Note: This script was for a spot on CNN promoting their series on the Sixties, and in particular, the episode covering the “British Invasion” and the Beatles for NY-based agency, Loyalkaspar.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN :30
| video | audio |
| This spot uses the bad and dismissive press garnered by the Beatles in their first visit to the US to show how the older generation just didn’t get them. In spite of this, the overwhelming youth response to the Beatles was a sign that everything was about to change. | |
| STOCK: Chet Huntley- NBC News broadcast intercut with early 1960’s stock views of NYC and then JFK airport | VO: Chet Huntley- NBC News
“Like a good little news organization we sent three cameramen out to Kennedy Airport today to cover the arrival of a group from England known as the Beatles. |
| A PanAm jet lands and begins its long taxi to the gate.
SUPER GRFX: From Executive Producers Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman |
VO: (Huntley Cont.)
However, after surveying the film our men returned with, and the subject of that film, I feel there is absolutely no need to show any of that film.” |
| GRFX (white type on black screen or actual magazine article):
“The New Madness, They look like shaggy Peter Pans…The precise nature of their charm remains mysterious even to their manager” — TIME |
SFX: Jet sounds. Squeaking tires on landing
Engines whirring. Alexander Kendrick: “Merely the latest objects of adolescent adulation |
| STOCK or CG Simulation:The PanAm jet continues to taxi ominously towards the terminal building- intercut with Stock on-camera rant by Alexander Kendrick- CBS Morning News
The jet comes to a stop on the tarmac. The stairs are wheeled up to the door. |
Alexander (Cont.) …and culturally the modern manifestation of compulsive tribal singing and dancing
…They symbolize the 20th century non-hero as they make non-music, wear non-haircuts, give no ‘Mersey.’” SFX: As the jet gets closer, the sound of an unseen mob of 4000 fans begins to drown out the sound of the jet engines, and the VO. |
| The door opens. The camera shifts to the arriving passenger POV, emerging on the steps in front of a huge crowd of fans and reporters- flashbulbs pop like a fireworks. | SFX: Jet engines whir to a stop as the crowd’s screams grow. And swell when the plane door opens. |
| Rapid-fire montage of clips and photos.
The Beatles arrival at JFK, The Ed Sullivan Appearances, Concerts, Interviews, and plenty of mobs of screaming fans. |
Music Up: Ideally the sounds of those early hits, “She Loves You” or “I Want to Hold your Hand” |
| GRFX: The Sixties, Thursday, Jan 30th 9pm ET
CNN Original Series |
Music, Screaming Fans in a harmonious blend. |
TIMELAPSE POP CULTURE MAKEOVER :30
| video | audio |
| The arrival in the US of the Beatles was the catalyst for a rapid transformation in music, fashion, and attitude from Rock-a-Billy to Mod. This spot captures that in higly stylized timelapse. | |
| A teen girls room. Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard posters adorn the walls.
Teen girls in poodle skirts jitterbug to the twanging sounds of Rock n Roll. |
MUSIC: Elvis era rock n roll music – instrumental. |
| Intercut GRFX:
From Executive Producers Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman |
SFX: panting and giggling teen girls. |
| CU: A new 45 is placed on the platter. “She Loves You.” It drops and as it begins to play. | SFX: The wonderful mechanical sounds of a 45 rpm record player in action. |
| A swooning swirling camera revolves around the girls, whose look begins to transform from the 50’s to the 60’s. Poodle skirts give way to , mini skirts.
Bouffants hairdos become mop tops. In timelapse- the posters on the wall are replaced with new posters of the Beatles, and fan pics of Paul, John, George and Ringo. The jitterbug gives way to the pony, the monkey, and just plain hysterical jumping. |
MUSIC: Beatles early hit, preferably, “She loves you.” |
| GRFX: The Sixties, Thursday, Jan 30th 9pm ET
CNN Original Series |
SFX: Music ends. Girls scream, Panting, Shrieks of Joy! |
| Stinger: 50’s Dad bust into the teenager’s room.
But stops dead in his tracks when he sees the transformation that has occurred. Impish smiles of girls. Smitten. |
DAD: WILL YOU TURN THAT MUSIC DOWN…
(stunned silence) |
ROCK IS REBORN :30
| video | audio |
| In 1964, the future of Rock n’ Roll was bleak. But then came the Beatles. Reinforcements in the battle of the generations. | |
| STOCK: Clips and stills of early 50’s rockers.
Jitterbugging, malt shops, hot rods, poodle skirts, sock hops and twanging guitars. Supered GRFX: From Executive Producers Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman |
MUSIC: Hard driving 50’s era rock n roll.
VO: (spoken word delivery with electric guitar accompaniment). They promised us we would never stop, that we would rock until we dropped. |
| Elvis swivel hips- gives way to getting his head shaved at induction into the army. | VO: …But then our King was drafted. |
| Balls of fire piano playing halted by Tabloid- Lee Marries Cousin. Chuck Berry dancing across stage- to being arrested for transporting minor across state lines. | VO: …Jerry Lee and Chuck Berry
found themselves blacklisted. |
| Little Richard- Flamboyant antics give way to
Little Richard, preacher. |
VO: Miss Molly found God. |
| Clips of religious fundamentalist preachers breaking rock and roll records, and preaching about the sins of the music. | VO: …which displeased His angry mob. |
| Buddy Holly clips.
Plane crash photos. Fade to black. |
VO: And in February, 1959 the Music finally died.MUSIC: Long sustaining rock chord slowly fades. VO: But it didn’t stay dead long. |
| STOCK: Ed Sullivan Intro.
Rapidfire montage of Beatles arrival at JFK, concert performance, screaming teens, etc. |
Ed Sullivan: Ladies and Gentleman, the Beatles!
MUSIC: BEATLES Music blast. “Ticket to Ride” or “I Want to Hold Your Hand” |
| GRFX: The Sixties, Thursday, Jan 30th 9pm ET
CNN Original Series |
MUSIC and SFX of screaming fans continues |
CIVIL DEFENSE WARNING :30
| video | audio |
| This spot mimics the Cold War era Civil Defense warnings- using a pure, graphic animation in black and white. It starts our “straight” but then the graphic characters begin animating in a more human and desperate way- with psychedelic flourishes of graphic color coming in at the end. | |
| BW Motion Graphic sequence animated to support the narration.
GRFX: Invasion Warning (A variation on the cold war Civil Defense logo) Zoom into map of the USA. Graphic cities to small towns- up to an American home. Titles integrated into GRFX: From Executive Producers Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman Graphic family – crosshairs on teen girl. Globe- Union Jack style lines emanate from UK towards USA. In lines are the logos of bands- the Beatles, the Who, the Animals, and text- “the British Invasion” The Lines hit American soil and grow into radio towers – broadcasting waves. Plane doors open – graphic Beatles emerge. Father locks teen in shelter (her room). Shelter supplies- Ear muffs Graphic transistor radios x’d out. |
VO: (Hardboiled early 60s Announcer) You are a citizen of the United States of America. You are the target of those that would invade our great country. In the crosshairs of this enemy is your teenager… their fertile minds and… their fertile bodies. An invasion is coming. No time to evacuate. Stock your shelter with emergency equipment- Confiscate all battery-operated radios. |
| Graphic Teen- finds hidden radio. Turns it on. Yellow Submarine- Colorful Peter Max style graphics emerge- taking over and transforming the graphic of girl. | Beatles Song- “I wanna hold your hand. I wanna hold your hand.”
SFX: Girl screams with delight. |
| Cut to: Civil Defense look outside room. Graphic Dad hears music. Trys to burst in – but can’t. Colorful graphics ooze out of door, attracting graphic mom and young son. | SFX: Pounding on door. Music.
VO: You must protect your family. |
| GRFX: The Sixties, Thursday, Jan 30th 9pm ET
CNN Original Series |
Beatles Music Continues. |
| Graphic sting:
Dad pounds on daughters door. |
VO: Wherever you are, take cover. |
INVASION REMIX :30
| video | audio |
| This spot intercuts stock imagery from the British Invasion with scenes from the film trailer for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It parodies the graphic style of vintage horror movie trailers and has a decidedly campy feel. | |
| IBS Clip: Mad ranting Dr. Miles in CU | Miles: “Stop. Will you tell these fools I’m not crazy. Make them listen to me before it’s too late.” |
| Stock: Images of Beatles, the Who, and the Animals in transit- airplanes, airports, trains, etc.with fans mobbing. Girls screaming intercut with scenes of panic and horror from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and 50’s style horror movie trailer GRFX. From Executive Producers Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman |
VO: (Simulated hardboiled 50s Horror Movie Trailer Announcer)
They come from another world. Spawned in the Isles of Tudor and York. Unleashed to take over the bodies and souls of people of our country. Bringing a new dimension of terror to our radios and TVs. |
| IBS Clip: Miles talking with doctor. | Miles: “I don’t want any part of it.”
Doctor: “You’re forgetting something Miles… You have no choice.” |
| Stock:
Beatles waving from plane steps. Beatles in throngs of screaming fans. Girls pushing through barricades. |
IBS VO: From city to city an incredible panic spreads. As the unimaginable becomes real. The impossible becomes true. |
| IBS Clip: Mad ranting Dr. Miles. | IBS Clip: “Please listen. If you don’t. If you won’t. If you fail to understand. Then the same incredible terror that is menacing me will strike at you!” |
| Stock:
Performance clips of Beatles, the Who, and the Animals. Intercut with IBS Clip: Miles runs through 50s cars on highway. |
Beatles, the Who, or the Animals music- Could be scored -very 60’s British Invasion guitar and organ sound.
Miles: “Stop and listen to me. Stop and listen to me.” |
| GRFX:
The Sixties Thursday, Jan 30th 9pm ET CNN Original Series |
SFX of screaming fans and 60’s band sound continues under. |
| Stinger -IBS Clip: Insane disheveled Dr. Miles ranting. | “Can’t you see? Can’t you see everyone? They’re here already!” |