Your Big Break

Ext. MOUNTAIN RIVER - morning hours

A magnificent mountain river, flowing sedately at the heart of a beautiful valley. Small gravel beaches and tussock covered banks grace the shoreline.

An ANGLER, early thirties, casts a fly onto the water, employing much finesse and accuracy. His face mirrors deep concentration. The fly has landed perfectly.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN RIVER - BELOW SURFACE/ UNDERWATER

Through the crystal clear water from deep underneath the surface we see the fly floating above. The camera travels slowly towards it until first ONE, then ANOTHER and then a THIRD TROUT enter frame. They rest in safe distance to the fly trap.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN RIVER - ABOVE SURFACE

The THREE TROUT look at each other in an almost human fashion.

The ANGLER sharpens his focus in anticipation, sensing the trout. He pulls the line between his fingers ever so slightly.

The trout look on unimpressed as the fly dances on the surface before them.

A STRANGE SOUND nearing fast catches their attention.

A tiny and incredibly FAST FLYING OBJECT is mid-air across the river, heading for direct collision with the angler. He is too absorbed to take notice.

A slit-second, a quick turn and the trout have vanished.

The CAMERA SPEEDS IN POV straight towards the angler. He has just about enough time to turn his head when BANG! ...

CUT TO BLACKOUT.

EXT. ENCHANTING FORREST - DAY

FADE UP: A magnificent cloud forrest. Moss covers trees all around, thickly grown fern and flora lend an enchanting other-worldliness.

The ANGLER finds himself being drawn deeper and deeper into the forrest. He notices a KIWI to his feet leading the way to the most surreal of settings amidst the trees.

Behind a heavy wooden desk sit THREE MAN-SIZE TROUT, staging a tribunal. A LONG WHITE COTTON CLOUD is suspended from the branches above, drizzling a constant supply of subtle rain on the trout's skin. Little waterfalls drip off the edge of the table.

Of the three trout, the WISE TROUT in the middle signs the ANGLER to take a seat. The other two trout start to squabble. The wise trout slams a fin onto the table, summoning silence. Water splashes into the angler's face.

WISE TROUT (addressing the angler): You are dead.

The Angler is dumbstruck. He wipes his face.

ANGLER: What?! BUT HOW?!!

The two trout chuckle. Earning a stern look from the wise trout. Silence.

WISE TROUT: That is not important right now.

In the corner of his eye the angler catches the kiwi bird sneak back into the undergrowth.

ANGLER (appealing): But wait a minute, am I not supposed to have a flashback of my life or something?

TROUT 1 (distracting the angler): Hey! Wise guy!

TROUT 2 (provoking): Like fishing, do ya?

WISE TROUT: We'll get to that in a minute.

The wise trout produces what looks like a joystick. He presses a button. The angler's chair revolves.

A sign reading 'MEMORY LANE' dangles off a branch in the foreground. The forrest reveals a hidden track. A sparkle of white light shimmers in the distance.

WISE TROUT (CONT'D): Be aware that you can only pass through the gates of heaven, if you can decide on the single most magnificent memory this life (alt." Life in New Zealand") has given you.

The angler is suspicious.

ANGLER: What happens if I can't decide?

One of the trout produces a fish bowl. Inside, miniature humans swim around in a frenzy.
The trout drops a wind-up plastic shark into the bowl. All three trout begin to laugh diabolically.

On the push of a button the angler's chair is set in motion racing along the forrest track and INTO the bright light...

CUT TO:

MONTAGE OF STOCK FOOTAGE ...
...featuring some of New Zealand's most breathtaking scenery and awe-inspiring beauty. Snow covered mountains, rainforests, splendid bays and beaches, rolling hillsides and majestic valleys. The pace increases as we stay in POV to experience a number of action-packed adventures: speeding along a river, mountain-biking atop a mountain, surfing,... bungee jumping: We leap over the edge, rocketing towards the ground when...

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN RIVER - BACK IN PRESENT MOMENT

...the angler's face hits the water's surface side-on in SLOW MOTION.

He immediately wakes from his 'momentary' knockout, grasping for air. We are by the river again as before. Back alive!

A concerned OLDER ANGLER wades over.

OLDER ANGLER(shouting): You alright mate?

ANGLER: Yeah. I was...I was just speaking with...some fish!

The older angler looks at him disapprovingly. He seems suddenly annoyed to have abandoned his spot for this nutcase.

OLDER ANGLER: Mate, get a grip on yourself.

(He turns, mumbling to himself.)

OLDER ANGLER (CONT'D): Fish don't speak. Kiwis don't fly.

The puzzled angler rubs his head where it hurts. He glances around. Still, he has no idea what has hit him.

A CRASH-PAN takes us to the shoreline where we can just about make out a kiwi hobbling quickly into hiding. It appears he is equally suffering from some kind of impact...

The CAMERA LIFTS into a WIDE to find the anglers settling back into their routine amidst a lasting image of unforgettable, pure New Zealand beauty.

FADE TO BLACK.

___________________

ABOUT ME:
Here’s what had me about this competition right away: I actually discovered my passion for filmmaking whilst living for one year in New Zealand on a student exchange in my teens.

I returned to my native Germany to train as an editor and postproduction supervisor before moving to the UK to go to film school and become a director. Whilst still a student I won the BMW shortfilm award in Germany. The award was based on a script competition similar to this one. Part of winning the award involved mentorship from actor Moritz Bleibtreu and Oscar winning director Florian Gallenberger.

After graduating I moved to London where I am now living for over 3 years, trying to get a break through commercials. I have been featured on The Reel as ‘One to Watch’ and have been recognized in various talent schemes. Most recently I was selected by the DGGB for their observer scheme and teamed up with director Jon Amiel and producer Jeremy Thomas, shadowing them on their feature ‘EVOLUTION’. An incredible learning experience.

I have also written and directed an 8x6 min online mini-series for SKY ONE as part of their interactive marketing campaign for the movie adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Colour of Magic’. It was so much fun and totally mental and I was lucky to be allowed to script small parts into my series for some of the feature’s main cast, including Sean Astin and Tim Curry.

Despite all this ‘success’ I am still a long way from having had ‘my break’ and keep on supporting myself through a range of non-film related part-time jobs. On the plus side a great way to come across many diverse people and their fascinating stories.

Thinking back to my wonderful film initiation in NZ I have always been tempted to return and see what it’s like working in the NZ film industry. Could I get my break over there?

And along comes your competition: I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to pitch and if I am lucky I get a shot at making a kick-start into a kiwi film career!

LINKS TO MY WORK

www.sarahgrohnert.com

(there you can also find a link to the above mentioned mini-series on my ‘About’ page)