Storyboard - The Curse of the Poison Warlock!

by Bill Davis

Prop List

• 2 flashlights (or a flashlight and a camp lantern)
• 2-3 backpacks
• A tent (or large sheet draped over a rope)
• 2-3 sleeping bags
• Blue food coloring

Whether it's campers in the woods being menaced by "something unseen," or a monstrous mutant threatening to devour an entire planet - we all seem to love a good scary movie. Making one isn't as hard as you might think. You don't need fancy sets, or expensive equipment. With this handy, step-by-step storyboard, a few props and your camcorder, you can create a scary video in your own backyard. The entire video can be shot and edited in a couple hours. If you start now, you can finish in time to scare your friends this weekend!

SHOT 1

Video Black screen (audio only)

Audio Kid 1 (oldest): It's called "Poison Warlock." An evil horticultural genius crossed poison ivy, hemlock and a rare fungus he found in deepest Africa

SHOT 2

Video Flashlight snaps on, up-lighting the face of the storyteller (Kid 1), flanked by two other kids in sleeping bags inside a tent.

Audio Kid 1 (continues): It was supposed to be kept secret, but some of the spores escaped.

SHOT 3

Video Kids 2 and 3 looking extremely frightened. Behind them a lantern or flashlight silhouettes a towering figure outside the tent.

Audio Kids scream. "Yikes!" "EEEeeek!"

SHOT 4

Video The interior flashlight is extinguished and after a pause they hear dad, from outside.

Audio Dad: "Okay kids, this is your last warning. Put the lights out and go to sleep or there'll be no camping trips next year!"

SHOT 5

Video FADE UP from black to an interior shot of a kitchen door. They enter and set their backpacks on the kitchen table.

Audio Kid 1: I love camping.

Kid 2: Me too.

Kid 3: (hesitant) Yeah.... me too - I guess.

SHOT 6

Video Alternate CU's of the kids.

Audio Kid 1: What's the matter? Did that story last night scare you?

Kid 3: No - it's just - well, maybe a little.

Kid 1: There's no such thing as "Poison Warlock" plant, silly. It's just a dumb story.

SHOT 7

Video Driveway. MS over Dad's shoulder as he gets out of the car. He reaches back and vigorously scratches his shoulder before bending down to grab the sleeping bags.

Audio Natural sound. Suspenseful music begins.

SHOT 8

Video TRACKING SHOT following Dad as he walks up to the kitchen door. As he nears the back door the camera pushes in to a close-up of the back of his neck, showing large, blue spots on his skin.

Audio Suspenseful music builds.

SHOT 9

Video MS of kids in kitchen.

Audio Kid 2: That's right, it's just a scary story...

SHOT 10

Video Kid 2 turns towards the doorway and a look of horror crosses his/her face.

Audio Suspenseful music continues to build.

SHOT 11

Video CU Kid 3's horrified reaction.

Audio "AAAAAAaaaaaaaaa!!!"

SHOT 12

Video CU Kids 1 and 3 react in horror.

Audio "EEEEEEEeeeeeeee!!!"

SHOT 13

Video Over dad's shoulder we see the kids cower in the background. He raises both arms and a horrible sound emerges from his throat. The kids run from the room.

Audio Dad: "GRRRRRrrrrrrowl!"

Kids 1,2 & 3 "Mommmmmmmmm!!!!"

SHOT 14

Video MCU dad standing in the doorway, his expression a grimace and his face covered in blue spots.

Audio The scream becomes a loud yawn as he stretches, then smiles.

SHOT 15

Video XCU dad's blue-spotted hand places a bottle on the kitchen countertop. The camera reveals the label: FOOD COLORING - BLUE.

Audio Dad (laughing): "Honey, we're home."

THE DIALOGUE

Scene 1 - Campsite

Kid 1: It's called "Poison Warlock." An evil horticultural genius crossed poison ivy, hemlock and a rare fungus he found in deepest Africa. It was supposed to be kept secret, but some of the spores escaped. The lab was upwind of this very campsite. They say that anyone who brushes against the leaves is instantly infected!

Once it's on your skin it gets into your blood and starts a horrible mutation in your cells. The first stage is just itching. But then spots appear on your skin, like measles, only blue!

Then it infects your brain and you become a maniac unable to stop yourself from attacking everyone you see - even your family and your best friends!

Kids 2&3:

Yikes! EEEeeek!

Dad:Okay kids, this is your last warning. Put the lights out and go to sleep or there'll be no camping trips next year!

Scene 2 - Back Home

Kid 1 I love camping.

Kid 2 Me too.

Kid 3 (hesitant) Yeah.... me too - I guess.

Kid 1 What's the matter did that story last night scare you?

Kid 3 No - it's just - well, maybe a little.

Kid 1 There's no such thing as "Poison Warlock" plant, silly. It's just a dumb story.

Kid 2 That's right, it's just a scary story...

Dad GRRRRRrrrrrrowl!

Kids (all) Mommmmmmmmm!!!!

Dad Honey, we're home.

Three Easy Setups

1. Our first setting is the traditional place for scary stories - a campout. Of course, the magic of video is such that there's no need to really set up camp. The entire opening sequence takes place inside a tent, which can be set up anywhere even in your living room.
2. Our second location is in a typical kitchen or dining room with a door leading outside.
3. The third setup is outside in a driveway.

This article originally appeared in the Videomaker Magazine December, 2000 issue. Pages 111-113
Reprinted with permission from Videomaker Magazine, Chico CA., Videomaker Inc. All Rights Reserved
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