From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, August 10th, 2020 edition

assignments for self, From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, Puppet play, scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

When I was growing up, I had this overwhelming feeling that the world had lulled. As in, I felt like maybe I had been born in one of the times that was not too volatile nor too peaceful. The savagery is in the past and the wonders are in the future. I look back at that naive kid and shake my head. You had it so wrong buddy. I am still on furlough from my day job. No answer for when the movie theatre will reopen. I miss movies. Movies and museums. 

But with every sour, there can be a little sweet. Working the late hours of a movie theatre Manager’s schedule, I felt like Primo and Secondo were slipping through my fingers. Not them physically, but more like time with them. Now that we have all this time, they have convinced me to play Minecraft with them. It is a lot of fun. Relaxing too. (Secondo asks me “Dad, what do you want to do in Minecraft?” I responded, “Dig ditches.” He did not find that answer as humorous as I did.)

Progress moves forward on The Great Works Project. Next week should see the posting of the next script for Season Two. I am nearing completion of the Season Five rough drafts. Plus, while on vacation I was able to plot out Season Six. 

In a continuing effort to improve myself, I return to working my way through a list of great works of art.  Hopefully, I’ll discover something inspiring. If not, that is okay too. The exposure itself is the most important thing.

Cinema Assignment: Alien (1979)

Literature Assignment: “Altered Carbon” by Richard K. Morgan.

Music Assignment: “Alien Lanes” from Guided By Voices

Thank you Brighid for the gift of this artwork and the spark of all art. Thank you Above, Below, and four Corners born between for your love, guidance, and gifts.

writing…

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, today in the studio
thank you to Brighid for the words and flames. thank you to “Lil’ Golden Book” by Princess Chelsea for the tunes.

The Great Works Project: Season Two, Episode Ten script

Puppet play, scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season Two, Episode Nine

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2020 thomas typewriter

———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “02-09”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. THE UNROOM NOT.SEVEN
THE OUTER ONE sits patiently on a small square of carpet in the Unroom Not.Seven. The patches of carpet radiate out from a wooden disc in the potential center of the unroom like waves ripples on a pond.

POV OF THE OUTER ONE LOOKING AT FLOOR

The Outer One has out all his/her golden coins. They are on the floor in a stack. They glint in the soft light cast from the spindly metallic lamps at the end of each row of carpets. TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACK. The Outer One picks up his/her coins and puts them away.


POV OF THE OUTER ONE AS THEY STAND AND MOVE.

Then they scoot up a few rows to a closer seat to the wooden disc.

POV OF THE OUTER ONE SITTING DOWN AND THEN LOOKING AT THE WOODEN DISC.

The disc sits empty and cloaked in shadow. The metallic lamps do not quite seem able to light the stage, their illumination giving the feeling of bouncing off it. Unseen lamps above the wooden disc flip on changing the view ever so slightly that the TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE materializes in the center of the wooden disc.

TRANSITION FROM THE UNROOM TO THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

PAN IN TOWARDS THE MID-STAGE AREA UNTIL IT IS PROPERLY FRAMED

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The Mid-stage curtains part and the stage lights turn on, with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING ON, revealing…

MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S STUDIO. DAYTIME
THOMAS TYPEWRITER sits at his writing desk in the center of the stage, reading “Latchkey Kids of Randomness” by John W. Wheelwright. A typewriter and ream of paper sit on top of while a lamp and wastebasket sit on either side of the desk. Behind him, and off to stage-right stands a small bookcase adorned with various houseplants.

Hold on him reading for three to five minutes as he shifts back and forth. A PHONE VIBRATES breaking the serene scene. Thomas removes the phone from his pocket and answers it.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Hello, yes this is Thomas. Oh hi Mark. Sure, I have a minute.(puts a bookmark in the book and closes it) So what’s the good news.” (stands up and starts to pace)

TRANSITION FROM THE MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA SHAKES LOOSE FROM MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT MOVES PAST THE TOP OF THE MID-STAGE SETS TO SEE THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS LINING THE BACK OF THE STAGE BEHIND THE SETS. IT CONTINUES TO PAN UPWARD FOLLOWING THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. IT MOVES TO THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN TO WHERE THE HIGH-STAGE IS LOCATED. IT STOPS WHEN PROPERLY FRAMING HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-stage curtains, as also the Narrator’s Door, are closed. On the edge of the High-stage, with feet dangling over the edge, sits GRIGIO COLORI reading a scriptbook. If we look closer we can see that he is reading the scriptbook for the complete series of “The Great Works Project”.

GRIGIO COLORI
(to self) “So that’s what happens next.”

The High-stage curtains start to part. Grigio sets the scriptbook on the floor. He stands and stretchs. The curtain finishes opening. Grigio misses this but we can just see that the curtain has caught the scriptbook and dragged it off to the side. It falls out of view, over outside the frame. The stage lights turn on, with the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING UP, revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. THE CARRO OBSERVATION LOUNGE
The Observation lounge is in a sad state, showing signs of excessive damage from the celestial storm. Wires hang from the ceiling. Scattered debris covers the floor. Dim amber emergency alarms blink through the smoke pouring in from off-stage. CARRO’S terminal is toppled over. CEDAR WAXWINGS lies pinned by the arm under rubble stage-left while LUCIDO OBSIDIAN is pinned by his legs under a fallen terminal stage-right. Lucido has one hand resting on his guitar.

GRIGIO COLORI
“Well this seemed a lot worse in the script. (looks around) Time to be a hero.”

Grigio shimmers and his body gains a red and blue stripe replacing two of his grey stripes. He shimmers a second time. The red and blue stripes have returned back to grey but AZURE COLORI and ROSSO COLORI now stand next to him. They exchange knowing nods.

Grigio walks over to Carros’ terminal. He looks through the rubble for Carro’s brainbox.
Meanwhile Azure Colori heads over to Lucido and puts his hands on him. A blue spotlight illuminates them while a METALLIC SPARKLE plays in the background. The spotlight and spakle turn off.
At the same time, Rosso walks over to where Cedar is pinned and kicks the debris off-stage. It arcs up and out of sight. He scoops up Cedar. He then walks over and kicks the debris off Lucido. The terminal crashes off stage. Azure scoops up Lucido.

There is a CRACKING SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT. Grigio turns…

CUT TO CS OF THE GLASS CRACKING

CUT TO CS OF GRIGIO’S EYES IN SURPRISE…

CUT BACK…

GRIGIO COLORI
“Well gentlemen, looks like our time grows short. The Music Pit is too far, but our rainbows should be able to reach the Flute.”

He finds Carro’s braninbox and walks over to the rest of the group. There is a shimmer and they all disappear in a grey, blue, & red rainbow.

CUT TO MS OF THE OBSERVATION WINDOW AS IT STARTS TO SPIDERWEB WITH CRACKS.
CRACK CRACK CRACKLE

The window shatters outward. The atmosphere starts to escape through the window sucking out all the air and loose debris. The loose wires are pulled taunt towards the open window. The stage lights turn of with the sound of A COMPUTER SHUTTING DOWN and the curtains close.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS DOWNWARD, DISENGAGING FROM HIGH-STAGE TO TRANSITION TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. IT CONTINUES TO FOLLOW THE CURTAIN DOWN TO THE MID-STAGE SETS. IT SLIDES OVER THE TOP OF THE MID-STAGE SETS TO FINALLY STOP WHEN PROPERLY FRAMING MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S STUDIO. DAYTIME
THOMAS TYPEWRITER paces while speaking on the phone.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“So they’ve let the options expire. Okay, that sucks. What about one of the other studios. No. Really no one is interested. Okay, that sucks. Yeah, I know no guarantees in life. Yeah, I’ll be fine. Maybe. I might have something new. Not sure yet. I’ll let you know. Thanks. You too. Talk to you later. Bye.”

Thomas sets his phone down. He sits down in his chair, facing off to the side slightly. He does not finish scooting it in, but instead just stares out lost in his thoughts.

The stage lights turn off with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING while the curtains close.

FADE OUT

typing and drawing…

Uncategorized
And this much drawing sent my arm into pain, so rethinking “The Script Illuminated”. If there is a limit to my dexterity, how do I want to spend my time? Is being a cartoonist even something I want anymore?

Back from vacation…

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter

Back in the studio after a family vacation to northern Wisconsin. My Sister-in-law was kind enough to invite Ophidia, Primo, Secondo, and myself. (Thank you Mia!) Originally I was not going to go, as this is normally a busy time at my day job, Movie Theatre Manager. Funny how things change. The first theatre I was at lost its building when the property was sold to Costco. Then the theatre I was transferred to put everyone on furlough due to all new releases being pushed back due to Covid-19. My schedule opened up to say the least.

What a beautiful view.
Finished reading “Big Night” by Joseph Tropiano. (Really good!)
Found some good movies and books at a local library fundraiser. (Really excited for “The Roots of Modern English” with its entire section on Old English.)
I tried to minimize my electronic device usage on the trip, so I got a lot of sketchbook work done.

The Script Illuminated – dead ends

Uncategorized

I am struggling with this project. The format is not right and I will need to rethink my approach. Frustrating.

The Great Works Project: Season Two, Episode Eight script

Puppet play, scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season Two, Episode Eight

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2020

———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “02-08”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN

XCS OF GOLDEN COIN

THE OUTER ONE fidgets with one of their golden coins missing out on the details of the unroom Not.Seven surrounding him/her. The coin spins and flips over finger after finger.
If the Outer One were to look up, they would see a large cavernous space of indistinct corners. A wooden disc sits in what feels like a possible center of the unroom. Cascading out from the wooden disc, rows and rows of grey hued carpet squares spread out like waves from a splash. At the edges of each crest stand tall spindly metallic lamps of a soft illumination. The sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING drifts into from outside the frame of reference.

THE XCS TRANSITIONS TO A POV OF THE OUTER ONE. USE AN EFFECT TO MAKE IT SEEM AS IF THE OUTER ONE’S VISION READJUSTS.

THE POV TURNS AS THE OUTER ONE LOOKS UP AT THE WOODEN DISC.
The wooden disc sits empty dressed in shadows. Unseen lamps click on above the disc. In the newly cast light THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE appears.

TRANSITION FROM THE UNROOM TO THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

PAN IN TOWARDS THE MID-STAGE AREA OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE.
MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The Mid-stage curtains part and the stage-lights turn on with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…
MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S STUDIO
A desk sits in the center of the stage topped with a typewriter and a ream of paper. To either side sits a lamp and a wastebasket. A small bookcase sits off to the stage-right with various house plants on top.
An ALARM CLOCK sounds off-stage. The stage lights come up to a dim level. THOMAS TYPEWRITER enters from stage-right and walks across the stage and exits stage-left. Shortly thereafter a TOILET SEAT LIFTING, URINATION, then A TOILET FLUSHING. The FAUCET TURNS ON AND OFF as Thomas washes his hands. He reenters from stage-left and walks over to the desk yawning and stretching. Removing the page from the typewriter, Thomas reviews what is written on it as he sits down at the desk.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Alright, let’s see where I left off.” (with a more dramatic voice) “The curved view screen displays a vast swirling colorscape only made more abstract by the Space Egg’s velocity.” (taps his fingers on the desk as he thinks) “Okay what happens next. Whats next. Hmmm. Hmmm “ (starts to absentmindedly swivel his chair left and right) “Space Egg , multi-colors, velocity…”

TRANSITION FROM THE MID-STAGE TO THE HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA UNCOUPLES FROM FRAMING MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT MOVES OVER THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS VISIBLE BEHIND THE SETS. IT MOVES UP THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS TO THE TOP AND THE HIGH-STAGE SITUATED THERE. THE CAMERA STOPS PANNING ONCE HIGH-STAGE IS PROPERLY FRAMED.
HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-stage curtains part and the stage lights turn on, with a sound like A COMPUTER BOOTING ON, revealing…
HIGH-STAGE: EXT. FAR EDGE OF THE FOURTH ZONE OR OUTER SPACE
The Narrator’s door opens. Y-MOUSE walks out.

Y-MOUSE
“Tossed about, struck and striked, that little ship finds itself beyond safety’s reach.”

A model of THE CARRO flies unevenly across the stage. Fill the stage with fog to represent the storm the Carro is caught in. Flashes of light go off in the fog as THUNDER BOOMS.
The curtains close then reopen revealing…
HIGH-STAGE: INT. THE CARRO OBSERVATION DECK
The Observation Deck is severely damaged from when we last saw it in Season One. Wires hang from the ceiling. Bright amber alarm lights blink. CARRO’S terminal has fallen over, as have the other terminals trapping CEDAR WAXWINGS and LUCIDO OBSIDIAN in the debris. Cedar is trapped down stage-left while Lucido is pinned down stage-right. Cedar is laying on his back with his left arm caught under the debris. Meanwhile Lucido is stuck on his belly with his legs pinned. Storm clouds with flashes of lightning can be seen outside the observation windows behind Carro’s terminal.
Lucido is the first to stir. He looks around taking a moment to realize where he is and what has happened.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Cedar. Carro. You okay.”

Lucido looks at the damaged ship…
INSERT SHOTS OF THE VARIOUS DAMAGED SECTIONS OF THE OBSERVATION DECK.
…at his fallen friends…
INSERT SHOTS OF CARRO THEN CEDAR
…and lets out a stifled gasp…
CUT TO A CLOSE-SHOT OF CEDAR. WE SEE HIS CHEST RISE UP AND DOWN AS HE BREATHES.
…followed by a sigh of relief.
He attempts to stand but realizes his legs are pinned under the terminal. He tries to wiggle loose but yelps in pain and stops.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Oww…definitely something broken.”

Lucido lays back. He grabs a couple deep breaths then tries to lift the terminal again. He manages to tilt it a short bit but he yells in pain and collapses. The attempts to lift terminal have moved his guitar to the edge of the terminal. It falls off landing near Lucido.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“What have we here.”

Lucido pushes away some debris to reach his guitar.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
(to self) “Never thought it would come to this.”

He starts to play the song that Otho Mercutian heard earlier this season. He repeats the tune. He repeats it a third time as dark smoke slowly spills in from off-stage.

LUCIDO
“Come on. Come on. You said you’d be there.”

The guitar then plays on its own.

LUCIDO
“Thank goodness. (coughs)”

Lucido slumps against the floor coughing. The stage lights turn of with the sound of A COMPUTER TURNING OFF while the curtains close to the fading sound of LUCIDO’S COUGHING.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

THE CAMERA UNCOUPLES FROM THE HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT FOLLOWS THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS DOWNWARD TO THE MID-STAGE AT ITS BASE. THE MID-STAGE SETS SLIDE INTO VIEW WITH THE CAMERA FINALLY STOPPING ONCE FRAMING MID-STAGE.
MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S STUDIO
Thomas is still swiveling, thinking about what happens next. What to write? What indeed. As he ponders, he keeps stealing glances back to the bookcase. Soon he stops swiveling and stands. He walks over to the bookcase, grabs Latchkey Kids of Randomness by Jonathan J. Wheelwright. He returns to his desk and starts reading the book.
The stage lights turn off with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-stage curtains close.

FADE OUT

The Two x Twos #8

Art thoughts, assignments for self, The Two x Twos

Previously on Assignment #7

Surprisingly, mainly to myself, I have really been on top getting through the various artistic works in the assignments. In the past, I struggled. It was so hard for me to find the time. With raising my kids, a day job, a night job, going back to college…you know, life…I would miss works. That was why I changed the Two x Two’s from weekly to bi-weekly. Yet with assignment #7 something changed. Shifted even. I am not tired anymore. I hunger. (Mother Wolf could this be you and your pack running through my life again?) Could art be like a salve during a chaotic time. Good art can move you, as the saying goes, but can it heal?

And now Assignment #8

Albums

  1. Aladdin Sane from David Bowie
  2. True (Avicii by Avicii) from Avicii

Cinema

  1. Aladdin (1992)
  2. Dinner For Schmucks (2010)

Literature

  1. Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen
  2. The Columbian Orator by Caleb Bingham

Comic Books/Graphic Novels

  1. Astro City Vol. 04: Tarnished Angel
  2. Astro City Vol. 05: Local Heroes

Video Games

  1. Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS)
  2. Bomberman GB (Gameboy)
  3. Dr. Mario (Gameboy)

Update: My Bomberman GB cartridge is not working, so I am substituting it with Dr. Mario.