Original subtitles

I'm taking a filmmaking class after school, and there's this big competition

the best film. And this time, I'm going to beat out that Ron Acoli.

Okay, Tamir, if you stand by the window, I can get a nice MCU.

Oh, that's a medium close -up in the film viz.

Uh -huh, loving it, loving it.

Cut. Perfect. One more time.

But, T, if it's perfect, why do we have to do it again?

I, uh, forgot to put the tape in.

I ain't ever gonna love you

Anybody knows I ain't ever gonna let you go.

Mr. Santa!

I don't know anything, Walker.

Yeah, I'd like to see you try.

Oh, hi, Lisa.

Remember, Ray, love thy neighbor.

I love thy neighbor. I'd love thy neighbor to move.

Are you and Bert Walker still fighting about that oak tree hanging in his yard?

Well, what's the big deal? Just trim the branch.

Just trim the branch? It's...

Because it's a limb. It's part of a living organism.

I would like somebody to trim one of your limbs.

I wouldn't mind trimming my thighs.

With a chainsaw?

If it'll do the trick.

Just trim the branch.

That's how it starts, Lucy.

You cut a branch. And then a few trees.

And then you cut a forest.

And the next thing you know, the entire ecosystem breaks down. And our whole

world has been destroyed.

And Detroit becomes a vast desert wasteland.

Coffee rag?

No, no, I've already had five or six cups.

No kidding.

Now, you and Walker have been going on about that tree for two years.

Yeah, you're right.

Well, I guess I should just let it go, huh?

Mm -hmm. But you know, the tree is not the real problem. The tree is just a

symptom of the deeper problem between you two.

Like what?

Well, the fact that he never returned your needle nose pliers.

You're right.

He never did return my pliers, did he? And I needed them the other day. I'm not

through with you, Walker.

Oh, but Ray, you still have his ball -peen hammer.

Oh, yeah.

Now, as a peace offering, why don't you just give the hammer back?

Well, I would, but I need him to fix the thing that I can't fix because he has

my needle -nose pliers.

normally only to the camera okay well get that camera out of my face if that

good stuff it had conflict you turn that camera back on i'll show you conflict

what's going on here well i'm trying to make a documentary on the everyday life

of my family for my filmmaking class that's a great idea who plays me

doesn't understand how a documentary works.

I guess working with a camera takes some getting used to.

Okay, Ray. I'm glad you understand the process.

Okay. Loosen up, act natural, and pretend the camera isn't here.

Just another ordinary day.

Ah, cut.

Yeah, you're right. Let's take that again. I just wouldn't sit here and read

paper like this. I'd talk to my daughter. Yes. Come on, dear.

Tamara Campbell?

My daughter?

How was your day today?

At Roosevelt High School?

Today's Saturday, Dad.

Oh.

Well,

I think that was better, don't you?

Yeah.

I really need to talk to somebody.

Who am I to correct?

It's like this. Wait. I'm not quite ready.

Okay. And go.

Tia, will you turn that thing off? I am not talking to that camera. My emotional

distress will not be fodder for your little movie.

Hey.

Fine. It's off.

Tia, I saw Jason Ellis at the mall today. He doesn't even know I exist.

He's the cutest boy, and I've done everything I can think of to get his

attention. Tamara, this is great stuff.

Can I please just get a little on tape?

No. Tia, I am hurting here.

Now, excuse me while I go upstairs to sit in the dark alone and soak.

Are you going to cry, too? Maybe.

Oh, come on, Tamira. The sunlight reflecting off your tears will look

Tia, if I decide to throw myself out the window, I'll call you. Promise?

Tia, I'm ready for my love scene.

Stop it, Roger. I'm very serious about this project.

You're serious about every project. I know, but I really want to get an A.

And this film could help me get a scholarship.

You'll always get an A.

Besides, you'll get a scholarship to any college in the country.

Plus, Rhonda Coley's my stiffest competition, and she dissed me in Home

yesterday. Now you're making some sense. I'll help you beat her. She dissed me,

too. She kicked me to the curb.

You'll be able to brush her off no problem.

Except I started filming my family, and they weren't very interesting.

I mean, Ray is a complete dud, and Tamera won't let me film her misery.

Why don't you just make stuff up?

Here, darling.

Down here, Mom.

Hey,

maybe y 'all isn't lost.

I haven't filmed my mom yet.

And if there's one person you can count on to be honest and natural, it's my

mom.

How was your day?

Oh, my.

Is that young Master Evans with you?

Mom, what are you doing? This is supposed to be about everyday life.

Oh, dear, what are you doing?

This is my good side. This? This is my good side.

Mom, you're being ridiculous.

You never acted like this one day in your life.

Oh, I can't work in these conditions.

If you need me, I'll be in my dressing room doing the laundry.

That love scene offers still stands.

So, Roger, what do you think?

He didn't think too bad. I know I'm not Steven Spielberg, but I'm sure it's as

good as anybody else in the class.

Oh, it's you, Rhonda.

Hi, Tia.

My VCR is broken. Is it okay if I use yours to screen my project?

I want you to know that there are no hard feelings.

Who are you?

Anyways, my uncle is a cop with a Detroit PD, and he took me on a ride

haven't quite finished yet, so it's a little rough.

Sight in the City, a Rhonda Coley film, written, produced, and directed, and

with a special appearance by Rhonda Coley.

production. To find out more about Rhonda, send a self -addressed stamped

envelope to box 50... Wow, Rhonda.

That was great.

I know.

Your VCR wasn't really broken, was it, Rhonda?

Of course not.

You just wanted to make me feel bad, didn't you?

Well, my work here is done.

And we're done, too.

What do you mean?

We. All right. I lucked out. You're done.

Roger, did you believe the realism in Rhonda's film?

You could almost taste the street and feel the tension.

Man, why couldn't my family get arrested or something?

Well, I don't know about getting arrested, but if you show that tape at

you'll become the object of ridicule, and that's no picnic.

Believe me, I should know.

I guess I could set up little situations that would make them seem more

interesting. Of course you could.

I mean, just enough to make their lives seem more entertaining.

Entertaining, that's good.

I mean, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Nothing wrong with that at all. Because it's stuff that they would do anyway.

Absolutely, they do it anyway.

So, they wouldn't mind.

And if I get a good grade, they would be so happy for me.

They'd be thrilled.

I knew it!

What was she talking about?

if I'm doing a documentary on a day in the life of my feet.

It's called My Left and Right Foot.

Hi, Tamara.

These are for you.

For me?

Jason, I didn't even think you knew I existed.

Well, I didn't.

I just found out you existed.

So I was wondering if you'd like to hang sometime.

Yeah. Maybe go people flick, grab some burgers?

Yeah. All right.

How about Friday?

Yeah. You know what?

Friday isn't good. How about Saturday?

Yeah.

Saturday isn't good either.

I'll call you.

Yeah.

or Prince Charming.

And like all royal couples, they'll probably keep a flick at Motown 27

and we fade to black.

That was so beautiful and touching. I can't wait to see what I get tomorrow.

Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. Now give me my ten bucks.

one of my original designs, available exclusively at Fashions by Lisa, made of

the finest Portuguese silk, in sizes petite to caution light load.

Wait, you didn't film that?

Well!

Wow, she's doing infomercials now.

I know, but I think I found a way to distract her so she'd act naturally.

What are you going to do?

Well, I know she's deathly afraid of spiders, so I'm going to put this bad

on the floor.

Wow.

Never seen such a realistic -looking rubber spider before.

Rubber?

That is a real tarantula.

Ah!

He loves Spanky from Mr. Kutcher and the Science Teacher. He loves him!

Spanky! Here, boy! Here, boy! Here, boy!

Tia, here's something for the film. I just made these wonderful padded fours

show what a great chef I am.

Tarantula? Yes, a gigantic hairy spider.

Skinny fries.

Yeah, skinny fries.

You know what, Roger?

We're missing something.

Yeah, what are we missing?

Well, I'm getting romance with Tamira and comedy with my mom.

Especially if you got scared and shinnied up the oak tree.

The oak tree!

Roger, I think I've just come up with our action sequence.

You know how Ray and Mr. Walker next door are having that feud about the

Well, why not... Turn up the heat and capture it on film.

Good idea.

How are we going to heat it up?

Well, would you send Mr. Walker a little note from Ray?

Oh, there you are.

I was thinking, you need a little more action in your movie.

I was too, Ray.

I've been rather dull, and that's not like me.

So I picked up a complete works of Robert Frost.

I thought I'd do a little reading for your camera.

What was your idea?

I'll tell you later, Ray.

Oh, Walker, you. So, Campbell, sap for brains, am I?

Tree murderer, huh?

I don't know what you're talking about. And furthermore, I don't care. And

another thing, Walker.

I think you broke my nose.

And let that be a lesson to you.

What do you think, Roger?

It's great to you.

I'll tell you what I think.

I think I went too far.

Why do you say that?

That Walker came back for my attorney.

I don't care if it takes ten years.

I'm going to own his house and all the leaves of my tree drop on it. He'll

him to punch me in the nose.

I don't think he needs to be taught, Mr. Campbell.

Gee, Ray, a lawsuit?

Well, that's kind of drastic. You hit him, too.

hit me first.

Oh, Ray, there's something I should tell you. Okay, everybody, I'm gonna set up

this bug bomb, and that means we'll just have to leave the house for two or

three days.

I smell a sequel.

Mom, I'm pretty sure the spider's already gone.

Hi, did Jason call?

Uh, no, he didn't.

Well, I don't get it. I mean, he doesn't call, and when I packed him in the

hallway, I can't even buy a look from him.

Don't be so sure.

shouldn't get your hopes up.

Oh, he'll call. I know he'll call. After all.

He gave me these.

Tamira.

Um, he won't be calling you.

Looks like there's a little sibling jealousy going on.

I paid Jason to bring you those flowers and pretend that he likes you.

You did?

such a thing it was for my film and for the same reason i sent that nasty note

to mr walker and sign your name to it ray what oh man

well i better get going i hear my mother calling what i don't hear your

mother well she's got that voice that can only be heard by me and dogs there

is again and she's mad

couple of days ago and return it to the science teacher you let me run around

for two days like a crazy woman wearing hip boots killing scrunchies but the

comedy made my film more interesting i thought this was supposed to be a film

about the way we really are well it started out that way but you guys are

too boring

for what I did, but it was all for a good cause.

I'm gonna get an A.

Oh, good for you.

I'm not sure I like this company anymore.

That's right. You've done this family a great disservice. Now, I know that

sounds stiff, but you can fix it in editing.

Let me disappoint you, Tia.

This has been my Rhonda Foley production.

I would like to thank the brave men and women of the Detroit Police Department

and all those bad guys who made my film possible.

Excellent film, Rhonda. And that was a great caller.

after the way she treated us. Well, she is your sister. That's right. We're all

family. Now, right or wrong, we all stick by each other. I'm proud of Tia,

matter what.

Hello. I'm Lynette Coley, Rhonda's mother.

Tia's your daughter, isn't she?

Tia who?

Okay, our next film is by Tia Landry, entitled My So -Called Family.

I'm Tia Landry.

I shot this really cool film about my family.

However, that's not what you're going to see this evening.

What you're going to see probably isn't a very good film.

And Rhonda, you can wipe that stupid smirk off your face.

I started to make a film about the daily life of my family.

And what I wound up doing really hurt them.

I twisted reality for my own selfish purposes.

And I'm really sorry.

You see, my family isn't about doing exciting or ridiculous things.

It's people who care about each other and just do normal things.

I know it looks dull, but what's hard to capture on film is how we treat each

other and love each other.

And... Even if I get a C on this project, it's okay because I'll always

from my family.

And the most important thing is we forgive each other if we do stupid

You guys will forgive me, won't you?

We forgive you!

haven't met i'm tia's mother okay

it's time to announce the winner of the

roosevelt high school film festival sorry tia you're not really sorry are

no the winner is

You're not really sorry are you?

No.