Are you a filmmaker looking for original material to make a short film?
TL;DR
Short story available free; script intentionally written for aspiring filmmakers. Modest length, flexible set up, few locations, relatively easy to stage. 10-15 mins duration. No fees 😍
Overview
I have written a short story that is beginning to garner attention. It is called Deepstare.
As well as a story in its own right, it is intended as a vehicle to aid aspiring filmmakers looking for material they can adapt to their own circumstances i.e. no fees, minimal conditions.
What is the story?
Main character descends into a fantasy world. Explores his invented world. Kills someone at the end. Ends up in a police cell. All good clean family fun 😜
Multiple scenes, multiple locations, all adaptable to whatever circumstances you find yourself in.
What is being offered?
A script. See below.
I love films, including shorts. It can be difficult for filmmakers to source suitable material that doesn’t require hefty budgets, time, multiple actors or fancy sets.
The story is designed to be simple to stage, yet has room for creativity. It is easy to adapt to whatever circumstances you find yourself in; limited budget, limited location, filming on the fly, only know a few actors etc.
Terms and conditions
There are only a few conditions.
- It is for non-commercial purposes; think free video showcasing your talents on YouTube or Vimeo.
- Credit the author; nothing heavy just a basic courtesy. See below for details.
- Provide a link to the original story in your publication medium i.e. YouTube description etc.
What you must keep
You must stick to the spirit of the story. You can adapt it to your own circumstances, but the general flow should mirror the original story.
Minor dialogue can change, but don’t remove entire chunks.
The basic premise must remain intact; lone person descends into a fantasy world.
The ending, especially the main character’s break with reality, should remain.
What you can adapt or change
I want to see what fellow creatives can do. To that end much of the story can be somewhat adapted. Here are some pointers for you to consider.
Location
The story’s locations are as follows:
- A police cell
- Psychiatrist’s office
- Main character’s residence
- A park
- A supermarket
- A street
Feel free to adapt any or all of these.
Characters
There are few characters
- Main character; in the story this is a man, Christopher Jackson
- Psychiatrist
- Social worker
- Supermarket staff, including a security guard and a butcher
- A group of mothers with toddlers
- Miscellaneous people on street
- Police officers
In the story these constitute Jackson’s world. You can easily substitute the characters to what works for you e.g. the psychiatrist and social worker could be merged into a single mental health professional.
Same for the others. If you choose an alternative location from the supermarket, such as a shopping mall, you can change the people the character interacts with.
Finally, the main character in the story is male, but it could just as easily be Christine Jackson.
Script approach
The script contains some direction, such as POV shots. Similarly, there is a strong emphasis on experiencing things via the main character.
All of this is adaptable to your own vision. No need to feel constrained. I am happy for the script to be adapted.
Credit the author
I require a credit. If you use title cards or equivalent something like this:
- Written by gdoc
If you adapt the script you need to reference the original story and highlight the screenplay separately with the author name before other writers:
- Based on the short story Deepstare by gdoc
- Screenplay by gdoc and Other Writer(s)
Get in touch
If you do decide to download the script below and are actively considering making the film, let me know. I’ll be happy to do my bit showcasing your talents by putting it on this site 🙂
What you need to do
- Read the original story. It is available here on this site for free.
- Download the screenplay below.
- Contact me to let me know you are considering it or to discuss the story.
Download the script
The script is available free of charge in word format and PDF.
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Image: Smart