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"Phillip" and "Future Mail"
95 Plays2 months ago
Today, we look at the short films Phillip and Future Mail.
Phillip written by Jaimy Gardner: In the aftermath of a racially charged incident involving his son, Levi Wright meets with his son's teacher, Alissa Huntley. Their meeting soon devolves into a confrontation in which hidden biases and painful truths are unraveled as they navigate through their conflicting perspectives and personal struggles... all of which unexpectedly leads them to find common ground in their shared concern for Levi's son and their commitment to help him.
Future Mail written by L.T. Truong: A space travel agent receives an email that she sent herself twenty years ago
Readers:
- Ike Mauga
- Jennica Anusua
- Langi Tuifua
- Marisa Taylor Scott
Transcript
Introduction to Red Lit Screenplays
00:00:12
Speaker
Okay, this is it. This is the first episode of Red Lit Screenplays. This is the podcast where we take screenplays from indie writers and do a table read of them to experience as if they were produced in a movie. um I am joined today by three other amazing readers. If you guys want to go around, introduce yourself. We'll start with Longi, because men first.
00:00:38
Speaker
yes Yes, always.
Meet the Cast: Actor Introductions
00:00:40
Speaker
even um Hello, ah my name is Longi Tuifua. I'm an actor here in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can see me in such things as like ah Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon videos and Connor Frisk in the upcoming Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall movie.
00:00:55
Speaker
Hello. Hi. um I'm Janika Anasuya. I am a actor, musician, writer, director. I love telling stories. I love how stories help build connection. And I think we need connection in this world um more than ever. And so I'm really passionate about that. I also have a background in global mental health. And so I'm also passionate about like narrative medicine and the way stories bring us together in that way. So I am in some stuff. You can check those things out. I'm in movies. i I make movies. And I'm really glad to be here.
00:01:37
Speaker
Hello, my name is Marissa Taylor Scott, pronoun she, her, hers. um I am a professional actor here in Southern California. I do a lot of different theatrical things. I don't know how to describe it. Every year I do some spooky audio plays with a company called Wise Bot Collective. I have worked with La Jolla Playhouse during their WoW Fest.
00:01:59
Speaker
um I do a lot of educational theater work here in San Diego, bringing awareness with anti-bullying, anti-racism programs, human trafficking prevention. And I also just giggle and goof around as a director, theater educator, and I squeeze in being silly and acting on stage and stupid characters when I can. And I am Ike Maunga, I am and just a dude with a mic. I don't know. I'm a producer. I produce films and this podcast. Let's get into it. ah
00:02:40
Speaker
So we're going to be successful. pod hell yeah he's like This already successful podcast has done a bunch of things and he is incredible. I've known him a long time. We love him. Also, Marissa, way better than all of us. My pronouns are he, him. Let's go around again really quick. Pronouns.
00:02:57
Speaker
um i'm I'm he him as well. This is Jenica. My pronouns are she, her, hers. Hail. Yeah.
Script Reading: Jamie Gardner's Story
00:03:05
Speaker
Okay, um so the first script that we're going to take a look at is written by an author named Jamie Gardner. Okay, so Jamie Gardner was born in Washington State and raised in Northern California. She spent much of her younger years traveling all across the country to perform and compete in a number of national dance competitions, as well as train with world-renowned instructors at several prestigious schools, including Juilliard, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Washington Ballet in DC.
00:03:35
Speaker
Her scripts in short films have gained both national and international recognition and have been selected by reputable festivals such as Coteira International Film Festival, Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, Waterford International Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards, Venice Shorts, Sherman Oaks Film Festival, and the Utah Film Festival.
00:03:55
Speaker
And today we are reading her script titled Philip in the aftermath of a racially charged incident involving his son. Levi Wright meets his son's teacher, Alyssa Huntley. Their meeting devolves into a confrontation in which hidden biases and painful truths are unraveled as they navigate through their conflicting perspectives and personal struggles. So I'm excited. Let's do this.
00:04:26
Speaker
Interior Elementary School Classroom Day Alyssa Huntley, female, late 20s to early 30s, is buzzing around her classroom, seemingly preparing for someone to arrive. She positions a chair just in front of her desk, then hastily swipes a long sip from her water bottle. Her young and somewhat energetic appearance is juxtaposed by a strong presence of weariness in her eyes.
00:04:48
Speaker
There's a knock at the door. She looks up to see her expected visitor through the window and motions for him to come in. Levi Wright, a blackmail in his thirties, enters. He's sharply dressed and carries himself well, but his face is contorted with severe level of uncertain worry. Mr. Wright? Mrs. Hudley? Thank you for coming in on such short notice. She comes towards him, reaching out her hand. He takes her hand and shakes it, then glances around the room. Where's my son?
00:05:14
Speaker
Philip is down the hall with my TA. I wanted to speak with you privately first. All right. Let me have a seat. He moves to the chair in front of the desk while she walks around to the chair behind the desk. I won't lie, Mrs. Huntley, you made me pretty nervous when you wouldn't tell me what this was about over the phone. I apologize for that, but I've learned things like this tend to be better discussed in person. Philip's okay? Yes, and Pins and needles here, Mrs. Huntley.
00:05:45
Speaker
Mr. Wright, how's Phillip been at home lately? What do you mean? Has he been anxious, agitated, irritable, anything like that? No more than the usual for an eight-year-old boy. Okay. Why? Is he failing? No, he's actually one of my best students, straight A's, across the board. That's good. He works hard at home, but it's nice to know he's paying off in class.
00:06:10
Speaker
So if it's not his grades, what is it? She hesitates. The intensity of his gaze could bore holes into her skull. Mr. Wright, Philip was involved in an altercation during recess today. What sort of altercation? He attacked another boy. What do you mean attacked? He pinned the boy down on the ground and tried to choke him. Is the boy okay? He'll be fine. His parents came and took him home already.
00:06:38
Speaker
He shoots up out of his chair. mr wright He's already halfway across the room. I need to see my son. Down the hall you said which way? There's more. Whatever this is, it can wait. He called the boy a cracker. Levi stops cold in his tracks and slowly turns around. What? As he was choking him, Philip repeatedly yelled, you no good yellow bellied cracker. Exact words. Yes.
00:07:08
Speaker
Levi lets this sink in for a moment and slowly backtracks towards her. When he reaches his chair again, he can barely lift his eyes to meet hers. Mr. Wright? Mr. Wright? Yes. Is the boy all right? he's He's fine. Are you all right, sir? i I would like this discussion to be off the record. Okay. I need your word. You haven't.
00:07:36
Speaker
I had a ah really bad day at work last week. One of my coworkers, he's um hes not a good man towards me specifically. Later that night at home, my um my wife and I were in our room and I was venting about it to her and I i said those words.
00:08:04
Speaker
Which ones? All of them. I see. I was really heated. Probably the angriest I've been in a long time, but since we were in our bedroom, I... must've... Did he say anything else? Outside of what I told you no. I don't know what to say. That is... That is not how I'm trying to raise my boy. You have to know that.
00:08:32
Speaker
When he can't get a clear read on her facial expressions, he sits back down in his chair. Did you say anything else that night when you were venting to your wife? Levi's eyes are fixed on the floor as he squeezes his fists tightly. Mr. Wright, I know I don't have the right to ask that, and I can't imagine how difficult this is, but for the 31.2 hours, Philip is with me every week. He is my responsibility, and I take that very seriously.
00:08:59
Speaker
As do I. So in order for me to be the most helpful to you and to Philip, did you say anything else that night? The heaviness of his sigh threatens to rattle the windows. I said that no good yellow-bellied cracker made me so mad I wanted to strangle him. We're taking additional colorful words. I didn't mean it. I was just frustrated. Oh, angry. Of course. OK.
00:09:30
Speaker
What does this all mean for Philip? um I'll have to confer with the principal, but he will likely be suspended for two weeks. Maybe more. No. No, please. Sorry. Can he just have detention every day for...
00:09:46
Speaker
I don't know, the rest of the school year? Unfortunately, the nature of this incident was deemed too violent for him to just receive detention. He can't miss school. He's worked so hard. He did still. And he's never done anything like this before. I know. Is there nothing you can do? I will do what I can, but I can't promise anything based on past instances similar to this that we've had with other kids.
Parental Influence and Consequences?
00:10:10
Speaker
I don't know.
00:10:12
Speaker
Levi's on his feet and begins pacing back and forth. Okay, walk me through what happened from beginning to end. From what I would hold. Wait, you mean you weren't even there when it happened? I was, but my TA was the closest to the scene when the fight first broke out. Who did you say started the fight? Well, she says it was Phillip, but... What did the other boy say? I'm sorry? My boy is not aggressive, Mrs. Huntley. That's not his personality. He doesn't just lash out like that.
00:10:39
Speaker
You're his teacher. You should know that. I do know that, Mr. Right? Philip's behavior was completely out of character for him, but... No. No more buts. That other boy must have said something. Did you even question him? I did. And he said he didn't do anything. No, he, uh... And now he's trying to put it all on Philip. If you'll just let me finish... No need! I know how it goes. The fight breaks out, white kid's the victim, while the black kid takes the fall. That is not what is happening here. That's exactly what's happening. If you'll just let me explain... What else is there to explain?
00:11:08
Speaker
Quite a lot, actually. From where I'm standing, it's the same tune with the new yet not so improved arrangement. She's on her feet. I will not tolerate that kind of baseless accusation. Not baseless when it's true. It's not. Right. I don't know what you've been through in your life, sir, but quite frankly, I don't care. This is about Philip, not you. You have no right projecting your animosities past, present, or otherwise onto your son.
00:11:36
Speaker
You know nothing about me or what I've been through. So please spare me the lecture on how to raise my son. Your son? My student? Just try to choke one of his classmates to death. Thereby perpetuating the stereotype, right? I didn't say that. You didn't need to. Why are you so insistent on putting words in my mouth? Because I will not allow my son to become another statistic. I'm not trying to! Yes you are! You know what?
00:12:07
Speaker
You're right. I don't have a say in how Philip's raised, but I will have a say in this, because despite what you are claiming, I care about Philip. And with all due respect, Mr. Right, that knife cuts both ways. You don't know me or what I've been through, so until you do, watch your words. Did you talk to the other boy? Yes. What did he say?
00:12:35
Speaker
He claimed he didn't start it. You did. Mr. Wright. I will not stand for my son being accused of something he didn't do. He did do it. You know what I meant. And now you're okay with me making assumptions. Are you gonna do anything about this? I am trying to. Try harder. The verbal punch lands as hard as he intends. They both take a moment to catch their breath. You know, I thought you were different. Meaning? Meaning that Out of all the other teachers out there, not only were you good at your job, but you also did everything in your power to give every kid in your class a fair shake. So we did everything in our power to make sure Phillip was in your class. And when I say everything, I mean my wife went out and found a job when she was already five months pregnant with our second baby, just so we could have enough to cover Phillip's registration fee. We trusted you.
00:13:34
Speaker
I guess we were wrong. They hold each other's gaze with fierce intensity. Alyssa then walks around her desk and comes to stand just a few feet in front of him. Mr. Wright, Philip is one of the sweetest, brightest, most wonderful students I have ever had. Which means that, as I said before, I know this incident was completely out of character for him.
00:13:58
Speaker
Even still, he is a child. My child? Yes. Your child. He looks up to you. He talks about you every day. My dad did this, my dad did that, my dad's the best. You are his world. And it's because of that, I think he'd do just about anything to protect you. What are you saying? I'm saying that maybe after he overheard what you said to your wife that night, he wanted to right your wrong in some way. And he used this minor encounter with his classmate to do just that. That doesn't make sense. Maybe not to you and I, but to him, it's possible. He brushes past her and moves to the opposite side of the room. Now, if I may. He stops and reluctantly turns to face her. According to my TA, Recess had just started when the other boy began playing with a basketball.
00:14:57
Speaker
Philip asked him if he could use it. The other boy said no. Philip just kept asking nicely. And the other boy kept saying no. No aggression, just typical kids not wanting to share. At some point, the boy lost control of the ball. They both lunged over to recover it. They tussled. Emotions got out of control. And you know the rest. You said your TA saw all of this happen? Yes. Her name is Tamika.
00:15:27
Speaker
and the boy Philip tried to choke, his name is Carlos. Levi stares at her blankly. I thought, you said that he called him a- As far as Philip's concerned, Carlos' skin is lighter than his. The floor feels like it's swaying under Levi's feet. He reaches for the closest stable fixture to steady himself. Carlos. I asked you to let me finish. Levi's emotion rises to the surface. As he works to wrap his brain around this, all he can manage is- Oh, Philip.
00:15:56
Speaker
Alyssa watches him for a moment before snatching a couple tissues out of a tissue box on her desk. She crosses the room, closing the distance between them and stops just a few feet short from him as she offers him the tissues. He eventually takes them from her. Philip is watching us, Mr. Wright. You and me. We must not take that lightly. I don't. I know. I just.
00:16:23
Speaker
I lost my son last summer, right before Phillip started here.
Emotional Climax and Resolution
00:16:28
Speaker
My son came at 34 weeks. They did everything they could, but I don't know what I don't know about this. She points back and forth between herself and him. Or about being a parent for longer than five minutes. What I do know is that I'd give anything to be in your shoes. And I'm sorry for allowing that to
00:16:54
Speaker
I'm so sorry. Words don't come for Levi, but after a few moments, he quietly walks over to the tissue box sitting on her desk, snatches a few tissues out, and brings them over to her. For the first time, the emotional ground between them feels level. What was his name? Your son? Samuel. Samuel Carson Huntley. I'm sorry. Thank you. They always say that someone out there has got it just as bad as you.
00:17:23
Speaker
The rains of light don't discriminate, Mr. Wright. Rich or poor, great or small, melanin in abundance or in lack. Life is hard no matter who you are. Yours may be different from mine, but they both matter. That they do. That they do.
00:17:44
Speaker
Mrs. Huntley, I am sorry for everything. Forgive me. Me too. I'll let you know what the principal says. Is there anything else you'd like to discuss with me? No, sir. Then, um, I'd like to go ahead and see my son. Down the hall, there's a door on your left. He brushes past her to make his way to the door, then stops mid-stride. He backtracks, coming to her, and he stretches out his hand. She takes it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Wright. Levi.
00:18:17
Speaker
Alyssa. And I meant what I said. I promised to do all I can where Philip is concerned. I understand that, no. Levi churns and makes his way to the door. Alyssa watches him go. When the door closes behind him, she finally allows her emotions to bubble open.
00:18:33
Speaker
what Interior, school, hallway. Levi makes his way down the school hallway. He slows as he approaches the third door on the left. Levi reaches for the door handle, hesitates for only a moment, then turns the knob and opens the door. Upon entering, Levi looks up and sees Philip Wright sitting next to Alyssa's TA in chairs lined up against the wall. Dad! Levi's face lights up as he kneels down and Philip runs into his arms. Hey buddy. I'm sorry dad. I'm sorry.
00:19:03
Speaker
and know I know. You OK? Philip nods and Levi pulls him close again. I'm so sorry. Me too, buddy. Me too. Fade to black. Credits roll.
Script Analysis: Jamie Gardner's Work
00:19:25
Speaker
Great job, guys. That's our first script. First of many. What what did you guys think worked about the script? What did you guys like? Well, first of all, Jamie. um This is for you, Jamie. You're amazing. ah the the The world is so descriptive and so specific.
00:19:47
Speaker
So even though a lot of that stuff is stuff that like would be seen visually that we don't have to specifically read, the fact that she knows it is so valuable, I think, because I really could see these characters in the world just by how it was described.
00:20:06
Speaker
and how they interacted. And I think dialogue is always hard. It's always hard to have dialogue that sounds authentic. And I felt like there were a lot of spaces in here where it really felt like a concerned caring teacher and a concerned caring parent. And navigating complex dynamics like race dynamics is something we have to do. It is a part of our life, but it's also hard to talk about. And so I thought this was presented in it and a really nice way.
00:20:38
Speaker
Yeah, I think um kind of going back to your comment about like the the way that she described the world, um I think something else that I really admired about like the the action paragraphs, and I think part of her background of like dance came in handy with this because the it almost seemed like it was already like blocked out.
00:20:56
Speaker
And um I feel like I could very clearly see the blocking between you know the the, you know, and it's just a ah conversation. So, um you know, trying to find blocking for those characters to have to still sick symbolize like where they are at with the argument was really cool to see. I thought that was very well done.
00:21:16
Speaker
Yeah, um I was gonna say this is like a pretty real situation too. Kids are always an extension of their parents. I remember so many times and in elementary school where I would get in trouble because I would say things that i that my dad would say, um and it definitely wasn't.
00:21:35
Speaker
Did you call someone a cracker? longing I definitely didn't say that. But um yeah, and and ah the dialogue, I was going to say, it's just it just feels so heavy. Like um ah my son did this and now I got to or like I just had a long day of work and I got to deal with my son and and, you know, um the dialogue reflects that and it's really well written in that in that sense. So, yeah. No, I really love keeping with the dialogue, the words that come to mind is like ebb and flow of the pacing, because for me,
00:22:17
Speaker
when people talk, it's messy. Like it's not like, here's everything I'm thinking all at once, right? And I really appreciated that about this piece. It was like slowly letting tidbits in one little bit at a time instead of like, here's all my trauma from the very beginning, right? Like here's everything that you don't know about me, which is very like teenager-y. So this reads older, which is awesome.
00:22:39
Speaker
um And as someone who does teach and can say there are some things that I've heard in classrooms um that are definitely not the children's words and you know it, I like we've all complimented this is a very real situation. And There's like this professionalism that I really admire between the two characters like trying to keep it professional and keep it like at this level But there's this tension rising between both of them that they're like but like ah if you just okay I can't say what I really want to because if I do Then I will get in more trouble you will get in trouble and this is just gonna be a bad situation There's a real stake here, right? So and I love the whole my favorite line honestly is
00:23:25
Speaker
Where they talk about Philip is like watching both of us Like we are both the adults in his life, right? Whether that is at home or someone that is a caretaker at school because these teachers are with these kids for 40 hours or 31.2 hours a week and um It's just yeah, it's super super real because they you are the parent when the parent is at work and You have to like that's something they both are don't say, but I like that they don't say it. Like they both take that very seriously. ah I was gonna say I...
00:23:58
Speaker
was at this cool showcase for by pop filmmakers recently. And one of the films discussed the talk um that black families have very regularly about how to how to deal with authority figures and do that safely. And there's some really like subtle tone of that in this, like how do you raise a kid who's going to live in a world that is potentially quite dangerous for them um based on how they look how their skin color and
00:24:37
Speaker
um It's also touching on like aggression and interfamily interfamilial dynamics around aggression. and so you know some of what i think I think that there's a lot in here. I do think it's very dense. I think it's very heavy. I also think there's a lot of realism in it. I would be really curious to see people in this space um living through this conversation. And I'd also be curious to see what black artists and black creators and people in the world who do experience these type of dynamics with their children's white teachers, um how they how they feel about this because it is a significant conversation and it does happen. Like I love that Marisa you said, this is this is happening all the time.
00:25:27
Speaker
I think that's ah an interesting point as far as like subject matter too, um because I don't know, I'll be completely honest. I was kind of conflicted reading this because as a, you know, I'm not black, but as a person of color with a son, um you know, i was I was feeling certain things and I tried to envision of like, how would I feel if this white woman was was talking to me this way about my son? And even if it was, you know, they kind of revealed at the end that it was, you know, it was a Mexican kid, it wasn't a white kid that but he said this to and things like that. But part of me still wonders if there's a danger in this like story and the way that it's presented of um playing like the both sides that like, it in I don't know, to me ultimately at the end it did kind of feel like it was still the black people were the aggressors and it was almost it almost felt like they needed to apologize for that. So i don't I don't know, how did you guys feel about like subject matter and things like that? I think there's always a risk of
00:26:25
Speaker
leaning toward being a white apologist when you you know when when you're yeah having stories like this, but also no one's experience is invalid. um And I think that being a person of color who also is like actively engaged in the elevation of other people of color and their stories and their narratives, and for me, it's about humanizing. like I think that in the stories we tell as artists, as writers, as directors,
00:26:54
Speaker
part of our job is to humanize one another. And that includes all of us. So to me, it's like, I want to see this black family, these this son and his dad, um fully humanized as the full humans that they are. And I also want this white teacher who's passionate about her job, who cares about her students, who wants to see good happen in her classroom. And it was under a lot of pressure herself to be fully humanized in the conversation.
00:27:23
Speaker
And um we can't have the conversation we're having now if the script didn't lead us toward it, right? So I think that i think that when we talk about aggression and we're labeling certain racial groups as inherently aggressive, that's not okay. But also that is a stereotype that does exist out in the world that harms everybody. um And so I think the fact that the teacher is on the student side and is like, I love this kid. He's a good kid. You know, I think that that's where we see like the nuance of it. But what I would be curious to see is if it's less heavy handed on, oh, dad's aggressive. And so kid's aggressive. I think that's where I have more of the issue is I'm like, maybe his the kid's aggression actually didn't come from the dad being aggressive at home.
00:28:20
Speaker
maybe it came from some something else or maybe something scary happened to the kid or something sad happened to the kid at home and he didn't know how to process the feelings. And so they came out on the playground. I think that's where I would probably make a change if I were to make one is it wasn't dad, dad was saying something aggressive at home. And so kid went to school and was aggressive to student. I would say like, maybe it's just that there's another thing happening here with the kid.
00:28:50
Speaker
But the race dynamic comes up because they are black and the dad it immediately feels um upset as he has a right to by that. But then it is revealed that the teacher is actually really on the kid's side. She's just trying to figure out what to do. Yeah. Yeah. I think that was so beautifully said.
00:29:09
Speaker
I was curious about something while you guys were talking about this. um So I scrolled back up into the script. It is, there is nothing in her character description, which this would make it really interesting depending on casting that says she's particularly white. Oh, fair. So it just says female.
00:29:28
Speaker
So it would definitely be different. And like I acknowledge that like a white woman and a black man in a room together would have a different dynamic than like maybe another person of color and that might soften it up. And we were talking about humanizing. Like I would love to know a little bit more about Levi.
00:29:46
Speaker
Like I love this back and forth. We love the dialogue. All we know is that he had a bad day at work with someone and he was venting about it, which he has every right to. We all like say things to our partners and we accept it, right? So for me, I would love, we know a lot about Alyssa by the end, right?
00:30:06
Speaker
But we don't know, like we talk about, we don't know what they've been through. Like what if Levi has some sort of complication with this person over and over? So it's not just a one-off that the kid has heard about.
00:30:19
Speaker
right? So maybe it's like maybe to Jenica's point too something has happened and the aggression is not just trying to right dad's wrong unless that's the intent of the screenwriter but it's like there can be something else that leads to that like as someone who works with kids on social emotional skills throughout the school year It's not just one clear thing and it never is. It never is. It never is. Like there was a little girl, this is a really quick tangent. There's a little girl I worked with this year and we were just writing like a poet like a poem. It was like, oh, what do you wish? What do you dream? And I went and checked on her and I was like, oh, can I read it? And she was very shy, hardly spoke the three months that I was there. And when I read hers, it was a lot about how she wasn't seen.
00:31:13
Speaker
And it was interesting cause I was like, I never clocked this. And then her and I had to talk outside and she just broke down. And it was not just like, Oh, I feel this because of this with my parents. It was like a whole like tornado of feelings with her family dynamic at home. And you can see why she's like shut down in the classroom. So like if someone sees her,
00:31:39
Speaker
then that can lead to something better. like I don't know, but that came to mind. It's like it's not just one, like oh, dad's at work a lot. It was like, dad's at work a lot. Mom only takes care of the baby. I'm in fifth grade. I have to take care of my other siblings. I have to be in fifth grades. I don't see my stepbrother. I do this. I do that. It was a whole slew of things that led her to feel so shut down.
00:32:04
Speaker
I love the points that you guys are making because like yeah I think that with it's already a very like enticing story and then adding these small elements can I think add some complexity but also like depth to these characters. And on the topic of characters, and this question is more specific to the two readers that actually you know ah perform these characters. how how do you guys feel but How do you guys feel about these characters as far as like the writing goes and how they're theyre fleshed out? I actually really liked Alyssa. And I liked her pacing of it all because at least from an actor perspective, right? It's very like presentational. And then as things go on, she kind of unravels a little bit. And then I personally don't know she would if
00:32:50
Speaker
because I noticed like the language at the beginning and the end are very similar. That could be like getting herself back together, right? But I don't know if she would have that moment of really getting back together talking after talking about her ah past son.
00:33:07
Speaker
where it's like, no sir. Is there anything you would like to discuss with me? We could just be like, no, right? I don't know. Now that we're like talking about the specific moment, I think it is an important piece of like her lore, but it did kind of almost feel like, uh, is that the time that she would bring it up? Like it did kind of feel like it came out of, I wouldn't say completely out of left pocket, but like,
00:33:32
Speaker
I don't know, it just seemed like that information was just shared, I guess. I don't know. I think it could be shared at a different point, especially, I mean, it is heavy, right? And I acknowledge that. I think that could be shared somewhere else, or I guess the original point is, I don't know if she would be going back to being like, I'll talk to the principal, I'll do this, I'll do that after like sharing such an intense thing.
00:34:01
Speaker
And that was not even a year ago. Like anyone experiencing loss period, but let alone loss of a child, I don't think that would come out as easily as this did. I think that's a good, a good point. Longi, any comments about Levi's character? Yeah. He's, um,
00:34:27
Speaker
I, when I think of Levi, I think of my dad and when I, uh, would get in trouble, uh, when I was a kid. Um, um, I, I don't think like my dad would necessarily get aggressive with like the school people. Um, I remember just having a conversation with my dad, um, after I got in trouble one time and he was like,
00:34:54
Speaker
he was he was just talking to me, he's like, hey, look look at us, like look at the color of our skin. like like People are always gonna see us differently and people are always gonna, you're gonna be under a magnifying glass because of that. And so I could see Levi having these these ah these types of conversations with a teacher. um you know it's It's very possible, and ah but I just know in my personal experience, um I don't think that has necessarily ever happened to me Yeah, it's kind of like what Jenica was saying about that, that conference that she attended where like, you know, they had to talk about authority. And that's interesting to kind of consider about, you know, we've we've seen.
00:35:33
Speaker
um We've seen Philip and his like, what happens when authority intervenes with what he's doing, but it would be kind of interesting to kind of see how Levi responds to authority more. And then it does kind of play into what you guys said about Alyssa's character description as well, that like, maybe he would say it if the teacher was also black, but maybe if it was a white teacher, you know, he would kind of know to, you know. Well, I think, I know what you're saying. I think it would be really interesting to even play with And this, again, is up to screenwriter. I want to say playwrights so bad, but that's not right. um It could be a play. This could totally be a scene. This could be a great short play. I would put it on intense. A really good like one act. yeah Yeah. I think it would be really interesting to see what would happen. And again, take it or leave it, depending on the vision.
00:36:27
Speaker
If Alyssa was even just like another person of color, like would there be like a lot of sympathy between the two? Would there be a conversation between the two about maybe more personal things besides just like children and their own backgrounds, right? And that could be a bigger discussion.
00:36:42
Speaker
Well, and I think you can have a really nuanced discussion if she is a woman of color that's not black, you know, so her saying like, hey, I understand your kid really is a good kid. And there's that understanding that passes between them, you know, and saying, I want really good things for this kid, but I am worried about how they're doing emotionally, you know, and, and saying like, I grew up in a home where we didn't talk about our feelings, you know, like, and and that understanding like a lot of us have grown up in homes where we're not talking about how we feel we're not
00:37:27
Speaker
and going through like how did that make you feel and what should we do about it? What's the right course of action? it's kind of like let's Let's get through this other thing because we have this other stuff to do. like A lot of parents are too overwhelmed to be able to address that and that doesn't make them bad people or bad parents. and i think so many When I was working in Baltimore and even overseas and and seeing people just do their best. And I think that's what there's a heart of that here. There's the tone of that here. like
00:38:02
Speaker
We're doing our best, and a lot of parents are doing their best. And just because they're best doesn't look like what a societal expectation of good should it look like. And that that' such silence the problem is not the parent or the family unit. It's usually that the societal expectation is unrealistic and not expansive enough to hold their reality.
00:38:28
Speaker
And I think that is coming up here. So I agree, like having a woman of color be the teacher, I think would be cool. And you know, there's a lot of things about this that remind me of like Abbott Elementary, you know which I love. And I love listening to the writer and creator of that show talk, you know, because it's like, how do How do you black teachers and black parents and black community members engage with each other? And what how is that different than the typical? you know But that then when we do have to interface with people who aren't of our race or community, what is what does that look like? And I think that this touches on that. Can I make like one baby point yeah and then I'll shut up?
00:39:13
Speaker
No, no, no, you're good. Because something, Jessica said, like sparked this because I, again, looking at the script, there would be something really cool or really interesting about Levi has a line where he talks about they tried everything to get Phillip into this class in particular. It's like if she was a person of color.
00:39:34
Speaker
that makes sense. Like they tried everything to get Philip maybe somewhere where he wouldn't be ostracized by not saying all white people do this, but like they they maybe wouldn't have to have that worry because like she is a woman of color. They might feel a little bit safer with him in a classroom like that. You know what I mean? So that would be an interesting point too. Like That was one thing, and I think that was the last thing on my brain. I forgot the other thing I was going to say, though, so we love that. I yeah i think this is a really i think Jamie has a very like special
Transition to Future Mail Discussion
00:40:13
Speaker
script here. I think it's very grounded. um it's you know It brings up discussions that need to be had without being like
00:40:20
Speaker
overly preachy on either side. you know And I think it's, yeah, yeah I think you guys have said it multiple times. like It's just a very real, um very authentic story and definitely has a lot more to to play with it if she wants to continue to work on it. So thank you so much, Jamie, for letting us read your script and for trusting us with your work.
00:40:58
Speaker
All right, so um let's get into The next script that was submitted to us, which is Future Mail. Future Mail is about Zara, a cyber goth working at the Infinity Space Travel Agency, and she receives an email from her younger self sent from the past.
00:41:18
Speaker
This script was written by Long Tong Truong, or LT, I believe. um He's a screenwriter who comes from a culturally diverse background and resides in Melbourne. His main focus is writing for short and feature films, web series, television, and narrative design for video games. All right. You guys ready to get started? Yes.
00:42:07
Speaker
-year-old cybergolf with neon teal dread falls, sits at her holographic computer desk and watches, entranced, as the shuttle exits the hemisphere. A beep from her wireless headset signals an incoming call.
00:42:20
Speaker
Infinity Space Travel Agency, Zara speaking. How can I help you? A space flight to which planet? Neptune. I'll just check for you. The next available flight will be on... Her fingers dances across a digital keyboard and a holographic computer quickly loads up some data, as well as a simulation of the solar system. The 22nd of December 2037 with Express Space, or the 7th of January 2038 with Virgin Galactic.
00:42:50
Speaker
No, sorry. We don't have anything sooner. Flights to the outer region are very limited at this time of the year due to forecasted solar radiation storm. Hello? Nomari, 27, a Japanese cyber goth with thick, full and neon purple cyber locks, huge platform boots, faux fur leg warmers, colorful tights and fishnet sleeves, goggles with biohazard symbols, and an assortment of cybernetic and body modification sits on an adjacent workstation.
00:43:17
Speaker
Another hang-up? Jesus, what's with the customers today? Tell me about it. An email alert catches Zara's attention. She checks her holographic iPhone 27. Namara leans forward. Is it from that cute asteroid miner? Zara reads the message and is slightly taken back. What? What is it? It's an email. Yeah, and? Namara checks the sent date. 2017? That was sent 20 years ago? It's from...
00:43:47
Speaker
Myself. Whoa, whoa, whoa, what do you mean? I think it's a future male I sent myself when I was younger. A future male? Oh my god, let me read it. Nomari grabs the phone. Dear future version of me, where are you? Are you okay? I wonder where you are right now. Are you in Texas or have you moved to Alaska like you always wanted? Nomari's headset beeps. Infinity Space Travel Agency, Nomari speaking, please hold. She clicks a button on her headset and rolls her eyes.
00:44:15
Speaker
I hope I made the right choices. I'm only 16 years old right now. Are you still with Anthony? Oh, who's Anthony? He was like, the love of my life. Do you have a cool job? Zara rolls her eyes. Are you still addicted to Diet Coke? Hell yeah. Zara takes a sip from her Diet Coke. Are you still best friends with Chelsea? Who's Chelsea? Oh, Chelsea. Yeah, Chelsea and I,
00:44:46
Speaker
We no longer talk. Okay. Are you married? Do you have kids? Yeah, right. Do you have a funky apartment? If you can call that shit box an apartment. Did you ever lose that extra weight? Mmm. Pilates, baby. The president just announced that we should travel to Mars. This made you very happy because you love space travel. It has always been your dream to travel to Saturn and see the rings up close. Oh, Ant's outside honking. He's here for the concert. Got a scoot. Guess I'll see you in a few years.
00:45:21
Speaker
I know you wanted to space travel. It's just a stupid pipe dream. Balding and red-faced team leader marches towards their desk. Amari? Yes? Why have you been on hold for the last five minutes? I'm ah just doing some background checks on the customer. He glowers at her. Get back to work! Amari touches a button on her headset. Infinity Space Travel Agency, thanks for holding.
00:45:46
Speaker
Exterior, space agency, smoking area, day. Zara takes a deep drag from her cigarette, which spontaneously ignites as she inhales. Another shuttle in the distance launches. Zara watches it with a deep longing as it blasts skywards and through the clouds in less than 10 seconds. She sighs and pulls out her phone. She reads through her email again. She scrolls through the message and sees a reply option at the bottom. Curiosity takes the better of her. Reply email.
00:46:14
Speaker
To her surprise, it works. She takes a deep breath. Okay. To my younger, idealistic self. I'm still single and work at a space agency. Not because I like it, but because at the end of the year, the company gives three random employees a space flight to Titan. She takes another drag as she waits on a passerby. It's a very small chance.
00:46:39
Speaker
but at least it's a chance. You haven't been to the rings yet, but you have been to the rings. Flashback, exterior, lunar city, night. A small city where all the major buildings are connected to each other by long half-tubes made of glass. Space travel as well, and truly here. We can travel to most of the planets and moons in our solar system. Exterior, lunar, Hilton Hotel, night. A gibbous planet Earth hangs just above the famous Hilton Hotel. Commercialization has conquered space as well. But it is a luxury that only can be afforded by this super rich. Something we are not. Life has not treated us very kindly. Interior presidential suite night. A semi-naked Zara in lingerie slips on an oversized business shirt as she approaches a spacious window wall and looks up at the horizon. We have done some things we're not proud of to achieve some of our goals.
00:47:30
Speaker
Tears fall from t Zara's face as she watches the Earth rise. The silhouette of a naked businessman approaches her from behind. What's wrong? Nothing. Go back to bed. In a minute. Don't ever stop dreaming. We'll get to the rings one day. End of flashback. Exterior, Infinity Space Travel Agency, day. Zara blows some smoke rings into the air.
00:47:54
Speaker
3 options pop up on the screen. Delete. Save. Send. Zara's eyes move between delete and save undecided. She takes a long drive from her cigarette and exhales. Her eyes move between delete and save, then slowly over to send. A curious smile plays across her face. Send email.
00:48:13
Speaker
The iPhone displays a loading signal. She takes another drag as she waits. A door nearby opens and Amari pokes her head out. Oh, hey, there you are. Our illustrious team leader is calling everyone in for a meeting. Zara butts her cigarette. Okay, I'm coming.
00:48:30
Speaker
As she follows Namara inside, she takes one last glance at her phone to see her message has been sent. She tries to hide a bemused smile. exterior suburban house day loud industrial rock music plays from a houston suburban home with cementboard sighting and a neglected wide lawn twenty seventeen Interior, Younger Zara's bedroom, day. On the walls are haunting black and white artworks of the Gothic persuasion as well as a giant painting of Saturn in her beautiful rings. A younger Gothic Zara, 16, with heavy black eyeliner and long raven hair, typed loudly on her laptop as Chelsea, 16, also a goth but donning vintage clothes that are a little too snug, applies dark blue eyeshadow at a vintage Victorian mirror. Ask yourself if we're still friends. Of course we'll still be friends. I mean, how far in the future are you sending it? Hmm. I'm thinking about 20 years. I swear, you are such a geek sometimes. A car honk catches their attention. They're here, let's go. Just na a nanosecond.
00:49:34
Speaker
Zara finishes her email and clicks send. She jumps up and checks on her makeup. She then runs about the room, shoving her keys, wallet, and phone into a black handbag. The car honks again. Come on, you know Anthony hates waiting in the car. Chelsea clomps out in her knee-high platform boots. Just as Zara's about to leave, she hears the chime of her inbox. Hang on. She opens up her laptop and starts reading. What? How? in her inbox is an email reply from the year 2037.
00:50:14
Speaker
oh du yeah i love it Yeah, it's a little it's a little short. um I get like love and deaf and robots vibes from this a little I watched that with my ex-boyfriend, Anthony. wow did you Did you email the script to you in the past? from the future oh my What? We didn't know this beast would be such a triggering read, so sorry. Oh, he's fine.
00:50:41
Speaker
But yeah, as short films go, this is you know there's a lot that a writer has to do to capture an audience and to give them like a satisfying story. How do you guys feel that this script accomplished that? And what are some things that you guys liked about this script?
00:50:57
Speaker
I thought it was really fun. I love the idea of, cause I don't know, as tail as old as time, we've all thought about like being in space, like look at the Jetsons and, and so like, that's not something super far off. So it's something I think an audience would be familiar with is like the idea of like space travel and like all these futuristic thing things. But, uh, I love this whole like little flashback moment that is just like,
00:51:24
Speaker
It seems like it's almost cathartic for Zara to like acknowledge like her journey and what she's been on. But there's something so beautiful and optimistic, too, with like opening that email at the end. like Maybe she can change. It's like very brave. It's like, if you had the chance to like change your fate, would you like type a deal? You know what I mean? That's what came up for me at the end, like personally. But yeah yeah, I thought it was fun.
00:51:50
Speaker
I think there's yeah, there's a lot of like relatability because you know, writing a letter to your older self isn't something new, but it's that concept of like, you know, what would you say back that I thought was kind of enticing. um Any other thoughts? Yeah, I really liked the energy. I liked the pace, too, ah because I think short films are short. and So it's like, how you know how are you going to capture a whole story in this time frame and a story this expansive, where it's like, OK, we've moved into the future. We're living in space. um But the problems that were existing before are still the problems. And kind of like understanding this character, I think she's pretty the writer was pretty clear about who this person is.
00:52:36
Speaker
um clearly has like a lot of thought into who she is. And I loved the end being just cut off of like, wait, what? How did I get this email from my future my future self? And yeah, I do think it's it ends on a really nice note. And I think the character is is well fleshed out.
00:52:58
Speaker
Speaking of characters as well, it's kind of interesting that these, it's ah you know, it's a very female led short, you know, it was written by a man. How did you two feel about how these women characters were were written?
00:53:14
Speaker
but first I just it was just funny hearing I was like, how'd you feel about these two worm in to me? I was like, sorry, should I refer to that? is That was that like, was that I'm just giggly. How do you think about these womans? This one thing about these worm is fucking chicks over here. What are you guys fucking? yeah but I feel like, Jenica, you have like a bulk of it so you can feel free to take the rain. Thank you. Thank you, yeah Marissa. You have such a.
00:53:41
Speaker
um i I think that it's, like I said, this person likes this character, like the way she's described. It's like very clear. um i I think what's interesting about being a woman in the world who, you know, has been like, man, the economy's wild right now. Should I do only bands or whatever, you know? Like, like it's it's interesting to think about being and Being a woman in the world in the way you have to navigate
00:54:16
Speaker
how you exist um and I think putting that into the future and saying like actually there's still hard things. I think the main thing that comes up for Zara is that she had this dream to to be something specific or do something specific and it hasn't been realized but I think what I like is the idea that it could be.
00:54:41
Speaker
um I like the idea that she could travel space and that she's still moving in that direction. She's saying like, yeah, I took this job that I kind of hate, but there's this opportunity that lies within it that I might actually be able to travel um through space, which is what I really want, like I've always wanted to. One of my childhood closest friends ah used to go to space camp.
00:55:06
Speaker
when we were kids, and we would talk about this, right? Like, oh my gosh, imagine being able to fly to the moon. Imagine being able to see ah IO, you know, like Jupiter's moons, like up close. And so I think the the spark of that in this character is really enticing. I love that about it. um I think sometimes, again, like the female experience can get condensed, like, oh, well, we have to sleep with some sleazy guy. I think it can get condensed to that sometimes when it's a little more complicated or nuanced than that.
00:55:46
Speaker
So if it if it were me doing the part, I would want to lean more into like this this is a hopeful woman. And even though she looks she seems very jaded, the hope of what could be is still in her and a part of her. And yeah, she's had to do whatever she's had to do to live her adult life and make money. But is that is that the thing we want to focus on? Or do we want to focus on the fact that she's goingnna she's still probably going to achieve this dream, even if it isn't yet?
00:56:15
Speaker
I find it really interesting, the choice of like it being too goth. It can lean into stereotype, right?
00:56:28
Speaker
Or I was just, I'm curious about that choice and why is it to goth, cyber goths in particular. um So I thought Namaari was just fun. I wanted to have fun with her and kind of make her a little bit like different. That's hence like the deeper voice, the kind of like more like maybe to kind of juxtaposition. Jenica Zara is like not necessarily given up, but it's just like, man, this is just every day now, right?
00:56:58
Speaker
So it could. Kudos, by the way, I was really impressed with your differentiation between the two. Look at you. She went to acting school. She went to acting school. So, my God, someone's going to see that and make fun of me. um But I think there could be something really cool about um where these two women sit.
00:57:25
Speaker
Um, whereas like, I love what you were talking about. Like there's this hope and there's this like idea of like, we're going to do what we have to do in order to make for our dreams come to make like our dreams come true. And like the Mari can be, could be, and how I wanted to play her a little bit in this particular read of it was like, what happens when you are kind of on the opposite side of the spectrum? Yeah. Right. It's just like, okay. Okay. Boss man. and Like.
00:57:56
Speaker
It's like totally done with it. Like just like, oh, God, please hold. Like that could that's still like that's a valid journey, too. Like this is just and I think this can just go for people, not necessarily women, but um like there's times where it's just like this is just the mundane. This is what I'm doing to survive. This is where I'm at.
00:58:19
Speaker
Um, which I thought was kind of like fun cause she puts someone on hold for like five minutes. yeah Right. just to read And that's, i mean that was my immediate brain. I was like, okay, she really doesn't care about where she's at right now. And she would rather like see what like her coworkers doing. It's like kind of tease her a little bit, which I think is such a lovely little relationship too.
00:58:39
Speaker
Yeah, now that like hearing you talk to about, um when you mentioned like being on a spectrum too, I wonder if there's something, and again, writing short films, you have a very short amount of time to like get a point across, but I would almost like to see like a juxtaposition between like Chelsea and Nimari, because it almost kind of seemed like they were like the same person.
00:59:01
Speaker
um And not just because you were reading for both parts, Marissa, but it did kind of seem like they're the same person. And I feel like that could play into the character of like, is she kind of the same person because she has the same kind of friends 20 years apart? Or would there be?
00:59:14
Speaker
I really felt that way and I felt like Marissa did a great job of of showing those two because I think that is one of the juxtapositions is like one of the reasons we know that that Zara's life is different is because she has this different friend at work who's probably her closest friend because they spend every day together or whatever you know and so she's like and I love the idea like sometimes I'm the Namarian life where I'm like Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But anyway, what did he say?
00:59:43
Speaker
not about her There's a hint or an element here that I could have played with a little bit more. It seems like Chelsea could be a little bit more bossy and it doesn't seem like she um is really invested as much as Namaari is.
00:59:59
Speaker
which is, you know, like a real thing in friendships again, period. But like ah female friendships where it's just like one is way more domineering than the other. So that can show like growth. I think it just depends on what, again, this screenwriter, not playwright, but screenwriter, but there's like,
01:00:20
Speaker
The first thing that Chelsea asks is like ask yourself if we're still friends, which is like her, yeah right? And it's like, well, how far like you're such a geek. They're here. Let's go. You know, Anthony hates this. Like instead of being like, are you done yet? This looks really good. Whereas I feel like the Mari would be like, come on, girl. Yeah.
01:00:38
Speaker
Cause she's asking, like obviously she's reading her thing, but then even those questions like, ooh, who is this? Yeah. Right. She's a little more like, yeah. Getting into it. There could be like a little bit more, I guess, if again, the screenwriter wanted to dive into like friendships, that I think there could be more from both about um what that is. If they want to make it more intentional of like just coworkers or like if they're actually friends.
01:01:07
Speaker
And yeah, I think even answering those questions off script could help with kind of establishing that when he when he continues to write. OK, one final question that I wanted to ask you guys, because this is a short film and I don't know if there's any intention of like expanding on the story. and But if you were to continue the story and make it into a feature, where would you guys take this? Dude.
01:01:32
Speaker
The two Zara's have to meet. I don't know how, but not as it just face travel, but it's time travel now. You know what? I was actually, uh, this might be a little bit trippy, but like, have you guys ever seen like Looper? Yep. So something that was, written I love Looper. Looper's you love Looper for years.
01:01:56
Speaker
Looper is so fun. I love it. this is a random This is a random tangent. I did a double feature and I saw Pitch Perfect and Looper in the same day. Two very like different films, but also the most defining films of me of my tastes. Anyway, Looper did a really cool thing where like there was two of the same person interacting, but as one was moving, it was like affecting this one. And I was and That's what I was kind of thinking of is like what if this if this movie did expand and this is just me adding my bad ideas to his amazing like short film, but it would be kind of interesting to see that like young Zara is trying to change her life, but then like going back to like future t Zara and her life is almost erasing in like a in like a um
01:02:43
Speaker
What was that movie with Jim Carrey? Are you talking about and ma Eternal Sunshine? Yes, yes Eternal Sunshine is my list of mine. like It's almost like maybe she's like wrote this email to her younger self, and her younger self is making those changes. But like as she is, this future older Zara is like starting to appreciate her life even more. But like it's all starting to be erased because space-time continuum shit is fucking with it.
01:03:08
Speaker
I don't know. i I like that. I was envisioning scenes. So I'm like, what if there was this, cause they're the same person. So I'd love to see younger and older Zara doing things in life, almost like maybe split screen in some moments where they're doing the exact same thing the exact same way yeah because they are the same woman, but they're living in a completely different reality, you know? And then, yeah, I like the idea of as younger Zara tries to
01:03:37
Speaker
tries to live in a way that will help her live the life she wants to live. Future Zara's opportunity, like something disappears in front of her or something, you know, it's like it changes her world in that way. But I would be curious to know in a feature full length in a feature length film, does she end up in the exact same place regardless?
01:03:57
Speaker
Like what like what is the narrative around that like when we're trying to change our behaviors and our patterns in our life, like, yeah are we always going to end up at our future, the future version of ourselves, regardless, like we are but like ah how much do those changes actually make a difference? And is it up to the future us to take what we're given and move forward into the place that we want to be? And maybe future Zara does end up making that dream realized, but it's not because she started when she was 17. It was because she realized the value of it in 2037. And to piggyback off of like what y'all are saying, because it's just sparking things in my brain now,
01:04:40
Speaker
um One of which is like what if younger Zara makes like a selfish choice of something that she doesn't want to let go of? like What if she doesn't want to let go of that like relationship with Chelsea? like How does that affect future Zara? like What is this like falling out that they don't have? like Would her life be different and lead down to a different road? like And then there could be like a communication between the two of like why did this happen or like how did this happen or what do you mean?
01:05:08
Speaker
Um, there's also a musical called I should have said in preface that my background is musical theater in particular. Um, but there's a musical called if then and it was really interesting to play this on stage because it was one woman and uh, it's written by tom kit and a couple brian yorkie who did next to normal and i'm obsessed with that team um They're great. They're so good. And so it's about this one woman who is at a crossroads and literally just about like her choosing to go with one friend versus the other on a day in New York. And the way that they do it in the musical version is they have different color schemes so you know what life you're in. And it was really sweet. One life was way more career oriented.
01:05:51
Speaker
and some things like fell apart there which was like I guess like the sadder life if you think about it and one life was full of like bright colors and love and she met a guy they had a family but the guy ended up dying in that life because he was a war veteran or he was part of the army and she didn't let him go on like a tour because she wanted him to be home to raise the family. And then the next tour he went on, he died. And then in the other life, which was like the more sad, like she didn't have kids. She messed up a relationship with like her best friend. She ended up meeting that guy regardless. And he was alive because he never like skipped out on that second tour. So it was like, regardless of what happened, there was still like
01:06:37
Speaker
She met him and there were things that were still happening. It was really interesting. So based on what you were saying with like, would these things still happen regardless of like what choices we make, right?
01:06:50
Speaker
Yeah, so I also really think like there have been things coming out that ask us about our timelines, like that ask us about the ah multitude of lives that we're already living, the multitude, because every choice means you made the choice, but all the other choices still existed. And like, what if you took the other paths, right? But I think, you know, Loki kind of was giving us that insight. I think everything everywhere all at once did that and incredibly beautifully by saying like in any given lifetime, I found you. In any given existence of me, I found you. You belonged to me. and I think that there is something really beautiful and true about that. and um I think that the choices we make lead us down different paths, but there are some things that are going to happen. They're meant to be, and I think this film, a longer version of this could really dive into that really in a really cool way.
01:07:47
Speaker
Yeah. Well, thank you. Thank you, LT, for sending this script in. um Yeah, I think there's a lot that... ah Yeah, from Millburn. Yeah, I think it's a very cool concept um with interesting characters that could totally branch out into something bigger.
01:08:05
Speaker
All right, well that does it for this episode of Red Lit Screenplays. Thank you again to the screenwriters that submitted their screenplays and trusted us with the um presentation of it. Wish you guys the best of luck in getting them produced and thank you to the listeners. If you guys enjoyed this episode,
01:08:22
Speaker
Feel free to review it on your um platform of choice. Five star reviews are preferable. Four stars are tolerated. Three, we're kind of getting to the you know the danger zone. And twos just hurt. And if I get a one, I'll kill myself. No, I won't. But yeah, thank you again for listening. And we hope you join us next week on another episode of Red Lit Screenplays.