screenplay/shot list for final project

Intro:

Rabid mole – just use audio initially, then have footage of mole, then quick fade to black, quick fade back to mole, quick fade back to black (“He just peed on me!) quick flashes of swings, fan, Jared, rats, basket ball woman

VO: In 12th grade, I was in the advanced history class and my teacher said something about people only thinking in words, so I thought about it for the rest of the day and accosted him the next day to tell him that I don’t always think in words. I was reminded of that today when Paul gave me a book about what life is like for this woman with autism; it’s called “Thinking In Pictures.” [shot of book] Nora and Jasmine saw it and both really wanted to read it [shot of Nora and Jasmine. Cut out audio. Insert my voice dubbed over, pretending to be them “I want to read that” “GIMME!”], but I said they’d have to wait until I finish it.

VO: Also, this autistic woman feels a strong connection with animals. She says she can understand them in ways others can’t. [images and video from iPhoto of me with various animals (Esh, cats, kitten, maybe something with the rabid mole?)]

VO:            What information or meaning can be gained from observing body language?

VO:             Can you tell when someone is angry? [shots of angry people]

            What about when they’re angry and they try to hide it? [shots of …? Rats!]

            Can you tell when someone feels uncomfortable in their own body? [shots of…Ben?]

            Can you tell when someone is faking a laugh? [shot of fake laugh]

            Watch their eyes. [shot of eyes, normal, then smiling] If they don’t squint, it’s not a true laugh or smile [footage of fake laughter]. (text on screen): This isn’t applicable if the person has naturally squinty eyes – quick flash of picture of Nat. [continued previous shot of eyes]

            Laughter is mostly an autonomic response. It’s easy to tell when someone is genuinely laughing, which is why it’s a good social indicator of honesty. [clip from when we were house-sitting with Andrew in the kitchen and everyone is laughing. Ted laughing (dub ridiculous laughter) Other clips of laughter.]

LS:             two friends are having a serious but relaxed conversation, which takes place during the body shots

ECU:            eyes (attentive, soft)

ECU:            hands (open)

CU:            legs (not jittery, crossed toward other person)

ECU:            feet (not jittery)

CU:            arms (not folded over, relaxed)

ECU:            mouth (one person smirking, other talking)

EK:            Well, sure, I’m all for breaking boundaries, but I think that some boundaries are good.

MB:            Could you be anymore specific?

EK:            Boundaries are useful when they’re useful.

MB:            Yeah, you said that. Can you give me an example?

EK:            Well, I don’t know… like my skin. Right now it’s preventing all my guts from falling out.

MB:            It’s also keeping things from getting inside you.

EK:            Ew, good. I don’t want anything inside me.

MB:            What about me?

EK:            Uhhhhh. I’m not really interested in you that way.

MB:            NO! Don’t flatter yourself. I mean, would you let me inside your mind, to experience what you experience mentally?

EK:            Like in Freaky Friday?

MB:            Sort of. Except they just changed bodies and each person kept their own mind.

EK:            But if we switched minds, wouldn’t we also have to switch bodies? So I would just become you and you would become me.

MB:            I guess.

EK:            But that means that we wouldn’t retain our original mind, so how would you even know you were experiencing my mind if you had given your mind to me?

MB:            I guess I wouldn’t have that objective knowledge of experiencing you through the lens of my mind. I would just be you…. Er, you would be you?

EK:            So the self dissolves?

MB:            Yes.

EK:            That’s a scary thought.

MB:            Why is the individual so special? If we connect our minds, we might lose our current senses of individuality. But why would that loss be so bad?

EK:            I guess I’ve always wanted to feel more connected with the universe.

MB:            If you’re serious about this, I read this old book I found in the library called “World Wide Mind.” It’s about connecting your minds to gain more empathic understanding of those around you. You can just switch off the connection whenever you want to. We could try it. The technology is everywhere.

EK + MB [staring into camera]: Yes, thank god it is the future. [they turn to look at each other] Let’s do this.

[Really cool special effects allow their minds to be connected (maybe involving micropipetter?)]

MB:            I want you to experience my mind first. I think it might be too complicated if we both do it at the same time.

EK:            Makes sense. I hope you don’t harbor a secret hatred for me…I’m ready.

[they use the technology that allows EK to experience MB’s mind]

[shots of crazy things in MB’s mind]

[MB closes the connection. EK is crying]

MB:            Let’s switch.

[EK nods. They use the technology again]

[shots of crazy things in EK’s mind]

[EK refuses to close the connection. MB becomes trapped in EK’s mind. The two minds fuse into one.]