Breakdown

23 scenes · 2 plot threads · 2 characters

10,000 Hours

Comedy

Logline: When Tess discovers that it takes 10,000 hours to master something, she decides to start now, but the only question is - what will she try to master?

Theme: Perseverance

Medium: Short film

Credits: Created by Jason Eksuzian and Kincaid Walker

Episode 1

1.INT. bathroom - dayAfter reading "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, Tess informs Joe that it only takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at anything. She decides that she'll find something to master and vlog her journey.Theme: Explored

Episode 2

2.INT. living room - NIGHTTess films her first vlog, where she hopes to inspire herself and her audience to be their best selves. In her next vlog, she'll tell her audience what it is she's going to master.Theme: Explored

Episode 3

3.INT. BATHROOM - DAYJoe asks Tess what she's going to master.
4.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYTess tries painting, but she has a child's skill level.
5.INT. kitchen - DAYTess tries to bake, but burns her bread.
6.INT. garage - DAYTess attempts to fix a car, but gets scared.
7.EXT. street - DAYTess tries running, but tires quickly.
8.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYTess tries to learn Chinese, but finds it to be too difficult.
9.montageTess tests out various hobbies and activities, but ends up saying no to all of them.
10.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYTess tries to play the piano. It comes more naturally to her than any of her attempts at other skills, so this might be the one to choose.Theme: Explored
11.INT. bedroom - DAYJoe takes a video of Tess in the middle of a three-hour nap instead of practicing piano.

Episode 4

12.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYIn her vlog, Tess states that she's one hour into her piano journey.Theme: Explored
13.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYTess calculates that it'll take her 10 years to master the piano, which is way longer than she expected. Joe shrugs it off like she should've known.Theme: Challenged

Episode 5

14.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYInspired by recent documentaries he's been watching, Joe decides to hide cameras around the house and film Tess as she's working on her journey.
15.INT. BEDROOM - DAYTess sits in bed painting her nails and talking to her dog.
16.INT. BEDROOM - DAYTess talks to her plants as she waters them.
17.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYTess rolls out her yoga mat, but goes on her phone instead.
18.INT. KITCHEN - DAYJoe catches Tess drinking red wine alone.
19.INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHTTess lays on the couch, watching TV.
20.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYJoe decided to order more cameras to capture all of Tess' procrastination.

Episode 6

21.INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHTJoe interviews Tess about her piano journey for his documentary. He asks her questions about her musical influences, and Tess starts to realize that maybe he isn't doing this for her vlog. He asks her deep questions about her relationship with her family which causes her to walk out.

Episode 7

22.INT. LIVING ROOM - DAYTess sits at the piano while playing with a fidget spinner. When Joe comes home, she hides the toy and starts to play piano, telling him that she's been playing for hours. He notices the lie, as he'd only left the house for 45 minutes. When Joe tries to tell a story about his day, she cuts him off, insisting that she needs to practice - but once again, she stops once he's out of the room.Theme: Explored

Episode 8

23.INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHTOne year later, all of Joe's hard drives are now full with footage of Tess. Tess admits that her idea was a flop and she wasn't able to master anything. But Joe tells her that he has 10,007 hours of footage of her. Tess tells her vlog that after 10,000 hours, she's achieved her goal. Before she can tell her audience what it is that she's mastered, her phone battery dies.Theme: Stated

Plot threads

Tess' mastery journey
- Tess decides to become an expert in something.
- Tess starts a vlog chronicling her journey.
- Tess tries out new hobbies.
- Tess decides on becoming an expert pianist.
- Tess procrastinates playing piano.
- Tess lies about having practiced piano.
- Tess is upset that she failed at mastering piano, but at least she did master something else.
Joe films Tess
- Joe decides to create a documentary about Tess.
- Joe catches Tess slacking off.
- Joe orders more cameras.
- Joe interviews Tess for his documentary.
- Joe captured 10,000 hours of footage of Tess.

Characters

Tess25-30 · White · Female · VisionaryTess is enthusiastic, positive, and has the desire to self-improve, but can't seem to stay focused on one singular thing.What does your character want?: Tess wants to become an expert at something - anything really, but she decides on piano.How will your character attempt to get it?: She will attempt to reach her goal by putting a dent in her 10,000 hours, but struggles with the motivation to do so.What does your character need?: Tess needs to feel as though she accomplished something. Even if it's something minute or useless, the knowledge that she made a change in her own life is enough for her.How will your character realize it?: She will realize it at the end, when she finds out that she has 10,000 hours of footage of herself. It's not a tangible skill or useful piece of knowledge, but it's enough for her.
Joe25-30 · White · Male · StorytellerJoe is relaxed, driven, and can sense when someone is being fake.What does your character want?: Joe wants to create a documentary about Tess' struggle to master something.How will your character attempt to get it?: Joe will attempt to create his documentary by filming Tess all the time. He hides cameras around the house, hoping to catch her every move.What does your character need?: Joe needs to help Tess reach her goal. Instead of being just an observer, he needs to be the one to assist, since Tess won't be able to do it on her own.How will your character realize it?: Joe will realize it when he sees that he captured 10,000 hours of footage of Tess. His documentary project ended up being exactly what they both needed to complete their own separate journeys.

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