Behind The Way of Seeming: Production Update
A Milestone!
Sometime in 2002 I developed a real itch to write a good spook story. Not a "horror" movie per se (i.e. slasher flicks like Halloween or Freddy) but a story with supernatural threads to it that could actually be believable. The kind of thing someone would relate to you as a first-hand experience and you'd think... wow, that sounds just plausible enough that it could be true.
I decided to draw upon an urban legend from my old neighborhood to frame the story, since there were already plenty of stories circulating about it. I decided to make it into a short film and to actually try and shoot it myself. I aimed for 20 - 30 minutes in length and overshot by almost twice that. Originally entitled "The Curse of Mystery Mile", the first drafts pretty much blew. But the later drafts - the ones we actually got around to rehearsing - were better. And of course there was a title change that made a lot of difference: The Way of Seeming.
Still, it seemed incomplete. As the script developed, it began to incorporate pretty deep philosophical undertones about the nature of what we call "reality" and what we believe to be true and real. The characters were rich and they really couldn't be done justice in a short script.
That, coupled with scheduling problems for some of the "actors" working on the short, wound up being the reason the project was called off. So during the summer of 2003, after quite a few rehearsal hours and two table readings, I sat down to expand this script... and drew a total blank. It took some time to get rolling. I'd write ten pages, then put it down for a month at a time. I wrote myself into a corner at one point, got some thoughts from a friend on how to fix it, and found that her suggestions worked wonders. So finally, three days ago, I put the finishing touches on the first "full length" draft of The Way of Seeming.
I'm pleased with the results, and those who know me know I don't say that too often about my own writing. The new film will clock in at about 105 minutes, maybe 110. I'm pretty satisfied with the duality of the film, how almost everything that happens could conceivably have two completely different explanations depending on your own personal preconceptions. The characters have been expanded and grown quite a bit, and their story now does them justice. The ending - which even I didn't see coming until I wrote it - is disturbingly appropriate.
I'm not going to spoil any of it of course. I have a few people serving as "beta readers" to take a look at the script and give me some feedback on it so I can make some changes if needed. Overall though, it's pretty good and I think once the cameras start rolling, it will be a very enjoyable project.
So what's the next step, now that the foundation has been laid? Well, while revisions are being made, I'll also be working on getting a budget together. It will be difficult to make a movie with no funds, after all. My updates from here on out will be detailing that part of the process. I'll also be talking about the various ways those interested in seeing the film can help out. (Like, say, raising about ten grand so I can license "Bring Me To Life" for the trailer and end credits! I kid, I kid...)
So, as a special treat, I thought I would throw a few short excerpts out there from a bit later in the film. There may be spoilers, so read on only if you dare.
Until next time, God bless!
Joshua Maley
Writer, Director
Excerpt 1
EXT. CELINA'S DORM ROOM
James and Celina arrive outside Celina's room. Celina is singing
loudly and off-key.
JAMES
You may want to keep it down. Last
time you did this, your neighbors
came out looking for an dying cat.
Celina laughs loudly at this.
CELINA
You're so cute. I love you, ya know
that?
James leans her against the wall and takes her room key.
JAMES
(unlocking the door)
Really.
CELINA
Yup. And I love him and her, too.
James glances at where she's pointing; a lamp post and a
telephone pole.
JAMES
Well I'm sure they appreciate it.
CELINA
I love everyone except Dawn. She...
Celina stars to fall forward. James turns and catches her.
CELINA
Whoooaa!
(laughs)
Nice catch.
JAMES
Sometimes I wonder.
He helps her inside.
INT. CELINA'S DORM ROOM - BEDROOM
James helps Celina into bed as she sings once again. He covers
her up and goes to turn out the light. Celina stops singing and
grabs his arm.
CELINA
I mean it you know.
JAMES
Mean what?
CELINA
I love you.
James hesitates and removes her hand from his arm.
JAMES
Get some sleep.
CELINA
My gallant knight. Always here to
save me.
James turns out the light.
Excerpt 2
INT. YOGA CLASS -- BACK ROOM
We find Dawn, Raine, and Sheralee in a back room of the class
that looks like it's straight out of a gypsy's home. Various
crystals and talismans are all over the place. The room is dark,
soothing, if a bit strange.
SHERALEE
Chakra means circle, or disk in
Sanskrit. The chakras in our bodies
are where we draw our life energy
from. When one of them is out of
alignment, it can bring troubles.
When all of them are out of
alignment, chaos consumes our lives.
Put this on.
Sheralee tosses Dawn a towel-looking garment and nods at a
changing screen in the corner of the room. Dawn glances at the
garment questioningly, not entirely sure she wants to put it on.
SHERALEE (CONT'D)
Each chakra represents aspects of
our being. Those of us practiced
with them can usually sense when
something is wrong.
Dawn vanishes behind the screen. Raine - who is on the opposite
of the room - pulls Sheralee aside.
RAINE
(softly)
I'm not really sure I'm the best
person for this.
SHERALEE
You care for her. You are her friend.
You brought her here because she
needs help, and you feel powerless.
But you're not - you can help her.
RAINE
But this is...kind of...y'know...
(almost whispering)
Intimate...
Sheralee smiles.
SHERALEE
You'll be fine, Raine.
Dawn emerges from behind the screen. The is sleeveless, wrapping
around just below her shoulders and stopping mid-thigh. Raine
pales and swallows.
RAINE
That's what you think...
Sheralee pats her student on the back, then moves to a table and
begins lighting several candles of various colors.
SHERALEE
Lay down on the table, on your stomach.
Dawn does so, going to great lengths to be modest. She glances
at Raine who puts forth her best reassuring smile.
DAWN
This isn't going to hurt, is it?
SHERALEE
Oh, not at all. On the contrary, it
will be very relaxing for you. Lay
down - that's right. Now close your
eyes and breath deeply. Take in the
aroma of the candles.
DAWN
They smell good...
SHERALEE
Aromatherapy. They're designed to
help you relax.
Sheralee moves to the table and places her hands on Dawn's back.
SHERALEE (CONT'D)
You must relax, Dawn. So much tension.
Sheralee rubs some of the tension out of Dawn's back muscles,
then motions for Raine to take over. Raine does so, hesitantly.
She glances at Dawn's face several times to find a euphoric smile.
More than once she moans, prompting Raine to wipe the sweat
forming on her forehead and neck.
DAWN
You should do this professionally.
Raine laughs uneasily and glances to Sheralee, who returns.
SHERALEE
All of your chakras are
disturbed...but I believe the source
of your problems lie above, in the
sixth or seventh. Roll onto your back.
Dawn rolls over, her eyes still closed. Sheralee gently places a
hand on Dawn's forehead.
SHERALEE (CONT'D)
The brow chakra, or third eye. The
source of intuition, extrasensory
perception, dreams.
(winces)
It's very strong. You see many
things that others cannot. Your
connection to the world beyond is
extremely strong. Yet...such
blockage. So many walls.
(beat)
Especially around...someone. A
person. I cannot see a face. There
is a name. Kelly. Who is Kelly?
DAWN
I don't know anyone named Kelly...
SHERALEE
But the name is there, and it is a
secret you guard fiercely.
(to Raine)
Bring me an amethyst and a sodalite.
Raine nods and moves to a nearby cabinet. She returns with two
small stones, which Sheralee places on Dawn's forehead.
SHERALEE (CONT'D)
The amethyst brings peaceful slumber.
The sodalite brings order to chaos,
and balance to eliminate confusion.
Now, take deep breaths...imagine
drawing in air up through the soles
of your feet. Let it fill you
completely, to the very top of your
head, and then allow it to drain.
(as Dawn breathes)
I want you to visualize something
dark blue, or purple. Perhaps you
are resting, adrift on the dark
blue sea at the onset of evening.
Fill your body with air and your
mind with that color. Focus on only
that.
Raine and Sheralee observe as Dawn takes several deep breaths.
Then Sheralee pulls Raine aside.
SHERALEE (CONT'D)
Do you know who Kelly might be?
RAINE
No idea.
SHERALEE
Whoever it is, it is the source of
her turmoil. It might be wise to
find out...
She trails off as Dawn begins to twitch on the table. They return
to side. She looks like she's having a nightmare. Finally, her
eyes snap open, and a 'crack' echoes through the room.
RAINE
What happened?
Dawn doesn't reply. Sheralee takes the stones from Dawn's
forehead and looks at them. They're both cracked. She gazes hard
at the stones, then at Dawn.
Excerpt 3
EXT. ELEA BASH - LATER
The bash is over, and many of the students have cleared out.
Celina stands off by herself, looking completely wasted. Raine
and Darby approach her.
CELINA
Where's your girlfriend?
Raine scowls.
RAINE
She went home already. She wasn't
feeling well.
CELINA
See, if she'd drink more often that
wouldn't be a problem.
RAINE
Why don't you let me drive you? You
look like shit.
CELINA
That's the nicest thing anyone's
ever said to me.
DARBY
(softly)
I believe it.
CELINA
I heard that.
(belches)
No ride though, James will back any
minute.
RAINE
Well... if you change your mind,
call me.
CELINA
(salutes)
Roger and will-do.
Raine and Darby leave, along with the last few students. Celina
is completely by herself. She takes a drink, then looks around.
The open area where the party was held suddenly seems very
suffocating. Celina appears nervous.
CELINA
Okay, sweetface, you can come out
now. No one has to know you caved
and came back here.
(silence)
James?
Her only answer is a CRACK of thunder, which makes her jump.
CELINA
James, this isn't funny. Where are
you?
(she stands, stumbles, pales)
Come on, sweetface... I don't...
feel so good.
Celina doubles over and throws up. She struggles to her feet,
very unsteady.
CELINA
What the hell...
She looks at the bottle in her hand and throws it, then doubles
over again. Her world spins uncontrollably around her as she
struggles to get a grip. She rises to her feet and stumbles
toward the road at the end of the parking lot.
She trips and falls, stumbling to the center of the road and
landing face-first. She finds herself staring down at a MASS of
potholes. She leaps to her feet, scared.
CELINA
What!?
She turns around to find the park where the bash had been gone,
replaced with a thick forest.
CELINA
James! I need you!! Please!
The only response is laughter - childish laughter. Ahead of
Celina, a vaguely human mist begins to form. She screams and
rushes off.
EXT. A FORESTED ROAD - NIGHT
Celina runs, frantically trying to escape an unseen terror. Ahead
of her, a child seems to appear out of nowhere. She stops short
and screams as the child glares at her.
EXT. ELEA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - NIGHT
A befuddled STUDENT looks on as Celina screams at him as though
she is terrified of him.
STUDENT
What's wrong?
She screams louder.
STUDENT
What'd I do?
CELINA
Stay away from me!
EXT. A FORESTED ROAD - NIGHT
Celina rushes through the forest with tears streaming down her
face. The sound of twisted, childish laughter echoes in her ears.
Ghostly white figures taunt her in every direction.
EXT. ELEA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - NIGHT
Students stare in confusion as Celina rushes through the campus
courtyard towards the large, central library building. From out
of the building's center, a large bell tower rises.
EXT. A FORESTED ROAD - NIGHT
Celina rushes up an extremely steep embankment as the ghostly
figures seem to dissipate. The voices come from behind her now,
taunting her.
INT. ELEA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY - STAIRWELL
Footfalls echo heavily in the empty stairwell as Celina rushes
upwards. She slips and falls forward...
EXT. A FORESTED ROAD - NIGHT
...and hits the hillside face first. She cries in pain but
struggles to her feet and struggles to reach the crest of the
hill. She stops short as she makes it to the top. Ahead of her,
the forest is clear. The sun is coming up. It is an idyllic site.
She smiles...
INT. ELEA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY - BELL TOWER
...not realizing she is dangerously close to the large, open
windows of the bell tower.
EXT. A FORESTED ROAD - NIGHT
Celina slowly lifts her foot and takes a step toward the forest's
edge.
INT. ELEA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY - NIGHT
Celina's foot hovers in mid-air. Far below her, horrified
students scream at her to stop.