Pancake Panic *working title* Script, Revised Synopsis, and storyboard (UPDATED 2/09/09)

Revised synopsis:

Two guys who live together spend their mornings playing video games. One is calm, collected, and patient. The other is high-strung and likes to do things as quickly as possible. They both make a late breakfast at noon. One uses the last of the eggs to make pancakes from scratch. The other, out of spite, tries to make instant pancakes. From there, the two cook their breakfast with one trying desperately not to burn the kitchen down.

Script:

NOTE: The characters DO NOT have dialogue. They will only make expressive sounds that vary depending on the situation. The only other noise they make will be exclamations of [hey!]

SCENE 1

Midday: Jack and Nathan’s house. The Couch

{Establishes the setting of the movie, as well as the two character’s core personalities. Alternating shots of Jack and Nathan contrast their personalities. Nathan’s calm, collected, and patient. Jack is high-strung, somewhat impatient, and likes to finish tasks as quickly as possible. Video game scene introduces Jack’s somewhat competitive spirit.}

EXTREME LONG SHOT OF THE HOUSE THEY STAY IN.

CLOSEUP OF JACK ‘S HANDS HAMMERING ON A VIDEOGAME CONTROLLER’S BUTTONS.

Jack: *focused grunting*

SHOT OF NATHAN ‘S HANDS DOING THE EXACT OPPOSITE, MAKING SLOW, DELIBERATE BUTTON PRESSES.

CLOSEUP SHOT OF JACK’S EYEBROWS RAISED AND EYES TWITCHING. HIS EYES SHIFT RAPIDLY AS HE SCREAMS

Jack: *Ooh hoo hoo hoo!!!*

CLOSEUP OF NATHAN’S EYES. THEY APPEAR RELAXED. HE BLINKS ONCE, AND ONCE ONLY.

SHOT OF BOTH ON THE COUCH, FACING THE CAMERA. JACK IS LEANING FORWARD WHILE NATHAN IS RELAXED. BOTH CONTINUE THEIR ACTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS CLOSEUP SHOTS. A SHARP “K.O.!” IS HEARD, SIGNALING THE END OF THE GAME.JACK JUMPS UP AND SHOUTS IN EXCITEMENT.

AS HE JUMPS UP THE CAMERA CUTS TO A SHOT OF HIS STOMACH AS IT GROWLS LOUDLY.

CUTS TO VIEW OF BOTH CHARACTERS FACING CAMERA. JACK LOOKS DOWN, THEN PLOPS IN SOFA WHILE RUBBING HIS STOMACH WITH BOTH HANDS. NATHAN LOOKS AT HIM AND SHAKES HIS HEAD LEFT AND RIGHT.

SHOT OF NATHAN LOOKING AT THE CLOCK. IT READS 12:OO PM.

Nathan: *hmm…*

NATHAN GETS OFF OF COUCH AND WALKS TOWARD KITCHEN. JACK FOLLOWS HIM.

SCENE 2
Midday: Jack and Nathan’s house. The Kitchen.
{Explains Jack’s motivation for cooking pancakes. 3 attempts are made.}

CUTS TO SHOT FROM INSIDE THE FRIDGE. FRIDGE OPENS, AND JACK LOOKS IN, SEARCHING FOR THE EGG CARTON. SMILE ON HIS FACE AS HE PULLS IT OUT.

SHOT FROM OUTSIDE FRIDGE OF JACK PLACING THE CARTON ON THE COUNTER, THEN OPENING IT. LOOK OF CONFUSION ON HIS FACE. CLOSEUP SHOT OF INSIDE CARTON REVEALS EGG CARTON IS EMPTY.

Jack: *huh?*

SOUND OF EGG CRACKING, CAMERA MOVES RIGHT, FOCUSES ON NATHAN, WHO TAKES EGG AND CRACKS IT ON BOWL. PANCAKE SYRUP, A CUP OF FLOUR, A TABLESPOON OF SUGAR, SALT, BAKING POWDER, A CUP OF MILK, VEGETABLE OIL, AND COOKING UTENSILS ARE SEEN NEXT TO HIM, EACH IN ITS OWN SPECIFIC CONTAINER.

MEDIUM CLOSEUP OF JACK AS HE LOOKS TO THE RIGHT. HE SIGHS IN SLIGHT ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AND STARTS TO LOOK IN THE CABINETS FOR SOMETHING TO MAKE. PULLS OUT A BOX OF “INSTANT-PANCAKES” MIX.

Jack: *ooh!*

MEDIUM CLOSEUP OF JACK WORKING ON THE COUNTER LEFT OF NATHAN. HE FLIPS THE BOX OVER AND READS THE INSTRUCTIONS. EXTREME CLOSEUP OF BOX’S INSTRUCTION LABEL.

INSTRUCTION LABEL: “ Blah blah blah blah 1 cup blah blah blah stir milk blah blah blah butter blah blah blah”

Jack: *Aha!*

JACK PULLS OUT MILK AND BUTTER, FROM THE FRIDGE AND POURS EACH OF THEM INTO A LARGE BOWL. HE TAKES SOME PANCAKE MIX OUT OF THE BOX, AND POURS IT IN AS WELL. HE HAS A LOOK OF SATISFACTION ON HIS FACE AS IF HE DID SOMETHING WONDERFUL. HE SCRAMBLES AROUND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO MIX WITH. AS HE GRABS A PLASTIC SPOON AND MIXES HIS PANCAKE BATTER, HE GLANCES UP AT NATHAN.

SHOT OF NATHAN USING A WHISK TO MIX UP HIS FLOUR, SUGAR, AND SALT IN ONE BOWL. NATHAN WHISTLES WHILE HE MIXES.

SHOT OF JACK, CHUCKLING TO HIMSELF AS HE STILL LOOKS AT NATHAN. HE LOOKS DOWN AT HIS BOWL. HIS FACIAL EXPRESSION CONVEYS SOMETHING INSIDE THE BOWL NOT LOOKING RIGHT. HE RAISES HIS PLASTIC SPOON AND NOTICES THAT IT HAS BROKEN IN HALF. HE PUTS IT DOWN AND PULLS UP A REALLY CHUNKY MIX OF PANCAKE BATTER.

Jack: *Ha ha ha ha…..* [looks down] *oh….*

HE PUTS THE BOWL IN THE SINK AND TURNS ON THE WATER TO RINSE IT OUT. HE PULLS A NEW BOWL OUT THE CABINET AND TRIES AGAIN, EXCEPT POURING MORE MILK IN THIS TIME. HE LOOKS AT NATHAN WHO IS NOW MIXING HIS EGGS, MILK, AND OIL TOGETHER.

[CLOSEUP SHOT OF NATHAN’S BOWL. ]

JACK NOTICES HOW SMOOTH AND CREAMY NATHAN’S WET INGREDIENTS ARE AND DECIDES TO PUT EXTRA WATER IN HIS BOWL TO TRY TO GET THE SAME EFFECT. (HE MOVES HIS FIRST BOWL TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SINK.) HE TAKES A PLASTIC FORK AND MIXES HIS MATERIALS TOGETHER, SPINNING HIS HANDS VERY QUICKLY. SO QUICKLY, THAT THE BATTER SPLASHES EVERYWHERE.

CAMERA FOLLOWS HIM TO THE OVEN, WHERE HE GRABS A SKILLET, AND PLACES IT ON THE EYE. CLOSEUP SHOT OF HIS HAND TURNING THE EYE TO HIGH. HE GRABS HIS BOWL, TILTS IT TOWARD THE SKILLET, AND POURS SOME OF THE BATTER IN. THE BATTER, MOSTLY WATER, EVAPORATES QUICKLY. JACK GETS STARTLED AS SOME OF THE STEAM SHOOTS UP IN HIS FACE.

Jack: *screams*

EXTREME CLOSEUP OF NATHAN’S FACE. NATHAN HEARS A THUD, LOOKS UP. LOW SHOT OF JACK ON THE FLOOR, GROANING. DILUTED PANCAKE MIX IS SPILLED OVER THE FLOOR. GRINNING, NATHAN HELPS JACK UP, MUCH TO JACK’S DISMAY. JACKLOOKS AT OVEN AND SEES THE NATHAN HAS TURNED THE STOVE TO OFF.

Jack: *hmph*

SHOT OF JACK WALKING PAST NATHAN. CAMERA FOLLOWS JACK UNTIL HE SLIPS ON THE SPILLED PANCAKE BATTER. NATHAN WATCHES JACK FALL AND CRINGES SLIGHTLY. CAMERA PANS TO CLOCK ON WALL. READS12:20.

FADE IN TO NEXT SHOT OF THE CLOCK. READS 12:30 P.M.

CLOSEUP SHOT OF A MOP IN A BUCKET.

SHOT OF BOTH JACK AND NATHAN COOKING ON THE SAME STOVE. CAMERA SHOWS INTANT PANCAKE LABEL AGAIN, BUT WITH ALL OF THE TEXT MAKING CONCRETE INSTRUCTIONS.

CUT TO EXTREME CLOSE UP OF JACK’S HANDS POURING PANCAKE BATTER FROM BOWL INTO THE SKILLET, THEN TURNING THE HEAT TO HIGH.

LOW SHOT OF JACK IN PROFILE, GRINNING, THEN LOOKING TO THE RIGHT ATNATHAN. CAMERA PANS RIGHT TO NATHAN, WHO LOOKS AT JACK WITH A SMILE AND ONE EYEBROW RAISED. TURNS HEAD TOWARD STOVE.

EXTREME CLOSE UP OF NATHAN’S HANDS SPRAYING SKILLET WITH COOKING SPRAY, [QUICK CUT TO JACK’S EYES WIDENING] NATHAN POURS PANCAKE MIX FROM A MEASURING CUP INTO THE CAST IRON SKILLET NEXT TO JACK’S. TURNS HEAT TO MEDIUM.

LOW SHOT OF NATHAN IN PROFILE, SMILING. LOOKS AT JACK. CAMERA PANS TOJACK, WITH EYEBROW STILL RAISED, AND A WORRIED LOOK ON HIS FACE, LOOKS AT HIS PANCAKES.

CUT TO JACK’S HANDS MOVING SKILLET BACK AND FORTH TO MAKE SURE HIS PANCAKES ARE NOT STUCK. [SHOT NEEDS TO BE LOW ENOUGH TO NOT SHOW WHAT SKILLET HAS INSIDE]

SHOT, BACK IN PROFILE, OF JACK LAUGHING, SIGNALING THAT HIS PANCAKES ARE OKAY. CAMERA PANS TO NATHAN, WHO LOOKS WORRIED. LOOKS DOWN TOWARDSJACK’S PANCAKES. CAMERA PANS BACK TO JACK, WHO IS OBLIVIOUS TO THE SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING UP FROM HIS SKILLET.

SHOT FROM SKILLET’S POV. OF JACK LOOKING DOWN.

Jack: *Woah!*

JACK RUNS AWAY FROM SKILLET, RETURNS WITH BOWL OF BAKING POWDER. SPRAYS INTO SKILLET. POWDER MAKES CAMERA GO TO BLACK.

SCENE 3
Midday: Jack and Nathan’s house. The Kitchen first, then the Couch.

EXTREME LONG SHOT OF THE APARTMENT THEY STAY IN.

SHOT OF CLOCK, READS 12:56.

SHOT OF JACK SCRUBBING SKILLET IN SINK VIGOROUSLY, TRYING TO SCRAPE OUT THE REMAINS OF THE BURNT PANCAKE. CAMERA TILTS UPWARD TO SHOW SHOW HIS FRUSTRATION IN HIS FACE.

Nathan: *Hey!*

JACK LOOKS BEHIND HIM TOWARDS NATHAN. NATHAN IS HOLDING TWO PLATES OF HOMADE PANCAKES.

CLOSE UP ON THE PANCAKES. CAMERA TILTS UP TO NATHAN’S FACE. HE SMILES AND SLIGHTLY NODS.

CLOSE UP ON JACK’S FACE. HE SIGHS AND SHAKES HIS HEAD IN REFUSAL.

MEDIUM CLOSE UP OF NATHAN.  SCRUBBING SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD. HE SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS, AND WALKS TOWARDS THE COUCH, PLACING THE PANCAKES HE MADE FOR JACK ON THE COUNTER. [ CAMERA FOLLOWS PANCAKES UNTIL THEY REACH THE COUNTER. ]

CLOSEUP OF JACK’S FACE AS HE LOOKS DOWN. SCRUBBING SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD, BUT SLOWLY COME TO A STOP. HIS EYES SHIFT TOWARDS THE PANCAKES.

SHOT FROM BEHIND OF NATHAN PLAYING VIDEO GAMES WHILE EATING, TILTING QUICKLY TO SHOT OF PANCAKES. SHOT STAYS ON PANCAKES AS JACK’S HANDS PULL THE PANCAKES OFFSCREEN

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STORYBOARDS:

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Shots of my new shooting location.  All shots will take place in this area.

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Questions to be answered:

What are the character's objectives?
In the movie, both Nathan and Jake want to make and eat breakfast. Jake slightly wants to make his pancakes better than Nathan's, but mostly wants to eat as soon as possible.

What are each major character's obstacles to reaching their objectives?
Jake refuses to follow every step of making pancakes. Nathan does not have as much trouble completing his objective, although he does stop cooking to assist Jack on one occasion, and feared for his pancakes as they became burnt in another. His objective increases in scale as the movie progresses.

What are the actions the characters will use to overcome their obstacles and reach their objectives?
Nathan ends up multitasking, adding to his objective to help in completing Jack's objective. Jack, on the other hand, is determined to complete his objective via trial and error, as many times as it may take. Even if that means refusing for help until he can not refuse any more.

What are the ways and means the characters will use?
Jack resorts to mimicking (to the best of his ability) the actions of Nathan while cooking. He skips steps constantly, but he can realize quickly when he has made a mistake, and tries again to fix it. Nathan, on the other hand, deliberately plans out each and every one of his steps beforehand. He makes sure the amount of unplanned actions he goes through are minimal at the most, but is willing to change his strategy if necessary.

What adjustments do the characters make when their actions and means don't succeed?
Jack learns from his mistakes quickly... to a degree. To him, an expedient method must be proven false before a workaround will be figured out. However, if there is something that can be done that has the potential to speed an already speedy proccess more, he will try it in a second. Nathan failures are what they are. They do not faze his mentality, nor do they hinder him from doing any other action. He works with them, leaving opportunities for success. Even when Jack refuses his pancakes, Nathan leaves them for him, just in case Jack wants them later.

What realistic doings are the actors engaged in?
Playing video games, cooking breakfast, experiencing hunger, putting play before their own necessary needs, exhibiting traits of pride, impatience, uncertainty, confidence, and kindness.