Your Big Break

SPIRIT FOOD
a Supernatural Comedy

PITCH
A large table, set up for a feast, along with expensive-looking chandeliers, silverwear and chrystal glasses is placed in the middle of a green area surrounded by mountains in the middle of nowhere.
This is the place that Good & Evil have chosen to discuss Mankind's imminent doom...

SCRIPT

1.EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
CLOSE UP of a man's hand. It's unusually long nails drum on a white tablecloth. We discover a young arrogant-looking man: LUCIFER.

LUCIFER
.... I hope you're aware that I won't change my mind....

Still in CLOSE UP, we discover an OLD LADY with golden eyes, who seems to be putting the finishing touches on a meal she's preparing.

Lucifer, dressed smart and all in black, looks around.

We discover that they are sitting on a large table, set up for a feast, along with expensive-looking chandeliers, silverwear and chrystal glasses.

That table is put up in the middle of a beautiful grass-filled area surrounded by Mountains in the Queenstown region, creating an eerie and surreal picture.

The area surrounding the devil's chair is burned up, creating a black coal-covered spot around the dark guest.

The old lady, dressed in a white robe and displaying some kind of eerie glow around her, pours her guest some wine from New Zealand.

LUCIFER
"You know that mankind's time is up... We even chose the date together...."

She just smiles at him and raises her glass. She smells the liquid, then takes a sip. She seems quite pleased.

LUCIFER
"But still... it's a nice touch to have picked the exact spot where I plan to start the Apocalypse...."

The devil, looking around, smells the liquid in his glass.

2. EXT - DAY - AERIAL SHOT OF A BEAUTIFUL LAKE
As if triggered by the smell, Lucifer is struck by a short VISION of a beautiful lake.

3. BACK TO: EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
The devil seems taken aback and tries to shake off the vision he just had. He takes small sip of his wine.

4. EXT - DAY - AERIAL SHOT OF N.Z. MOUNTAINS
Again, the devil is struck by a short vision of beautiful New Zealand landscapes, only this time, they stay a bit longer.

5. BACK TO: EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
Fighting the beauty of the images, the devil looks at the wine in disgust and slowly puts his glass back. He tries to appear casual and calm. He puts on an evil smile.

LUCIFER
"I see what you're trying to do... but it won't work...."

The old lady just smiles gently at her guest and puts down a plate with a magificent seafood selection. She sits down and starts to eat wholehartly.

The man in black looks at her susiciously, then slowly forks a piece of seafood. He looks at it. It seems quite tasty. He slowly pushes it into his mouth.

5. EXT - DAY - AERIAL SHOT OF THE N.Z. SEASIDE
The visions appear a thrid time. They become longer and more image-riddled every time.

It seems that the devil is able to "see" the flavour of food which takes on the shape of the place where it has been produced; in this case: New Zealand.

6. BACK TO: EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
White as a sheet and sweating heavily, Lucifer drops his fork. The old lady adresses him gently with a LITTLE GIRL'S VOICE

OLD LADY
"What's wrong,dear?"

The devil tries to regain control of his body and says nothing.

The old lady takes his seafood plate away and replaces it with a delicious lamb meal.

The devil looks at it, then raises his eyes towards the host. She's already eating. Slowly, the devil picks up his knife and fork. He cuts through the succulent piece of meat that gives in like butter.
He looks a little scared as he raises his fork, carrying a piece of lamb dipped in rich sauce.
He stops, looking at it.

As he doesn't seem to move, the old lady talks again, still with a little girl's voice.

OLD LADY
"Eat up, dear"

Lucifer seems to hesitate, then puts the food rapidly in his mouth.

7. EXT - DAY - AERIAL SHOT OF N.Z. FORESTS & FIELDS
This time, the devil is bombarded with beautiful images of the New Zealand Forests and fileds that seem to be conjured up by the exquisite taste of the food he's eating.

8. BACK TO: EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
Lucifer's has his eyes closed and his lips start to form a smile

9. EXT - DAY - AERIAL SHOT OF THE N.Z. SEASIDE
The visions continue.

10. BACK TO: EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
Lucifer catches himself enjoying the food and the visions. The smile vanishes and his fist slams the table.

LUCIFER
"Stop that!"

The devil's voice seems to shatter. Just like a young boy's reaching puberty. He seems taken aback.

The old lady continues eating calmly.

LUCIFER
"A deal's a deal! Mankind has to dissapear! On my 666.666th birthday! Today!"

Lucifer is surprised that his own voice is changing into something softer and high-pitched.

The old lady clears his plate and replaces it with a delicious-looking piece of meringue and cream, topped with kiwifruit; a Pavlova with a candle on it.

OLD LADY
"Happy Birthday, Lucifer!"

The devil looks at the dessert as if it could kill him. The old lady gently encourages him to eat. Lucifer tries to resist temptation, but can't help to crave a piece of dessert. In a swift movement, he pushes the cake into his mouth, along with the candle.

11. EXT - DAY - VARIOUS AERIAL SHOT OF N.Z.
This time, the visions display a wide range of different areas, culminating in some sort of images-firework, celebrating the beauty of New Zealand.

Those shots are inter-cut with shots of the devil smiling, eyes closed. He suddenly starts to laugh like a little child.

12. BACK TO: EXT - DAY - QUEENSTOWN PLAIN
The devil stops laughing, deeply shocked. His VOICE is that of a LITTLE BOY.

LUCIFER
"What have you done?"

The old lady smiles gently.

OLD LADY
"... It's this place...Some say it makes you younger."

The devil looks at her, anger in is eyes.

OLD LADY
"Remind me... Which one of your birthdays are we celebrating again?"

The devil opens his mouth to answer, but suddenly stops. He seems to be thinking. Shaking with anger, he answers, his teeth clenched.

LUCIFER
"I'm not sure..."

OLD LADY
"Hmmm... then maybe the End of the World is not for today? Well, let's give it another eternity, shall we, dear? Just to make sure..."

The devil rises from his chair, angry.

OLD LADY
" As you said...a deal's a deal..."

Lucifer looks at her, infuriated. He turns around and leaves.

The old lady finishes her cake, smiling, whilst looking at the beautiful surroundings.

THE END

ABOUT THE FILM

The film is based on a simple, universal concept that could easily be made in two days with a small crew. The actual shoot would just be one single location (a set-up table in the grass) with two actors. The rest is stock footage we have access to. The children's voices should ideally be recorded before the shoot to match the adult actor's performance. The "Taste-SFX" and grading tests from the Pitch Video have been done on my laptop in less than 30 minutes, which confirms my confidence that these can be done in time and on budget.

ABOUT ME:

Moien! I'm a TV and Film director/editor from tiny Luxembourg, Europe (no, we're not just cows and banks ... we do have a growing Film Production sector due to Tax Shelter laws :-)).
Peter Jackson, the beauty of NZ and the fact that our two countries share some similarities (small population, great scenic landscapes, young nations - Luxembourg's barely 160 years old - and we already doubled for New Zealand in the co-production of the feature "Brideflight"...) are some of the reasons that pushed me to participate in this project.

Next to extensive experience in TV, Music Videos and Advertising spots, I have also directed shortfilms ("Vault" - Horror / "Trinity" - Supernatural Drama), produced by local production companies and supported by the Luxembourg Film Fund, which are also funding my next short project: "Zero" (Supernatural Rom-Com) to be shot in May.

Follow the links for samples of my work and more info:

VIDEOS:

Showreel & Shortfilms:
http://radarfilms.wordpress.com/fred-neuen-showreel-1min/

Weekly WebTV Show "eveant" (co-host & producer)
It's in Luxembourgish and reports on our National Film Awards, which I co-hosted
http://www.eveant.com/2009/12/eveant-ep60-egotrippin/

FILMOGRAPHY:
http://radarfilms.wordpress.com/fred-neuen-filmography/

PROFILE:
http://radarfilms.wordpress.com/fred-neuen-director/