Acting Rehearsal Shut-Out

End of page 1 to end of page 2 (when he dials his mother)

Scene Synopsis

This excerpt mainly depicts how James (main protagonist), deals with a confusing and strange situation that interrupts his daily regime.

I chose this scene as the scene requires a lot of major underlying transition of emotions and realizations that are somewhat tricky to portray through the simple actions required.

Here is a breakdown of the scene’s activities and emotional state:

The scene starts with the James taking a break from a high intensity computer game session, opening a packet drink. His mind is still in the game that just ended, thinking how the hell he just lost.
- Anger and frustration must be seen from the way he opens the drink packet and retrieves the straw.
He hears thumps from the wall and gets agitated. Coupled with the adrenaline from the game, the anger from the loss and the loud Japanese pop music in the background, he flares up at the neighbour, taking it out on the wall between them.
- Anger has to be a sudden burst from the surface of a calm exterior, taking it out on the spacebar to mute the music first, before ramming the wall.
He expects a thumping competition to go on between them, but hears a weak cry for help instead, calming his nerves instantly. A sudden compassion and concern grip him.
- The strange response makes him put aside his anger momentarily but it is still reflected on his face.
Thinking that it might be a prank though, he lets go of the feelings of compassion and decides to screw it, going back to his daily activities.
- The idea of “screw it, this is a scam, i’m retarded to actually believe for a moment” must be prevalent in the way he goes back to his computer activities
After some thought though, the idea that it might actually not be a prank grips him and he decides to give the neighbour a second chance, ready to cash in on the revenge if his feelings are cheated.
- Still apprehensive, eager to release the kraken if his feelings are cheated, an excuse to release his pent up rage from the various sources (Game and annoying thumps) he gives does a double take and gives the neighbour a benefit of a doubt, hoping to ensnare him.
However, the weak voice calls out for him a second time and James gets more drawn into the situation out of his frustration, curiosity eggs him forward.
- Forgets his previous ulterior motives and genuinely wants to understand the situation
After acquiring the vague and strange realization that the neighbour might actually be dying, his first reaction is to pull in his dear mother’s help as always.
- Confusion and lost, first instinct: mother

The scene only requires a table, a chair (gaming station) and a wall. Packet drinks, computer keyboard and phone can be simulated. Blocking only involves travelling to the wall approx 2 meters away, back to the station, ending back at the wall again.

Thoughts on The English Surgeon

Concept

The story idea was indeed really strong, and the opening made the audience much more interested by piquing their curiosity with the carpenter sequence. “I like to work with my hands” and the like. One surely did not anticipate a film on neurosurgery. The film was long, however very engaging through the many adrenaline-pumping moments and contrasted breathing spaces in the story. Neither too draggy nor too tiring to watch, a good balance. Watching how the doctor overcame the odds and sometimes giving in the hopelessness was a good contrasted perspective of the situation, as one who brings hope to the hopeless, sometimes hope is truly salvageable.

There were certain sequences which were particularly interesting when the two doctors “interviewed” each other, throwing each others questions for the audience to understand them better. A bit odd, but somewhat engaging. The part where the doctor had a voice-over throughout a pretty polished sequence was somewhat eye-raising too, considering the possibilities of being scripted to add on to the story falsely. A noteworthy idea.

All it all, twas a great film. Considering how masterfully the balance of concept and direction of the story was sculpted, truly enjoyable and educational film on all ends.

Shots

I really loved the shots that were used in the film, especially Marian’s sequence, regarding his pre-surgery everyday life. It really captured the sense of loneliness and disjointed reality as he come to terms with the risks and possible loss of life. There were some shots in his house which were really good. The less polished hospital shots showed a stark contrast with the peaceful, slow-moving pace of the everyday russian life, mostly wide shots. There was a stronger element of raw-ness and the idea of being trapped, with the way the shots were much tighter and always holding longer than expected on certain individuals, pulling out their emotions for the audience on a platter.

Music

The use of music was not overbearing, yet tasteful, tailored specifically to the edit. The story was further supported but not lead by the music, which really gave the entire film so much more than being a cheesy eely feely film on death.

Shut-Out Character back stories and Logistics

Actors required:

James (main protagonist)
- An Otaku of 26 years old, unemployed, full-time gamer who is 100% reliant on his mother for life support from the comfort of his gaming throne. An uncaring individual who games from day to night, screaming vulgarities and savagery at noobs all day long. Little do we know that there is a sliver of humanity and compassion left in him through this encounter.
Jeremy
- A slightly older man in his mid 30s who has already lost the meaning of life. Lost the love of his life to cancer, lost the will to live to depression and has been struggling with his meaning of life ever since. He slits his wrist on a regular basis in a bid to relief the overwhelming pain that he cannot endure, cutting deeper everytime in hopes that he might actually accidentally die. He finally meets death’s door, but is suddenly caught by the fear of death, giving him the desperation to live again.
Mother (voice only)
- A naggy, mother who truly cares for her son to the point of spoon-feeding him, although she seems otherwise from her constantly annoyed speech-patterns.
2 Paramedics

Locations required:

Otaku Room w curtains
Toilet
Kitchen
Main door/Corridor

Props required:

Various Anime/game related posters and/or figurines if possible
6 pack drink packet and 2 packs worth of empty cartons.
Computer
Headphone with mic
Phone
Keys
Shower head
Toilet paper roll
Razors
Blanket
Med Box
Bandages
Blood

Protected: Documentary Exercise 1: Confessions

Shut-Out (Draft 2)

> Here’s my second draft script <

6 pages long!

Shut-Out (Draft 1)

Here’s the first draft of my script Shut-In. >Shut-Out<
Its still a tad too long, will work on shortening the screenplay in the next draft.

I went to the premise of suicide as Sebastian suggested, a man who has lost everything and still decided to give one last try at living. Though I will probably not dabble in the elderly as explained below.

Death by Wrist Slashing
I did a little research on death by wrist slashing and found out that it is more than just letting your blood flow till death’s door. To get a sufficient blood flow, one has to dig really deep into the wrist to reach sufficient blood streams as the main one on the wrist is not sufficient, a deep, approximately 6-8″ gash. Even so, it will probably take half an hour or so to bleed unconscious. Not stating the fact that to get a deep enough wound, one would sever a few tendons in the process, possibly rendering a few fingers immobile. It is so painful that most people give up after slicing only one arm. Lying in a warm tub of water helps to loosen the body and increase blood flow greatly. Some interesting facts to note include drinking lots of water in preparation for the “activity”, to increase blood pressure.

A great premise for the story, a slow death, with a large threshold of saving possibilities, sufficient time for regrets.

Tendon Information

8 Steps to slit your wrist

A forum discussion with many interesting opinions

The “Why?”
Also regarding the issue of “why?”, I’m still exploring on the idea of loss. Most real-life examples were actually caused by mental issues. 90% in fact, if which depression is the highest piece of the pie. Depression has over 30 possible causes or mixtures of them. Other reasons include a fast escape from overwhelming odds (which is also a cause for depression), some because of a philosophical desire to die, while others a victim of mistake (for example addiction to oxygen deprivation). Many cases of death in hospitals by suicide deal with mental illness patients and a small fraction deal with loneliness and the unbearable passing of time. For the elderly, its a combination of both, as such it’s too complicated to weave a story on this in a short film to introduce such a premise.

I have a friend in charge of lower health status personnel (PES E) in the army and almost every batch there is a suicide case from depression or anxiety disorder and the likes. As such, I believe that any idea for suicide that doesn’t deal with a depraved state of mind will suffice for the story, as long as the main character is still capable of normal thought. What’s more important is his choice to live while at death’s door.

Conclusion
Although he ultimately still dies, one can only imagine the message that the other person has gleaned from the experience. The scene still needs quite a bit of refinement to make the message and dynamics of the story stronger

The Way of the Otaku

After much deliberation and taking Sebastian’s advice in mind, I contemplated the thought of playing around with the character backgrounds and trying to figure out the different scenarios while keeping the main arc somewhat similar – guy rushes into other house, finds guy dying, interacts. Finds the juxtaposition of the meaning of life. One that wastes his abundance of life as compared to the other that finds himself losing it that very moment.

For guy, I am still fixated on the idea of a shut-in otaku as that appeals as a conflict in of itself, potential for much internal self-conflict the moment he is challenged to leave his room. Though, there must indeed be perhaps a reason for his predicament, hurts by society or plainly just a lazy, spoon-fed young adult in his early 20s.

Otaku is the honorific word of Taku (home)
Otaku is extremely negative in meaning as it is used to refer to someone who stays at home all the time and doesn’t have a life (no social life, no love life, etc) Usually an otaku person has nothing better to do with their life so they pass the time by watching anime, playing videogames, surfing the internet (otaku is also used to refer to a nerd/hacker/programmer).

The other character is however a big mystery to me. Allow me to pen down my thoughts.

Firstly the initial idea was to have another man, his neighbour, who perhaps had a burglary gone wrong (not that burglary isn’t already wrong), or a victim of organ theft in the night.

Really liked the idea of organ theft, i like the idea of bathtub with ice. Afraid, frightened, confused, lost, unable to help oneself and a whole bunch of other messed up thoughts along with the slow loss of time.

Issues

Idea 1: Burglary
If victim of a burglary, he would be dead alr as it’s more likely a knife stab. Scene would have to be in the night at ungodly hours. However, he could just call his parents and his involvement would be diluted. I wanted him to be alone with the weight falling solely on his shoulders to make the juxtaposition stronger.

Idea 2: Organ Theft
If a victim of organ theft, he would be a half-sedated man riling from the “operation” the night before. But who goes into someone else’s house, steals your organs per se, bringing a tub load of ice with them. This idea would require the scene to be day-ish, preferably morning, and i can set up the story such that mother has gone to the market after a barrage of nagging to otaku son, making him the only one capable of saving said victim.

Idea 3: Suicidal Old person

Sebastian mentioned perhaps the victim could be a suicidal old person who has lost the will to live after living for more than an average lifespan. This would increase the odds in supporting the idea of a lesson on life to the young man as he would have much more to offer as a wiser individual, including his decision to take his own life. However, the problem here is that a suicidal individual would not ask for help, as such there is no way to make said otaku cross borders to get to his side. Even if a ton of scuffling and commotional noises were heard, otakus don’t give two hoots about anything outside their room door. As such, I think there is no story advancement here. Unless for example, Otaku opens his window for once and sees an old man getting onto his home-made hangman. However, if we take the path of death, old man would not be able to tell him anything. If we take the path of interaction between the two individuals, the old man would not die, diluting the stakes.

Idea 4: Victim of accidental murder by spouse.

Not a road i think i would like to take. Too much illogical elements.

As such, I am in a dilemma on which path to take. Though i’m still leaning towards organ theft. What do you guys think? Open to suggestions.

Thanks!