Rock Me Gently
Ryan over at HOLY EMBERS OF DREAMS tagged me although this time it’s a little different than the usual tag…
And it goes a little something like this…
“So here is your assignment for today, dear readers. Find a song that inspires you to write something, whether it gives you an idea for a script or just puts you into a better frame of mind. AND/OR (don’t you love choices) peek into the lyrics and find a stanza that sums up the theme of whatever script you’re working on. It’s quite uncanny how the two circumstances go together.
If possible, post a video of the song to really get people into the mood. (Yep, I’m aware of the irony of using Internet clips during the pissing contest. I like irony as much as bitchiness.)”
As it turns out, I am putting the finishing touches on the shooting script draft of my final draft… One of the elements that I get some input on is music so this being tagged comes at a particularly easy time for me.
I can’t talk about the script except to say that it’s got serial killer in it. I can also say that there’s a mom hunting this guy down because he killed her kids… She’s chasing him across the Southwest and he plays with her. At some point, he becomes fascinated with her to the point of having shall we say, a very huge crush.
He decides that he wants her. Wants her in a very bad way so one night when she retires to a cheap motel room after having one too many, our man enters the motel room while she’s in the shower and just to set it up a little more… She had just been turned down for sex from another main character just ten minutes earlier so she’s feeling pretty sorry for herself right now albeit justified.
As she stumbles herself onto the motel room bed still wet from the shower, our man emerges from the shadows and takes her.
That’s all I can tell you.
Here’s the song that will be playing…
I heard it only two weeks ago while I was eating a hot pastrami sammich at my favorite deli… As soon as I heard it, the scene totally came together for me.
Thanks, Andy.
Unk
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33 Responses to “Rock Me Gently”
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First of all, WOW. What a script concept. Plot, complex characters, the works. Damn I got creeped out by the song, which I think was the perfect effect…how something so sweet can become so menacing when put into a different context. Much more effective than a ’scary’ song would’ve been. Brrrr.
Great job!
You can’t go wrong with Neil Diamond (see Saving Silverman).
Like that set-up.
I always have fun picking up songs from my iPod that fit with whatever script I’m writing. I usually make a playlist in iTunes of the songs that “fit” my script.
Tom,
No offense but it’s Andy Kim who sings the song…
Unk
Long time lurker.
OH MY GOD.
I don’t even know what happens in this scene but it brought tears to my eyes.
Jesus.
~Bob
Well, you have to admit, it does sound like Neil Diamond. Apparently I’m not the only one to think so…
http://home.netcom.com/~zmoq/pages/ak_nd.htm
You said sammich.
You’re now on my top list of favorite superheroes.
I’d put you on my list of favorite people, but you don’t have a name. That, and you’re CLEARLY a higher percentage of superhero-ness than you are normalishisness.
Pastrami and rye?
Fucking CREEPY AS HELL. I still have goosebumps.
Bob,
It’s supposed to make you cry. Cool. I did my job.
Tom,
Agreed. It does sound like him and lots of sites on the net give him the credit.
Just want to make sure Andy Kim gets the credit here.
Carlo,
Thanks but I have a first name: Unknown.
preacher,
Is there any other kind?
Unk
What genre s the film? I could see this also working as a comedic scene. :-)
Joel,
A horror/thriller for mommies.
Unk
Is every man online writing a serial killer script right now?
MaryAn,
Not like this one…
Unk
I’m not… LOL
Sorry, Unk, not feeling the love. The concept sounds gratuitous and the song even more so. How old are the kids? I get the feeling you’re not a parent. I’m one and I’m revolted by the concept. As usual, you people in Hollywood are always desecrating the moral code for the sake of box office. A serial killer who murders kids, even if you don’t see it happen on screen, is cheap.
Wow, great idea. The problem is that when it comes out, you’ll have to get your credit as UNK. But then I can keep a secret.
I’m actually fleshing out a serial killer story right now. It’s about a surgeon who goes crazy and starts doing weird surgeries on people. The surgeries don’t kill them but their ways cause the surgery to “come undone” and that kills them.
Imagine some of the most horribly gross deaths you can and then add a few degrees of gory.
Nice . . .
Vince,
It’s okay that you’re NOT feeling the love but you’re wrong, I am a parent and for the same reason you don’t go in for movies like this, I don’t go in for romantic comedies, teen films, etc.
Thank God it’s a free country, right?
But again, I did my job since you’re REVOLTED by the idea of this scene. Do I need to mention that this is one fucking scene out the entire script?
Desecrating the moral code for the sake of box office?
That’s ONE OPINION I guess but again incorrect, since you have no idea how the script plays out.
This has nothing to do with boxoffice. This script is based on fact that’s never been revealed before. I’m sorry that it revolts you personally but I doubt that I wrote it for you personally.
Serial Killers happens to be MY genre. It’s what I know best (for a myriad of reasons) and most important — it’s what I enjoy writing.
If you read anybody’s books or articles, one of the first things they tell you is NOT to write another fucking serial killer movie… They’ve all been done. It doesn’t matter than EVERYONE and their brother is looking for the next SE7EN.
So if I write something that you would personally enjoy or go for, THEN and ONLY THEN I suppose I would not be desecrating THE MORAL CODE.
THE MORAL CODE? I know I have a moral code and I also know that it’s a pretty decent moral code that I live by but I was not aware that there was something called THE MORAL CODE.
Please do not let me stop you from beginning your letter writing campaigns to keep these kinds of films from hitting the theater.
You are doing that, right?
Hollywood is so fucked up… Thank God you can vote with your wallet.
And your mouse.
Just like me.
Unk
Unk,
I really don’t believe what that guy posted. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a serial killer movie described as desecrating a moral code.
I wouldn’t mind seeing that and besides, “kids” could mean any age. I guess it would be interesting to see a serial killer who kills kids.
If anything I would say, make sure you use tasteful nudity. But I guess most people don’t shower in their clothes. I have found that the hottest sex scenes have people not quite getting out of their clothes.
Not that I’m an expert…
Christian,
Not that I feel like I have to explain but this story is not about a killer who kills kids. LOL. Just want to get that out there.
Yes, it does happen in the story but that was indiscriminate on the killer’s part i.e., being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This isn’t torture porn or gratuitous — at least not the way I’ve written it. Nor is there any real nudity in the way I’ve written it.
It all takes place in the shadows but it’s the SOUNDS that tell you what’s happening.
And for the record… The scene where the killer TAKES the Mom in the motel room is NOT supposed to be sexy in any way.
It simply ups the ante of the story.
I’ve already been emailed that I’m telling too much so I’m DONE. LOL.
America. Vote with your wallet and your mouse.
Unk
EDIT: I wasn’t trying to sell anyone on this story or idea… I was simply responding to being tagged… Sniff sniff.
Unk,
Interesting post. I’m a huge fan and part time scribe working on the next Seven. Is everone really looking for the next Seven?
ralph
Ralph,
You’d be surprised… Come up with it and you’ll have yourself a WINNER as long as you don’t mind desecrating THE MORAL CODE.
Unk
UNK,
It’s cool. I understand that it’s hard to make someone understand your direction with a few words. It’s funny because I’m starting a shooting script just to do it.
Who knows, maybe I’ll try to do it myself. I already came up with the theme song and most of the score and soundtrack.
Unk,
Perfect!
Brought a much needed smile to my face. Can’t wait to see it on the big screen.
Nick
Ah, what the fuck do I know, eh? I’m just a stuck up Canadian. Appreciate you taking the time to clear that up for me though. You’re still my favorite blogger. BTW, I enjoy serial killer films: Zodiac, Summer of Sam, Seven, 8MM. Go figure.
Ok, it just hit me… I think the nerve you struck had something to do with this tragic accident that happened up here in Montreal on Halloween. A 3 year old girl got killed by a teen driver while putting up decorations in the yard of her day care. Dick-head drove right over her when he lost control of his car. Really has me fucked up. Check out the local news for the past week and you’ll understand what I mean. What that has to do with your story or screenwriting escapes me, but then again, the raw emotions are what good storytelling is all about.
Unk,
It was my genre as well, for awhile – but then TV shows began featuring a new serial killer every week . . . but it’s a fine genre, and not one likely to die out as that serial killers themselves, in real life, probably will not.
I’ve read my Douglas and Ressler, at some point we just GOTTA have that beer together and talk shop.
This strike shit be bumming me out, tho’, I was going great guns up until it kicked in . . .
Beer, Unk, we need Beer someday in someplace warm . . .
As screenwriters I do believe we have to take responsibility for what we put out there. And, as such, it does no harm to look at what we’re doing from a moral perspective.
Most storytelling defines the moral compass of the culture telling the story. Serial Killer films are usually modern work ups of fairly tales, in which a demon has been attacking the village and the lowly blacksmith’s son or village outcast transforms himself into a warrior to slay the demon.
So when someone says “serial killer” film, they’re defining it by the antagonist and not the more important protagonist’s transformation.
These films kind of films are, in a larger cultural sense, about the tribe’s fear of the outside attacker and the reassurance that someone will protect them… which is the reason they’re often vehicles for the “wounded hero”… the profiler who had a nervous breakdown, the reformed drunk… etc. etc.
In these days, when international terrorism has the tribe convinced they’re under siege, I suspect we’ll see a lot of “serial killer” films. That’s the way the Zeitgeist crumbles.
Vince,
Not a problem at all… As long as you’re willing to go back and forth and not take ANY of this SHIT personally, it’s all good for debate.
I appreciate your explanation… My stuff is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but if you like films like ZODIAC and SE7EN, then this is right up your alley.
And NOW that I’m THOROUGHLY FUCKING CONFUSED… I’m just gonna sit back and laugh my ass off.
After all… It’s just a movie.
Josh,
You know, I’ve written other stuff but I can’t help loving this genre… Having said that, I too am sick and fucking tired of the USUAL SK flick… You know the kind… You got a profiler. He or she gets in the mind of the killer and predicts all his moves. Been done to death and while I still feel that those can be done in ways that have not been done before, I’m just burned out on those characters.
MANHUNTER is a hard act to follow.
Beers are forthcoming.
Clive,
Agreed.
Unk
EDIT: Christian, I can’t leave a comment on your blog because it’s configured for those with Google accounts only. Not that it matters but I just wanted you to know that I do visit.
Wow, I’ll reconfigure it. It’s cool though. I don’t post as regularly and I enjoy commenting talking about screenwriting.
I mean the down-and-dirty, visual, elemental side that transcends genre. I can totally get my poetic fixes here. I do hope that I something worthwhile to say on my blog.
I hear ya, Unk . . . The oringal Manhunter was a piece of work, wasn’t it?
I wrote a SK early in my career that I’m pretty proud of, tho’ today it would be pretty cliche’ and I wasn’t as good with the screenplay format then, but it got to quarter finals in a couple big contests, got me meetings and whatnot (and unknown to me at the time, DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER the novels were making the rounds and kinda knocked me out of the box)
But now they’re everywhere on TV and a lot of bad movies . . . it’s a genre that deserves better . . .
Tho I confess, I like DEXTER . . .
Ooh…sounds scary. Like Psudeo Fatal Attraction. I dig.
I love that song!
I noticed over the weekend that this song is used in a new Jeep ad. Think there was a deer in the passenger seat singing along to the song. Much different from UNK’s scene.
Wowzer…a meme leads to a debate and Deep Thoughts. Sweet. Love that genre myself…can’t help it. And I’m a girl. So there.
Just to show that not just guys are into the dark…that’s what I meant. Okay, by now. :)