In this dialog, I have been thinking about doing a video about a scene in the classic movie, SUMMER of 42. I have 15 or 20 facts and ideas, but they're hard to craft into one first draft script. Can GPT4 help?
The movie SUMMER of 42, tracks three teen boys on an island like Nantucket in 1943. Around the middle, the protagonist HERMIE is asked to go to the pharmacy and buy condoms for the three boys. This leads to an unforgettable "verbal dance" with the pharmacist for about four minutes.
YouTube clip here (3:33) or here (4:24).
PROMPT - STREAM OF THOUGHT
One of the common types of amateur video on YouTube is "visit a grave" and tell something about the person involved, typically an actor. I have done this a few times and I am an advanced amateur video creator. I have a series of ideas I want to integrate into a short video (ideally 2 minutes, but flexible) about LOU FRIZZEL. he is best known for a short (4 minute) but iconic and unforgettable role playing the pharmacist in SUMMER OF 42. He was born in Missouri, but his entire film and tv acting career spans about 1970 to 1979, when he died at age 59. He is buried in Calvary Cemetry in Los Angeles, a Catholic cemetery, and there are no YouTube video memorials to him (or only tiny 10 second clips of the memorial stone). The video could have a more creative, non chronological order. It would include his name, his years 1919-1979, he was born in Missouri, little is recorded about his early career, but he appeared in a number of roles as a well known character actor (the "Who's That Guy?" type of actor) form 1970-1979. He is best known for his iconic creation of the Pharmacist in Summer of 42. He died of lung cancer in 1979 at age 59. He was buried in Calvary Cemetry in East Los Angeles . I will have nice B roll footage of the memorial (which is a flat marker). However, I also want to try and talk about why the Pharmacist role is so iconic. It plays as a continuous scene of 4 minutes with just two actors, Pharmacist and HERMIE (the 15 year old protagonist of the movie and representation of the script's author). HERMIE goes through a comical routine overcoming his extreme shyness or embarrassment at buying condoms for the first time. (He eventually succeeds, and as he's leaving the store, he's shocked to his his proposed new girlfriend just walking in, deus ex machina.) I think that several things make this iconic. First, everyone has formative and unforgettable first sexual experiences, and allied with that, mechanics of time and place (here, buying condoms). A second factor is that the scene is just so expertly written, it is a joy to watch it play out, joust and parry between the two actors, and to re watch. A third factor is that superficially this is adult versus teen, an adult authority figure and a nervous, throes-of-growing-up teen. However, every 45 year old was once a 15 year old boy, and no doubt the pharmacist also recalls or mirrors seeing himself in this earnest but scared 15 year old. They could be almost the same person 30 years apart in life. Neither is "bad looking" but neither one is a hunk or athlete or suave character, either. They are both "everyman" or 'everyteen." I think this similarity in personality (a little bland) and body type (not bad not good, just average) is my creative insight in discussing the scene. Can you help me craft these ten or twenty ideas and facts into a roughly 2 minute video script? In addition to B roll from the cemetery, I will use some stills or clips from this scene in the movie.
ChatGPT
[FADE IN: Aerial shot of Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, name appears on the screen.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
Here, in the heart of Los Angeles, lies the story of an unforgettable character actor. Meet Lou Frizzel, born in Missouri, 1919.
[CUT TO: Montage of Lou's photos from the early years and acting career, text appears on screen: 1919-1979.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
From 1970 to 1979, Frizzel graced our screens as the "Who's That Guy?" type of actor. But of all his roles, none made quite an impact as the humble pharmacist in the iconic film, Summer of '42.
[CUT TO: Short clip from the scene in Summer of '42.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
For 4 continuous minutes, Frizzel, as the pharmacist, and Hermie, the film's 15-year-old protagonist, take us through an unforgettable dance of adolescence. A relatable, almost universal moment - buying condoms for the first time.
[CUT TO: Selected stills or clips from the movie scene.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
But this scene is more than comedy; it’s a carefully crafted mirror, reflecting the journey from boyhood to manhood, a shared experience between two unlikely peers.
[CUT TO: Side by side comparison shot of the pharmacist and Hermie.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
They are two 'everymen' - the pharmacist and Hermie - not remarkable in their looks but deeply human in their struggle. Through them, one age 15, one age 45, we see the shared DNA of adolescence and adulthood.
[FADE TO: B roll footage of the memorial stone in Calvary Cemetery.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
Lou Frizzel passed away at 59, in 1979, his life cut short by lung cancer. Today, he rests here in Calvary Cemetery.
[FADE TO: Close shot of the memorial stone, LOU FRIZZEL 1919-1979.]
NARRATOR (V.O.):
Even if not etched in marble, his roles are carved in the annals of Hollywood history.
His legacy? The embodiment of our shared, often awkward, human journey. This was Lou Frizzel, a man behind many faces, a character most strongly remembered for one unforgettable scene.
[FADE OUT: Aerial shot of Calvary Cemetery.]
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Wow, I love it! This gives me a great starting place and I can make some humor edits later. This helped me a lot.
ChatGPT
I'm so glad to hear that you found the script useful! It's a wonderful tribute to Lou Frizzel and his contribution to the world of film. Making people remember and appreciate the roles of character actors is a beautiful endeavor. If you have any more ideas or need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your video editing and production, I'm sure it will turn out great!
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What do you estimate the running time of our little film script is?
ChatGPT
The script's runtime will largely depend on the speed of your narration, the length of the movie clips you use, and how long you linger on each visual element. However, given the amount of text and assuming an average speech rate of about 150 words per minute, the script should run approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes. This is a rough estimate, and it can be adjusted by changing the pace of the narration or the length of the visual segments. Remember to allow some breathing space for viewers to absorb the visuals and the spoken words.
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What follows is my "SHOOTING SCRIPT."
While it may appear significantly different, I want you to know that the "GPT4 SCRIPT" was highly helpful and influential and the "GPT4 SCRIPT" was a major part of the artistic evolution that resulted in this "SHOOTING SCRIPT."
Here is the "SHOOTING SCRIPT". ###
[Intro music, Summer of 42 Theme, and movie stills[
There’s an old saying that character actors have two names. One, their real name. And the other is, “Who’s that guy? You know, that guy?”
When an actor has left the stage 50 years ago, keeping track of that real name may be even harder. Today let’s remember Lou Frizzel and his iconic role in Summer of 42.
[Still of Frizzel as Pharmacist]
Frizzel was a familiar character actor in dozens of roles in the 1970s. I remember him best for the memorable role of the pharmacist, in Summer of 42, where he brings us a perfect scene only four minutes long.
[Clips of Pharmacy scene begin, silent]
For those four minutes, Frizzel, as the pharmacist, and Hermie, the film’s 15 year old protagonist, take us through an unforgettable dance of adolescence - buying condoms for the first time.
But the scene is more than comedy, it’s a carefully crafted moment that reflects the journey from boyhood towards adulthood.
It’s two people struggling to communicate.
And as a great actor, Frizzel gives us the frames of puzzlement, irritation, bemusement, and empathy, each one with understated gestures and small shifts in his voice.
And for me, these two characters reflect each other - both are the Everyman, neither handsome nor homely, neither extroverted or introverted, neither athletic nor frail I see a 15 year old and 45 year old reflecting what could be the same person.
Even if not etched in marble, the scene is part of Hollywood history.
[Still of Frizzell, with sequential insert small photos of Manzanar, Bonanza, and DUEL.]
Frizzel himself was born in Missouri around 1920 but he graduated from UCLA in 1942. It’s World War 2 and he must have been draft age, but his first job was to move Manzanar, the Japanese internment camp, where he stayed as music director until the camp closed. One source says Frizzel attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 1950s, and moved from New York back to California in 1960. His best known roles include a recurring character on Bonanza in the 1960s, and he was in DUEL, a 1971 TV movie that was Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough moment.
[Cue 30 seconds of Summer of 42 Theme music, which will end a few seconds after the narration ends.]
As for the Summer of 42, it’s interesting that as a musician, he was in a film famed for its music, and as the young man at manzanar, he had his own 1942 wartime experience.
[Face to black, then B roll of Calvary Cemetery ending on the grave site.]
Frizzel died in 1979 at age 59 of lung cancer, and he’s buried in Calvary Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery in Los Angeles. Down below, I’ve included links to Frizzel resources and how to find his resting place. Enjoy the links and thanks for watching.
[Headstone fades to black, music continues 10 seconds and finishes]
ChatGPT
Your "SHOOTING SCRIPT" is excellent! It integrates elements from the original script we worked on together but adds a fresh perspective and new information about Lou Frizzel's life and career.
I love how you've expanded on his role in "Summer of '42" and incorporated other elements of his work and personal history. This script provides an even more comprehensive view of Frizzel and beautifully honors his contributions to the film industry.
Well done! If there's anything more you'd like assistance with, please don't hesitate to ask.
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