Copy

 

COPYWRITING

Some sample pieces written on spec for various clients.

 

 

A short film for Investec

 

 

Whilst at A Perfect Storm BBD, a creative agency based in London, I wrote this three- minute film for Investec as a B2B promotional piece.

https://www.investec.com/en_gb.html

The brief from the client stated they wanted to reflect their roots. They are a firm based in South Africa and xxx.

The premise of this short film is – Mahabi, a slum-kid from the Soweto ghetto, dreams of making it as a professional cricketer but has to overcome adverse poverty and the ghetto mentality of his environment.

THE RESTLESS SPIRIT

A short film for Investec

Written by

Sal Kapoor

The Restless Spirit – Born from Chaos –

PREMISE – Mahabi, a 10 year old kid from the slums of Soweto never gives up on his dream of becoming a professional cricketer, despite the odds stacked against him.

Over black – FADE IN with sports commentary —

COMMENTATOR (V.O.)

As the batsman comes to the crease, the scores are level – 1 ball remaining, 1 run required and 1 wicket needed…

FADE IN:

EXT. SLUMS – EVENING

The Soweto slums – sprawling out as far as the eye can see – corrugated iron sheds, mounds of rubbish, makeshift kiosks – organised chaos… madness…

SUPER –  THE RESLTLESS SPIRIT IS BORN FROM CHAOS

EXT. ALLEY WAY – CONTINUOUS

A crooked pathway – two open sewers run alongside it – at the end of the path stands a wooden stick – 4ft propped up by a few bricks.

We reveal the puny frame of MAHABI, 10, a waif in rags, barefoot – staring at the wood like it’s his nemesis. A glint of determination sweeps his eyes – The Restless Spirit…

In his hands – a ball of string and rubber-bands – he tosses the ball from hand to hand like a professional bowler…

COMMENTATOR (V.O.)

We’ve arrived, moment of truth…

Mahabi glances to his left – a gaggle of slum kids huddled in a doorway – smoking – sipping beer – they shoot him looks – willing him to fail…

Mahabi flicks his eyes to the stump – bounds towards it – swinging his arm like a windmill – he releases the ball-

In SLO MO – the ball skidding off the ground –

The slum kids hold their breath – the ball flies by, missing the stump –

A look of despair sweeps Mahabi’s eyes as the slum kids fall about laughing. Mahabi ignores them, picks up the ball when thunder rumbles across the sky —

He looks up – ominous clouds rolling towards the slums – an anxious look in his eyes —

EXT. SLUM LANES – MOMENTS LATER

Mahabi – scurries along the narrow lanes – clutching the stick and ball – he leaps over an open drain – Slum dwellers lying in doorways watch him fly past –

INT. SLUM SHED – MOMENTS LATER

Mahabi slams the door closed, out of breath – from outside, sounds of thunder – He races away, disappearing into the back of the shed –

CUT TO:

LATER – NIGHT

Mahabi – lays on the ground, staring at the ceiling, twirling the string ball in his hand.

CUT TO:

LATER – NIGHT

All are asleep – except Mahabi – he’s STILL staring at something in the ceiling – his mind ticking over, playing with the ball.

EXT. SLUMS – THE NEXT DAY

Close on the wooden stick – propped up by the bricks — Mahabi stares at the stump – determined —

One of the slum kids steps out from a doorway –

SLUM KID (SUBTITLE)

Why don’t you just give up, bro?

MAHABI

I can’t, you wouldn’t understand…

The slum kid shrugs as Mahabi bounds towards the crease – In SLO MO – the ball skids of the ground – flies into the stick and splits it into 2 pieces…

The slum kid gasps – amazed –

SLUM KID

Whoa… you did it…

Mahabi’s stunned – he stares at the broken stick. Just then a crack of thunder fills the sky. He panics – picks up the broken stick and disappears through into the backstreets –

CUT TO:

INT. SLUM SHED – MOMENTS LATER

Mahabi slams the door shut – races to the bedroom –

INT. SLUM BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS

Mahabi leaps onto a rickety old chair – clutching the broken stick. There’s a hole in the roof – rain water pouring in.

CUT TO:

EXT. SLUMS – NIGHT

POV – We’re floating high up – way up in the sky – panning across the vast slum, spread out like a battered city of lights.

We focus on Mahabi’s shed from above – a tiny slit in the tin roof – gaps of light creeping out – We’re thrust towards it… zooming down… way down… gathering pace now… through the gap… bursting into the room…

INT. SLUM BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS

… Where we see five kids sprawled out – arms and legs everywhere – Mahabi’s kid brothers and sisters, asleep on the ground. Mahabi’s in the centre, awake, looking up at the roof.

MAHABI’S POV – looking up – the two sticks have sealed the gap, bound by string. It’s keeping the rain out. He used bits of the roof to practice…

IN SLO MO – a raindrop trickles through the gap, heading straight towards Mahabi –

CUT TO:

EXT. LORDS CRICKET GROUND – YEARS LATER – DAY

IN SLO MO – the rain drop’s still falling –

Mahabi looks up just as the raindrop sloshes his face. He smiles, refreshed. He’s a grown man now, dressed in South Africa’s kit.

COMMENTATOR (V.O.)

Nine wickets down and Mahabi to

deliver the last ball of the

innings. He needs a wicket to take

South Africa into the final…

Mahabi thunders towards the crease – releases the ball – it whizzes along – 90 mph – skids off the turf and smashes the wicket – pole-axing bails and stumps everywhere –

The crowd erupt – cheering shouting his name…

FADE TO BLACK.

OVER BLACK – THE LOW HUM OF A CAR ENGINE…

FADE IN:

EXT. COAST – DAY

The Ocean in the background – waves break on the shore – A gleaming sports car cruises by – tinted windows – twin exhaust – alloy wheels – impressive machinery –

EXT. SOWETO STREETS – LATER

The metropolis – suffocating – packed with pedestrians, commuters, beggars, traders, high rise buildings. Noises are piercing – cabs honking – dogs barking –

A group of slum kids play cricket in a dead end street – barb-wire fences – broken gates. They turn as the sports car lurches to a halt – the window slides down to reveal Mahabi behind the wheel –

He watches as the slum kids improvise with sticks for stumps, cans for bails –

One of kids flicks a cursory glance at Mahabi – their eyes lock for a beat – Mahabi  recognises that glint – it’s The Restless Spirit…

The kid bounds towards the wicket – releases the ball just as we –

SUPER – INVESTEC – OUT OF THE ORDINARY

FADE TO BLACK.

 

Advertisement