It’s all a lie! By Brandon Reichard
INT-Day- A young man’s bedroom
A young man, Sam Smith, sits in his room speaking to his friend Brian.
Sam: I need a vacation.
Brian: You look like you need a vacation.
Sam: (Looks at Brian) I do, I haven’t been out of this state in a long, long, time
Brian: How long?
Sam: The last time I left, was with Cindy…(makes sad face, camera zooms slowly)
Brian: Ouch… I barely remember what she looks like (They both take a deep breath and exhale) so anyways, if you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
Sam: I don’t really know exactly
Brian: (picks up a globe and hands it to Sam) You know the drill.
(Sam spins the globe, and the countries fly by at blazing speeds until they scorch to a halt when Sam’s finger pokes violently down on the revolving sphere)
Sam: What happens when you get the ocean?
Brian: You do it again.
Sam: Oh, Okay
(He spins it again, this time with more vigor)
Sam: New Zealand.
Brian: Looks like we are going to New Zealand!
Sam: Going to New Zealand? How are we going to New Zealand?
Brian: (Sarcastically) Well, Sam, how do you think? How do you think people get from the United States to New Zealand? Keep in mind this is not the year 1912.
Sam: Plane?
Brian: No, moron!
Sam: (Confused) Boat?
Brian: You’re dumber than you look.
Sam: Do I look dumb?
Brain: Well…I would lose the shirt. Probably burn it.
Sam: (Annoyed) Anyways…how are we going to get to New Zealand!?
Brain: Teleportation.
Sam: (Rolls his eyes) You are ridiculous.
(Brian snaps his fingers, and like magic, they are both in New Zealand! In the Beautiful countryside.)
Sam: (Blown away. Speechless. Flabbergasted.) How long have you had this power?
Brian: All my life…I guess I always forget I had it!
Sam: Wow! I just can’t believe it. Am I dreaming? What do we do first?
Brian: (In a slightly cheesy voice, looking into the camera while walking closer to it.) Well Sam, New Zealand has so much to offer, we could spend our entire lives here and not see everything! Magical Jungles! World class beaches! Majestic mountains! It’s all here. Some people call it the most beautiful place on Earth! The world’s best adventure destination! There’s something for everyone here in New Zealand! (As he says these things images flash on the screen of the best New Zealand has to offer)
Sam: Um…Brian…
Brian: It has been called “God’s own country!”
Sam: Um…
Brian: Consistently rated as one of the world’s top travel destinations!
Sam: Brain, are we in a travel commercial right now?
Brian: No…of course not, what would make you say that?
Sam: Well, the way you are talking for one…and the camera crew.
Brian: What camera crew, Sam!?
Sam: That one! (Camera pans over, and you see the entire crew, a boom mic operator inches away, trying to step out of the shot)
Brian: What if I told you we were, Sam, that we were just part of a travel commercial? What would you say? How would that make you feel!? Because we are! (Shouting) WE ARE!! How do you think we teleported here, magic?!
Sam: (in complete shock, he has a sit in the director’s chair as they talk among the film crew in the beautiful New Zealand countryside. He takes a long pause to think.)
So we are fictional characters, Brian? Nothing’s real?
Brian: Nothing’s real Sam, not even Cindy.
Sam: But I remember when we…
Brian: Nope, it’s just back-story, a cheap character building trick the writer used to make us seem like real people.
Sam: But…we are real people!
Brian: No, we are not Sam! And the sooner you realize that the easier it’s going to be! That’s how it is Sam…I’m sorry. (Camera shows shot of director with a lone tear streaming down his face)
Director: (whispering to himself) This is my masterpiece.
Sam: (raised voice, misplaced anger) So, it’s all a lie Brian!? (whimpering) Tell me it’s not all a lie, Is it all a lie?! Everything?!
Brian: Well…Not exactly…(pause)…(Looking into the camera again) Everything I said about New Zealand is 100% correct.
(Camera swings quickly over to Sam)
Sam: How is that supposed to make ME feel???
Brian: Happy that you are in New Zealand!
Director: CUT! PRINT IT! Good work boys, I’m taking lunch at the beach.
END
My name is Brandon Reichard and I am from Columbus, Ohio in the United States. I am 24 years old and an aspiring filmmaker currently working on the screenplay for my first feature. I have directed music videos for the Matador Records bands Times New Viking and Yo La Tengo. I have always dreamed of working on a project like the one this contest offers, and would love to get out of Ohio. Please don’t make me stay here. Take me to New Zealand. I will mow your lawn if you do. Thank you for your time, and of course, your respect…ok, just your time will do.
music vids: (done on super 8, one was hand processed in a kitchen)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQJvAXOohoU