Wanting to complete a mashup of secret recordings of his warring parents' arguing before they split, a troubled teen needs to cope with unexpected consequences.
Type:
Short
Status:
Available for Free
Page Count:
10pp
Genre:
Drama
Budget:
Shoestring
Age Rating:
13+
Synopsis/Details

A mic dangling in a hallway relays to a rebellious TEEN, in his attic bedroom, sounds of his parents’ arguing downstairs. Blocking it out with earphones, he returns to creating fractured music from sounds recorded in the streets. The parents insist they're at loggerheads in large part due to Teen’s unruliness as much as the stresses caused by money worries. The impacting has the Teen undertaking self-harm. His younger sister sleeps fitfully. She says she doesn't want the parents splitting. Teen decides he must use his audio skills to quell the parents' discordance before they break-up. Needing to augment his kit for his hoax to work, he breaks in and steals money from a wealthy neighbour across the road (all seen through a window at home. The resultant lavalier mic concealed, he gets statements from each parent. He sets to, creating a mashup of selected words from the recordings merged with a melodic soundscape. He notes police arriving at the neighbour’s place. Hastens his assemblage. As he goes and presents the neighbour with the gear bought with the stolen money, his sister sends the composition flooding through the house. Returning home, his sister is seen smiling at the top of the stairs, his parents in the hall, manifesting a glimmer of reconciliation.

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The Writer: Barry Staff

In parallel with an oddball 'career' in McJobs (roof-rack assembler, computer helpdesk, beer bottler, reject furniture salesman, draughtsman, goods-inward operative, a bouncer - briefly. . .), Barry has written a portfolio of feature screenplays, associated shorts and spinoffs. With multiple accolades and great coverage, he's helmed three of his shorts, with another produced by an Australian company, and a further one in post with a UK producer. He's had a TV series shortlisted by Channel 4, a purchase offer on a feature script, an option on another, and a shopping agreement on a third. Latest news: Winner - Kingston International Film Festival (Script to Screen Award): 'Mashup' Winner -… Go to bio
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