Matrix Script

[Wizard]

Okay, if you haven't read the "Good Story" thread, you may want to take a quick peak at it before reading this. It will make things more clear.

I'm entering a contest at my school called Mr. GQ. Each contestant represents a:
Girl's Varsity sport
AP or elective class
club

Last year I represented girl's volleyball, but the spandex is too painful, and I want to try something new. So it's AP Psych this year.

The contest has three phases, but it's the middle one with which I need help. Basically, the contestant can perform any talent they have, barring inappropriate acts, of course. I've decided to make a movie, matrix-themed. It needs to touch on Mr. GQ somehow. I can duplicate some special effects from the movies, but don't write the "Superman" trick in or anything. I'm working on a script as well, but given the writing talent on this board, I thought this would be a good place to check it. So I'll be posting my script in a day or so, but don't let that stop you from posting your own. Remember that is script format, not novelization. So post your ideas, or rip on mine when I put it up. I am investing no pride into the script---I want to win, and I'll let my ideas be ripped to shreads in order to do it. So don't hold back.

EDIT:Have to go start on the fight scene, so I won't post the script till tomorrow.(12/13) I'll probably watch the movie again tonight, b/c I haven't seen it for a few years, and I need to refresh my memory.

[K Man]

I'll gladly help there Wiz...but I'm still a bit lost on exactly what needs to be in the script...

A Matrix-Style script based on the short essay in the post Mr. GQ?

A little help and I'll see what I can throw your way.

[Wizard]

Well, I lied. I didn't pay any attention in Government or English, so I whipped up a first draft. Here it is:

And Kman, you're not far off the mark. It should really just be based off of GQ, but I'm trying to find an opportunity to throw something in about the piano thing last year.

GQ Act
(A line of code begins to fall down the screen. It's quickly joined by others. The "camera" zooms in on a few lines, and they eventually stop to reveal the title, which is TBD. The entire screen begins to grow darker, then the camera zooms out. The dark is actually a black table at which Dan is staring, with the "GQ Ideas" sheet peeking its top up from the bottom of the camera.

(Cut to Dan in AP Physics[camera angle: From Dan's immediate left, at Dan]; Mrs. Watson is droning on, Devin (guy who sits next to Dan) is playing Phoenix on his graphing calculator[camera angle---1st person from Dan's eyes, taking in Devin & his calulator, then cut to the calculator screen, close enough to it to see he's playing Phoenix].

[cut to camera angle:1st person Dan's view, looking down at the sheet of paper] Dan's written "GQ Ideas" at the top of a sheet of binder paper. He's written several ideas, all of them crossed out. They include things like "Light self on fire," "No-parachute sky-diving," and "Bring in Osama."

Cut to the door[camera angle: from a few feet behind and to the left of Dan's seat, panning from the door to Mrs. Watson, then resting on Mrs. Watson as she moves to give Dan the envelope]. It opens, and an office T.A. walks in, strides toward Mrs.Watson, and gives her an envelope that says "Daniel Bell, D11(room number)" on it. She then exits. Mrs. Watson hands the envelope to Dan. Dan opens the envelope and [cut to a 1st-person view from Dan's eyes, opening the envelope] finds a phone inside. It rings. Dan, startled, answers it. Note:All scenes involving Dan from here until Dan arriving at John Friar's [the Oracle's] house will require him to hold the phone to his ear. Cut to Marc's mouth.)

Marcius: (a friend named Marc will probably play Morphius)(voiceover) :You're in great danger. They're coming for you.

(cut to Dan, phone clasped to ear. Camera angle: From the seat in front of Dan, at his level, facing him.)

Dan:Who's coming for me?

(cut to Marcius's mouth)

Marcius: The window. Look.

(cut to Dan, camera angle: the front seat one. Dan turns his head to his right and looks. Cut to the window, camera angle: Dan's 1st person view. Two agents are purposefully striding toward the classroom.)

(Cut to Dan, the front-seat angle.)

Marcius(voiceover): Don't talk, don't argue, don't run. I can guide you, but you're going to have to trust me. Stand up, and walk immediately through the door on your right. Stay as low as possible.

(Cut to Dan. [camera angle:5 ft. to Dan's right facing him.] Dan obeys and walks [keeping low] to the door, opens it, and steps through, phone at ear. Cut to Mrs. Watson [camera angle:10 ft. in front of Mrs. Watson, facing her] Mrs. Watson stops talking and stands for a moment, speechless. Cut to Dan walking through the geology room door[camera angle: back right corner of the classroom, catching Dan's door, Mrs. Kelson, and the geology class in the same shot. Mrs. Kelson is turned toward the blackboard. Dan just walks straight to the exit, giving John Muir a high-five along the way. Several students notice, and start laughing[camera angle:45-degree angle from a front corner of the class, not picturing John, all students laughing and looking in that direction. Cut to Mrs. Kelson turning. Cut to the door closing. Cut to aerial view, from the top of the building. Marcius talking, voice-over)

Marcius: Turn right. Stop. Wait. Go. Sprint! Go in through the door to your right, and sprint to the other side.

(Cut to a view midway in the hallway that Dan's entering, rotating to follow Dan. When he's even with the camera, cut to the face of an agent, footsteps. with an open door showing Dan's retreating form in the background. Cut to a view from the agent's side as he scrambles to the door. Cut to a view from in the hallway again, with both the door at the end of the hallway and the agent's door visible. As the agent runs out of his door, the door at the end of the hallway is just finishing closing. Cut to an aerial view from the top of this building, as it reveals Dan between two buildings, and a wave of agents throughout the rest of the school.)
Marcius(again, voiceover) :Turn left, now GO!
(Dan begins sprinting left. Cut to Dan running down a small hill toward the street. Camera angle is from the street. The street is obviously empty.)

Marcius(voiceover) : OK, now let's see. There! You have a car!

(cut to Dan running for the now-present car and grabbing for the door handle. It's locked. Camera angle is parallel to the street.)

Marcius(voiceover) : Oh. Sorry.

(cut to one of the locks from the interior of the car. It unlocks. Cut to Dan running around the car[camera angle: from the left back of the car, facing "forward; that is, the way the car is facing.] to the driver's seat, pulling open the now-unlocked door. As he does so...)

Marcius(voiceover) :You have the key in your shirt pocket.

[Wizard]

(cut to Dan in the driver's seat, removing the key from his shirt pocket. Camera angle: the passenger seat, facing Dan. Cut to the hill[camera angle:the street, facing the hill]. LOTS of agents are running down the hill. Cut to the car moving. Camera angle: The other lane, facing the car)

Marcius (voiceover) : Drive the direction the car is facing.

(Cut to the car moving. Camera angle:behind the car, facing it. Agents run onto the road as the car leaves them in the dust. Cut to the car moving(in an area with two lanes). Camera angle:another car in the next lane, facing Dan's car. Cut to Dan in the interior. Camera angle:the passenger seat, facing Dan)
Marcius(voiceover):Now turn right, and drive...

([Small explanation: John Friar was a senior last year. He had the questionable honor of representing half the black population in his class. Moraga(my town) ain't exactly a melting pot. Anyway, he's a nice guy home from college for Christmas break.] Cut to Dan's car pulling up in John Friar's [the Oracle's]driveway. Camera angle:From higher on John's driveway, at a 45-degree angle to the car, it's left side, facing the car. Dan gets out, and starts walking to the door. Cut to Dan's fist knocking on the door. A pause, and then The Oracle answers it. John is fully decked out in grey wig and flowered smock .

Oracle: Ahhhh, Daniel. Marcius told me about you. Come in, come in.

(Oracle makes a beckoning gesture, and Dan steps in. Cut to them sitting at a table, eating toast or something. Cut to Oracle's face. Camera angle: a foot or two from the Oracle's face, at 1:30 for the Oracle.)

Oracle: You see, the agents have taken control over everyone entering the contest. The machines have some super-weapon planned---sort of an EMP for living things. It needs incredible amounts of energy to work. That's where the contest comes in.

(cut to Dan's face. Camera angle: Same as Oracle's face, but 10:30 instead of 2:30.)

Dan:The contest?

(cut to Oracle's face, same angle as before)

The Mr. GQ contest. The machines are going to tap the energy of human will. It's far greater than the simple bio-energy they suck from your bodies. If one of the agents win, people will focus their attention and will on them---in a positive way...something they've never had before.

(cut to Dan's face, same angle as before.)

Dan: So what can I do to stop him?

(cut to Oracle, same angle as before)

Oracle: You have to enter the contest, expose the other contestants for what they are, and win the crown, of course.

(cut to Dan, same angle as before)

Dan: But what will my talent be?

(cut to Oracle, same angle as before)

Oracle: You're the One. You figure it out. I believe...I believe that the signup sheet is in the attendance office. I'm afraid you'll have to go back. (Oracle smiles)

(cut to Dan driving up in the quad parking lot. Camera angle: The quad, facing the car. The camera rotates to keep the car in view. Cut to Dan getting out of the car. Camera angle: Left side of the car, facing same way as car, so as to catch Dan in view. Cut to Dan walking into the quad toward the A building. Dan spins around. Cut to Agent Ernst's face. Camera angle:very close to A. Ernst's face. Starting before Dan spins around and ending after the cut, A. Ernst says: )

A. Ernst: Hello, Mr. Bell.

(cut to another Ernst on the other side of Dan. Ernst is at the foot of the close A hall stairs. Camera angle: Right behind and next to the first Agent Ernst's foot, so as to catch his foot, Daniel, and the new Agent Ernst in the same shot. Dan spins around right after the coming line starts.)

Second A. Ernst: So nice of you to join us, Mr. Bell. Did you really think you could get past me? (suddenly angry) I'm going to enjoy watching you die.

(fight scene ensues, during which Dan makes his way closer to the A hall stairs. Still working out the kinks of this. Dan runs up stairs to the attendance office and grabs the signup sheet, then turns and is confronted with A. Ernst.

(more fighting, during which Dan makes his closer to the car. After thrusting A. Ernst away from him for a moment, Dan jumps in the car and drives away.)

(Time switch:GQ night. Cut to view of the lighted, empty stage. Camera angle:from the light guy's box in the far top back.)

MC: (voiceover): And for our next talent, give it up for Mr. Daniel Bell!

(cheers)

(cut to Dan, on the side of the stage. He's still in the dark portion of the stage---he can see some of the audience, but they can't see him. Camera angle: one ft behind Dan's head, facing the audience, managing to catch Dan's head in between. Dan walks out. Cut to stage [camera angle: same as the one from the light guy's box] Dan walks up to the mike, dressed in street clothes. Cut to Dan and the audience [camera angle: one ft behind and to the right of Dan's head, catching him and the audience in the same shot] Cut to the light-guy's-box angle again.

Dan (over mike): This is all a farce.

(pause. Dan pulls a remote from his pocket and a projector screen lowers behind him)

Dan (over mike) : None of the other contestants are human. They may look human, but they're anything but.

(Cut to projector screen. The screen begins to show someone being taken over by an agent (not the Smith thing, but the way normal agents can do it.)

(Cut to green matrix writing on a black background. Words: "So what'll it be, folks?"
Cut to new Words: "The enslavement of every thinking being"
cut to a 1-second film clip from Revolutions of all the human-tanks in the machine city.
Cut to new Words: "or a second chance at freedom?"
Cut to a 1-second film clip from Revolutions of Neo and Trinity rising above the clouds.
Cut to new Words: "Judges, it's all in your hands!"


Made a few edits. I rented The Matrix last night and watched it again. Today, I watched the "The Making of the Matrix" documentary that was on it as well. I'm going to try and duplicate some of the special effects, but others will remain beyond my ken. So far, I'm thinking I'll walk on a wall once, and put a quick spot of bullettime in. I don't have 164 separate cameras like they used, but with wires as anchors, and the right editing software, I think I'll be able to make do with just one camera that's moved. A lot of the fighting, though, even in the movies, is just training in martial arts, of which I have some. I've compiled a wish list of things I'll need to acquire to make this thing:

Wires
Pulleys
anchors
1 trenchcoat
Guns. Lots of guns. Just joking.
Grey wig
flowered apron\smock
hair gel
LOTS of sunglasses.
A metal bar contraption I've designed to keep the camera steady.
A skateboard, so the camera can move easily (I'm working pretty low-budget, as you can tell)
A cell phone
A manila envelope
an extra GQ sign-up sheet ('cause I used the first to actually sign up!)
A climbing harness
a loop made of webbing
Some drywall (easy to break)
a fan and an extension cord

And keep the questions, comments, and suggestions coming. When it's all done (in like a month), I'll try to send it to you guys.

edit:ha! Just got my paycheck for three months of work! Consider the movie financed!

[K Man]

Wiz, you are one crazy dude...know that? I used to make films in high school, but they were the cheesiest I've ever seen.

There's no way I could write something for you...not like this anyway. You obviously know a craploads more of your home town and school setup than I do...but I can still try to help.

A few things:

Change "The Matix" to "The Moragtrix". That way it seems like a cleverly devised clone that people can relate to...your home town name.

I dig the Marcius name...very good.

As for Agent__________. If you stick with Ernst...that's not bad, but I would come up with something somewhat humerous maybe...like a synonym for Clone or "No Name". A lot of people felt that way about Smith in The Matrix...he was just a bunch of no names.. I dunno

I'll look closer at the dialogue and present thoughts on that as well, but so far it looks pretty good. Keep it up and I would be anxious to see it once completed.

KMan

[Merovingian]

Perhaps agent Doe, as in John Doe some one that could be any-body?

[Wizard]

I like the Agent Nobody idea. How about Agent Nemo? I believe it means "nobody." However, I only know that from a John Bellairs novel, so I better do some more research.

I talked to a guy in my church, and he as AVID, which is apparently the program that actual studios use to edit their films. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to rid myself of the wires with that, but I think I'll paint 'em the same as the wall anyway...just in case.

The Moragtrix...hmm. I might use that. I am currently without a title. I definitely want to start the movie off with lines of code coming down the screen, but resolving to what? The Moragtrix isn't too bad, but I bet there's something better out there.

I saw The Glitch in the Matrix a few days ago. It's a fanfilm on theforce.net that deals with what would happen if the matrix didn't have spell check:

Smith:If you could help us, Mr. Anderson, then we could...wipe the slate clean, so to speak.

Tom Sanderson: Wait, did you just say "Anderson," like with an A? My name is "Sanderson."

In any case, it was a fine film that demonstrated what can be done with amateurs. I think I can do their special effects one better, but it's very high quality.

Anyway, I liked their title. Is their any way I could frame the title in terms of The Matrix? The Moragtrix is funny, but it's a little too funny; I don't think it will start off being taken seriously. I'd like the audience's main laughs to come from John Friar's new look. I'm not really going for a spoof here---while there's humor, I want the audience to be caught up in "Wow, how'd he do that as an amateur?" and "Hey, I recognize that line/scene from the movie!" I'm not a particularly funny guy (not to anyone but myself, anyway), and I won't be able to compete with most of the other guys for humor. So sheer ooh-and-ahh potential will have to suffice.

Question: I'm duplicating bullettime by keeping myself suspended in mid-air (and motionless) with wires from all directions. Then I'll simply move the camera around me. I can edit out any discontinuities. BUT
How can I (or someone else) move the camera at a constant speed around me while facing me? I'd originally conceived of mounting it on a skateboard and then placing an extension cord in its way to force it along a circular path, but it's unsteady and runs over the cord sometimes. Any suggestions?

[K Man]

Question: I'm duplicating bullettime by keeping myself suspended in mid-air (and motionless) with wires from all directions. Then I'll simply move the camera around me. I can edit out any discontinuities. BUT
How can I (or someone else) move the camera at a constant speed around me while facing me? I'd originally conceived of mounting it on a skateboard and then placing an extension cord in its way to force it along a circular path, but it's unsteady and runs over the cord sometimes.

Go down to the hardware store...grab your ass a long board. Long enough to circle around you but not to hit anything around the room. Nail it down and make the pivot point beneath the object you want to film. I.E. - You suspended from wires. That way you can smoothly pivot the board in a perfect circle around you without hitting anything. You can even make it so the pivot point can swivel up and down so you can not only circle perfectly around, but begin the swivel at the feet and end at the head... How does that sound?

If you do this, make sure the handle on the other end of the board is bent or off to the side so that the camera doesn't catch someone on the other end of the board walking along with it.

As for the Agent Name - synonyms for Nobody; Nullity (Like that one), Cipher (Strange the Wachowksis would use that for Cipher...), Zilch, Nada, Vacuity... etc etc. Plenty of possibilties.

As for The Moragtrix...it can function as either funny or serious. It's not that far from the actual movie title. It can be seen as both a clever twist on a name pushing closer to home, or as a name that's funny because it's closer to home. Either way, it's imitation which is best form of flatery.

Coincidently, Japic here on the boards, his little cult I mean "Rennasiance Recreation Group, is called Mottistone. (Websites broken currently, ask him for a link if you want one.) One of the members of that group created a picture of the Matrix style dropping green letters and put the words "What is the Mottrix?" beneath it with a big pic of Japic in his garb. I thought it was pretty cool, but don't tell him I said that. That's where the inspiration for "The Moragtrix" came from.

[Wizard]

I like the agent names. My favorites are Nullity, Null, and Nada ("A Dan" backwards. Like it?)

Problem is, the bullet time portion will almost certainly be on concrete or a gym floor. So I can't nail anything down.
But what I could do is to take that one long board, put another exactly on top of it, and then drill a hole through both of them. Bingo! Instant axle. I'll plug it with bolts, and leave a little room between the two boards so it can turn easily. The bottom board will serve to provide an anchor and a pivot point (quite simple to have two people lying down holding it down), and the top will rotate freely, with the camera mounted on one end. It won't tip over because the cameraman will hold it up.

So far, so good. I wasn't planning on having smooth vertical mobility as well, but if there's an easy way to do it, I'll certainly listen. THANK YOU.

Edit:saw your edited post. I'll ask Japic for the link, and see if I can learn how the guy got it to say what he wanted.

Edit #2:The bell just rang. Gotta go. Alas, Peer screwing around Tutoring only lasts one period!

[Merovingian]

You might also look at large scale model trains. The tracks can be set up to get any type of rotation you like with a stable enough platform to ensure a stable shot. No boards or nails needed. The cost might be prohibitive but you don’t need much. As for vertical that’s tougher. Perhaps it would be easer to have a stationary camera and have your character move with the good old wire team trick..

[Japic]

As for my groups website, it is under new management at a new address. it can be visited at either www.mottistone.com or www.mottistone.net.
The fellow that KMan is referring to is a friend of mine called Fireblade or Jon. He's a graphic designer for some mall based real estate company he works for. He's got hella schooling on the subject, and I have no idea what software he uses. I'm not certain if he's visiting the new Mottistone boards yet. We've only been launched on the new site for about a week, maybe less now.


The whole idea sounds pretty cool so far, and as far as the spinning board thing work would work, I've another similar suggestion, although it is a little more labor intensive, maybe a little too complex for what you're looking for. The idea is pretty similar in design to a teeter totter:
A board centered on a peg, either end can go up and down. You take that base design and set it on a swiveling base, a bolt that allows the base to turn is good enough. The 'peg' that that the board teeters on would be replaced by a bolt that can be tightened down to hold the 'teeter' at a specific angle. Now you take the main board that does the 'teetering' and cut one half of it nearly off, mounting the camera on the long end. You now have a primative boom, with the ability to change the verticle or horizontal paramater as different shots may require.

Take it or leave it, that's my two bits.

[Wizard]

Well, you're all too late. I stopped off at the hardware store today, and bought two 6' 2x4's. I drilled a hole in both of them about two feet from the edge, then put a washer on a bolt, slipped the bolt through one board, slipped a washer on the bolt on the other side then slid the bolt through the other. I finished it all off with a washer on the loose end. I oiled the bolt before I put it in, and I also oiled the in-between washer, so it ought to move freely. I haven't tested it yet, though. I also got a wheel that I'm going to attach to the bottom of the free end of the top board, so it'll move easily, and the cameraman won't have to support it.

I had great success in signing up Agents for this Saturday, the first of winter break. I'm planning to shoot the AP Physics scene (not the outside part, though) Wednesday morning, and John Friar will be home Friday night. He's in my church, so I'll talk to him on Sunday and shoot on Monday.

Meanwhile, "Agent" Ernst and I got maybe 10 seconds of choreography worked out at lunch today. We're working on flexibility so we can kick at each other's heads and not pull something. I gave him a choice of names, and I think he's gonna go for Nullity. Thanks, Kman.

I also borrowed the original and Reloaded from my friend today, and I'll hold onto those until the whole shebang's over.

Can anyone suggest a way for me to get the movie to you guys when it's done? My Yahoo account only lets me send 3 MB at time, and I have a feeling this will bigger than that.

I'm going to a discount store tomorrow to pick up A LOT of sunglasses. I've a friend with a trenchcoat, so I think I'm covered.

I'm stuck for what I should do (in the script) when I'm onstage. There's no way I'll be able to actually show Agent Ernst infesting people (like it's written that I do), but what else can I write in?

And in case anyone finds it funny, I spent fifteen minutes being sprayed by raw sewage while bailing out an overflowing pump yesterday. I could have had a much different experience had I simply turned off the pump(which I realized later). Smart me, huh?

Edit:Ack! Didn't notice your post about Agent Doe till just now, Merv. I'll suggest it to Agent Ernst.

[K Man]

Trinity sunglasses thing? You'll have to refresh my memory about that one...

As for getting the movie out...I dunno. If necessary, you can PM me for a home adress and I can share it with everyone from there. Just a thought...

[Wizard]

The Trinity sunglasses thing is when she tilts them so that they're askew on her face. So it's like


1=sunglass lens
2=eye
3=eye with sunglass lens over it
0=placeholder
Before:

3000000000003

After:
1
2000000000002
0000000000001

[Wizard]

Had a talk with my brother's friend. He climbs a lot, and suggested that the fight take place on the rooves of the school instead. Gives opportunity to leap from roof to roof. He said it can be done if we can find some large area of uniform color to use as an improvised green screen. I checked the instruction manual for AVID, and it mentioned an effect called "masking" that I think will do the trick, as long as I'm jumping from one side of the camera view to the other. How's that for a special effect?

[Wizard]

I'm shooting the AP Physics\geology walkthrough scene today in like half an hour. I'm as nervous as I can express in my Mormon terms. Put it this way: I'm gosh-darn nervous. I've changed the opening scene considerably if you'd care to read it. Wish me luck!

[K Man]

Best of luck maynard...I have faith it'll turn out good. You seem like a bright kid. Let us know:)

[Wizard]

Shot the scene. The teacher is a bit miffed, but I got a great 1st-person-view shot of her giving me the envelope. I was going to film the geology class portion (Mrs. Kelson's, to refer to the script) today, but my cousin (the John Muir there referenced) wasn't here today. So I'll shoot that part tomorrow, and the "running from agents" portion on Saturday. Trouble is, I'll have to wear the same clothes I'm wearing today on Thursday(geology class portion), Saturday(aerial view "running from agents" portion), and Monday (interview with John Friar/Oracle). These here clothes are gonna be bleached white in a few days, with all the washing!

Also, I think I'll show cuts of agents running through the two classrooms to get to me as well. Adds suspense, n'est-ce pas?


EDIT: ARARARGGHGHG! !@#$%^&*! We had a physics test today, which I had to finish before I could start filming. Alas, it took me a while to finish, so I only had time for one take. It was good, except it caught Mrs. Kelson aware of my presence. That was NOT the plan---the plan was for her to turn and just see the door closing. Now that I think of it, though, it might be better if it's the agents that barely make it through.

Also---I must get a tripod. No Blair Witch feel for me!

[Wizard]

Hee hee! Got a black trenchcoat. Looks good, if I do say so myself.

[Wizard]

Saturday, 12-20-03

Was going to shoot the scene of agents looking for Dan all around school, and of Dan driving away, but rain shut my plans down. Lots of agent extras were disappointed. I felt sort of bad letting them down, but what could I do?