The Black Dog
Silence. Your protagonist (Joseph) wakes up with a start, like he has been dreaming a bad dream. He wakes up and goes to the bathroom. While this is going on, you hear the voice over:
Voice 1(male): Good morning. Champ.
Voice 2 (female): You are hysterical. Keep it up.
The camera goes crazy while this is going on. Lots of short fragmented shots, of his face at odd oblique angles. I will use my still photo head for this.
Voice 1: What’s on the agenda today big guy?
Voice 2: I bet he’s going to write more emails.
Joseph shakes his head, and goes into the medicine cabinet and takes his medication. The voice-overs stops. And the camera settles to a horizontal angle
He sits in his kitchen in front of his computer, a green macbook pro and starts to type.
(Voice over) Joseph: I am writing this email because I would like to be considered to shoot for your magazine. I have 3 years of experience shooting fashion, and my work has been picked up by numerous publications, both in print and online. Your publication has always been one that had interested me- it represents the cutting edge of fashion. I would like to shoot your next editorial. I have a keen eye for fashion and a strong team of makeup, hair and stylists. Thank you. Joseph Johns.
Cut to a shot of him doing headshots with an actress.
Joseph: Drop your chin. Look up at me.
Cut to a close up of the actress.
Joseph: Good. That’s it!
Long shot of the shoot
Joseph (voice over): I’m a photographer. I do a little bit of everything, but my specialty is portraiture. I do my best to capture the inner essence of each individual. People are unique in their own way and it’s my job to recognize that. Sometimes, I’m really successful. Sometimes I struggle.
Close up of him with the camera up to his eye.
Cut to a Long shot of a cafe
Cut to him sitting at a cafe talking with his assistant Angela.
Joseph(voice over): That’s my assistant Angela. Without her I would be lost. I would never let her know that.
Over the shoulder shot:
Joseph: So, it looks like I landed the editorial. They finally gave me the time of day. We’ll bring in our usual team and we’ll rock this shoot. As for models, I’m in-between Misty and Mila
Cut to her over the shoulder:
Angela: Oh? I wouldn’t use Misty.
Cut back to over the shoulder
Joseph: Why not?
Cut back to over the shoulder
Angela: This is going to be a big shoot- I don’t know if she has the right look for this editorial.
Cut back to over the shoulder
Joseph: I think if we do her hair up and do dark makeup, it will work though.
Cut back to over the shoulder
Angela: I guess you’re right. (Inquisitive) Do you think you can handle the stress?
Cut to a close up of Joseph
Joseph: I think I’m ready for this. I’ve been preparing for a shoot like this for the last 3 years. I just need to make sure I pace myself and take my meds when I’m supposed to.
Cut to Angela’s hands
Angela: I just worry about you sometimes.
She tries to put her hands on Joseph’s. He pulls away
Joseph: I’ll be fine.
Fade to black.
Cut to a medium shot of Joseph waking up. He wakes up startled. He goes to the bathroom
Voice 1: Good morning Joe. Gonna put me away again?
Voice 2: Yep, he’s going to medicate us away. Medicate medicate medicate. Joe, why don’t you go au Naturale.
Joseph takes his medication.
Shot of his face in the bathroom mirror. He goes from being blank to having some emotion.
Voice 1: Big day today. You made us go away. Ho Ho Hey hey.
Voice 2: I’ll miss you…
Joseph meets with his assistant in front of his suburban house. They both pack his car and they drive off.
Long shot of the set. It is idyllic and serene. I see this being the rock beach in dumbo
Panning shot of the model from toe to head.
Cut to an over the shoulder shot of Joseph from Misty’s perspective.
Joseph: Misty, it is a pleasure. We’re finally doing something big. Are you nervous?
Cut to a shot of Misty over Joseph’s shoulder
Misty: Nervous darling? I’m excited! My agent is nervous, but I think that’s only because he’s finally getting paid. He doesn’t know how to handle himself. **Giggles**
Pan over the set til you get to the art director, Sarah who is standing at the edge of the frame.
Panning shot of the art director from head to toe
Joseph(voice over): The renowned art director Sarah Katz. She’s well known for being a hardass and a bitch.
Cut to over Joseph’s shoulder.
Sarah: Good. You’re on time. Let’s get started asap. Don’t waste my time.
Cut to over her shoulder
Joseph: You got it. Let’s get set up Angela.
A long shot of them setting up softboxes
Joseph(voice over): This art director makes me nervous. Nervousness triggers my condition. I hope I’ll be ok. Thank god Angela is here
Shot of Joseph from behind taking pictures of Misty. She is doing classical poses.
Close up of Joseph with the camera up to his eye. He looks focused.
Close up of Sarah
Sarah: No No NO! Not what I want!
She is visibly angry.
Joseph: What would you like then?
He is a bit shaken.
Sarah: Something edgier- more avant-guarde
Joseph: You got it. Misty, take a break. Angela, Let’s move this set up to the rocks.
Joseph composes himself
Cut to a shot of Misty Lying on the rocks. Pan from toe to head
Cut to a shot of Joseph from behind. He goes down to one knee and keeps shooting
Cut to a close up of Joseph shooting
Joseph looks very focused, but his hands are starting to shake
Joseph (Voice over): I feel my nerves are getting to me… I don’t know how to deal with this art director. I don’t know what she wants.
Cut to a medium shot of Sarah, shot from a low angle
Sarah: Better, but that’s still not it. The wardrobe needs to change.
Cut to a shot of Joseph over Sarah’s shoulder.
Joseph: Please- we can do more with this look.
He is pleading, almost desperate.
Cut to a low angle shot of Sarah
Sarah: No No NO! This isn’t working. Let’s change it up
Close up of Joseph.
Joseph(voice over): I can’t handle this woman. I can’t see what she wants.
The camera tilts.
Voice 1: And weeeee’re baaack
Cut to a shot of joseph from the other side, again shot from an oblique angle
Voice 2: You are such an impressive photographer
Cut to a close-up shot of Joseph’s camera
Voice 1: You really thought you were good enough for this magazine?
Cut to a handheld fisheye shot of the set
Voice 2: Take a break Joey boy. You’re not cut out for this business
Joseph turns to his assistant, over the shoulder fast panning shot from model to the assistant.
Cut to a stable view of Joseph- over Angela’s shoulder he is blank. The camera is level and stable
Joseph(whispers): The black dog had got me. I need you to take over for 10 minutes. I need my meds. Mind the bitch and make me proud.
He hands her the camera, and he walks off frame:
Tilted hand held over the shoulder shot of Sarah.
Sarah: Mister, where are you going?
Voice 1: Tell the bitch off.
Cut to a medium shot of Joseph. He’s looking really blank and directionless, like he’s drifting.
Joseph: I’m not feeling so great, I have to go to the bathroom.
Cut to a POV camera of Sarah from Joseph’s perspective
Sarah: Make it quick. We’re not paying you to go to the bathroom.
Voice 2: Wow, what a bitch.
Cut to a medium shot of Joe. He’s taking out his medication from his shirt pocket. He has found a secluded place.
Tilted close up of Joseph
Joseph: Go away! Shutup! Let me work!
Voice 1: No. Hahahaha, you’re talking to yourself.
Tilted close up from the opposite angle.
Voice 2: Crazy man gonna take his meds?
Joseph pops the med into his mouth. The camera tilts back to horizontal
Voice 1: Scared? Scared you’re not going to do a good job with the snippity snappity
Voice 2: We’ll be back for you.
Medium shot of Sarah shot from a middle angle. She is looking at her watch
Sarah: That was 12 minutes. I should dock you. Are you feeling better?
Cut to a low angle shot of Joseph. His once shattered confidence has returned to him.
Joseph: Don’t worry about it, I’m fine now. Angela, can you pass me my camera?
Close up of him taking the camera. He goes in to whisper
Joseph (Whispers): Thank you. You saved my ass.
Wide shot of him shooting the model, who is now in a different outfit.
Camera pans from head to toe on the model.
Wide shot of Joseph shooting the model
Low to high pan of Sarah
Sarah: This is what I was looking for . You got it! You got it!
Cut to an over the shoulder shot of Joseph over Sarah’s shoulder
Joseph: (Beaming): Good good. Now I know what you’re looking for.. Angela, can you drop that light please?
Angela: Sure!.
Cut to Angela and Joseph breaking down the lights.
Cut to a side view of Sarah and Joseph.
Sarah: Sorry if I seem like a bitch. I get really wrapped up during a shoot and I forget about the people who make it happen. Please don’t take it personally
Joseph: I understand completely. I get really wrapped up in my work too. I think we have the same problem.
Cut to a close up of Angela.
Cut to a medium side shot of Angela and Joseph.
Joseph(shyly): Thanks again for taking over back there. How does a drink sound after we wrap up?
Angela: I’d love that.
Fade to black.
Credits roll.
