Your Big Break

BLANK SPACES - by Rajneel Singh

"BLANK SPACES" came about literally through the miracle of 21st Century technology. Desperately searching for inspiration, I began a virtual 'location scouting' session on Google Earth and my jaw literally dropped open when I accidentally stumbled upon Lake Unknown - a remarkable high-altitude lake sitting on a shelf, surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and a 1,000 meter drop at one end. Using the geographic hot-linking function in Google Earth, I was able to explore the location thanks to tourist photos on Panoramio and videos on YouTube.

I was immediately taken by the irony of the official name of this body of water: Lake Unknown, suggesting that someone couldn't be bothered naming such spectacular location...which further hinted to me that maybe because there are so many beautiful locations in New Zealand that perhaps the powers that be eventually gave up in naming them.

None-the-less, the kernal of an idea was hatched by the lake's elusive name and thus I wrote "Blank Spaces".

What's even further remarkable is that the entire process of writing "Blank Spaces", including finding and virtually exploring the location, happened between the hours of 2am and 5am in my bedroom on one hot summer night...illustrating the interesting relationship between the marvels of the modern world and the wonders of the natural world which are key themes in this short, humorous, story.

In the end, I can only hope that this script will bring a smile to the face of any reader.

NOTE TO READERS: if possible, this short film should probably be set to music. As I was writing this, I happened to have "NOT GIVEN LIGHTLY" BY CHRIS KNOX running through my head. Whether this proves to be appropriate...remains to be seen *wink*.

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A BLACK FRAME

We hear the distant HIGH ALTITUDE WIND and the sound of FINGERS SCRAPING AGAINST ROCK.

CRASH CUT TO:

EXT. A STEEP MOUNTAINSIDE - MORNING

We see our plucky young hero - DAVE - climbing up a steep rocky mountainside! Down on all fours, he clambers up the steep face with a UNUSUALLY LARGE PACK on his back.

Behind DAVE we see a steep GORGE, crowned with mountains, which descends over a thousand meters to a flat bottom known as THE THEATER FLATS.

DAVE risks a glance behind, gulps nervously, turns back and keeps climbing. The SWEAT pours off him! He reaches out for a TUSSOCK OF GRASS, but it BREAKS APART and he TEETERS for a second before REGAINING HIS HANDHOLD!

PHEW! That was close! DAVE grits his teeth, looks up at the mountain before him and then STARTS TO CLIMB again.

EXT. MOUNT NOX SUMMIT - A LITTLE LATER THAT DAY

DAVE finally arrives at the SUMMIT of the mountain - MOUNT NOX. The VIEW is utterly spectacular - lush GREEN VALLEYS sprawl before him beneath SNOW-DUSTED MOUNTAINS.

DAVE reaches into his pack and pulls out a SMARTPHONE and turns it on. He loads up a GPS/SATELLITE MAPPING app and checks his location. It reads: "MT NOX, OTAGO 9382, NEW ZEALAND". We see A SATELLITE PHOTO, in 3D, on the phone and it certainly looks like the mountain he’s on.

DAVE scrolls the photo upwards and reveals a MOUNTAIN LAKE directly beneath MT NOX on the opposite side of the summit. It’s labeled "LAKE UNKNOWN". He slowly lowers the phone and we see...

DAVE’S POV: Directly ahead of him, six-hundred meters below, is LAKE UNKNOWN. It sits on A HIGH ALTITUDE SHELF - on three sides are steep mountain walls while the fourth side terminates at A LEDGE OVERLOOKING ANOTHER THOUSAND-METER
DROP into a valley below! It’s unbelievable!

EXT. MOUNT NOX SUMMIT - MORNING

DAVE sees the lake and SMILES to himself. And he plunges onwards towards it!

EXT. LAKE UNKNOWN SHORELINE - MIDDAY

Finally skittering down the steep slope and onto the lakeshore, DAVE takes a moment to admire the breathtaking sight before him. Satisfied, he removes his huge BACKPACK and begins to empty it out!

STRANGE ITEMS are pulled from the pack and thrown onto the ground - BLACK NETTING, VERY LONG ROLLS OF WHITE PVC, HOOKS, A BICYCLE PUMP, A ROWING OAR and A TINY, DEFLATED, RUBBER DINGY! Once the pack is empty, DAVE stands up and GLANCES AT HIS WRISTWATCH...and then looks straight up to the sky!

He’s got just enough time. DAVE sets to work!

EXT. LAKE UNKNOWN SHORELINE - MONTAGE

We see DAVE hard at work - spreading out the NETTING on the ground, unrolling the WHITE PVC SHAPES, setting HOOKS into the netting and constantly STEPPING BACK to see his work in-progress.

At one point DAVE picks up one of the WHITE PVC SHAPES and we see that it is in the shape of an "L", but unfolded it is almost THREE TIMES THE SIZE of DAVE!

We see DAVE unrolling MORE GIANT PVC SHAPES, we see him taking FURTHER and FURTHER STEPS BACK to get a better view of his work, we see him DOUBLE CHECK his work AGAINST A PAPER PLAN in his pocket...and we see him CONSTANTLY checking his wristwatch and GLANCING SKYWARDS.

EXT. LAKE UNKNOWN SHORELINE - AN HOUR LATER

Now we see DAVE furiously pumping up the TINY RUBBER DINGY with his BICYCLE PUMP. He wipes the sweat off his brow, CHECKS HIS WATCH and then carries on PUMPING FURIOUSLY! The pump makes a comical ’squeaky-squeaky-squeaky-squeaky’ noise as he diligently tries to get the boat inflated!

EXT. LAKE UNKNOWN SHORELINE - 30 MINUTES LATER

DAVE is now RE-ROLLING the BLACK NETTING back up as TIGHT as he can! We see that he’s used hooks to attach the WHITE PVC SHAPES to the netting, we can’t see how they are arranged.

He LEANS on the netting heavily, trying to get it rolled into the SMALLEST and most COMPACT shape possible!

EXT. LAKE UNKNOWN SURFACE - MID-AFTERNOON

We see DAVE sitting in the tiny RUBBER DINGY, slowly PADDLING out to the middle of the lake with his SINGLE OAR. Sitting in the boat, next to him, is the BLACK NETTING compactly folded up into neat, squashed, shape!

DAVE checks his watch, glances up to the sky, and PADDLES HARDER.

EXT. THE MIDDLE OF LAKE UNKNOWN - MID-AFTERNOON

Finally arrive at the middle of the lake, DAVE puts aside the oar and carefully grabs the NETTING. He starts to UNFOLD IT and we see that the thing is MASSIVE, easily four times the length of the dingy!

Like some strange fisherman, DAVE slowly dispenses the NETTING onto the lake! IT FLOATS and begins to SPREAD OUT BEFORE HIM like oil on the surface of water. We catch glimpses of GIANT PVC SHAPES stuck onto the netting - a giant letter "D" and a "K" and an "L" and so on...

Finally all of the NETTING has been released and it now FLOATS PERFECTLY on the water, the GIANT WHITE PVC LETTERS spelling out some message that we’re too close to read.

Satisfied, DAVE pulls out his PAPER PLANS from his pocket and double checks them.

CLOSE UP: THE PAPER PLANS

DAVE flicks through the pages and stops at a CHART with the heading "SATELLITE FLY-OVER SCHEDULE"! He runs his finger down and stops at a SERIES OF NUMBERS.

EXT. THE MIDDLE OF LAKE UNKNOWN - MID-AFTERNOON

DAVE CHECKS HIS WRISTWATCH...and glances SKYWARD.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. AN OFFICE BUILDING - THAT SAME MOMENT

A very bored-looking CARTOGRAPHER works at his desk, glancing over screeds of documents on his computer. On the far wall, we see a large sign that reads "NEW ZEALAND BUREAU OF CARTOGRAPHY".

An ALERT pops up on his screen that reads "INCOMING PHOTOS". He CLICKS on the alert and a series of BRAND NEW SATELLITE PHOTOS pop up on his screen. He begins to glance through them in a bored fashion...and then FREEZES.

The CARTOGRAPHER blinks and double-takes. He LOOKS AROUND THE OFFICE, as if to check if this is some kind of joke.

Nobody’s looking at him.

He turns back to the screen and TILTS HIS HEAD to get a better look at what he’s seeing...he just can’t believe it.

He GRABS a PASSERBY and points to the screen...the PASSERBY also TILTS HIS HEAD to get a better look at it. His jaw drops open in surprise.

CLOSE UP: THE SATELLITE PHOTO

We see a SATELLITE PHOTO of LAKE UNKNOWN, identical to the photo DAVE saw on his SMARTPHONE...except something’s not right! There, FLOATING ON THE WATER of the lake, is an ENORMOUS MESSAGE spelt out in WHITE LETTERS.

It simply reads: "LAKE DAVE".

EXT. THE MIDDLE OF LAKE UNKNOWN - THAT SAME MOMENT

DAVE sits in his dingy, his head turned to the sky, a look of HOPE and YEARNING on his face.

INT. THE OFFICE BUILDING - THAT SAME MOMENT

The CARTOGRAPHER and the PASSERBY look at each other and SHRUG COMICALLY. The CARTOGRAPHER turns back to his computer and starts INPUTTING DATA.

EXT. THE MIDDLE OF LAKE UNKNOWN - THAT SAME MOMENT

DAVE pulls out his SMARTPHONE, loads up the GPS APP and stares at the SATELLITE MAP of LAKE UNKNOWN. He stares at it...and stares at it...and stares at it...and then...

BLEEP.

The label "LAKE UNKNOWN" on the satellite map is suddenly RENAMED to "LAKE DAVE"!

DAVE SILENTLY CHEERS and PUNCHES HIS FIST SKYWARDS!

VARIOUS CLOSE-UPS: ON DAVE

DAVE picks up a HOT KETTLE from a campfire and pours it into his MUG. He sips the HOT COFFEE as he sits at the entrance of his TENT and SMILES to himself.

EXT. LAKE UNKNOWN (HELICOPTER SHOT) - DUSK

As we SLOWLY PULL OUT, we see DAVE is CAMPED OUT on the shores of "LAKE DAVE" as the sun sets in the west. We see the LAKE in all its glory, lit up by tints of BOLD ORANGE, YELLOW, PURPLE AND BLUE. As we PULL FURTHER BACK, we see that the lake empties out into an EIGHT-HUNDRED-METER WATERFALL that plunges into a DARK AND BEAUTIFUL VALLEY below!

We keep PULLING BACK, revealing THE SOUTHERN ALPS, the DISTANT SUNSET and the SPLENDOUR OF NEW ZEALAND beyond!

TITLES FADE IN:

"NEW ZEALAND: THE WORLD’S YOUNGEST COUNTRY"

SECONDARY TITLES FADE IN BELOW IT:

"Come help us fill in the blanks"

CUT TO BLACK.

THE END

SPECIAL PRODUCTION NOTES
=========================

Due to the remote location featured in this story, there are several aspects to keep in mind.

First, the location is NOT the focus of the story, but how Dave cheekily proclaims a bit of a blank space on the map as his own. Thus, should Lake Unknown be proven logistically impossible as a filming location, there is NO REASON why the script cannot be adjusted to focus on a more accessible geographical feature that can be located with the help of a production manager and location scout who knows the Queenstown area intimately.

In short, the lake can be dropped for something more reasonable if it has to be!

Secondly, if the lake is a location that is feasible from a production standpoint, then the following tactics should be applied to minimize costs and logistical problems.

* The actual Lake Unknown shoot will consist only of a handful of wide beauty shots to place Dave, narratively, at the location that can be shot in HALF a day. These shots could potentially be done with a character double, freeing the actor to prepare for his closeups elsewhere.

* Pending on weather and shooting format, the size of the crew shooting at Lake Unknown should be at an absolute minimal with nobody beyond a camera-operator, the actor, director and an assistant to wrangle the wardrobe and props. If we're shooting on a high-latitude digital format like RED, we should be able to pull out enough information to tweak our footage in post and make it like anything we need it to be.

* The majority of Dave's actions in the film can be shot in an easily accessible location with terrain that matches Lake Unknown and Mt Nox. Dave's performances can be captured in low and high angles and in close-ups shot with extremely long lenses, thereby bringing forward Dave's facial performances and disguising the background at the same time.

* Dave's dinghy and paddling action can also be shot in high and low-angles in a quiet corner of Lake Wakatipu where we can get a rough match for the water at Lake Unknown, which we can further tweak in post to get an exact lighting match.

* Access to Lake Unknown is undoubtedly easiest by helicopter and given that Google Earth simulations suggest that the sun doesn't set flatteringly on that location, the final helicopter shot of the story can be executed at dawn and, naturally, filmed tracking in to the location which we will reverse in post.

* The office sequences can be shot in any small corner of any indoor location that we have available. It only requires two actors and a moody lighting setup that does not alter. We should look to wrap this location in half a day if possible as well - preferably pre-lighting while we are shooting at Lake Unknown.

* Time will need to be given either in pre-prod or post for constructing graphics for the Smartphone and for the Cartography Office Computer. Any form of IP clearances for products will also need to be addressed as well.

END OF PRODUCTION NOTES

My background is in writing, editing and directing. I've been interested in the art of filmmaking since I was 5 years old and had a keen interest in the field of special effects. With the coming of the digital age, my interests broadened to the fields of acting (to which I worked for several years) and then eventually directing which I feel has given me the greatest satisfaction of all.
In 2003, I finished my first project: "THE FANIMATRIX: RUN PROGRAM" - a fan-film set in the universe of "The Matrix" franchise. Shot for a mere $500NZ on a single-chip handycam, the 16 minute short film went on to be an internet phenomenon and was downloaded over an estimated 7 million times, making it - unofficially - the most viewed New Zealand short film of all time. The film also garnered the approval of "The Matrix" creators Larry and Andy Wachowski who dubbed it as their favorite fan-film based on their franchise.

In 2006, I directed a self-financed, $13,000NZ, short film entitled "BIG BAD WOLVES" which was garnered with the Best Director Award at the "Big Mountain Film Festival" and Best Emerging Filmmaker Award at the "Magma Film Festival" that same year. It has also just won the Best Film prize at the "Donetsk 2009 Independent Short Film Festival".

I have since directed several music videos as well as a television commercial and am currently in development for my first feature-film project.

A selection of my work follows:

TV ONE NEWS "FANIMATRIX" (interview): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Zy9RtVI94&fmt=22

THE FANIMATRIX (short film): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fRRpy33iV0&fmt=22

BIG BAD WOLVES (short film): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-xoyVD7OcM&fmt=22

SELLEYS BBQ CLEANER (commercial): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK4DyCb-K6A&fmt=22

SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE (actor's audition reel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANlgIa4T_h8&fmt=22

BITTER - SLIPPING TONGUE (music video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnr0BnZrdXc&fmt=22

MY FAVORITE THOUGHT - DONALD REID 
(music video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLte8ipwouI&fmt=22

DARK TIMES - BULLETPROOF feat. TIKI TAANE (music video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA0ucdJI-iY&fmt=22