Phonogram - The Calling - Ben Rosenthal

Some background information may be needed for those of you who have never heard of the fantastic group called Joy Division. Click here to listen to the song featured in this script, so that you may get a better understanding of the emotion behind it.

1. A teen sits knees up with his back against some lockers. Dressed in all black, his hair dyed black which covers his brow and most of his eyes. He cuts a very emo-esque swathe. This is Jordan Worner (new character). Jordan sits in the corridor of a high school of which he attends. Other students walk past without giving him any notice. Where Jordan is dressed in black colours, the school and others walking by in the hall are dressed in bright primary colours. In Jordan’s ears we can see earphones connected to his music player.

1a. This panel appears in Panel 1, but is a smaller box which shows a close up of what is playing on Jordan’s music player. It shows the music player in Jordan’s hands, which are between his knees. The screen is clearly visible. The display shows the name of the song that is being listening to, the band that sings it and a small bar at the bottom which displays how much of the song has played, and how much is left to play. It reads;

JOY DIVISION

DEAD SOULS

2:09/4:56

2. From the same side on view of Panel 1, tighter on Jordan’s face. His head is still bowed, hair still covering his eyes. However his mouth is open as he sings along to the lyrics of the song. The lyrics to this song dance do not look like a normal speech balloon, but rather are ballooned themselves. They are a coloured in greys and black, with musical notes surrounding them.

LYRICS

Someone take these dreams away,
That point me to another day,
A duel of personalities,
That stretch all true realities.

3. A segment of the crowd passing Jordan has slowed down, with a few stopping dead in their tracks. Their faces show signs of being upset. This panel does not see Jordan himself, but the words he is singing are visible. The grey that the words are made up of seems to be seeping out of the lyrics, and beginning to replace the colourful immediate area around the lyrics.

LYRICS

That keep calling me,
They keep calling me,
Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me.

4. Back to the same as Panel 1, however Jordan is looking up. He has noticed that the crowd passing him by has stopped, and are not as jovial as they once were. In the crowd, more teens have stopped, faces looking more and more forlorn as the lyrics Jordan sings seep more grey into the colourful backdrop of the school, invading it. Still, Jordan continues to sing.

LYRICS

Where figures from the past stand tall,
And mocking voices ring the halls.
Imperialistic house of prayer,
Conquistadors who took their share.

5. Jordan is now standing, his back to us. He is looking at the crowd before him, now completely taken over by the grey of the lyrics he sings. There is no more happiness in the school hall, with all students looking down and depressed. A few cry, some are even doubled over in despair.

LYRICS

That keep calling me,
They keep calling me,

6. We are looking up at Jordan from waist height. He is looking down at his hands, amazed at what seems to be happening. The background is now completely grey as Jordan finishes the song, eyes wide with excitement.

LYRICS

Keep on calling me,
They keep calling me.