COPY OF FILM SCRIPT RECEIVED AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 5, 29 June 1949, Page 8

COPY OF FILM SCRIPT RECEIVED AT WHAKATANE

It is a far cry from Hollywood to Wliakatane but between the two places there is a distinct link. The products of the film city are bought and consumed at Whakatane in the form of the motion picture. To the local audience the completed film, is accepted with the same unperturbed calmness as the day following the night is greeted. But before the finished picture reaches the theatre months of planning and hard work have gone in to make the 90 minutes or so of entertainment. Recently a script of a forthcoming film “Family Honeymoon”, was received by the manager of a Whakatane theatre. An exact copy of the ones used by stars and other members of a picture producing staff, ;it provides some interesting reading, even some of the mysterious film terms are not understandable. Throughout the script' is divided to fit in with each reel, in this case there are ten. Instructions to the players are contained on one side of each page, and this also includes information as to where the camera is shooting from. On the other side of the sheet is the dialogue .of all speech in the film. Excerpt From Script • ‘ Here is an excerpt from the script. Katie (Claudette Colbert) has just Come into the hotel where she is supposed to be spending her honeymoon. This is her second marriage and she has had to take her children Zoe, Abner and Charlie 'along with her as she could not get anyone to look after them. Katie—Can we have our key, please? Clerk—And how did you like your trip?

Katie—Oh—l couldn’t possibly find . words to describe it! Clerk;—Yes, it is lovely, isn’t it?

Katie—Yes. Clerk—Your husband is in the bar. Katie—With Mr Fenster? Clerk—rl believe he’s with Miss Fenster. Katie —Oh—thank you. Abner—here’s the key and I’ll be up in just a minute. And you get ready for your bath. Abner—Another one? Zoe—Oh Mommie!

Charlie —We took a bath this morn- -* ing! Katie—l know, but that was hours ago. Now go on, please. Go on.

That is a portion of the script. Now while this dialogue is being spoken the cameras are moved into position. Here is the instruction for that particular scene. Some Instructions Shooting from desk int. lodge Katie and kids entering b.g.— Katie weary—camera pans as they, come forward to clerk at: desk—talk —he hands her keys—she reacts —camera dollies along as Katie herds kids across lobby to elevator —gives Abner keys—kids protest—she exhausted—kids exit—camera moves after her • slightly as she goes wearily towards b.g.— Those are the instructions to that particular scene, which will only last, for a couple of minutes or so on the screen. However, it may take hours to complete while the film is in production. Some of the language is film slang, peculiar to

Hollywood but to those who make the celluloid entertainment it is as clear as the King’s English is to most New Zealanders.