A series of racially charged disappearances leads a detective and a young group of people to a mysterious town with a shocking secret
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I voted on this several days ago. Great script. Thought hit me, thoughā¦the antagonistās views in the script are never really counteredā¦leaving his views to carry the theme. Got me to wondering even moreā¦what was the writer trying to say? If youāre out thereā¦Iād love to know more.
That is such a great perspective!!!
When I was introduced to the story, I had had to see what the hype was about. The art between horror/suspense meeting sadistic torment is where my focus was. Yet this now makes me think further, like how in Saw we learn about the reason behind seeking truth from the people whom were picked up based off Jigsaw diagnosis with cancer.
Iām excited to see this one gain momentum
Paul, I think this is a fair point, though Iād counter that the protagonistās behaviour generally counters what the antagonist is pushing. I feel like heās trying to put them in a box (almost literally) and thereās moments where he feels frustrated because they donāt align with how he āwantsā them to. It seems to me that the author treats racism as something bizarre and therefore combatable by just existing. Iām keen to read this again and really consider what youāre suggesting though, feel this one has a lot to be gleaned through a re-read.
I see what youāre saying. Itās just that, in the end, it wasnāt a rejection of the antagonistās viewāthere was never a point where the protagonist takes direct action to counter the viewāto show outright: see, youāre wrong. (At least, I donāt remember action. I remember some dialogue, but nothing super direct.) The finishing image in Coopersville is Kelly repeatedly smashing Virginiaās head into the concrete. As Benson predicted/wanted. Nowā¦if you want to say that the point is that society/racism (Benson) forced them to become thisā¦thatās an interesting conversation. Very worth exploring. If the point is that Benson was rightā¦
The very last sequenceā¦the Asian version of Coopersvilleā¦I think the treatment says it well: If you hate something enough, youāll create unimaginable things. (I guess thatās a statement of theme! And, the closest we get to hearing the authorās viewpoint.) I just donāt remember that standing out so explicitly in the script. (And I canāt go back to read.) Anywayā¦Iām hoping at some point to hear from the author. 
Either way, they must be pleased, as Iām still pondering the script and its message.
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I am
What did you dislike? I hope it scared you and made you laugh. Itās pretty nuts
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Hello and welcome to the forum. Thank you for contributing!
Weād like to congratulate you on Cooperville. If I may ask, what was the inspiration for the idea and how long have you been working on it?
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Is this yours? If so, what do you see as the main theme? What do you want the script to say?
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Hi. It started off as a joke I said at my former job. I used to work at a comic book store and we kind of riff a lot when thereās downtime and we would always talk about movies. So i just asked them to say the silliest idea for a movie off the top of their head and when it was my turn, I blurted out āWhat if thereās a serial killer who shrinks black folks to step on them but he picked the wrong folks to shrink and step on?ā I meant it as a joke but it stayed with me and once I wrote the opening, I knew it was something special. Whatās kind of funny was that one if my jobs was working at a bar (I live in New York so I worked two jobsācomic book store during the day, and the bar at night) and I would map out the story on the notepads the waiters used and random napkinsāfolks eating mussels and fries had no idea I was thinking about shrunken black folks sword fighting with knitting needles while I was taking their order.
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I think creating a situation thatās so absurd (and perversly entertaining) to highlight someone thatās taboo was my point. Race is such a sore topic but folks (a) not talking about it and (b) all they talk about struck me as humorous. Iāve been subjected to it a lot because Iām a triple threat for side eyesāIām black, gay, and a nerd and I live in New York but from the South and Iām a military bratāso coming up with the character of a guy dressed as a modquito who shrinks black people was a better alternative than being mad.
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Iām so glad youāre here to discuss the script. Thanks. It is wildly absurd and perversely entertaining. So, goal reached. Great job. Iām curious about your reaction to my above takeā¦that the script doesnāt really push back on the antagonistās message. That having one of the finishing images be that of Kelly repeatedly smashing Virginiaās head into the concrete seems to reinforce the negative message. Did you want the script to counter the antagonistās message? If so, did I miss how it does? Iām just wondering where the script fits in the larger converstion. Thanks again for jumping in hereā¦Iāve been hoping to talk to you about it.
Great answer, thanks for sharing. Iām just reading your response to Paul, too, what a unique perspective. Iām quite intrigued by Benson and the fact that heās a black man himself. Is the intention that he has bought into negative stereotypes pedalled by others and developed this racism, or is it an internalised hatred that he is projecting onto others? Maybe I need to reread with a magnifying glass, but Iād love to hear your take directly!
@afordjr1 Whatās up man. If you could choose any director to make this film, who you got and why?
Nia DeCosta. She has an interesting eye, but Iām not lying if I said Iād love to direct it myself
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Benson flat out hates black people. Heās a blast to write for and itās a really good role for an actor, but the dude honestly thinks black folks are dangerous and the scum of the Earth. And he has the nerve to be a genius.
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Once I realized the Mosquito Man needed to be a nerdy black guy, i was blessed with getting to write this interesting nasty villain
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The idea of using your amazing intellect to perpetuate unapologetic hate and get away with it was an interesting thing to dive into. And BDSM imagery and a giant cat softens that intensity in an insane way
Thanks for your answers! I love that we have First Cat and Cooperville in the top 10 - one featuring a plucky hero cat and one featuring a giant, murderous feline. The creativity knows no bounds!
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I think you could have done more with messed up stuff happening in Cooperville. How about the releasing of hundreds of bouncy balls that hit hard enough to break small bones? Another cool visual could be when inhabitants are hiding too long inside houses, Mosquito man simply attaches a small piece of twine and lifts. From the perspective inside, its like the house is just rising away into the āskyā.
Biggest complaint is that the cops had a pretty obvious clue to point them to Benson.
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