Hello there all,
just wondering if you lovely people may be able to help me out.
i am currently writing a script based on the events of one day in one setting,
told from the POV of several main characters, completely seperately
meaning that the audience has to wait until they have all sides of the rectangle (or something)
before they know what went down that day
i would like to know of films that have this kind of device - because the worst thing would be for the fruits of my labour to be rotten as they are the same as some script made yrs ago.
if anyone can think of any such films, then please, post them here.
i recall one with a rape, french i think it was from the 1980s, i think..........
anyway, broaden it out if needs be, say for example the characters tellings need not be completely seperate, they could be intwined, intercutting from one to another.
cheers for the help,
the grateful Zoolio,

Pulp fiction & Reservoir dogs take place mostly in a day from several characters persectives.. I mean.. you see the lead up to the day in parts.. preperations & such.. but I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for. Hope I was of help.

Pulp fiction & Reservoir dogs .......... Hope I was of help.

yes, thankyou mr blonde :yes: , i now have those bad boys down on my list of films to re-analyse.
if anyone has any more, then please, pop them off in my face.

hmmm.. maybe run lola run? Just throwing it out there.

hmmm.. maybe run lola run? Just throwing it out there.
hmmm, doesn't really fit my criteria, but an inventive choice none the less.
i need films that are told from several different POVs, intercutting OR as completely seperate stages of script, until finale.
yet i am so desperate i would even take Martha meet Daniel Frank + Lawrence (or whatever they are called).
i appreciate the throwing, don't stop, keep them coming. :yes:
always a pleasure,
zoolio

films about 1 event/day told from POV of characters seperately

a film classic, and probably considered to be the Godfather of this type of storytelling...

Rashômon

Hmmm.. love actually..

a film classic, and probably considered to be the Godfather of this type of storytelling...

Rashômon


YOU LEGEND SONNYBOO! GET IN!
i have always wanted a reason to see that film, and you have just blessed me with said desired item.
thank you very much so.
keep them coming you film gods amongst men.
the kindest of all the zools,
zoolio

Not really a day.. but they all know each other.. yeah.. that was a crap idea.. just ignore that.

Hmmm.. love actually..

true, true, true.
i will try to watch that again :no:
not a big fan at all, but it will help i must admit
poor Richard Curtis, he did write one of the greatest historical comedies of all time,
then turned to Hugh Grant and God (vicar of dibley)
what a fall from grace,
cheers for help,
don't stop now mr blonde
we've only just begun,
the most sensitive of all the zools,
the almighty zoolio

Got two:

Go
Donnie Darko

Poke

Got two:

Go
Donnie Darko

Poke

cheers pokey,
keep them coming please,
hit me
HIT ME!

the most afraid of all the zools,
zoolio

Ooh.. if you can get your hands on an australian film called 'blurred' that would be a great example.

Ooh.. if you can get your hands on an australian film called 'blurred' that would be a great example.

it is available to buy on ebay, but being a typically tight youngster (thats me) i wonder if you would be so kind as to give me a little synopsis of it?
u can pm if u woudl prefer - is it really a good eg? is it worth the money? it seems to be about a teenage party that (presumably) goes wrong.
forgive my ignorance, but all i know about the australian film industry is ian fletcher and ian smith. Neither are in this, so i am dubious....(oh and that film about the blind photographer, but thats by the by...)
the most lonely of all the great zools,
zoolio

Yeah.. it's about a bunch a highschool kids trying to get to schoolies (it's like a party week for kids who have just graduated that's held on the gold coast) & just what happens to them along the way.. how they get there.. tests of friendship & other relationships.. it's a comedy.. but I think it's a fairly good example of what you're talking about..

Oh!! Rat race.. see rat race. Probably anything farce comedy would suit what you're talking about.

Now that I think of it Donnie Darko takes place over several days, but it has the multiperson perspective you want.

But never fear, i've thought of more -

Clerks
Elephant
Snake Eyes (crappy movie, but a perfect example of what you want I think)

Poke

hey..clerks reminded me.. a few kevin smith movies.. they usually take place over a few days.. Dogma.. Jay & silent bob strike back.. ....yeah.. that's all I got for now.

Now that I think of it Donnie Darko takes place over several days, but it has the multiperson perspective you want.

But never fear, i've thought of more -

Clerks
Elephant
Snake Eyes (crappy movie, but a perfect example of what you want I think)

Poke

cheers for the help,
right about snake eyes - on both counts
mine is about a crime,
and there are several suspects,
but their parts are more about what drives them, about their characterisation/developments
if that helps anyone think of any more
keep them coming please,
the roman numeral for infinite,
zoolio

hey..clerks reminded me.. a few kevin smith movies.. they usually take place over a few days.. Dogma.. Jay & silent bob strike back.. ....yeah.. that's all I got for now.

The setting i have have a sense of no escape, it all takes part in 1 place, over 1 day.
a sense of immediacy, tension a little bit,
if that helps anyone any further,
no-one has mentioned that rape film so far
it must exist!
please say it exists......


the cat may have been curious, but surely his dexterity should get him out of any situation the former would put him?
zoolio

24.. the tv show.

24.. the tv show.

like it! nice suggestion.
i'm just so chuffed that i am in need of help at 2:15 and by 3:54 i am all smiles,
cheers
lets not stop ourselves now,
we have not even begun to build our bridge

I thought about writing something along these lines before to do as a type of collaborative directing effort (think 4 rooms) ... a few different views on the same or intertwining stories, all directed by different people and edited into one film.

As for movie suggestions, other than the aforementioned Four Rooms, there's only one that comes to mind, which I really love: Groove. Though it mostly centers around one main character, it does get other characters POVs a fair amount too.

As for movie suggestions, other than the aforementioned Four Rooms, there's only one that comes to mind, which I really love: Groove. Though it mostly centers around one main character, it does get other characters POVs a fair amount too.

Thanks Will for the help. Much appreciated. Please, any more, any one, please.
This is just fantastic.
:yes:

There is a section of Quentin Tarantino's JACKIE BROWN that very very effectively uses multiple perspectives on the same time frame (towards the end at the Shopping Mall).

There is a section of Quentin Tarantino's JACKIE BROWN that very very effectively uses multiple perspectives on the same time frame (towards the end at the Shopping Mall).

thanks for the slice of info sonnyboo, very good of you. i slightly recall what you mean, i'll watch that this weekend for certain. thanks

and if anyone has any more
literally lob them at me :yes:

Another one is Requiem for a Dream.

yeah - that is one hell of a film. that was the first one i saw and analysed for this script. amazing. truly amazing. the way it all comes together. oh, what a film! what characters! amazing. :yes:

any more ideas would be welcomed with my arms open.

How about the deconstructivist work, 'Last Year at Marienbad' directed by Alain Resnais? Three characters, 'X', 'A', and 'M' talking about(?), or reminising(?) or planning (?),for 'A' to go away with 'M' (the one event). Alain Robbe-Gaillet wrote the text (or, I guess, adapted it) and described it as 'past, present, and future occupying the same space' rather than a linear timeline.

Ok this suggestion doesn't exactly fit, but here goes.

Tape

Three characters in a hotel room over one evening. Events not shown from each POV though. Although the event they discuss is rehashed verbelly through each characters POV.

Hey, where did you find the script? Ive been looking all over the internet for the scripts for Crime + Punishment In Suburbia, Kids, Donnie Darko, and Requiem for a Dream but cant find them.

That is one hell of a film, I just bought/watched it recently..Its one of those movies you watch it over and over again :)


DONNIE DARKO
http://ushoulda.asked.biz/sparklemotion.txt

SUBURBIA
http://blake.prohosting.com/bamzone/suburbia.txt

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/requiem.txt

KIDS
http://www.pumpkinsoft.de/screenplay451/scripts/kids.zip



Links courtesy of DREW'S SCRIPT-O-RAMA
http://www.script-o-rama.com

Tape

Another Linklater film -- Dazed and Confused

a film classic, and probably considered to be the Godfather of this type of storytelling...

Rashômon

And the Citizen Kane of single day movies ...

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

On the crime front ...

Nick of Time starring Johnny Depp

Single day storylines are a fixture in the horror genre. One that comes to mind is Halloween.

Poke

i considered using this kind of idea ages ago for a radio theatre....

How about the deconstructivist work, 'Last Year at Marienbad' directed by Alain Resnais? Three characters, 'X', 'A', and 'M' talking about(?), or reminising(?) or planning (?),for 'A' to go away with 'M' (the one event). Alain Robbe-Gaillet wrote the text (or, I guess, adapted it) and described it as 'past, present, and future occupying the same space' rather than a linear timeline.

actually Bird, i don't know if you've seen my profile or not, but that is my favourite film of all time.
it is truly incredible and the greatest film experience i have ever had. :yes:
blinding brilliant, cheers for bringing the memories back to me

Ok this suggestion doesn't exactly fit, but here goes.

Tape

Three characters in a hotel room over one evening. Events not shown from each POV though. Although the event they discuss is rehashed verbelly through each characters POV.

thanks mikey D i will look out for that this wkend,
you've all been so very very helpful.
thanks :yes:

Friday

Next Friday

Friday After Next

The Next Friday After The Next Friday When Friday's On TV

Poke

i considered using this kind of idea ages ago for a radio theatre....

interesting you mention that Walt, as I have been trying to write specifically radio theatre (comedy) -
not this particular idea, but something else........

Nick of Time starring Johnny Depp

i'll be damned if i ever watch that waste of an idea again. if ever a movie cried out to be a tv movie......

Single day storylines are a fixture in the horror genre.

its not just the single day thingy i need.
its got to be from different POVs, or at the very least with focus changing between sub plots.
but loving the help pokey,
just keep on poking :yes:

Suburbia is a good one too.. and it's one of the first films for both Steve Zahn and Giovanni Ribisi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120238)

Suburbia is a good one [/url])

thanks will. i have got myself a script of that now for the wkend, thanks very much.

Ok this suggestion doesn't exactly fit, but here goes.

Tape .

thanks for the suggestion mikey d - very good of you. :yes:

nice work.... radio theatre will make a comeback..... i am sure of it!

a freind already made one a little while ago which i helped out on
www.lombardaudio.com (http://www.lombardaudio.com) check it out!

There was a film two or threes years back, whose name has completely escaped me.

The screen was split into quarters for the entire flick, and it was shot in real time with 4 main actors (and 4 camera peeps)... one for each quarter panel.

They are each doing their own thing, but they end up interacting with each of the other three at various points as the film progresses.

One of those films where it seemed like a good idea to view it in... an altered state, shalll we say. :cool:

(Probably explains why I can't remember the name).

There was a film two or threes years back, whose name has completely escaped me.

The screen was split into quarters for the entire flick, and it was shot in real time with 4 main actors (and 4 camera peeps)... one for each quarter panel.

(Probably explains why I can't remember the name).

TIMECODE by Mike Figgis with Salma Hayek, Jean Tripplehorn, Stellan Skaarsgard et al.

Shot mini DV and mostly improvised.

(2000)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220100

==========================================

TIMECODE by Mike Figgis with Salma Hayek, Jean Tripplehorn, Stellan Skaarsgard et al.

Shot mini DV and mostly improvised.

(2000)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220100

==========================================

That looks like the one, thanks Mr Boo ! :)

That looks like the one, thanks Mr Boo ! :)

Strangely, I've never even seen it. But I'm wicked with useless movie trivia. Stay away from BW3's Trivia on movie night...

nice work.... radio theatre will make a comeback..... i am sure of it!

a freind already made one a little while ago which i helped out on
www.lombardaudio.com (http://www.lombardaudio.com) check it out!


will do Walt - thanks for the link. it will make a comeback we shall ensure that - from both sides of the world!
i have to say that i think it helps someone be much more accomplished + skilful as a writer if they practice their craft through different mediums.
yay for us. :yes:

[QUOTE=sonnyboo]I'm wicked with useless movie trivia. QUOTE]

don't sell yourself short sonnyboo. You helped me and Zensteve out. Now perhaps Zen can remember what he did that night, do you remember yet Zen? Give it time, give it time............ :yes:

just wanted to say thanks very much to all the people who have given me help here - very good of you - you have certainly given me a busy weekend :yes:

cheers, :clap:

C'mon all you Tarantino fans. The film that was a direct influence on the structure of Pulp Fiction is a fine example of the type of movie Nique is looking for.

It take place over several days, but it tells the story from the POV of several characters - especially the heist itself.

You QT fans MUST know this film....

Weekend at Bernie's?

Poke

Weekend at Bernie's?

Poke
I was obsessed with Catherine Mary Stewart...

C'mon all you Tarantino fans. The film that was a direct influence on the structure of Pulp Fiction is a fine example of the type of movie Nique is looking for.

I think that was The Killers by Don Siegel.

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0058262/

Great movie.

Or maybe the The Killing by Kubrick?

Or maybe the The Killing by Kubrick?
Ding - Ding - Ding!

With a script by Kubrick and one of the great crime novelists of all time, Jim Thompson. His use of various charactor POV's is exciting. It also has one of great endings of the Hays Code days.

I have never seen The Killers - Siegel's 64 version or Siodmak's 46 version. Though I have read Hemingways book. I'm going to see if I can buy both of them today.

Was reading through some of the first replies to this topic... noticed that someone mentioned Run Lola Run..

And then:
hmmm, doesn't really fit my criteria, but an inventive choice none the less....

Run Lola Run doesn't meet your criteria?! It takes place in one day (more like 20 minutes or so actually) and covers a couple points of view in a fairly unique way... through use of snapshots, split screen, etc.. I think you need to reconsider it as a good example, otherwise what you say you're looking for must not be quite what you're looking for.

Was reading through some of the first replies to this topic... noticed that someone mentioned Run Lola Run..

And then:


Run Lola Run doesn't meet your criteria?! It takes place in one day (more like 20 minutes or so actually) and covers a couple points of view in a fairly unique way... through use of snapshots, split screen, etc.. I think you need to reconsider it as a good example, otherwise what you say you're looking for must not be quite what you're looking for.

If I remember correctly doesn't the story change each time it is told? Plus wasn't the story only told from Lola's POV? or was the boyfriends POV used too? See now I just can't remember.... interesting watch none the less.

If I remember correctly doesn't the story change each time it is told? Plus wasn't the story only told from Lola's POV? or was the boyfriends POV used too? See now I just can't remember.... interesting watch none the less.
It's been a while since I saw it, but that's exactly how I remember it. All from Lola's POV and each time she leaves her apartment she makes a slightly different choice that changes the outcome.

Now I have to go buy THAT film, too....

[QUOTE=directorik]and each time she leaves her apartment she makes a slightly different choice that changes the outcome. [QUOTE]

thats exactly what i mean. i need a situation that does not change, the whole tension rises from the fact that no character in this has any control over what happens in the end - and the audience knows it coming. run lola run doesn't come into my criteria as, whilst it may be the story of 1 day, its is the story of many differing events, and thats not what i was after. it needed to be one event told from different POVs, not one POV and 5 different events, and a tiny bit of boyfriend stuff. but thanks will for looking out for me, again. :yes:
Cheers directorik for mentioning the Killing, film noir is one of the greatest genres and I am actually purchasing a copy of the original today - thanks. :yes:
cheers to mikey d and directorik for getting my point across while i was in the land of nod, swimming with Pierce........

Ok.. certain things change slightly... but it also covers other characters POVs.. true it is mostly from Lola's POV.. BUT, it does do some of the boyfriend, and some of her father at the bank. Also a number of people she runs across in the process have their POV shown through a series of snapshots that pop up on the screen. Like the old woman Lola practically runs over when she's running down the sidewalk.

The other thing to keep in mind is that not only does Lola's story change slightly, but these other peoples stories do too. The previously mentioned old woman is a good example.. the first time Lola runs by we see a bunch of photos showing the woman going home, whatever.. yada yada, depressing.. one of the other times the photos show that she wins the lottery or some nonsense. Also, in one of the story changes the bum that stole the money from her boyfriend shows up and he chases him down to get the money back (I believe that is the last one, but I'm not sure..) Ya know, I think I'm gonna have to go buy that one too. :D

Anyway I had another thought this morning. Granted it doesn't take place in one day, but 'Love Actually' is an excellent example of inter-twined stories from many different POVs, all happening simultaneously. Also I believe ALL the main characters show up together in the last scene (in the airport). Anyway, so it's not the one day/one event thing.. but still a great case study for multiple POV.

Ok.. certain things change slightly... but it also covers other characters POVs..


I had completely forgotten about the whole photo things - that a good point.

the first time Lola runs by we see a bunch of photos showing the woman going home, whatever.. yada yada, depressing.. one of the other times the photos show that she wins the lottery or some nonsense.

Its the fact that they change that makes me exclude this film from my list. i don't want events that can be so changed - the tragedy of my story comes from the fact that the fire (i've said too much :blush: ) was inevitable.
the idea was 1 event - not a plethora of events that may/may not happen/happened.

'Love Actually' is an excellent example of inter-twined stories from many different POVs, all happening simultaneously. a great case study for multiple POV.

yep - this was mentioned earlier, and i will certainly watch it - u make a great case for it :yes:
i certainly take your sought after advice though will and will watch run lola run, but not until after the first draft is written, to compare.
cheers, nique.

Also One night at McCools does some interesting POV stuff.....

Granted it doesn't take place in one day, but 'Love Actually' is an excellent example of inter-twined stories from many different POVs, all happening simultaneously.

Love Actually is an excellent example of having too many intersecting stories thus elliminating any real character involvement from the audience. Sorry, I can not stand that movie, just had to make that known now and forever.

Poke

PS We would never elect Billy Bob Thorton, especially since he split with ol' big lips.

the idea was 1 event - not a plethora of events that may/may not happen/happened.


Well, it's not like you're gonna just cut and paste your story into another films framework.. I hope ;) So, whether the case study is exactly what you're looking for or not.. movies with multiple POV should be helpful.. even if they cover different events and multiple days. At the very least they should give you some ideas about how to handle the multiple POVs. Good luck Nique. :)

Well, it's not like you're gonna just cut and paste your story into another films framework.. I hope ;) So, whether the case study is exactly what you're looking for or not.. movies with multiple POV should be helpful :)

Will, you really are quite the salesman. :yes: i'm sold! i will watch it again.
I am not intending to copy + paste, its just that i want to see these films with a similar idea, to make sure that mine is different - i hate it when you find out what you have is nothing or its been done before:no: , and i just want to make sure this time.

cheers for the help, nique.

Love Actually Sorry, I can not stand that movie, just had to make that known now and forever..

I will join you in that one Poke. You are not alone. It was all just alot of fluff.
If I may retort though, I think that Curtis did well to involve the audience in his format. Usually the watcher of a 'rom-com' is desperate to get involved with the characters - and i think he took this as a given.
he did well to elicit our sympathies though (the ??laura linney?? character and her brother) in the limited amount of time he had. I don't think his primary aim was for us to truly connect, but to do so on a very thin level, and thats why the characters were such 'catch-all' creations.
zoolio

See it wasn't that I didn't like the characters, I just didn't get enough of the ones I truly liked - the Laura Linney story, the Hugh Grant (and super hot Martine McCutcheon) story and the Liam Neeson story. Maybe that was the point, to give that "thin" connection you spoke of, but I just didn't like that.

Poke

Nique: I'm glad you didn't take offense that that... Reading it again I sound kind of... prickish. I guess that's what typing while half asleep does to me. There are certain parts of the Love Actually story that I would have liked to see more of, definately.. BUT, I very much liked the movie, I'm a sucker for romantic comedy though, it is my favorite genre. That makes me sound like such a weenie, but I don't care!

On the other hand, I would have been happy to watch the Portugese girl prance around the screen for a couple hours, but um. nevermind. :)

As for the good salesman thing.. hmm I dunno about that so much, but hey, if it's true... I should do well in the 'Hollywood System'.. :D

Maybe that was the point, to give that "thin" connection you spoke of, but I just didn't like that.

I know what you mean. It all felt too contrived, which admittedly is what drama is, but not in a seductive and charming way - rather in an insulting way toward the viewer - suggesting that all we need is a typical character, a hook for them (p.m or working class lass) and thats it, then nothing more is offered.
shame. i felt it alienated me from both myself as viewer and the characters, leaving me in a very undesired limbo. :(
but i'm ok now :)

Nique: I'm glad you didn't take offense that that... Reading it again I sound kind of... prickish.

I am not the kind of person to take offense to what people say to me - its more what i say to myself that gets me going. you didn't sound prickish at all, you felt you had a good point to make and pressed to make it - and did - characteristics that work wonders in this business they tell me.
and i'm glad you made the point, its been helpful. ta :)

Wonderland

It came out in 2003. I've seen it and enjoyed it. I didn't think it was groundbreaking and there are things about it that I don't like, but overall - it was watchable. It's pretty much what you're looking for, I think. I'm stunned that nobody else here mentioned it.

heres a link to it on IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335563/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj 0wfHE9d29uZGVybGFORHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=74; fm=1

And here are some summaries of the film from IMDB:

On the afternoon of July 1, 1981, Los Angeles police responded to a distress call at 8763 Wonderland Avenue in Laurel Canyon and discovered a grisly quadruple homicide. Ron Launius (Lucas), Billy Deverell (Nelson), Barbara Richardson (Wagner) and Joy Miller (Garofalo) were found brutally murdered, bludgeoned to death with a pipe, and Launius's wife, Susan (Applegate), was left in critical condition. The police investigation that followed--led by detectives Sam Nico (Levine), Louis Cruz (Frankie G. ) and Mike Peters (Gainey) --would unearth a seedy world of drugs and violence, ultimately revealing a motley crew from L. A. 's underbelly including ex-con David Lind (McDermott), nightclub impresario Eddie Nash (Bogosian), and porn legend John Holmes (Kilmer) as well as Holmes's estranged wife Sharon (Kudrow) and his teenage lover Dawn Schiller (Bosworth).

Summary written by Lions Gate

John Holmes was a legend of the porn industry and revered in circles as a stud. But years after his successful career and star fading, Holmes was a desperate man with his own internal demons to live up to. He's estranged from his wife, holding onto a relationship with his teenage mistress, and living as a junkie in search of his next fix. But one fateful night left four people dead and John as a key suspect in one of the most grisly murders in Los Angeles. Was he partly responsible for what happened at Wonderland Avenue?

Summary written by monkeykingma

The movie looks at the events that led up to the infamous Wonderland Murders in Los Angeles in July, 1981, as well as the investigation. What is known for sure is that 4 people were murdered in their Wonderland Avenue apartment, apparently as retaliation for their robbery of a notorious L.A. nightclub magnate. What is not known is what part porn star John Holmes played in the murders. The police investigation relies on the testimony of two men: Holmes himself, and a biker who took part in the robbery, whose girlfriend was one of the victims. The biker says Holmes had to have taken part directly in the murders (and, in fact, his palm print was found at the crime scene). However, Holmes claims that he only set up the robbery and the hit, but wasn't in the apartment at the time of the murders. Now the police are caught in a dilemma. But whom are they supposed to believe: a biker with a heroin habit who has a personal ax to grind against Holmes, or a porn star with a notorious cocaine habit who is also known in many circles as a pathological liar?

Summary written by jgp3553@yahoo.com

Wonderland, yes! You know, I kept seeing Val Kilmer with that John Holmes hairdo and wondering what movie that was.

Good call. The DVD has a very interesting doc on the supplemental disc about Holmes's career.

Poke

[QUOTE=GREATwarEAGLE]Wonderland

It came out in 2003. I've seen it and enjoyed it. I didn't think it was groundbreaking and there are things about it that I don't like, but overall - it was watchable. It's pretty much what you're looking for, I think. I'm stunned that nobody else here mentioned it.
[\QUOTE]

thank you very much great war eagle :yes:
that is stonking stuff! sounds like this is the film that i have to ensure i am different to - thanks for the post, very kind of you - this helps alot. :yes:
well played

Ding - Ding - Ding!

I have never seen The Killers - Siegel's 64 version or Siodmak's 46 version. Though I have read Hemingways book. I'm going to see if I can buy both of them today.


did you buy them? what did you think? i like the look of them, sound right up my alley, and i always enjoyed hemmingway in spurts - its just so darn expensive.....was it worth it?

I'm really late to this one, but Magnolia would be another one that is in this style. Possibly Robert Altman's Short Cuts as well as his movie Cookie's Fortune.

Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train. One night in Memphis, three separate stories with overlapping events.

thanks :)