Link: http://www.scifimoviepage.com/upcoming/previews/xmen-firstclass.html

Ext - an orphanage somewhere in Nebraska.

The large grounds appear empty.

Slow Zoom out.

As we get further from the house a black limousine pulls up on the edge of the grounds. A woman, with black hair cut in a bob steps out. She walks round to the rear passenger door and opens it. She speaks to the unseen passenger.

MOIRA - Are ye sure this is the place, Charles?

An upper window in the orphanage silently flashes ruby-red. The front door bursts open and staff and children alike come running out in a panic. A blonde boy is among them and runs directly towards the limousine. In the background, a section of the roof of the orphanage is ripped open as a bolt of ruby-red energy punches through it. MOIRA stands transfixed, facing the school, as the blonde child runs up to her and throws his arms around her waist. The unseen passenger speaks.

CHARLES - This is the place, Moira.

Fade to black.

Read more »

No X-Centric on the podcast this week so instead here’s my contribution to the continuing march towards Sidekick’s world-domination.

McGarr's post of 09/10/08 really struck a chord with me. I'm very, very interested to see how his epic comes out and I'm really pleased to see him getting knee-deep in the creative process. In a comment on his post I mentioned my hope that other people would be inspired to put pen to paper.

Now I’ve never been one to shy away from an opportunity to lead by example and so I include here for your reading pleasure a screenplay-style sequence from the X-Men movie I would make if I had Jerry Bruckheimer onboard as producer and an unlimited budget. I may develop this story in lieu of appearances on the podcast, so please no "Is that it?" but more like "Ah yeah, that's it!"

To set the scene for you, we’re shooting on a Pinewood sound stage and I’m sitting in my director’s chair having just seen this morning’s rushes. Whilst I’m going through a nip/tuck of today’s shooting schedule, one of my flunkies comes over with a sandwich and a fresh mug of weak lemon drink. Life is good. I take a break from my brunch to consider some choice gags for my Oscar-acceptance speech, concentrating particularly on that one about the audition tape for... I’m snapped from my reverie by my PA:
“Sir, have you remembered that Mr Bruckheimer is visiting the set today? His helicopter is just landing now.”
“Rodney, call Derek. Tell him we’ll shoot the Danger Room sequence today. And Rodney...”
“Yes sir?”
“Tell him that we’ll shoot the version with the extra explosions.”

Read more »