Riley+Loula

Project 1: Test Scene/Sequence

Working Title: Good Sports Members: Riley Loula, Matt Flocco, Kris Turner, Jackei Boerstler

Concept:

//Good Sports// is a narrative “mockumentary” about a group of employees who work at a new and used sporting goods retail store in Lancaster County. The show will depict the humorous absurdities the employees encounter on a daily basis, from interactions with customers to employee relationships.

The project will resemble a test sequence and will introduce the audience to the core cast and also a number of customer-related situations: a young mother attempting to return a jock strap, an older man attempting to sell century-old hockey equipment for an absurd price. As of now, only two characters have been cast, and the script will focus on these two characters (Kyle and Riley) as the two main characters who carry the sequence. The “Riley” character will act as a narrator, being the intermediary between the camera crew and the action on camera and Kyle will act as the primary “customer service” employee (i.e. the character that complains most to employees and camera).

//Good Sports// will be shot as an amateur-style mockumentary, single camera production. The project will resemble “The Office” in its structure, voice over narration with on-screen action, cutting to “interviews/confessionals” with the cast. Characters will be free to express awareness of the camera, whisper to camera and look at camera (as if a “cinema verite” production, but breaking several conventions).

Techniques to work on:


 * Casting for a television short (core and extras)
 * Single camera operation, “amateur” style, numerous OTS, HIGH, CU and XCU shots
 * Audio micing, boom/lavalier
 * Actor “interactivity” with camera, “awareness of crew” cinema verite

Actors/Subjects:

Core Cast Extras
 * “Kyle”: Store Manager
 * “Pumps”: Shift Manager/Day Worker
 * “Tim”: Shift Manager/Night Worker
 * “Riley”: Night worker, “narrating” character
 * TBD, most likely 5-6 necessary, Extras would encompass customers

Equipment needed:
 * Have prior access to two DSLR camera, T2i and T3i
 * Have prior access to shotgun boom mic
 * Have prior access to one of each: 57" tripod, 67" monopod, and 10" spider flexible tripod
 * Have prior access to a Stabilizer Steadicam
 * Will need 2-3 lavalier mics and one additional boom

Equipment we might need:
 * Lights
 * Reflectors and gels
 * Extension cords
 * Surge protectors

Possible locations: Play it Again Sports, Lancaster, PA

Other logistics (releases, scheduling conflicts, etc.):
 * Tentative production date: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, 6-11 am
 * Necessary costumes should make the production look more genuine:
 * Attire for “employees”: Good Sports t-shirt (black or blue), can be made at store
 * Attire for “customers”: Anything will work, but should piece together a convincing “Amish character” costume for one “customer” character

Feedback, concerns, or predictions from Group Member 1:

Riley: The main concerns for me with regard to our project is location, transportation, and scheduling conflicts with cast or difficulty finding additional cast members. I have secured a location, but we have a very small window of time to film, so the script must be properly written, shot listed, and memorized by the cast. The core cast includes 4 characters, two of which will be played by members of the group (Matt Flocco, Riley Loula). That leaves two additional core cast spots that must be filled. I understand that we must not only find several possible cast members, but ensure their availability to travel to Lancaster on a weekend. It is a tall order, but with proper planning and most likely an invitation for free food, we should be able to find two more solid cast members. Matt Flocco has offered to recruit a number of characters.

The only other concern is finding extras, but Riley along with Jackie have friends who live in the Lancaster-area that may be able to fill in. Overall, I believe we can produce a very successful test sequence.

Kris Turner: I added to the equipment list. Aside from free food, we will offer a copy of the finished project for the actors involved so they can put it on their demo reels. I would like to get multiple angle shots from different areas of the store to see how it all looks. The size of the aisles and where the light is will affect where we shot. Something we need to find out is if we use this for a demo reel or put it on-line do we need permission to show the name brand products that are on the shelves in the background. One way to help out with this prior to shooting is if there are pictures of the store on-line or if Riley has any.

Matt Flocco: I am heavily impressed with our team and initiative of each member thusfar in the early stages of the project. My major concern is also getting to the location and transportation. My parents will be in town for a show the night of the 18th; so hopefully they will be able to give me the car so Riley and I can drive to Lancaster. If this is not possible; I'm simply worried about my own finances and paying for a train all the way to Lancaster. I am also worried about the incentive of free food; I agree we should definitely do it but we will just have to each split the money to pay for it. My third slight concern is the amount of time we will have to edit the project: essentially three days.

These concerns, however, are not extremely significant. I should not have a problem grabbing a few actors from either the theater department or from Insomnia Theater; the organization I currently run on campus. The excitement and anticipation for the project definitely outweigh the problem I have with it. I predict that we will scramble a bit in terms of editing the project; but that as long as we are in communication with one another and everyone is on task (which everybody is), that we will have a really enjoyable process.

Group Member 4:

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