Unproduced Scripts – The Sandman

This time, the unproduced script we are reviewing is The Sandman, which can be accessed here:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/g1cgoov76ddmmlb/THE_SANDMAN.pdf

What’s It About?

Los Angeles 1939. David, a young orphan, is adopted by Doyle, who owns a movie museum. As a birthday present, Doyle gives David the only surviving copy of a mysterious horror movie called “The Sandman”, whose director, John Gabriel, was committed to an asylum following the murder of his wife Elizabeth. Ten years later, David is employed by the businessman James Fairchild to take his blind daughter Alexa to the movies and describe them for her. However, when the reel containing “The Sandman” is stolen, David and Alexa find themselves caught in a conflict between the sadistic gangster Maximillian Graves and the mysterious Sandman, the titular monster from the movie who may or may or may not exist for real.

How Long Is It?

The Sandman is 105 pages long.

5 Screenwriting Lessons – The Sandman

(The Following May Contain Spoilers)

Characters Need To Face Their Fears – David’s most notable flaw is his claustrophobia. It is first set up in a simple but effective manner when he has a brief anxiety attack in Fairchild’s car, and it hinders him throughout his mission, during which he is often forced to go into several dark and small spaces. In the climax, he has to face up to his fears when Graves locks him inside a drawer in an underground morgue. The presence of this flaw increases the tension during the climax and ensures David has a character arc – he has become a stronger and more proactive character as a result of successfully facing up to his insecurities. Character growth such as this defines an effective protagonist.

Not all of the fears that the characters face are as direct and tangible as David’s. Some are based on guilt and inadequacy. As the story progresses, David seeks out Valentine Fitzgerald, a washed-up actor and friend of John Gabriel, to solve the mystery regarding the Sandman. After a visit to the asylum in which Gabriel was interred, Valentine admits that he feels responsible for the death of his wife, who killed herself following a miscarriage. Because we have grown to like Valentine, his revelation hits hard, and we are soon rooting for him to redeem himself, which he eventually does in the climax. Having to face up to a flaw forces a protagonist to grow in order to tackle it, and makes them far more interesting.

Avoid The Stereotypical – The set-up of “The Sandman” involving a terrifying monster and an allegedly cursed film, sounds like a typical horror movie. When David first sees him as a child, the Sandman is depicted as an ominous figure, threatening him over the film reel and making enigmatic and threatening comments such as “You’re willing to die for the sake of a film. One day you might get the chance.” This perception steadily changes as the Sandman cryptic comments turn out to contain clues that lead David towards the true story of what happened to John Gabriel. In the third act, the Sandman is revealed to be Gabriel, disfigured by an Arson attack on the Sunnyvale Asylum, and willing to die in order to protect David.  By making the Sandman into a tragic and realistic figure, the script ensures that he stands out from the monstrous stereotype expected from his introduction.

This is also true for the villain, Maximillian Graves. When he is introduced, Graves is set up as a stereotypical sadistic thug. This is even highlighted in the description of him, which likens him to Al Capone. As the story progresses, we find out that Graves’ motives are far deeper and more personal than a simple desire for money at all costs; he is a former classmate of Gabriel who hated being upstaged by him constantly and created an elaborate scheme to wreak his revenge. This makes Graves a more plausible and threatening villain, as his insecurity and resentment are easy to understand, but the lengths to which he will go in order to assert his superiority over his former rival make him even more dangerous.

Gothic Films Need Gothic Scenery – The Sandman makes frequent use of the dark, mysterious scenery commonly associated with Gothic movies. One example of this is in the depiction of Wild Manor, the deserted estate on which Gabriel filmed “The Sandman”. The various items inside include a “dusty, gloomy, cobwebbed” chandelier and a boarded-up door which “used to be elegant years ago”. These items show that the building was once opulent, but has now fallen into a derelict state. This contrast between the beauty of the building and its state of disrepair provides an interesting foundation for mystery and intrigue, and this is always the basis for a good gothic mystery.

Another memorable location is the set of tunnels which David and Valentine head through on their way to the final confrontation with Graves. The tunnels are an “endless, nightmarish maze” full of “shadowy” passages. This is a simple and efficient way to show that they are mysterious and threatening. In the descriptions for both Wild Manor and the underground tunnels, the use of dark and gloomy imagery sets an ominous tone which increases tension and makes it easier for the reader to visualise what is happening. This makes the script more memorable and ensures that the audience want to read on.

Understand What Makes A Movie Great – David first meets Doyle in the Museum of Lost Souls, a movie museum that gets its name from Doyle’s belief that movies reflect the souls of their makers and viewers. The descriptions of the museum reflect the excitement and mystery it contains, as David, who is a keen artist but has never seen a film in his life, finds himself amazed by the “world of wonders” containing heroes, villains and all the other memorable characters that make a movie great. This reflects the mystique that movies should have, as they allow viewers to visit all sorts of situations and worlds that are unique and fascinating.  

This focus on the magic of film is highlighted through the frequent references to famous stories and poems. Valentine frequently alludes to stories by Edgar Allen Poe and Greek Mythology. Alexa’s favourite poem is Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shallot”, whose confined existence parallels her own, as well as that of the Sandman. Even Graves enjoys quoting WB Yeats. This use of the literary arts reflects the fact that filmmaking is a creative medium too, and emphasises the fact that it is just as valid and important as the older types of storytelling.

Inevitability Increases Suspense – The dangers which David will face are foreshadowed early in the film when he meets a gypsy fortune teller. She gives him three Tarot cards: “Loss and loneliness” for the past, a “terrible danger” for the present and a “reflection of death” for the future. The last two cards are intriguing, as the reader has no idea of exactly what the “terrible danger” is, and how it involves the mysterious Sandman. Furthermore, they are left wondering what the fortune teller means when she tells David about a “reflection of death”. Neither of these prophecies can be understood until later on in the story, which ensures that audience continues reading.

Another way in which the script increases suspense through information only the audience knows is by drawing attention to the parallels between David and Gabriel. Both are obsessed with films, and are in love with the beautiful daughters of upper-class tycoons. This serves two purposes: First of all, it foreshadows the climactic reveal that David is Gabriel’s son. Secondly, it highlights the possibility that David’s relationship with Alexa could end in tragedy like Gabriel’s romance with his leading lady Elizabeth Wild. Because both David and Alexa are interesting characters, and their connection with each other is depicted in a truthful and interesting manner, the prospect of disaster worries the viewer, but also intrigues them, as they want to know what exactly it will be and how it will impact both protagonists.

Verdict

The Sandman is a unique and atmospheric script which deserves to be made into a film. The characters are all interesting and memorable. The heroes have a number of realistic flaws and quirks, and the villain is both threatening and well-developed. The scenery is depicted vividly, skilfully conveying both the darkness of some locations and the magic of others, whilst foreshadowing is used in a clever manner that increases suspense. Most importantly, the writer understands why movies are so popular and iconic; They are the results of creative imaginations, and they inspire people. This love of film makes the screenplay stand out, and, as a result, it is highly recommended.