NationStates Jolt Archive

Ocassionally in the general forum, I find bright minds in heated political debate.
Sometimes, you find idiots.
But overall, pretty bight people tend to lurk around here.
Thus, becuase religion is usually a pretty hot topic around here, I chose this forum to do this.

So, I wanted to describe my idea for a screenplay, and maybe get some feedback on it.

*WARNING*

Some of you may be offended by the very idea of the story.
The point isnt to offend, but to provoke thought.
So, if you are offended, you missed the point.


Basically, Jesus comes back to earth in preparation for the "Second Coming",
only, his memories dont fully return with his body.
Not sure of who he is, and what hes supposed to do, he becomes hooked on heroin.
While on the drug, he has flashbacks of his life, 2000 years ago.
The further the drug takes him, the more he becomes aware of the state of
the world, and the general apathy humanity has for each other.

Thats it in a nutshell.
Theres a bunch more written down, but this gives a very basic synopsis.

The idea is to show him as a human, with very human problems.
Moreso, having a dim awareness of divinity,his problems are even greater than that of the average heroin junkie.
Im going for a "Requiem for a Dream" kinda feel with this, only the focus of the story isnt so much the hard-core drug abuse, but the conflict within the addict.

So....thats about it.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.
If you have a comment, feel free to post that too.

Sounds good to me!

Good luck getting any movie featuring Jesus as a Heroin addict financed though... :(

Die Heathen

The questions are what are you saying about addiction, religion, modern society by tieing those ideas. What is the arc, does Jesus come to know something about his own nature? Or about ours-but how is he informed or changed by that.

Oh, I got a million of 'em....I think script writting teachers keep those on flash cards.

Things it made me think of (which is in no way ment to suggest that your story is 'just like' or 'has been done' or any of that other nonsense people say. Thats damn irratating, like no one did portraits after the Mona Lisa...aaannnnyway...)-

The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Jose Saramago, which I haven't read but a friend has talked about. It covers some other aspects of Jesus' life told by him. The author is an athiest, just puttin' that out there.

Skepticism, Inc. - Bo Fowler-a man opens a place where you can bet on your religion being the only true religion, becomes the richest man in the world and collapsing world religions. Told by the first shopping trolley to climb Mt. Everst.

And William S. Burroughs, who I am going to assume you are already familiar with.

Dig it. Write it with this in mind-gonna have to film it yourself. You won't have a problem getting it into a festival (providing it doesn't really really suck), but you'll have a hard time getting someone to pay too much for making it.

Ocassionally in the general forum, I find bright minds in heated political debate.
Sometimes, you find idiots.
But overall, pretty bight people tend to lurk around here.
Thus, becuase religion is usually a pretty hot topic around here, I chose this forum to do this.

What kind of Ending are you looking for?

How far into the depths of Human Depravity are you going? Hookers, Ice, committing a crime or three?

To me... To follow your storyline,
he could try to "Save" people spread the word but because he is a heron addicted junkie... people don't believe him.

You can Include a Priest (not necessarily Catholic) who believes that the second coming will be trumpets and horns and thinks that the bum is a vagrant... but is pursuaded to help 'clean him up'

I would have him regain his Glory. and to be symbolic it has to happen at a Baptismal Cerimony.

you may or may not want him performing Miracles... that's really up to you because it's your movie.

Sounds good to me!

Good luck getting any movie featuring Jesus as a Heroin addict financed though... :(
It is possible... because it is written that when the King returns, it will be "like a theif in the Night." which can be interpreted as the last person you'll expect to be God.

What kind of Ending are you looking for?

Good question.

The ending is the toughest part.

The question will be will be, as realization of who he is, slowly dawns on him, so does his apathy for humanity.

So, will he kick the drugs, and do what he must...or will he die in a gutter, likely from an overdose?

To be honest, this is the part that Im having trouble with.
The story not having a happy ending, would make this a pretty bleak message, and while thats kinda what Im going for, it may be TOO bleak to be entertaining.

On the other hand, I think having the main character, being who he is, die from an overdose, might overshadow the point Im trying to make.

So...umm...yeah.

To me... To follow your storyline,
he could try to "Save" people spread the word but because he is a heron addicted junkie... people don't believe him.

Actually he does.

early on he begins "street-preaching", and ends up in a mental facility.
This begins to show him that even people who are supposed to help people, are just doing it for the paycheck, and not out of compassion.

The questions are what are you saying about addiction, religion, modern society by tieing those ideas. What is the arc, does Jesus come to know something about his own nature? Or about ours-but how is he informed or changed by that.

I THINK I answered that in other posts, so I wont do it all again, but, if I didnt explain clearly enough, let me know, and I'll explain further.

I do know that I didnt mention that yes, he slowly begins to understand who he is, but at the same time, is falling deeper into his addiction.

Sounds good to me!

Good luck getting any movie featuring Jesus as a Heroin addict financed though... :(


Yah, sadly, or maybe fortunately its got "Indy Film" written all over it.

You need some great awakening that causes jesus to finally realize he has the power to send all the good to hell and to send the down and out failures to heaven.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8753840#
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8753840#

You need some great awakening that causes jesus to finally realize he has the power to send all the good to hell and to send the down and out failures to heaven.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8753840#
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=8753840#


Hmmm....I dont think it would be as deep if I had a "Neener-Neener!" ending.

I think it's a really good idea, but I have a different idea for an ending:
He realises what his flashbacks mean and tries to contact God, who speaks to him through a priest, telling him that he must save mankind. But Jesus looks at all the horrible things humans do to each other, some of it in his name, and begins to think that maybe mankind isn't worth saving.
And then the Antichrist comes along and realises who Jesus is and tries to convince him that he should help humanity, because he (the Anitchrist) wants the Apocolypse to happen, but it can't without Jesus. And maybe the two even become friends, and then it ends, kinda leaving it hangning there, so you have to imagine what happens next.

On the other hand, I think having the main character, being who he is, die from an overdose, might overshadow the point Im trying to make.

You could just have him give up. End the film with Jesus walking off into the rain or something like that.

You could just have him give up. End the film with Jesus walking off into the rain or something like that.
Nah, it should end with Jesus and the Antichrist driving a car through the rain and you should zoom out, so you're seeing it from above and then just keep zooming out till you can see the whole world and then the credits.

Sounds actually pretty cool.

So Jesus has lost his memory, right? What kind of a person
he is in your movie? Because not remembering his real
'purpose' he might be almost anything. I'm not talking about
he getting hooked on heroin. More like stuff, does he
regocnize good and bad and that stuff?

I think it's a really good idea, but I have a different idea for an ending:
He realises what his flashbacks mean and tries to contact God, who speaks to him through a priest, telling him that he must save mankind. But Jesus looks at all the horrible things humans do to each other, some of it in his name, and begins to think that maybe mankind isn't worth saving./quote]

With the excption of the priest, that is the general idea to story.
Jesus struggling with heroin addiction, and wondering if we are worth it.

[quote]And then the Antichrist comes along and realises who Jesus is and tries to convince him that he should help humanity, because he (the Anitchrist) wants the Apocolypse to happen, but it can't without Jesus. And maybe the two even become friends, and then it ends, kinda leaving it hangning there, so you have to imagine what happens next.

I have toyed with the idea of a nemesis, particularly the anti-christ, but I thought it would take away from the story, and give it different meaning.
It would no longer be about the struggle within the main character, but the struggle between him, and the nemesis.
Not really where I wanna go with this.

Nah, it should end with Jesus and the Antichrist driving a car through the rain and you should zoom out, so you're seeing it from above and then just keep zooming out till you can see the whole world and then the credits.

Might be difficult on an indie film budget...I'm not sure, how much would it cost to do the 'zooming out' thing?

Sounds actually pretty cool.

So Jesus has lost his memory, right? What kind of a person
he is in your movie? Because not remembering his real
'purpose' he might be almost anything. I'm not talking about
he getting hooked on heroin. More like stuff, does he
regocnize good and bad and that stuff?


Absolutely.

The principles he had 2000 years ago, are all still there.
Be kind to your neighbor ect...
Its just that he cant remember who he is.
Furthermore, becuase he has such ideals, it hurts him to see that everyday people in a major city, are really shitty to one another.
Thats kinda how he gets on the smack.
Self-medication.

By the way, what do you want your main character to look like? Is he going to look like Jesus (long hair, beard, etc) or just like a regular man on the street?

Absolutely.

The principles he had 2000 years ago, are all still there.
Be kind to your neighbor ect...
Its just that he cant remember who he is.
Furthermore, becuase he has such ideals, it hurts him to see that everyday people in a major city, are really shitty to one another.
Thats kinda how he gets on the smack.
Self-medication.


Nice :)

Would he have any divine powers? Healing the sick?
changing water to wine? Or would he be more human like?

You could just have him give up. End the film with Jesus walking off into the rain or something like that.

One of the possible ideas I have, is Jesus making a phone call to Heaven.
He just walks into a phone booth, picks up the receiver, and the camera pans up to the sky.....

I could have a quick dialogue where you only hear Jesus's voice.

J:Hi dad?

*inaudible murmuring*

j:"Ya, I know, its been a long time......I know, I know I know you were worried..Im sorry. But its ok. Im fine, Im alright."

This goes on for minute or two, and the impression given is a son try to let his father know that he is alright, after not hearing from him for a long time.

It ends with with Jesus saying something like this:

J: "Yah, look, Dad, I dont think I can do it. I dont think I can go ahead with the plan."

*soft murmur*

J: Yah..I know. I dont know what to say, but I just cant.

*more soft mumrur noises*

J: "Well, I guess we'll just have to see how they do."

*even more murmur-ish noise*

J:"I love you too, Dad."


He says Goodbye, hangs up. and leaves the phonebooth.

Thats sort of the "walk off into the sunset" ending you were talking about.
Not sure if I'll use this one though.
Kinda sugary.

By the way, what do you want your main character to look like? Is he going to look like Jesus (long hair, beard, etc) or just like a regular man on the street?


He will actually start out looking like the typical long-haired, bearded guy, until entering the hospital, where he is cleaned up and given a hair cut.
So soon into the story he has short hair and is clean shaven.

A laugh and a half!
New Pope should play Jesus!

Nice :)

Would he have any divine powers? Healing the sick?
changing water to wine? Or would he be more human like?


For most of the story he wont be doing any things like that, and for a while, my goal is to have the audience, or reader,wonder if he IS jesus, or just another crazy guy heroin junkie.

Eventually towards the end, he will heal another junkie, and this will start his road to realizing who he is, and possibly,a reason to get off the H.

One of the possible ideas I have, is Jesus making a phone call to Heaven.
He just walks into a phone booth, picks up the receiver, and the camera pans up to the sky.....

Hmm, I just had anothe thought. How about ending the film with Jesus dieing, but not by ODing? You could have him attempt to stop a robbery or get mugged.

Hmm, I just had anothe thought. How about ending the film with Jesus dieing, but not by ODing? You could have him attempt to stop a robbery or get mugged.


Hmmm....

Thereby insinuating that Jesus once, again died for our sins?

Because, Ive always thought, that when they say "Jesus died for our sins.."
what that means is.."Jesus died BECUASE of our sins."

Interesting.

For most of the story he wont be doing any things like that, and for a while, my goal is to have the audience, or reader,wonder if he IS jesus, or just another crazy guy heroin junkie.

Eventually towards the end, he will heal another junkie, and this will start his road to realizing who he is, and possibly,a reason to get off the H.


Oh, you would keep the audience guessing... That might
work. But you would have to have really good way of
showing he is Jesus. Shock the audience in someway
maybe?

By the way. What is his name going to be?

Hmmm....

Thereby insinuating that Jesus once, again died for our sins?

Because, Ive always thought, that when they say "Jesus died for our sins.."
what that means is.."Jesus died BECUASE of our sins."

Interesting.

That's an interesting way of looking at it. I was thinking it would work well with the story, which involves Jesus 'losing faith' in humanity.

It's slightly corny, but I was thinking that Jesus could resolve to save humanity...only for this to happen. Kind of like the ending of American History X.

Oh, you would keep the audience guessing... That might
work. But you would have to have really good way of
showing he is Jesus. Shock the audience in someway
maybe?

By the way. What is his name going to be?


Good question.

Cant keep calling him "Jesus" if we want to shed some doubt as to who he really is, can we.

I was thinking about "Jay".
Or even "John" since he would be a "John Doe" in a hospital, with no name.

As long as you have 2 car chase scenes, several explosions and a visit to a strip club in your film you should be able to get Hollywoods interest.

As long as you have 2 car chase scenes, several explosions and a visit to a strip club in your film you should be able to get Hollywoods interest.


and perhaps Vin Deisel as the main character?

Or Rob Schneider!

and perhaps Vin Deisel as the main character?

Or Rob Schneider!

And Jean Claude Van Damme as Jesus' faithful sidekick?

And Jean Claude Van Damme as Jesus' faithful sidekick?


I think he would make an excellent "Wacky Neighbor".

Or not...

I think he would make an excellent "Wacky Neighbor".

Or not...

How about Ben Stiller for a bit of light comic relief? So whenever things get a bit heavy, Ben can fall over or do something zany to cheer the audience up a bit.

How about Ben Stiller for a bit of light comic relief? So whenever things get a bit heavy, Ben can fall over or do something zany to cheer the audience up a bit.


Actually, Stiller HAS been in a heroin addict movie, "Permanent Midnight."

Its one of his best performances as an actor.

Anyway, back on topic I go. How does Jesus first appear? Will he just materialise as a 20-something year old or will there be some mention of his childhood in the film?

Actually, Stiller HAS been in a heroin addict movie, "Permanent Midnight."

Its one of his best performances as an actor.

Wow...every day's a school day. I thought he only did comedies.

Anyway, back on topic I go. How does Jesus first appear? Will he just materialise as a 20-something year old or will there be some mention of his childhood in the film?



Wow...every day's a school day. I thought he only did comedies.

One of his heroin induced flashbacks will deal withg him recalling an event from his childhood, and relating the story to his "Love Interest".

But, basically, we first meet him in a big city, preaching in the street.

Ah...all the talk of rain started making me think of puddles parting before he steps down. Walking across large puddles. Serving soup at a shelter and the basin never runs out of soup. Being the first person (and only thing) a blind person sees. That last one is sort of compelling.

So-I'm not sure what you are saying with the heroin addiction. Is man god's drug, are we dragging him down? Something he should kick but can't? Have we turned from dependent in the old testiment, to symbiotic in the new testiment to now-2000 years later god depends on us like a drug? Does Jesus not see that he is Jesus because he on some level does not want to? Is this the extension of the Gesim-somethin'? Take this cup? You look like you're toying with the ending where he doesn't destroy the world-is it because he can't break the addiction? Or that he has and now he needs to break the addiction between man and god, god and man?

I could keep going, but those are kinda leading questions-you get the idea.

Ah...all the talk of rain started making me think of puddles parting before he steps down. Walking across large puddles. Serving soup at a shelter and the basin never runs out of soup. Being the first person (and only thing) a blind person sees. That last one is sort of compelling.

So-I'm not sure what you are saying with the heroin addiction. Is man god's drug, are we dragging him down? Something he should kick but can't? Have we turned from dependent in the old testiment, to symbiotic in the new testiment to now-2000 years later god depends on us like a drug? Does Jesus not see that he is Jesus because he on some level does not want to? Is this the extension of the Gesim-somethin'? Take this cup? You look like you're toying with the ending where he doesn't destroy the world-is it because he can't break the addiction? Or that he has and now he needs to break the addiction between man and god, god and man?

I could keep going, but those are kinda leading questions-you get the idea.

I have to thank you C.T.O.A.N,
Those kind of questions are exactly what Im trying to "get out" of the reader/veiwer/whatever, of this story.

I may have some intentions as to what message im portraying, but just like great song lyrics, its all about what the listener gleans from them.

Some artist, or musician probably once said.."I dont care whether you love me, or if you hate me, just as long as I make you feel something.

I have to thank you C.T.O.A.N,
Those kind of questions are exactly what Im trying to "get out" of the reader/veiwer/whatever, of this story.

I may have some intentions as to what message im portraying, but just like great song lyrics, its all about what the listener gleans from them.

Some artist, or musician probably once said.."I dont care whether you love me, or if you hate me, just as long as I make you feel something.
The only thing is, you have to make a decission somewhere, to do something consciously. Best instructor I had was when I was playing jazz. He told us that eventually you learn that you can do just about anything in a solo, no limits except-you have to know why your doin' it, you can't just do it. He reduced that down to "It's a sin to wanna." As long as you know why your doing what your doing and you are making conscious decisions and not just "I'm layin' it out there..." You can pose questions that you don't know the answer to, it's just a careful process. It'll be hard. Some of the worst student scripts I've ever read have lofty intentions of challenging the audience and fall short because the author didn't excercise enough control of thier script. Those are harder than just telling a story.

I actually talked to my collaborator about your story and he was pretty intrigued. He likes the idea of a 'second coming' just being a coming. He laid it out as Jesus was part of an oppressed minority who got a dozen of people to dig what he was saying who was martyred. If he came today...he thought the blind guy who could only see him would be like a John the Baptist figure. But that's just 'cause I was kinda into the guy who can only see him.

I get what your saying about not leaving too many unanswered questions, and my intention is to provoke as much thought as possible, but also, to entertain with this story as much as I can.

Some of the important themes will be to show the main character, foremost, as a man.
One with very real problems, made worse by the simple fact of being who he is, or at least thinks he may be.
Hopefully, after viewing, or reading this story, some will wonder what they would do if put in his shoes, and wether or not humanity as a whole is worthy of such a sacrifice, and effort.

Im trying, as I piece this all together, to hint at some religious themes, without getting to deeply into dogma.
The reason is becuase it isnt about religion, so much, as the main character, and his internal conflict.
Its prooving to be difficult to do considering who the main character is.
But I like to think that maybe its part of the stories charm.
Or maybe I just need some therapy.
Who knows?

I get what your saying about not leaving too many unanswered questions, and my intention is to provoke as much thought as possible, but also, to entertain with this story as much as I can.

Some of the important themes will be to show the main character, foremost, as a man.
One with very real problems, made worse by the simple fact of being who he is, or at least thinks he may be.
Hopefully, after viewing, or reading this story, some will wonder what they would do if put in his shoes, and wether or not humanity as a whole is worthy of such a sacrifice, and effort.

Im trying, as I piece this all together, to hint at some religious themes, without getting to deeply into dogma.
The reason is becuase it isnt about religion, so much, as the main character, and his internal conflict.
Its prooving to be difficult to do considering who the main character is.
But I like to think that maybe its part of the stories charm.
Or maybe I just need some therapy.
Who knows?
It should be fun. It's one of those things you get to play around with. The cool thing is that discovery doesn't have to go in one direction. Sometimes things you put into a character become more relevant once you determine something else about them. At that stage you start to feel like you're talking about a real person. It's cool.

The Jesus story is pretty common, you could play it fast and loose, making him a Jesus figure more than Jesus. And then, if it doesn't come from a dogma, but isn't alien or natural, what is it? Where does it come from and what's at stake for it, or us?

Best thing to do, or worse, depending....is to ask me about this when I'm baked...

Best thing to do, or worse, depending....is to ask me about this when I'm baked...

Hell...where do you think I got the idea about Jesus coming back to earth as a heroin addict?

Heh.

Is man god's drug, are we dragging him down? Something he should kick but can't? Have we turned from dependent in the old testiment, to symbiotic in the new testiment to now-2000 years later god depends on us like a drug?

You could always play it that its not just God who is addicted to believers, but that believers are addicted to God. No matter what either do, they can never break the addiction.

Or haven't been able to up until now....

If you still want to use the end scene with the phone, that could be the whole point the movie hinges on. You could say, use it at the start, the disillusioned Jesus giving up on humanity (giving up his addiction), before back tracking the story to where it begins.

You could always play it that its not just God who is addicted to believers, but that believers are addicted to God. No matter what either do, they can never break the addiction.

Or haven't been able to up until now....

If you still want to use the end scene with the phone, that could be the whole point the movie hinges on. You could say, use it at the start, the disillusioned Jesus giving up on humanity (giving up his addiction), before back tracking the story to where it begins.


Interesting.

Ive thought about that.
I was also thinking about having him relate the story to a social worker, so most of his experiences are related in flashback.
Not sure if that would be a great idea, but its one Ive considered.

My line of thought was that if you could play the phone scene at the start, you could play the rest of the movie where he slowly rediscovers himself, fights his addiction etc to the point at the very end where he realises who he is.

sort of like

Ext.: John sitting in the rain on the steps of the city hall.

Close Up on John: There is a look of deep concentration on his face. Then suddenly the face relaxes and a pained sad smile plays across his lips.

Camera pans out slowly: The rain hammers down either side of John, but no longer touches him and he slowly rises to his feet. He makes his way through the sodden streets to a pay phone (a couple of ext:pan shots)

Close up of his hand picking up the phone and tracking its path to his ear.

Screen goes black

Audio only

John: Hey, its me, we need to talk.

Credits

are you going to put scars on his hands?
they could just be punctures from his drug abuse, but the allusion to stigmata has the potential to be very moving.

perhaps you could use Jesus' time in the desert as one of the early 'halucinations' the idea of satan bringing him to the sky and showing him all the great civilisations has a trippy feel to it. as well as that it can be related to his addiction, i.e if he keeps taking it he can feel all kinds of things he wouldn't otherwise. you would just have to be careful about associating drug use with devil-worshipping.

just something that occurred to me after reading some of the other posts.

are you going to put scars on his hands?
they could just be punctures from his drug abuse, but the allusion to stigmata has the potential to be very moving.

perhaps you could use Jesus' time in the desert as one of the early 'halucinations' the idea of satan bringing him to the sky and showing him all the great civilisations has a trippy feel to it. as well as that it can be related to his addiction, i.e if he keeps taking it he can feel all kinds of things he wouldn't otherwise. you would just have to be careful about associating drug use with devil-worshipping.

just something that occurred to me after reading some of the other posts.


I havent planned on using the stigmata specifically, but he will have sympathetic pains form the wounds.
Kind of like amputees who say that they can feel phantom pain.
In fact, they get pretty dramatic very early in the story.