Group Maltin Cleanse
Here we go! Chosen at random from Leonard Maltin’s 2011 Movie Guide
This is only a prompt. There is no wrong way to respond to it. You may take it literally, or it may spark off some other idea. The point is to take the first idea and pursue it over a couple of pages.
“First thought, best thought.” – Allen Ginsberg.
Be fearless, unrehearsed, and willing for whatever you write to be bad. (It won’t be.)
For screenplays, play scripts and short stories, let’s shoot for two to five pages.
If your bag is poetry, songwriting or sermons, do what you do, but don’t feel like you have to start at the beginning or make it to the end. This is only an exercise! Stay loose.
Don't forget to post it somewhere and provide link below.
UPDATE:
Here's mine, three pages long! (Alfred becomes Alfie somewhere in the middle.)
EXT. LIBRARY - DAY
FRED MARKS sits behind the wheel of his pristine BMW, the
engine idling. Fred is almost as well-detailed as the car,
in suit and tie. His son, ALFRED, 12 years-old, is opening
and closing an ash tray.
FRED
Please stop that.
ALFRED
I want to go swimming.
FRED
Alfie, I have to go to court.
ALFRED
This is stupid! I should've just
stayed with mom. You won't let me
do anything.
Fred impatiently checks his ridiculously expensive watch.
FRED
I'm sorry about this, okay? It
will only take me a couple of
hours, in and out, and I'll be
right back here. Do you have your
stepmom's number?
ALFRED
In my phone.
FRED
So call if you have an emergency.
Come on, Alfie, we'll go watch a
movie tonight.
Alfie lifts the handle and kicks the door open. Fred winces.
FRED
Alfie!
Alfie turns, staring daggers. Fred swallows his anger.
ALFIE
What.
FRED
Check out Robert Heinlein. I think
you'll like him.
Alfie turns and walks away. Fred reaches over and closes the
door, and drives off. Alfie turns back to watch him go.
ALFIE
At least you're trying.
Alfie rolls his eyes and walks into the library.
INT. LIBRARY - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
The library is old, high arched ceilings like a temple.
Alfie looks up at a mural that must date from the Works
Progress Administration: Epic, depicting boys and girls
reading books and looking towards a bright, shining future
full of rocket ships and skyscrapers.
ELOISE, 60s, approaches as he's distracted.
ELOISE
My father painted that.
Alfie turns, startled.
ALFIE
Cool.
ELOISE
You're Fred Marks' son.
ALFIE
I'm supposed to look for Robert
Heinlein. How do you know my dad?
Sadness nibbles at the edges of Eloise. She sucks it up and
smiles.
ELOISE
Science Fiction. Follow me.
Alfie follows. There's something not quite right about this
lady, but she's pleasant enough.
INT BOOKSTACKS - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
Eloise is browsing through the bookstacks, looking for
Heinlein.
ALFIE
It's okay if I hang out? I'd
rather be swimming. But Dad was
called to court.
ELOISE
Your father is very good at what
he does.
ALFIE
I guess. How do you know him?
Eloise pulls a book.
ELOISE
Eureka! "Have Spacesuit, Will
Travel."
She hands it to Alfie.
ALFIE
(incredulous)
What?
ELOISE
My son's favorite.
ALFIE
Dumb title. The picture isn't too
much better.
The cover of the book is classic, pulp sci-fi. A man in a
gleaming spacesuit is walking across a lunar landscape with
a lemur-like alien draped over his shoulders.
ELOISE
There's a comfy couch on the other
side of these bookshelves. You can
make yourself at home. My name is
Eloise if you need any more help.
Eloise turns to go.
ALFIE
Eloise? I asked you twice how you
knew my dad, and you ignored me
both times.
She steels herself.
ELOISE
He put my son in prison.
Maintaining her composure, Eloise leaves. Alfie looks after
her.
ALFIE
I should have stayed with mom.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Twelve-year-old boy spending the summer in Maine with his too-busy father and stepmother forms a bond with an odd-seeming older lady who helps him unlock traumatic events in his life, and vice-versa.
This is only a prompt. There is no wrong way to respond to it. You may take it literally, or it may spark off some other idea. The point is to take the first idea and pursue it over a couple of pages.
“First thought, best thought.” – Allen Ginsberg.
Be fearless, unrehearsed, and willing for whatever you write to be bad. (It won’t be.)
For screenplays, play scripts and short stories, let’s shoot for two to five pages.
If your bag is poetry, songwriting or sermons, do what you do, but don’t feel like you have to start at the beginning or make it to the end. This is only an exercise! Stay loose.
Don't forget to post it somewhere and provide link below.
UPDATE:
Here's mine, three pages long! (Alfred becomes Alfie somewhere in the middle.)
EXT. LIBRARY - DAY
FRED MARKS sits behind the wheel of his pristine BMW, the
engine idling. Fred is almost as well-detailed as the car,
in suit and tie. His son, ALFRED, 12 years-old, is opening
and closing an ash tray.
FRED
Please stop that.
ALFRED
I want to go swimming.
FRED
Alfie, I have to go to court.
ALFRED
This is stupid! I should've just
stayed with mom. You won't let me
do anything.
Fred impatiently checks his ridiculously expensive watch.
FRED
I'm sorry about this, okay? It
will only take me a couple of
hours, in and out, and I'll be
right back here. Do you have your
stepmom's number?
ALFRED
In my phone.
FRED
So call if you have an emergency.
Come on, Alfie, we'll go watch a
movie tonight.
Alfie lifts the handle and kicks the door open. Fred winces.
FRED
Alfie!
Alfie turns, staring daggers. Fred swallows his anger.
ALFIE
What.
FRED
Check out Robert Heinlein. I think
you'll like him.
Alfie turns and walks away. Fred reaches over and closes the
door, and drives off. Alfie turns back to watch him go.
ALFIE
At least you're trying.
Alfie rolls his eyes and walks into the library.
INT. LIBRARY - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
The library is old, high arched ceilings like a temple.
Alfie looks up at a mural that must date from the Works
Progress Administration: Epic, depicting boys and girls
reading books and looking towards a bright, shining future
full of rocket ships and skyscrapers.
ELOISE, 60s, approaches as he's distracted.
ELOISE
My father painted that.
Alfie turns, startled.
ALFIE
Cool.
ELOISE
You're Fred Marks' son.
ALFIE
I'm supposed to look for Robert
Heinlein. How do you know my dad?
Sadness nibbles at the edges of Eloise. She sucks it up and
smiles.
ELOISE
Science Fiction. Follow me.
Alfie follows. There's something not quite right about this
lady, but she's pleasant enough.
INT BOOKSTACKS - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
Eloise is browsing through the bookstacks, looking for
Heinlein.
ALFIE
It's okay if I hang out? I'd
rather be swimming. But Dad was
called to court.
ELOISE
Your father is very good at what
he does.
ALFIE
I guess. How do you know him?
Eloise pulls a book.
ELOISE
Eureka! "Have Spacesuit, Will
Travel."
She hands it to Alfie.
ALFIE
(incredulous)
What?
ELOISE
My son's favorite.
ALFIE
Dumb title. The picture isn't too
much better.
The cover of the book is classic, pulp sci-fi. A man in a
gleaming spacesuit is walking across a lunar landscape with
a lemur-like alien draped over his shoulders.
ELOISE
There's a comfy couch on the other
side of these bookshelves. You can
make yourself at home. My name is
Eloise if you need any more help.
Eloise turns to go.
ALFIE
Eloise? I asked you twice how you
knew my dad, and you ignored me
both times.
She steels herself.
ELOISE
He put my son in prison.
Maintaining her composure, Eloise leaves. Alfie looks after
her.
ALFIE
I should have stayed with mom.
FADE OUT.
THE END
