The Midpoint

So I realized the other day while I was working on my opening sequence, that I was unable to figure out what my midpoint was. If I said that's bad, that's a HUGE understatement. So I decided to put more time in between the time Benjamin runs an errand for his father (his first act as a "spy") and when he is actually recruited by the Patriots. The time in between that will be his transformation into a Patriot. This way now instead of just being okay with being recruited by the Patriot spies, and feeling obligated to do it (for his father), he's doing it because secretly he wants to do it. Also, it gives more time to develop the relationship between Benjamin and his girlfriend and to develop the villain.

Random thoughts...

So while I was on set yesterday sitting behind a fake wall next to a water pump pretending to work, I realized how much I love to write, despite how good or bad I am. And also how much I miss it. On co-op I haven't had as much time to do as much writing as I would have liked. It's hard for me to write actual scenes on set, so I had trouble working on my open sequence for "Son of Liberty", but I came up with another story that I started writing down instead. A month or two ago I found this old airplane adventure book from the 30's in a corner bookstore for a dollar and I thought it'd be cool to do a story in the same genre; without being Indiana Jones. Something to save for later I guess.

Scene List and Character Bios

WOO HOO! I've finished writing out my scene list and character bios. Now I just have to type them up.

The Villain: Major John Pitcairn

As I work on my last character bio, the main villain, Major John Pitcairn, I realized I needed to know more about him. So I did a little more research online. And I found this site:

http://www.winthrop.dk/majpit4.html

It's only a page of information, but it's some information that is extremely helpful and definitely gives me some ideas for back story within scenes. Also, on the site it mentions Pitcairn used to host socials where everyone, Patriots and Loyalists, could come and discuss things like civilized people over a drink. I'm trying to fit that into my story in someway. I feel like that could be a good reconnaissance mission/sequence. Maybe.

Research

Over the last few days I've done a lot of research via books and related films. For the spy aspect I've been reading through the Spycraft book I talked about a few posts earlier. I'm still waiting on a book from the library. I also watched Casino Royale and broke it down. For the history part I muscled through a book called Redcoats and Rebels that covers the beginning of the American Revolution. I also watched 1776 and have got my hands on a copy of the book by David McCullough. I put together a list of things from all of my research to incorporate into the story and the script that will hopefully give it a little more and make it a more interesting.

Independence Day

Seeing as this blog follows a script that takes place at the beginning of the American Revolution, I think it would be appropriate to have a post wishing everyone a happy, safe and fun Independence Day!

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea...

...I've always loved this movie and I've decided to revisit it. For 1954, it's an amazing movie technically. The effects are amazing for that time, the color cinematography is perfect, the sound is great, the art direction and production design is flawless. And not even just the technique, it's got some great casting and acting. Kirk Douglas as Ned and Paul Lukas as the Professor with Peter Lorre as a good guy for once (weird but good). And of course the forever creepy James Mason as Captain Nemo. It always upsets me when great movies are forgotten about, especially when they're ripped off really badly to make a billion dollar blockbuster. I'm fairly certain there are scenes in Dead Man's Chest that are taken from 20,000 Leagues almost shot for shot, but I guess since they're both Disney, there's no copyright infringement, and they're only making more money for themselves. Still uncool. Actually, I'm fairly certain the recipe for Dead Man's Chest is a cup of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a cup of the Disney version of Treasure Island with a dash of Johnny Depp and really weird fish monsters. Thank you Disney for bastardizing your own work! I'm going to go enjoy this movie now. Good night

Benjamin Hale

This is what I have for the main character's Bio.

Name: Benjamin Hale

Age: 17

Height: 5'10"

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

-Born June 17th, 1758

-Parents are Charles Hale (37) and Elizabeth Hale (35)

-Has a younger sister, Jane Hale (11)

-Had a younger brother, William Hale, who died as an infant. He would have been 13.

-He thinks very logically and often does not let emotion get in the way of his thoughts.

-Has mixed feelings about the Patriots and is more neutral than anything else; he's neither Patriot nor Tory. He believes in "No Taxation Without Representation" but does not believe war with the most powerful army in the world is intelligent, necessary or an option. He naively believes the problems between the Colonies and Britain can be solved by sitting down and sorting them out together. He doesn't hate the British, but he certainly doesn't love them. Due to his logical way of thinking, Benjamin weighs both sides arguments and the morally wrong things both sides have done, usually bringing him back to being very neutral on the subject.

-Is a regular church goer and is a Unitarian. He believes the church is the one place where Tories, Patriots, Colonists and British can go together and set aside their differences.

-Due to Benjamin's neutral feelings, he often clashes with his father, who is an avid Patriot.

-His girlfriend is Abigail "Abby" Winslow (16), the girl next door and daughter of Doctor John Winslow, a Tory doctor. Often times, Ben clashes with Charles over Abby's Tory affiliation. But Benjamin likes her not just for the fact that she's very beautiful but because she's domestically able. Abby has been take care of her household ever since her mother passed on when she was 10. Also, from being around her father she's picked up pieces medical knowledge. Abby's the perfect woman to have a family, and Benjamin knows it (he also wasn't the only one going after her).

-His best friend is his older cousin, Nathan Hale (20). They're more like brothers than cousins. When they were younger, they were both big pranksters and would often play pranks on Abby and her friends or on Jane. One thing they both agree on his they both enjoy a good laugh. However, once the tension with Britain worsened, they began to drift due to Benjamin's neutral feelings and Nathan's strong Patriotic beliefs.

-Charles once caught Benjamin and Nathan stealing some ale from the cellar and he made them drink until they were sick. Benjamin hasn't had a drop since and is often ridiculed for it.

-Has a fascination with thunder and lightning.

-Works in his father's general store, which is the equivalent of a modern day convenience store. Many times Charles has to leave Boston on business, in which case Benjamin takes over in the shop until he returns.

-He learned to read and write from his mother but never attended school due to his high attendance in his father's store. Working in the store (and his father) taught him mathematics and economics. After his mother taught him to read and write, he began keeping a journal.

-When he was old enough to make deliveries for the store, Benjamin's father bought him a horse, Lemmy, who became Benjamin's best friend, second only to Nathan. Ben prides himself on the fact that he has never fallen off his horse. Because he often goes out to make deliveries and pickups for the shop and his father, Ben knows the streets and roads of the Boston area better than anyone. Generally, he makes these trips alone (aside from Lemmy of course) and he likes it that way; he enjoys the the peace, quiet and solitude.

-If he could, Benjamin would get away from the city, away from the Patriots, away from the British, away from everything and live out on the frontier, where he can have peace and quiet and raise a family. After witnessing multiple riots and the Boston Massacre, he didn't choose a side, he lost faith in humanity and just wants to get away from everything. He often prays to God to help him escape from people and asks why he's allowed humanity to get to this point.