FMF episode VI – submissions closed

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Nigel Mattison

Our guest for episode VI is filmmaker Nigel Mattison (Rocketman, Kingsmen: The Golden Circle).

Episode VI – script scene

For some context here is a log line for the project from which the scene below has been selected:

Film composer Grace Derbini relives the true story of her Grandfather Arkady Derbini, a Juhiri Jew, as she conducts an orchestral recording session for a movie based on his struggles during the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Please read the following scene and the brief provided by Nigel below:

ARKADY
God sent you so that my journey would continue.

HANNIBAL
Continue for what?

ARKADY
I’m not sure yet, but it must be something important.

HANNIBAL
Horse scheisse!

ARKADY
You don’t believe you are part of a bigger plan?

HANNIBAL
Life is here for the taking, and every opportunity should be taken when it presents itself.

(BEAT)

The story of my life is always mine to be written. As is yours.

ARKADY
There is more. Life, the planets, the stars – it’s a miracle.

HANNIBAL
You are confusing wonder with miracle. There are billions, trillions of creatures on this Earth. It’s over whelming enough without throwing divine entities into the mix.

(BEAT)

I was an aide to the German Ambassador in the British Raj, you know every town, every village, every family worshipped a different god. There are literally thousands to choose from – you want more cows milk there’s a god for that, you want more rain or more sun there are god’s for that, more food, less food, more women to marry, more men to die in wars, whatever you so wish…just pray to some god.

ARKADY
Thousands of gods?

HANNIBAL
We evolved ourselves this big beautiful brain and we’re shaping the world in our vision. All this stuff, this and this, boxes, trains, buildings, religion, slaves, war are merely constructs of our collective imagination.

ARKADY
What about the stars and the planets? Man did not construct nature.


HANNIBAL
No but maybe man invented God so that he had a could tear nature down. I don’t have all the answers yet, but, without choice you are just a leaf in the wind destined for the whim of those who are prepared to blow. That’s why I am going home.

Arkady reflects upon the Prussian’s words. And SONATA (CODA).

INT. STEAM LOCOMOTIVE. GOODS CARRIAGE – DAWN 62

Arkady peers out to see many men standing on a frozen lake, next to holes – fishing. He smiles and looks to Hannibal, who remains asleep. He pulls out the diamond and loses himself in its glow. Hannibal stirs.

The train shudders to a stop, Arkady drops the diamond and it rolls away from him and towards Hannibal, slowly, slowly and it stops by Hannibals hand. Arkady jumps up and grabs the diamond, but falls over Hannibal’s feet, waking him. Hannibal’s suspicions are arisen by Arkady, but he hears, as we do, voices from outside the carriage. Hannibal peeks out to see SOLDIERS heading their way.

INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE – JUST THEN
The soldiers open the carriage doors to find the place covered in mess.

This scene discusses one of the themes of the film – is one’s destiny man made, or is it in the hands of the gods? Do you make your own luck, or is everything out of your control and already pre-destined?

This scene is really the first time Arkady fully questions himself and his beliefs, as it’s the first time he’s come across someone who believes the opposite.

I feel that whatever key musical ’theme’ for the movie would exist for Arkady’s character, this point is where it could develop, change as Arkady is changing. Perhaps the right word to use would be awakening.

The touchstone I always have for these type of scenes is from Raiders of the Lost Ark– when in the first Act Indiana meets the Army Intelligence Officers at his college. The ‘Mission’ Scene (15:24 – 20:25).

During the scene Indiana explains what the Ark is and why it could be important…and also dangerous. The music (growing from 19:48) turns from being mystical, supernatural, even of awe, to a slightly darker colour – one of danger, dread and intrigue. I think it’s fabulous!

Duration: MAX 2 minutes.

A few recommendations

We kindly ask you to submit music you specifically create for this episode. Anything that we deem to be out of context will not be considered.

The submission form also serves as a legally binding license assignment document. Therefore we kindly ask to only submit music you own in its entirety. However we only ask for a non-exclusive license, meaning you will still be able to use the music on other projects.

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Deadline

Please submit your track by Friday October 25 at 11:59PM (BST).

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Good luck

We will only play a few submissions during the show and we will assess tracks in the order they are submitted. Thus we advice submitting your track as soon as possible. Good luck!