We’re in our last week of the first round of workshops and have completed filming two more scenes. The first was the excellent bedroom scene from “Good Will Hunting”. The script for “Good Will Hunting” is very good, so good that I wouldn’t be surprised if someone hasn’t adapted it for the Theatre.
We filmed the second scene yesterday, entirely outdoors. Shooting outdoors in NYC is always an experience. The scene, “Hacker, is one I specifically wrote with the actors in mind.. My intention was to write a scene that would falls within their strengths as well as to write characters that they would be considered for in film and television. The dialogue is loose and intended to be adapted by the actors. (See below for the text)
On Wednesday we finish by filming monologues and after we’re done I’ll edit together a scene and prepare it, and the monologue for the actors to use as part of their reels. Creating, shooting and editing scenes that actors can use for their reels is obviously a huge advantage for the actors seeking work and I really enjoy when I work with a group that’s small enough to allow for this kind of work.
July 29th is the start date of the last workshop of the summer. We’re meeting on Mondays from 5:30 to 9:30pm (four sessions). I’m hoping to have another small group so as to film as well as edit more work.
“Hacker”
(BEN emerges from an office building and stands against a wall. He looks around nervously and then glances up at an elevated enclosed glass walkway connecting his building with one across a busy avenue. He turns his attention back to the sidewalk, and looks to see if he’s being watched. He glances back up to the walkway and sees a woman (KACEY) standing there. Kacey sees him and looks away. Ben wipes perspiration from his face and walks away from the building. Kacey watches him cross a busy intersection. Independently, we see Ben and Kacey walk toward a meeting place in Central Park. Both of them make sure they aren’t ollowed. Kacey arrives at their rendezvous location first. Ben arrives and stands near her. He looks around nervously.
BEN
Your phone off?
KACEY
It’s at the office.
(pause)
Allright…
BEN
He suspects.
KACEY
How do you know?
BEN
It’s obvious. You’ve seen him.
KACEY
How much?
BEN
Enough. It’s blown. I think it is. We have to call it in and get out.
KACEY
No way. We’re this close.
BEN
If we call it in they’ll send someone else. We can transition out. If we stay-
KACEY
I’m not calling it in.
(they pause as someone passes by)
Where’s Chris?
BEN
Monitoring – what do you think?
Look, it’s over. We have no room to maneuver.
KACEY
You should have followed him.
BEN
Don’t lay it on me.
KACEY
You should have. There was every reason.
BEN
I have a life, okay?- It wasn’t scheduled. How was I supposed to know he was going to move it?
KACEY
You should have been there.
BEN
Kac-
KACEY
You should have! Now we don’t know where it is.
BEN
I didn’t sign up for this! I’m a hacker. Tracking hardware is someone else’s department. My job is to get in.
KACEY
That’s how you see it? Like some fucking 9-5?
BEN
I’m just the hacker -that’s it! It’s someone else’s– Maybe it’s your job to follow these assholes around.
KACEY
People are going to get hurt.
BEN
I would have been there if there had been any indication! You know I would have!
(pause)
KACEY
I’m not calling it in!
BEN
We’ve got to!
Kacey, lets get the fuck out. It isn’t safe!-
(Kacey leaves and Ben tries to stop her)
BEN
(cont.)
Kacey! – Fuck.
(She’s gone. Ben looks around to see if he’s being watched. He’s about to leave in opposite direction but then has a thought. Ben follows Kacey at a discreet distance. Climbing to a high point in the park, he sees her emerge from a line of trees and exit the park. Kacey looks behind her for a few moments. As she turns to walk away, she brings a cell phone to her ear and speaks into it. Ben reacts to seeing the phone and leaves in the opposite direction.
