Shooting "Over Your Head"

In Screenwriting class, our NFI students wrote 2 pages of a larger script. The following week, they pitched their scripts to the cinematography instructor (Lou Chanatry) and one was selected for filming. The following week, the students each cut their own version of the film in their editing class.

This is the script by Brent Louis Miller that was selected for filming, accompanied by stills pulled from the raw footage:


Over Your Head (Scene 11)
By Brent Louis Miller

INT. Outside of Office. Day.

Donald gets ready to knock on the door, overhears conversation.

O.S.
Gino (angry)
That doesn’t matter now.---Take him to the river. Bud will meet you
there with the Quick-crete.

Gino slams down the phone.
Gino
Dumb bastard.

Donald knocks on door.

Gino (waving him in and pointing at chair)
How’s my favorite Hotel Partner? We full yet? You know, I want a big neon sign saying “No Vacancies.”

Donald (nervous)
Not quite yet, but getting there.


Gino
Been aiming to tell you something. Want you to put my penthouse
Down on the bottom floor.

Donald
But your top floor is nearly ready…

Gino
Some of my overnight guests may want to slip out discreetly, if you
Know what I mean.

Donald
I got that, but—

Gino (threatening)
--Don’t disappoint me, Don.

Gino stands.

Gino (jovially)
Move a few walls, work your magic.
Gino moves around the desk to sit on it, towering over Donald.

Gino
Soo, what’s up?

Donald
I was kinda hoping that you could give me that final loot we talked about.

Gino
You finished?

Donald starts to protest.

Donald
Well--

Gino
--I didn’t think so.

Gino stands, walks behind Donald’s chair, looking out the window, chewing on his cigar.

Donald (twisting in his chair)
Super-plush is expensive. We want the best bands, booze and broads—
we got to pay up front.

Donald stands and cautiously approaches Gino.

Donald
Now I say, Rolling Stones, don’t play gin joints. We gotta
have class and class costs.

Gino (still facing the window, his back to Donald)
You expecting to get that Palm Beach house any time soon, you
got to learn to keep a schedule, bub.

Gino turns and puts his arm around Donald in a roughish headlock—giving him a frat house noggie—with an edge of aggression. Escorting him toward the door.

Gino
Bossman’s in town Christmas. Told him he could stay in my penthouse. You know, bossman don’t like sleeping outside.

Donald (as he exits)
Got it. Not outside.