PERSPECTIVE

A short film conceptualized for a trail running film festival.

——- SCENE 1 [Coventry Woods Chestnut Hill Trail]

OPENS ON: steadily paced moving shot headed down a beautiful flat trail spotted with various roots and rocks. Flanked by budding trees all around the scene is green, with patches of clear blue sky showing through the canopy.

A compelling opening audio bed slowly fades to environmental tone… birds singing and the rhythmic beat of footfalls, paws padding on the dirt and the occasional labored breathing or pant.

The camera continues to nod in the rhythm of a gait only a foot and a half above the trail surface establishing the scene and the perspective of… a dog.

VO 1: (gravely, slow drawl, spoken to the pace and beat of the undulating camera):
This is my place.
This is where I feel free.
Running with Him is Nirvana.

As the voiceover progresses the shot slowly transforms 180º to show a pensive dog, eye focused on the trail ahead, casually trotting at a consistent pace then 180º back to that trail.

VO 1: (Different voice, same tone and pace)
The weather doesn’t matter.
I’ll run in rain, snow, heat…
We’ll pause for water once in a while, or so He can catch his breath, but I like to keep moving.
These one to two hours of moving in nature are pure bliss.

Trail shot continues for enough to to establish permanence in what was said then slowly cambers upward to a 5’6” level without losing stride. It

VO 2: (slightly belabored, congenial male, spoken to the pace and beat of the undulating camera):
Breathe in, breathe out.
It good to recognize the value in leaving work, technology and problems behind.
I read a saying recently, “I don’t love running, I love how I feel after I run.”
But I love how I feel during the run too, embrace the pain.

As the voiceover progresses the shot slowly transforms 180º to show… a man, eyes focused on the trail ahead, slightly sweating at a somewhat struggling pace then 180º back to that trail.

VO 2: (same tone and pace)
I do love running.
It’s difficult to get out as often as I want to… need to.
The trails aren’t close and my schedule is packed but
Oprah found time to train for and run a Marathon.

Trail shot continues for enough to to establish permanence in what was said then slowly cambers downward to a 1’6” level without losing stride. It

——- SCENE 2 [Coventry Woods Love Valley Trail]

TRANSITION TO: Bottom of a steepish hill, behind man and dog picking lines through the rocks on the trail, going up. Camera catches up to runners’ backs then through them at dog level to pace the trail as Scene 1.

DOG: (180º revolution from trail to face as Scene 1 while dog VO matches gait):
I hope this doesn’t end
But it does
Then we get into the machine that goes
and we go to the place with the food and the bed.
I love the place too
But not like I love running.

Camber transition up to…

MAN: Struggling more, sweating more, eyes more focused.
180º revolution from trail to face as Scene 1 while man VO matches gait.

I am in charge of how I feel, not my subconcious
Remember your mantras…
Thank you Earth. Thank you Earth. Thank you Earth.
I eat hills for breakfast…
I want to get faster, I want to race more
But this is now.

——- SCENE 3 [Coventry Woods Pond Trail]

TRANSITION: Picturesque trail, camera behind as the pair trades leads then through them at dog level to pace the trail as Scenes 1 and 2.

DOG: (180º revolution from trail to face as Scenes 1 and 2 while dog VO matches gait):
I am in the moment.
I love this trail, I love this day!
Maybe it’s because I’m descended from wolves but I feel at hime here.
I am free and I love being a dog!

Camber transition up to…

MAN: (180º revolution from trail to face as Scenes 1 and 2 while dog VO matches gait):
Now I am in the moment!
It usually takes me three miles to get into a zone.
I love when my body takes over and my mind becomes free

I love watch my dog run, the pure joy in his eyes…
I love…

Peaceful running scene comes to a screeching halt…

——- SCENE 4 [Coventry Woods Trail Intersection]

LADY (Surprisingly encountered at intersection):

DOGS MUST BE LEASHED!

Dog and owner look at one another, both wink, and jog past her.

Camera stays at intersection as they run off into the distance until out of site…

——- END