My Original Idea

Stellar

An original screenplay by Kirsten Barman

A short story film to last a duration of around 5 minutes centred around one young female character and her downfall; Stellar Lewis, a young, beautiful and talented actress and singer on Broadway in 1930’s America, striving to make the transition from stage to screen. The film will feature a non-linear narrative in order to communicate her story, also using flashbacks and voice-over narratives, which are common to the Film Noir genre. With Stellar being a film noir, it will be shot in black and white; this will create a dark mood in the film, and also to achieve a more serious tone. Hopefully having a female character as the main character will attract some female viewers, but the crime undertones in the film will attract males too.

Her story is told in the first person, but the following events have already happened. She is in her apartment in New York; probably a penthouse suite with views of the Manhattan skyline. Alone. Drinking. Her voice-over introduces herself to the audience, yet she is not speaking in the picture. She would be tastefully dressed in a long flowing dress and expensive jewellery, showing she has wealth and power. The first flashback occurs, she is successful and well-known. A budding big screen queen, envisaged to win many awards, walking down a centre aisle of a theatre packed full of people, clapping, cheering, giving standing ovations. Stellar herself is radiant, glossy dark brown curls, perfect skin tone, and ruby red lips. She is beaming, as she walks down the aisle, thanking people as she goes along. She reaches the stage and with such grace glides across to the podium and accepts her award.

The scene changes and we are now in a smoke filled bar, jazz music from a live band can be heard, this is obviously the after party. She is dancing and generally having a good time, all eyes are on the beautiful Stellar Lewis. When at the bar receive another drink, a handsome man approaches her from the background, they chat and spend the evening together. The last we see is a shot of them kissing. This man’s name is Jesse Jackson.

Now back to the original scene with Stellar in her apartment, everything is still the same, but she looks a little dishevelled, hairs are out of place, her makeup not as perfect. The voice-over continues, she tells her story.

Another flashback, she and Jesse are having a quiet dinner in an exclusive restaurant; they have been dating for quite some time now. But she is totally unaware of who he really is, a criminal from the New York underworld. She speaks of a part in an up and coming film she is auditioning for that would launch her film career, possibly even nominating her for an Oscar. Jesse looks thoughtful for a moment.

The scene changes and she is on the telephone, receiving the good news she has won the part. Another scene change and she is now at home after a day of filming, Jesse returns home, looking very scruffy and untidy with bruises and cuts across his face. He tells Stellar he was mugged for his wallet. Yet another scene change and Stellar is on the phone again, this time talking to Jesse, she has not seen him for weeks, he tells her he is busy at work.

Back again to the original scene, Stellar looks even more untidy, it is obvious she has drunk a lot, her clothes seem to hang from her, she does not look as radiant as she once did. She has in her hand a newspaper, with the front page facing up; a picture of Jesse Jackson dominates the front page, “ALLEDGED CRIMINAL BOSS ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE MURDERS”.

Stellars’ film work is finished and it is coming up to Oscar nomination time. There is an article in the news about the producer of the film, badmouthing Stellar, saying she should never get an Oscar and is a bad actress. Jesse is furious. A few days later the producer mysteriously disappears. Stellar is questioned by the police. A photo is released in the papers of a man looking a lot like Jesse, linking him to the murder, and several others. A photograph in the early morning paper shows one of Jesse and Stellar, above showing the same headline as the one Stellar had in the previous scene. “ALLEDGED CRIMINAL BOSS ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE MURDERS”. Unaware to the photograph, the two go out in public. Jesse is shot dead in the street. Leaving Stellar crying by his side.

Back to the original scene for one final time, more than ever now she looks untidy, her hair in no style, make up streaming down her face, casually smoking a cigarette. Her voice over tells the rest of the story, she was questioned by the police, and charged with having something to do with the murder of the film producer, and faced a spell in jail, having lost the love of her life and her freedom she insists there is nothing else for her. She picks up the gun, she loads the barrel. Blackout