Earthborn Script Draft (sample)

 Ch. 1

Pg. 1

PANEL 1

Establishing shot/wide shot. We see a cluster of small buildings in the distance, then a wide, grassy field that gradually turns into a hill. On top of the hill is a wooden fence and a small figure climbing over it. Both of these are almost totally in shadow.

1. My name is Rivi Redwing. I’m 12 years old.

PANEL 2

Rivi pauses and looks back towards the village, his face wistful, maybe slightly regretful.

PANEL 3

He sighs, and the camera is turned towards his face again.

PANEL 4

Another wide shot. Rivi is standing with his back to the audience,so we can see his wings clearly for the first time.

1. And today, I am running away.

Page 2

PANEL 1

A side view of Rivi, pushing through bushes/brambles.

Rivi: I can feel something calling me. 

PANEL 2

The camera zooms out, and we see Rivi climbing over a large boulder.

Rivi: I’m just not sure what.

PANEL 3

We see a fair haired, freckled boy, also with wings. His back is turned to us, but we can see part of his face. He is smiling. The tone is clearly nostalgic.

Panel 4

A close up of Rivi (eyes not visible) frowning and clenching the strap of his bag. 

Panel 5

Another zoomed out shot. Rivi is filling his canteen at a small stream.

Page 3

PANEL 1

A medium shot of Rivi from the front, holding his canteen and looking slightly surprised as he hears rustling from the bushes behind him.

PANEL 2

Seeing nothing, he shrugs nonchalantly and goes back to filling his canteen.

PANEL 3

A shadowed figure leaps above/behind Rivi. It is brandishing a knife. None of its features are visible. Rivi is either terrified or doesn’t see it at all.

PANEL 4
The figure holds a knife to Rivi’s neck. Rivi is clearly completely terrified.

Figure: You’re a long ways from home, bird boy.

Pg. 4

PANEL 1

The figure gracefully leaps down from Rivi’s back. We now see that it is a young girl, about Rivi’s age, wearing some sort of skull mask(?). Rivi turns and grins at her.

Rivi: Ava Rose! I haven’t seen you in ages!

PANEL 2

Ava Rose wipes her knife off on the hem of her clothing.

Ava: So where’s your friend?

PANEL 3

Note: not in notebook

Another flashback of the fair haired boy, possibly standing with his back facing the camera, facing a cliff.

PANEL 4

Rivi stands there, dusting himself off casually.

Rivi: Oh, Remi? Um, I’m about to go meet him actually. At our (in small text) secret hideout.

PANEL 5

Ava Rose rolls her eyes, her knife still in hand.

Ava: Secret hideout. Riiiight. I bet I could find it with my eyes closed.