My 1 Minute Movie Script

Script for Island Reef Job Audition

The quick fix for my stuckness is somehow getting picked for a job taking care of a resort on the Great Barrier Reef. EVERYONE knows about the job. It was in associated press and featured on Goodmorning America. They have already had so many visitors and applicants that the site temporarily shut down. In order to throw my name in the hat, I am putting together a one minute video, to be filmed next week. I hope to convey a good rapport with my students, well-developed communication skills, a background of adventure and success, and a sense of humor.

The film begins as I start teaching class. Students are quiet and behaved. Five different students have cue cards presenting qualities Ms. Lusk has that would make her the best candidate. A student director controls the pace as well as the level noise. It is important that chaos builds progressively, and climaxes at the right point, without drowning out my voice. I anticipate 3-4 outtakes. The biggest foreseeable problems are. 1) It will be loud—since I am filming in 9th period, and the walls are those fake accordion partitions, I anticipate teachers wanting to bust in and make sure things are ok. To avoid this I would have to tell them vaguely what I am doing, which might not be a good idea because 2) it’s probably illegal to take instructional time for my own personal ticket out of teaching. 3) Unless I come up with something better my friend Sara is filming the project. She has never filmed before. It will be frustrating if it doesn’t turn out.

Me: Students please get out your homework. The question you were asked to answer last night was this, “Why do think Miss Lusk is the perfect candidate for the Island Reef Job”.

All Hands go up.

Me: Amanda.

Amanda: “Miss Lusk is perfect for the island reef job because she is the best teacher and communicator in the whole world.”

Me: Good Good…who else? Eveline.

Eveline: “Miss Lusk the perfect face for your international promotional because she is already an internationally recognized adventurer: Miss Lusk was the Bike Messenger World Champion in 2007 in Dublin Ireland.”

Me: Jorge?

Jorge: Ms Lusk would definitely succeed at ANY job you gave her at Hamilton Island. After graduation from the US Naval Academy, Miss Lusk Led Marines during the war in Iraq, She has lived with natives in Papua New Guinea and Africa, she has traveled all of Europe, Rode her bike 3600 miles across the US, and 1800 miles across Mexico. She teaches 7th graders math. There is nothing she can’t do!

I turn my back to the students and begin talking directly to the camera. Over the next 30 seconds, the chaos slowly but steadily increases.

Me: (in a positive and enthusiastic tone) Great. I am thrilled to have the opportunity apply for the island reef Job. I am the perfect candidate. First, I am a communicator. In addition to teaching 150 7th graders math, I regularly preach at my Church, maintain a daily personal blog, and facebook correspondence, and I am currently seeking publication for a few writing projects.

Stage Directions: Students start talking, noise starts getting louder and louder. Students are making and throwing paper airplanes…objects are flying. Brent Lee and Phong are on the tables.

Me: (turning to class--in an edgy but calm voice). Hey Brent Lee, Phong, wanna do me a favor and get of the tables? Yeah, be a buddy and get off the tables.

I am outside as much as possible. I surf, run, bike, swim, and aspire to scuba dive. I will receive SCUBA qualifications before July 1. I long to see the coral polyps, landlords of the reef, housing schools of fish, carpet sharks, and stinging anemones with clownfish darting in and out—the shipwrecks, the lion fish and puffer fish.

More students are on the tables. Chaos is escalating, but the noise still is not out of control.

Me: (turning to class--in pleading, louder voice) Hey guys I mean it lets get off the tables
(back to camera..my voice is to enthusiastic positive camera voice) I would love to take a daily run around Hamilton Island, to learn the intricacies of scuba diving from my new friends, to find a lone break and surf until I want to drop from exhaustion, to eat fish every day. I have lived near the beach the majority of my life. I am in the elements as much as possible. I was on a sailboat crew that sailed up the East coast of the United States. My family and I frequently camped along the Oregon coast. On beaches of North Carolina I helped guide sea turtles into the sea, and I surfed by pelicans who dived for food just feet from me!

The room has reached a level of chaos. Students are laughing, half the kids are dancing on the tables, papers are flying.

(turning to class--fury) If you don’t get off the tables in 2 minutes I am going to shove this overhead pen into orifices you didn’t know you had.

(back to camera—in exaggerated attempt to compose myself) It is my dream to write every day. To find a life where the end of each day opens up into a carefree evening where I can be alone to process my thoughts, to convey my dreams, to express my joys, share my adventures.

The climax of Chaos.

(Turning to class, expressing violence and rage, camera begins to zoom out, I am furiously putting kids in their place) GET OFF THE FREEKING Tables!! OFF THE Tables! Quit pulling her hair, Tim! Billy, put the garbage back in the basket!