SoCal Film Fest: ACT I

FADE IN

EXT. HUNTINGTON BEACH - AFTERNOON

Many shots of mothers pushing strollers down sidewalks, Teenage girls riding bikes, and young men strolling.

INT. Huntington Beach Central Library - AFTERNOON

Welcome to the SoCal Film Festival, an intimate sized local film festival in Southern California.

MOONDANCE KID, nineteen, naive -- but trying hard to look professional -- enters the library and shows all fest pass to the woman behind the counter. Moondance is wearing a university shirt.

COUNTER

Screenwriter? Filmmaker? Where are you coming from?

MOONDANCE

Both. I'm from Temecula.

COUNTER

How did you hear about the festival?

MOONDANCE

I was searching online for an affordable festival.

COUNTER

Nice. Thanks for driving out so far. Did you work on one of the films?

MOONDANCE

No, I just came to show my support and check it out.

COUNTER

Enjoy the festival.

INT. CULTURAL CENTER THEATER - NIGHT

Screening effects show time of dozens of short films passing. In between films clapping and people coming in and out of the theater while Moondance stays put in the center of the theater.

EXT. HUNTINGTON BEACH CENTRAL LIBRARY - MIDNIGHT

Moondance is heading out to go home. As entering car, stopped by a young man. Bret Allen, the film editor of the last horror film.

BRET

I have a few friends who went to that school.

Bret points to Moondance's shirt. Moondance laughs.

MOONDANCE

It's a huge university, I'm Moondance.

BRET

Did you work on any of the films that we just watched?

MOONDANCE

No, I just came to show my support.

BRET

I worked on the last film, The Arm. Are you a filmmaker?

MOONDANCE

Yes, I'm working on a documentary about religion in Brazil.

BRET

That's awesome! Do you have an angle on it?

MOONDANCE

I don't yet. I'm going down in a couple weeks. I'll research and see what I have to work with.

BRET

That's awesome. I'm a film editor and I've been working at a local television studio for five years now.

A group of three heavy nerdy looking guys come up and begin talking to Bret about the successes of the premeire of their first feature film.

MOONDANCE

Is this the rest of your crew?

BRET

Yes, this is.

MOONDANCE

Hi I'm Moondance.

DIRECTOR

I'm Matt Wirth. I directed, wrote and produced the film.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

I'm Michael Diaz.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

I'm Peter.

MOONDANCE

Nice to meet you all.

DIRECTOR

What did you think of the film?

MOONDANCE

I wasn't fond of the talent choices, but it was executed really well. I'd definitely hire the director, cinematographer, and director of photography of the film.

DIRECTOR

Sweet! Suckers! That was our first film.

MOONDANCE

Well it was nice to meet all of you, but it's late and I have a two hour drive ahead of me.

ALL BID FAREWELL

Each of the four men exchange cards with Moondance. Moondance gets in car and drives out of shot.

FADE OUT