Post 8 : Shooting script for "Don´t give up" video

PETER GABRIEL'S LYRICS

"Don't Give Up"

In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose

Don't give up
'cos you have friends
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Don't give up
I know you can make it good

Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Thought that we'd be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn

Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground

Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up
We don't need much of anything
Don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong

Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up

Got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
Gonna stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river's flowing
That river's flowing

Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs

Don't give up
'cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know it's never been easy
Don't give up
'cause I believe there's a place
There's a place where we belong

 

CREATIVE WRITING

Shooting Script  for Peter Gabriel's 'Don't Give Up' Video                  31/01/2013

 

OVER BLACK:

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

The first notes of the song sound.

FADE IN:

1. EXT. FACTORY IN  THE OUTSKIRTS OF A BIG CITY (DETROIT) - MORNING

 

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Verse 1

 

PAN SHOT of a busy street, followed by TILT UP toward the top of high-rise towers (skyscrapers) and TILT DOWN to ZOOM FORWARD on factory workers noisily walking out of their work in an automobile plant.

They seem tired but full of pride and energy despite their night shift.

Then, CLOSE UP on the face of one man in the crowd. He looks young and enthusiastic.

ZOOM BACKWARD to show  the man walking on, now framed in a FULL SHOT.

Then, TRACKING SHOT, following the man who is walking away at a brisk pace, waving goodbye to his workmates with a broad smile on his face These people obviously stick together.

He is now seen in a LONG SHOT.

 

DISSOLVE TO BLACK & WHITE

 

2. INT. APARTMENT - MORNING

 

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Verse 2

 

FULL SHOT of a man who is sitting at home, sipping a cup of coffee. He is the same man as the one viewed earlier but he looks older and depressed.

CLOSE UP on the man's gloomy face.

PAN TO THE RIGHT: A song is playing on an old radio transistor.

CUT TO COLOR

 

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Chorus

3. EXT. STREET - SUNNY DAY

The man is seen in a FULL SHOT talking to friends. The conversation is lively and the group (both men and women) walk into a bar.

DISSOLVE TO BLACK & WHITE

 

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Verse 3

 

4. EXT. EMPTY STREET - RAINY DAY

LONG SHOT of a group of men lining up in front of what looks like a job center. ZOOM FORWARD to focus on the face of the same man standing in line. He looks ashamed and despondent.

 

CUT TO:

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Verse 4

5. EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The man is driving at night. He is about to reach his destination,  a house on the lakeside barely visible in the distance.

 

 

 

CUT TO:

6: INT. CAR - EARLY MORNING

The man is looking at something outside. He looks stunned. EXTREME CLOSE UP on the man's eyes.

Then REVERSE SHOT: he was staring at the scorched earth which seems to have replaced a little wood which stood near the house and where he used to play as a kid. The house looks shabby, rundown, maybe even abandoned. There is nothing left of his roots.

 

CUT TO COLOR

 

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Chorus

 

7. INT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

MEDIUM SHOT of the man and his wife at home. The woman is talking. She seems to be comforting her husband, stroking his hair.

CLOSE SHOT of the man who rests his head against her, as if he needed a shoulder to cry on.

Then, PAN SHOT TO THE RIGHT as two kids run into the drawing room to kiss and  hug their parents (SLOW MOTION).

LOW-ANGLE SHOT of the man who suddenly picks up a newspaper and sighs deeply.

He stands up and says 'OK'.

He then turns his back on his family and walks out of the room.

DISSOLVE TO BLACK & WHITE

 

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Verse 5

8..EXT. STREET -  EVENING

FULL SHOT of the man as he walks down the street, then strolls along a river.

CLOSE UP on the man's face, followed by ZOOM OUT to show the man now standing on a bridge, looking down at the river.  

P.O.V. SHOT: the man is staring intently at the black foam-flecked water below, as if he was about to jump and commit suicide.

HIGH-ANGLE SHOT + TRACKING IN of the man walking across the bridge  while the river keeps flowing.

 

 

CUT TO:

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Verse 6

 

9 .INT. SMALL TOWN - DAYS LATER

MEDIUM-CLOSE SHOT of the man standing at a counter, begging to be hired but the employer shakes his head.

PAN SHOT of the man as he walks out of the place.

 

 

CUT TO:

10. EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER

LONG SHOT of the man trying his luck in yet another job agency we see him walking into but he soon walks out, his head bent.

 

CUT TO COLOR

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK

Chorus

11. INT. APARTMENT - MORNING

FULL SHOT of a group of people, among whom the man's wife and kids.

They seem to be celebrating someone's birthday. The atmosphere is joyful and the man seems to be having fun.

EXTREME CLOSE UP on his eyes in which there is a glimmer of hope at last.

He now seems seem more cheerful than ever before and kisses his wife before hugging his two kids.

                                                                                                                                                                         

 

FADE OUT