Greasepaint
Note: Each photo has a small saying. Be sure to hold your mouse cursor over them to see the messages.
Fall 2000
I met Tadeo Garcia over the summer of 2000. He was working as a waiter over at our neighborhood hangout Pepe's (gee where else? We practically lived there every weekend). After a few weeks of talk with him back & forth we realized that we had the same dream in life - To make movies.
See Perry & I would always be in a conversation there talking about movies, weather they be what we had already seen or what we wished we could make on our own. Eventually Tadeo would join the conversation, & once we both found out that we attended the same college (him now starting film school) it wasn't long before we started to talk about future projects.
I had found out at this time that a whole lot of changes went on over there at Columbia. Now after you shoot a film you don't sit in a room & splice together endless pieces of film, now it is all transferred onto a telecine disc which you stick into the computer & do all your editing that way. Once your project is edited on the computer it is then graded while watching it off of a VCR. In my day (do I sound old?) we had to view our projects through a 16mm projector & hoped that all the glue or tape splices would hold. Oh why wasn't it this easy when I attended film school!
Anyway, after a look at some of my stories & scripts on this very website, Tadeo decided to ask me for some ideas & help with his projects. Yours truly was more than happy to oblige. The way I looked at it was that if I didn't have the money or time to do my ideas myself, might as well let them see the light of day by helping out an ambitious talent.
As 'Legend Of Plainfield Farm' developed into my first major project, Tadeo's turned out to be 'Greasepaint'. Although this project was going to be completed with a soundtrack. He would film everything & then add the sound to it afterwards. Basically just like I did my People Canners film.
Over a few Long Island's Tadeo told me his concept. A small group of children find a dead clown in the woods & decide to bring it home for their own. After realizing that it just sat there & just smelled even worse they decide to drop it off at the a local hamburger joint which sprout the famous golden arches.
Actually, according to Tadeo the tale was going to be animated. Animation was something he started studying at film school. After about 10 minutes of brainstorming between Perry & I, we told Tady what he really should do with the film.
First, shoot it live action - Much easier & less time consuming. The second thing we told him was that he had to change the ending, mainly because we didn't think good ol' Mac's would like the idea of a dead clown left in their establishment.
"But that was the whole point", Tadeo answered. He wanted it to be 'against the grain', 'off the wall', 'taboo'. We totally agreed but we told him that just the concept alone was creepy enough. Perry & I told him he should really make it less comical & more disturbing - David Lynch like.
We told him that
everything worked accept that ending. Then we started to pitch ours. First we told him
that the kids should leave the clown in the garbage can in the front of the
house. Just the shot of a dead clown stuffed in the trash within a nice residential
community would look cool. It was alright, but not good enough. Then we told him that
maybe when the kids bring the dead clown home that there should be a pet dog tied up in
the yard watching the kids hide the clown in the tool shack before they go in for dinner.
Later the father would find it & call the police. When the police get there there is
no clown & they arrest the father for calling in false reports. Then we would move
back into the yard & behind the shack where we would see the dog had gotten loose,
dragged the clown behind the shed, & is now eating pieces off of it.
Tadeo loved this idea! Even more when I told him that I could take care of the makeup & all.
He told me that he would write up the treatment & send it to me, just so I could have a basic thread of the story. Then he told me to go ahead & write it up the screenplay & we would do it.
That night I received Tadeo's treatment..
FIRST DRAFT
CAN EXPLODING TOILETS REALLY FLY?"
THIS IS NOT THE TITLE. I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE STORYBOARD AND JUST WROTE
IT. IT'S THE DEAD CLOWN TREATMENT. ENJOY! TADY GARCIA
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY FALL DAY IN THE SUBURB OF HAPPY HILLS. THE LAWNS ARE
BEAUTIFULLY CARED FOR, EVERYONE'S CAR IS CLEAN AND PRISTINE, AND A WHITE
HOUSE SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
A GROUP OF KIDS WALK OVER TO THE HOUSE AND RING THE DOOR BELL. THEY SEE THE
LITTLE GIRL COME OUT AND THEY ALL WALK DOWN THE STREET TOGETHER TOWARDS A
FOREST AT THE END OF THE STREET.
THE FOREST IS ALIVE WITH DIFFERENT SHADES OF RED BROWN AND YELLOW. THE KIDS
ALL CROSS A BRIDGE AS THEY CARRY THEIR TOOLS, WHICH INCLUDE A LITTLE RED
WAGON, SOME ROPE, AND A THERMOS.
ALL THE KIDS STOP AND BEGIN TO LOOK AROUND THE FORREST. THEY BEGIN TO PICK
UP LEAVES AND BUGS AND PUT THEM IN EMPTY GLASS JARS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ONE OF
THE LITTLE GIRLS NOTICES SOMETHING. SHE STANDS UP AND WALKS TOWARDS IT.
SHE SQUINTS AND YELLS OUT O SHRIEK OF HAPPINESS. ALL THE OTHER KIDS LOOK UP
AS SHE RUNS TOWARDS A BUSH. SHE STOPS AND SEES TWO BIG RED SHOES STICKING
OUT OF THE BUSH. ALL THE OTHER LITTLE KIDS GATHER AROUND AND ASK WHAT IT
IS. THE LOOK OVER THE BUSH AND SMILE IN HAPPINESS FOR WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND
IS THE MOST AMAZING THING IN THE WORLD!
IT'S A DEAD DECOMPOSING CLOWN. ITS JUST LIES THERE ON THE GROUND WITH ITS
BRIGHT HALF YELLOW AND HALF BLUE SHINY COSTUME. THERE ARE LEAVES ALL ABOUT
IT. THE MAKEUP IS STILL INTACT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE WRINKLES AND HIS FACE
SEEMS RUBBERY. HE HAS NO EYES ANYMORE. THERE IS A SOUND OF FLIES ALL ABOUT
HIM.
"EWWW! IT SMELLS!" SAYS ONE OF THE LITTLE KIDS. "I KNOW! LETS TAKE IT
HOME! WE'LL HAVE A PARADE WITH HIM AND PLAY CIRCUS!" SAYS ANOTHER KID.
"YAY! LETS DO IT! WE'LL CALL HIM STINKY 'CAUSE HE SMELLS REALLY BAD!"
THE CLOWN IS ALL MANGLED UP ON THE WAGON, WHICH DISPLAYS THE HAPPY TOYS
LOGO. IT SHAKES AS IT GOES THROUGH THE ROUGH TERRAIN AND HITS THE BUMPS ON
THE SIDEWALK.
THEY GET TO THE HOUSE AND DECIDE, "SO WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT HIM?" THE
KIDS JUST STAND THERE IN WONDERMENT. ONE OF THE KIDS LOOKS TO HIS RIGHT AND
DOUBLE GLANCES AND SAYS "MY DADS TOOL SHED!"
"YEAH!" SO THE KIDS ALL GO TOWARDS THE TOOL SHED. THE CLOWN JUST SITS
THERE ON BOXES OF FERTILIZER AND SHOVELS SURROUND HIM. THERE'S SOUNDS OF
FLIES ALL AROUND AND THE KIDS JUST SIT THERE STARING AT HIM. THEY ARE
WAITING FOR HIM TO DO SOMETHING.
"AW MAN! THIS ISN'T WHAT I EXPECTED! HE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING! AND BESIDES,
HE SMELLS REALLY BAD, C' MON, LETS GO TO MY HOUSE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES!"
ALL THE KIDS STAND UP LEAVE THE SHED AND LOCK IT UP. THE SHED JUST SITS
THERE AND THEN ONE OF THE KIDS FATHERS GOES TOWARD THE SHED, OPENS IT GASPS
AT THE HORRIBLE SMELL, AND SCREAMS! HE RUNS AWAY.
THERE IS A SQUAD CAR OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. "IM TELLING YOU OFFICER! IT WAS
RIGHT HERE! IT WAS A DEAD CLOWN! LOOK YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME! "
"SURE YOU DID SIR, SURE YOU DID, NOW, DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE PENALTIES
FOR FALSE ALARMS?" THE OFFICER TAKES THE MAN AWAY. AS THE SHED SITS THERE,
THERE IS A GROWLING SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND THE SHED. THE CLOWN IS BEING
PULLED BEHIND THE SHED BY A BIG BLACK DOG AS IT BEGINS TO EAT THE FLESH.
FADE OUT.
Yours truly went right to work the next day & completed this screenplay in a few hours. Since this was going to be shot 'MOS' ('Mit Out Sound') & not in sync. but adding the sound later, I went the easiest rout in making the shots up where you wouldn't actually see the characters mouths moving.
"GREASEPAINT"
Screenplay revision by Roger B. Domian for Tady Garcia
Final Draft
BLACKNESS
WE HEAR THE SOUND OF WACKY CIRCUS MUSIC
CUT - TV MONITOR - A Children's Clown show. We see the clown doing a trick like pulling a rabbit out of a hat or something.
CUT – BLACKNESS - Title ‘ A Film By Tady Garcia’ fades on.
CUT – TV MONITOR - Children’s show continues. Clown gets water sprayed at him.
CUT – BLACKNESS – Title ‘Greasepaint’ fades on the screen.
CUT – TV MONITOR – Clown gets pie in face. He waves to the camera saying "Well, That’s all for me. Bye Bye kids!". We cut to blackness as the clown’s laughter, music, & applause cuts out with an echo.
CUT – BLACKNESS –
FADE IN – Close up of the turning wheel of a wagon.
CUT – Close up of child’s hand pulling the wagon.
Boy 1 – "Just wait till you see, you just wait."
CUT – Long shot of four children walking across a bridge to a forest preserve.
BOY 2 – "I still think your lying. There’s just no way it could be him.
BOY 1 – "I’m telling you it’s him.
BOY 3 – "But what is he doing way out here?"
BOY 4 – "Yeah."
BOY 1 – "I don’t know, I was just coming home from school & saw him."
BOY 4 – "Well if it is him, this will be great!"
CUT – Low angle – Camera on the ground facing forest. As the kids continue to talk we see them walk past the camera as the wagon goes over us. Dialogue fades out slowly as the forest sounds overtake. Birds, wind, etc..
CUT – Overhead shot (if possible) of kids walking down forest path.
CUT – Another angle of the kids coming down the path towards us.
CUT – Medium Shot of kids moving into frame & stopping. Boy 1 is looking around.
BOY 2 – "Alright, so where is he?"
BOY 1 - "I was sure he was around here somewhere."
CUT – Low angle shot through leaves & branches. We see the kids as they glance around. The camera slowly moves to the right keeping the kids in view. As the camera moves into frame come the big yellow shoes of a clown. The camera stops as we frame the kids between them.
BOY 1 – "There he is!"
The kids start to rush over to the camera.
BOY 2 - "Holy shit you were telling the truth!"
BOY 1 – "Told ya."
They stop and look towards the camera (Clown).
BOY 4 – "Wow…"
CUT – Close Up of Clowns gloved (dirty) left hand lying on the ground. A horn is laying nearby attached to his wrist by elastic.
BOY 3 – "Is that really him?"
BOY 1 – "Sure it is."
CUT – Close Up of one of the Clown’s yellow shoe. There is a splatter of red blood on it.
BOY 3 – "It dosen’t really look like him."
BOY 4 – "Why not?"
BOY 1 – "It’s him, I’m tellin’ you"
CUT – Close Up of the dead clown’s face. His makeup is slightly smeared. Cheek lightly swollen as if punched. His eyes still open with a look of surprise. The sound of a fly is heard buzzing around.
BOY 3 – "He just looks really different."
CUT – Wider shot of the clown lying on the ground. His right arm is up and hanging caught in the bushes. He is definitely dead.
BOY 2 – "Maybe a little, but I think Joey is right. This is Bumbles the Clown."
BOY 1 – I told you guys, now come on."
WE see the kids come into frame and reach for the clown as the screen cuts to blackness. The sound of the fly is heard but fades out.
CUT – Close up of the wheel of the wagon spinning. Suddenly the gloved hand of the clown falls into frame & drags along the ground.
CUT – Medium Shot looking down at the clown laying in the wagon, eyes still open.
CUT – Shot of kids walking with the wagon, two pulling, one pushing. The sun is going down & the kids are silhouetted against the orange sky.
BOY 4 – "Boy he sure does smell."
BOY 2 – "Yeah, he stinks."
BOY 1 – "Well he’s been sleeping in the woods all this time."
BOY 3 – "Ack he stinks."
FADE OUT
CUT – Dog tied up to the tree in the back yard barking viciously.
CUT – Back window opens. Mom looks out.
MOM – "Joey!"
CUT – Medium shot of kids in yard. Joey looks towards the house.
MOM – "What is that dog barking for like that."
CUT – Mom in window.
MOM - "What are you doing to him?"
CUT – Point of view of Mom. She sees the kids in the back yard. But the wagon with the clown is blocked by a yard chair & table set (or something).
JOEY – "Nothin mom."
MOM – Well stop what ever you do & come get ready for dinner."
JOEY – "Yeah, yeah."
CUT – Mom leaving window.
CUT – Low angle – Clown laying in wagon in foreground, kids looking towards him.
BOY 3 – "So what are we gonna do with him?"
BOY 2 – "Yeah, I thought we were going to play with him."
CUT – Close up of dogs head, eyes.
BOY 1 – "Well I got to go eat. We’ll play with him tomorrow."
BOY 2 – "So we just going to leave him here?"
CUT – Close up of bag of fertilizer. The clown’s lifeless body falls back against it. (if we can zoom we zoom out – If we can’t we use a series of cuts or dolly out). As we back out we see that the kids have moved him there. They are wiping their hands & clothes.
BOY 2 – "Man he smells."
BOY 3 – "He’ll be safe in here?"
BOY 1 – "Yeah, the tool shed is the best place."
We back out further as they talk and close the door.
CUT – Close up of dead clowns’ face darkening as the door is closed. Flies are heard.
CUT – Medium shot of dog as kids walk by.
BOY 1 – "So see you guys tomorrow."
OTHERS – "Okay, bye."
CUT – Close up of dog’s face looking as last boy passes.
BLACKNESS
Would be cool if we could do this following all in one shot – Or a series of shots that can be edited seamlessly)
The sound of a police radio is heard. Fade in to close up of police lights. We hear a discussion going on. We move from the lights to the front of the house. A policeman is talking to the boy’s mom & dad.
DAD – "….I don’t know, he told me he found him in the woods."
COP – "Well where is he now?"
DAD – How should I know. I saw him there before I called you & now he’s gone. How the hell am I supposed to know what happened to him.
MOM – "It was a dead clown."
COP – "You told me that Ma’am but I want to know if you did see it where is it now?"
The camera moves along and we see Joey (Boy 1) sitting on the stairs. Boy 2 is with him.
BOY 2 – "So he just left?"
BOY 1 – "He must have. My dad must have scared him when he went to the shed this morning."
BOY 2 – "Man, are you gonna be in trouble?"
BOY 1 – " No, I don’t think so. But I think me dad is."
As we move past the boys towards the yard the camera looks to the front as we see the cop escorting the dad to the police car.
DAD – "Look why are you arresting me? I haven’t done anything!"
CAP – "Sir, calling in prank calls to the police station is not a light offense."
DAD – "Oh, you got to be kidding. It was there, I swear!"
The camera spins slowly back to the direction it’s moving to and passes the tree that the dog was tied to. We pan down & see that the rope is there but chewed through. We pan back up towards the shed and we see that it is indeed empty. We pan downwards & continue to move along as we see dragging tracks through the dirt & leaves. As we follow them to behind the shed we see the clown laying there with the dog chewing away at part of his body.
BLACKOUT
THE END
Copyright ©2000 Roger B. Domian, Tady Garcia
That was it, done deal. Tadeo loved it & a shooting scheduled was made up for shooting.
A couple days before shooting he mailed me & told me he had a different idea for the end. Mainly because the dog was probably going to be a big problem. I kind of agreed & found out what it was.
Instead of the dog taking the clown, we find out that the little boy does. After the father gets arrested we follow the boy (now called Andy) to his basement into the furnace room. There we see the dead clown as the boy says, 'I won't let them take you from me'.
Man I thought that was pretty creepy. What the hell kind of kid would do that, but then again, what type of kid would bring a dead clown home? It made sense to me & we agreed that that was the route to go.
So, that following weekend we started to shoot Tadeo's first little epic 'Greasepaint'.
Continue to
Copyright ©2001 Roger B. Domian