“Friendly Competition” by Joe Case
THEMES: The diversity and camaraderie of the New Zealand people, the vibrant and active New Zealand lifestyle, and the majestic landscape of this young nation.
TONE: Fun and comedic. A bit of a parody of serious competition. I would like to improvise a bit with the actors to find some really funny and appropriate lines.
VISUAL STYLE: Very visually stunning. I would like the visuals to make reference to classic duels and such. The visual style should be in contrast to the comedic theme.
CONSIDERATIONS: Tell a story with multiple themes in 3 minutes with 2 shoot days? The key to this is to make a few images say a lot. To facilitate getting everything needed, only two locations will be used and those will in close proximity to each other, namely the shore and water of Lake Wakatipu.
*********** SCRIPT ***********
FADE IN:
AERIAL SHOTS of the raw, majestic beauty of the New Zealand landscape fade into each other, accompanied by traditional MAORI MUSIC with a heavy drum.]
Soon we here the sounds of a HAKA.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAKE SHORE – MORNING
CANOER, a Maori man around in his 30s stomps his foot on the ground.
We see him performing a Haka. Behind him sits a small traditional Maori canoe. This is fierce. It could be several hundred years ago for all we know.
[CLOSE UP shots of his feet his fierce eyes, his hands slapping. We intercut slow motion details with regular speed.]
CANOER comes to a dramatic stop on the Haka, square in frame. He is ready for battle.
Across from CANOER stands KAYAKER, another New Zealander standing with his arms crossed, dressed in a brightly colored kayak skirt and life jacket with a kayak behind him.
KAYAKER
Yeah, all right. You done?
CANOER
Yeah, I’m done, and pretty soon you’re gonna be finished.
The two men glare at each other. They are at water’s edge framed by the lake and tall snowy peaks on the other side.
TWO MEN, THEIR WEAPONS, THEIR BATTLEFIELD.
KAYAKER
Your really think you’re gonna beat me in that thing? (He nods toward the canoe)
Canoer looks back at his canoe, and then turns back with a smile.
CANOER
(chuckle) Mate, this thing has been tested and refined over hundreds and hundreds of years. (beat) It’s proven.
Canoer peers around and looks at Kayaker’s kayak.
CANOER
Can’t really say that about your little plastic water ski over there now can ya?
Kayaker chuckles.
KAYAKER
This here is cutting edge technology mate. Hi-tec, computer tested. You don’t stand a chance.
Canoer forms a sinister grin.
CANOER
Why don’t you just slip into your water ski there and let’s do this.
KAYAKER
Allright man. Let’s do this.
CLOSE UP on eyes staring each other down.
BIG DRUM BEAT HITS and we
CUT TO:
EXT. LAKE – MOMENTS LATER
The Canoer and the Kayaker on the open lake, fiercely ripping through the water with their paddles.
[CLOSE UP on the two bows neck and neck gliding across the glistening lake.]
The two men don’t let up. Their faces are twisted with effort and determination. They throw menacing glances at each other.
THE DRUM BEAT gets louder. Picks up pace. The two men throw themselves into the competition more and more. This is a real race.
[CLOSE UPS on the canoe, on the kayak. Slow motion close ups of the paddles cutting into the water. These guys are like gladiators.]
All of a sudden we here the whir of a POWERBOAT. The men don’t notice.
The powerboat comes up along side them. In the powerboat is a diverse group of 20 somethings. They all look at the two men racing on the water with an amused look.
BOAT GUY
Hey, you guys need a ride?
The Canoer and the Kayaker look up but don’t answer they are too involved. Boat Guy asks again.
We see the two of them paddling hard from the perspective of the speed boat.
BOAT GUY
I said do you guys need a pull?
Again they don’t answer.
BOAT GIRL
What’s up with them?
Boat Guy shrugs his shoulders to the others in the boat, then he guns the engine. The sudden take off of the boat produces a large wake that flips the Canoer and the Kayaker out of the vessels and into the water.
Silence.
The Canoer and the Kayaker bob in the water. Looking at the boat racing away. Just then another boat zooms buy pulling a wakeboarder, then a windsurfer cruises past.
The two men look at each other. They float looking ahead in confusion.
KAYAKER
Get a beer and watch the match?
CANOER
Yeah. You’re buying.
KAYAKER
What?
CANOER
That was the deal mate. I won. I was ahead.
*********** ABOUT ME ***********
After graduating from the University on Michigan with a philosophy degree I worked in advertising for about a year. During this time I began to explore film making at the Detroit Film Center where I made my first short film RUN on 16mm (link: http://www.joecaseshowcase.com/filmrun.html ). I then gave up the ad agency and moved to LA where I worked in commercial film production for some months before moving to Paris, France where I attended film school. During this time I wrote and directed two more short films “Trois Jours” (link: http://www.joecaseshowcase.com/filmtroisjours.html ) a short film about a man finding wisdom in odd places, and then “Dorenavant” (link: http://www.joecaseshowcase.com/filmdorenavant.html) a short film about choices. After film school I remained in Paris working on personal short projects and making featurette videos of sports cars.
I recently moved back to Los Angeles to find my big break! And also get closer to directing a feature.
My filmmaking developed mostly while in Paris. In addition to my films, I helped produce many other low budget shorts with diverse international crews of young people. Through this film making boot camp experience I know the importance of writing for a budget and just how much you can fit into a day. This also gave me a lot of experience on working internationally.
I am a life long traveler and love discovering new places. I think foreigners have a unique and keen perspective on a place that is valuable. I have never been to New Zealand and would love to discover it via lending my foreign perspective and making an entertaining and funny short film about the youngest country on earth! Having this opportunity would really be a big break and push all my previous experience to the professional next level.
More about me, including other works, is available at my website: http://www.joecaseshowcase.com/