Shoot a Scene for Your Reel
The Package
For $100 (monologue) or $175* (scene), every QuickNickel client receives the following:
- Your complete, edited scene on one DVD (includes basic color correction, but not scoring; a score may be added by the actors or other third party)
- A QuickTime version of your scene for your Web site
- A QuickTime version of your scene for YouTube/Facebook
* Outdoor location only. Indoor locations will require extra time and lighting costs.
Requirements
- Scenes must be no more than one standard script page in length
- Monoglues are limited to 45 seconds
- Script must be submitted in advance of filming for review and sign-off
- Scenes are limited to two actors only
What Else?
- Be sure to work with an acting coach or teacher before the shoot
- Blocking and direction will be offereed as advice only. You are responsbile for your preparation and acting
- Locations and scene partners are the responsiblity of the actor to provide; I am happy to offer suggestions for locations, but again, the final responsibility is yours
| Sample Scenes | |||
 Jurisdiction |
 I'm a Cop | ||
 Charlie |
 Not the Same | ||
 Think It Through |
 Smoke Screen | ||
 Nobody Takes |
 St. Peter | ||
Sample Scripts
- NOTES:
- The scenes below are free to everyone. Nothing is copyrighted or registered so film away as is, or adapt and re-write to your heart's content.
- Most roles are non sex-specific; so "male" characters can be played by females, and vice versa.
- Ages are recommendations only. If you like the scene, but you aren't the "right" age, shoot it anyway.
- If you are interested in my writing a scene for you, I'm happy to do it, gratis. However, it must be made available on my site for anyone else to use.
- Obviously, I'd love it if you hired me to shoot a scene, but film away with your own crew if you'd rather.
NOTE FOR OTHER VIDEOGRAPHERS: Feel free to pass these scripts on to any prospective clients, but please do not remove the title page, or otherwise alter the attribution of the work.
Oh, and if you're going to base a movie on anything written here, at least credit me with the "Story By." Karma, and all that.
Click on the link to download the PDF file.
Under 15 seconds (Taglines, Interstitials, etc.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Actors (ages) | Synopsis | Notes |
| 50 Grand | 1 man (20s-50s) or 1 woman (20s-50s) |
Drama/Comedy Phone conversation where the other person is never heard. |
1) Would work well as a dynamic opening for a reel |
| Best Medicine | 1 or 2 men (20s-50s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-50s) |
One man's opinion on alternative medicine. | 1) Best if shot in a doctor's waiting room, but can be shot pretty much anywhere |
| Looking Good! | 1 or 2 men (20s-50s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-50s) |
Look close before you compare. | 1) You'll probably have to "borrow" any location that looks like a shopping area |
| Good Times | 1 or 2 men (20s-50s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-50s) |
I hope I was having fun. | 1) Probably works best for those who can look hung over while still playing deadpan |
| The Mark | 2 men (20s-30s) | A wiseass gets a shot in. | 1) Any song and some random conversation in the background can provide the "party" audio ambience |
| Movie Critic | 1 man (20s-60s) or 1 woman (20s-60s) |
Everyone's a critic. | 1) Easily shot as a (one-sided) phone conversation |
| Narnia | 1 man (20s-60s) or 1 woman (20s-60s) |
Comedy A quick comment on sexual compatibility. |
1) Easily shot as a (one-sided) phone conversation |
| Spoilers | 1 or men (20s-60s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-60s) |
Comedy Never reveal the ending. |
|
Monologues | |||
| These scenes are designed for one actor. Any other actor(s) will only be visible from "over the shoulder." | |||
| Title | Actors (ages) | Synopsis | Notes |
| Alejandro | 1 woman (20s-60s) | Comedy A woman counters the assertion that labor pains are the worst. |
1) Best if shot in a break room, but other locations can serve |
| Altar Boy #1 | 1 man (20s-30s) | Drama A man has been jilted at the altar. |
1) A tuxedo shirt and undone bow tie will help sell the scene |
| Altar Boy #2 | 1 man or woman (20s-30s) | Drama A man/woman has been jilted at the altar. |
1) A tuxedo shirt and undone bow tie, or a wedding dress for a woman, will sell the scene |
| Awkward | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
Comedy Miscommunication or Freudian slip? |
|
| Bad Night Stand | 1 man (20s-40s) | Comedy A man wakes up alone in a motel room. |
1) No need for a second actor |
| Blameless | 1 man or woman (20s-50s) | Drama A cop must deal with shooting a child |
1) The gun, badge, and bottle are optional depending on the framing, but a shoulder holster would really help sell the scene |
| Charlie | 1 man or woman (30s-50s) | Drama The price of lying is made very clear |
Can also use a prop gun |
| Different Needs | 1 woman(20s-60s) | Comedy A woman defends her life choices |
1) An open-faced motorcycle helmet would probably be funnier than a skating helmet 2) No need for a second actor |
| Ghosts | 1 woman (20s-40s) | Drama A police officer reminds her partner (and lover) of who she is |
|
| I'm a Cop | 1 woman (20s-40s) | Drama A police officer defends herself against a fellow officer's bullying |
1) Best if the actor has a street cop uniform, but a badge and gun would work, too |
| In French | 1 man or woman (20s-60s) | Comedy An appeal for simpler speaking |
|
| Jurisdiction | 1 man or woman(20s-50s) | An FBI agent makes it clear who is in charge. | 1) Tone is more "NCIS" than "The Shield" |
| Knowledge is Power | 1 man or woman(20s-50s) | A lawyer makes it clear that she's out for blood | |
| Little Voice | 1 woman (20s-30s) | A woman explains how she ended up where she is. | 1) This monologue will required reaction shots from a second actor |
| Morehouse Air Filters | 1 man or woman (20s-60s) | Commmercial/Industrial A spokesperson extols the virtues of Morehouse Air Filters |
|
| No You Left | 1 man or woman (20s-50s) | Drama A person pleads with their friend to sober up |
|
| Not a Hero | 1 man or woman (30s-50s) | Drama A detective explains why a witness will cooperate. |
|
| Not My Problem | 1 woman (20s-50s) | Drama A woman reminds her one-time lover who is in charge of her life |
|
| Slower Than a Speeding Bullet | 1 man or woman (20s-50s) | Drama A man explains to his wife that he knows his limitations |
|
| White Meat Only | 1 man(20s-60s) | Comedy A rock star explains why he won't play at Madison Square Garden |
1) Can also be shot in a limousine, by the pool, or any location that conveys wealth and fame 2) No need for a second actor |
Comedy | |||
| Title | Actors (ages) | Synopsis | Notes |
| Armed and Dangerous | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
A husband returns home early, and gets a surprise greeting from his wife. | 1) Fast, sitcom-style pacing |
| Bad Milk | 2 women (early-late 20s) | A friend offers a new perspective on taking back a cheater. | 1) Fast, sitcom-style pacing |
| Bank Shot | 2 men (20s-30s) | A man offers some advice on avoiding an awkward situation. | 1) Can be shot indoors or out |
| Best of Both Worlds | 2 men (20s-30s) | Two Star Trek nerds contemplate a new, improved Wesley Crusher. | 1) Can substitute prop light sabers, umbrellas, etc. for cardboard tubes 2) Alternate ending utilizes a third (mostly silent) actor 3) Will need a scene from Star Trek:TNG featuring Wil Wheaton's character to play on TV |
| Blank DVD | 2 women (early-late 20s) | A sister discovers some disturbing informationn about her younger brother. | 1) Fast, sitcom-style pacing |
| China Grove Forever! | 2 men (40s-50s) | Two men discuss the (generational) culture gap. | 1) Can be shot indoors or out |
| Crime and Punishment | 1 man (30s-40s) and 1 woman (30s-40s) |
Two people compare sins. | 1) Can be shot indoors or out |
| Fork to a Gunfight | 2 men (20s-30s) | Two gamers argue over tactics... and fashion... and time travel. | 1) The scene can be cut at "Renaissance Faire" for time |
| I Am the Power | 1 man (20s) and 1 woman (30s) |
An African-American woman instructs a would-be clothing designer. | 1) You'll need an ugly dashiki (the uglier the better) |
| Not Gay, Just Cold | 2 women (early 20s) | A blind date isn't quite as advertised. | 1) Fast, sitcom-style pacing |
| Kiss me | 1 man (early 20s) and 1 woman (early 20s) |
A woman asks a favor of her friend. | 1) Fast, sitcom-style pacing |
| Listen To Me | 1 or 2 men (20s-40s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-40s) |
A man discovers some hidden strings to his wish. | 1) Remember to record off-camera laughter during the shoot. Don't try and loop it. |
| Little Old Ladies | 1 girl (15-20) and 1 woman (50s-70s) |
A granddaughter discovers why it's not good to rummage around grandma's freezer. | 1) The bigger the freezer the better. |
| Low co-pays | 1 or 2 men (20s-40s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-40s) |
A police offer considers a career change. | 1) Will need two prop guns 2) Your editor will need to mix sound for off-camera voice |
| Man of Metaphoric Steel | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
A nerd's nerd sheds some light on a long-standing confusion. | 1) Can be shot indoors or out |
| Not In a Million Years | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
A blind date is much more than the woman is prepared for. | 1) Fast sitcom-style pacing |
| Moving Pictures | 1 or 2 maen (20s-30s) and 1 or 2 women (20s-30s) |
A stoner has a moment of clarity, and then some | 1) "Darrell" can easily become "Darlene" 2) The third non-speaking role can be eliminated if you set the scene up where Darrell is at the stereo about to put on music, and Chet approaches him there 3) This scene will play much better with some background party "sfx" and walla. |
| Narrowing the Field | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 women (30s-60s) |
1-2/3 pages A man seeks his true love. |
1) Will need a reception space that looks like it serves a large-ish building |
| Nitroglycerin | 1 man (20s-30s) and 1 woman (20s-30s) |
A woman fends off the laboratory Romeo. | 1) Will need a "CSI-style" lab for this scene 2) Good scene for an attractive woman to show that she can handle both sexual innuendo and CSI-style jargon |
| Obscenely Talented | 1 man (20s-30s) and 1 woman (30s-40s) |
A woman regrets the changes to come in her life. | 1) You'll need two large-ish (300+ pages) manuscripts |
| One Brain Too Many | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
A woman comes home to find her husband has fallen off the wagon. | 1) Man will be in zombie make-up, and has no lines 2) Should have fake brains, and a body for set decoration 3) Best if shot in a bedroom 4) Fast, sitcom-style pacing |
| Perfect Pitch | 2 men (20s-40s) and/or 2 women (20s-40s) |
A friendly wager between two sporting people. | 1) The hipster can be filmed separately, and guerilla. |
| Practice Surprise | 2 men (20s-30s) | A man helps his friend prepare to hear the best news of his life for the second time. | 1) Can be shot pretty much anywhere |
| Quirky | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
Two of a good thing isn't necessarily better. | 1) Fast sitcom-style pacing |
| Present Face | 1 or 2 men (20s-40s) and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-40s) |
You shouldn't have! No, really. You shouldn't have. | 1) The sweater doesn't have to be ugly, but it'll probably help |
| Roadside Attractions | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
Two people take a getting-to-know-you walk. | 1) Romantic-comedy |
| Solitary Love | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
Admitting your problem is half the battle. | 1) Will need a large table or chair as a set piece |
| Sweet Nothings | 1 man (20s-30s) and 1 woman (20s-30s) |
A woman realizes a "magic moment" may have been rather mundane | 1) Be very careful if you opt to grab the actor playing the male friend |
| Waved Off | 2 men (20s-50s) or 1 man and 1 woman (20s-50s) |
A would-be superhero throws in the towel. | 1) Should be shot in a bar 2) Hero will need some sort of ridiculous costume 3) Long for a demo scene, but can be very good for a "quirky" actor |
| What Life May Throw | 1-2 men (20s-30s) and/or 1-2 women (20s-30s) |
Friends discuss being prepared. | 1) Short, fun scene that can be shot very simply and quickly |
Drama | |||
| Title | Actors (ages) | Synopsis | Notes |
| A Nice Bearnaise | 1 or 2 men (late 20s-60s)
and/or 1 woman (30s) |
A man tries to warn his boss. | 1) Best if the office looks like a bureaucrat's or a psychologist's |
| Always Was a Fighter | 1 or 2 men (20s-60s)
and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-60s) |
A man says goodbye to his wife. | 1) Best if shot in a hospital room, or bedroom with some medical equipment |
| Birthday Party | 1 or 2 men (40s-60s)
and/or 1 or 2 women (40s-60s) |
A mother celebrates her daughter's a birthday | 1) Need a hospital room 2) Can be easily adapted for a man |
| Capitalization | 1 man (20s-40s)
and/or 1 woman (20s-40s) |
Two people argue about grammar and standards. | 1) Written with male and female characters, but can be either sex |
| Consideration | 2 men (20s-40s) | A brief discussion between a victim and his killer (excerpted from the short film, "Consideration"). | 1) Good for someone needing a "desperate pleading" scene |
| Fashion tips | 3 men (20s-60s) and 1 woman (20s-60s) |
A woman squares off against three men in a legal showdown. | 1) Good scene for showing off legal jargon skills 2) Should be shot in a conference room |
| Grandfather Paradox | 1 or 2 men (20s-60s)
and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-60s) |
An FBI agent confronts a man who may be from the future. | 1) Will need a prop gun 2) Agent can be changed to a soldier if you have an officer's uniform |
| Guardian | 1 man (30s-40s)
and 1 woman (20s-40s) |
A detective tries to get a description of a vigilante. | 1) Make-up to make the woman look like she's recovering from a beating is optional |
| Horace | 2 men (20s-60s) | A cop makes it clear how far he's willing to go to keep his city safe. | 1) If you can't get a full police uniform, then the scene should be shot so the camera sees a detective's badge and shoulder holster |
| Hunch | 2 men (20s-60s) | A cop is captured by a crime boss, or is he? | 1) Will need a prop gun 2) Best if shot in a large living room |
| In the Details | 1 man (20s-30s), 1 man (40s-60s)
and 1 woman (20s-30s) |
A man discovers the hidden cost of making deals with The Devil. | 1) Will need a woman (or a man; characters can be either sex) to play the corpse |
| Jeb | 2 men (20s-30s) | A bully is faced down. | 1) You'll need two extras to serve as Roy's buddies, but you don't need to show the would-be victim. |
| It's About Pain | 1 man (40s-50s) and 1 woman (20s-30s) |
A businessman is threatened by a former co-worker. | 1) The nicer the office the better, or at least the nicer the living room |
| Julie | 1 man (20s-40s) and 2 women (20s-40s) | A woman confronts her ex-boyfriend. | |
| Kim | 1 man (20s-40s) and 1 woman (20s-40s) | A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do. | 1) Some bruise-and-cut make-up would be great for selling Kim as a rough-and-tumble action type |
| Last Laugh | 1 or 2 men (20s-60s)
and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-60s) |
A man explains what happened in the last moments of his wife's life. | 1) Will need a hospital room 2) Good scene for someone who speaks a foreign language 3) If speaking something other than Spanish, change Orderly's last line to read: "I'm sorry, sir, I don't know what language you're speaking." |
| Monstrous Stranger | 1 man(20s-50s) and/or 1 woman (20s-50s) |
A man talks to a psychiatrist. | 1) Psychiatrist can be entirely off-camera |
| Nobody Takes | 2 men (20s-50s) | A man plans to get back, and get even. | 1) Can be quickly filmed in nearly any location 2) Good for someone needing a "bad guy" scene |
| Not Just Statistics | 1 man (late 20s-50s) and 1 woman (late 20s-50s) |
A lab tech confronts the boss. | 1) Will need a "CSI-style" lab for this scene 2) Written with male and female characters, but can be either sex |
| Old Friends | 1 or 2 men (late 20s-50s) and/or 1 or 2 wom2n (late 20s-50s) |
A friend reaches the limits of what he can do. | 1) Takes place in an alley at night, but can be shot nearly anywhere, and in the daytime, too |
| One Word | 2 men (late 20s-50s) | A man asks a favor. | 1) Can be shot pretty much anywhere |
| Orange Juice | 1 man (late 20s-40s) and 1 woman (late 20s-40s) |
A woman reflects on the last thing she'll remember. | |
| Part A | 2 women (late 20s-50s) | A woman explains how things fit together. | 1) Can be shot pretty much anywhere |
| Scissors Cut Paper | 1 or 2 men (20s-60s)
and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-60s) |
A doctor tries to enlist help for his patient. | 1) Charcters can be played by either sex |
| Risk Assessment | 1 or 2 men (20s-60s)
and/or 1 or 2 women (20s-60s) |
A woman explains her agoraphobia. | 1) Charcters can be played by either sex |
| Shepherd the Young | 1 man (late 30s-50s) and/or 1 or 2 women (late 30s-50s) |
A detective interviews a nurse. | 1) Best if shot in anything that can pass for an interrogation room |
| Smoke Screen | 1 man (late 20s-50s) and/or 1 woman (late 20s-50s) |
A wife discovers her husband's secret. | 1) Be very careful if you opt to strike the actor playing the husband |
| St. Peter | 2 men (20s-40s) | A brief discussion between a victim and his killer (excerpted from the short film, "Consideration"). | 1) Good for someone needing a "stoic killer" scene |
| Tensor Mysteries | 1 or 2 men (late 20s-50s) and/or 1 or 2 women (late 20s-50s) |
A man (or woman) discovers a new ability. | 1) Written as taking place in an office, but can be shot in a variety of locations 2) Written with two male characters, but can be either or both sex(es) |
| Things in Common | 1 man (late 40s-50s) and 1 woman (late 20s-40s) |
Great scene for "upscale"-looking people | Would look best if both actors were in fancy evening wear |
| Timeless | 1 or 2 men (late 20s-40s) and 1 or 2 women (late 20s-40s) |
Great scene for "Clive Owen"/"Linda Hamilton" types | The scene requires two special effects, but they're relatively straight-forward for anyone skilled with After Effects |
| Traditions | 1 man (late 20s-40s) and 1 woman (late 20s-40s) |
A husband surprises his new wife. | 1) Don't play whichever song is selected during filming 2) Best if actors really know how to dance a box waltz |
| Tourist | 1 man (30s-40s) and 1 woman (30s-40s) |
A man contemplates life as a foreigner in his native country. | 1) For actors who are non-native English speakers |
| When, Not If | 3 men (20s-60s) | A detective and an intelligence agent try to get information from a bomb maker. | 1) Will need an interrogation room |
| Widower | 1 man (20s-30s) and 1 woman (20s-30s) |
A man remembers his dead wife. | 1) Heavy scene requiring a wide range of emotions in a short span of time 2) Must be careful not to drag out the scene 3) Scene can be started at "I sorta hate to do this..." if running long |