Coach Carter

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27th February 1997 (Thursday)

Ricky Stirling (POV)

"Yeah… yes okay. No, don't worry, I visited Hank, he's got a bespoke suit ready for tomorrow. Don't worry dad, it'll go without a hitch… yes I know it'll be significant if I win tomorrow… yeah, don't worry Walt is on it. If I win tomorrow, then interviews and talk show appearances will be booked, locked and loaded so relax… Yeah, okay… Love you too dad… no. No, I'm not giving you a kiss over the phone in fact, I'm never giving you a kiss so you can forget all about it… ok, thank you and goodbye… yeah I'll see you 3 days later, bye dad." And with that, I finally cut the call, and then proceeded to sigh loudly.

"That was painful to watch..."

"And?"

"I would watch it again."

"Of course you would Daryl. Same way I would watch you get slapped on the head by your grandma for not 'greeting her right'."

"Shut up kid." He scowled.

"Yeah good going. Calling me kid in a vain attempt to feel superior, top-notch stuff matey."

He just sighed tiredly, hanging his head as he gave up on coming up with a quip.

"I pulled 2 all-nighters in a row Ricky… forgive me if I'm off my game. Also, you pulled 3 in a row, and yet here you are, fresh as a daisy. What's your secret recipe huh? Coke? Meth? Ludes? No wait… don't tell me you got a syringe lying around here somewhere?" He asked, making an act of looking around frantically.

"Daryl, you know me… I'm just built different. Anyways, I'm leaving right now to pick up my suit for tomorrow, so I'm giving you all some much needed time off. Get some shut-eye, we'll meet again on 1st. I got places to be tomorrow."

"First of all… fuck you. Second, hell yeah we deserve it. Still can't believe we got all that done in a week and half. Third, good luck for tomorrow… although I don't really think you'll need it."

"Hell yeah I won't. I've been nominated in 2 categories… and I've got one in the bag so…"

"You mean the 'John Cassavetes' one?"

"Yeah. I looked into the other nominees… none of them got a snowball's chance in hell. As for the debut performance… jury's still out on it, but fingers crossed."

He nodded in thought before replying, "That makes sense. You know I bought a copy of it. 'Paranormal Activity'."

"And? What did you think?"

"Wha- Richmond Stirling, are you fishing for a compliment?"

"You want the answer to be yes?"

"So badly."

I nodded before meeting his eyes, "Then yeah, I'm fishing for a compliment. Hit me with the best one you got, right now."

"Best one? Dude, I was gonna say it was good… Now you want me to come up with a review on the spot? Come on Ricky-"

"Improvise. Count it as an assignment. You don't do well, and you disappoint your Dear Aunt Daly."

He flinched back, "Oh man! You know, I'm looking at your face right now, and I can tell you ain't joking… wait for a minute."

"You don't have a minute so improvise! On. The. Spot." I ask in a steely tone.

"It was a movie that, uh, didn't really rely on setup and payoff, toying with the audience's expectations throughout. The meat of it was in the individual moments, and every single detail, every expression, every single placement on any object in the shot, was done purposely. It was either done to not break immersion, or to add subtle continuity details… that people will never catch in their first, or even their second viewing. Am I right?"

Well goddamn.

I just shook my head in disbelief, "I'm impressed Daryl, I really am. Nearly 2 months shadowing my every step, and you know me well enough to catch details no-one else did… You know what? I can see how fuckin' tired you are, so let's end with a final question… This movie was made on a shoe-string budget, filmed and edited within a month, and funded entirely out of my pocket… So why in the hell would I add subtle continuity details that I know people won't catch in their first viewing? Why would I, an independent film-maker, with limited funds go through all that effort for a mere horror flick?"

…

"Well?"

"I'm thinking! Just… wait for a sec. Don't tell me I gotta improve this too?" He asked jokingly, knowing full well I wouldn't ask him something like this without wanting a well-thought out answer.

"No-no, you take your time with this one. Just remember what I always say about thinking outside the box."

"Yeah I know. That we shouldn't endeavor to think out of the box, but rather just do away with the box for good measure."

"Exactly. Now, I'm gonna go empty the tank, and when I get back… I expect somethin' good out of you. Understand?" I raised my eyebrows, before getting up.

He decided to be snarky about it, "Yes Sir!" He saluted semi-seriously.

*Sigh*.

He's smart, got a lot of potential, and understands my artistic decisions on a level no-one else does. Not Trent, not daddy dearest. Hell, not even Pacino. It's partly why I'm mentoring him.

It didn't start out this way after all. I still remember getting a call from my old Dean, asking me for a favor. Said, she had a nephew who's pretty smart, and wanted him to start out under someone who'd bring out the best in him.

Apparently I fit the bill… and it's never a bad thing for a Dean to owe me a favor. So I looked over his profile and damn. My boy graduated summa cum laude, and his thesis film? It won the Student academy award in the Narrative category last year.

So I signed him up, in hopes of getting a competent assistant if nothing else. But then he started getting curious, and asking intriguing questions. He even put forth ideas that, if not efficient in rare cases, were methodical if nothing else and I knew then and there.

He was a diamond in the rough.

A detailed 'Observe' proved that he was no whiz kid genius or anything. Just a really hard worker who never made the same mistake twice, constantly focused, and highly disciplined.

Bit of a stickler for rules, but not enough to enter the 'stick up the ass' category.

I reached the urinal and proceeded to empty nearly 5 hours of stored up urine.

It was highly satisfying.

…

"You ready Darcy?"

"Daryl."

"Darlene. You want to go back to being Daryl, you gotta earn it. Now tell me, why did I do what I did?"

He rested his face on his hands, and met my eyes before rattling off, "The answer seemed obvious. You're a perfectionist by nature. You wanted to ensure the film withstood the test of time, that even upon multiple viewing, no logical fallacies would spring up in any way. And the fact that you wanted to show that you're a perfectionist. You wanted to develop a reputation around it… But then I thought deeper."

"And?"

"Some of the details that caught my eyes. They didn't establish a continuity, a timeline. Some of them actively foreshadowed certain events in the film, but that's the thing. Why include foreshadowing when people aren't gonna catch 'em the first time they watch it? And by the time they do spot 'em… they would've already known the plot. Seems stupid in theory… So I thought back to a few things you mentioned in passing over the last 2 months. You cursed Trombey's name a few weeks ago after a few tequila shots. Trombey has had an extensive filmography, and a crowning achievement of it was directing the movie 'Fear, Falter, Fringe', the 2nd highest grossing horror movie. It made a tidy $276 million at the box office back in the 80s… You hated the fact that PA didn't cross it over. You knew the top spot was out of the question, but you wanted to be the 2nd highest at the very least, and you hated the fact that it missed the mark. But you were the one who pulled it out of the box office earlier than the studio wanted it… You knew that it would cross FFF if it stayed for a couple more weeks."

…

"You didn't really answer the question."

"Oh I didn't? Sorry-sorry, I'll answer it now. You wanted it to withstand the test of time, but also… you wanted to crank up the rewatchability factor… You plan on re-releasing it again, a few years later. Probably at your 21st, or 25th birthday or something. Right now, you wanted the payout, so you could move forward with Good Will Hunting, but you knew you would be missing out on tens of millions if you do it. So you planned in advance… Did I get it right?"

Son of a bitch. That's why I chose him I guess. Through his ingenuity, he makes pretty massive leaps in logic, but somehow manages to exceed my expectations at every turn.

I bow my head mockingly, before clapping lightly, not saying a word. But my smile conveyed everything I wanted to express.

"YES! I KNEW IT! You did plan for a re-release! You know I'll say this… I was practically fumbling by that point, making it up as I went along… I mean, it was a pretty massive leap in logic, so I thought I definitely missed something. But then as I was saying I realized midway what you were planning, so I kept on goin-"

"Yes, good job Daryl. Now come on, everyone else left, 'bout time we do too."

"Yeah, I can't wait to get home and jus- hit the bed. Good luck for tomorrow Ricky."

"Thanks Daryl but well, it's as you said… I probably won't need it."

…

…

1st March 1997 (Saturday)

"Paranormal Activity" Triumphs with John Cassavetes Award at Independent Spirit Awards

In a breakthrough for independent cinema, "Paranormal Activity" has clinched the prestigious John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards, marking a significant milestone in the realm of low-budget, high-impact filmmaking.

Directed, produced, scripted, edited, and starring the versatile Richmond Stirling, the experimental horror flick transcends budgetary constraints, showcasing the power of a compelling narrative and inventive filmmaking techniques. The film's frugal $96,000 investment yields a cinematic tour de force, resonating with audiences and critics.

The John Cassavetes Award, recognizing outstanding achievements in films under a $500,000 budget, underscores the remarkable feat achieved by this found-footage style movie.

The Independent Spirit Awards victory marks an extraordinary debut on the Hollywood stage for Stirling. His unique vision has not only garnered accolades for "Paranormal Activity" but has also redefined expectations for resourcefulness and creativity in filmmaking.

The financial success of the film is equally noteworthy. Earning an impressive $261 million globally, the movie defies industry norms and underscores the potential of storytelling over extravagant budgets.

In addition to the John Cassavetes Award, Stirling's Best Debut Performance win at the ceremony further recognizes his exceptional talent and impact on the industry. His victory stands out among formidable nominees, including Stephanie Xing for "The Gardener" and Andy Salas for "A Yeti Tale."

"Paranormal Activity" unfolds as an ode to Stirling's creative prowess, navigating uncharted territories within the found-footage genre. The film seamlessly blends horror elements with an emotionally resonant narrative, showcasing Stirling's dedication to the craft.

His capacity to wear multiple hats—director, producer, writer, editor, and leading actor—speaks volumes about his commitment to the art of storytelling.

With its unconventional approach and staggering success, the film serves as a beacon for aspiring independent filmmakers. It proves that innovation and storytelling prowess can triumph over financial constraints.