A perfect normal day video

This is the first edit version of ‘The perfect normal day' project on vimeo (Link below)

Ann Russell   Anna Mottram

Postman   Michalis Bountoulousis


Script  Xiaoyu Liu

Director Xiaoyu Liu

Editing Xiaoyu Liu

Sound recording  Tango Zhang
                          Xiaoying Cao

Camera  Diwen Xu

Assistant  Meng Lian

Location  Una Lu






https://vimeo.com/72448083

A perfect normal day filming day photos

A perfect normal day film specification

Film location: 39 Watkin street, Nottingham (Location provide: Una Lu) 

Film Date: 07/08/2013 (Sunny day 08:00--16:00) 

Film equipments:( Supported by Nottingham Trent University) 

   Camere (Cannon 7D*2)

   Tripod*1

   cinerig*1

   2*300w Red head lighting kits*1

   Zoomcorder*1

   Shotgun microphone*1 

   Sound record boom *1

Cast

   Ann -- Anna Mottram

   Postman -- Michalis Bountoulousis


Crew

   Director&script&pros  Xiaoyu Liu
   
   Camera   Diwen Xu 

   Sound recording   Tango Zhang& Xiaoying Cao

   Assistant  Meng Lian 

   Supervisor  Phil Nodding  

" Broken spirits" -- Chinese families who lose their only child

The inspiration of my script “A perfect normal day" is from a a Chinese documentary about Chinese family who lose their only child and lifes of those parents. Belong is the link of the video and news report.

The Grief of Chinese Parents Who Lose Their Only Childre

Note: The bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, struck close to home for us. Our team is based in Boston; our office is just a block away from where the attacks took place. Thank you for praying for our city and particularly for the victims and their families. Please continue to hold them in prayer.

Last week we learned that the attacks in Boston brought immeasurable grief to a family in China.

Lu Lingzi, a 23-year-old Boston University graduate student, was one of three people killed in the Boston Marathon attacks on April 15. She was a native of Shenyang, China, and she was her parents’ only child.

ABC News described her parents’ grief after speaking with Lu’s father:

Speaking through sobs, Lu's father told ABC News in a telephone interview today from his home in northeast China, "This is an extremely painful time for our family."

He said the family has declined several interview requests because, "Every time we speak about this, it is like a dagger in our hearts."

Lu's father said he is in the process of obtaining a visa so he can travel to the United States to claim his daughter's body. She was the only child in a family that adhered to China's one-child policy, he said.

Lu’s parents had scraped together savings in order to help her pursue a graduate degree in statistics in Boston. Her father told of her numerous academic achievements with pride, making it clear that she had embraced every opportunity her parents’ sacrifices had given to her.

Like other only children in China, Lingzi Lu embodied all of her parent’s future hopes and their legacy. She was their promise for wellbeing in old age, too—in China, a child is a parent’s “Social Security”.

Now, Lu’s parents are childless. As Dr. Toni Falbo, a professor at the University of Texas, told ABC: “Everyone is devastated by the loss of a child, but this is like pulling the rug out from under them, without any obvious sense of recovery.”

Sadly, Lingzi Lu’s parents aren’t the only ones in China to face an uncertain future after losing an only child.

Chinese State Media Discusses Plight of Parents who Lose an Only Child

Late last month, over a hundred bereaved parents gathered in Shanghai to release balloons in memory of their children. The Shanghai Daily, a branch of China’s state-run media, covered the occasion and noted the reason for their unusual circumstance.

These parents experience grief, but they also struggle with an added frustration unique to China.  They are among at least 7,000 couples in Shanghai who have lost the only child they were permitted to have under the nation’s One-Child Policy.

According to Tang Chenjia, a social worker who helps such parents, most would have had more children if not for the policy. The Shanghai Daily wrote:

“We hope these parents could turn sorrow into hope through prayer," said Tang Chenjia, a social worker with Shanghai Star Harbor Center, an organization that helps parents whose children died. Tang said the parents usually turn pessimistic. Some became shut-ins or lose their health while others become neighborhood troublemakers.

Tang’s organization is asking the Chinese government to do more for parents who lose their only child. “Most of the parents are in their 50s and 60s, and had only one child due to China's one-child policy,” Tang told the Shanghai Daily.

Right now, the city government gives a stipend to bereaved parents of only children. Yet many do not meet the strict eligibility requirements—for instance, the Shanghai Daily noted that parents are only eligible for a stipend if their child dies after reaching 16 years of age. Even parents who do get this stipend find that it does little to ensure their care in old age. Shanghai gives parents a one-time payment of 5,000 RMB (about $810 USD), and then 150 RMB (about $24 USD) monthly per parent once the parents reach retirement age. In Shanghai, where the cost of living is soaring, the Star Harbor Center is pushing for the government to more—and it’s encouraging to see that the state media is publicizing their efforts.

Please keep Lu Lingzi’s family, and every other bereaved Chinese family, in your prayers.

Top Image: Parents release balloons in honor of their lost children. (Shanghai Daily)

Bibliography

http://www.allgirlsallowed.org/blog/posts/grief-chinese-parents-who-lose-their-only-children （04-08-2013）

A perfect normal day script version 7-- reviewed language

Reviewed by my actress Anna Mottram to make language more natural.

EXT. STREET OF NOTTINGHAM DAY

It’s a typical cloudy and moody Wednesday morning in a quiet

neighborhood in Nottingham UK. ANN, 67, just goes back home

with two bags of groceries in her hands.

A young couple walks pass her, they are Ann’s neighbor Mr.and

Mrs. Li.

MRS.LI

Hi Mrs. Russell,How are you?

Ann gives them a brush off, she keeps her head down, walks

even faster.

IN. ANN’S HOUSE DOORWAY DAY

She fishes out keys from her pocket, opens the door.

ANN

I'mAm home. I got Ravioli today. That

check out boy was...( roll eyes and

sigh) The voucher had onlyjust expired

two days ago. God thisthe room is

filthy.

Ann takes off her coat, starts to do the cleaning. She wipes

the dinning table, mops the floor and waters the plants on

the table. (MONTAGE SEQUENCE)

ANN

At long last someone came to pick

up that dog. How many times has

that stupid animalmutt ruined your orchid

and yet that Greek woman just

wittersrattles on about how isn’their

little Bobby so adorable? (mimic

her voice) You know what...Guess what,she had a

stroke and may not be able to walk

again. (gloating)

Ann sits on the sofa, takes several pills out from a box on

the tea table and swallows them. She looks out of the

window, sighs.

INT.ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

Someone’s knocking at the door.

ANN

Who is it?

JOEY

Postman, could youopen the door please.

Ann slowly walks towards the door and opens it with a

impatient countenance on her face. Outside is a postman,

JOEY, 30. Today is the first day of work in this

neighborhood.

JOEY

Good morning

ANN

I don’t know you. where has

MR.Miller gone?

JOEY

MR.Miller retired last week.He

asked me to keep an eye on you and

I am ... I'm Joey..., nice to see you.

ANN

I don’t like you young man.

Hang on a minuteWait..You look familiar.You must be

one of thosesome kind of wanted menman on the tele!

JOEY

No no no madam I am definitely

not.I am Joey[U+FF0C]Joey Smith.

Nice to meetsee you.

Joey doesn’t seem to be upset with the comment,instead, he

looks at Ann with a gentle smile.

ANN

Oh my God stop smiling like thatthat smile.You’d

better watch out young man, I don’t

think you want to up setwanna mess up with my

husband....,isn't that right Martin?

Ann pauses for half minute, but there is no response. She

then grabs the box and shuts the door.

Ann opens the box, it appears to be a silk scarves from her

niece Rachel.

(CONTINUED)

ANN

Guess what is it Martin? silk

scarves from Rachel. Oh right she

went to Italy with her husband for

honeymoon. Have you ever heard of a

man who was allergic allergies to everything? Last

time they came over for dinner a

cockroach scared him half to deaththe hell out of

him.ennn.. Does it suit me?

INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM EVENING

Ann is sitting on the sofa with an old photo album on her

hands,the television is on.

ANN

Look at you in that uniform, what

year was that? 1963? It really has

been a long time.

CAMERA ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP TO ANN’S FACE. IT IS TENDERNESS IN

HER FACE WHEN SHE LOOKS AT THE OLD PHOTO FROM ALBUM.

The camera moves on the wall, there’s a old newspaper

clipping with the headline: "Local fire fighter,37,died

after saving 3 people’s lifes"

Fade to black

INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

ANN opens the door, Joey is standing outside with a big

piece of cake on his hand.

JOEY

Morning Mrs.Russell.

ANN

What?

JOEY

My mum made this...its strawberry cheese

cake, please have a trysome

Mrs.Russell!

ANN

You call thatit cake? Don’t make me

laugh young man. I don’t wanna end

up in hospital.

Ann shuts the door. Joey looks at the cake, shrugs

INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

Ann is standing by the window, Joey walks pass.

JOEY

Good morning Mrs.Russell

Ann doesn’t reply, she turns around and draws the curtains.

EXT.THE PAVEMENT OUTSIDE ANN’S HOUSE DAY

Ann is on her way back home with two bags of groceries on

her hands. She is a little short of breath. Joey

JOEY

Let me help you Mrs. Russell.

Joey takes the bags before Ann responds him. Ann looks at

him, feels touched.

INT.ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

Ann’s watching at the newspaper. Someone knocks at the door.

Ann opens the door, Joey stands outside with a painful face.

JOEY

HiHello Mrs. Russell, I just fell down

and hurt my ankle, can I sit down for a while? awhile

in your home?

ANN

Come on in. I got something for

you.

JOEY

Thank you Mrs.Russell.

ANN

You can call me Ann.

The kettle is boiling. Ann makes tea for Joey. They sit on

the sofa, start chatting.(With background music) Ann seems

less defensive and for the first time in years, she smiles.

FADE TO BLACK

Type words

"It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn’t make

everything all right. It didn’t make anything all right.

Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in

the wake of a startled bird’s flight.

But I will take it. With open arms. Because when spring

comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I

just witnessed the first flake melting."

’The kite runner’--Khaled Hosseini

A perfect normal day story board

A perfect normal day script version 6

A perfect normal day
By
Xiaoyu Liu
xiaoyu.liu2012@ntu.ac.uk
(+44)07709 712736



EXT. STREET OF NOTTINGHAM DAY
It’s a typical cloudy and moody Wednesday morning in a quiet
neighborhood in Nottingham UK. ANN, 67, just goes back home
with two bags of groceries in her hands.
A young couple walks pass her, they are Ann’s neighbor
Mr.and Mrs. Li.
MRS.LI
Hi Mrs. Russell,How are you?
Ann gives them a brush off, she keeps her head down, walks
even faster.
IN. ANN’S HOUSE DOORWAY DAY
She fishes out keys from her pocket, opens the door.
ANN
Am home. I got Ravioli today. That
check out boy was...( roll eyes and
sigh) The voucher had just expired
two days ago. God the room is
filthy.
Ann takes off her coat, starts to do the cleaning. She wipes
the dinning table, mops the floor and waters the plants on
the table. (MONTAGE SEQUENCE)
ANN
At long last someone came to pick
up that dog. How many times has
that stupid mutt ruined your orchid
and yet that Greek woman just
rattles on about how isn’their
little Bobby so adorable? (mimic
her voice) Guess what,she had a
stroke and may not be able to walk
again. (gloating)
Ann sits on the sofa, takes several pills out from a box on
the tea table and swallows them. She looks out of the
window, sighs.
2.
INT.ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY
Someone’s knocking at the door.
ANN
Who is it?
JOEY
Postman, open the door please.
Ann slowly walks towards the door and opens it with a
impatient countenance on her face. Outside is a postman,
JOEY, 30. Today is the first day of work in this
neighborhood.
JOEY
Good morning
ANN
I don’t know you. where has
MR.Miller gone?
JOEY
MR.Miller retired last week.He
asked me to keep an eye on you and
I am Joey, nice to see you.
ANN
I don’t like you young man.
Wait..You look familiar.You must be
some kind of wanted man on tele!
JOEY
No no no madam I am definitely
not.I am Joey[U+FF0C]Joey Smith.
Nice to see you.
Joey doesn’t seem to be upset with the comment,instead, he
looks at Ann with a gentle smile.
ANN
Oh my God stop that smile.You’d
better watch out young man, I don’t
think you wanna mess up with my
husband,right Martin?
Ann pauses for half minute, but there is no response. She
then grabs the box and shuts the door.
Ann opens the box, it appears to be a silk scarves from her
niece Rachel.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
ANN
Guess what is it Martin? silk
scarves from Rachel. Oh right she
went to Italy with her husband for
honeymoon. Have you ever heard a
man allergies to everything? Last
time they came over for dinner a
cockroach scared the hell out of
him.ennn.. Does it suit me?
INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM EVENING
Ann is sitting on the sofa with an old photo album on her
hands,the television is on.
ANN
Look at you in that uniform, what
year was that? 1963? It really has
been a long time.
CAMERA ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP TO ANN’S FACE. IT IS TENDERNESS IN
HER FACE WHEN SHE LOOKS AT THE OLD PHOTO FROM ALBUM.
The camera moves on the wall, there’s a old newspaper
clipping with the headline: "Local fire fighter,37,died
after saving 3 people’s lifes"
Fade to black
INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY
ANN opens the door, Joey is standing outside with a big
piece of cake on his hand.
JOEY
Morning Mrs.Russell.
ANN
What?
JOEY
My mum made this strawberry cheese
cake, please have a try
Mrs.Russell!
ANN
You call it cake? Don’t make me
laugh young man. I don’t wanna end
up in hospital.
Ann shuts the door. Joey looks at the cake, shrugs
4.
INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY
Ann is standing by the window, Joey walks pass.
JOEY
Good morning Mrs.Russell
Ann doesn’t reply, she turns around and draws the curtains.
EXT.THE PAVEMENT OUTSIDE ANN’S HOUSE DAY
Ann is on her way back home with two bags of groceries on
her hands. She is a little short of breath. Joey
JOEY
Let me help you Mrs. Russell.
Joey takes the bags before Ann responds him. Ann looks at
him, feels touched.
INT.ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY
Ann’s watching at the newspaper. Someone knocks at the door.
Ann opens the door, Joey stands outside with a painful face.
JOEY
Hi Mrs. Russell, I just fell down
and hurt my ankle, can I sit awhile
in your home?
ANN
Come on in. I got something for
you.
JOEY
Thank you Mrs.Russell.
ANN
You can call me Ann.
The kettle is boiling. Ann makes tea for Joey. They sit on
the sofa, start chatting.(With background music) Ann seems
less defensive and for the first time in years, she smiles.
FADE TO BLACK
Type words
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
"It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn’t make
everything all right. It didn’t make anything all right.
Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in
the wake of a startled bird’s flight.
But I will take it. With open arms. Because when spring
comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I
just witnessed the first flake melting."
’The kite runner’--Khaled Hosseini