Skye Excerpt

Dear My Esteemed and Wonderful Readers,

As some of you may know, I am currently patting myself on the back vigorously for finishing my first full-length screenplay.

Because I love you guys and I am so proud of myself, here's an excerpt exclusive to Creatopia:


Skye Excerpt

EST. LEAVER J. HIGH SCHOOL--DAY

It's the early morning, the next day. The sky is gray and shows signs of rain. A few police cars pull up to the curb outside the front door.

CUT TO:

INT. LEAVER J. HIGH SCHOOL--DAY

The reception desk: two grown cops, in uniform and holding handcuffs, enter the room and walk up to the desk. They are OFFICER JANSEN and OFFICER GREY, both in their thirties or forties, and they make the RECEPTIONIST almost wet herself. 

OFFICER JANSEN

Ma'am, we're from the Manderson Police Department. 

He flashes a badge.

OFFICER GREY

We're here on behalf of Miss Lauren Williams, do you know her?

RECEPTIONIST

Um...

(She gulps)

I can call for her...

LAUREN (O.S.)

That won't be necessary.

The officers turn and see LAUREN in the doorway to the office hall, dressed in a red sweatshirt hoodie, jeans, and converse. She crosses her arms and leans in the door frame. 

LAUREN

Come with me.

CUT TO:

INT. LEAVER J. HIGH SCHOOL--DAY

LAUREN, flanked by both OFFICER JANSEN and OFFICER GREY, walks with determination through the hall, leading them on to find her target. They each hold a pair of handcuffs, at the ready like any officer should be.

OFFICER GREY

Ma'am, might we ask who exactly we are going to be arresting?

LAUREN

(She doesn't stop walking and they follow)

Ever since I first set foot in this school, another boy has been ruling it. Yesterday, he drugged the punch at the school assembly for some reason and pretended it was a fire.

OFFICER JANSEN

So that's what the whole fiasco was about?

LAUREN

You got it.

OFFICER GREY

How could a high school senior be capable of drugging an entire assembly?

LAUREN

No one knows how he does it, but no one has ever had the courage to try and fight him, either. And the worst part is, the teachers don't know about it.

OFFICER JANSEN

Lauren, your evidence is feeble. Are you sure this is worthy of an arrest?

LAUREN

(She finally stops walking and turns towards them)

Sir, if you went to this school, you would know that I am EXACTLY right. Now just trust me and keep up. 

The two officers exchange doubtful glances.

CUT TO:

EXT. LEAVER J. HIGH SCHOOL--DAY

Outside, on the lunch patio, MASON sits alone, eating his sandwich. He glances up at LAUREN, OFFICER JANSEN, and OFFICER GREY, as they burst through the doors and march up to him. His face is nonchalant and bored.

LAUREN

There you are! We need to talk!

MASON

Well, Lauren, what brings you to this lunch deck on such a fine day?

LAUREN

You, sir, have crossed the line!

LAUREN stops at his table and looms over him. She is determined and wild with rage. The two officers stop behind her, watching.

MASON

I'm sorry, Lauren, I don't know what line you're talking about. 

LAUREN

Yesterday, Mason, you drugged the assembly punch!

MASON

Lauren! I resent that accusation!

LAUREN

Oh yeah, well then why don't you explain what happened?

MASON finishes his sandwich and pulls a small tupperware container full of black cherries. He plucks the stem off of one and pops it in his mouth.

MASON

Well, Lauren, didn't you see the news? I realized what was happening just before I passed out, so I pulled the alarm. Didn't you hear it? Oh, that's right...

(He spits the cherry pit onto the ground menacingly)

...you were UNCONSCIOUS.

The officers watch, looking at the whole situation with a bit of doubt. LAUREN looks desperate for more things to say.

LAUREN

Mason, ask any kid in this school, and they will say that you are ruthless, harsh, and wickedly cruel! 

MASON

Whoa whoa whoa! I didn't know you hated me that much, Lauren!

LAUREN

Well, surprise! Now did you or did you not drug the punch?

MASON

(He holds his hands up in a "DUH" gesture)

NO.

LAUREN

(Turning to the officers)

Here, point your gun at him. That ought to get him talking.

She is desperate and losing her strength. The officers don't move. 

LAUREN

Well?

They don't move. Instead, they just watch her with mutual amusement. LAUREN turns to MASON, who just watches with a slight cocky grin.

MASON

You see, Lauren, you have no proof that I drugged the school or whatever. 

(He spits out another pit)

So, next time you decide to try and accuse me of an extremely horrible crime just because you're upset about the fact that I unveiled your jerk boyfriend's true colors, why don't you back it up with some evidence?

LAUREN is fuming with anger. She turns desperately to the officers, who exchange glances, and then turn around casually to leave. She just watches them enter the school.

LAUREN

Wait! Guys! Please! Come back! I swear, I'm not lying, please!

After they're gone, she turns to MASON.

LAUREN

You're a horrible person, you know that? 

MASON

No, I'm not a horrible person, I'm an honest person.

LAUREN storms off angrily, huffing and puffing.

MASON

(Calling after her)

Why don't you go mull that over while you write desperate love letters to Michael!

She enters the building and shoots him one last glare, which he matches with a sneer. Then he smiles and spits out another cherry pit.

c. Taylor Ward 2013. All rights reserved.

Poetry Mash-Up #1

Hey guys! Today marks the beginning of something that I call "Poetry Mash-Ups," where I will mash two famous poems together like a song mash-up. Hope you like it!

Poetry Mash-up #1:

"The Hangman" by Maurice Ogden

"The Tiger" by William Blake

Into our town the Hangman came

Smelling of gold and blood and flame

Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright

In the forests of the night

And he paced our bricks with a diffident air

And built his frame in the courthouse square

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

The scaffold stood by the courthouse side

Only as wide as the door was wide

A frame as tall or a little more

As the capping sill of the courthouse door

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And we wondered, whenever we had the time,

Who the criminal? What the crime?

That the Hangman judged with the yellow twist

Of knotted hemp in his busy fist

And What shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

And innocent though we were, with dread,

We passed those eyes of buckshot lead:

Till one cried: "Hangman, who is he

For whom you raise the gallows-tree?"

Then a twinkle grew in the buckshot eye,

And he gave us a riddle instead of reply:

"He who serves me best," said he,

"Shall earn the rope on the gallows-tree."

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

And he stepped down, and laid his hand

On a man who came from another land.

And we breathed again, for another's grief

At the Hangman's hand was our relief.

And the gallows-tree on the courthouse lawn

By tomorrow's sun would be struck and gone.

So we gave him way, and no one spoke,

Out of respect for his Hangman's cloak.

Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright!

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

could frame thy fearful symmetry?

c. Taylor Ward 2013. All rights reserved.

Fog on the Screaming Mountain

Fog on the Screaming Mountain

The steep slope tried to shake him at first, sending several rocks and boulders to knock him off. But the man kept onwards, raising his hands and feet ti rhythm of the crashing waves as he climbed the cliff face. He paused only once, for a few seconds, to regain his grip, but he then kept moving.

This man did not know peace. He knew, as he pulled himself up the mountain, that whatever lurked behind the dense, looming fog would not bring him such kindness. For this man was a general.

During his days at Valley Forge, George Washington had suffered much. His men were dying, his armies shrinking, and his supplies dwindling, he had led his men with strength and determination. But recently he had heard tell of a sound. A sound so terrifying and dreaded, anyone who heard it would leap from the decks of their tall ships and plummet, weeping, into the ocean. This was a scream, a howling, shrill, scream that no man had heard and lived. And it came from the mountain of fog.

Washington, facing gusts of chilling sea wind, trudged with deep fear but motivation up the high fell, using one hand to grasp the rock and the other to hold his sword in place. As he progressed ever higher, he could sense a dark presence within the fog.

That presence, a malicious one, filled Washington with strong and never-ending terror. He had come to finish whatever was making his men lose their wits, but he wasn't sure if he was capable.

The frigid ocean winds soared over the mountain face, howling and holding the determined General back. He was only a some twenty feet from the cloud, and he did not feel fear any longer. He knew that if he could put an end to the dreaded screaming, then America would be safe once again.

Then the fog moved, and Washington's stomach plunged into the void, for he realized that there was something he hadn't accounted for: the scream.

A shrill, howling wail sounded across the tide, and Washington screamed with it. The fog swirled and twisted, and the General immediately whipped around in sheer terror. Hands cupped over his ears, he charged down the mountain, feet barely able to hold his rattling bones. Stones and boulders crumbled behind him, driving him onward. The scream bellowed across the sea, and Washington felt a deep fear that he had never felt; one that froze his heart and ran his blood cold.

The General, screaming and gripping his bleeding ears, leapt from the edge of the mountain and plunged into the sea, the scream leaving his range of hearing. He resurfaced a moment later, just a few feet from his boat, into which he clambered shakily. He was sopping wet with salt water and blood, clasping his sword. The scream had ceased, and the ocean was silent.

As Washington paddled away, he knew that America would have to make do...for now.

All he could do was cough.

---------------------------

Happy President's Day!



c. Taylor Ward 2013. All rights reserved.

My Favorite Movies

Hey guys,

Yeah, this is another list of non-book and non-writing related stuff. But deal with it, ok. This list was gonna come at some point. 

So, I've seen a lot of movies. And I've enjoyed most of them. Now there are some that I thought were just kinda stupid (not that I'm gonna mention any names Ghostbusters) but here are (so far) my top ten favorite movies:

#10: Jurassic Park (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Michael Crichton
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Summary: A genius dude finds dinosaur DNA, replicates it, and makes real dinosaurs. Then a jerk tries to steal the DNA and accidentally lets all the dinosaurs loose on the island that contains them, allowing them to run amok and forcing the visitors to try and escape.
Why I Like It: First of all, it's Steven Spielberg. Second of all, well, it's got dinosaurs. Third of all, well, JEFF GOLDBLUM! In all seriousness, the concept was brilliant, the acting was great, and it was just so well-paced.
Best Scene: When the T-Rex first appears.
Quotes: Richard Attenborough-- "Welcome to Jurassic Park!"
Samuel L. Jackson-- "Hold on to your butts."
Rear-View Mirror-- "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."

#9: The Help (2011)

Director: Tate Taylor

Writer: Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett

Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain

Summary: In the early sixties in Mississippi, an aspiring journalist lady writes a book from the point of view of the racially mistreated Help.

Why I Like It: Octavia Spencer, for one thing. I mean, she one an Oscar for it! But they REALLY got this film right, and the acting made it superior. Great job, Tate!

Best Scene: When Minny gives Hilly the "chocolate pie." :)

Quotes: Bryce Dallace Howard-- "Have you lost your mind?"

Octavia Spencer-- "No, but you 'bout to."

#8: Avatar (2009)

Director: James Cameron

Writer: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang

Summary: Dances With Wolves + Pocahontas, the story of a bunch of humans who go to the most epic planet of all, Pandora, to mine some little rocks. But then there are the Navi, the blue kitty people of the planet, who act like monkeys and try to fight off the humans. Then the humans make this technology that makes them look like the Navi, and it all just gets complicated.

Why I Like It: Yeah, yeah, whine all ya want, but this was one of my favorites. It was visually and audibly STUNNING, and the world that Cameron created was AMAZING! The characters were pretty cool, especially Sigourney Weaver's, and it was just...breathtaking. 

Best Scene: When Trudy attacks the baddies with her copter (which has war paint on it) and shoots the crap out of them. 

Quotes: Michelle Rodriguez-- "You're not the only one with a gun, b----."

Stephen Lang-- "You're not in Kansas anymore. You're on Pandora."

Sigourney Weaver-- "See? They're just p---ing on us without even the courtesy of calling it rain."

Zoe Saldana-- "You don't thank for this."

#7: Les Miserables (2012)

Director: Tom Hooper

Writer: William Nicholson, Victor Hugo

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen

Summary: A fugitive during the student uprising of France in the 1800s, Jean Valjean tends to the lost and abused girl of a dead lady while being chased by a jerk named Javert.

Why I Like It: Songs=Amazing, Acting=Amazing, Amount of Tears From Me=Amazing. It was just AWESOME, and if it doesn't take home Best Picture at the Oscars, then I will cry. Seriously. And yes, Russell Crowe's singing was fine. Deal with it.

Best Scene: I Dreamed a Dream. Duh.

Quotes: Anne Hathaway-- "I dreamed a dream in time gone by..."

Hugh Jackman-- "God on high, hear my prayer..."

Cast-- "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?"

Cast-- "ONE DAY MORE!"

#6: The King's Speech (2010)

Director: Tom Hooper

Writer: David Seidler

Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter

Summary: An unexpected heir to the British throne during the world wars has trouble speaking. He's screwed, unless Geoffrey Rush has anything to say about it.

Why I Like It: Freaking. Geoffrey. Rush. And Colin Firth won an Oscar, just FYI. And OH! IT WON BEST PICTURE! 

Best Scene: When Bertie and Lionel first meet.

Quotes: Geoffrey Rush-- "Do you know any jokes?"

Colin Firth-- "Timing...isn't my strongsuit."

Geoffrey Rush-- "Why should I spend my time listening to you?"

Colin Firth-- "BECAUSE I HAVE A VOICE!"

Geoffrey Rush-- "Yes you do."

#5: Doubt (2008)

Director: John Patrick Shanley

Writer: John Patrick Shanley

Starring: Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

Summary: So there's this Catholic school in da Bronx. And there's like this really evil nun principal lady. And then there's this priest who might have had a...tickle fight...with a child. And then the evil lady goes all, "I'M GONNA GET YOU OUTTA HERE!" on this priest guy. And then another nun tries to make peace, and it just gets outta handish. Yeah.

Why I Like It: BEST ACTED MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN HOLY FLYING MACKERELS. Meryl Streep is brilliant. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant. Amy Adams is brilliant. Viola Davis is brilliant. And they were all nominated for Oscars. The cinematography was great, the writing was great, it was so suspenseful, and the ACTING WAS LIKE...WICKED COOL. 

Best Scene: When da Priest and the Evil Nun are facing off. Which is pretty much...the whole movie. But when she explodes at him. Epicosity in a Parish.

Quotes: Meryl Streep-- "Cut your nails."

Meryl Streep-- "I WILL STEP OUTSIDE THE CHURCH IS THE DOORS SHOULD SHUT BEHIND ME! I WILL DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!"

Phillip Seymour Hoffman-- "You haven't the slightest proof of anything!"

Meryl Streep-- "But I have my certainty!"

#4: The Sixth Sense (1999)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan 

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment

Summary: A kid freaking sees dead people, and a psychologist tries to help him. NO SPOILERS IN THIS POST.

Why I Like It: Well, it's creepy as crap, and it's brilliantly conceived, and there's an ending that TOTALLY MAKES YOU WANNA PUNCH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. But it's amazing. 

Best Scene: The little game thingy that Malcolm plays with Cole that involves moving forwards and backwards. 

Quotes: Haley Joel Osment-- "I see dead people."

#3: Signs (2002)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin

Summary: A guy who lives on a farm with his brother and two kids begins to realize that an alien invasion is happening, all while mourning the death of both his wife and his faith.

Why I Like It: THE SUSPENSE IS KILLER. It is SO dang well-built and paced that it demands I love it. The story is wonderful, the characters are great, and of course Mel Gibson ain't too shabby, either. It's amazing, so if you aren't easily scared, WATCH IT!

Best Scene: The baby monitor.

Quotes: Abigail Breslin-- "There's a monster outside my room, can I have a glass of water?"

Cherry Jones-- "What kinda machine can bend a stalk of corn over without breaking it?"

Joaquin Phoenix-- "Move, children! Vamanos!"

#2: Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

Director: Peter Jackson

Writer: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen

Summary: Oh, gosh, no. Go look it up. Otherwise I'll be here all day.

Why I Like It: ACTING=EPIC WRITING=EPIC CINEMATOGRAPHY=EPIC NINE ENDINGS=EPIC STORY=EPIC SETTING=EPIC CHARACTERS=EPIC TO AWESOME DOES NOT COMPUTE. And it's J.R.R. Tolkien. These guys nailed the books.

Best Scene: The part where Gandalf goes all boss on the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad Dum.

Quotes: Ian McKellen-- "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

Sean Astin-- "I wasn't dropping no eaves, sir!"

Sean Bean-- "One does not simply walk into Mordor."

Billy Boyd-- "Great! Where are we going?"

Sean Astin-- "I can't carry it, but I can carry you!"

And finally..........

#1: Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Writer: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, and MICHAEL CAINE, BABY!

Summary: Some guy with a creepy dead wife can go into people's dreams and steal their thoughts and ideas for business espionage. But there his more to his job than meets the eye....

Why I Like It: The concept is BRILLIANT! Holy gerbubblesons! And the acting is great! And Paris was flipped over, for Pete's sake! And wow, it was confusing. But wow, it was awesome.

Best Scene: When Ariadne makes Paris fold over on itself. BOSS.

Quotes: Tom Hardy-- "We mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."

Leonardo DiCarprio-- "Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange."

Leonardo Dicaprio-- "I have it under control."

Joseph Gordon-Levitt-- "I'd hate to see out of control."

Ellen Page-- "What's happening?"

Joseph G-L-- "Your subconscious is looking for the dreamer. Quick, give me a kiss."

Ellen Page-- "They're still looking at us."

Joe G-L-- "Yeah, it was worth a shot."

Leo Di-- "That price on my head, was that dead or alive?"

Tom Hardy-- "I don't know. See if he starts shooting."

Ellen Page-- "They're going to attack us?"

Leo Di-- "No. Just you."

MICHAEL CAINE BABY-- "Come back to reality, Dom."

Honorable Mentions: Lincoln, Up, Batman Begins, Hunger Games

Thanks for reading! Any movies you really love? Put them in a comment!

c. Taylor Ward 2012. All rights reserved.

Idea of the Day--Skye

Skye

Hey guys! It's been a while since I have presented you all with and Idea of the Day, so here goes. This one is probably the ONLY "realistic fiction" (if you can call it that) story that I have ever come up with. It's a little bit...mature, but I just do it for a certain character that will become very apparent when you read the summary:

In a sleepy town near the beaches of southern California, there is a school. Leaver J. High School, an old, run-down place that has seen better days. The teachers are too old to keep the rowdy students under control, and those kids constantly fight to hold their labels and their popularity. 
But there is someone else at this school, and he is the student all students fear.
Mason Sharp, a ruthless, cunning, powerful, vindictive senior, has more control over the students than the principal, and whenever he walks down the halls, everyone goes SILENT. He is known for his use of intimidation by randomly reciting "The Hangman" and by not being afraid to put shaving cream in a kid's locker who has gotten out at dodgeball and made him loose. He ALWAYS wins, and he will do anything to keep that reputation alive.
Enter Laura Williams, a preppy cheerleader girl who is possibly the most popular girl in the school. She is dating someone that only boosts her popularity, Michael, and she remains in the spotlight constantly. So when she is hit VERY HARD across the face with a dodgeball by Mason, the teachers finally question his behavior and suspend him, launching a massive celebration throughout the school. Laura's popularity skyrockets to the top, making her the new school hero.
But Mason isn't really suspended. 
He reveals himself during the first meeting of the teenagers' "dating club," where popular kids get together with their dates and show off, and he instantly ruins Laura's reputation and her relationship with Michael. 
This is where the REAL story begins.
During cheerleading practice one day, after Laura has been completely humiliated, she meets a girl named Skye and notices that the mysterious girl has passed as positive on a pregnancy test. Laura immediately launches into a campaign to protect Skye from her secret being revealed, and things get messy when Mason sets out to get the expecting teen expelled. It's the story of a cheerleader, her boyfriend, a pregnant girl, and the devil in high school.
Welcome to California.



c. Taylor Ward 2013. All rights reserved.