A Dance

Written By

Joshua Vallely

Treatment

My documentary is about how my grandparents met, it will be a break down of what they were doing before meeting each other. It dates back at the late 60s when technology isn't what it is today so they will also explain how they stayed together through the years. In the documentary, you will see old archive of the couple of the couple through the years and see them age and how much their relationship has developed. Of course, the theme will be a romantic tale with some humour, audiences of all ages are able to watch this. There will not be any happy music or romantic touches, it will be a simple concept of a conversation between the couple and the interviewer (Me). There will also not be any footage of the couple as I wanted the audiences to have the choice of watching or listening as it is audio focused. The length I am aiming for the documentary is at least five minutes as it is a short, sweet story. I don't want the audience to be bored of a long interview about how two people met as it will end up being waffled and will lose that feeling of meeting that person for the first time. It will be shot with some fade in and fade out effects to show a professional essense within it and images would be clear and easy to see, I will be taking pictures up to 720p when taking pictures of the archive. The sound I made sure was to be clear and easy to listen to, with nothing to distract the audiences from listening, it will be HD sound also. The target audience will be a broad range from children to the elderly. I aimed to make it a all rounder so people of all ages will be able to watch and listen to the story. The gender I will be aiming will be mostly females but well as males, it will be my Grandad telling the story from his point of view but it won't be too much detail. When it comes to making links and what I have caught from other documentaries or even films, there is probably only one. Which is the film 'When Harry Met Sally' in the beginning of the film and in several breaks when the movie jumps one year to the next, a elderly couple is shown sitting on a sofa and they explain how they met. It was an interesting concept as every story they told was very different and somewhat unique, you can tell what type of people they were by the few short minutes. Also the fact that some of them were months or even years before they all got married. When watching this, I wanted to do something similar, an interview with a couple and hear their story before they got married. I will hope this will be shown in the cinema as a short before a movie as it would do well show people a love story, a personal one to say the least. I feel it would be

interesting to watch before a film, especially if the audience are there to see a romantic film. Overall, it would be telling a story that is outside all the clichés and predictable measures, instead, it gives the audience the view of a real story about love.

INT. SITTING ROOM - AFTERNOON

Camera begins adjusting on a mid shot and is slightly out of focus when it begins filming. A couple sits comfortably on the leather sofa in a well lit sitting room, the yellow wallpaper behind them is clean and has a small luxury light above them. The sofa the couple sits on is a white cotton sofa with a purple silk cover on top, covering it like syrup on a ice cream. The couple sit quite close together but before getting comfortable, GEORGE takes small sips of his white cup of coffee and shuffles forward and adjusting the silk pillow behind him, the woman giggles to herself as she watches the man do this. The sound of the camera crew is heard in the background quietly. The sound stops and there is complete silence.

MID SHOTS - TRIPODOf archive framed pictures on the walls and sitting area.

MID SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:Interview starts.

The camera that is facing the couple adjusts its focus, the sound of the Interviewer making himself comfortable on a stool is heard behind the camera.

JOSHUAGood afternoon, would you like to introduce yourself?

Happy, jolly music is played in the background, to give a more comfortable and happy affect towards the audience. The screen fades into black and a image of a wedded couple fades in.

MARIAN (Smiling)I'M Marian and this is George. And we have been married for 53 years.

LONG SHOT - HAND HELDClose up on wedding photo.

Title on wedded image appears and cuts back to mid shot on the couple on the sofa.

CUT TO:

JOSHUAOkay and how did you two meet? Could you please give me some detail as I only have heard your story once.

GEORGEWell, my friends and I went to a valentines dance coming back from the army, I was bored out of my mind but just before I had the idea to go, I saw this woman right here. We danced and we spoke, then I took her home and from there, we eventually became boyfriend and girlfriend.

CLOSE UP - HAND HELDPhotos of archive images and footage CUT TO:

Archive images are shown of George with his friends in military uniform all with smiling faces and putting their arms on each others shoulders. Then the image fades to black and a image of George and his friends in suits outside a dance hall with young adults both male and female all dressed up in dresses and suits fades in, a quiet echo of 1960s swing begins to play, as if it is a memory. Camera pans across the image from left to right, then cuts to extreme close up on George's face in the picture.

CLOSE UP - HAND HELDMarian's hands. CUT TO:

MARIANI was only sixteen when I met George, I used to go the hall as a regular thing as it was the best place to go for dances and meeting new people. It was a valentines dance and my cousin and I decided to catch the bus to get there. When arriving there wasn't many people but then the place was filled within minutes and along came this chap here! He then asked me to dance.

More archive images fade in but this time it is Marian and her friend wearing dresses on the back of the bus smiling and looking to be having fun. Picture fades to black.

INTERVIEWERSo did you talk during the dance or after?

GEORGEBoth really, of course I asked if she wanted to dance and then we talked more about our backgrounds afterwards.

ESTABLISHING SHOT CUT TO:Camera slowly zooms into the picture of Marian and her friend on the dance floor.

CLOSE UP - HAND HELD CUT TO:

Archive hand camera footage is shown of young Marian and George dancing and talking in the middle of the dance floor with everyone around them who is also dancing. They are smiling, looking as if this is the start of something big.

MARIANI was quite a shy girl when I was at that age, however George was more forward and told me not to be shy and to be confident. Now I think its the other way round. (Laughs and looks at George)[MS]

JOSHUAAnd after the dance what happened?

MID SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:Of the couple sitting on the sofa.

GEORGEI took Marian home and then kept in touch by phoning every night on the telephone box outside my house whenever I had the time and meeting up from time to time.

CLOSE UP - HAND HELD CUT TO:Of archive pictures.

Old archive footage is shown of Marian talking on the phone to George whilst pushing away the camera she is being filmed with. She is happy but embarrassed, she hides her face with the phone and laughs when pushing away the camera.

CLOSE UP(s) - HAND HELDOf Marian as she talks to Joshua CUT TO:

MARIANMy dad wasn't too keen on him. As George dressed up as a teddy boy, teddy boys wore leather jackets and jeans. He said 'I don't like that boy, hes not good for you.' But as time went by, the two of them got along and they were like brothers practically.

CLOSE UP(s) -TRIPOD CUT TO:Camera pans over right over pictures and footage slowly, a montage of collected archive is shown, mainly focused around Marian's father.

Pictures and small clips of footage are shown of Marian's father, it starts off with him sitting in a leather armchair smoking on a pipe and smiling at the camera. It then jumps to small video of him walking in a flowered garden with his alsatian, he knows he is being videoed, he looks at the camera from time to time and strokes his dog whilst admiring some the flowers he walks by. Then, more pictures are shown of him with George, smiling and laughing.

GEORGEI'm not a teddy boy anymore (laughs)

INTERVIEWER(laughs) What are you now then?

GEORGEGrown up. (Laughs)

MID SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:Of Marian and George sitting on the sofa, now drinking their tea.

INTERVIEWERSo, what kept you two together?

MARIAN I don't know really, we have our ups and downs but overall we still

(MORE)

love each other and we move on from MARIAN (CONT'D)

our problems.

INTERVIEWERThat's good, if this was the first time I met you, I would already know you two have been married for quite some time.

CLOSE UP(s)- Hand held CUT TO:Of George's face and then over the shoulder.

GEORGEIt has been a while I must say

INTERVIEWERDo you remember what you felt?

GEORGELet's just say it was nothing like I have ever felt before. To sum it up in one word, it would be: Beautiful.

JOSHUA Did you go up to her and ask for a dance?

GEORGEYeah, I was nervous, shaking uncontrollably in fact. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

INT. COUSIN'S HOUSE - DAY LONG SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:Long shot of Marian sitting on a black chair next to a leather sofa, holding a small white cup of tea.

Marian is seen sitting comfortably on a chair with her cup of tea, camera sets up, interviewer comforts Grandma by asking if she wants more tea, she denies the offer and makes herself comfortable.

JOSHUAWhat were you doing before the valentines dance?

MARIANI was helping my mother bring in

(MORE)

the shopping and getting ready I MARIAN (CONT'D)

suppose.

JOSHUADo you remember what you were wearing?

MARIANA silk, pink dress (Pauses) yes.

JOSHUAFair enough and how did you get to the dance?

MARIANI think my mother drove me there with my father, like your parents, they told me to be safe and just enjoy myself.

JOSHUAFair enough, what were you feeling at the time?

MARIANNervous, a little scared but quite excited. I wasn't really a party person mind you (Laughs)

CLOSE UP - HAND HELD CUT TO:Close up on the side of Marian's face. Camera pans over to the right slowly.

JOSHUACould you describe what the atmosphere was like? Were there a lot of people?

MID SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:Mid shot of Marian sitting comfortably on black chair.

MARIANI believe so, I knew a great number of people but all of them were busy with their partners.

JOSHUAWell then, I guess we both know what happens next.

MARIAN(Laughs) Indeed. I saw him alone next to the food and drink, he was alone, at first I didn't take notice, I thought he was waiting for a date but no, he randomly came up to me and asked if I wanted to dance with him.

CLOSE UP - HAND HELD CUT TO:Close ups of archive footage, showing Marian and George at the dance hall seeing each other.

JOSHUAAnd of course you said yes?

MARIANNot exactly, I asked if he could buy me a drink first.

MID SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:Mid shot from Marian's side.

JOSHUA(Laughs) Fair enough, and what did you feel when you saw or even talked to him?

MARIANAt first, and I know he's going to be seeing this but I was unsure at first but for some reason, it felt like I had known him for quite some time.

-SCREEN FADES TO BLACK- CUT TO:

INT. COUSIN'S HOUSE - DAY

LONG SHOT - TRIPOD CUT TO:

Long shot of Marian and George on wooden seats in a well lit living room.

The married couple are seen sitting together happily on wooden seats and are holding hands.

JOSHUASo, that's the story?

GEORGE(Laughs) You expected more?

JOSHUANo, no I didn't mean it that way! But how long have you two been married?

MARIAN53 years ... Yeah, 53 years.

-SCREEN FADES TO BLACK-