Predominantly Blue (pdf format) by KP Mackie
A mother makes a special baby quilt.
Writing a short screenplay requires specialized skill. Hyper-streamlined language – evoking a maximum of visuals. A defined beginning, middle and (satisfying) end – contained in the tiniest of boxes.
Imagine the box just got smaller. Much like the introductory scenes of Pixar’s “Up”, Predominantly Blue has all the emotional power of a big Hollywood tear-jerker. Delivered in less than two pages. And a scant two lines of dialogue.
The script opens quietly. Karen (30s) works late into the night sewing a baby quilt. The color’s predominantly blue. Her husband Greg sneaks in to check on her. Together, they stand at the foot of their infant son Michael’s crib. The perfect family personified. But there’s a shadow of something else in the room. Remnants of something that is no more.
Within the next half a page, the full meaning behind author KP Mackie’s careful details are unveiled. Literally punching readers in the gut. Speaking as a veteran writer, I’ve reviewed hundreds of shorts. Yet Predominantly Blue has haunted me through the years. The sadness of the script never wanes. Your heart breaks over, and over again.
The perfect script for a “serious” director, PB features virtually no dialogue – relying on skilled cinematography and acting to tell its tale. Choose your talent for this one wisely. It’s sure to be a film festival favorite.
Pages: One+
Budget: Minimal. Three main characters. A house. A church load of extras. Make a small donation, and film on Sunday.
About the writer: California uber reader/reviewer KP Mackie is working hard on her animated feature.
About the reviewer: David M Troop resumed writing in 2011 after a twenty-five year hiatus. Since then, he has written about 50 short scripts, two of which have been produced. Dave would like to make it three. Born on the mean streets of Reading, PA, Dave now resides in Schuylkill Haven with his wife Jodi and their two lazy dogs Max and Mattie. He can be reached at dtroop506 (a) gmail.com.
Read Predominantly Blue (pdf format)
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
7 Comments so far
1.
Scott & Paula Merrow
August 27th, 2014 at 7:52 pm
Great script. Powerful story. Great choice for a filmmaker who’s looking for a low-budget project with a big emotional impact.
2.
marnieml
August 28th, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Powerful and moving. Great job, KP. I especially like that it’s nothing like Slumdog Millionaire.
3.
Lee O'Connor
August 29th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
I agree with Linda, this is a sad tale and should pull on the heart strings, it just lacks passion for me. Just my opinion of course.
4.
Janet Goodman
August 29th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
I really like this one. What’s so great about it is the focus on the visuals to tell the story. I have a feeling it’ll hit home more with people who have kids… but probably others, too (I don’t have them, and it worked for me!) It deserves a great cinematographer and director, though – to really emphasize the underlying emotion.
5.
Dave Troop
August 29th, 2014 at 10:55 pm
As I stated in my review, I felt this script would be a great challenge for a talented filmmaking team. It’s been a few years since I first read it, and the emotional impact remains strong for me.
I connected with the script immediately, and I felt in the hands of the right director, this would be a powerful and beautiful film.
6.
Rick Hansberry
August 30th, 2014 at 7:21 am
Beautiful yet haunting. KP, this script carries strong visuals and the understated presentation makes the ending so powerful. I liked the tenderness exhibited in the couple by the minimal interaction but I especially liked the way you foreshadowed the climax and gave such emotion to a story that extends barely beyond a page. This would translate well to the screen and I hope it finds a home with the right director because it surely would be a festival favorite. Best of luck with it!
7.
Gary Howell
August 31st, 2014 at 11:49 pm
The thing about this script is that the beauty lies in its simplicity and brevity. To tell a story with that much depth in just a page (okay, just over a page), takes a deft hand. Easily filmed and one, like Dave said, would stay with the viewer for a long time.