

Dark furniture due to setting sun, camera pans to window, the sky should be a deep purple against the red setting sun./

We see a closeness of the two people, a sense of comfort from being together that evening. Maybe how skins of both of them in one frame at many parts./

We see his face looking out at a distant. A slight satisfaction and comfort can be seen from him. Probably from a level ground birds eye view./

In view of his back, we see him look out of the window. Camera pans to window and light brightens out everything, bringing us to the illusion.../

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Field shots/

The two walked away from the camera, to make movements more natural, girl runs and looks back at him smiling, playfully. He walks on, she runs back to pull his hand. Camera focuses onto the near grass patch. Blindfolds lay on the grass. Camera goes on filming till they walk off. Credits roll./

END

Theme finalized!

2009-09-18T05:41:00.001-07:00

Future of communication

Establishing a personal connection will always be the best form of communication, regardless of time, and direct human interaction is the best possible way to achieve it.

Schedule

2009-09-18T00:51:00.000-07:00

When You Came Over Filming Sequencing

Fun and exciting terms to be familiar with:::::

OVERRUNNING- we are filming overtime, meaning we might need to stay longer than planned.

UNDERRUNNING- we are filming faster than we expect, means more time to slack.

thats all.

WELFARE- There is a total of about 1HR ++ break time planned in the schedule and $10.00 relax money for crew (got a CHEERS @ film site). Anyone up for pizza dinner when filming in the house?

START:::::::::

2PM

According to the weather forecast, it might rain in the morning, meaning muddy? Wear shoes that is muddy field friendly.

If it is still raining, we will only shoot the indoor scenes and do the outdoor scene another time.

Chinese Garden (Before actors arrive: Forest and trees shots. Test tripod scenes)

There will be 2 filming activities going on at the same time when we begin.

Jerome will be filmed by Melvin, Jasmine will be filmed by Kaywee, then switch: Melvin films Jasmine, Kaywee films Jerome.

Helpers stay with Melvin to assist with props if necessary.

Kaywee (*note all to be walking backwards because they meet backwards.)

BOTH:

Jungle walking shots

Walking out of jungle shots

Feet walking into/through clearing shots

Melvin(*note all to be shot with tripod and there is a need to turn off exposure)

BOTH:

Middle shot-Jasmine paper all over floor

Close look up shot-Jerome looks to side hearing knocks

Panic everywhere shots-Jasmine 'screamo', Jerome slowly 'dies'.

2.45PM-3.30PM

Chinese Garden

Meeting scene

BOTH:

Meet back to back
Girl senses and turns (3 views: 2 panning, single from back, mouth closeup)
Boy senses, removes blindfold and turns (2 views: 2 panning, 3 single from back on upset eyes, blindfolded awareness, oblivious girl)
Girl removes blinfolds.(only 2 reaction shots: singles from back, Jasmine removes blindfold and smile, Jerome smiles backk.) *starts from sky ends with hair.
Faraway shot: Grass... Blindfolds... Far away people... End...

3.30PM-4PM

TRAVEL TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE VIA TAXI.

4PM-4.30PM

neighbor's door front scene for jasmine. Jerome BRREEEEAAAKK.

(3 views: single close-up face, panning back view, side view)

real door front meet for 'first time' and walk in.

(many many views: special glass bottle view.)

to stay or not to stay scene.

(many many views: special Jerome singularity)

4.30-4.50PM

BRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAKKKKK

4.50-5.20PM

close up of things

(awards, old photos, personal things)

balcony scenes with soya bean drink and more

(front of window, back view, 45 degree angle.)

5.20-5.50PM

kitchen scene jerome. Jasmine BRREEEAAAKKKK

(close ups, side view with walk off, front view.)

couch injury scene.

(2 camera used, special top view)

5.50-6.20PM

DINNER BREAAAAAAAKKKK + photo shoot for DVD cover :-D

6.20-6.40PM

h g

toilet shot, singular shots of toileteries.

(face view)

jerome's room shot

(one dark view behind computer)

6.45PM----------------------IT'S AAAAA WWWRRRRAAAAPPPP!

3rd draft (potentially final draft.)

2009-09-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

WHEN YOU CAME OVER (LENGTH 5MINS)

PART 1-Introduction

LOCATION A: A pathway, HDB flat lobby.
LOCATION 1: Forest.
CAST: Girl

Flashing images of trees.../

Flashing images of HDB flats/

Flash, flash,flash of a figure(girl) stands in the field blindfolded hands holding textbooks. Hair flutters in air./, close up, look up of blindfolded person.

In view of legs running./

In view of her perspective, camera run towards a block of flats./

In view of her front, she runs and trips over something./

Blindfolded girl drops the books in her hands at the scene when she falls. She also begins to walk backwards.

In view from her level where she crouched after falling, she curses, wrenching her foot. She quickly stands up and runs off view./

She dashes at the landing of HDB, limping./

LOCATION B: *HDB 2 sided doorway landing, Weenies'

CAST: Girl and Boy

Close up view of doorway. She digs her handbag on the shoe rack beside the gate of her home and cursed when she cant find her key. She rattles the lock and tries to knock on the door but no one was in./

Side profile of girl,Is there anyone in? I need to use the toilet now!” There was no answer. She could not believe this. She takes out her BLACKBERRY, calls but no reply. She grunts./

Urgent for the restroom, her legs wobbled and twisted into a knot and she started to hop on the spot finding balance in that posture./

Further viewpoint where we can see both doors of her house and her neighbors'. She looked at the neighbors door, considering whether she should use her neighbors. /

LOCATION 2: Forest
LOCATION B: Dark Studyroom
CAST: Boy

Flashing Images of dark forested area. Trees and branches./

Flashing images of mouse, closed window, piles of work, cds./

Flash, flash,flash, close up, look up of blindfolded person. Knocking sounds lead into reality.../

He stirs and looks to the direction from where the knocking is from. We see that he is in a dim study room where the computer is the only thing lit. He rests on arm after awhile at his desktop as he finishes his stick. Bright light from outside screams for attention behind the curtains. (preferably silhouette shot)/

Puzzled he goes to open door she he walks off screen. Dims/

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Lead into moving through grass, We see backwards walking male legs walking through thick greens, through tall lallang and soon into open grass./

We see girl walking backwards in other direction of boys./

Both walk backwards blindfolded and stops eventually inches from each other, facing back to back. Camera pans upwards into sky/

PART 2- Meeting

LOCATION C: Felicia's House

Using glass bottle effect to simulate peephole, we are in perspective of boy peering out at the girl fidgeting outside./

In view of inside the house, the door opens to capture girl's surprise when she realize it isn't the usual aunty but a dude./

From view behind the girl, He stared back at her. “May I help you?”/

From view of girl, within the conversation, a glimpse of boy's reaction, looking at the locked door opposite./

From behind her, He does not look at her now, backs away to let her in. “Sure.” She kicked off her heels and scampered past him./

Scene cuts to boy sitting on sofa alone and waiting, view front./

Same view, she appears/

View of her waist up, cam follows her. she is rather embarrassed as she grabs her handbag again, but thankful.“I-I’ll go now.” she slipped her handbag onto her shoulder./

“Okay.” He stood up politely./

She turned and opened the door. That was when the umbrella holder adjacent to the door toppled down by her push. The umbrellas slid out in all angles./

He lunged forward. “It’s alright. I can”/

“I’m so sorry.” She squatted down to pick up the umbrellas and broom but kicked off the stack of shoe boxes from the wire rack and it fell down too./

View from the bottom up. He helps her. “It happens to me too all the time.” And the mess was cleared fast./

View from back, She stood up and opened the door. Peering out./

View of him arranging the last box. “You can wait here in my place till she comes home.” he suggested./

“Oh no, I’m fine waiting outside, I think I've disturbed you enough.” She said as she picked up her handbag again. She moves to the side off frame, we see him behind her./

“No you have not.” He insisted. View of him closer, looking at her from her behind./

View, back of her. She was visibly embarrassed, but busied with her shoe. At the gate, she turned back at him with a question that surfaced, “Doesn’t an old lady around her late fifties, white hair, and very chirpy, live here? I’ve never seen you before.” She said as she slipped on one of her heels./

“View of her still, wearing her shoe. Oh you must mean my mum. View of boy now. "She lived here but she passed on two weeks back.” he said looking at the photo of her on the wall near the door./

“Oh no…” She gasped again, covering her face in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I din mean to bring up-” view of behind him of her./

“-its alright.” His face, as he interrupted. “Anyway, I’m Eric.”/

“I’m Cheryl.” her voice softens as she stands upright./

“Cheryl." he says, his view./

“Yup. SHe looks away and smiles back at him.”

“You really should stay for awhile. I can get you a drink or maybe something to eat? I have tao hui jui." View of both./

View of her, She pondered for a moment, looking sullenly at her own home that she was locked out of. She looked at him and he wore a look that made her smile./

From her view, he stands hehind her, “that will be nice.” She finally gave in. he walks to the kitchen and she closes the door behind them both./

She walked to the balcony to look at the view as he proceeded to the kitchen. She glances at him before he disappears into the kitchen. She turns and looks out of the windows./

Part 3- Talking Part

View of her looking down from the window, “So, you staying here now?” saying loud enough for him to hear from the kitchen as she starts to walk./

View of him in the kitchen looking into the fridge. “I actually live at Bukit Panjang. I decided to stay here to take care of my mum when she was in a really sick phase.” He said as he washes the cups and takes out the soya bean carton from the fridge./

We now see her touching medals, taking photo frames of pictures baby photo, etc. “Now that she has moved on, I’m here to pack things up and plan on what to do with this place. I've been here for quite awhile already.”/

“I have not seen you before.” she says as she picks up a photo frame./

View of his face, “I don't really go out much.” he finds the carton of drink./

“why?” she puts down the frame./

Pause in walk/actions. “I just dont.”/

“So you’re selling the house?”/

“Maybe. I stay beside where I worked. If I shifted all the way here, it would make no sense. he begins to pour the drink into a cup.”/

“What do you work as? I'm still in uni. Final year.” view of the drink only being filled./

“I am an engineer. 2^nd year into the job” he finishes the pouring and brings the drink back into fridge./

“Sounds good.” no change of view./

“Yea.” he says distracted. as he takes the cup and walks off frame./

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

We Landscape brings us to the view of the 2 back to back. She seems to sense something, turns to face him. 'Eric' she mouths in zoom, it echos to reality.../

Part 4-Talking Gets Personal

“Eric?” her mouth as well./

Looking out, he turned to look into her eyes. “Ya?”/

From the back view, we look at them look out of the window. “You married?”/

“I’m not married.”/

“You... have a girlfriend?”/

Front view of 2. “Erm...” He chuckled and looked down with a smile. It was then that she realized the inappropriate nature of her question in the conversation, she looks away as well. She drinks./

After an awkward while for the both of them, he managed to murmur a “no. no girlfriend”./

“Wow. Living all by yourself.” She said twirling her cup, “Must be really lonely...” she said as she walked towards the sofa to sit./

Eric looked up. Suddenly the flat was a void to Eric and he could feel the emptiness of its corners. Wide view of the emptiness as he stood alone in the balcony. Camera pans away into illusion.../

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Landscape brings us to the view of the 2. He turns to her and removes his own blindfold but to see her looking blankly at a general direction, still blindfolded. View of his face, visibly upset./

“No I’m fine myself.” He glanced back at her, blatantly lying./

“Me too.” She said still staring into her cup, lying too./

There was a silence. She placed the cup down and began wrenching her ankle which still stung from the fall on the way home./

“Are you okay?” he said genuinely concerned, walking to her./

“I fell.” she looks up at him./

PART 5-SILENT/WHISPERY PART

(SILENT SCENE)

He looks at the wound and walks off. Ambiguous in intent./

Girl looks as he walks off. She winced at a sudden jolt of pain caused by her own wrenching./

From back view,foreground boy, focus: girl. he returns with a box where he took out some bandage and lotion./

She was still in pain. He sat next to her on the right. She turned to him and propped her left leg on his lap./

“Sorry...” He whispered./

“Cheryl... You should have left the door open. Your mum might have returned already... he said without looking at her. Because there was no reply, he looked at her, "Cheryl?”/

She shifts listlessly obviously not listening. He realized she was comfortably lying back on the couch eyes closed and slightly smiling. Camera moves off her face to brighter blank wall.../

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

From sky down, we see that she removes her blindfold. She smiles from view behind him. He smiles from view behind her. Camera moves behind his head and into the darkness of the hair, follow up darkness of the next scene.../

Dark furniture due to setting sun, camera pans to window, the sky should be a deep purple against the red setting sun./

We see a closeness of the two people, a sense of comfort from being together that evening. Maybe how skins of both of them in one frame at many parts./

We see his face looking out at a distant. A slight satisfaction and comfort can be seen from him./

In view of his back, we see him look out of the window. Camera pans to window and light brightens out everything, bringing us to the illusion.../

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Field shots/

END

2nd DRAFT 080909

2009-09-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

The following are the significant changes of draft 2

No kissing of head in scene 3.
No hand held walking away as ending.
Removal of revrese technique due to confusion of going back in time.
Both are in forest refuge in intro before they proceed to field.

WHEN YOU CAME OVER (LENGTH 5MINS)

PART 1-Introduction

LOCATION A: A pathway, HDB flat lobby.
LOCATION 1: Forest.
CAST: Girl

Flashing images of trees.../

Flashing images of HDB flats/

Flash, flash,flash of a figure(girl) stands in the field blindfolded hands holding textbooks. Hair flutters in air./, close up, look up of blindfolded person.

In view of legs running./

In view of her perspective, camera run towards a block of flats./

In view of her front, she runs and trips over something./

Blindfolded girl drops the books in her hands at the scene when she falls. She also begins to walk backwards.

In view from her level where she crouched after falling, she curses, wrenching her foot. She quickly stands up and runs off view./

She dashes at the landing of HDB, limping./

LOCATION B: *HDB 2 sided doorway landing, Weenies'

CAST: Girl and Boy

Side profile of girl,Is there anyone in? I need to use the toilet now!” There was no answer. She could not believe this. She takes out her BLACKBERRY, calls but no reply. She grunts./

Urgent for the restroom, her legs wobbled and twisted into a knot and she started to hop on the spot finding balance in that posture./

Further viewpoint where we can see both doors of her house and her neighbors'. She looked at the neighbors door, considering whether she should use her neighbors. /

LOCATION 2: Forest
LOCATION B: Dark Studyroom
CAST: Boy

Flashing Images of dark forested area. Trees and branches./

Flashing images of mouse, closed window, piles of work, cds./

Flash, flash,flash, close up, look up of blindfolded person. Knocking sounds lead into reality.../

He stirs and looks to the direction from where the knocking is from. We see that he is in a dim study room where the computer is the only thing lit. He rests on arm after awhile at his desktop as he finishes his stick. Bright light from outside screams for attention behind the curtains. (preferably silhouette shot)/

Puzzled he goes to open door she he walks off screen./

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

We see legs walking through thick greens, through tall lallang and soon into open grass.

We see girl walking backwards in other direction of boys.

Both walk backwards blindfolded and stops eventually inches from each other, facing back to back. Camera pans upwards into sky/

PART 2- Meeting

LOCATION C: Felicia's House

Using glass bottle effect to simulate peephole, we are in perspective of boy peering out at the girl fidgeting outside./

In view of inside the house, the door opens to capture girl's surprise when she realize it isn't the usual aunty but a dude./

From view behind the girl, He stared back at her. “May I help you?”/

From view of girl, within the conversation, a glimpse of boy's reaction, looking at the locked door opposite./

From behind her, He does not look at her now, backs away to let her in. “Sure.” She kicked off her heels and scampered past him./

From front view shoulder up, she sits on toilet to 'relieve' herself, she looks around. She sees Soap bottles. An ivy green towel draped at a ledge beside a pair of jeans. A pair of toilet slippers. A magazine on the ledge. A shaver. A toothbrush in a cup. Singularity is being translated to the literal sense in following scene.../

Scene cuts to boy sitting on sofa alone and waiting, view front./

Same view, she appears/

View of her waist up, cam follows her. she is rather embarrassed but thankful.“I-I’ll go now.” she slipped her handbag onto her shoulder./

“Okay.” He stood up politely./

She turned and opened the door. That was when the umbrella holder adjacent to the door toppled down by her push. The umbrellas slid out in all angles./

He lunged forward. “It’s alright. I can”

“I’m so sorry.” She squatted down to pick up the umbrellas and broom but kicked off the stack of shoe boxes from the wire rack and it fell down too.

“Oh gawd...” She muttered under her breath. She wanted to kill herself. He must have thought she was a serious klutz.

But she noticed he wasn’t frowning. “It happens to me too all the time.” And the mess was cleared fast.

She stood up and opened the door. Peering out, she realised her sister still had not returned home.

“You can wait here in my place till she comes home.”

“Oh no, I’m fine waiting outside, I’ve disturbed you enough.” She said as she picked up her handbag again.

“No you have not.” He insisted.

He was too nice, she thought. At the gate, she turned back at him with a question that surfaced, “Doesn’t an old lady around her late fifties, white hair, and very chirpy, live here? I’ve never seen you before.” She said as she slipped on one of her heels.

“Oh you must mean my mum. She lived here but she passed on two weeks back.” he said looking at the photo of her on the wall near the door.

“Oh no…” She gasped again, covering her face in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I din mean to bring up-”

“-its alright.” He interrupted. “Anyway, I’m Eric.”

“I’m Cheryl.”

“Cheryl.”

“Yup.”

“You really should stay for awhile. I can get you a drink or maybe something to eat? I have tao hui jui.”

She pondered for a moment, looking sullenly at her own home that she was locked out of. She looked at him and he wore a look that made her smile.

“that will be nice.” She finally gave in.

She walked to the balcony to look at the view as he proceeded to the kitchen. She glances at him before he disappears into the kitchen. She turns and looks out of the windows.

Part 3- Talking Part

“So, you staying here now?” saying loud enough for him to hear from the kitchen as she starts to walk.

“I actually live at Bukit Panjang. I decided to stay here to take care of my mum when she was in a really sick phase.” He said as he washes the cups and takes out the soya bean carton from the fridge.

We now see her taking photo frames of pictures baby photo, etc. “Now that she has moved on, I’m here to pack things up and plan on what to do with this place. I've been here for quite awhile already.”

“I have not seen you before.”

“I don't really go out much.”

“why?”

Pause. “I just dont.”

“So you’re selling the house?”

“Maybe. I stay beside where I worked. If I shifted all the way here, it would make no sense.”

“What do you work as? I'm still in uni. Final year.”

“I am an engineer. 2^nd year into the job”

“Sounds good.”

“Yea.”

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Landscape brings us to the view of the 2 back to back. She turns to face him. 'Eric' echos to reality...

Part 4-Talking Gets Personal

“Eric?”

Looking out, he turned to look into her eyes.

“Ya?”

From the back view, we look at them look out of the window. “You married?”

“I’m not married.”

“You... have a girlfriend?”

“Erm...” He chuckled and gave her a puzzled look. It was then that she realized the inappropriate nature of her question in the conversation.

After an awkward while for the both of them, he managed to murmur a “no”.

“Wow. Living all by yourself.” She said twirling her cup, “Must be really lonely...” she said as she walked towards the sofa to sit.

Eric looked up. Suddenly the flat was a void to Eric and he could feel the emptiness of its corners. Wide view of the emptiness as he stood alone in the balcony. Camera pans away into illusion...

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Landscape brings us to the view of the 2. He turns to her and removes his own blindfold but to see her looking away, still blindfolded. View of his face, visibly upset.

“No I’m fine myself.” He glanced back at her, blatantly lying.

“Me too.” She said still staring into her cup, lying too.

There was a silence. She placed the cup down and began wrenching her ankle which still stung from the fall on the way home.

“Are you okay?” he said genuinely concerned, walking to her.

“I fell.”

PART 5-SILENT/WHISPERY PART

(SILENT SCENE)

He looks at the wound with concern and walks off.

Girl looks as he walks off. She winced at a sudden jolt of pain caused by her own wrenching.

He returns with a box where he took out some bandage and lotion. Foreground boy, focus: girl.

She was still in pain. He sat next to her on the right. She turned to him and propped her left leg on his lap.

She lunged forward, a silent wince. She grabbed his arm, wincing from the pain. A feeling of closeness affects him.

“Sorry...” He whispered.

“No, no...” She whispered back. She fell back again onto the couch. Her hand loosened and slowly slid off his. He gripped her palm just before it left his And their hands that held settled down comfortably on the couch.

There was a long silence as he continued to massage the area around the affected area. We see him see her. He is more careful this time. We see him look at her as she lay on the couch. A woman so close to him now. He forgot about the wound he was fixing as he admired how her hair flopped like frozen ocean waves on the couch. Her face read a beautiful grin. Camera moves to his face for awhile.

“Cheryl... You should have left the door open. Your mum might have returned already... Cheryl?”

She shifts listlessly obviously not listening. He realized she was comfortably lying back on the couch eyes closed and slightly smiling. Camera moves off her face to brighter blank wall...

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

From sky down, we see that she removes her blindfold. She smiles from view behind him. He smiles from view behind her. Camera moves behind his head

The sky should be a deep purple against the red setting sun.

We see a closeness of the two people, a sense of comfort from being together that evening.

We see his face looking out at a distant. A slight satisfaction and comfort can be seen from him.

In view of his back, we see him look out of the window. Camera pans to window and light brightens out everything, bringing us to the illusion...

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Field shots/

The two walked away from the camera. Camera focuses onto the near grass patch. Blindfolds lay on the grass. Camera goes on filming till they walk off. Credits roll.

END

SYMBOLISM

2009-09-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's 2am in the morning abit nuah cos tmr i got school and i have not done the hwk for tmr correctly but i dont care. Finally done with the 2nd draft after meeting kw for a night over jia xiang mian and desert. We polished the script. A few of you might not get the script. Here is some help.

When You Came Over's Symbolism

Blindfolds

These help to signify the awareness of the 2 people towards each another. There are 3 levels. Standing back to back would be crossing paths. Turning around to face one another would be recognizing that the other person is actually there. Removing of blindfolds would be seeing the possibility that there is more to the other person.

Dimensions

2 Dimensions are basically parallel universes NOT a dream, the forested fantasy world is the symbolic representation of 'real life' put into literal sense, eg.blindfolded etc. The constant references to and fro during pivotal moments of the narrative work as reiteration, or what I call anchors the signifiers to the intended signifieds.

Walking backwards

It is not them being lost. It's moving with eyes wide shut, unaware/distracted by the pursuit of education (link: the books she hold) for the girl and technology (link: the room lit by a computer screen)for the dude. They are not walking right, exactly how distractions of the future would make you. They stop and meet back facing back explains finally, an awareness of an existence, but not the potential comfort they can bring to one another, hence still facing away and blindfolded.

Their relationship

It is now ambiguous at the end whether they are lovers or not. But there still is an underlying attraction between the two. The focus is them finally finding comfort from each other. Hence explains the falling asleep of the girl.

The fall and the injury

The idea of how broken a person is mended from the missing part that the other would possess. Reinventing the corny idea of 2 broken hearts complete by joining the 2 parts tgt. lol

Hope this helps? not?

NEW: When You Came Over shortfilm SCRIPT

2009-09-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

1st DRAFT as at 050909

I have sort of planned out the story and how it will unfold. This is the plan. There will be 2 actors. 2 realms: 1 reality one imagery. filmed in 2 main locations, Chinese Garden for the red scenes and the rest in Bukit Batok. All filmed in less than 2 days.
progress report: the music part of the movie more or less has begun. I have told tim about the end song and would soon email Sonicbrat, local soundscape muscician to allow me to use his track '2 moons' for the film.
ok i havent really communicated witht he lead actors/actress yet because i am rather busy with school shit for the past weeks, alot of you can agree with me on tis cos we are on the same boat. But i am willing to sacrifice for this starting today because i have finished the structure of the script.
The script below is bound to change as usual. But most of the stuff will stay. Notice the script will get very detailed as time pass do check out for changes by the draft number and date beside it. Alot of directions will be added as soon as i write it down. But for now i think this version is readable enough to circulate.
I will also throw in the storyboarding. I have drawn it out already. I just need to scan it.

Blackberry theme: Future of Communication: The age when education makes up your youth. Where technology takes over your social life. You are blind to the social obligations as they pass you as you hide in your cave. Communication would then have to rely on fate. Only when fate comes knocking on the door, would you realize.

The words in red are filmed in colour.

The words in black are filmed in black and white.

WHEN YOU CAME OVER (LENGTH 5MINS)

LOCATION A: A pathway, HDB flat lobby.

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

CAST: Girl

Flashing images of trees.../

Flashing images of HDB flats/

A figure(girl) stands in the field blindfolded hands holding textbooks. Hair flutters in air./

In view of legs running./

In view of her perspective, camera run towards a block of flats./

In view of her front, she runs and trips over something./

Blindfolded girl drops the books in her hands at the scene when she falls. She also begins to walk backwards. (Clip reverse of her walking front and looks down where the books have 'dropped' )/

In view from her level where she crouched after falling, she curses, wrenching her foot. She quickly stands up and runs off view./

Lift door opens, she dashes out, limping./

LOCATION B: *HDB 2 sided doorway landing, Weenies'

CAST: Girl and Boy

Side profile of girl,Is there anyone in? I need to use the toilet now!” There was no answer. She could not believe this. She takes out her phone, calls but phone is not working, no reception. She waves her phone for signal but cannot get any. She grunts./

Close on legs, her legs wobbled and twisted into a knot and she started to hop on the spot finding balance in that posture./

Further viewpoint where we can see both doors of her house and her neighbors'. She looked at the neighbors door, considering whether she should use her neighbors. /

LOCATION 2: Dim Room

LOCATION B: Dark Studyroom

CAST: Boy

Flashing Images of rust, metal, corners.../

A figure stands in the middle of a room blindfolded. He is motionless./

A candle stood unlit on the floor camera rotates.(Lead in to a cigarette in hand in the next scene.)/

He is in a dim studyroom where the computer is the only thing lit. He rests on arm after awhile at his desktop as he finishes his stick. Bright light from outside screams for attention behind the curtains. (preferably silhouette shot)/

Front profile portrait view, he hears a knock. He turns to look at the direction of the sound. A bright light glows from the direction./

Candle rekindles (Reverse film technique.)/

Blindfolded boy 'walks into the dark' but when I reverse the clip, he is walking backwards out of the dim room and into Chinese Garden./

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Flashes of camera moving through the grass./

Feet walking backwards. Camera follows./

Both walk backwards blindfolded and stop inches from each other(also using reverse technique), facing back to back./

LOCATION C: Felicia's House

Using glass bottle effect to simulate peephole, we are in perspective of boy peering out at the girl fidgeting outside./

In view of inside the house, the door opens to capture girl's surprise when she realize it isn't the usual aunty but a dude./

From view behind the girl, He stared back at her. “May I help you?”/

From view of girl, within the conversation, a glimpse of boy's reaction, looking at the locked door opposite./

From behind her, He does not look at her now, backs away to let her in. “Sure.” She kicked off her heels and scampered past him./

From front view shoulder up, she sits on toilet to 'relieve' herself, she looks around. She sees Soap bottles. An ivy green towel draped at a ledge beside a pair of jeans. A pair of toilet slippers. A magazine on the ledge. A shaver. A toothbrush in a cup. Singularity is being translated to the literal sense in following scene.../

Scene cuts to boy sitting on sofa alone and waiting, view front./

Same view, she appears/

View of her waist up, cam follows her. she is rather embarrassed but thankful.“I-I’ll go now.” she slipped her handbag onto her shoulder./

“Okay.” He stood up politely./

She turned and opened the door. That was when the umbrella holder adjacent to the door toppled down by her push. The umbrellas slid out in all angles./

He lunged forward. “It’s alright. I can”

“I’m so sorry.” She squatted down to pick up the umbrellas and broom but kicked off the stack of shoe boxes from the wire rack and it fell down too.

“Oh gawd...” She muttered under her breath. She wanted to kill herself. He must have thought she was a serious klutz.

But she noticed he wasn’t frowning. “It happens to me too all the time.” And the mess was cleared fast.

She stood up and opened the door. Peering out, she realised her sister still had not returned home.

“You can wait here in my place till she comes home.”

“Oh no, I’m fine waiting outside, I’ve disturbed you enough.” She said as she picked up her handbag again.

“No you have not.” He insisted.

“Oh you must mean my mum. She lived here but she passed on two weeks back.” he said looking at the photo of her on the wall near the door.

“Oh no…” She gasped again, covering her face in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I din mean to bring up-”

“-its alright.” He interrupted. “Anyway, I’m Eric.”

“I’m Cheryl.”

“Cheryl.”

“Yup.”

“You really should stay for awhile. I can get you a drink or maybe something to eat? I have tao hui jui.”

She pondered for a moment, looking sullenly at her own home that she was locked out of. She looked at him and he wore a look that made her smile.

“that will be nice.” She finally gave in.

She walked to the balcony to look at the view as he proceeded to the kitchen. She glances at him before he disappears into the kitchen. She turns and looks out of the windows.

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Possibly from a high point zooming... into the 2: Girl turns to boy. (Both still blindfolded)/

“So, you staying here now?” saying loud enough for him to hear from the kitchen as she starts to walk.

“I have not seen you before.”

“I don't really go out much.”

“why?”

Pause. “I just dont.”

“So you’re selling the house?”

“Maybe. I stay beside where I worked. If I shifted all the way here, it would make no sense.”

“What do you work as? I'm still in uni. Final year.”

“I am an engineer. 2^nd year into the job”

“Sounds good.”

“Yea.”

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Girl removes blindfold with a smile.

She reaches out to feel his face./

She said and she drank a gulp. “Eric?”

He stopped and turned to look into her eyes.

“Yes?”

From the back view, we look at them look out of the window. “You married?”

“I’m not married.”

“You... have a girlfriend?”

“Erm...” He chuckled and gave her a puzzled look. It was then that she realized the inappropriate nature of her question in the conversation.

After an awkward while for the both of them, he managed to murmur a “no”.

“Wow. Living all by yourself.” She said twirling her cup, “Must be really lonely...” she said as she walked towards the sofa to sit.

Eric looked up. Suddenly the flat was a void to Eric and he could feel the emptiness of its corners. Wide view of the emptiness as he stood alone in the balcony.

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

Boy holds her touch because he felt it. But is still blindfolded.

“No I’m fine myself.” He glanced back at her, blatantly lying.

“Me too.” She said still staring into her cup, lying too.

There was a silence. She placed the cup down and began wrenching her ankle which still stung from the fall on the way home.

“Are you okay?” he said genuinely concerned.

“I fell.”

“I’ll get the first aid box.”

She winced at a sudden jolt of pain caused by her own wrenching.

“Let me see it.” He said as he returned with a green pouch of sachets and bandages. She was still in pain. He sat next to her on the right. She turned to him and propped her left leg on his lap.

He opened the pouch. They steal glances. He dabbed purple liquid on the affected area and wrapped cloth on her ankle. He smoothed the wrinkles on the tape out slowly. He then massaged her leg as he stared into her eyes trying to read her response to his physiotherapy.

“Ow!” She lunged forward. She grabbed his arm, wincing from the pain. Her head was just beneath his and he unintentionally kissed the top of her head.

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

He turns around from the touch of her hand.

He subsequently removes blindfold./

“It’s okay. It’s just a muscle tear.” He whispered tenderly.

There was a long silence as he continued to massage the area around the affected area.

“Thanks for everything Eric.” She muttered. There was a softness in her voice now and her hand loosened and slowly slid off his. He gripped her palm just before it left his And their hands that held settled down comfortably on the couch.

We see him look at her as she lay on the couch. A woman so close to him now. He forgot about the wound he was fixing as he admired how her hair flopped like frozen ocean waves on the couch. Her face read a beautiful grin.

“Cheryl… You should have left the door open. Your mum might have returned already.”

“Mmm.” She groaned listlessly obviously not listening. He realised she was comfortably lying back on the couch eyes closed and smiling. His body warmth resonated through her skin pores. The sky was a now a deep purple against the red setting sun.

Wide angle views of the house.

“Cheryl?…”

But there was no answer. She had fallen asleep there. In view of his back, we see him look out of the window

LOCATION 1: Chinese Garden Field

The two walked hand-held away from the camera. Camera focuses onto the near grass patch. Blindfolds lay on the grass.

END

Credits Pieces of paper on the grass?

first takes

2009-02-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

walking up this flight of stairs from an entrance that did not even look like an entrance...

we found a door that says... OFFICE. the joy.

we have gone down to the substation to deliver the film and stuff to the person in charge. we hope the film will be favored.
let us all cross our fingers and hope that damiens monologue will get through the pre-screening process for first takes in substation.

Damien's Monologue Official Trailer

2009-02-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

adobe mayhem

2008-12-20T23:35:00.000-08:00

this is the reason why postproduction is torture.

imagine seeing this beautiful white box 10000000000 times a day.

adressing two issues.

2008-12-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

the vicky christina barcelona design

adressing two issues.

a) the feedback regarding the posters overall.

i realised both posters are good. the cute ryan head one offers a the creepy vibe that is true to the film. however although it looks really good, it fails in comparison to the other decadent design we call the Vicky Christina Barcelona one.

thanks to the feedback offered by many including the recent ones by vincent and weisiang, we have adjusted the vicky design to look like what you see above. it's the best i can do with the limited options/skill i have.

b)the 'based on a true OBSESSION' title.

since everyone who reads this are not the general public but friends, i can unveil our sinister plot. Since a no. of you ask whose biography is DM based on... you know what....... i dont even want to explain it to everyone who asks me from now on because the fact that you ask me, means the little short quotation served it's sole purpose...

i hope u get it.

vote for your favorite poster design

2008-12-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

Calling everyone who reads this blog.

please vote for the poster you prefer.

just tag this post/comment box/facebook and i will consolidate

your vote is vital for the future of this film

it will change lives!

studio

2008-12-07T20:10:00.001-08:00

i met up with tim and some other guy i think he's thomas tan or something... they were doing the studio recording of the songs for damien's monologue. the official OST.

updates

2008-12-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

okay i have not been updating all about the progress of the film. i shall do that now.

we have created a preview for caiyu. however her exams which ended not too long ago meant that the reply whether the film would be screening or not is yet to come. but we are keeping our hopes high because she thought the preview was 'hilarious'.

the 2 evenings where the bulk of the filming with all the cast has also been completed. the hardest scenes have been filmed in those days and everything went smoothly thanks to the hardworking helpers who came on that day to resolve all that me and kaywee could not do ourselves.

reshots of some scenes and voiceovers were also done on tuesday. some scenes really became really good. we are proud of the outcome of the day's takes that day. evidence can be seen on the screenshots i posted.

currently i am doing subtitles and some postproduction with whatever i've got.

tomorrow ryan and kaywee will resume reshooting scenes again. hopefully by the 7th, everything will be filmed and i can focus on the postproduction.

on the 7th, we will be doing the last filming scenes with the whole cast as well as the poster design planned for the film.

timothy wan is doing a studio recording soon of a song he composed for the film called confession of a broken heart for the film.

lyrics so emo! dont cry when you read it okay...

Confession of a Broken Heart (G Major Capo 1)

C5
Maybe this won't sound right
Em5 Em
and maybe this won't sound pretty
C D
but this is as real as it gets
G
confessions from a broken heart

Maybe I'm not the perfect kind-a guy
and maybe I'm not right up your street
but listen to my un-pretentious
confessions of a broken heart

C D
You don't know how much it means to me
G D/F# Em
to see you smiling like a summer dream
Am /Bm
I want you to be happy,
C D
even if you never know of me

G Em
I watch you through, the looking glass
Am C D
but always from a third person view
G Em
I'd sing to you, a song of love
C D
but you don't feel the same way too
C B
you tore my heart into, a million pieces
Em Bm C
with-out e-ven a clue
Am C D
lifeless my love becomes, like a rose
G
wilted for you

anticipatory screenshots

2008-12-01T00:38:00.000-08:00

its a wrap for the day!

2008-11-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

From Kaywee and me:

yes! filming on the two intensive evenings are done!

the hardest scenes have been video recorded.

thanks to the following people who made this two days possible:

Weenie and family who lent us her house for the filming

Main actors and actresses: Ryan Chow, Joey Feng and Brandon Ng for a acting job well done. and also thanks joey for driving us around..

The other actors and actresses/helpers: Andrew Yeo, Timothy Wan, Veronica Lee, Evan Tang, Angela and Constance

pre-production cast shoot

2008-11-26T07:58:00.000-08:00

From left: Angela Teng, Veronica Lee, Ryan Chow, Joey Feng, Brandon Ng, Andrew Yeo

From left: Angela Teng, Veronica Lee, Melvin Tan, Thong Kaywee, Ryan Chow, Joey Feng, Brandon Ng, Andrew Yeo

update

2008-11-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

preview is done. we are considering putting it on youtube.

but today, whole cast filming day 1 commences.

WISH US LUCK.

plan for next 4 days

2008-11-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

monday
submission of preview to caiyu in SMU
meet weenie to discuss about house scenes and shift the things in her room
confirm the second car

tuesday
meet new peter
story boarding for aftermath and rose scenes
call and confirm cast and crew to prepare stuff (e.g. wig, arrivals, timings, cars)

wednesday
filming of 2 carpark scenes and 1 lift scene
things to bring
filming equiptment and camera
food and beverages
paper napkins
umbrella
2 cars
1 tranny
2 serene entourage
1 red-bull can
1 battery operated fan
joey feng 3 sets of clothings
ryan 3 sets of clothings

thursday
if joey is early, we fil aftermath scene where she finds rose on bed because reqires sun.
filming of rose scene and aftermath scene
things to bring
fake blood
rose
string mechanism to 'drop camera'
laptop

update again

2008-11-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

met up with joey and a candidate for the role of peter today.

things went well.

filming will begin soon.

our production company's logo

2008-11-20T05:58:00.000-08:00

MELWEE MELWEE Productions

made up of our names melvin and kaywee: melwee.

note: melvin's name is first only because melwee sounds better than kayvin. kayvin sounds like cave-in. melwee sounds fun. like us! haha.

more good news

2008-11-20T05:12:00.000-08:00

ok mark the film expert came to my home to film today. gave some great advice and technical tips. thanks to my dad, we resolved the problem of formatting the clips. now they are in the process of edit in Adobe Premiere Elements. Great!

a preview of the film would have to be completed by this sunday. with whatever we have, i hope we can complete this in time!

filming outdoors

2008-11-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

beer bottles are some props we used.

kayweee busy demonstrating to ryan how he wants the picture to look.

the laptops alongside each other roughly shows the attempt we tried to convert the files to a format suitable for iMovie but till now we still cannot do it. tomorrow, mark teng will come and help out with our technical difficulty.

filming

2008-11-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

proposed filming dates

cast meeting

1 evening, this evening

with joey, ryan, friends

1 full day

preferably the following sundays, 7th December

Orchard Scene (day)
MTV shots (day/evening, as day goes along)
NUS scene (day)

with joey, ryan, friends, peter

2 evenings

preferably wednesday and thursday, 26th and 27th November

1 aftermath scene
2 carpark scenes (evening)
1 void deck scene (evening)
1 window/rose scene (night)
1 road side scene (day)

with ryan only

1 full day

23 November

doorbell scene
bolster scenes

2 evenings

1st and 4th December

bloster scenes
piano scenes

we gotta mac!

2008-11-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

yup problem solved. our mac is attained.

now all we have to worry about would be postproduction, whereby i would need assistance to edit. i have some experience but i dont believe it's good enough so anyone who knows naynoe who can work with a mac or a PC, whichever they are comfortable with, call me!

drawing near.

2008-11-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

okay as the days draw near to actual filming, i would use this opportunity to also announce i have gotten a macbook specially for damien's monologue.

also, certain props has been recieved from actors/actoresses of the shortfilm.

regarding the filming, all scenes has been filmed except those that require Serene and the song singing parts.

Currently, the song, already memorized and playable on the piano both minor and major versions of it by ryan, is still yet to be filmed.

starting 17th to 27th, i plan to have a crew meeting. 2 to 3 days later, official filming shall begin. this schedule is based on the availability of people during this period of time.

i ask of all involved to set that period of time free from anything else and put DM first.

Thats all for now.

filming is lokoing very good

2008-10-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

yay!!!! most of ryan's filmings has been done and i tell you the photos you saw for the rehersal was NOTHING as compared to the final screen shots. you've got to watch to believe me. things are ahead of schedule. it came as a surprise. we are redoing certain scenes now, cos we have the time to. we are also now focusing on the piano playing and song.

thing is the actress is not contatcing me and i need to choose another actor for the role of peter. this will be resolved soon. hopefully i can esolve this matter soon.

ryan screen shots

2008-10-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

rehersal film stills

2008-10-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Treatment-like stuff about DM

2008-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Damien’s monologue is structured according to what we call the ‘Labyrinth concept’.

A labyrinth is a maze-like cavern he dwells in, away from the world, apart from reality. Where he makes his own logic and rules. In other words, it is a fantasy world he created for himself and Serene. However, the maze within this labyrinth concept also serves as a metaphor for the actual difficulties and barriers he has to confront and overcome in order to reach and connect with Serene in reality. The stalking scenes from Damien’s point of view are purposely filmed in the dark and are obstructed by pillars and structures to portray the idea of a maze and the existence of barriers in their ‘relationship’. They come in between him and Serene and he conceal himself comfortably in his comfort zone so that he can appreciate her from afar.

Later in the film the labyrinth was ruined by an intrusion of Peter, Serene’s new boyfriend. Light breaks through the labyrinth and suddenly the world he was accustomed to no longer is. He needed to step out of the comfort zone of his labyrinth to make progress with Serene, as the labyrinth he had built had already been intruded and ruined by the 3rd party, upon his discovery of Serene’s boyfriend while stalking her. In other words, he needs to come out of his shell in order to sustain his fantasy and dreams. This departure from the labyrinth is portrayed in the film by a brightening of scenes, where locations are less walled up. He wanders to places in the open, unrelentingly retaining his initial sensibilities but unknowingly makes him more vulnerable to the reality of things.

Damien Monologue is entirely filmed using a video camera, because the film is based on a Vlog (video blog) concept, where Damien interacts and controls the camera all by himself. He chooses to film what he wants to show, which portrays an exclusive narrow perspective of reality. This extends to his stalking scenes where a 1st person point of view is being adopted. The raw shooting technique that will be adopted creates a ‘live’ effect which helps to draw the audience into the experience, making them feel like they are going through the same pursuit as Damien. This creates a certain tenacity and tension that engages audiences, the same classic concept that is used in films like Blair witch project and Cloverfield, but in a love story context that is unique.

At the last scene there is a switch to the normal 3rd person perspective. This is because it would have reached a point where Damien’s monologue is dead and no longer relevant. There is no more perspective when Damien finally loses the video camera. Thematically it simply shows that the narrow cropping of ‘vlogging’ on the video camera is unable to contain what reality is and the audience sees the end the film with a holistic point of view.

Ryan plays the piano.

2008-10-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

how?

Rehearsal

2008-10-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some rehearsal shots taken of Ryan as Damien.

A glimpse of how the final look will be like.

Damien’s Monologue in point form

2008-10-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

(At all points of this film unless otherwise mentioned, Damien records his every move and thought with his hand-held videocam, like a private vlog/monologue/close-friend.)

·         Damien introduces himself and tells all he is in love with a girl from his poly, 2 years his senior.

·         Problem is the audience realises his love for her is not mutual and she does not even know he exists.

·         Damien also reveals his plan on approaching her and even singing a song to woo her on Valentines day.

·         Damien begins to express himself obsessively about Serene to his new vidcam.

·         Sometimes he talks to the bolster treating it like Serene, practicing for the real day in which he thinks he would finally meet her.

·         Damien proves to the camera his obsession. He unveils a secret stash of her photos to admire in his room and follows her movements under her block and other places where she frequents. She never notices.

·         One day, he realises Serene has got a special someone in her life.

·         He wages ‘war’ with her new boyfriend, thinking he is competition. He plans on outdoing him by approaching her and singing his song he wrote for her.

·         He tried to approach her on 2 occasions but never plucked up enough courage to even get near her.

·         On some accounts of his stalking, her boyfriend, Peter, catches glimpses of Daimen filming them but Damien always manages to run away before getting caught.

·         Damien gets very angry with himself, but gives himself another chance before valentines day.

·         He fails to approach her once more.

·         Late at night, on the first hour of valentines, almost dream like, he creeps outside Serene’s house to present himself to her.

·         He stops at the window of her bedroom and tries to touch her but he still couldn’t. She was too beautiful sleeping.

·         He lays down a stalk of rose beside her pillow and hums her song, like a lullaby.

·         Her hand phone rings and Damien was startled. She stirs and he withdraws. He runs as fast as he could and finally breaks down at a corner somewhere.

·         Suddenly he hears a shout. It was peter who also wanted to give her a surprise visit that very night.

·         Peter had caught sight of Damien and recognised him as the weird stalking videocam guy.

·         Peter beats Damien up there and snatches away the videocam and camera goes blank.
(From this scene on, Damien is not filming. The film is now done in 3^rd person. Dolly shots/smooth movements now.)

·         Audience realises the entire clip they have watched is being watched by Peter on her laptop in her home the next morning.

·         Peter is shocked by his revelation that such a person exists.

·         Serene comes into the scene and asks what he was watching. Peter acts blur and changes the subject, not wanting Serene to know about Damien’s video about her.

·         Serene indifferently walks away into her room and never even got to know that he even existed.

·         Before scene closes for credits, Serene goes back into her room to choose her dress for her valentines date with Peter. She notices the rose on her bed. Curious but happy, she smells it and puts it into her handbag and leaves the room.

·         Credits…

·         *Special after credits add-on: An empty bedroom where Serene had left it as is shown once more. Suddenly Damien rises from outside the window, head bleeding from peter’s battery. Looking straight into the vidcam and then at the rose where it had been. He then just walks away mysteriously…

·         The End

rhekki 3- multistorey carpark

2008-10-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

beside the no. 15 sign. that's where Serene's car finally parks itself and view where Damien would take a video from. It will not be so dark one la. we tried videoing. this photo is from the videocamera we used btw.

here where you see kaywee strutting about randomly, it is where Serene's car would ride up the slope to park at the no. 15 sign in photo ABOVE. Damien will be crouching at the corner in the picture BELOW.

here is where damien crouches and talks to the camera. he will peep through the metal grilles below the yellow sign and watch Serene from afar...

this entire stretch is Damien's space to walk along to film Serene walking from the carpark area above.

this is where Damien would hide and run for cover when peter sees him.

here's another space he could hide and feel that it is same to monologue again.

we have tried videoing ourselves as actors and it was fun and very productive yup.

storyboards

2008-10-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

when we were doing the storyboarding with a wacom on the computer, these drawings were produced and i felt were really funny.

though the storyboard is one of the many things i can't put on this blog, cos of it's privacy of the final plot of damien's monologue, i shall only put this one scene which is supposed to show damien playing the piano for an object that is supposed to be serene.

both show the same scene:

this one is drawn by me (melvin)

...and this one is drawn by kaywee

this really cracks me up! :-D

what the hell is this picture supposed to mean?!?!?

rhekki 2-serene's void-deck

2008-10-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

this is block 310, an 8 minute walk from chinese garden...

this will be the lifts she will come out from. Damien will hide behind the wall that is beside the green dustbin bottom left.

this is how the view is like when damien crouches low. serene will be walking slowly into the lift landing. damien will shoot her every move above the green bin and through the mouth of the bin as well.

a set of chairs if i walk 10 steps front. a possible place damien can reside before serene appears or after.

Our videocam we are using

2008-10-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

Hi all. for your information, this is the specifics and facts about the amazing camcorder Damien will be using for the entire film. if you think it is just some cheapo piece of metal, think again. introducing to you the Sony HDR-SR10. (price: US$900. go convert to SD yourself.)

HDR-SR10

Damien's Videocam

Here are some facts to consider...

The HDR-SR10 Handycam® camcorder delivers everything you need to shoot stunning Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution video and 4 megapixel still images. With Hybrid recording technology, you can record to either an internal 40GB hard disk drive or removable Memory Stick Duo™ or Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media. A professional-quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens and ClearVid™ CMOS sensor (with Exmor™ technology) and BIONZ™ image processor let you capture every detail in video and still images. Additionally, Face Detection technology helps everyone put their best face forward, while the Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization system helps ensure images remain sharp and true.

Note: Most camcorders will not fit in ACC-FH50A case when the large (NP-FH100) battery is attached to camcorder.

1920x1080 Recording
Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution.

Face Detection for Video Footage and Digital Still Photos
Made possible by the BIONZ™ image processing engine, Face Detection technology recognizes up to 8 faces anywhere in the frame and automatically controls focus, exposure, and color to help capture smiling faces brightly and clearly. Face Detection also helps make skin tones look natural without affecting other colors in the image.

2.3 Megapixel ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor (with Exmor™ Technology) and BIONZ™ Image Processor
Sony’s newly designed CMOS image sensor with delivers bright, vivid, and spectacularly detailed 2.3 megapixel (effective) video footage, as well as 4 megapixel still images -- all with prolonged battery life. Exmor™ technology captures images with high resolution and high sensitivity. In addition, the advanced Sony BIONZ™ image processor improves camera response time and screens out noise so the signal from each pixel is as pure as possible.

BIONZ™ Image Processor
The advanced Sony BIONZ™ Image Processor uses hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry that improves camera response time, screens out noise before RAW data conversion, handles Dynamic Range Optimization processing, and prolongs battery life.

Exmor™ Imaging Sensor
Exmor™ technology captures video and still photo images with high resolution, high sensitivity, and exceptional detail. Advanced on-sensor A/D conversion yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio.

Dual Record
While recording video in High Definition you have the ability to capture still images directly to Memory Stick Duo™ media (sold separately).

15X Optical / 180X Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

2.7" Wide1 (16:9) Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD Plus™ Display (211K Pixels)
The 2.7" Wide1 (16:9) LCD screen provides exceptional viewing clarity with improved resolution (211K pixels). The display rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback. The widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier.

Built-in zoom microphone with 5.1ch recording
Featuring Dolby® Ditigal 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio recording on your subjects in sync with the camera’s zoom lens, helping memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.

Dolby® Digital 5.1ch Recording
Record in Dolby Digital 5.1ch surround sound with the camcorder’s built-in microphone. Recording in 5.1 channel surround sound allows you to experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all directions, so you can enjoy your personal home movies the way you experienced them while recording.

Dynamic Range Optimizer
Powered by the exclusive Sony’s BIONZ™ high-speed processing engine, D-Range Optimization preserves image data in bright highlights, such as suppressing “whiteout” in skies. When shooting in backlit settings, D-Range Optimization reveals more detail in shadows, preventing “blackout.” As a result, the captured image appears as natural as the original scene.

Tele Macro Function
Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode help your subject stand out by properly focusing the subject while leaving the background unfocussed. The Tele Macro Mode is useful for shooting close-up shots, especially when you need to prevent the camcorder from casting a shadow on the subject.

Switchable HD/SD Format Recording
Record and play back both High Definition (HD)4 and Standard Definition (SD) video.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T Lens
Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T lenses use highly advanced optics to deliver vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T coating further reduces unwanted glare and flare for increased contrast and color.

Active Interface Shoe
Sony’s proprietary hot shoe makes it easy to use Intelligent Accessories, such as external lights and microphones, by providing power and on/off capability directly from the camcorder.

USB 2.0 Interface6
The USB 2.0 interface6 provides an easy way to connect your camcorder to a PC for fast transfer of video and still images for editing.

Stamina® Battery Power Management System
When using the Sony InfoLITHIUM® Battery, the Stamina® Battery Power Management System helps the camcorder prolong battery life for extra long continuous recording times from a single charge.

Battery Information
At the touch of a button, battery information is displayed on the LCD screen when charging and when the camcorder is turned off. When using the LCD screen or viewfinder, the display will show how much the battery is charged -- in 10% increments -- and the recordable time left.

Song

2008-10-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Ok the final edit for the song, together with tune and stuff is done. here is the official lyrics for it. Very nice and beautifully written, thanks to the talent of Timothy Wan. Enjoy humming the song to yourself. Although you might not know the tune, STILL... "it's the greatest and best song in the world!" -Damien.

Serene by Timothy Wan

Serene, your face and your lips and your eyes,
They fill my mind all day and every time.
Dreams, they’re just another part of my life,
Where I, can be right there next to your side.

You were the one, the face in my mind, every night,
A breath of fresh air, you made everything turn out right.
Serene, I need to tell you just how I feel,
No one else would ever make me feel the way I do.

(Chorus)
I picture you, next to me, happy as ever can be.
Though I know in my heart, we are like worlds set apart.
Serene, you are my all, I want to make the story of ‘us’,
Give me a hint, show me a sign, that you could be mine.

otot!

2008-10-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

today is another meeting. it's between Ryan Chow (damien) and the producers.

the script has been discussed once more and a final edit is being consolidated right now. the latest the completed script should be done would be by this friday. Ryan had undergone a rehearsal and has shown promise beyond expectations. However there is still the need for rehearsals for certain emotions he is not as good at. We realised the filming for ryan can be done OTOT because he is most free and has the most scenes to clear. Hopefully by november, we only have to film the scenes left which would require Serene and Peter.

honestly i feel that the film is a very unique one and the characters and plot devlopment is very captivating in many areas. i do hope people have the trust in us that we do know our stuff and that this film can and will be a success. thanks be to all who has lent a hand so far.

damien's update

2008-09-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

howdydoo, we have not been updating this blog for the past 2 months NOT because the project is stagnant BUT it's because we just have got stuff that we have not confirmed yet. now stuff have been confirmed, script has been revamped for the 5th time thanks to Martin's great efforts. The song and band has been confirmed by Timothy. Casts have verbally confirmed their interest in the film.

let's wish/pray this film will be a raving success!

supposed cast update:

*not confirmed YET! however i can say they have shown interest.

Ryan Chow (first boy in advert shown below) (Local Pianist prodigy/RJC msic elective) as Damien

Joey Feng (Below)(1st Runner-up Miss Singapore Universe) as Serene

Li Sheng (Below)(Acted for NUS play/Bodybuilder) as Peter

supposed filming dates:

last week of November that is 23-30th November

*days required for different actors vary.

1st supposed scheduled film showcase:

SMU film festival, Re/present! Time

3-29th January 2009

update

2008-09-09T03:11:00.001-07:00

Above is the logo for this year's.

CaiYu has told me that there will be another one next year and she is helping to organize a film festival next year in January and offered to showcase our film.

i hope that damien monologue can be completed mid december this year so that we can showcase it in time for that event.

yup. she has agreed to screen ours if we do it well in time.

Progress this week

2008-08-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

2 meetings have been done this week

Me and Protagonist of DM
Me and Martin (Script Advisor)

Me and Protagonist of DM

Ran through the entire script scene by scene with him. Made the script more his style, learnt how we can make the script easier for him by imposing his own personalities and beliefs.
Some scenes were strengthened after discussion.
Also rehearsed some scenes.

Me and Martin

He presented to me his version of DM which was rather similar but he saw the themes and treatment of it, which i have missed out during the scriptwriting process. He made the skeleton of the whole script stronger by injecting his 'Labyrinth' concept.
Also some scenes were strengthened after discussion.
We also discussed about framing and actual shooting itself, how it should look artistically.

Scriptwriting excellence

2008-07-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

yes. we do note our script is a bit brief for a film. when i read it , it is still one dimensional, overly blatant, resultantly bland lacking a professional natural touch we aimed to get. we sat down one evening planning on how we can revamp and construct a stronger and believable script.

Since publicity week is over, we now move our focus to the script. me and Kaywee had met. no major changes on our part, (unless martin comes up with amazing things) BUT do expect more 'color' injected into the script which we believe will make our inaugural film a smashing hit.

These are the key considerations in Damien's Monologue Version 3:

Quirks and subtleties for Damien (character complexities think Heath Ledger's Joker)
Set design
Pace of film
Framing, cropping of video cam
Play with visuals (seeing and not seeing)
Play with color and lighting
Surprises
Brushing up on rashness
Metaphors and imageries in film

Also do note:

already tim had composed the song, "Serene" and also found us a band.
martin has volunteered his assistance to make better the script.
actors and actresses have been chosen from the wide response.

Update

2008-07-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ii have finalized people who are involved in the film.

Proposed main cast:
Damien- ryan chow
serene- ?
serene's bf- (her real bf/sam ng/tommy toh)

Also, 3rd draft of damien's monologue will come out, together with treatment as discussions of details have been done.

rhekki 1: serene's house

2008-07-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

*To those who responded during the week:
during this publicity week i have a great positive response from friends and likely interested people. i have yet to meet with mr co-producer to discuss about our options but i will ensure that i will get to all who expressed interest in making this film a success asap.

Rhekki One:
ok the following images are settings for scenes around Serene's house
however the carpark scene i realised has to be done somewhere else because the staircase landing does not have a window looking out into a carpark. however it has to be nearby.to fully utilize the day. i will go rhekki again another day.

where damien hides behind pillars to look at Serene. i feel that this lift is not very nice, i'll probably fine another better somewhere in the vicinity. however damien's monologue is supposed to look real/raw whatever so ya the more in shambles things are the better it suits the story.

the rose scene where damien puts rose beside her head when she is sleeping. here is the walkway he lumbers through.

the rose scene's window where he places rose in. note the height of window is just nice for rose scene.

another view of the walkway.

Shortfilm screenings

2008-07-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

Ok these are some possible screenings we can showcase Damien's Monologue after it is done.
FYI: these are, especially substation, for up and coming/new filmmakers wanting an audience for their shortfilm.
So YES people WILL see this when it is done and YES this will pay off.
FYI2: there are definately more from NAC, NLB and SFC but i did not bother checking. i believe as time passes, more opportunities will surface as royston's 12 lotus and jack neo's money no enough 2 becomes another local hit.

1
Sinema Showoff!
Where: Sinema Old School
When: Every Tuesday
What's on now: Refer to link, loner's trilogy.
Link: http://www.sinema.sg/oldschool/calendar/loners-trilogy/

2
Singapore Short Cuts
Where: National Museum of Singapore
When: An annual affair
What's on now: Most anticipated. This year is SSC's 5th year running. Dates: 12, 19, 26 July & 2 August. Times: 2 - 5:30pm. Admission: Free.
Link: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/ (click on what's on and view 5th Singapore Short Cuts)

3

The Substation Moving Images Presents: First take

Where: The Substation
When: Every 1st Monday of the month
What's on now: It is actually a popular screening of new local short films and is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. A platform for new filmmakers and anyone who is interested in filmmaking to meet, exchange ideas and show their work. See the future talents of Singapore film!
Link: http://www.substation.org/whats_on/moving_images/now_showing.html#shortcuts

what is stopping us from filming as of now

2008-07-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

(kaywee do add on if i miss out anything we discussed .)

Confirmation of the following:

Weenie can i use your house for a scene where Damien gives a rose to sleeping Serene?
Who has a mac computer for film editing? (preferably mac book pro or mac PC) otherwise we have to use my adobe premier which i don't really like. but thats being fussy.
can i use amanda/sophia's car for filming some scenes that requires it?

Casting of the following characters:

Serene.
Serene's boyfriend.
Random old lady (extra)
about 2 more extras.

Pre-production works:

Usage of SAJC as the school to film scene 1.
Rehearsals with Damien.
Photos (voyeuristic) of Serene
Composing of song

With all these done, Damien's Monologue can officially begin filming.

Damien’s Monologue Script (as at 150708)

2008-07-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

Damien’s Monologue Script

As at 150708

3 main changes:

The ending changed to a more sad one.
Scene 6 and 7 swapped around.
Scene 8 removed.

Sypnosis

Romantic story of a boy who has a secret deep crush on a girl but is just too shy to do anything about it.

Scene 1 Introduction

Piano playing tune of ‘Serene’ song.

(Footages of important ceremonies shown. But video camera would subsequently veer away from activity or event to the many students and then focusing on one girl, Serene. She is sleeping discreetly from the boring speech, she is chatting with her friends.)

(Screen goes blank, Title of film appears in middle: Damien’s Monologue.)

Scene 2 Damien Bedroom

(Video camera is switched on and is attached to a tripod stand in front of the wall that audience realise is in a bedroom over a bed where light comes in from window at the right. Numbers at bottom of time and day like those of raw video footage. A pillow and bolster is strewn on the far right, a blanket is ruffled as if someone just woke up from it and left. A soft tune is playing in the background. Camera wobbles and shakes. A face appears from above as fingers appear at bottom of screen: Boy is adjusting the camera. He tsks and curses under his breath as the camera refuses to sit well on the tripod. After the camera is fitted properly, Damien clad in a singlet and boxers moves to sit on the bed for a while reading the last few instructions for his new digicam. Soon he regains composure and clears his throat.)

Hello I am Damien Ho Mun Tat. I am still in love with this girl name Serene Teo Xin Yi. This girl.

(Shows a photograph of Serene in an old copy of a student year book.)

I love her because she is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen and her face look like an angel’s face. (he said with much joy. Lokoes up with dreamy eyes.) Her eyes are more beautiful than Felicia Chin’s. (Damien pouts.)Her lips is more sexy than Shu Qi’s. I love Serene Teo. (pauses in reminiscence.) First time, I met her is in secondary school. She was in class 4C and I was in 4H which is 1 level down from her classroom. From downstairs, I will always look up and gaze at her. That’s why I don’t do well in my studies. (Laughs at own joke. Then counts with fingers the folling information.) Also I was in the AVA audio visual club in school which means I in charge of the OHP, video equipment and other electronic gadgets. Every time her class need OHP, I would surely volunteer just so that I can see her once more.

Also every time I film for the school be it prize giving ceremony, teacher day, youth day, national day, I film the events well but then after a while, I will be distracted by Serene. And because of that, I was kicked out of the AVA crew. It was so embarrassing.

(He laughs)

Can you believe it?

(Looks away awhile.)

Now im in Ngee Ann Polytechnic doing engineering. She’s in JC. Time now is 7.12am.In 15 minutes time, Serene will come out from her home to go to her school. I know it because I just know everything about Serene.

(He gives a smartass smirk.)

(Scene cuts when Damien switches off video camera.)

(Video camera is focused on a blank wall again with names ‘DAMIEN LOVES SERENE 4EVER’.)

(Damien pastes torn photo of Serene and then a torn photo of himself side by side. Camera stays for a while then switches off.)

Scene 3 Serene’s Block

(Damien is standing against a wall looking rather impatient. He sighs and looks over his shoulder occasionally.)

I better not talk too loudly or else people will think I’m crazy. She’s not here yet. Waiting.

(Damien scratches chin and fiddles with lens. Elevator makes a sound and the door opens. Catches glimpse of Damien’s eyes that are suddenly large. Video camera rumbles into position but points at an old lady walking out of the lift. It is not serene.)

Choy choy choy. That is not my Serene okay. That’s some lao cha bor. My Serene is around my age. Long hair.

(Elevator makes sound again. Camera catches Serene wearing her Junior College Uniform and walking obliviously out and away.She is quirky in the way she dresses, has distinct styles as Damien will soon pick out. Damien zooms into her as well as her features as he discribes.)

There, my Serene Teo in her JC uniform. Notice the way she clutch her sling bag. She never ever uses the sling because I think she thinks that it will ruin her posture. It’s true you know. And she doesn’t like to tie her hair when her hair is still wet like that. I think that’s how she manages to keep such straight and soft hair. Also see her shoelace, one side orange one side pink. Very stylish I think.

(Camera shoots her back as she walks away from scene till she disappears at a bend beside a tree. Then camera veers to Damien’s face where he smiles before he switches off.)

And she’s gone…

Scene 4 Coffeeshop

(Camera is switched on again and Damien is seen looking around, trying to hide it from everyone’s view except his own and speaks without looking at the camera in a coffee shop. He then veers video camera towards Serene seating a few tables away.)

Now I am at a coffee shop. In front of me, you can see Serene eating by herself. Sometimes, she will eat with her friends. Today, she is eating alone. She always eat the same prawn noodle soup , not the oily dry kind like the normal people eat. You will notice that every time she take a mouthful, she have this quirk of sniffing her food first. There she goes! She sniffed did you see? Very cute don’t you think? Again! Now you see the way she eats the prawn, she will always pull off the tail with her mouth first. Such an unglamorous task still she does it so well. Then she will dip the prawn into the soy sauce twice.

(Food served in front of video camera as waist of oblivious aunty with waist pouch stands in front of the screen. She says, “You ordered oyster omelette right? Four dollars thank you.“ Camera eventually switches off.)

Scene 5 Damien’s Bedroom

(Sitting on the bed is Damien with a electric piano.

Today I am going to play you a song called ‘Serene’ which I wrote specially for her. Here it goes.

(He plays perfectly. As he sings his eyebrows arch upwards giving a pathetic sad look.)

Serene
I love the way, that you are Serene.
You’re the greatest girl, I’ve ever seen.
I wrote this song, especially for you,
Hoping that one day, you’ll love me too.

It’s hard for me, to keep feelings at bay
And it pains me deeply, each and every day.
Hiding behind, to watch you silently,
And pray that one day, you’ll be with me.

(chorus)

I’ve never wanted something, so much in my life.
I’ve never wanted anyone else, to be my wife.
But I only see you, from behind quietly,
And only wish you’d be with me, for eternity.

(bridge)
I can never love you,
Too good to be true,
You’re so near yet so far,
I still watch you from afar.

(Chorus)

(He sighs as he looks away and listlessly plays the piano and stops. In his eyes one can see a longing desire to be with her.)

(After a while, Damien switches off camera.)

Scene 6 Second level stairway

(He’s seated on the 2^nd floor stairway with ledge that overlooks car park, eating a pack of chips. 2 cans of red bull is strewn in a corner of the dirty floor as he squats dreamily for a moment. A car breaking sound resounds downstairs and the sound of a car door opens.)

I’m now waiting for serene at the 2^nd level of her block where she stays. I do this every Saturday night without fail because every Saturday night she will go out with her friends. Here I will catch a glimpse of her at her prettiest. From over here, it looks down to where her friend will always drop her off.

There here she comes… There she is. Wow! Look at how pretty she is!

Stunning.

Scene 7 Bedroom

(Video camera is facing the bed once again like scene 1. The guitar leans on the wall. Light is on and Damien hops onto the bed with a bolster propped up onto the wall. Bolster has Serene’s photo on it. He sits beside the bolster and looks at it for a while.)

We are all alone now. (He looks at the screen then looks towards the bolster.)

Serene.

(Touches her ‘face’.)

I want to tell you something…

(He whispers into the bolster.)

I love you.

(He puts ear on bolster.)

You are not sure?

But I really like you. I liked you since I saw you. I like the way you laugh and all the ways you do things. I liked the way you smile, the way you eat.

How do I know? Well, I have always loved you.

You never kissed before? You want a kiss?

You sure? Okay…

(Hand on ‘waist’, leg propped up. Damien moves his lips towards the bolster and almost kisses it when mother from outside his room knocks and shouts at him to do his work and not play computer games or daydream.)

Ya la. Studying la! And Damien switches off the camera.

Scene 8 Coffee shop

(Camera is switched on again and Damien is in the coffee shop again. He I staring at something for a while. He then veers video camera towards Serene and a male friend who is seating close beside her tables away. Damien does not sound very cheery.)

Right now you see Serene eating again but today… it looks like she is getting close with this… guy friend.

(Video camera zooms onto into her smiling face as she talks to the other guy.)

(Camera then zooms out a bit to capture the two.)

He looks like a gangster from the street. I don’t like the way he is leaning so closely to her and- I hope he will just be a normal friend to her then disappear.

(Her male friend looks up and sees him recording them.)

Shit oh shit!

(Damien immediately shifts away camera into bag beside it. A moment of darkness. Then camera comes out and is placed on the seat, an alternate view of Serene away from the view of the boy’s.)

Scene 9 Queuing up somewhere.

Serene and the guy friend out eating again.

(Camera fumbles around in his hands and focuses on the legs of them in front of him. He is queuing up directly behind Serene and the boy in MacDonald’s. Damien records the boy’s hands moving towards her waist and Serene pushes his hand away. Guy friend tries again but fails again. Hears Serene say, “Peter, stop it.”)

(Video camera pans away and switches off.)

Scene 10 Damien’s Bedroom

(A terrorist looking Damien dressed in a dangerous manner brandishing a toy gun that makes sounds stands in front of the same wall.)

I’m going to warn that young man that is touching my Serene. I’m going to warn him that if he ever does anything to my Serene I will not hesitate to kill him. I will cut off your head and hang it at the door frame of your house. I will kill your mother your father and all your brother sister aunty uncle. I will not hesitate to cut your body and cook curry.

(Damien breathes deeply. Pretends to do some form of sword dance but gets tired of it after a while and stops hopelessly and also stops the recording.)

Scene 11 Second level of Stairway

(Waits at same stairway again for Serene to come back from her Saturday out, eating potato chips and drinking red bull. Many recordings of complains that she has yet to turn up.)

Saturday night. Time 11.30pm. And she is not here yet. Sigh.

(Plays with red bull can.)

Time 12.15am. Latest she has ever came back. Where the fuck did she go?

(Rocking back and forth on the floor. Plays song on phone.)

Time 1.12am. What the hell is she doing. When is she coming back? I hope she’s not with that creep.

(Lying on the ground. Next recording sees him standing up.)

She’s here. She’s here.

( A car comes to the empty lot. Car door opens but does not open fully. Light in car switches on. Serene is seen lip-locked with Peter. His hand goes down her thigh. )

What he hell!

( Damien zooms in on what he is doing and curses. Hand wobbles. Camera slowly faces to his own face which was cold as stone. Aims camera back on them again and the red bull can on the ledge falls onto the 1^st level. Young man from the car stops kissing Serene and looks up. Damien immediately withdraws and bolts away Camera left wobbling up with him then turns off.)

Scene 12 Stairway of 2^nd level

(Damien is seen sneaking down the stairs he ran from. Shoots camera at his own face that is sweaty.)

His car is parked in the car park down there.

(Damien shows car park where the car still sits.)

He didn’t leave.

(Damien runs to the ground level and leans on wall. Peeps for a while and looks then hides and whispers.)

What the hell. They are making out at the table in the void deck. See for yourself.

(Video camera veers to peep from the wall and the couple is seen kissing particularly Peter who was trying to get hot and heavy.)

Chao Chee Bie.

(Switches off video camera.)

Scene 13 Damien’s Bedroom

(He is sitting slumped on the wall in his room with tears brimming in his eyes. Piano slumped by his side.)

I’m okay. I’m okay.

(Sniff. Curses. Closes eyes to control himself.)

Sniffs.

Serene. I thought. I thought maybe one day I will get a chance to be with you. That I will be the first one to be with you and make you feel happy. But- but now… I don’t know already.

(Plays piano. Coughs. Closes eyes and breathed. )
I love the way, that you are Serene.
You’re the greatest girl, I’ve ever seen.
I wrote this song, especially for you,
Hoping that one day, you’ll love me too.

(Wipes tears and continues.)

It’s hard for me, to keep feelings at bay
And it pains me deeply, each and every day.
Hiding behind, to watch you silently,
And pray that one day, you’ll be with me.

(chorus)

(More sobbing than singing and mucus flows.)

I’ve never wanted something, so much in my life.
I’ve never wanted anyone else, to be my wife.
But I only see you, from behind quietly,
And only wish you’d be with me, for eternity.

(bridge)
I can never love you,
Too good to be true,
You’re so near yet so far,

(Song slow and out of tune. Agonising time singing the words.)
I still watch you from afar.

(Damien sits there stoning for a long while. Lights a cigarette. Lighter shakes violently in his hand, making it impossible to light it.)

Chapter 14 Corridor of Serene’s flat

(Damien walks towards through a barely lit corridor of the HDB flat. Filming his every advance. her bedroom window and sees her sleep. Uses night mode and tapes her peaceful sleep. He places a rose beside her head and sings.)

It’s hard for me, to keep feelings at bay
And it pains me deeply, each and every day.
Hiding behind, to watch you silently,
And pray that one day, you’ll be with me.

(Sniff.)

(Hand stretches out to touch her cheek but she turns over the other side. He sobs uncontrollably. Embarrassed he switches off video camera.)

Chapter 15 Void Deck

(Damien stands at the void deck of Serene’s house. )

Damien: 7.20am. Waiting for Serene once again. (Sniff.) Not here yet.

(Damien veers view to lift that is not active. “HOI!” Shouted a man’s voice. Camera veers to his right and sees Peter standing at his far right walking towards him with clenched fists. Camera is ignored as Damien seems to be backing away. He pushes Damien to the wall and he slides down by the weight of Peter the boyfriend. The camera is left on the ground facing an empty void deck. he punches as camera records nothing but sounds and a blank floor till he was slammed onto floor.)

Peter: You freaking hell are the pervert always filming us right? You freaking like to film people right?

(Peter picks up the video camera and faces it at him as he kicks him. Damien writhes in pain. Blood is seen.)

Peter: Why are you recording Serene and me? Huh? The video’s mine.

Damien: Nooo!

(Videocam is seen moving away from Damien. Peter laughs. Then goes blank and static sound with lines flash on screen. Tape ends here.)

Chapter 16 Peter’s House

( Camera pans out and audience realise the whole video footage was being watched on a computer screen by the boyfriend, and a friend in a house. Peter looked pleased with himself.)

Peter: What a sucker.

Friend beside peter: That disgusting guy! My god! Lucky you whacked him up good.

Peter: Yeah. This guy is crazy.

Friend beside peter: Fucked up asshole.

(Serene appears at the door way of the bedroom.)

Guys I thought I told you we’re leaving now! What are you guys watching?

Peter: You’ll never want to see it.

Friend beside Peter: (laughter) Yeah.

(Both boys left the room. Serene goes to the desk to take her handbag. She then notices a video camera and picks it up. She gives a puzzled look, shrugs her shoulders and walks off. Attentive audience members will notice the rose is in her handbag.)

The End

The Song ‘Serene’ is played at credits.

Official Shortfilm Call Sheet

2008-07-15T02:58:00.001-07:00

Hi all. this is the jpeg version of the email i will spam your mailbox. read it, agree to it and we'll see if we can pull you into the damien's monologue bandwagon.
Dont forget to chainmail/tag/poke/whatever to all your friends out there when i send you the email.
Click the images to enlarge.

Update

2008-07-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

Thing to note. The script published here is NOT the finished article. Yes, the script is being refined at the moment, certain tweaks here and there will be made to enhance the story. For example, Chapter 18 will no longer be so. The ending has been changed because the current one you see...well it does seem kinda cheesy (serene touched...sings a duet with damien...erm). So, a new ending has been in place, but will not yet be revealed. We strive for a quality product, thats why we try to improve the material the best that we can. Stay tuned.

The co-producer's monologue

2008-07-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

Alright, to kickstart my first ever contribution to this blog here, I am going to reveal some of my thoughts going into this project. Hopefully, it shall and will be my debut involvement in a film project and I am going to help Melvin materalise his story into a real short film and make his Damien come to life. First and foremost, for anyone's information here, I shall reveal our objectives going into this.
1) For fun. (We are bored with our NS lives and we need a stimulus, like a creative interesting project, to rejuvenate us.)
2)For experience. (Test the waters, see how it goes. Prepare us for 'The Big One')
3)For credibility and credentials. (Well that is if it ever turns out to be good enough to be recognised, and screened. Have faith.)
4)Build confidence. (We need it, we are virgin noobs)
Well, I agreed to go into this as I do recognise the potential of Melvin's concept and idea here. Damien, who i sees as a creepy lovelorn stalker with a tender side, is controversial and different. He is creepy and pitiful at the same time. Sweet lovelorn guys are just overdone these days, a bit of psycho factor can spice things up a lil. The vlog kind of concept and presentation is manageble, practical and unique, gives the film some sort of character and suits our resources (or lack of it) well. Basically, this film is economical, and has the potential to rise above mediocrity and stand out from all these 'artistic' shorts we have in Singapore. The never-out-of-fashion unrequited bittersweet love story, done in a refreshing style of reality-based storytelling, and throw in the creepy psycho factor. Sounds like a winner? Well we'll see. And I hope people will do see after it really becomes a motion picture.
Anyway, a main concern here. We do need a Pretty female lead. A girl who possesses the sort of charm that could stun Damien into such crazy obsession. Or at least make the whole notion seems remotely believable. A pivotal character that can define the film. And the best of all, she doesnt really even need to act. Just walk around in different outfits and act pretty, plain and simple. No brains required (not to say brainy girls are not welcomed of course). Well hopefully we can get our 'Serene' asap. Especially after posting this out. (If you can make your way to this website, I am sure you can contact at least one of us. Feel free.)
K thats all for now folks, I will return again if there are any snippets, updates, developments etc etc. Till then.

Open Roles

2008-07-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Roles open for interested people:

Serene
Serene's boyfriend
Composer
Band to play song
Helpers
Cameraman(best if he/she has experience in it.)

call for song

2008-07-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

Call for singer/ songwriters
Hi everyone:

Melvin and Kaywee are not ubertalented individuals.
We cannot compose songs.
We need help.

3 things:

Tune for the song that will be sang by Damien.
Chorus for the song is yet to be composed.
A band to play a rock version of this song for the credits.

This is the song Serene so far.

Serene
I love the way, that you are Serene.
You’re the greatest girl, I’ve ever seen.
I wrote this song, especially for you,
Hoping that one day, you’ll love me too.

It’s hard for me, to keep feelings at bay
And it pains me deeply, each and every day.
Hiding behind, to watch you silently,
And pray that one day, you’ll be with me.

(chorus)

I’ve never wanted something, so much in my life.
I’ve never wanted anyone else, to be my wife.
But I only see you, from behind quietly,
And only wish you’d be with me, for eternity.

(bridge)
I can never love you,
Too good to be true,
You’re so near yet so far,
I still watch you from afar.

(Chorus)

proposed schedule for shoot

2008-07-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is the filming schedule.
Filming will span thru 4 days.
5th day is optional.

2008-07-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

Damien’s Monologue

THIS SHORT STORY WILL BECOME A FILM.

Proposed Cast so far
Damien Ho is Ryan Chow
Serene Teo is Natalie Yee
? is Peter (Serene's Boyfriend)
Serene's Friend is Amanda Ong
Timothy Wan is Song writer Composer for song 'Serene'
Melvin Tan is Scriptwriter/Director/Producer
Thong Kaywee is Co-producer
Mark Teng is Experienced Advisor
Henry Poh is On scene Screenshot Photographer

Interested personnel who would like to help out in anyway make it known to me.
More help the better.
Already have a video camera.
What's needed is a Macintosh Desktop Computer. Anyone with one or know anyone with it do inform me asap!

Sypnosis

Romantic story of a boy who has a secret deep crush on a girl but is just too shy to do anything about it.

Scene 1 Introduction

(Piano playing tune of ‘Serene’ song. Footages of important ceremonies shown. But video camera would subsequently veer away from activity or event to the many students and then focusing on one girl, Serene. She is sleeping discreetly from the boring speech, she is chatting with her friends.)

(Shows an old footage of a lesson being taught and filmed in a classroom with a video camera recording from the back. Damien wheels in an OHP into the class. Serene cannot be seen in the film but Damien is seen giving short but quick and nervous glances at a spot before walking out awkwardly.)

Scene 2 Damien Bedroom

(A camera pans past a wall of photos. A finger points to distinct sets of photos and Damien’s voice narrates the different significances of each photo.)

This is when she was walking to school. This was when she was doing a project at the school canteen. This is after an evening out on a Saturday. This was a performance she was involved in.

(Video camera is veers away and is attached to a tripod stand in front ofthe wall that audience realise is in a bedroom over a bed where light comes in from window at the right. Numbers at bottom of time and day like those of raw video footage. A pillow and bolster is strewn on the far right, a blanket is ruffled as if someone just woke up from it and left. A soft tune is playing in the background. Camera wobbles and shakes. A face appears from above as fingers appear at bottom of screen: Boy is adjusting the camera. He tsks and curses under his breath as the camera refuses to sit well on the tripod. After the camera is fitted properly, Damien clad in a singlet and boxers moves to sit on the bed for a while, gains composure and clears his throat.)

Hello I am Damien Ho Mun Tat. I am still in love with this girl name Serene Teo Xin Yi. This girl.

(Shows a photograph of Serene in an old copy of a student year book.)

(He laughs)

Can you believe it?

(Looks away awhile.)

Now im in Ngee Ann Polytechnic doing engineering. She’s in JC. Time now is 7.12am.In 15 minutes time, Serene will come out from her home to go to her school. I know it because (silence as he thinks then speaks with assurance and clenched fists.) I have vowed to devote my whole heart and life to the beautiful Serene that I have fallen so in love with. And now that’s why I know everything. Everything about Serene.

(Scene cuts when Damien switches off video camera.)

(Video camera is focused on a blank wall again with names ‘DAMIEN LOVES SERENE 4EVER’.)

(Damien pastes torn photo of Serene and then a torn photo of himself side by side. Camera stays for a while then switches off.)

Scene 3 Serene’s Block

(Damien is standing against a wall looking rather impatient. He sighs and looks over his shoulder occasionally.)

I better not talk too loudly wait people think I’m crazy. She’s not here yet. Waiting.

Choy choy choy. That is not my Serene okay. That’s some lao cha bor. My Serene is around my age. Long hair.

(Elevator makes sound again. Camera catches Serene wearing her Junior College Uniform and walking obliviously out and away. Damien zooms into her.)

(Camera shoots her back as she walks away from scene till she disappears at a bend beside a tree. Then camera veers to Damien’s face where he gave an air kiss before he switches off.)

And she’s gone…

Scene 4 Coffeeshop

Scene 5 Damien’s Bedroom

(Sitting on the bed is Damien with a electric piano and Timothy sits beside him with a guitar.)

Damien: This is Timothy my neighbour. We are going to play you a song called ‘Serene’ I wrote specially for her. You ready or not?

Timothy: Ya.

Damien: Here it goes.

(He plays perfectly and Tim joins. As he sings his eyebrows arch upwards giving a pathetic sad look.)

Hums.

I want you serene

Love the way you are Serene.

You are always beautiful to me,

Will you ever be with me?

Serene O Serene…

Oh Serene…

You don’t see my heart Serene.

You don’t see my heart serene.

Do you know how much

I want you?

Do you know how much

You are to me?

But you don’t even know me.

Serene O Serene…

Oh Serene…

Ohhh…

(He sighs as he looks away and listlessly plays the piano and stops. In his eyes one can see a longing desire to be with her. Timothy frowns at Damien. )

Timothy: Eh.

(Timothy nudges Damien.)

Damien: Huh? Sorry. That’s all.

(Damien switches off camera.)

Scene 6 Bedroom

We are all alone now. (He looks at the screen then looks towards the bolster.)

Serene.

(Touches her ‘face’.)

I want to tell you something…

(He whispers into the bolster.)

I love you.

(He puts ear on bolster.)

You are not sure?

But I really like you. I liked you since I saw you. I like the way you laugh and all the ways you do things.

I told you, I have always loved you.

You never kissed before? You want a kiss?

You sure? Okay…

Ya la. Studying la! And Damien switches off the camera.

Scene 7 Second level stairway

There here she comes… There she is. Wow! Look at how pretty she is!

Stunning.

Scene 8 Back in his bedroom.

(You see Damien’s face again. But he is lying on the bed. Silence.)

(Damien breaks into a slow excerpt rendition of ‘Serene’.)

(Finishing the song, he kisses photo from wall. Hand shows a written name, ‘Serene’ and a heart on it.)

Scene 9 Coffee shop

Right now you see Serene eating again but today… it looks like she is getting close with this… guy friend.

(Video camera zooms onto into her smiling face as she talks to the other guy.)

(Camera then zooms out a bit to capture the two.)

He looks like a gangster from the street. I don’t like the way he is leaning so closely to her and- I hope he will just be a normal friend to her then disappear.

(Her male friend looks up and sees him recording them.)

Shit oh shit!

(Damien immediately shifts away camera into bag beside it. A moment of darkness. Then camera comes out and is placed on the seat, an alternate view of Serene away from the view of the boy’s.)

Scene 10 MacDonald’s.

Currently at MacDonald’s. Serene and the guy friend out eating again.

(Video camera pans away and switches off.)

Scene 11 Damien’s Bedroom

(A terrorist looking Damien dressed in a dangerous manner brandishing a toy gun that makes sounds stands in front of the same wall.)

(Damien breathes deeply. Pretends to do some form of sword dance but gets tired of it after a while and stops hopelessly and also stops the recording.)

Scene 12 Second level of Stairway

(Waits at same stairway again for Serene to come back from her Saturday out, eating potato chips and drinking red bull. Many recordings of complains that she has yet to turn up.)

Saturday night. Time 11.30pm. And she is not here yet. Sigh.

(Plays with red bull can.)

Time 12.15am. Latest she has ever came back. Where the fuck did she go?

(Rocking back and forth on the floor. Plays song on phone.)

Time 1.12am. What the hell is she doing. When is she coming back? I hope she’s not with that creep.

(Lying on the ground. Next recording sees him standing up.)

She’s here. She’s here.

( A car comes to the empty lot. Car door opens but does not open fully. Light in car switches on. Serene is seen lip-locked with Peter. His hand goes down her thigh. )

What he hell!

( Damien zooms in on what he is doing and curses. Hand wobbles. Camera slowly faces to his own face which was cold as stone. Looks into the camera and shakes his head. Aims camera back on them again and the red bull can on the ledge falls onto the 1^st level. Young man from the car stops kissing Serene and looks up. Damien immediately withdraws and bolts away Camera left wobbling up with him then turns off.)

Scene 13 Stairway of 2^nd level

(Damien is seen sneaking down the stairs he ran from. Shoots camera at his own face that is sweaty.)

His car is parked in the car park down there.

(Damien shows car park where the car still sits.)

He didn’t leave.

(Damien runs to the ground level and leans on wall. Peepsfor a while and looks then hides and whispers.)

What the hell. They are making out at the table in the void deck. See for yourself.

(Video camera veers to peep from the wall and the couple is seen kissing particularly Peter who was trying to get hot and heavy.)

Chao Chee Bie.

(Switches off video camera.)

Scene 14 Damien’s Bedroom

(He is sitting slumped on the wall in his room with tears brimming in his eyes. Piano slumped by his side.)

I’m okay. I’m okay.

(Sniff. Curses. Closes eyes to control himself.)

Sniffs.

Serene. I thought. I thought maybe one day I will get a chance to be with you. That I will be the first one to be with you and make you feel happy. But- but now… I don’t know already.

(Plays piano. Coughs. Closes eyes and breathed. )

Looove…

Ahem.

Love the way you are … Serene.

(Wipes tears and continues.)

Love the way you are Serene.

(Song slow and out of tune. Agonising time singing the words. )

You are always beautiful to me,

But you’ll never…

(Deep breath.)

But you’ll never be with me.

Serene O Serene…

Oh Serene…

You don’t see my heart Serene.

You don’t see my heart serene.

Do you know how much

I want you?

(More sobbing than singing and mucus flows.)

Do you know how much

You are to me?

But you don’t even know me.

Serene O Serene…

Oh Serene…

Why?

(Damien sits there stoning for a long while. Lights a cigarette. Lighter shakes violently in his hand, making it impossible to light it.)

Chapter 15 Corridor of Serene’s flat

I don’t want anyone

With you, but me Serene.

I don’t need anyone

But only you, my dear

Serene…

(Sniff.)

(Hand stretches out to touch her cheek but she turns over the other side. He sobs uncontrollably. Embarrassed he switches off video camera.)

Chapter 16 Void Deck

(Damien stands at the void deck of Serene’s house. )

Damien: 7.20am. Waiting for Serene once again. (Sniff.) Not here yet.

(Damien veers view to lift that is not active. “HOI!” Shouted a man’s voice. Camera veers to his right and sees Peter standing at his far right walking towards him with clenched fists. Camera is ignored as Damien seems to be backing away. He pushes Damien to the wall and camera drops on the floor and he punches as camera records nothing but sounds and a blank floor till he was slammed onto floor.)

Peter: You freaking hell are the pervert always filming us right? You freaking like to film people right?

(Peter picks up the video camera and faces it at him as he kicks him. Damien writhes in pain. Blood is seen.)

Peter: Why are you recording Serene and me? Huh? The video’s mine.

Damien: Nooo!

(Videocam is seen moving away from Damien. Peter laughs. Then goes blank and static sound with lines flash on screen. Tape ends here.)

Chapter 17 Serene’s House

( Camera pans out and audience realise the whole video footage was being watched on a computer screen by the boyfriend, Serene and a friend in a house. Peter looked pleased with himself.)

Peter: What a sucker.

Friend beside Serene: That disgusting guy! My god! Lucky Peter whacked him up good. Right?

(Silence. Serene stares into screen.)

Friend beside Serene: Serene?

(Serene tears and shakes her head. Camera pans down to her hand twirling a withered rose.)

Serene: I’m sorry I need to go to the toilet.

Chapter 18 Outside Serene’s House

( Serene walks out of her home and begins singing at corridor of her house. She duets with Damien who is in his room.)

Serene: I do want you Damien

I do want you Damien…

(not composed yet sorry.)

The End

The Song ‘Serene’ is played at credits.

2008-07-09T07:36:00.001-07:00

welcome.