Quentin Tarantino began scriptwriting while working at a video rental store in California, and Murray State sophomore Bryan Clapp began last semester in his scriptwriting class.
Clapp now follows in the footsteps of writers like Tarantino by having his script, “Privilege of Normativity,” be brought to life by the TV Production Club.
Clapp, originally from Mayfield, Ky., did the script for his class’ final project and then submitted it to the TV Production Club’s Facebook page.
The club has done TV shows in the past, but faculty adviser Chris Haynes decided to try a short film since they couldn’t do more than two to three episodes of a show per semester.
Clapp is a TV production major and has been a member of the club since his freshman year.
John Gruccio, president of the club and director, Haynes, who is also the movie’s executive producer and Clapp met for several weeks at the beginning of this semester to decide what direction to take with the script and to work out any changes that needed to be made.
The three hosted auditions for the film where almost all of the roles were filled.
The entire crew, including actors and behind-the-scenes roles will total about 15 people. Clapp will portray the main character, Maxwell Edison, and other large roles include Emily Burnstein as Joan and Aaron Peck as Hunter.
The club is still looking for two more women to fill other roles.
“I think you could learn (production skills) these without taking the classes – they’re pretty simple once you understand them – but I do think the college system eases you into it so you don’t have to figure stuff out on your own,” Clapp said.
The film itself will be approximately 15 to 25 minutes and is an introspective work that resembles the “slice of life” genre, he said.
The movie’s plot will revolve around Maxwell, who is a student studying medicine who has his entire life planned out: get his doctorate, make tons of money, have famous friends and be set for life. While on that journey though, Maxwell is still not satisfied, so he starts a blog to articulate his search to fill the void in his life.
The film will focus on one day out of his life and incorporates some unexpected twists.
The club is beginning the production process and is setting dates to shoot.
Clapp expects the movie to be done by the end of the semester when the club wants to host an open showing at the Curris Center.
“This entire semester we’ve been in pre-production, so I’m thinking production and post might be the most fun for me just because we’re not spending most of our time meeting in a room just talking about stuff,” Clapp said. “We’re actually getting those shots, ticking off those locations, actually putting it together. Seeing it come to life, I think, will be pretty enjoyable.”
Story by Kayla MacAllister, Staff writer