How To Break In As A Writer: Ashleigh Powell
http://goodinaroom.com/blog/how-to-break-in-as-a-writer-ashleigh-powell/
Month: February 2013
The Ring A Movie
Movie Script
Logline: The fascinating story of a simple man who travels to a different dimension only to find something so powerful that he doesn’t know what to do with it, but it knows.
Do you wonder what you would do with endless wishes? Would you become a millionaire? Would you become famous? Would you solve all the world’s problems? Or would you even want to become a super hero? My name is Forrest Rawls and I’ve written a script that has fantasy, science fiction, and adventure; and it’s suitable for teens and beyond.
In “The Ring” Alister in his mid-30s finds this power of endless wishes and must not only figure out where it came from, but once he finds out about it, how would he use this power? Would he become a hero, saving lives and helping others? Or would he become self-absorbed and wish for the world to be a slave to him?
Alister raised, as most would hope with loving parents and when he got older, he worked a regular day job, which he hates. Alister decides one day to take his dog for a walk, but not the same path they had always gone, but to a place, they hadn’t walked before. Once on this new path he finds a powerful ring that unbeknownst to him has a great secret and a great power. He drives home from being transported to a different dimension and finding this ring to coming upon something that would not only change his life, but change his thoughts about even the simplest wish, that it can become so much more.
With great power, there are those that seek it and to use it for their will, as with the Zulnar’ of the story. Zulnar’ will do anything in his power to get the ring, but our lead will do everything to keep the ring.
I believe mending fantasy, science fiction, and adventure together with a great script can make anyone who “wishes” for something will see that not all wishes aren’t possible, but full of endless wonders. I hope that your wishes come true.
Forrest L. Rawls
whiteshadowllc@gmail.com
www.whiteshadowllc.com
Passion
When people talk about passion, it is an yearning for something that one puts their whole heart into. They just can’t get enough of that something or someone. Well, this I thought I had about writing spending the past 20 years reading and learning, but another class and another editor says I have a long way to go. What the hell have I been doing these 20 years just wishing I was a writer and sitting on my hands? No! I just read and write. Why am I not better at what I thought I loved or was passionate about? Why, do I keep getting told I have a long way to go? People reading this those very few might see that this what I’m writing now had errors in it. Such as grammar, punctuation, spelling and others. Why can’t I get the help my cousin Wilson Rawls did?
You may have read some of my other posts, and if you have you may read a lot of me bitching and moaning about things. You might be sick of it well I’m sorry. I’m here to shed light on my life no matter how boring it might be. I have wanted to be an actor, a script writer. I wanted to be a great artist. Why did God allow me to live when my appendix ruptured? I wanted to do something more than guy bagging groceries, but lately I think that is where my life is heading. I wanted to do YouTube videos, but they disabled my account because someone clicked repeatedly on a video and of course, when I disputed this, I didn’t write it well enough for them to reactivate it.
When I was in high school, I wanted to play football that didn’t work. I played baseball as a kid who went nowhere. I wanted to sing and be in a rock group, that didn’t work. I think I’m smart, but am I? I can’t dance. I can’t is so my word these last few days. I wanted to do voice-over work but living in Idaho, there is no school or help of any kind and no money you can’t move to a place that can help.
So, my passion for what I want to be and do is gone, and I don’t know where my life will go. I know my faith is so small an ant is too big.
So what do I do? Where do I go from here? I’ve done the college thing ran out of loans and no degree to show for it. Those friends with their own businesses won’t hire me because I live to far, but the main thing is I have no education. I’m not fit I’m not hot I’m not female, so there are many things against me. So, please tell me what to do? My passion is gone. People say others have it worse, but why do I feel I’m living in the worst? (This I wrote off my meds. Still trying to get them.)
What do you want?
I was asked why I was doing a blog if it didn’t deal with what I’m doing and that is writing. Why aren’t you talking or showing off some of what you write? So I decided since I want to be a comic book writer (or at least it’s my main focus right now) that I would put something up for everyone to see and hear me talk about it. That I did in a previous post.
Now it’s up to you!
Do you want to hear about my comic book writing or would you like to see a sample script or just other writing? Let me know in the comments below.
Marriage
Well, my wife and I have been together for over 7 years now and married 5. We seem to have tiffs her and there and really no explosions really. So when I was getting situated on my medication, I blew up. Then last night again I blew up. However, I more felt that she was being selfish because I told her that we went to my hometown to see my mom and possibly some friends. Well, my wife was sick of hearing about my dead stepfather and didn’t want to be in the house anymore so she walked to our friends. Well, I was about to walk out the door to go home because I had school work, and the dogs hadn’t gone to the “Potty” for 12 hours. Again, I just wanted to go see mom talk hang help then home. Well, my wife was at our friends, so I went over to pick her up. However, she was pissed at me because she wanted to hang with them. I yelled and told her that we don’t need to hang out or see them every time we went to my home town. Well, She stormed out of car, and I drove off. I found myself wondering what I did wrong, but I felt I did nothing but yell. So I went back to pick her up. 3 hours later we finally set out to go home. I was tired as hell and worried about the dogs. She just wanted to get away from things happening around her that she felt was pushing her in a whole well I knew of some stress, but I was surprised to hear her say she didn’t want to hear about death, and she has had enough death in her family. I thought isn’t death a part of life, and we just need to remember but move on? Well needless to say we did talk for a while and got it out of our way. I did know marriage was daily work. I didn’t know it would be a part of my life’s work, but then again, there I go thinking again.
Suicide
I thought of this today “suicide” not in the way to commit it as I was to do something harmful to myself in response to life’s ever evolving and ever disappointing battle. I thought of this as why do I want to destroy something that I have struggled with for many years. Do I want to give up, do I give a damn? I, however, found myself in a pit a deep one. One with many thoughts and droughts about myself. I didn’t know where to turn so I opened my email read the scripture of the day and then opened my mind to the possibilities that are never ending. I wanted to commit “suicide” in the way that I wanted to give up on writing and dreaming, but then I said if I don’t dream I don’t hope if I don’t hope, subsequently I don’t believe things will change or get better. So now I dream to hope, hope to dream life will run like a river stream with bumps, ups and downs, but then I know I made it around to the other side of the river, and there I will find a calm open mind to let things flow out like a gentle breeze.
Bio
The writer of these words did not originally want to put words to paper, but to draw the glorious things he saw. However, he could not draw from images in his mind. He could only draw those things he saw that had been drawn by others. He then almost died one day and that urge to draw became the urge to write. Again, however, the fuel was not always there, and before he knew it it was his senior year of high school, and he was tasked to write a 50page novella for a final project. This became the fuel and started his path of being a full-time writer. He may have struggled and may have made no difference in the world of man nor money in his hand, but he still moves forward. He currently is writing a comic book that has an artist who draws the things that are envisioned. Life could be better, but it could be always worse. So he keeps his head low to write but high to live life. This is the story about this man, to know more, read the words he has put before the world via the web.
Memories
We should not look at the past with regrets, but as the past with memories that we will never forget.
Script for Issue 1 of The Legacy comic book
Disclaimer: This is unedited and may contain language that is not suitable for a young audience. Reader discretion advised.
Page 1 Page 1
Panel 1 Alister from a rooftop looks towards the church on
the hill. Darkness consumes the sky but there is a small
light piercing the sky above the church. Behind Alister
sits his hovercycle. His sword is in its sheath on his
back.
ALISTER
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years
since all this began, and I still
try to do good, but all I want to
do is rest. Rest it seems to be all
I think of when I should be
thinking of this city; think of my
city. I’m the one, the person that
was chosen. I was the one born to
this family. I must keep my head up
high when it seems this war will
never end. I know, however, that it
will end. I don’t know how I don’t
know when, but what I do know is
that it will end when you are
ready. This building so many times
I stood right here this spot, and
gazed out into the city, to hear
the cries of the people below. Oh
God God these dark skies I’m sick
of them. I want to see the sun
again. I want to see more than the
sliver of light that you shine on
the church. Oh, that church that
changed my life. God why did you
put it on that hill? Did you have
people build it so that you didn’t
have to move the hill? Like the
Bible said that you can move
mountains. Why am I still doing
this? Why am I again alone I
thought you would never leave or
forsake me?
Page 2 Page 2: 2975A.D. Alister flashes back to when he
finds out about his parents and sisters death.
Panel 1 Taking up the top 3rd of the page: You see a
church on the front of it, it says “Harvest Church;”
behind the church in the distance you see the church on
the hill.
ALISTER
I remember how I spiraled out of
control at least my life did. Okay,
I did too. It was at the church my
family had gone to for years. I had
gone when I was young, but when I
became a teenager they let me
decide what I wanted to do. So I
stopped going.
Panel 2 Taking up the middle of the page: Inside the
church, people standing, some with their hands up in the
air, as they are singing.
ALISTER
I thought it was strange to see
people raise their hands and jump
up and down praising a being that
one couldn’t see.
Panel 3 Taking up the bottom 3rd of the page: Inside the
church, people sitting as the preacher is standing at his
pulpit preaching.
ALISTER
As I recall the last service, for
what I was told later. Was talking
about…
PASTOR
Today we are going to talk about
the love of God, and his
forgiveness.
Page 3 Page 3: 2975A. D. Alister’s flash back of his parents
and sisters death. Part 2.
Panel 1 People are leaving the church but a few are still
standing around talking. The pastor comes up to a couple
and their daughter.
PASTOR
Where’s your son Alister.
MOTHER
He didn’t want to come; he says
there is no God.
PASTOR
Oh, he is in the stage of his life
like others have been. The stage
that things that we can’t see must
be none existent or not real.
Panel 2 Taking most of the page the church explodes.
Panel 3 Alister stands at the funeral, a tear rolling down
his cheek.
ALISTER
I can still remember what I thought
at the funeral.
ALISTER
(thinking)
Mom gave me a choice to go with
them, but I didn’t. Because I
didn’t, I mean I don’t believe in
God. This would have never happened
if there was a God.
ALISTER (CON’T)
Oh my thoughts went crazy that day,
but that was the day my path would
split and I would go down the road
that had no path. I was making my
own way. Or this is what I thought.
Page 4 Page 4
Panel 1 Alister hears screams. Alister shakes his head as
if he was trying to wake himself up from sleeping
(dreaming).
ALISTER
What in the hell…
Panel 2 He jumps on his hovercycle.
ALISTER
That was a tortuous scream.
Panel 3 Panel 3: He goes down the road, Screams erupt
again, he travels to where the screams have come from.
ALISTER
Who ever this person is they sound
like hell has come to take there
soul.
ALISTER (CON’T)
This of course is all to common
today, but there still was
something in the scream.
Panel 4 Panel 4: He sees that there is a girl running as
fast as she can.
Panel 5 Panel 5: Behind her is a man chasing her. Alister
with his spiritual sight can see that the man is possessed
by a demon. (Need to somehow show that he is a man and
that he has maybe a silhouette of a demon.
MAN
Come here limitless bitch.
WOMAN
Aaaaahh!!!
Page 5 Page 5
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister up close.
ALISTER
(says to himself)
This is sure getting old. These
demons will never learn.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister drives ahead of the girl and man
and stops his hovercycle in front of the girl.
ALISTER
(saying to himself)
I can’t let this girl be captured,
I just can’t.
Panel 3 Panel 3: He grabs the girls arm and pulls the girl
behind him.
ALISTER
Get behind me, now, I’ll protect
you.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister gets off his hovercycle.
Panel 5 Panel 4: The man close up of the man who is
chaising the girl.
MAN
Oh it’s you, the White Warrior,
haha the Holy Warrior.
Panel 6 Panel 5: With a stern look on his face.
ALISTER
Yes it is I.
Page 6 Page 6
Panel 1 Panel 1: The man tears off his skin to reveal the
big demon.
ALISTER
(to himself)
What in the world is this demon
doing.
Panel 2 Panel 2: As his hand is on his sword.
ALISTER
(thinks to himself)
This is new.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister then takes his sword out of its
sheath. A look at Alister pointing at the man while the
girl is behind him.
ALISTER
You know I can destroy you with one
blow of my sword.
Page 7 Page 7
Panel 1 Panel 1: Close up of the demon.
DEMON
You think so eh.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Another view of Alister and the girl.
ALISTER
Yes. I know so I have the power of
Christ on my side.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Close up of the demon.
DEMON
I want to see you try, little man.
I think you’re weaker then you
know.
Panel 4 Panel 4: He points to a building that has graffiti
on it. (Somewhere write small but enough that you can
still see it: CTFxC)
ALISTER
Go, inside that building. I’ll take
care of this demon swine.
Page 8 Page 8
Panel 1 SPLASH Page: Alister runs at the demon as the
demon runs toward him. The demon throws a punch.
ALISTER
I will destroy you with the power
of the Lord.
DEMON
No. You don’t have the power that
you think you do, you are weaker
than I.
Page 9 Page 9
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister dodges, and slashes his sword at
the demon.
ALISTER
With the Power of Christ I will
defeat you
Panel 2 Panel 2: He then hits the demon but nothing
happens.
ALISTER
What that should have destroyed
you.
Panel 3 Panel 3: The demon says with a snarl. (Close up)
DEMON
I guess your faith has started to
dwindle and I am stronger then your
so called sword from God.
Panel 4 Panel 4: The demon runs inside the building.
Alister chases after the demon.
ALISTER
(Talking to himself)
What the hell is going on? Why is
this demon wining?
Panel 5 Panel 5: Alister looks around the inside of the
building, it looks familiar to him.
ALISTER
I know this building, it can’t be.
Page 10 Page 10: Alister flashes back to when he owned the
building and he met Satan’s Minions.
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister is on the second floor leaning
against a lattice. There comes a voice behind him.
STEVE
Dude, what are you doing just
looking at everyone?
ALISTER:
Shut up Steve. I’m just making sure
everyone is having a good time.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister turns to face to Steve.
ALISTER
You know I strive to make my
patrons happy. So, Just let me be
Steve.
Panel 3 Panel 3: He starts to walk toward a table that had
two mugs of beer on it.
STEVE
Come, sit and drink your beer.
ALISTER
I’m coming you piece of….
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister now sitting at the table.
STEVE
Alister you kiss my ass.
ALISTER
Kiss your what Steve?
Panel 5 Panel 5: Alister with his fist in front of Steve’s
face.
ALISTER
Do you want to kiss this.
STEVE
Um. no.
Page 11 Page 11
Panel 1 Panel 1: With a frightened stare. Alister beer in
hand.
STEVE
I’m fine.
ALISTER
That’s what I thought.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Outside of the building rain poured down,
and in the shadows a group of people walk toward the door
of the building.
Panel 3 Panel 3: The door opens up. You see a group of
people with guns.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister looks down from the balcony
lattice to see why the music has stopped and people who
were having a good time were silent.
Page 12 Page 12
Panel 1 Panel 1: One of the people in the group points
there gun to the ceiling and fires.
Panel 2 Panel 2: People look towards the group and the
band that was playing and others start to run out the
front and back doors.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister pulls his gun.
ALISTER
What the hell are you doing here.
What the fuck do you want.
Panel 4 Panel 4: The group points there gun toward the
people in the club.
LEADER
We are Satan’s Minions and we are
here to take over. But we don’t
want just this building we have
come to take over the city and make
it, SatansVille. Hahahaha.
Page 13 Page 13
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister’s posse takes out there weapons
and points them toward Satan’s Minions.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister close up.
ALISTER
Like hell, you’re taking over.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Gun fire erupts from both sides.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Blood is flying everywhere and people are
going down.
Page 14 Page 14
Panel 1 Panel 1: Both sides are still shooting, and people
are running. We see more getting hit by bullets, blood
splashing everywhere.
Panel 2 Panel 2: You see Alister behind a table.
ALISTER
Shit, Shit, Shit. What’s going on?
What did I do to deserve this? Ugh,
what am I fucking supposed to do?
To bad there isn’t a God, he might
be able to save us, me.
Page 15 Page 15
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister is shooting as he goes down the
stairs.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister jumps behind the bar.
Panel 3 Panel 3: As he hides behind the bar he now notices
he is bleeding from his arm.
ALISTER
Damn it.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister peaks his head over the bar.
ALISTER
(To himself)
I need to get out of here.
Panel 5 Panel 5: Alister jumps the bar and heads towards
the back door.
ALISTER
(Thought)
Come on legs, move.
Page 16 Page 16
Panel 1 Panel 1: We see Alister just outside the door
behind him. The rain still coming down lightning flashes.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister is running and being chased by
some of Satan’s Minions. They are still shooting. Blam
blam.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister is shot in the leg, blood goes
everywhere.
ALISTER
Shit…my leg.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister starts to run up a hill. Bleeding
abundantly from his arm and leg.
Panel 5 Panel 5: He sees a rock.
ALISTER
I must make it behind.
Page 17 Page 17
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister holding his arm is able to reach
and get behind the rock.
Panel 2 Panel 2: We see a close up of Alister’s arm bloody
Panel 3 Panel 3: Lightning strikes close to Alister and
the rock.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister rips his pants to check out his
wound.
ALISTER
Shit, what the hell am I going to
do now?
Panel 5 Panel 5: Alister now trying to tear his trench
coat to cover his wounds.
Page 18 Page 18
Panel 1 Panel 1: Lightning striking even closer this time
to Alister.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Some of Satan’s Minions that had chased
Alister stop shooting.
MINION
That rock can’t protect you
forever. You’re bleeding bad,
you’ll want to get that looked at
before you lose to much blood and
die.
ALISTER
What the fuck do you want with me?
Why did you follow me?
Panel 3 Panel 3: Close up of Alister. Finishing tieing his
leg off. Arm is already tied off, both are tied with parts
of his trench coat.
ALISTER
I’m not leaving this spot, so you
guys miles well sit.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Lightning strikes at the feet of Satan’s
Minions.
MINION
Looks like your lucky day, or maybe
not. This lightning saved you from
us, but if you stay there who knows
if it will finally strike you. That
would help us.
Page 19 Page 19
Panel 1 Panel 1: Moments later lightning strikes the rock.
ALISTER
Shit that was to close.
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister now looks over the left of the
rock to see if those who had chased him that were part of
Satan’s Minions had actually left.
ALISTER
Be gone, be gone, be gone.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Satan’s Minions no longer on the other
side of the rock. Alister gets up.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister sees a dagger on the rock where
the lightning struck.
ALISTER
Now what’s this? I didn’t see this
before. It would have been nice to
have this when I was trying to rip
at my trench coat.
Panel 5 Panel 5: Close up of the dagger. (Need to talk
about the design.)
Page 20 Page 20
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister reaches for the dagger.
ALISTER
But what in the hell, how did this
get here in the first place?
Panel 2 Panel 2: Alister picks up the dagger, looking at
it intensely.
ALISTER
This looks expensive.
Panel 3 Panel 3: As it lay in the palm of both hands
warmth comes over him.
ALISTER
What’s going on?
Panel 4 Panel 4: Blood stops dripping from his leg and
arm.
ALISTER
The pain it, it’s gone.
Panel 5 Panel 5: Alister places the dagger in his right
hand, as he looks at his arm he sees nothing.
Panel 6 Panel 6: Alister bends down, he looks at his leg,
he sees nothing.
ALISTER
What happened to my wounds?
Page 21 Page 21
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister looks at the dagger again.
ALISTER
What the Fu…
Panel 2 Panel 2: Lightning strikes just right of Alister.
ALISTER
Holy shit that was so much closer.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister places the dagger back on the
rock.
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister starts to walk away when he is
struck by lightning.
Page 22 Page 22
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister wakes up in a white place, he
can’t see anything but himself.
Panel 2 Panel 2: His anger left him, he smiled ear to ear.
ALISTER
Why am I smiling? I just had been
shot and now there is nothing I can
see.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister walks and looks around.
GOD
Alister come fourth.
ALISTER
Come fourth, I can’t see anything.
How am I supposed to know where to
go?
GOD
You have been chosen.
ALISTER
Chosen for what?
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister sits down on the whiteness.
GOD
Your blood is what has chosen you;
you are a descendant of a man who
promised loyalty and obedience.
ALISTER
My blood, descendant, I don’t know
what you mean. Who the hell are
you?
GOD
I am the Lord thy God.
Page 23 Page 23 Alister flashes back to the empty building.
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister attention was now looking at the
balcony where he saw the demon with the girl over his
shoulder.
ALISTER
That seemed so very long ago.
Panel 2 Panel 2: We get a close up of the demons face,
DEMON
Come get me you little piece of
shit.
ALISTER
I am not a little piece of
anything.
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister runs toward the stairs.
Panel 4 Panel 4: He reaches the second level and sees the
demon head for the window.
ALISTER
(Yelling)
Where do you think you’re going
demon?
Panel 5 Panel 5: The demon turns toward Alister, girl
still over its shoulder.
DEMON
I’m taking this girl and I’m going
to sacrifice her and let my father
have her soul.
ALISTER
There is only one Father.
DEMON
Ha I’m not talking about him I’m
talking about my father Satan.
Panel 6 Panel 6: The demon jumps out the window.
Panel 7 Panel 7: Alister looks out the window and sees
nothing.
ALISTER
I…I didn’t, I couldn’t save her.
Page 24 Page 24
Panel 1 Panel 1: Alister puts his sword back in his sheath
and starts to walk down the stairs.
ALISTER
Why? Why?
Panel 2 Panel 2: As Alister walks out of the building.
ALISTER
What is wrong with me? Why,
couldn’t I save that girl?”
Panel 3 Panel 3: Alister arrives back at his hovercycle.
ALISTER
God what’s going on? I have never
not defeated a fow with this sword.
What in the world is going on?
Panel 4 Panel 4: Alister flies off.
ALISTER
I never seen a demon rip off human
flesh like it was cloths. And then
I wasn’t able to save not only a
soul but the girl. The girl looked
so, I don’t know what’s wrong with
me. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!
Panel 5 Panel 5: Alister sees the church on the hill the
light that pireced through the darkness seemed to be
getting smaller.
What is Love?
Love does it come from above?
Love do you say it or show it?
What is true love?
My wife she’s the best she helps with getting my meds in order. She loves me no matter the mood I’m in. She is never changing or wavering. She of course isn’t God, but it seems her love never leaves me to. I have my thoughts and doubts of God and his ways.
My mom she loves me too.
