I Am Norman (2021) Movie Script

(high pitched background sound)
(narrator)
I think we've all been there.
I think we've all been there
at some stage in our lives.
You know, when things get bad.
You feel they'll never
never get better.
Ever!
(car door screeches open)
(heavy rustling)
I've been living in my car for
about four years.
(birds tweeting)
About four years yeah.
I love it!
It does get lonely though
I'm not gonna lie.
I think I may try and sell them
one day.
I'm sure someone out there
would like them.
I like it here because it's peaceful.
It's my peaceful place.
And in the car
no one can touch you.
They can't really hurt you
they can't get to you, nothing.
They can if you don't park it
in the right spot.
I know where all the best spots are.
Because I drive a lot.
I was gonna be an actor.
But my
penis wasn't big enough apparently.
(huffs)
They're very sizeist in the audition.
Size queens.
I had big talent but tiny cock.
(outside noise and birds tweeting)
And it is very off-putting.
You know, you try doing the words,
with a CD round your knob.
A CD's a casting director by the way,
not a compact disc.
They do shoot dogs out here
by the way.
That was her.
Rosie!
My little dog.
Run straight out of my car,
up into those fields
and I never saw her again.
(dramatic sounds)
(calls out)
Rosie!
Rosie!
Rosie!
(whistles)
Woo-hoo!
Girl!
(whistles)
(loud constant whistle)
Rosie!
(high pitched shout)
Rosie Rose!
Rosie!
Woo hoo!
(loud whistle)
Rosie!
Rosie!
I miss here yeah.
And I still try and look for her.
I still have that hope
that I will one day,
one day find her.
Although it has been three years.
Actually instead of you
coming over with me,
do you want me just to,
I can just point,
in the sort of direction
and then you can just
edit it together.
Is that OK?
Is that alright?
Yeah, OK so...
I'll just...
If you film my finger
and then that will be,
you can edit that in your clip.
To point to where I'm going to take you,
cos erm, it's quite far.
(laughs)
You... you won't like
how far away it is.
It's really far.
Erm!
And I, I don't actually want to
take you there today.
So, if you could just
follow my finger,
all the way.
Then that'd be great.
Alright?
OK.
Cos I know how filming works,
cos I've got my own camera
and everything so,
I know how it works.
They get you to wear this
backpack full of rocks.
To fill the physical burden
of being gay.
And they get you to
face a wall
and they'll just add more rocks,
and more rocks,
and more rocks.
And they wouldn't start
taking the rocks out
until you'd given up.
And there were these two
other guys there.
They were younger than me.
And they used to have to
wrestle each other,
to show how manly they were.
And if they weren't
hitting each other hard enough,
then,
the guy who ran the camps,
the one who helped out,
he'd go in and physically...
throw the punch!
Like that!
Like...
like that!
It's more like, like,
probably like, like that.
Or, or he'd hit me right there,
right up there.
(static electronic sounds)
They deserve to feel the pain.
They deserve to feel
that guilt for the rest of their lives.
For what they've done, you know.
I will never understand how
someone can disown
their own child, you know.
Their own flesh and blood.
Baffles me.
(under breath)
Which way are we going.
(sighs)
cos it's a bit,
I just get a little bit anxious
if it's too close.
I love cameras.
Because they capture things
you'd never know about.
If you didn't have a camera.
I don't know what I'd do without it.
I'd be lost.
(camera reel clicking)
(camera sounds)
(camera lens clicks)
A lot of people would say
what I do is, sick!
But,
they don't know me.
So, how can they say
(chuckles)
what I do is weird.
(laughs)
Cos...
they don't know me, erm.
It's always people that
you know, they don't really
know you and they judge you,
and all that, and
they're the one that
get on my nerves.
You got two down there as well.
But I'll show you those
afterwards I think.
So I film suicides.
People would probably call me
the suicide watcher,
if they,
if they knew what I did.
They never would because
I'm very good
at what I do.
Erm, never get caught.
And that's the secret to it.
You, you never get caught.
Erm,
so yeah.
So basically I have a
contracted servicing place.
To help assist
people, in their,
in their suicide.
So I'll film them, you know,
sort of swinging,
suppose we could just say swinging,
erm,
and er,
I will then
capture that
with my camera
and I will send that on to...
to the relative, or family member that,
that disowned them.
(soft electronic music)
Suicide is a very personal thing.
But, some people
want it witnessed.
They probably just don't want
to be alone I suppose.
You know.
When they do it.
And that brings me peace,
makes me feel,
that I'm, you know,
giving back to them
and making them
carrying out their wishes to
get a message across.
I like the secret part of it.
Being an eye witness.
My mum used to say to me
(impression of his mum) "Oh stop
reading those creepy books you know...
you'll make yourself not very well!"
But I wasn't reading the books.
I was just looking at the pictures.
(out of service phone dial tone)
(phone dial tone recording) The number
you have dialed has not been recognised...
please check and dial again.
My girlfriend
erm, ex girlfriend,
she made me go.
She found inappropriate
pornography on my phone.
Man and man.
She said "Oh you better not
embarrass us!"
So I...
I went and
the guy who runs the conversion,
showed himself to me.
And that just confused
me even more.
I did,
I did wait outside a house once,
after a drop.
The guy was very handsome.
His eyes had come
out of their sockets.
And I just couldn't wait
for them to see
the footage.
I've ever heard
anyone scream so loud.
It was guttural.
It filled the whole street.
And the windows were closed.
Some people would say
that I'm a killer.
But I don't kill anyone.
I just watch.
(emotive music plays)
(camera and bird sounds)
(camera clicks)
Four's dialogue, four, take one.
(child shouting in the background)
Why you talking like that
you stupid little kid.
Sorry I do love kids really.
They do shoot dogs in these woods.
Oh the batteries gone there!
Car, take four.
(sniggers)
That's my stomach rumble.
(inaudible)
Oh God my stomach now,
I think let's just get this done
and go have some, yeah,
let's just keep going.
It does get lonely though,
I'm not gonna lie.
(car whizzes past)
But I don't mind.
You do meet some interesting...
oh for goodness sake.
I can't believe this.
I actually can't believe it.
(noise of kids outside)
Kids!
But...
ah my stomach!
Do it again.
(inaudible)
It was good before.
The sounds are all coming out now,
cos I'm doing sound,
have you noticed.
I'll just leave that one there
because of the voice over.
So lets just keep going.
Got a plane.
Shall we wait.
Er, not another car.
He's, he's coming down,
it's the man, it's the man.
Put the camera away for a second.
Let's just pretend that
we're waiting for somebody.
Ah God I can't be dealing with him.
Well I was going to be...
(clears throat)
I was going to be an actor.
I suppose I like the...
(clears throat)
There's a plane,
are we near an airport,
we must be near an airport.
Finding body...
scene, take one.
(clicks fingers)
So is this gonna end up on Netflix?
(Interviewer)
Possibly. - OK.
I, I haven't got Netflix,
but I know that,
that you can watch it
cos I saw it on the billboards,
when I drive past the billboards.
Upgraded to my new car!
Ahhhhhhh!
How hot is it today!
- But we're doing a good job aren't we.
- Very good.
- You happy so far?
- Yeah.
But she's really annoying
cos she talks a lot.
Your doors not closed Darius.
Is it the boot?
- Did you have your seat belt on?
- Yeah.
(inaudible)
- It was!
- OK!
So as you know this is
our lock down film.
I had time making my own costume.
So for Norman's coat
I wanted it to be
a bit more worn and ground in.
And so, for that I am using Turmeric.
This was actually a decent coat,
but we're making it do
because of our budget obviously.
So, just to give it that worn effect.
Yeah so it would be, what's that like?
It's quite nice with the blue.
Fantastic!
Maybe we'll get into it in one go.
You've got to dab that!
On your whole teeth and dab.
It's too white otherwise.
He never used this.
Dab!
Just dab it!
It's an I phone apparently.
Not the Nokia,
doesn't need a Nokia.
(drum beats)
(guitar plays)
Is this yours?
Used to be.
Ah there's my blue sock!
That is the one I'm looking for.
It went that way.
I say if you, if the car,
if you were in the car,
sat in the car.
Yeah, OK thank you.
Is this nice, is this OK?
- Yep!
- Yep!
Well I chose it from best...
for the camera today,
so hopefully it'll be,
it'll be alright for you.
This is for when it gets too hot.
And all you've got to do,
is press the button there.
Three times.
Once, twice and three times.
Then it goes through the different speeds.
And I think I like it
more on number two,
in the middle.
It's better for me.
So I've flicked it once,
that's number one,
and then
that's number two and you can hear it
because it goes a bit louder.
And then three is too loud.
I know Teddy doesn't like it too loud.
Does he, look see
watch what he does.
He starts to move, but
he's my sleeping bear.
I found him on the street.
I think a child dropped it
but I didn't give it to the child
because I wanted it myself.
(camera bleep)
(fan noise)
(whistles)
A single tree!
(gasps)
It's like the poster!
(TV plays quietly in background)
No that's too...
actually that still looks quite frumpy.
I'm glad this,
this hair's paying off.
Do you see it all coming together Philip?
Do you see it?
Do you see the magic happening?
Telling me I could cut my hair,
dye my hair,
all of that.
Can you see it happening now
for a reason.
It's a good thing we haven't
got a glass of water here,
cos you'd be wearing it!
Give it a quick smell, go on.
- Can you help me please?
- No I can't.
Alright well you're not
getting a credit.
Rosie!
Little bitch!
I miss her.
She did used to shit in my car though.
And it stank.
(upbeat music chimes play)
She did used to shit in my car.
Where's that button.
Ready!
(phone speaker)
"Where there's light there's hope."
(plays rock music)
(man shouts in the background)
Fuck sake!
(huffs)
Oh it's a video.
(laughs) That's right, that's OK.
That was funny, that was funny.
I can't see.
(music plays)
OK, give us notice.
Is it still going.
OK.
- Ready?
- Yeah
Let me, let me warm up into it.
(inaudible)
(laughs)
Oh gosh!
That was funny though.
(chuckles)
Stop filming me now.
OK.
(camera click)
(intense music)
(song: A peaceful killing)
Hi so we're on the second day of our shoot,
A Peaceful Killing,
and we're in Hainult Forest.
And we're getting some drone shots above,
into the forest that leads
from the field,
into the abyss of the forest.
(music plays)
So we've actually been on
two locations for this film.
We've been shooting in Bournemouth,
and we're also shooting in London so,
let's see how well we marry it together.
And let us know if you can tell.
Don't think you will.
Let's do a spin now.
- Thank you Alex.
- No problem.
Do all my own make-up.
All my own stunts.
All my own catering.
I even go to the toilet myself.
Look, just went.
Got those,
to wipe my ass and my hands.
And also er,
bananas.
Shove up your arse.
Come closer a little bit,
thank you.
- How are you feeling?
- Hot! Hot!
But we've done it,
so we're in the shade now,
and we're enjoying the shadows.
(pfff)
How far do we...
are you filming it?
That's nice, yeah you film it.
- Maybe about...
- We'll do one on this side, a bit of colour.
Can we place there?
Yeah let me get the tape.
It's almost eight o'clock,
and we are wrapped for A Peaceful Killing.
We have now finished out three day shoot,
over two weeks, hasn't it been two weeks.
Two weeks yeah.
Bournemouth,
- Hainault,
- Hainault.
and High Barnet.
And there's no one here to say hi to.
Absolutely deserted.
And I really need a haircut,
and a dentist.
Sorry just... perfect!
That was a joke.
So when I was at school
on the Isle Of Wight,
I attended drama classes.
And I absolutely loved them,
It's when I felt most safe
and alive and
just so I could be myself.
It was, it was where I found my
passion for it really.
At drama school in...
high school,
that's when I first had the
you know, the
the real urge to do it.
(interviewer)
Did you feel like you were bitten by a bug.
Yes and it's one I can never get rid of.
Even when I feel a bit
strange about the industry,
and a bit you know,
up and down, I still
it's still there and
it's something I'm very passionate about
so I absolutely love it.
So when I was at school,
on the Isle Of Wight,
I attended drama classes,
and I absolutely loved them.
It's when I felt most safe and alive and
just so I could be myself.
It was, it was where I found my
passion for it really.
At drama school, in...
high school.
That's when I first had the
you know the
the real urge to do it.
(interviewer)
Did you feel like you were bitten by a bug.
Yes and it's one I can never get rid of.
Even when I feel a bit
strange about the industry,
and a bit you know,
up and down, I still
it's still there and
it's something I'm very passionate about
so I absolutely love it.
Darius and I met on a
film in Bournemouth.
Which he was producing and cinematography,
erm, was done by him as well.
Er that's also where I met Charlotte too.
Erm.
So yeah it was the Narcissist
and that's where we first met
and then we went onto to
have our Tribeca film,
His Hands, which
was screened last year.
I love it.
It was, it was a short film
which was made on a very low budget.
And for four hundred pounds over
three days in London.
And it was our first together,
as filmmakers, a duo.
And it ended up being screened
at Tribeca.
It was picked from
over five thousand submissions
and sixty three were picked and
ours is one of them.
So we had the premier in New York,
which was fantastic,
really really great.
So yeah, it was a great experience
and it will be a fond memory
for many years to come.
Yeah so obviously the Coronovirus
has had a huge affect on peoples
mental states.
I meant emotionally and physically.
Erm and it's what to do with that really
and how to
exercise that muscle
when your confined
into your living space and
your still wanting to be creative
but it's very very hard,
because people can't get
close to each other so,
you have to try and figure out
the best way of making something,
creating something,
with those confinements.
In Bournemouth
and part in London in Barnet.
And so we've done the first day today
which was very, very successful.
Erm, we had beautiful weather here
and we're just looking forward
to getting the next part
of the film done,
it will be filmed over two days.
So this is also a very very
low budget film,
but you know we're having to make do
with what we have.
Our resources, to still be creative and
still get that
that muscle exercise so that we feel
that we're
progressing in a way
where things are being
held back a little bit.
We can still move forward and
and feel that this year hasn't been wasted.
And erm, do you think that mental health
is connected to the film?
Yes I don't think we fully understand
the extent of how damaging
it's going to be.
I know things are lifting now
and there's more
you know, restrictions have been eased
but you still feel the affects of being
locked away
for a long period of time.
And I know people were
going out and exercising and still
being active, but I think it's hard to
get the balance right,
when you know what's happening
and
you, you don't have the enthusiasm
to go out and do that and
exercise constantly and
you know and I think it does
have a really big affect and you know,
mentally, physically,
and things are picking up.
But I'm still feeling slightly hazed and
fuzzy and yeah, fragmented.
So it's very, very peculiar
and I'm just hoping that it
the fog from my mind,
lifts very soon, so I can get
back on track.
Cos I think we're all, I'm not,
I'm not just saying that,
I think a lot of people,
if they're being honest,
I, I would actually say the same thing.
It's very very trying
and erm,
that's the whole reason we
made this film as well, is to
break out of that confinement.
Well conversion therapy in this country
was something I had no idea about.
I thought it was other places
in the world that
were dealing with that and
it was awful then.
But to hear that it's happening
on home soil,
where you're actually from,
in sort of corners and pockets
of the UK.
It's very worrying because
we see ourselves as a country that
you know, is sort of more advanced
with those things and to find out
that it's still actually happening here,
is very worrying.
That was a subject that we
really wanted to
explore and
delve into and hopefully just
set some awareness.
We tackle it in a way that is not
you know,
the normal way of doing it.
We sort of wanna...
pull the rug from underneath the viewers.
So they feel uncomfortable to watch it.
We want it to be an uncomfortable watch
Erm,
a sort of false sense of security and then
being, you know
knocked, knocked to the ground,
so really
hit home what that,
what that is and
I think it's going to be a challenge
but we're going to do it.
I believe people will receive it mixed.
I think because it is a
very hard subject matter,
and the way that we are
going to deal with it is,
is quite hard hitting.
And I'm just hoping that
the hard hitting
is something that I, I feel that
that in order to make a statement
you can't keep tip-toeing around something.
There's too much tip-toeing going on.
We've noticed that with the Coronavirus
and governments
and planes!
But erm, you just gotta keep going and
making sure that your voice is being heard
over the planes.
No, erm, you've got to,
you've got to just keep
driving forward and
getting messages out there because
at the moment, you know,
we had a very lovely time.
If you think when the Olympic Games
were happening in this country,
it was such a highlight and
the world was in like a euphoria of
you know, bliss.
It was such a,
really felt proud of this country
but just recently,
just because of certain situations,
I just feel that
that sort of pride
has sort of disintegrated just because
the ugliness is sort of rearing up.
You know, Black Lives Matter
and gay conversion therapy
there things that,
I think the virus
if we didn't have the virus,
it wouldn't have happened.
But I think the virus has brought up
other viruses that we need to tackle.
Unlike, erm, you know
waiting for a vaccine for a killer virus
which gets into the lungs.
This is the, the other viruses
are actually things that
are easier to tackle
if people just, you know
stop doing what they're doing
and think about
another human being.
It's a lot easier than trying to
eradicate a virus which is
natural.
Because
what we're doing,
is we're creating things that
other people and other people that
are in our environments
are deciding that is wrong.
And in that in itself is wrong.
Yes, yep.
I, I think because we're dealing with it
we're making it a mockumentary about
a character called Norman who,
who lives in his car, who's been
abandoned by his family.
They disowned him because
of who he was
and
that's heart breaking in itself.
And he becomes very lonely.
So we've really magnified that
and we've really tried to show
that, you know
he's actually and adorable character.
Hopefully.
Erm but we are going to do that and
just to show that...
People don't deserve to be
treated in that way.
And what happens if people give up on
the people that you trust
and look up to.
Parents, loved ones, family.
Friends, lovers.
If they turn their back on you,
then you believe that you
possibly have nothing.
And that is heartbreaking to,
to understand and
I think nobody deserves that.
Yeah absolutely and I think
it's a broken society right now because
there's so much conflict going on.
Leaders have changed and it's gone,
it's gone a whole 180
and it's not pleasant at the moment.
And what that does is,
it gives people
who possibly had those thoughts
a feeling of entitlement to be horrible
and to be, erm,
judgmental on people.
whereas before it was sort
of smoothing out,
it was still bad but it wasn't
as bad as it is now.
And I think that
smooth it out,
smooth it out again.
We need to...
(slaps hands)
Even if, even if it's a plaster
it's still going to do some good.