Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Emails #6: A Golden Eagle Screams

9-30-08

Ben-

Maybe a horribly disfigured Robert Deniro can play Loki?

Okay, back to Cap....

Start with the ultra cool establishing shot.

Blackness. Yeah. Blackness.

Fade in to the ripple and wave of gigantic American flags, intertwined.

Cue the sound. Flapping, soft at first then growing deafeningly loud and crisp.

As the flags move, the figure of Cap is partially, tantalizingly revealed walking in slow motion toward the camera. At first you are not even sure he is really there.

Cue sounds of battle, gunfire and explosions.

Close-up of a red gloved hand gripping the wood of the flag pole.

Close-up of the top of the flag being hoisted up into the sky. A golden eagle, perched on top screams.

Cut to full shot of Cap on the top of a hill standing proudly with the flag. The sound of explosions and gunfire are loud. He is calm, steady.

"For freedom! For liberty! For justice!"

He waves the flag and plunges headlong toward the enemy. Behind him, a large body of troops rally.

Voice Over:
“In times of war, one man could always be counted on to stand for his country, to lead against overwhelming odds, to inspire millions...

He is CAPTAIN AMERICA!!

In theatres July 4th.”

...

-R



9-30-08

Rickster,

I hope you don't mind me reworking is, but your idea inspired me to add my own spin on it. I hope you like it!

Liberty,
Ben
Junior Bucky

>

Black. (Yeah, black.)

High pitched ringing.

Echoing rhythmic thumps fade in. Muffled voices echo.

"Johnson's been hit!"

"Medic!"

The thumps continue.

Start Slow Motion.

Cut to: American soldier on the ground, dazed. He holds a wooden pole. The images are dark like an early van Gogh painting at the end of day.

The thumps slow like the soldier's heart is slowing.

Hazy shot of what might be Cap.

The boots come to a heavy stop.

The soldier coughs and tries to get up.

A large hand clad in a red leather glove gently presses on his chest and he calms.

End Slow Motion.

The sounds of battle, gunfire and explosions rush in to replace the ringing and echoing.

"Steady now, hero. Help is on the way. I'll take it from here." The hand grasps the pole. The soldier nods.

Extreme close up. of the Cap's brilliant blue eyes as he turns and looks toward the enemy with determination.

Close up of American flag unfurling with silky sounds and snaps.

Close-up of the top of the flag being hoisted up into the sky. A golden eagle on the top, about to take flight.

Cut to full shot of Cap on the top of a hill standing proudly with the flag. The sound of explosions and gunfire are loud. He is calm, steady. Smoke wafts passed him. Tumultuous clouds roil behind him. Black smoke rises in the distance. An explosion blasts in the near distance. Tracers spray through the air glowing in the twilight.

"For freedom! For liberty! For justice!"

He waves the flag and plunges headlong toward the enemy.

The roar of troops as they yell a rally cry! Fading to black...

Snare drum.

VO: In times of war, one man could always be counted on to stand for his country, to lead against overwhelming odds, to inspire millions...

Text fades in: CAPTAIN AMERICA

Snare drum.

VO: In theatres July 4th.



10-1-08

Benito-

The scenario that you've presented sounds familiar.....

The flapping flags I have in mine only hint at Cap. I want to see one of those strict silhouettes obliterated by back lit sun light. The wounded soldier is looking up, we see the silhouette, c/u Cap's gloved hand...

Not bad for a Thor story.


"Who will carry the flag, soldier?"

"We all do..."

"It is my turn son. You've done enough today."

Eagle screams....



10-4-08

Rick,

Cool man, I like it. I like the POV shot looking up at Cap. I think your flag imagery can be put back in, but what did you think of my thumping footsteps like heartbeats? I thought it interesting when I thought of Cap calling the soldier "hero." Not that it needs to be done here (I like your dialog, too), but I see Cap as thinking "Look at them. No super hero serum and they still put their lives on the line for Lady Liberty. You guys are the real heroes." His respect for the regular Joes (who he wanted to be) would only increase as he witnesses them on the field. So, my way of backing that concept up is in the beginning, perhaps he would only speak up to them (like calling them hero.) Later on, whether he calls anyone "son" might depend on how old he perceives himself and how much action he's seen-- like did they thaw him for Korea? Vietnam? Desert Storm? I could see reason to and reason not to. Vietnam would have broken his heart. I could see plot reasons for him to be there, be there late in the war or see him deal with it years later.

Rock!
Ben


Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower

Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

3 comments:

  1. One Question: Why did you chose a Golden Eagle and not a Blad Eagle for your imagery?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for asking! It refers to gold eagles that top American flag staffs.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds a little like Indiana Jones! The eagle also plays a large role in Nazi symbolism. For our purposes here, the "gold" does refer to a topper on a flag staff - particularly a ceremonial one. I am not even sure if these were ever used in this fashion to rally troops during WWII but as an exploratory device for writing, the eagle symbol and the flag are used to represent leadership. Cap takes leadership but the G.I. states that they all take a turn meaning that the responsibility is shared.

    ReplyDelete