Student number: 12010540
SCRIPT COVERAGE REPORT
Title: Future King
Form: Screenplay
Length: 97pp
Writer: N/A
Genre: Adventure/Action/Comedy
Submitted by: Sarah Evans
Producer: N/A
Director: N/A
Cast: N/A
Locale: Brighton/London
Circa: Present day
Budget: Medium
Verdict: Recommend
Reader: William Saunders
Date Covered: 26/10/2014
Logline: Arthur Root is just a standard games workshop nerd, but when he
inadvertently discovers an ancient object this triggers a prophecy that insists that
only Arthur can stop the evil tyrant and save the world and humanity.
Evaluation: The script is fantastic and very gripping. It would appeal to comedy and
action thriller fans including those interested in historical fiction. It shows a diverse
nature that keeps well in keeping with feature film structure; therefore it deserves to
be recommended.
EXCELLENT
IDEA
GOOD
x
PLOT
x
CHARACTERIZATION
x
DIALOGUE
x
PACE
x
SETTING
FAIR
x
POOR
Student number: 12010540
Synopsis
The setting is present day in Brighton and the main character is ARTHUR ROOT
(28). He works in Albion Games as assistant manager along with the manager
HERB they are portrayed as typical nerds respectively. Arthur is obsessed with the
shop and work and gives little time to his girlfriend BECKY (few years younger). It is
only when Arthur takes Becky on a short get away to Cornwall that the adventure
begins.
Arthur needs to stop by on the side of the road and winds up being attacked by a
bull. He is chased towards a pond to which he trips over something hard. This turns
out to be an ancient bar which he uses to get rid of the bull. Described as ‘the bar’ it
is actually Excalibur. Arthur finds a teashop in which he discovers a waiter who has
knowledge of ‘the bar’.
On an evening after an event at Albion Games Arthur is attacked by WOLFRIC
who’s portrayed as an evil entity. However Arthur is saved by MIRANDA an ex M.I.5
agent and she fights Wolfric who manages to escape but loses his hands in the fight
replacing them with daggers. Arthur manages to escape home but is darted by
PERCIVAL, a dashing young man. Arthur wakes up on a rollercoaster ride, sitting
next to him is MERLIN who is stuck in life due to immortality. He enters a castle and
is slowly shown a tour of the castle Camelot and experiences the jousting events that
prove to be very important.
Arthur is asked to agree to a prophecy to be King of Camelot. Arthur is unsure to
begin with but takes on the challenge and is trained by Miranda and ZOLTAN, a
jousting expert trainer. He learns the ways, slowly progressing.
Arthur then has a change of character and in embarrassing Merlin he turns back to
his real life only to find that Herb and Becky have got together behind his back while
he’s been away and that he’s effectively lost his job at Albion Games. This leads
Arthur to turn back to Camelot. This time Arthur takes his best and oldest friend
COLIN (28) along with him. After proving to Colin that the prophecy exists they reenter Camelot in order to establish Arthur as involved once again. Arthur and Colin
go on a mission to retrieve Excalibur from the tower of London but are confronted by
Wolfric who Arthur has to kill off.
The climax comes when Arthur, Colin, Miranda, and Percival (who’s revealed to be
Lancelot) go to London in order to stop the Evil tyrant, SIMON, from destroying
humanity and the world. A jousting match ensues to which if Simon the tyrant wins
then he can proceed with his plan and if Arthur wins then Simon must down all
weapons. However Simon is killed off into the Thames and they all survive with
Arthur revealing that his real name is Arthur King not Arthur Root taken from his
single mum. Arthur then finds himself in a relationship with Miranda and all is solved.
Student number: 12010540
COMMENT
The concept is really good. It is cleverly balanced between the classic mythical tale
of King Arthur and Merlin and brought to present day. The originality of the idea is
particularly good with there being a search for a modern day King Arthur to save the
world. It’s a different slant on the hero which is excellent.
The structure follows the eight sequences of the three act structure quite well. The
first act starts with a Celtic battle which latter on is referred back to. The jump from
the battle and jumping to present day in Albion games was excellent as it gave an
unexpected humorous slant on the script. The characters are introduced in act one
well and slowly a dilemma constructed when the prophecy is introduced. The inciting
incident is placed at a good point within act one on p.9. The bar is great as it leads
the reader on to the next ten pages. The pace is really good keeping the reader
engaged and wanting more. The second act becomes laboured around the jousting
training scenario where character exposition is shown more through dialogue and
characters sitting around. On screen this could be represented differently, when read
through it slowed the action and pace down. The midpoint on p. 45 is good as Arthur
realises his life has disappeared outside of Camelot thus he changes back to taking
on the prophecy. However the start of act two is successfully recovered in the final
act with a brilliantly constructed dramatic ending.
The characters are developed very well. Exposition could be shown through action a
little more. In the jousting training a lot is learnt about Arthur and his inferiority
complex through the dialogue creating less of a cinematic effect. Simon the main
villain could have been constructed a little more than just being an MP but this
created a good softer dictatorship over the world which could be compared to
Sebastian savage in Johnny English. The affair that occurred between Becky and
Herb appeared baffling and unrealistic. Arthur had no reaction to her cheating with
his manager. Also they go for drinks with them which made this unrealistic as Arthur
didn’t seem too bothered by what would usually be an awkward situation. The
Mentor was thought to be Merlin as he showed him to and explained the prophecy.
Miranda could be classed in the mentor category also appearing as a protector as
well as a love interest.
The dialogue was particularly good with many different bickering and comedic banter
between characters. However in places it was used to reveal exposition a little too
often. It did set the characters up well and the through that they could easily be
related to by the reader or viewer.
Overall the script is fantastic and very gripping. It would appeal to comedic and
action thriller fans including those interested in historical fiction. It shows a diverse
nature that keeps well in keeping with feature film structure, therefore it deserves a
recommendation.