John Oak Dalton

"Not 'Hollywood Independent' - writer John Oak Dalton is the real Real Thing." --Cinema Minima."Very weird and unpopular b-movies and comics."--Blogalicious. "After watching the film I am left to wonder if he had some childhood trauma he is not telling us about."--IMDB user review. "Screenwriter John Oak Dalton wanted to be in Hollywood. Instead, he's in the rustic kitchen above the Germania General Store, stirring a pot of boiling hot dogs." --The Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Thursday, February 12, 2004

Ferry Cross the Mersey

I heard a funny story from filmmaker Mark Polonia that a friend of a friend had her house robbed, and out of her massive DVD collection the only one missing was THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED.

Know your audience, I say.

So here's more from RING OF THE SORCERESS, my crazy low-fi everything but the kitchen sink fantasy epic:

CUT TO:
EXT. HILLOCK -- LATER
Maddie is solemnly piling rocks in a little mound while tears run down her face. We see that a small wooden cross has been crudely lettered with the word "Patches."
Peryl looks on with concern.
PERYL
Patches is in a better place now. She is running with the gods in bright fields.
Maddie looks up at Peryl with eyes streaming tears.
MADDIE
But she had a field to run in here! Until the wolves got her, at least.
PERYL
I know, child. I know.
Maddie hugs Peryl close, and the woman pats her forlorn head. After a long moment's thought, Peryl scans the horizon. Then she crouches down and looks Maddie full in the face.
PERYL (CONT'D)
There may be a way to bring Patches back. But if we do this, you must never, ever tell Master Silverthorn or old Arliss or anyone else in the abbey, for this magic is forbidden. Do you understand?
MADDIE
I do.
PERYL
Then turn your eyes away, child.
Maddie does so, obediently. Peryl touches her hand to the humble mound of stones that make up Patches' grave and begins to CHANT.
Maddie looks frightened as thunder rumbles in the distance.
Peryl finishes her CHANT and steps away from the small grave.
PERYL (CONT'D)
It is done.
Eagerly, Maddie pushes forward and begins moving the rocks away.
MADDIE
Patches! Patches!
Suddenly, a hand lurches out of the earth and grabs Maddie around the throat. She SCREAMS.
The earth begins to move all around, and a fierce, bearded man in rags claws his way from the earth. Soon enough, Peryl will dub him SHADOW. He flings the child aside.
PERYL
Run!
The girl does so. Shadow fixes his gaze on Peryl, who takes a faint-hearted step backwards. He lurches forward and grasps Peryl around the throat before she can slip away.
SHADOW
Must...stop...must KILL...NO!
Shadow pushes Peryl to the ground and clutches at his head.
Peryl looks at this specter in horror for a long moment, then takes off into the trees.
As Peryl retreats, Shadow lets out a HOWL.
SMASH CUT TO:
OPENING CREDITS AND MUSIC

Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.