Hey, everyone!
I’m excited for today. I’m going to start showcasing teachers that are doing some amazingly creative things, starting with a project that me and a few buddies were working on around 2015. Is it conceited for me to call my own project amazing? Yes, yes it is.
Honestly, I don’t remember how all the pieces came together, but my buddy Mike Dozier and I were working on a script for a zombie-esque graphic novel about a bunch of kids surviving in a world where the infection of the world did not affect children.
We got my friend, and amazing artist Chris Prunckle to get in on the art side, and we got plugging along!
Mike and I ended up with about 100 graphic novel pages scripted out as well as world details, character details and bios, and more. Chris ended up doing some character sketches, weapon art, and thumbnails of the first few pages.
Then we all got busy, and this project seemed to go to the back of the project list for all of us; however, I’ve never even thought about not getting it out there. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to post more pages of the story that we wrote and splash in some of Chris’ art when I can.
Today, I’m going to give you the first scene of the script: Act 1, Scene 1. What follows is our script and Chris’ pages. I won’t say much else right now except this script has gone through many styles including properly formatted film scripting, minimal comic script with panel boxes, etc. You may get all of these as we release more story Here you go!
PART ONE:
EXT. SECULDED HOUSE – NIGHT
A flicker of light escapes a boarded up window. Five shadowed figures approach a small seculded house on the outskirts of a forest.
Through the boards we see a family of three sitting by candlelight.
SHADOW FIGURE 1
I hope the scouting reports are right about this one…
SHADOW FIGURE 2
There’s no doubt, those guys have never failed us before.
EXT. SECULDED HOUSE FRONT DOOR – MOMENTS LATER
Close up of a shotgun blasting the lock off the door.
INT. HOUSE LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
The family jumps back in reaction as they witness their door getting kicked in as five figures swarm into their home.
With guns drawn we see the shadowed figures are kids, ranging from 10 to 15 years old. A standoff ensues.
The leader of the group, ROY, (15), with a Clint Eastwood stare and a 9mm locks eyes with DAD, (35).
ROY
Give us the kids, and we’ll leave…
MOM, (33) grabs JEREMY, (12), and huddles close to her husband who is armed with a knife.
DAD
(Nervous)
We’re healthy…we’re fine. I’m 35. I’m ok…she’s ok…
MOM
Please leave us alone.
The kids advance.
ROY
We’re not leaving without that kid.
DAD
(Increasing Anger)
I said, ggget outtt!
Dad begins to stutter and shake. Screams and guttural noises escape from dad. He applies pressure to his temples and clenches his teeth.
Mom reaches towards her husband, unsure of what to do. Jeremy grabs his dad’s leg.
The shattering sound of Dad’s teeth explodes in the room. The armed kids look at Roy. Roy stares at the father.
SHADOW FIGURE 1
Roy, he’s changing!
ROY
I got this…
Roy puts a bullet right in Dad’s head. Spackled with blood, Mom and Jeremy cradle Dad.
Jeremy looks at Roy with venomous eyes, grabs Dad’s knife and charges towards Roy.
Roy without hesitation pistol whips Jeremy knocking him out.
ROY (CONT’D)
(To the kids)
Grab the boy.
Mom throws herself on Jeremy’s body.
MOM
Nooo!!!
Before the kids can pull the Mom off Jeremy they hear crying from the other room. All heads shoot to look down the hall.
INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Mom takes off down the hall, the group of kids chase behind.
INT. BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
Mom enters the room, slams the door and locks it behind her. She’s to a crib and picks up JAMIE, a toddler, who’s sobbing.
The door is kicked in.
MOM
Please, leave me with her. Just go..
ROY
I’m afraid we can’t do that. Give us the girl, and we will leave you alone.
MOM
(Defeated)
I can’t…
Roy motions to the other boys to take the girl, after a struggle with the screaming mother, the boys get the little girl and leave the mom sobbing on the floor.
INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Roy leads the pack of kids down the hallway, from behind them Mom appears with a 45. Revolver.
MOM
Who do you think you, little bastards are?! This is my family!!!
The boys turn around as the Mom, with tears running down her face, pulls the gun up. The boys dive for the floor expect Roy who quickly moves to the side and draws his pistol as he falls against the wall, he takes three shots at the Mom and hits her three times in the chest. Mom fires on shot as she falls to the floor. The shot shatters a light fixture raining glass on the boys. Jamie is kicking and screaming the entire time.
SHADOW FIGURE 2
(Looking at the light)
That was close.
ROY
(Brushing glass off himself.)
Stupid’s more like it. She could’ve shot the kid.
The boys make their way to pick up Jeremy, as one sedates Jamie with a syringe.
EXT. SECULDED HOUSE
With Jeremy and Jamie in tow, the boys walk out of the house and into the darkness.
TITLE CARD: Children of Wrath.
Page 1
So there you have it! The first nine pages of Children of Wrath (the title has changed a bunch as well…not even sure if that’s the one we landed on, BUT that’s the one you are blessed with!)
Check back next week for the next chunk of pages. I will be creating a tab at the top of the page called “Children of Wrath,” and I will just keep adding to that story. I will give you all the art, story, and insight that I can in weekly chunks all summer. Please keep checking it out, and spread the word if you like it!
Please read my interview with my buddy Mike Dozier by clicking here to find out more about him, and check out Chris on IG @wannabethecomic and on Twitter @midjipress.
Happy reading!
Eric
mr.kallenborn@gmail.com
Twitter: comics_teacher
IG: @comics_teacher
@WeAreLitX (Twiter/IG)