First Draft of Screenplay Complete
It’s complete. The first draft is done. And I am truly inspired by the encouragement it has received thus far. Here is what is registered with the Writers’ Guild:
TITLE VII
A screenplay by Nicole Franklin
Adapted from the novel WITHIN THE WALLS
By Daisy M. Jenkins
Logline: Where sexual and racial politics are compromised and the presence of the new woman hired forces the boss — a Black man — to finally accept his past.
This is a microbudget feature that I am planning on directing on a 15-day schedule with an extremely talented cast.
Isn’t that what everyone wants? Actors that knock it out of the park, a cinematographer that captures framing, light and performances like no other (we’re looking at you for this, Cybel Martin), an edited composition of images with a rhythm that leave you wanting to watch the film on replay….this is my hope!
I was relieved, nervous, yet driven by my characters’ voices who now take on a life of their own when I completed the script last week. I was out of town away from the hustle and bustle of my life in NYC when I forwarded the script to members of the student crew who are on board for a new experience — a professional experience. It will be my first narrative feature, but in a weird way this tight schedule is something for which I have been preparing. I have spent two weeks of filming on documentaries before — though they are more discovery than direction. In a strange way I would like for our scenes in our microbudget to unfold this way as well. These are characters who get to interact in an unfamiliar way to audiences of films with Black leads. But that is where rehearsal comes in. Discoveries have to be made before the cameras roll. If scenes are rehearsed, how do you keep performances fresh? There are many tricks up the director’s sleeve, but one technique, I will reveal, is to remind the actors of their objectives at this particular moment and then — as crew — get out of the way.
Working with my actors with the intent of using their input and our conversations in time for a revision is the next step towards a successful shoot next June. We’re excited. Stay tuned….
