Welcome to Camp! After four years of working on and off on this project I can say it's almost ready for public eye. This idea formulated while walking home from school one day. I was listening to Because The Internet by Childish Gambino. What was really cool about Because The Internet is that Donald Glover wrote a script to go along with the album telling the story 'The Boy', a character and motif he came up with (Childish Gambino is Donald Glover for those who don't know). While reading the script and listening to the album, Gambino gives us a new way of experiencing music. By both reading and listening, it paints a picture of what is going on in the character's head while he is going through the story. After listening to it, I realized I could do the same thing with his first album Camp. As I started listening to Camp again, scenes began to naturally develop in my head. Anytime I was listening to the album, my notes were out and I was jotting down ideas. Now, I almost finished and will have it out by the beginning of 2017.
Camp follows the camping experience of The Boy when he was 13. After freshly graduating middle school, his estranged father thought it would be best for him to attend Camp for part of the summer. The Boy is totally against going because all his life people were kind and friendly because through his dad, he was rich. After being convinced by his driver and seeing a cute girl, The Boy develops a positive attitude towards Camp. Here is the opening scene to Camp:
NOTE TO READER: THIS SCREENPLAY IS THE UNOFFICIAL PREQUEL TO (“BECAUSE THE INTERNET”) BY DONALD GLOVER. (“BECAUSE THE INTERNET”) IS AVAILABLE ON ALL MUSIC PLATFORMS. THE SCREENPLAY CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE REDDIT AS WELL.
Speak the truth… always.
INT. CHURCH PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING
A black limousine pulls up into a church's parking lot. A bunch of kids are waiting by a white bus with their parents. The kids are full of excitement and so are the parents. They get to have a little peace and quiet for awhile.
The Chauffeur (old heavy set white guy) driving the limo turns around in his seat.
CHAUFFEUR:
Ey! Wake up mate.
The Boy slowly begins to awake from the backseat.
CHAUFFEUR (cont'd):
We’re here.
The Boy peeks out the window and sighs. The Chauffeur looks at The Boy through the rear view mirrors.
CHAUFFEUR (cont'd) :
Ey! Chap cheer up! Camp is supposed to be a good thing not bad.
THE BOY:
Really? (sarcastically) I didn't know.
I rather spend the summer with FAM, doing what we usually do.
CHAUFFEUR:
What, sit in the house all day playing video games and on the computer? Your father thinks it's best for you.
The Boy quickly cuts him off.
THE BOY:
My father doesn't know anything or what's best for me!
The Chauffeur gets out the car and opens the door for The Boy. The Boy drags himself out.
CHAUFFEUR:
Look, I know you don't want to be here, but this is a really good opportunity for you to get out there; try something new. You never know what's gonna happen until you try it. Ya might even meet a cute girl, make your time here even better.
He nudges The Boy and The Boy gives him an embarrassed eye roll.
THE BOY:
I don't know. Maybe.
The chauffeur gives the Boy his bags and a crisp high-five then gets in the car and rolls down the window.
CHAUFFEUR:
Remember, first impressions are everything.
The Boy turns and faces the mass of people waiting by the bus.
THE BOY:
Note to self, fire him when I get back.
The Boy slowly walks over to the group waiting by the bus. A guy walks off the bus wearing khaki shorts and a polo shirt. He has a clipboard in hand and whistle around his neck. He blows the whistle.
BRANDON:
Can I get everyone's attention please!
The kids and parents all stop what they are doing.
BRANDON:
I'm just going to take the attendance real quick and then we will be on our way.
The kids' cheer. They all get in line and give their names to Brandon as he checks them off. Parents give their final goodbyes as the kids step onto the bus.
The line diminishes down to The Boy.
BRANDON
You must be [EDIT]’s son
THE BOY
Is it that easy to tell?
BRANDON
Nah, the big give away was the limo and the old fancy dressed white guy.
Brandon checks his name off.
BRANDON
Go on ahead man, you're good.
The Boy gets on the bus and is bombarded with noise and laughter from the other kids.
The Boy finds an open seat and starts to head towards it. But something catches his eyes. It's a girl. The girl makes eye-contact with him and she smiles before turning away. The Boy smiles back as he takes the open seat.
The Boy digs into his bag and fishes out his headphones. He puts them in his ear and plugs the jack into his phone and begins to play music. Before long, The Boy is asleep.
CUT TO:
The bus nears the camp, a kid wakes up The Boy. The bus pulls down a gravel road.
Welcome to Camp!
Honestly, can't wait to share the rest of this project with everyone! Keep your eyes open for it early 2017!
