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A brilliant scientist recently fired by a Department of Energy Laboratory is coerced back into government service to develop his anti-gravity concept only to discover that instead of being used to solve society’s key energy and environmental problems the anti-gravity device would be used by the government/military as the new super weapon shifting the global political landscape and balance of power.
SYNOPSIS:
From Above A movie concept by F.V. Di Massa Concept: A brilliant scientist recently fired by a Department of Energy Laboratory is coerced back into government service to develop his anti-gravity concept only to discover that instead of being used to solve society’s key energy and environmental problems the anti-gravity device would be used by the government/military as the new super weapon shifting the global political landscape and balance of power. Key characters: Protagonist (inventor, brilliant, funny, slightly tortured, good dad and husband), DOE Project Chief (confident leader, objective always on point), Lead scientist (jealous geek-type never liked Protagonist – dies in the end but was actually loyal to the cause), Precocious young “genius” Scientist (Protagonist’s good friend and confidant, womanizer-type super witty actually understands Protagonist’s revolutionary vision and ideas), hot female research worker (she’s the spy working for the corporate defense contractor criminals), computer guy (black dude – develops 3-D imagery and the programs needed to simulate antigravity), “Corporate Criminal” defense contractor (smiles in your face stabs you in the back), Protagonist’s Dad (more of an image never says anything but communicates to son with cosmological imagery), Protagonist’s Wife (simple woman, minor background role – displays classic “motherly instinct” characteristics), Small cast of family friends one in particular middle-aged man life-of-the-party type (funny good for infusion of humor – laugh breaks during the movie). Conflict: Can the scientist unravel the mystery of “antigravity”? If so, it would solve many of the problems facing society. Conflict: Corporate criminals defense contractor trying to steal “antigravity” idea for purpose of developing new mega-weapon. How deep does it go? Does it go all the way up to the President? (ends up with the Vice-President – President saves the day) More Conflict: Protagonist settling with his father – Ultimately they are both idea guys not the tech guys – this is important – (Theme: it takes a “team” in the modern world to get things done). Subconflict: Demands of wife and children – does wife understand in the end? Maybe she does not understand in the end…Venus and Mars. Resolution: The technical resolution comes in solving the antigravity mystery - the trinity concept (more detail below). More Resolution: Protagonist sinks up with Dad, who died in the recent past, in a dream scene) together they piece together the antigravity puzzle. More Resolution: Government/military are actually the good guys – defense contractors bad guys, science is good. Final Resolution: The gift of insight into natural processes is passed on through the generations there is hope for humanity because we care and we have love for our children. Art Direction: The artistic theme is “in space there really is no up or down – everything is relative to your perspective and the perspective that is the other (the not your perspective)”. There is plenty of “round” video - upside down, right side up, curved lenses, “balls”, are we upside down or right side up? (song by Dave Mathews) “Stretching” – objects and scenes are stretched – speed and time concept - as you approach the speed of light time slows down. Protagonist approaches the speed of light in his mind his thinking pushes the time and space paradigm. There could be some cool “sports” scenes (handball and/or indoor soccer) where the protagonist’s ability to think at the speed of light translates into his actions on the field of play – genius is translated/visualized by the camera’s eye and the effects of speed, resolution, slowmo and edgyness – use pixilation (fuzzy logic). Music: Prog/symphonic rock music from bands such as Yes. Some original synthesized music for ethereal and space scenes ala John Williams (composed by F.V. Di Massa). Opening Sequence: “GRAVITY” dream sequence. Some glimpses of anti-gravity and the trinity concept. Starts with Galaxies in the Universe, then planets revolving around the sun, moon around planet, then objects being attracted to other objects being drawn in – finally child drops from monkey bars seen from below as his feet drop to earth. Black. Phone rings. Protagonist wakes in a kind of sweat…talks (I thought you guys didn’t like me). Other guy (Department of Energy Project Manager) is in obvious government surroundings. Conversation about we need you now – and you can’t say no, IRS or some other reason. We need you now – two-year project – you have to do it – no choice. Protagonist: Los Alamos? PM: Yup, New Mexico you start in two days. Protagonist: Who’s on it? PM names three top people, notable scientist that found white paper, the bad guy manager, the wiz kid. Protagonist: Do you have Williams? PM: Yup. Protagonist: You’ve got all the horsepower you need – you don’t need me. PM: Yes we do, you’re the idea guy can’t do it without you. We’ve got your white paper. Protagonist: I thought it was deep sixed? PM: Not quite. Protagonist: You guys fired me. PM: Shit happens. Protagonist: It was just an idea, I never said I could make it work. PM: Pack your bags the car will be there at 5am. 48 Hours Ago Protagonist plays catch with son (11 or 12 years old) – talk about the Yankees. How are you doing? Brings out son – some trouble at school – he gives his son some general advice. Then going into the house seeing younger son (7 or 8 years old) who is doing something funny by himself – upstairs wife getting ready for the holiday party – she is in her panties and bra and has a hot body but an average face – he snuggles her. It’s a small holiday party in a country home the camera pans people – ambient party chatter and background music. The funny guy says something funny. The camera comes in a conversation between the protagonist (mid 30s or early 40s handsome precocious intelligent look in his eyes not too tall) who is talking to another guy that’s dressed a little more formally than everyone else at the party but not obtrusively. Protagonist is talking about his new company (zero energy home concept educating the public saving the world). They discover they both worked for the feds – other guy discusses his work in Intelligence mentions he’s “retiring” at a young age they both lambaste the agencies they work or worked for. More party stuff to establish characters – wife, friends, kids. Key friends will come into play later in wife and kid scenes. After the party protagonist and wife have talk – marriage discussion. The Morning After the Phone Call Scene is a good-bye with wife and kids – two government dudes in big black car picks up protagonist at sunrise. Next scene is at the Los Alamos New Mexico R&D facility Big establishing shot right at dawn with awesome New Mexico desert background – Military jet fly by - you get an idea of the remoteness and also the excitement of working there. Protagonist sees old friend and other dude who is obviously not an old friend also meets the woman and the black guy (computer specialist). What have you got so far? – We took the concepts from your white paper and so far it’s all simulation and there are plenty of holes to fill. Protagonists looks at computer simulation screen (ala Minority Report) doesn’t take him long to notice and suggest an improvement. Everyone likes that he is on board and the tempo picks up. Discussion of how white paper was this close to being trashed but Kowalski got a hold of it – liked some of the ideas. Focus twirls around the protagonist’s head and then a sequence of images appear relating to gravity. The following narrative simply describes some scientific concepts that will be considered when developing cool visuals that are revealing the thoughts of the brilliant scientist. These animated elements will appeal to educated people because of their depth and to the average Joe because of how cool they look. Analogy to magnetism. Where magnetism is polar and there is built-in physical opposition, field with the same polarity reject each other – so is there a way that a gravitational field can be polarized and in so doing create the “opposite” so to speak? Even though its bullshit, people will buy it (it’s a fucking movie). The way to build a floating city is by tapping the anti-gravity potential of the rotational energy of the earth. Gravitational lensing – Newton Einstein. Curvature of Spacetime. Gravitational waves. Idea of dimensions – two dimensional universe and three dimensional – general relativity and quantum realm – question of resolution – subatomic versus experiential. Time dimension. Spacetime. Curvature. The aura. The field that’s there but you don’t see it. Luminosity. Virtual Particles. What is dark matter? Just because it can’t be detected with today’s diagnostic technology doesn’t mean its not there. Dark matter and dark energy. Is it an energy field that can be created with electricity? Or at least it is started with an electric current and then it becomes self-sustaining feeding off of earth’s rotating magnetic field???? If it’s plausible to me it will be plausible to them. Dark matter is gravity.) The infinity angle. Time as the fourth dimension. Anti-gravity white paper – 32 ft per second, quantity of mass – critical mass, analogy to nuclear forces – relativity – where does the “anti” come from? Maybe its two forces combining – finally revelation from father dream – the trinity its three forces and here is how you would anti - can you make it practical? Protagonist: Give me twenty years. (Scene with double agent women and military contractor – we need to get into his head can you make him talk…oh I can make any man talk.) Bar scene then drunk and drugged (by double agent women) protagonist in desert pondering death – sees dead father who provides insight on trinity theory. The “look” in his father’s eyes – then in his eyes he talks about light being affected by large gravity. Father dream sequence music is song Wondrous Stories by Yes “Man talking to son (Protagonist) images from space starts with big bang – evolution of suns and planets, earth evolving – space program evolution – shuttle space station – mars images voyager – more ethereal images black holes, dark matter – impact on moon – text reads water – imagery of lunar station trip to mars – exploration outside the solar system ends with infinity symbol man and son – father laying on death bed with grown son by his side. Last words…The morphine drip. Yours is no disgrace. Protagonist checks into the center and works with techs…nodding heads…marching orders. Next morning sun coming up, needs a shave at the white board, coffee in other hand. Sketches the concepts. Colleague reveals that he overheard plan to create destructive weapon with anti-gravity. Women spy for General Dynamics Corporation in clandestine meeting with General and CEO. Discussion of how to get him to relate key idea. He has the secret now – will only give it to his trusted friend for purposes of good and not evil. Middle: Some kind of conflict scene where he fights his way out of a jam. Earlier there were scenes where he played handball and or indoor soccer you could see that he is athletic and strong and brave. This chunk of the movie is the action sequence – good guys bad guys – computer guy pulls a misdirection end-run buys protagonist time to escape corporate criminal clutches. Protagonist anti-gravity secret is safe – Project Chief puts the kibosh on bad guys, military intervention – see the military are the good guys after all! Back at home through telephone conversation –they are at the same friend’s house. Talks to kids. Ending: 70 years later. Protagonist is sitting looking out the window of his floating glass or clear walled house talking to son who is on a vessel out in space. Hover vessels can be seen in the “future” landscape. The son asks his Dad to take care of his great grandson then commands his crew to “Activate the anti-gravity drive”. Grandson (in his late twenties) walks in with great grandson wearing Yankee cap. Great Grandson: Hey Nonno watch my curve ball Throws a virtual ball shows Great Grandad his curve – ball in flight brings back earlier visual concepts – circular world. A robot hovers up to bring chocolate milk-type drink. Protagonist now with bionic arms and other cyborg features turns his face with the same look of resolve that he has shown all his life – the legacy is carrying on. That’s quite a curve you got there Frankie, quite a curve. Super close up on curvature of Protagonists eye. Fade to Black. Credits roll.