A Late Mood Board

A little bit late but here is a moodboard that I gave my set designer.

Fifth Run Through

Now that there was only really the chatshow to film it was time to rehearse my final main character "Jenna Flax".

Second Day Filming

Here's some more behind the scenes footage, this time from the second day.

Fourth Run Through

And likewise this time with both actors.

Third Run Through

Once the first day was shot we could start rehearsing the next bit. Here's the first rehearsal I had with just the lead.

First Day Filming

It's a little late but here's the a little bit of behind the scenes from our first day of shooting.

Second Run Through

Here's a little bit from our second run through, this time with both actors.

First Run Through

Here's a snippet from my first run through with my lead actor.

Making and Erecting

I got my classmate Steve to do a few designs for my set.

I picked this one, with an colour scheme of purple and green for the opposite board.

We then set to work painting it with the help of Olivia and Danny (both pictured). Then on the day of the shoot we set to work erecting it. We initially had a bit of a mare with regard to how we would make it stand up: we had planned on making a frame out of the wood we had anyway but seeing as I don't know my woods I was met with the nasty surprise on the day from Steve saying that we couldn't use chipboard, which was all we had. Also the wood that we planned on using to make a brace turned out to be a little on the weak side. After much exasperated noodle scratching our tutor told us not to worry seeing as it only had to say up for a few hours and said we could just rest it against the wall and secure it with gaffer tape, so we did. Once that was all done it was then simply a case of bringing in the furniture and other decorations had hey presto, one budget T.V set!

Script Breakdowns

Then along with the shotlist and in line with the script of course, I made some breakdown sheets.

Rough Shotlist

Of course what would govern the scheduling would be the shotlist so I did a rough shotlist.

Ralph Singleton's Film Scheduling

Now that the script was in the bag I felt I should now consider the planning the shooting so I turned to Ralph Singleton's originally titled Film Scheduling.

How Not to Write a Screenplay: general notes and the 5 dramatic values

This book's pretty good. So I did a bit more reading and notes.

How Not to Write a Screenplay: a good exposition

With the arrival of my Amazon purchases I thought I'd see what I could take from them. Here is what Denny Martin Flinn has to say about a good exposition in How Not to Write a Screenplay.

Jenna's Moulding

Jenna seemed to be needing a little more definition so I imagined her in various scenarios. Here they are...

How Jenna Should Happen

After considering the penultimate scene, which is in effect the climax, I realised that it would require a great deal more thought. The final message of the film would be driven home in this scene. I already knew that to convey the message I had to slap the viewer in the face with something totally ghastly and awkward. Other than that however I had no idea what to do so I started by drawing a little timeline that I felt would be a suitable direction for things to go.

Audition

Just before I started writing the third draft we actually had auditions for the part of Colin/Mack so I was always writing with a certain actor in mind. Before the interview I had a little chat with my casting director Louise (who of course organized the audition) and we thought of a few things our potentials could do for us. I took some extracts from the second draft and thought of some other improv situations. She thought of a few too.

COLIN

Inter: What exactly does being a lookalike involve?

Colin: I basically get to go to loads of parties! Haha! [Straightens face] No, it's a serious profession. I take it very seriously. People all over the UK depend on lookalikes to make their parties memorable. People love walking past a lookalike and having to double take. They all want photos taken with me so they can show their friends. The lookalike business is booming, as they say. There are a lot of people who would love to have my job, and I'm grateful. In fact, my agency, Fake Faces, is something they call an 'international player' now. I've been to loads of great places – Japan, Switzerland....Wales. They love me in Wales.

Inter: What would be your response to people who see lookalikes as the worst excesses of a mindless, celebrity obsessed culture?

MAC

Inter: How do you feel about Now magazine referring to you as a national hero?

Mack: Haha, yeah. Well obviously I'm humble, you know. You've got to be. But I've worked hard to get where I am and I reckon I deserve it. I'm not gonna say “Hey everyone, I'm a hero” but if that's how people see me then great.

Inter: Some people have criticised your meteoric rise to fame based on a chance appearance in an advertisement....

INTERVIEWER

They start, you respond, they improv

Inter: So do people actually think you're T-Mobile Mack?

Colin: [Concerned] Well, yeah....[brightening up again] Anyway, I love the parties, people are so nice... mostly

Then do likewise

Inter: What do you think of the celebrity culture in this country?

Mack: Oh I love it. I think this country has great celebs, and I'm speaking from experience; I know a lot of them personally. Celebrities are treated well here, we're appreciated.

Improv for other parts

You're at a gig and asked who the best celebrity is + who's the worst .

(this will involve appropriate lines from casting director).

You're a gormless fan impolitely asking for an autograph, persistent yet surprisingly unenthusiastic!

Despite not knowing who they are you're shouting abuse at a celebrity only really because everyone else is.

You're unnecessarily respectful of a nearby celeb.

Casual conversation referencing a celeb causes you to go into an over the top unnecessary rant or ode, the choice is yours.

(this will involve appropriate lines from casting director).

You see a celeb having lunch, give them a lot of unwanted attention and then are bemused as to why the conversation doesn't go anywhere.

(this will involve appropriate lines from casting director).

Here's our star and some of his audition...

Infomercials and a few showbiz interviews

The chatshow I felt was probably the most important scene of the film so needed to do a little more research on chatshows and budget television.

More Awkward Interviews

The awkward interview research was seeming pretty effective so I did some more.

Awkward Interviews

To make the chatshow even more dreadful I thought I'd look at some typical "awkward interviews".

Jenna Flax

To make my chatshow host a lot more defined I thought I'd do some more research on her so I went looking for some good examples of annoying attention seeking "chatty" females.

Looking for Feedback

I emailed my script to a number of different people, such as my casting director, my friend who wrote the 1st two drafts and a friend of mine who's currently at RADA to name but a few, saying the above. In general everyone just said they thought it was "pretty good", an easy answer really and so I didn't get any constructive criticism. I guess a lot is going to be changed by the actors though so it's hard to tell what it's like at the moment.

Possible Funny Locations

Suddenly I realized that it's not just dialogue that's amusing. Sometimes the dialogue on its own can be irrelevant but when put side by side with an amusing location the whole situation can become hilarious so I made a list of a few locations where hilarity can ensue a little better.

More Chatshows

Now that I'm really going with the chat-show idea I thought I'd do some in-depth research into Chatshows. Once again I felt that Kerry Katona was a good starting point however you can't go wrong with a little Bo selecta either.

3rd Draft

Here is the third draft. This one has been written entirely by me. I have kept a few bits from my friend's script but I'd say this draft is at the very least about 65% my own work.

Fake Faces: 3^rd Draft

1. Ext. Opening titles, Shot of a the façade of an ordinary house. We hear Colin singing “return of the man” badly over the top trying to get the interviewer to join in, who we hear politely declining: like it were karaoke if done sober. The interviewer then sets things rolling.

Interviewer

Eeehhneyway so, well for starters what does this whole crazy career of yours…… involve?

2. Int. Colin’s kitchen, he’s standing up with his back to the countertop hands placed loosely in pockets and slouching in a silly and befuddled manner.

Colin

Well I basically like, get to go to loads of parties!!!! Hee hee. [lovingly straightens face] no I,I take it serious. Cuz I mean people all over U.K depend on people like us to make their events memorable, an’ naturally business is good! [naively as if business does naturally boom]

Interviewer

[Realizing Colin is in a dreamworld] Well that must be lovely. Aaaand so…

Colin

[shuffling to the kettle] Sorry, you want a cuppa?

Interviewer

No I’m o.k tha

Colin

[Slightly cutting interviewer off] well I’m gunna go right ahead [makes the tea] don’t forget the sugar me do!

Interviewer

So I’m guessing it would be fair to say you enjoy it.

Colin

MMMM! Yeah and I’ve been to loads of great places; Japan, Switzerland… Wales. They love me in Wales. I mean hell it’s great going to the shops and the launderette. Everyone’s just so friendly… [Colin gets a text and without saying anything as he is lost for words shows his excitement].

Interviewer

[With a cheeky grin] whaaat’s happened Colin?

Colin

Stavros, my agent! He eh, jus confirmed the show! I’m gunna be on the chat show! He says it’s only “filling in” but big things. I’ve gotta like learn all these answers and all now.

Interviewer

I’m assuming you’re filling in for…

Colin

Mack!!! Wow I only wish I could… [happily struggling to gesture what his respect for Mack can’t be said in words] I just love the guy, and I haven’t even met him! Of course I’m not the only one though!

Interviewer

Ah so he’s popular?

Colin

Well yeah he’s famous [like he’s stating the bleeding obvious]. He makes people happy being famous… and cuz of him I get to make even more people happy. Everyone’s happy!

Interviewer

[Playing Devil’s advocate] so what would be your response say, to all the people who just see all you professional look-alikes as just the worst excesses of celebrity culture?

Colin

[still positive and enthusiastic] Well you’re always gunna get party poopers! And I mean like, it depends on the star dun it? Cuz Mack, yeah he’s like in the T-Mobile advert.

Interviewer

Which T-Mobile adv

Colin

[Slightly cutting interviewer off] welcome back!!! The airport! Return of the man! Return of the man! He’s on the telly, every day! [In a calmly reassuring manner] look just wait till you meet the guy.

3. Int. In an Art gallery, Mack is lounging inappropriately on gallery seating wearing fancy clothes and 3D glasses from the cinema.

Interviewer

So you’re L.O.L magazine’s silhouette of the month [the page from the mag appears on screen]

Mack

Oh yeah, course. Well I mean we were gunna do the full interview but then they realized they had double booked me with No Chance.

Interviewer

Sorry I don’t quite understa

Mack

[Cutting the interviewer off and acting as if the interviewer has been living on Mars] the Boyband? You know, “ode to botox”, “I’ll give you all my rim”?

Interviewer

Ah well I’m not familiar with them but I’m sure they’re great… So would you say, want to one day do something like that?

Mack

Oh yeah love to be as big as them one day and… well I mean since I did the advert I kind of already am, [extra smug now] you know like, coming out of Elton’s last Friday was… pretty…

4. Ext. Mac coming out of Elton’s club, all one shot focusing on Mack spoofing one of those internet gossip vlogs. A camp showbiz voice-over does the talking.

Voice Over

[Superficially friendly but with obvious mocking undertones] Dun dun daaa!!! Look what the cat dragged out. T-Mobile’s new wonder boy, Mack Rembrant better make sure he’s got enough credit to call the mini cabs, by god he’ll need it in his current state.

Our saucy sources tell us that this brown haired bandit, partied with a gaggle of gorgeous bitches all night long but still didn’t get any action. Oh dear! Well better luck next time, Mack from everyone at the L.O.L team!

Interviewer

This may sound a bit airy fairy but what are you’re thoughts then on “celeb culture”

Mack

Oh yeah love it, this country’s got great celebs. Speaking from experience of course… I know them personally. And we celebs are treated well here, we’re appreciated.

Interviewer

Why’s that do you think? [short pause] For all the appreciation?

Mack

Well, we celebrities are talented people, I mean as you know [smugly] I’m a bit of Renaissance Man what with the acting and the D.J’ing and of course the poetry.

Interviewer

Wow, could we hear some of your poetry?

Mack

[Now taking himself very seriously] Yeah… yeah. Errrm, O.K…

This one’s called “Three Fat Nuns”

First fat nun,

Sitting on the gable,

Dorothy… are you able?

Second fat nun,

She’s no fun,

Third fat nun, Dead.

cut

Interviewer

Some people though have criticized your rise to fame as a result of a chance appearance in an advert.

Mack

Firstly it wasn’t chance. Because deep down you know, there’s a reason I became the centrepiece of that advertising campaign, what’s the word? Charisman.

Interviewer

Do you mean charisma?

Mack

[Not embarrassed as if he knew all along] Yeah. It’s talent. Look I don’t wanna boast or anything but since that advert I’ve been in a string of advertising campaigns and yeah as you said, I’m big in the press. Not that I care about that or anything.

Interveiwer

O.K, and secondly?

Mack

[With a stupid blank expression] what?

INT. On the set of Zen T.V, Jenna Flax the loud, creepily happy in a simple way, still inexperienced and beneath the surface insecure talk show host is quizzing Colin. They however think he’s Mack as they don’t really know what Mack looks like exactly or really know who he is. Jenna is also aided by two colourful and annoying puppets; Mong and Ming. Colin knows he’s “filling in” for Mack and is just going with it.

Jenna

[In an overly confident and thus bizarre way] wer wer wer welcome back! I’m Jenna flax and this is still [as a chorus with the crew] ZEN T.V!!!! [pointing to the crew] Oh you are a sexy bunch [laughing and looking down]. O.k now it’s time for…

Mong & Ming

[Cheesy graphics on screen to accompany] the star probe.

Jenna

And as you know last week we had a proper heated debate on whether you preferred adverts or actual T.V

Mong & Ming

[Mumbling over the top of Jenna] Adverts?, Meh T.V! Nah Adverts.

Jenna

So this week we’ve got a star from this absolutely massive commercial it’s [looking Clumsilly at her cards] Mack from the Vodafone advert everyone! [Jenna and the crew cheer].

Colin

[Looks surprised and confused at Jenna’s blunder but quickly and now somewhat reluctantly becomes wrapped up in the cheering]

Jenna

[Calms the crew down with exaggerated hand gestures, thinking she is cool, relaxed and powerful]. So Mack just in case you’re not familiar lemmie give you the dealio; our gorgeous viewers, [looks at the camera and sings the word along with Ming & Mong] viewers!!! Have just started sending in their rotisserie hot questions full of gossip inducing goodness ready to probe you for only the finest most refined celebrity data. However to make things just that extra extra bit mental, whatever happens you must answer without using any full stops! So are you ready?

Colin

YEAH!

Ming, Mong and Jenna

Let’s probe!

Jenna

Firstly, Sandrine no-no from Anglesey wants to know if you are actually on Vodafone.

Colin

No I am on T-Mobile all my family are on T-Mobile T-Mobile and Orange now share signal.

Jenna

[Looks around the room whilst giving an interested acknowledgement expression] secondly, Rupert Clifford from Chigwell wants to know what with the glue habit and all do you plan on going to rehab? If so which clinic?

Colin

I’m just taking it all one step at a time I am undecided on my recovery centre for now though I’m living with my mum.

Jenna

Interesting stuuuuuff. O.K thirdly, Vikki Sage from Belgravia is asking [from this point on we’ve cut to Colin watching this on YouTube] why did your wife leave you?

INT. Back to Colin’s house, he has just paused the YouTube video on his face on the brink of answering Jenna’s question. His face is now confused and has elements of dissatisfaction to it, emotions that have been slowly and subtly building through the chat show as he unwittingly feels the stupidity and creepiness of it all. Nevertheless on the surface he is still convincing himself and trying to convince the interviewer that showbiz is magical.

Interviewer

So do you feel it all went well?

Colin

[Looking confused and pensive whilst gazing around the room] wheh?

Interviewer

The chat show…”Zen T.V”

Colin

Yeah…yeah [suddenly conscious of his drop in enthusiasm and thus perking up to stress the fact that] it was cool…

Interviewer

[Innocently enquiring] Is that it, or…?

Colin

[slightly cutting interviewer off] Oh no got loads more. [Now quicker and more nervous yet still confused] Stavros just got this wicked gig for the Wendslydale association down in Plymouth, and then of course there’s the start of a shooting season on glorious twelfth so that’s always a busy time for bookings. Lovely folk the old tweed lot, I mean met this one bloke right, Earl of…

Interviewer

[All the way through the last half of Colin’s talking has been trying to stop Colin] I meant is that all you had to say about the talk show.

Colin

Oh the talk show yeah it was cool…

Interviewer

You must quite proud of yourself, national television and all.

[Suddenly remembering Mack and going back to loving idiot mode] Well you know I’d love take the credit but I just can’t… you know! [as if the interviewer really does know]

Interviewer

Why’s tha’ oh yes of course… Mack.

Colin

[Nodding with a slightly weird grin] Yeeeeah! Mack always’ comes back, return of the Mack, get ready for a Mack attack! [Now weirdly back to his old positive self, still in awe of Mac] I tell you with that guy, skies the limit

Colin proceeds to lovingly talk about Mack as his voice fades out, the music fades in and the credits roll.

End