"Blood Instinct"
Blood Instinct: The Bite or Fight Response" was written for a class in TV Production at Austin Community College.
As Writer/Director/Producer I tried to push the limits of what the project would allow in the two hour time slot allowed for setting up the scene, configuring lighting, and sound, and performing the production. This was a live shoot with three cameras, a professional production booth, and a sound booth. Most of my classmates went for a Saturday Night Live type sketch scene, but I wanted to push the envelope to prove my understanding of the complete concept of what TV Production was all about. I envisioned something like "America's Most Wanted" but with vampires. The script I wrote required a roll-in of footage that we shot and edited outside of class, for which I had to find actors, shop for theatrical blood and make-up and find find background music. INCLUDED: ~ TV PRODUCTION READY SCRIPT ~ HOST SCRIPT ~ POTENTIAL VAMPIRE VICTIM ROLL-IN SCRIPT ~ FINAL PRODUCTION |
This is the end result of our live shoot
(with the filmed off-site footage): I was very happy with the end result, and after watching others in the class struggle through their production ready scripts, pleased that I had prepared mine so thoroughly, including slates and teleprompter scripts for the host. I proved to myself that I understood the production process well enough to ensure that each member of the team was on target, doing what they needed to do at the moment they needed to do it.
This was an excellent learning process, during which I proved that dragons thrown into the fire do not get burned. |
TV PRODUCTION READY SCRIPT
Ready to roll tape
Ready to take bars and tone
Roll tape ("tape is rolling")
Take bars and tone
Ready to lose bars and tone and take slate
Lose Bars and tone and take slate
Ready to lose slate and take black
Lose slate and take black
-----
Ready ACC slate
Lose black and FADE slate
Ready to lose slate and fade black
Lose slate and Fade black
Ready to lose black and fade Dolly Lamas Slate
Lose black and FADE slate
Ready to lose slate and FADE black
Lose slate and FADE black
Ready to lose black and FADE TITLE slate
Lose black and FADE title slate
Ready to lose slate and FADE black
Lose slate and FADE black
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent
Fade, mic, and cue
----------------
HOST
Vampires! Nosferatu. The Undead. Stories of these monsters have existed through the ages in every land, in every culture. A creature once human that preys on the blood of the living.
_________
Ready VTR____, Ready lose Cam1 AND fade out music
Roll VTR _____, Fade to VTR ____ and fade out music
_________
VICTIM
(FIRST BITE SCENE, VICTIM moans until death while vampire keeps sucking)
_________
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent and music
Fade, mic, and cue
_________
HOST
Tragic. But not uncommon. Seduction by evil is the oldest story in the book. The bible tells of Eve being seduced by the serpent into biting of the forbidden fruit.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
Fictional stories and modern media have given vampires an allure never before known in history. Anne Rice and her "Interview with the Vampire" made Lestat into a household name of sultry seduction. Joss Whedon gave his vampires Angel and Spike souls, making them dark heroes of the night. And who wouldn't open their neck for Eric or Bill of HBO's "True Blood"?
READY CAMERA 1
TAKE CAMERA 1
The truth is that vampires are evil. They do not glitter in the sun. They do not rescue hapless maidens. They want nothing but your blood and the slaking of their thirst.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
It is up to each person, each intended victim to open their eyes and see the truth. See beyond the allure. Let's start over to see what should have happened.
_________
Ready VTR____, Ready lose Cam1 AND fade out music
Roll VTR _____, Fade to VTR ____ and fade out music
_________
VAMPIRE
You don't understand. It's you that fills the emptiness within. You fill the void within me and make me feel alive. I must have you.
VICTIM
Does that line really work?
_________
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent and music
Fade, mic, and cue
_________
HOST
Smart girl. Ask the important questions. Look beyond the lies.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
What do you need to know? A vampire needs to be invited into your home. It can also be uninvited. A cross can repel a vampire dependent on the strength of your faith. A vampire can be held to the Earth with iron. You can set a vampire on fire, but if it has recently fed, it may survive. Garlic and silver are just allergens to vampires and while they may work to irritate or distract a vampire, they are just allergens!
READY CAMERA 1
TAKE CAMERA 1
If you want to kill a vampire, you need to be definitive and direct! A vampire can be killed with a wooden stake to the heart. Unfortunately, a vampire's heart gets smaller and harder to find as the vampire ages.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
The easiest way to kill a vampire is to chop off its head.
READY CAMERA 1
TAKE CAMERA 1
So when the vampire says, "I can drink just a sip without killing you." Consider whether or not you can eat just one potato chip.
_________
Ready VTR____, Ready lose Cam1 and fade out music
Roll VTR _____, Fade to VTR ____ and fade out music
_________
VICTIM
It always has to be like this.
(kicks vampire away and swings sword, chopping off vampire's head)
(vampire turns to dust)
_________
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent and music
Fade, mic, and cue
Did you catch that? The blood instinct: The bite or fight response.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
Slay the vampire or it will slay you. Kill it before it breeds. Kill them all before they become Legion.
Ready Camera 3
Fade to camera 3
"The power is yours. The choice is yours!"
_________
READY TO LOSE CAMERA 3 AND TAKE BLACK
LOSE CAMERA 3 AND FADE TO BLACK
READY TO LOSE BLACK AND TAKE CREDITS SLATE
LOSE BLACK AND TAKE CREDITS
FADE TO BLACK, FADE AUDIO
STOP TAPE, AND CUT
Ready to roll tape
Ready to take bars and tone
Roll tape ("tape is rolling")
Take bars and tone
Ready to lose bars and tone and take slate
Lose Bars and tone and take slate
Ready to lose slate and take black
Lose slate and take black
-----
Ready ACC slate
Lose black and FADE slate
Ready to lose slate and fade black
Lose slate and Fade black
Ready to lose black and fade Dolly Lamas Slate
Lose black and FADE slate
Ready to lose slate and FADE black
Lose slate and FADE black
Ready to lose black and FADE TITLE slate
Lose black and FADE title slate
Ready to lose slate and FADE black
Lose slate and FADE black
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent
Fade, mic, and cue
----------------
HOST
Vampires! Nosferatu. The Undead. Stories of these monsters have existed through the ages in every land, in every culture. A creature once human that preys on the blood of the living.
_________
Ready VTR____, Ready lose Cam1 AND fade out music
Roll VTR _____, Fade to VTR ____ and fade out music
_________
VICTIM
(FIRST BITE SCENE, VICTIM moans until death while vampire keeps sucking)
_________
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent and music
Fade, mic, and cue
_________
HOST
Tragic. But not uncommon. Seduction by evil is the oldest story in the book. The bible tells of Eve being seduced by the serpent into biting of the forbidden fruit.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
Fictional stories and modern media have given vampires an allure never before known in history. Anne Rice and her "Interview with the Vampire" made Lestat into a household name of sultry seduction. Joss Whedon gave his vampires Angel and Spike souls, making them dark heroes of the night. And who wouldn't open their neck for Eric or Bill of HBO's "True Blood"?
READY CAMERA 1
TAKE CAMERA 1
The truth is that vampires are evil. They do not glitter in the sun. They do not rescue hapless maidens. They want nothing but your blood and the slaking of their thirst.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
It is up to each person, each intended victim to open their eyes and see the truth. See beyond the allure. Let's start over to see what should have happened.
_________
Ready VTR____, Ready lose Cam1 AND fade out music
Roll VTR _____, Fade to VTR ____ and fade out music
_________
VAMPIRE
You don't understand. It's you that fills the emptiness within. You fill the void within me and make me feel alive. I must have you.
VICTIM
Does that line really work?
_________
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent and music
Fade, mic, and cue
_________
HOST
Smart girl. Ask the important questions. Look beyond the lies.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
What do you need to know? A vampire needs to be invited into your home. It can also be uninvited. A cross can repel a vampire dependent on the strength of your faith. A vampire can be held to the Earth with iron. You can set a vampire on fire, but if it has recently fed, it may survive. Garlic and silver are just allergens to vampires and while they may work to irritate or distract a vampire, they are just allergens!
READY CAMERA 1
TAKE CAMERA 1
If you want to kill a vampire, you need to be definitive and direct! A vampire can be killed with a wooden stake to the heart. Unfortunately, a vampire's heart gets smaller and harder to find as the vampire ages.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
The easiest way to kill a vampire is to chop off its head.
READY CAMERA 1
TAKE CAMERA 1
So when the vampire says, "I can drink just a sip without killing you." Consider whether or not you can eat just one potato chip.
_________
Ready VTR____, Ready lose Cam1 and fade out music
Roll VTR _____, Fade to VTR ____ and fade out music
_________
VICTIM
It always has to be like this.
(kicks vampire away and swings sword, chopping off vampire's head)
(vampire turns to dust)
_________
Ready to fade in to camera 1
Ready to open mics
Ready to cue talent and music
Fade, mic, and cue
Did you catch that? The blood instinct: The bite or fight response.
READY CAMERA 2
TAKE CAMERA 2
Slay the vampire or it will slay you. Kill it before it breeds. Kill them all before they become Legion.
Ready Camera 3
Fade to camera 3
"The power is yours. The choice is yours!"
_________
READY TO LOSE CAMERA 3 AND TAKE BLACK
LOSE CAMERA 3 AND FADE TO BLACK
READY TO LOSE BLACK AND TAKE CREDITS SLATE
LOSE BLACK AND TAKE CREDITS
FADE TO BLACK, FADE AUDIO
STOP TAPE, AND CUT
HOST SCRIPT
HOST
Vampires! Nosferatu. The Undead. Stories of these monsters have existed through the ages in every land, in every culture. A creature once human that preys on the blood of the living.
*roll tape 1* (vampire sucks her blood)
HOST
Tragic. But not uncommon. Seduction by evil is the oldest story in the book. The bible tells of Eve being seduced by the serpent into biting of the forbidden fruit.
Fictional stories and modern media have given vampires an allure never before known in history. Anne Rice and her "Interview with the Vampire" made Lestat into a household name of sultry seduction. Joss Whedon gave his vampires Angel and Spike souls, making them dark heroes of the night. And who wouldn't open their neck for Eric or Bill of HBO's "True Blood"?
The truth is that vampires are evil. They do not glitter in the sun. They do not rescue hapless maidens. They want nothing but your blood and the slaking of their thirst.
It is up to each person, each intended victim to open their eyes and see the truth. See beyond the allure. Let's start over to see what should have happened.
*roll tape 2* (same story, but victim asks questions)
HOST
Smart girl. Ask the important questions. Look beyond the lies.
What do you need to know? A vampire needs to be invited into your home. It can also be uninvited. A cross can repel a vampire dependent on the strength of your faith. A vampire can be held to the Earth with iron. You can set a vampire on fire, but if it has recently fed, it may survive. Garlic and silver are just allergens to vampires and while they may work to irritate or distract a vampire, they are just allergens! If you want to kill a vampire, you need to be definitive and direct! A vampire can be killed with a wooden stake to the heart. Unfortunately, a vampire's heart gets smaller and harder to find as the vampire ages. The easiest way to kill a vampire is to chop off its head.
So when the vampire says, "I can drink just a sip without killing you." Consider whether or not you can eat just one potato chip.
*roll tape 3* (victim slays vampire)
Did you catch that? The blood instinct: The bite or fight response. Slay the vampire or it will slay you. Kill it before it breeds. Kill them all before they become Legion.
*sword image*
"The power is yours. The choice is yours!"
*roll credits*
HOST
Vampires! Nosferatu. The Undead. Stories of these monsters have existed through the ages in every land, in every culture. A creature once human that preys on the blood of the living.
*roll tape 1* (vampire sucks her blood)
HOST
Tragic. But not uncommon. Seduction by evil is the oldest story in the book. The bible tells of Eve being seduced by the serpent into biting of the forbidden fruit.
Fictional stories and modern media have given vampires an allure never before known in history. Anne Rice and her "Interview with the Vampire" made Lestat into a household name of sultry seduction. Joss Whedon gave his vampires Angel and Spike souls, making them dark heroes of the night. And who wouldn't open their neck for Eric or Bill of HBO's "True Blood"?
The truth is that vampires are evil. They do not glitter in the sun. They do not rescue hapless maidens. They want nothing but your blood and the slaking of their thirst.
It is up to each person, each intended victim to open their eyes and see the truth. See beyond the allure. Let's start over to see what should have happened.
*roll tape 2* (same story, but victim asks questions)
HOST
Smart girl. Ask the important questions. Look beyond the lies.
What do you need to know? A vampire needs to be invited into your home. It can also be uninvited. A cross can repel a vampire dependent on the strength of your faith. A vampire can be held to the Earth with iron. You can set a vampire on fire, but if it has recently fed, it may survive. Garlic and silver are just allergens to vampires and while they may work to irritate or distract a vampire, they are just allergens! If you want to kill a vampire, you need to be definitive and direct! A vampire can be killed with a wooden stake to the heart. Unfortunately, a vampire's heart gets smaller and harder to find as the vampire ages. The easiest way to kill a vampire is to chop off its head.
So when the vampire says, "I can drink just a sip without killing you." Consider whether or not you can eat just one potato chip.
*roll tape 3* (victim slays vampire)
Did you catch that? The blood instinct: The bite or fight response. Slay the vampire or it will slay you. Kill it before it breeds. Kill them all before they become Legion.
*sword image*
"The power is yours. The choice is yours!"
*roll credits*
POTENTIAL VAMPIRE VICTIM ROLL-IN SCRIPT
POTENTIAL VAMPIRE VICTIMS
Script for vampire/victim roll-ins.
Scene One
Interior. Apartment. Mood lighting.
VAMPIRE
I just can't control myself. I want you so bad.
VICTIM
Is it me you want? Or my blood?
VAMPIRE
It's you that makes me want your blood so. I love you.
VICTIM
How can you say that? You have no soul.
VAMPIRE
You don't understand. It's you that fills the emptiness within. You fill the void within me and make me feel alive. I must have you.
VICTIM
(pulls hair back)
Oh bite me. Bite me hard!
VAMPIRE
(drinks blood and thoroughly enjoys it)
VICTIM
(moans until death while vampire keeps sucking)
END SCENE
SCENE 2
Interior. Apartment. Mood lighting.
VAMPIRE
I just can't control myself. I want you so bad.
VICTIM
Is it me you want? Or my blood?
VAMPIRE
It's you that makes me want your blood so. I love you.
VICTIM
How can you say that? You have no soul.
VAMPIRE
You don't understand. It's you that fills the emptiness within. You fill the void within me and make me feel alive. I must have you.
VICTIM
Does that line really work?
VAMPIRE
I can drink you without killing you.
VICTIM
Yeah, but you'd still be biting me? And then I'd have to wear a scarf to hide it from my friends. And once you start sucking on me, like what's to stop you from drinking me dead?
VAMPIRE
My love for you.
VICTIM
I have a better idea. How about you get out of my house. (kicks him through the porch door and grabs up sword)
END SCENE
SCENE 3
EXT. APARTMENT
FIGHT SCENE
VAMPIRE
oof (landing on back)
VICTIM
(lands near vampire driving sword into the ground next to vampire's head)
VAMPIRE
(rolls away and gets to feet)
VICTIM
(swings sword at vampire, but vampire grabs her wrist)
VAMPIRE
It didn't have to be like this.
VICTIM
It always has to be like this.
(kicks vampire away and swings sword, chopping off vampire's head)
(vampire turns to dust)
VICTIM
Why do I always meet the freaks?
END SCENE
POTENTIAL VAMPIRE VICTIMS
Script for vampire/victim roll-ins.
Scene One
Interior. Apartment. Mood lighting.
VAMPIRE
I just can't control myself. I want you so bad.
VICTIM
Is it me you want? Or my blood?
VAMPIRE
It's you that makes me want your blood so. I love you.
VICTIM
How can you say that? You have no soul.
VAMPIRE
You don't understand. It's you that fills the emptiness within. You fill the void within me and make me feel alive. I must have you.
VICTIM
(pulls hair back)
Oh bite me. Bite me hard!
VAMPIRE
(drinks blood and thoroughly enjoys it)
VICTIM
(moans until death while vampire keeps sucking)
END SCENE
SCENE 2
Interior. Apartment. Mood lighting.
VAMPIRE
I just can't control myself. I want you so bad.
VICTIM
Is it me you want? Or my blood?
VAMPIRE
It's you that makes me want your blood so. I love you.
VICTIM
How can you say that? You have no soul.
VAMPIRE
You don't understand. It's you that fills the emptiness within. You fill the void within me and make me feel alive. I must have you.
VICTIM
Does that line really work?
VAMPIRE
I can drink you without killing you.
VICTIM
Yeah, but you'd still be biting me? And then I'd have to wear a scarf to hide it from my friends. And once you start sucking on me, like what's to stop you from drinking me dead?
VAMPIRE
My love for you.
VICTIM
I have a better idea. How about you get out of my house. (kicks him through the porch door and grabs up sword)
END SCENE
SCENE 3
EXT. APARTMENT
FIGHT SCENE
VAMPIRE
oof (landing on back)
VICTIM
(lands near vampire driving sword into the ground next to vampire's head)
VAMPIRE
(rolls away and gets to feet)
VICTIM
(swings sword at vampire, but vampire grabs her wrist)
VAMPIRE
It didn't have to be like this.
VICTIM
It always has to be like this.
(kicks vampire away and swings sword, chopping off vampire's head)
(vampire turns to dust)
VICTIM
Why do I always meet the freaks?
END SCENE