Stealthfest : A beginner's guide
Fleshing out the world behind my movie script
This is an overview of my movie script, to read excerpts click here and here.
Stealthfest elevator pitch : A Snatch-style caper movie set at a UK music festival. Your violence and witty remarks will be enlivened by a colourful backdrop of battle weary hipsters, cocaine addicted ska singers, and a massive field full of tents and vans.
Please note : what follows is fiction, and only exists to expand the world of my movie.
Stealthfest the festival - A 5000 capacity festival in rural England, 45 minutes from the nearest train station. Comfortably sells it’s ticket allocation every year, mostly to teenagers but with a noteable slice of older locals, some of whom are still clinging on to their rebellious youth. Headliners are often someone from the 80s or 90s people have actually heard of (paid a five figure sum), with the rest of the line up being filled out with underground bands or tribute acts you haven’t (usually paid a 3 figure sum). A casual stroll through the festival at full flow would reveal an event fully intergrated with the local community, with a cheerful looking kids area and a legendary cake stall set up to benefit the local girl guides group. Incidentally, the cake stall got a mention when Stealthfest received a glowing but mildly patronising write up in The Guardian a few years ago.
As is often the case with festival chronology, asking about the history of Stealthfest can lead to some confusing results. The best you’ll get a bunch of dubious sounding stories that all contradict each other. But themes of illegal raves and clashes with the police often come up.
CHARACTERS
Stealthy Pete : Owner and main organiser of Stealthfest. As the event has been going on forever, Pete has ironed out most of the kinks in the running of Stealthfest, which means he is an accepted, if eccentric figure in the local area. Can often be seen proudly striding through the festival at it’s peak with a shotgun over his shoulder, chatting to all and sundry. Is also a farmer, apparently.
Yannis - As singer and leader of novelty ska covers band Battleska Galactica, Yannis has performed at Stealthfest more often than perhaps any other performer. But he’s bored as hell, stuck on a circuit of gigs that stopped inspiring him years ago. And more than anything, he just wants some cocaine.
Debs - A local girl in her early 30s, married to Colin with 2 kids. Volunteering in the kids area in return for a free ticket. Almost militant in her desire to get her work done and drink disabling amounts of cheap wine. Has the kind of quick fire mouth that makes some people hate her, and others fall in love instantly.
Danni - In her early 20s, and quieter, Danni is often to be found alongside Debs and is also volunteering in the kids area. Naturally more thoughtful than Debz, people often see her as the side kick. But, as they say, still waters run deep.
Joanie - Another volunteer in her early twenties, working in the site office where bands and other workers come to check in. Another local who has been coming to Stealthfest since she was a small child, she knows many of the older characters at the festival. However, her newly discovered vegan politics don’t sit well with her working at a dairy farm.
Krispy - Gobshite, instigator of the Sudden Death Danceoff, and backing singer/dancer of shady Balkan crossover festival sensations Freako Soundsystem. At the tale end of a busy summer of gigs with the Soundsystem and is quite frankly, starting to get fed up with all their crap.
Joe - When Joe and Krispy joined the Freako Soundsystem, they were two ends of a kind of singing pantomine cow. Sadly, this proved unworkable onstage, and now, Joe is a kind of Victorian strongman, a role he does not have the correct physique for. Joe is probably the most introspective person in this story, but he’s a good lad.
Sam and Dave - A pair of unashamed chancers, also at Stealthfest with Freako soundsystem. Most likely to be found drinking sleeve juice or taking drugs they’ve found on the floor.
STEALTHFEST : A LISTENING LIST
Or notes towards a soundtrack. Tunes are listed in roughly the order they would appear in the film. The shift from guitar based to electronic music about half way through is deliberate and narratively significant.
Where’s Me Jumper? - Sultans of Ping FC
Spoilt Victorian Child - The Fall
Messed Up - Culture Shock
Jonah - Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band
Single Berth - The Brewers Daughter
Step It Up Mary / The Drunken Piper - Tarantism
Megahorse - Johnny Kowalski and the Sexy Weirdos
The Nine - Bad Company (UK)
Underbelly - Blawan
You - The Bug ft Dis Fig
something gnarly by someone like Surgeon here, haven’t quite decided yet
Everybody Loves A Carnival - Fatboy Slim
Naked When I Dance - Cracked Actors