Here is the script for our short film "Confessions of a Sock-a-holic". As said in my earlier post, when acting this mockumentary, improvisation will be allowed because it can add to the passion and realistic drama of the scene. Though it is finished the ending I believe could be improved, so this could be part of the script improvised during filming, however this will act as a directed guideline. In writing this scrip sounds more formal and serious, but when directing, editing and filming we will make sure the style is of a documentary. From previous research of television series', I know that pitch's of just scripts often do not get picked up because they don't fill the gap in the market for the broadcasting company, this is another reason as to why I feel improvisation on the day will emphasise that it is a mockumentary and not a documentary.
“CONFESSIONS OF A SOCK-A-HOLIC”
EXT-PARK-DAY
Documentary crew edge towards young
boy walking dog
DOCUMENTARY CREW (QUESTIONING):
Excuse me, have you ever heard of the Sockmonster?
RANDOM YOUNG BOY (THOUGHTFUL):
…I think so, doesn’t he steal our socks?
CUT TO:
EXT-HOUSE FRONT-DAY
Crew knock on random door
RANDOM PERSON #2 (RAISES EYEBROW):
Can I help you?
DOCUMENTARY CREW:
Quick survey; do you often find you have odd socks?
RANDOM PERSON #2 (GROANS):
Too often to even count
CUT
TO:
EXT-CITY-DAY
DOCUMENTARY CREW (QUESTIONING):
Have you ever heard of the Sockman?
RANDOM PERSON #3 (FROWNS SLIGHTLY):
Who? The Sockman? Never heard of him.
FADE TO:
INT-INTERVIEW ROOM-DAY
‘Paul Smith’/Sockman settles down
in the chair and anxiously fidgets. Adjusts attire and eyes flick around the
room scanning the unfamiliar setting
INTERVIEWER (QUIETLY):
You ready?
PAUL (UPTIGHT) Clenches
hands in lap:
Just get on with it
INTERVIEWER (TAKES DEEP BREATH IN AND OUT AND QUESTIONS):
So Paul, tell us about this enemy of yours, the Sockmonster
CUT TO:
INT-BEDROOM-DAY
Paul refers to map and further
documents referring to the Sockmonster and his movements
PAUL (V.O)(CONTINUED FROM INTERVIEW)(PASSIONATE):
He’s not just my enemy. He is society’s villain. He steals (emphasis) socks. Your socks. He steals
your clothes. I mean ok, sure he doesn’t take your t-shirts or your shoes,
which are more valuable, but still he takes something you have paid for. Gone.
Forever.
Paul pins tags to map, marking
where he has been and where to go next. Looks to hand drawn picture of the
Sockmonster and screws up piece of paper in anger
INTERVIEWER (V.O)(CRITICAL):
Don’t you think that’s a bit over dramatic? You’re taking it
very personally, as well. It seems to me that he is not doing this just to you,
so why take it so personally?
Paul gets ready for his next
mission. Gets changed into Sockman outfit
FADE TO:
INT-INTERVIEW ROOM – DAY
PAUL (O.S) (AGITATED):
Over dramatic? Because of that thing, my mother is dead. He
purposely left a sock, which my mother slipped on and resulted in her death.
You cannot say it’s not personal.
INTERVIEWER(SIGHS):
Do you tend to have an outfit when tracking down this so called
Sockmonster.
PAUL:
This is my OnePiece, I always wear this when on duty because it
is the closest thing to a full body sock.
CUT TO:
Sockman/Paul picking at the door
lock and breaks in. Cowboy shot and front shot of Paul walking up the stairs.
Enters bedroom and goes to open suspected sock draw. In the meantime knocks
over flower vase.
LITTLE BOY (ALARMED):
Mummy! I heard something!
Paul rises and anxiously scans the
room
FADE TO:
EXT-POLICE STATION-DAY
Paul leaves police station after
his arrest for breaking and entering. Long shot and pan of him crossing the
road.
DOCUMENTARY CREW:
You ok?
PAUL (HUSHED):
Yeah I’m fine. I’m fine.
CUT TO:
INT-INTERVIEW ROOM-DAY
INTERVIEWER:
What was Paul like as a teenager?
PAUL’S SISTER:
We never really saw eye to eye. He was there…but it was like he
wasn’t.
CUT
TO:
Paul pulls the map out of his bag
and places it back on the wall. He then takes out the socks he collected and
repairs them with socks that he had previously found.
PAUL’S SISTER (V.O):
Ever since our mum died, he’s spent all his time in his room.
CUT TO:
INT-BEDROOM-DAY
Pan of Paul’s room. See posters,
voodoo dolls, map and picture of his mum.
CUT TO:
INT-INTERVIEW ROOM-DAY
Paul’s Dad looks serious sat in the
interview chair. Breathes in deeply and
exhales in preparation for the unrepressing of lies and hurt over his wife’s death
INTERVIEWER:
Why don’t you tell us how your wife really died?
PAUL’S DAD (SIGHING):
I knew you would ask that.
FADE TO:
INT-HALLWAY-DAY
Paul/Sockman enters another house
and climbs the stairs to accomplish another mission.
PAUL’S DAD (V.O) CONTINUED:
You see when Paul was young, he would often…misplace things;
whether that be a toy or a piece of clothing
Cowboy shot and front shot of Paul
climbing stairs and identifying which room to enter.
PAUL’S DAD (V.O) CONTINUED:
Well one day, his habit meant he left a sock. This sock (STARES OFF INTO SPACE) has been
responsible for all the evil and bad things that have happened to my family.
Paul enters bedroom, opens bag and
enters sock draw to repair lonesome socks
PAUL’S DAD (V.O) CONTINUED:
I created the Sockmonster. He doesn’t exist. I used him to
distract my son from taking the blame. At age ten, what are you more likely to
believe? That you left a sock and now your mother is dead or that a Sockmonster
left it. Haven’t you found you have odd socks?!
Paul hears noise from down stairs
and thinks the home-owner is home. He goes to check and finds that there is a
sock trail all down the stairs. Paul begins to hyperventilate/have panic attack
CUT/FADE TO:
INT-INTERVIEW ROOM-DAY
Paul’s dad takes deep breath and
shuts his eyes
PAUL’S DAD:
I never knew that his self-induced ostracization would lead to
these delusions
CUT/END
