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Mark Bertolini
05-16-2006, 03:39 PM
I posted a rough attempt at this a long time ago, and it's been in my head ever since. I like this story, and I hope you all do to.

If not, rip me apart because I need the practive. Thanks.

Magnum Opus

Page 1

1/ Establishing shot of the sun-baked desert (we're just outside Las Vegas). The sun is brutally blaring down, the ground is hard-packed dirt and very little vegetation.

2/ Mid-sized shot of the back of a man. He is wearing a white leisure suit. The sun glares off of his bald head. He is looking down slightly in front of him, his left hand is on his hip and his right hand is in front of him, obscured by his body.

3/ Same as 2, only his urine has become visible between his spread legs.

4/ Close-up on his face. He's an older man, probably approaching his 60s. He's wearing dark sunglasses, and his face is tipped back, towards the sun, a slight smile on his face while he pees. This is our "hero", NICODEMUS REX.

REX: AHHH…

Page 2

1/ Same as page 1, panel 2, only he's zipping up now.

2/ Profile shot of his face as he turns to look over his right shoulder towards the reader.

REX: WELL? SHALL WE GO?

3/ Cut to a young man, early 20s, sitting in the driver's seat of a rusty, banged-up convertible. He's obviously not happy at sitting there in the hot sun, and his face shows it.
This is ALEX YOUNG.

ALEX: YEAH, WE SHALL GO. IT'S ABOUT ****ING TIME. YOU PISS LIKE OLD PEOPLE ****.

4/ Rex steps close to the car, looking down at Alex.

REX: I AM OLD PEOPLE, ALEX.

Page 3

1/ Close-up on Alex, who's jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

ALEX: WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THEM?

2/ Shot of the back seat of the convertible, where a young man and a young woman are very dead, both shot in the middle of their foreheads.
3/ Close-up on Rex's face, his sunglasses down on his nose so he can look over the top of them. He's got old eyes, but sharp and snake-like.

REX: WHAT'S THIS "WE" BUSINESS?

4/ Alex looks up at Rex.

ALEX: WELL, WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE THEM THERE. THEY'RE STARTING TO SMELL.

5/ Small shot of Rex looking off into the distance, amused.

REX: THERE'S A SHOVEL IN THE TRUNK. START DIGGING.

Page 4

1/ Alex looks pissed, he's starting to get out of the car, doing what he's told even though he doesn't want to.

ALEX: WHY DO I HAVE TO BURY THEM? YOU SHOT THEM!

2/ Large shot of Rex's face, all the humor in it now gone, eyes narrowed as he stares at Alex.

REX: THAT'S RIGHT. I SHOT THEM. THAT'S THE MAN'S WORK. NOW YOU GET TO BURY THEM. THAT'S THE BITCH WORK. SO GET DIGGING, BITCH.

3/ Alex opens the trunk to get the shovel.

ALEX (mumbles) HRRRMM….BULLSHIT…HRRMM

4/ Rex climbs into the passenger seat and lights a cigarette.

REX: AND HURRY IT UP. IT'S ****ING HOT OUT HERE.

Knuckles
05-16-2006, 05:06 PM
[QUOTE=MarkLCBertolini]1/ Same as page 1, panel 2, only he's zipping up now.

[QUOTE]


How do we know that he is zipping up if his back is to the reader?


I think your going to have the post more, because I really don't see anything happening here and can't judge with this little. It seems to be good writing. I like how you used different shots i.e. large, profile. I would like to see more of that. Page 2 panel 3 I think you need to explain what type of shot here, even if it is just a large shot. Hope that helps.

Mark Bertolini
05-17-2006, 07:37 AM
[QUOTE=MarkLCBertolini]1/ Same as page 1, panel 2, only he's zipping up now.

[QUOTE]


How do we know that he is zipping up if his back is to the reader?


I think your going to have the post more, because I really don't see anything happening here and can't judge with this little. It seems to be good writing. I like how you used different shots i.e. large, profile. I would like to see more of that. Page 2 panel 3 I think you need to explain what type of shot here, even if it is just a large shot. Hope that helps.


I guess I would want the artist to draw those little motion lines, which I'd have to convey to the artist. Also a "ZZZIPPP" sound effect would work too.

But I see what you mean.

ReekingHavoc
05-21-2006, 05:56 PM
This is an awesome start. It's got the same feel as 100 BULLETS to it. I'm very intrigued by these characters, especially Rex.

I think the 5 panels of Rex pissing goes on a little too long. I would cut it down to two:

2/ Mid-sized shot of the back of a man. He is wearing a white leisure suit. The sun glares off of his bald head. He is looking down slightly in front of him, his left hand is on his hip and his right hand is in front of him, obscured by his body. His urine is visible between his spread legs.

3/ The man turns around, and walks towards us, zipping up his pants.

REX: Well shall we go?

Good job! Please post some more.

xtylerx
05-22-2006, 02:52 PM
Yeah, this has a good cinematic style. I would also like to read more, to gain a better sense of the tone, style and all that BS.

Mark Bertolini
05-24-2006, 10:23 AM
Stay tuned...

kamikaze
05-24-2006, 01:50 PM
Not too shabby an opening. I remember when you posted this b4, want to see where this goes from the desert. One little thing..the two in the back are "very dead"? I think you could get away with the two just being dead. My opinion and all. GIVE US MORE!

Mark Bertolini
05-24-2006, 03:17 PM
Here's four more pages, hot off the press:

Magnum Opus

Page 5

1/ Close-up on Rex, his face a snarl, blood spattered across his sunglasses.

CAP: TWO WEEKS AGO.

REX: ****!

2/ Wide shot of Rex, guns smoking in his hands, blood splashed across his face, chest and suit. There are two dead men on the ground at his feet, very bloody and mangled. Another man stands a few feet away, holding a gun on Rex.

3/ Horizontal shot of the man holding the gun.

MAN: PUT THE GUNS DOWN, REX.

Page 6

1/ Medium shot of Rex, who is practically vibrating with anger, his guns clenched tightly in his fists.

REX: WHERE IS MY MONEY, YOU SON OF A BITCH?

2/ The man grins, not moving his gun.

MAN: YOUR MONEY IS GONE, OLD MAN. UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE GONE TOO, I'D PUT THE GUNS DOWN.

3/ Rex glares at the man, lips in a snarl again.

REX: EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

REX: (attached) EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!

4/ The man shrugs, still holding his gun on Rex.

MAN: THAT'S BUSINESS, REX. NOW PUT DOWN THE GUNS AND I'LL LET YOU WALK AWAY. YOU KILLED MY GUYS, BUT I'LL LET THAT GO AS LONG AS YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID.

Page 7

1/ Tight shot on Rex's face.

REX: JUST…JUST GIVE ME MY MONEY AND I'LL GO.

2/ Tight shot on the man's face, mirroring panel 1.

MAN: THERE IS NO MONEY.

3/ Rex throws up his hands, still holding his guns, and clutches at his head, in agony.

REX: THAT WAS MY MONEY, GODDAMIT. I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT IT.

4/ Wide shot of the man stepping closer to Rex, gun still up.

MAN: THEN YOU DON'T LEAVE AT ALL.

5/ Rex drops his guns, head down, looking defeated.

Page 8

1/ Wide shot of the man lowering his gun too.

MAN: SMART MOVE, OLD-TIMER. NOW GET IN THE ****ING WIND.

2/ Rex lashes out, grabbing the man's gun hand.

REX: WRONG, ASSHOLE.

3/ Rex breaks the man's forearm, and the gun drops from his fingers.

MAN: GAAHH!

4/ Rex snakes out a hand and catches the man's gun before it hits the ground.

REX: YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE MESSED WITH MY MONEY. MY GODDAMN ****ING MONEY.

5/ Shot of Rex jamming the gun into the bottom of the man's chin.

REX: NOW I HAVE TO GO OVER YOUR HEAD.

6/ Rex fires the gun, blowing the roof of the man's head off in a bloody eruption.

REX: OR THROUGH IT, AS THE CASE MAY BE.