Film Opening Screen Play

 This screenplay i was assigned to do is meant for me to start finalizing my film opening showing the different sounds, camera angles, and actions of my characters and how it relates to the storyline. I utilized the my film opening concept to help chose the characters actions and environment.

FADE IN:
INT. JOSH’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
A dimly lit bedroom. The glow of a monitor screen fills the room.

JOSH (late teens) sits on his chair keyboard and mouse in hand, focused on a video game.

On screen: he dies
The sound cuts out.
Suddenly—

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Josh JUMPS, startled.
He looks at his phone alarm.
ALARM LABEL: “Go on your walk.”
Josh sighs, annoyed, then rubs his face.
He gets up quickly.

INT. JOSH’S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS

Quick shots as Josh gets ready:

--air pods in ear listening to music playing loudly in the background
— pulling on his hoodie
— slipping on his glasses
— tying his shoes (one lace hangs loose)
— grabbing his headphones

He doesn’t notice the untied lace.
Josh opens the door and steps outside.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET – NIGHT

Josh walks down a quiet street. Streetlights hum softly.
Music plays through his headphones.
Josh relaxes slightly… until—

A rustling sound.

He pauses the music.
Looks around.

Nothing.

He shrugs, presses play, keeps walking.
Another sound — a car light flicks on nearby.
Josh stops again. Turns around.

Nothing.

He exhales, annoyed, and continues.

A THIRD sound. Softer. Slower.
Josh stops his music and turns—

Nothing.

As he turns back forward—
Behind him, in the distance, a BLACK FIGURE walks slowly toward him.

Josh doesn’t see it.
Josh senses something, turns again.

The figure is gone.

Josh frowns.
He turns forward—

The figure now stands TEN FEET IN FRONT OF HIM.

Still. Silent.
Josh’s eyes widen.

He RUNS.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET – CONTINUOUS

Josh sprints down the street.
Heavy breathing. Footsteps.
The figure CHASES — not running, just moving fast enough.

Josh trips on his untied shoelace and SLAMS to the ground.

He squeezes his eyes shut. Teeth clenched.
Silence.

Josh slowly opens his eyes.
The street is empty.
He breathes heavily, looking left… right.
Nothing.

Josh lies back, exhausted.
He lets out a relieved sigh.
Then—

The BLACK FIGURE looms above him.

A HAND grabs Josh by the neck—

INT. JOSH’S BEDROOM – MORNING

Josh GASPS and shoots upright in bed.

His alarm is blaring.
The SAME SONG from his walk plays.

Josh is panicking, gagging.
He jumps out of bed and RUNS offscreen toward the bathroom.
The camera does NOT follow.

It slowly pushes in on the alarm clock.
The music continues.

A BLACK HAND enters frame.
It calmly presses the alarm OFF.

CUT TO BLACK.

END.

What works best in my film opening is the use of music and eerie ness of the setting. What was

the hardest for me to put into words was josh’s reactions to the noises on his walk, also how he

turns and notices and doesn’t notice stuff. After reviewing my film opening I found it easier to

start it in his room rather than in his living room where it originally started and having him die in

a video game where he is using a keyboard and mouse is easier for me to visualize his anger and

disappointment when he sees the walk notification.