Finalling my x200 Dialogues:
After a long stretch that included a couple other side projects and the birth of my son Magnus, I’ve wrapped up work on two dialogues shots I started earlier this year.
I worked with ILM animator Jean-Dennis, who offers an online critique course called ‘Spungella‘. For 16 weeks he critiqued my shots and helped me bang them into shape. I really enjoy JD’s work and felt like he helped plus what I had in a big way with his thoughts and feedback.
My focus was:
Real situations and context. Clarity of emotion and thought process Instantly relatable. Make an impact, entertain.x200 Dialogue: Big Casino – Polished
THE PITCH:
Middle aged man’s anxiety builds to a boil as he fatalistically interrogates his doctor about the prognosis.
Patient: What do you think doc…..is it the big casino?
SITUATION AND CHARACTER QUESTIONS:
WHERE: In a clean, trim doctors patient room.
Visible is the patient exam bed, and behind that a set of cabinets, stainless steel sink, tongue depressor, garbage can, public health poster. Some files in a folder, a small circular stool and a translucent cabinet also fill up the space. The colors are neutral beiges, with splashes of medical blue/green.
WHO:
An older Vegas business man at the height of his power and influence. Scores of people are at his beck and call. He’s long accustomed to having things happen when he demands it. He’s been suddenly faced with his own mortality and is facing the prospect of a complete loss of control.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Mid 50’s, white gentleman. Dark circles under his eyes. Expensive, but casual clothing. Looks human, vulnerable.
MOMENT BEFORE:
The doctor has just come back in the room after having completed some type of exam on the patient. He had left for the results and is back now, ready to discuss them. The patient has been sitting, stewing in his own anxiety for 15 minutes.
WHAT IS CHARACTER THINKING AT THIS POINT?
Jesus Christ the doc took forever to come back in. What if I’ve bought it, what then? All that work for fucking nothing, taken down by some bad cells and a bit of lab work now ready to waste away as some poor sap to be pitied. I don’t want it sugar coated, so why doesn’t he just tell me straight up…
WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE?
I would like to see a man at staring into the abyss, cutting through all the bullshit trying to get clarity on what lies in store for him.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
A man sitting slumped at the edge of patient bed, he starts asking the doc about what he thinks, and pushes himself off the edge of the bed, getting closer. He pauses and makes an secondary action as he does so, mentally preparing himself to ask if ‘it’s the big casino’. He looks or gestures up to indicated what exactly that means. He’s earnest and very concered.
x200 Dialogue: Mime Maiming Polished
THE PITCH:
An inept agent goes on the offensive when his mother/boss confronts him.
Woman: That was the Mayor of Paris…
Man: …Name dropper (reading over previous line)
Woman: …who was just as eager as I am to know why ISIS agents were TERRORIZING PARIS!
Man: So I crashed a few cop cars! Ran over a few mimes! So I don’t play by the rules mother, but I get results!
SITUATION AND CHARACTER QUESTIONS:
WHERE: In a mid 60’s decorated office. Wood panelling. Floor to ceiling windows. A desk with a black phone are in the background.
WHO: A somewhat inept but occasionally successful secret agent. He has an adversarial and dependent relationship with his mother/boss and treats his work like a game. She is a well connected, talented, and long suffering.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Handsome square jawed man, wearing sharp New York styled clothing. Woman is a shrewish, well dressed older lady.
MOMENT BEFORE: The agent was fixing himself a drink and thinking about how to spend his afternoon. The woman was placating and talking with the mayor of Paris, hanging white knuckled on the phone.
WHAT IS CHARACTER THINKING AT THIS POINT?
Man: what is she blathering on abou…..oh..the Paris thing…well so what! I finished the mission and did exactly what a spy of my skill needs to do. Who cares about a few mimes and cars!
WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE?
I would like to see a snappish woman slamming the phone down and glaring accusatorily at the man helping himself to her good whisky. She is a coiled spring and gestures sharply and with much energy as she berates his. He’s initially looking away from her at the camera when he responds, but looks back at her over his shoulder. Then away he looks back away from her as he broadly and angrily defends his actions. He gesticulates and then immitates a mime getting run over, then he eases out of that last gesture and emphasizes ‘gets results’ with his whisky glass.
Next Steps?
I’ve learned all I can learn and am ready to move onto new shots!