The Oafish Standard Lamp

The Empathy Lamp Shop Arson Narrative Development

3/20/2012 CG Arts & Animation UCA Rochester David John Vandepeer (Stitch)

The Oafish Lamp Idea 6: The mysterious antique shop arson Premise A mystery that can only be explained through true stupidity. Log Line A burnt out building can be seen post fire, the clock is rewound for the audience to see the release of a new slouching lamp, a lamp who is responsible for the chaos. 3 Act Structure (End, Beginning, Middle, End) Act 3: A burnt out lamp shop can be seen post fire; a fire truck can be heard as flashing lights reflect from the lingering broken glass. The story is then reverted to Act 1 in the form of a flashback, revealing the idiocy of a brand new slouching lamp. Act 1: A shop window can be seen at night showcasing various lamp designs, from the display a slouching lamps bulb flickers & it awakens. The lamp turns and enthusiastically hops over to the other lamps on display; it unknowingly trips over its own wire. The lamp then stands & tries to shake off its clumsy fall. Act 2: The slouching lamp hops over to another lamp on display, in an attempt to show off the slouching lamp trips over its wire a second time which infuriates it. The lamp begins tugging on its wire which rips the plug socket from the wall; sparks begin to ignite the carpet. The camera cuts to the slouching lamp aghast & to the exterior of the shop as the glow of flames become present. The scene cross-fades into the opening scene post fire (Act 3). The end credits show the burnt building, a faint bulb begins to flicker in the back of the shop, presumably another slouching lamp. Treatment A curious fire has been caused in the ever popular empathy lamp shop, a shop fabled for the latest & greatest lamp designs. We are taken on a journey back to earlier in the evening when a tragedy occurred. A new prototype Slouching lamp is rendered dormant next to an array of unusual lamp designs, the shop is closed for the night and everything appears normal, until the slouching lamps bulb flickers suddenly transcending it to life. The slouching lamp enthusiastically hops over to the other lamps on display, not realising that it is plugged in. The lamp trips over its cord, quickly rising to its foot trying to shake off the idiocy showcased in its clumsy fall.

The slouching lamp hops over to another lamp & jumps while spinning in an attempt to show off. The lamp once again underestimates its wire & trips over it a second time. The lamp becomes infuriated & starts tugging hard on its wire, after a few tugs the socket rips from the wall emitting sparks all over the floor. We are met by the lamps realisation of his idiocy prior to being relocated to the exterior street which fades to the present post fire scene. As the credits roll we are met with a hesitant bulb, a light slowly flickers from the back of the shop debris, presumably another slouching lamp. Step Outline ACT 3 (END) SCENE 1 EXT. ANTIQUE LAMP SHOP DAY 10:30PM DIP FROM BLACK A debris riddled lamp shop can be seen post fire, everything is indistinguishable as a fire truck can be heard ringing into the distance reflecting its lights on the fire damaged glass pane. From the sirens and spark sounds the camera gradually fades to white as time rewinds in the form of a flashback. DIP TO WHITE ACT 1 (BEGINNING) INT. ANTIQUE LAMP SHOP DAY SCENE 2 9:45PM A shop window can be seen at night with an array of unusual lamp designs.

The bulb begins to flicker from the shops newest design entitled The slouching lamp, which is imminently transcended to life. In a haze of excitement the lamp hops over to some of its display fellows, in doing so the lamp trips over its own wire. (Enter laughter SFX) The lamp clambers back to its foot and tries to shake off its clumsy trip with infuriated grin. DIP TO BLACK ACT 2 (MIDDLE) SCENE 3 The slouching lamp hops over to another lamp on display and attempts to show off. The lamp jumps while spinning inevitably wrapping itself in its own wire, the lamp trips a second time (Enter laughter SFX) which only infuriates it further. The lamp begins tugging on its wire which rips the socket from the wall, sparks begin to emit from the exposed wire igniting the shops carpet. The camera moves to the face of our outraged slouching lamp before returning to the shops exterior pre fire. The pre-fire scene cross-fades into the post fire scene in Act 3. CROSSFADE EXT. ANTIQUE LAMP SHOP DAY SCENE 4 ACT 3 (END RETURN) The end credits show the burnt out empathy shop in silence until a spark is heard, from the window a bulb can be seen flickering, another slouching lamp... or is it? DIP TO BLACK END