My Spec Script: The Office
When trying to get into the world of television, a writer must create what Hollywood calls a “spec script.” This script demonstrates your writing talents for a popular show that already exists and helps those hiring to gauge the quality of your work according to how well you represent the characters and tone for that particular show. If you can accomplish that task, then you most likely can work with a group of writers and aid in giving any show a single collective feel opposed to every episode sounding different depending on the writer.
For my first spec script I have chosen to create an episode of the popular NBC show “The Office,” which takes place during the show’s fourth season between episodes 14 (“Chair Model”) and 15 (“Night Out”). The episode is entitled…
“Career Day” – When Phyllis is called away on an emergency sales meeting, Michael volunteers to take her place at an elementary school “Career Day.” This brings Dunder Mifflin’s boss back to his alma mater and to memories he had long since tried to forget. Also, Jim seeks to find the perfect restaurant for a date with Pam and everyone in the office seems to have an opinion on where they should go.
To all those legal departments out there, I hold no copyright to the characters or locations, which are owned by NBC and their parent company, nor do I expect to make money off this script. This is simply a testement to my writing style, which hopefully can gain the interest of people in the industry.
Now to friends, “Office” fans, or anyone who runs across this, please read it, show it to your friends, and let me know what you think through the comments section below!
Source Code
Two years ago, director Duncan Jones brought us “Moon,” a tale of a man searching for who he truly is while working alone in space. Now, this central theme of self discovering is brought stateside and played with to full effect on a packed commuter train heading for Chicago. “Source Code,” Jones’ second fore into feature film, certainly is the more “blockbustery” of his two, but, contrary to what you’d expect from a Hollywood summer flick, this doesn’t make it any less character driven.
The story of “Source Code” is a simple premise wrapped in a big fur coat of complexity, which, in this case, keeps the story warm without it breaking into a sweat. Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhall) wakes up on a train to Chicago with an identity and face that are not his and a woman named Christina (Michelle Monaghan), who he’s never met. For the next eight minutes he searches for answers, but then the train explodes and Stevens jolts into conciseness, finding his real self inside a secret military lab.
This is where the technological mumbo jumbo revs up to explain the plot. Basically, the train Stevens was “on” blew up that morning and, through a secret military operation, he is able to interact in the last eight minutes of one of the deceased commuter’s memory, know as “The Source Code.” His mission, whether he choices to accept it or not, is to replay these eight minutes until he can identify the bomber and help stop a second, much larger, attack, which still threatens the Windy City. In short- it’s “Groundhog Day” meets “Twelve Monkeys.”
Though this film could have easily turned into a collage of special effects and action, Jones and writer Ben Ripley, keep things grounded, only using the science aspect as frosting to cover their story and make it look pretty in the process. The real heart of the film lies with Stevens looking for truth both in and out of the source code, searching for who he is and how he ended up a pawn in this military undertaking. Not to mention, what are the ethical complications of walking amongst the soon to be dead and knowing there is no real way they can be saved?
The film hosts a very good cast, ranging from Gyllenhall and Monaghan, to supporters like Vera Farmiga and Jeffery Wright, who play their roles as military advisers with a certain sense of urgency and edge.
Hopefully, this film will be a hit and Hollywood, who still may not understand the success of “Inception,” will realize that original thought provoking stories, like “Source Code,” who allow their characters to truly take center stage over spectacle, can get both audience’s butts and brains into the theater seats.
4 out of 5 stars.
Check out all of my film reviews here.