Blog #7 -Hollywood Formula

1. Opening Scene:

(The show opens in a bedroom light by the rising sun as an alarm goes off. Camera cuts to a lumped body under a sheet as the alarm blares. Camera close up on arm coming out of covers searching for the alarm, slamming down on it once it finds it. Cut to the face of the girl, Tara, head on as she splashes cold water over her face. She looks tired and her eyes are puffy from lack of sleep. Her voice narrates her thoughts)

TARA (V.O.): I couldn’t sleep last night.

2. Setting Up the Story:

The monologue narration in the beginning will reveal the strong characteristics of the main character. Within the first few minutes she will answer a phone call from a friend and we will also learn more about this minor character from their conversation. The narration will begin to set the scene from the very beginning; Tara will be describing camp and how she got to be where she is now in terms of her new job there. A tangible conflict will not be introduced right away, other than the apparent nervousness of the main character over starting her new job. As the day goes on, more and more people will be introduced by the narrator.

3. The Big Decision

This may actually happen more towards the end of the pilot episode, as a way to not only conclude the first snipet of the series, but also leave room for explorations in the next episodes. Also its a little less of a "big decision" and more of a realization. Tara will exit a busy scene from an active game of dodgeball with many screaming children, and enter the counselor bathrooms within the girls lockeroom. She had the intentions of just going to the bathroom quickly, but she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and is shocked by how drained her face looks. Her monologue narration begins to question her purpose at camp - whether or not she is doing a good job and whether or not it is all worth it. She reflects on the failed expectations and is embodied with negative thoughts when her narration is interrupted by a thud from in the camper portion of the locker room. She forgets her thoughts and runs out to check. She finds a small camper sitting in the center of the empty room, struggling to tie her shoelaces. The girl looks up as if to ask for help, so Tara bends over to help. The girl makes adorable small talk, and then points to Tara's homemade bead bracelet on her left wrist. She compliments it and asks where she got it. Tara explains that she made it as a camper, probably when she was about her age. The girl says something that inflects the admiration she has for Tara, and Tara looks up from teh shoes at the girls face. Tara smiles, showing that this small incident has restored her confidence in herself and her reasons for wanting to be there.