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THE WALDNER EFFECT - Documentary Screenplay
THE WALDNER EFFECT - Documentary Screenplay
AL
" THE WALDNER EFFECT "
A Documentary Promotional
Copyright
WALDNER CUP HOLDINGS, Norway
1 GRAPHIC TITLE. 1
CUT TO:
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2 OPENING TITLES. PING PONG DIPLOMACY. 2
MUSIC TENSION.
PRIMITIVE.
PERCUSSIVE.
DN
NARRATOR
One day, someone will write the
history of the strange relationship
between ping pong and diplomacy.
NARRATOR
The 1970s was an age of polar
frigidity. The so called ‘midnight’
of the century where everything was
seen through the eyes of the cold
P
1.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
NARRATOR
It was all thanks to the sport of
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table tennis.
2.
6 STUDIO. NEWS ARCHIVE. NIXON MEETS MAO. 6
NARRATOR
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They had been lucky.
NARRATOR
Magically, table tennis had
enriched the eloquence of politics
by deepening its pathos, adding the
secret sauce of sport where
everything had been rigid smiles.
ER
Table tennis, had helped to deliver
a new generation of détente.
3.
NARRATOR
Thus, the term ‘ping pong
diplomacy’ was coined in the
popular memory of most politicians,
propelling an alliance of interest
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where none had existed.
MUSIC. FAST
PACED JAZZ
FUSION.
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WIDE ASPECT. Studio setting the same only now, the lights
fade up and the darkness dissipated. We are offered a
symmetrical, stylised setting along with a studied
demonstration of the art of table tennis, with two highly-
gifted players. They are brighly attired to stand out from
the darker back drop.
4.
One totem has been explored already, now we see a photograph
by Nicholas Griffen of a smiling Zhuang Zedong (庄则栋). The
Chinese poster ‘The Silver Ball Carries Friendship.’ The
iconic photographic image of Richard Nixon shaking hands with
Mao Zedong (⽑泽东). Finally, an iconic image of Jan Ove
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Waldner at the height of his career in the 1990s.
NARRATOR
The world in the twenty first
century has borrowed heavily from
that historical moment.
CAMERA registers the Jan Ove Waldner totem then TRACKS WIDE.
As it does so, our two players burst into life.
5.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
Table tennis is difficult to
observe because everything moves so
quickly.
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But then, after the eye has
settled, you slowly appreciate the
pattern of the thing, the stratagem
and intuition of the players,
acting with the precision of a
scientist and the imagination of a
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poet.
NARRATOR
All ages play table tennis. Go to
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any club and you’ll discover both
young and old.
picks up again.
NARRATOR
It doesn’t cost much to play the
game.
(MORE)
6.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
It’s a ‘classless’ sport that
requires little personal investment
- other than your imagination.
W
13 ANIMATED GRAPHIC TYPOGRAPHY. ‘CHALLENGING.’ 13
Play continues, the action slows, one player throws the ball
high to serve, revealing the penultimate statement ‘Brain
Matter.’ As the text mixes out, the game speed picks up
again.
NARRATOR
Table tennis? It’s the ultimate
stress buster.
ER
15 ANIMATED GRAPHIC TYPOGRAPHY. ‘ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.’ 15
NARRATOR
CU
Tables are springing up everywhere.
Tables in parks. Tables in bars.
Tables in shopping centres, in
train stations and conference
halls.
One of our players smashes the ball past his opponent to win
the point. He is humble in his gain.
FADE TO BLACK.
7.
16 GRAPHIC TITLE. THE WALDNER MOVEMENT. 16
NARRATOR
So, who fights for consensus in the
world today?
NARRATOR
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The Waldner movement is a
heroically minded body who make
countries ‘zag’ when the world
wants to ‘zig’.
8.
19 LOCATION. INTERVIEW. JAN OVE WALDNER. DAY. 19
9.
NARRATOR
The Waldner Cup is the magic of a
showcase event designed to spur
opportunities for some serious
business, concentrating this year
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on the Sports, Maritime, Energy,
Seafood and Tourism sectors as well
as acting like a magnet for all the
entrepreneurs who operate in these
fields.
AL
It is no suprise that both China
and Norwary share an equal interest
in all these sectors. It’s a good
match.
BØRGE BRENDE
(Along the lines of) The whole
point of trading is to take the big
risks the markets won’t take -
because they’re too busy making
money.
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Someone or some ‘body’ has to start
the economic engine.
CUT TO:
10.
25 LOCATION. INTERVIEW. HENRY PAULSON. DAY. 25
CAPT. XU LIRONG
(Along the lines of) The ocean
summit will explore Norway and
ER
China’s initiatives for a blue
economy with all the opportunities
that brings...(etc).
27 NEWSREEL ARCHIVES. 27
NARRATOR
If table tennis is about
possibilities, so is trade
negotiation.
(MORE)
11.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
On December 16th this year, both
table tennis and trade will become
a game of enquiry, testing
possibilities and breakthroughs.
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There’s no bright spot analysis on
the outcome of the matches or the
trade but when you need to build
consensus, the Waldner Cup is the
go-to event that you would never
want to miss.
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28 LOCATION. INTERVIEW. HELGE AASEN. DAY. 28
HELGE AASEN
DN
(Along the lines of) This year all
eyes will be on China. Wary of
liberating its domestic politics,
China has adopted a far more
liberal approach to the rest of the
world in trade.
MUSIC.
ANTICIPATORY.
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WIDE ASPECT. We have returned to our original studio setting
with iconic totems surrounding the exibition table. Dynamic,
spot lighting makes this scene dramatic and anticipatory.
Two bats are picked out on the table surface with spot
lights, arranged in a similar fashion to the opening cartoon
image of President Nixon and Mao Zedong(⽑泽东). As yet we
can’t see the details on the bats.
P
12.
NARRATOR
We all know human life can be
chaotic - but there is a trick to
it.
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CAMERA tracks past the totem image of Richard Nixon shaking
hands with Mao Zedong (⽑泽东).
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
In moments of intense dialogue and
enthusiasm, yearning for change and
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longing to build a better world,
drives everything.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
DN
It’s what we have in common,
whichever side of the ping pong
table you’re on.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
The dangers of economics and false
recoveries, hem us behind our
ER
borders and today, countries are
once again displaying their tribal
bumper-stickers.
CAMERA tracks away from the totems to the two bats resting on
the table.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
So maybe, once again, it’s time for
a little more table tennis in the
world...
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CLOSE ASPECT of the two bats, one with the Chinese flag, the
other with the Norwegian. CAMERA holds this image as a
static. The following text overlays the picture:
13.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
14.