OLEGIO LICANCABUR / CALAMA

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Miss Cecilia Montaña Pedemonte

Unit 3 English Reading Comprehension Text about Blockbusters (20%)

(Texto de Comprensión Lectora de la Unidad 3 de Inglés sobre Éxitos del Cine (20%))

The Hidden Talents of Fred Flint

In this, the fourth episode of Season 2 of the hit TV comedy series The Hidden Talents
of Fred Flint, Fred has taken work as a stagehand on a movie set. The director is
shooting an ad for chocolates, but the star actor does not show up and the whole project
faces disaster. Fred is on his way home when he gets a very unusual offer …

Episode 4:
A film set for the filming of an advertisement. An ACTRESS is standing on a balcony
looking out onto an empty street. The DIRECTOR is giving instructions to the film
crew.

DIRECTOR:
OK, everybody. Quiet on set… and action!
ACTRESS:
Romeo, Romeo, where are…

The camera cuts to a close-up of the faces of the DIRECTOR and the ACTRESS. They
both looked worried.

DIRECTOR:
Cut! Cut! Where´s Gordon?
ACTRESS:
Oh no, not again! He didn´t show up! This is so frustrating!

DIRECTOR:

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Can someone please tell me where Gordon is? This is the third time this week he´s been
missing! What´s wrong with him this time? We have an advertisement to shoot…
Gordon!

The DIRECTOR storms off and the camera moves to a group of stage hands who are
chatting in the background. FRED is sweeping the floor while he talks to the MAKEUP
ARTIST and the SOUND ENGINEER.

FRED:
Did you hear?
MAKEUP ARTIST:
Yes, and it isn´t the first time this has happened.
FRED:
Really? I didn´t know.
SOUND ENGINEER:
I´m surprised Gordon´s still part of the cast. He´s so unreliable.
FRED:
Why did they offer him the role?
MAKEUP ARTIST:
He was very popular a few years back. He starred in some of those teenage dramas. He
was really hot stuff for a while.
SOUND ENGINEER:
Yeah, but he hasn´t been acting for years.
MAKEUP ARTIST:
No, but he can still skateboard. They needed someone to skateboard. It´s a big part of
the advertisement.
FRED:
Skateboard? I…

SOUND ENGINEER:
Shhhh! Careful here comes the director. You know how he gets when things aren´t
going well.
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The DIRECTOR walks past the group talking to himself.

DIRECTOR:
He´s gone! Can you believe it? He´s just disappeared. What are we going to do? What a
disaster! A disaster!

The camera follows the DIRECTOR as he walks off the set and then cuts back to FRED
and the others.

FRED:
So, why´s it so important to have a skateboard?
SOUND ENGINEER:
It´s a modern version of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo shows up on his skateboard…
MAKEUP ARTIST:
With chocolates…
FRED:
Well, the funny thing is, actually I can…
MAKEUP ARTIST:
Quiet! Here comes Donna!

The ACTRESS walks past talking to an ASSISTANT.

ACTRESS:
I turned down another really big job for this, and now look what´s happened!

The ACTRESS and the ASSISTANT disappear into the actress´ trailer. It has her name -
Donna Waters- on the door.

MAKEUP ARTIST:
I suppose that´s it for today!

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SOUND ENGINEER:
I guess so. We can´t film an ad if we don´t have the main man!
FRED:
Wait a minute. I can skateboard.
MAKEUP ARTIST:
Right. And I´m Beyoncé. There´s no way the director will give you the part. Have you
ever acted before?
FRED:
Yes, I have. I once appeared in a Christmas play at school. I had quite an important part.
MAKEUP ARTIST:
What was that? Not one of the wise men, was it?
FRED:
Not exactly. I was one half of the donkey.
SOUND ENGINEER:
One of the half donkey! Which end were you?
FRED:
The back end actually. But the donkey had a big part!
MAKEUP ARTIST:
OK. It´s not exactly the same thing, is it?
SOUND ENGINEER:
Anyway, I think I´m going home…
MAKEUP ARTIST:
Me too! See you, Fred!

FRED:
Wait a minute! I mean I really think…

The others leave. FRED is left all alone with his broom. He continues sweeping as he
talks to himself.

FRED:

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Oh well. I suppose I should go too.

The scene moves to the DIRECTOR, who is on the phone inside one of the trailers. He
is gesturing wildly with his arms and shouting angrily.

DIRECTOR:
Hospital? What are you doing in the hospital? You should be here! What do you mean
you fell off?

There is a pause while the DIRECTOR listens to the other person explaining.

DIRECTOR:
Embarrasing! You´re right it´s embarrassing. It´s extremely embarrassing. So, how did
it happen? You were what? You were skateboarding to work? You have a limousine and
I´m paying for it! No, I don´t understand, actually. Three weeks? I can´t wait three
weeks!

The DIRECTOR glances out the window of his trailer and sees someone skateboarding
past.

DIRECTOR:
Wait! I´ll call you later!

He puts the phone down and opens the window. He waves at the skateboarder.
DIRECTOR:
You! Yes, you! Stop! Come here a minute.

The camera zooms in on the skateboarder. As he turns around, we see that is is FRED.
He looks confused. The scene changes to the same film set as before. The DIRECTOR is
shouting instructions and the ACTRESS is standing on the balcony.

DIRECTOR:
OK, everybody! Quiet on set… and action!

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ACTRESS:
Romeo, Romeo, where are…

The camera cuts to a close-up of the faces of the DIRECTOR and the ACTRESS. They
both look worried, but then suddenly a skateboarder arrives on the scene and does an
amazing flip before kicking his board into his hand.

FRED:
Your chocolates, Juliet! Always on time for every occasion!
DIRECTOR:
Cut! That´s perfect! OK, everybody, we have our ad! Great job, Fred!

Shot of the DIRECTOR and the ACTRESS looking relieved. FRED is smiling and
looking very pleased. Cut to the MAKEUP ARTIST and the SOUND ENGINEER, who
are applauding.

MAKEUP ARTIST:
Wonders never cease, eh?
SOUND ENGINEER:
I guess not!

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