Save This Script! Episode 4

Save This Script! Episode 4

Mark Suszko December 5, 2022

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NOTE: We've altered the format a bit; and you're in the script now. Read on:

Fade IN: INT. THE EARTHWORM UNDERGROUND, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - DAY Jacob, president of the local chapter of The Earthworm Underground ( TEU ), stands next to a large compost bin, talking with MARK, who is a principal in Glendower Productions. MARK Worrell the worm. I assume that's an off-the-cuff suggestion? JACOB On no, Hes our spokesworm. National wants this to get Worrells name recognition way up there. MARK So hes animated? JACOB He was created by this artist whos the son of a national board member. In fact, Worrell's copyrighted, and only this artist can draw him. MARK So you're targeting the kids with this? JACOB Oh no, everyone benefits from worm composting. MARK Is there a specific message? JACOB It's an Earth Day thing. We want it in heavy rotation the three weeks before Earth Day. MARK But it doesn't necessarily need to be about Earth Day? JACOB Well sure. Earth Day. Earthworms. Its a natural. MARK What specifically is the tie in? JACOB I've been reading this book on marketing. It says benefit to the customer is most important. So here's what Worrell can say about benefits from worm composting. Jacob hands to Mark a page containing the following: (WORRELL VOICE): Hi, Kids, Farmers, and Restaurant owners! I'm Worrell the Worm, and I'm here to tell you it's that time of year again, when we celebrate Earth Day! How will YOU help Mother Earth on her birthday? Well, you could start a worm farm of your very own; it's easy AND fun for the whole family, school, or office! We'll show you how with our Worm Wise Information pack, that tells you how to do it, with a magnetic bumper sticker for your car and plus, great information on how worms make your soil healthier and promote good drainage in rainy seasons, and how we can compost your kitchen table scraps into great free plant food that substitutes for chemical fertilizers. We even make a plant pest remover called Worm Tea that can help your house plants. And, you can learn about the abuse of pesticides and fertilizers that can hurt soil microorganisms; they're my friends. Like the millions of useful soil bacteria that live in just one teaspoon-ful of dirt! And did you know that if you practice no-till post-harvest field preparation, you increase your soil's ability to hold storm water and reduce wind-blown soil erosion by 15 percent or more? Did you? Talk to your local municipal park board or golf course grounds staff about having me come visit your park or golf course to make it worm-safe! I even come to schools to teach kids all about the secrets of soil. So call to order that Worm Wise Information pack, and find out all about it!

MARK And this is a thirty-second spot? JACOB I know we can't fit it all in. MARK Does your book say anything about selling the sizzle instead of the steak? JACOB I've heard of that. MARK Thirty seconds is more of a sizzle length of time. JACOB There's plenty of sizzle in what you have there. MARK We may need to take it up a level. What's a gee-whiz fact that these benefits lead to? JACOB Everything grows better. MARK What's the biggest operation using worm compost? JACOB Entire golf courses use it. MARK There's some sizzle. JACOB Schools do everything from including the students in composting cafeteria waste to buying local. MARK Localvore is starting to sizzle. And what do you want the audience to do? JACOB All of it. Raise worms, use compost, reduce chemical fertilizer use. MARK Is there a specific call to action; an easy thing to do right now. JACOB That worm wise information kit is something we want in everyones hands. INT. GLENDOWER OFFICE - DAY Mark, and another company principal, JOHN, are reviewing the client-provided source material. JOHN If the animator isn't coming out of our budget, this could be sweet. MARK Illustrator. JOHN You mean no animation experience? MARK Zilcho. But we can get a base drawing with an insert of the mouth in several different positions. JOHN Great. So we have it all covered except for what the spot is actually about. MARK They do have this ant farm thing with a glass side that would let us shoot some worms burrowing through the compost heap. JOHN And stock footage of golf courses, school kids, and backyard gardens shouldn't be hard to find. MARK Sizzle. Sizzle. JOHN That Earth Day thing bothers me. A non-profit usually doesn't have budget for something that works only three weeks out of the year. MARK So give it a tag. The last ten seconds shows the Web address for getting the information kit, and the voiceover--that can be changed at any time--can say Earth Day, Merry Christmas, or whatever. JOHN We could record three different tags while we have the voice talent in the studio and deliver all three versions for what's already budgeted. MARK Or pitch it as an upsell? JOHN Dollar signs. Let's do this. INT. GLENDOWER OFFICES -DAY Mark and John are mulling options JOHN So those benefits we were talking about fill the screen, while Worrell talks in voiceover about how earthworm composting helps to make them happen. Heres the script, so you can read along.

John reads his Buried Treasure script:

VIDEO AUDIO

Worrell, dressed as Indiana Jones, talks to the camera in his underground office. WORRELL: In my underground adventures,

The shot loosens to reveal a tunnel leading out of the office, then zooms into the tunnel. I've seen treasure.

Burrowing worms inside a glass-sided compost bin. It's created by my friends here.

Begin a montage of plants, vegetables, flowers, and grass. And it's good as gold for making plants grow, making grass greener, and reducing dependence on expensive che

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