Editorial beat
Written by Amadi Grey· edited by the project ownerFADE IN:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY — DAY
Vertical video 9:16 A handheld camera moves through a crowded Manhattan sidewalk.
Fast.
People pass. Taxis. Bikes. Sirens. Music spills from a storefront.
The camera suddenly swings toward a young woman walking past.
YUFAN “YOLANDA” BAI, 21, Chinese, attractive, casually dressed, carrying a tote bag.
INTERVIEWER (O.S.)
Yo! Yo, yo, yo!
Yolanda keeps walking.
INTERVIEWER (O.S.)
Excuse me!
She turns.
The camera catches up.
YOLANDA
Yeah?
INTERVIEWER
How much you pay in rent?
She immediately laughs.
YOLANDA
What?
INTERVIEWER
How much is your rent?
YOLANDA
Why?
INTERVIEWER
Because I'm nosy.
She laughs again.
YOLANDA
That's a crazy question.
INTERVIEWER
It's New York. Everybody wants to know.
He walks backward, filming her.
INTERVIEWER (CONT'D)
How much?
Yolanda looks directly into the camera.
YOLANDA
Three thousand.
INTERVIEWER
Three thousand?
YOLANDA
Three-one.
INTERVIEWER
Three-one?!
YOLANDA
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER
You live alone?
YOLANDA
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER
In Manhattan?
YOLANDA
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER
And you're a student?
YOLANDA
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER
What the hell do you do?
YOLANDA
I go to school.
INTERVIEWER
No, but like—
He gestures at her.
INTERVIEWER (CONT'D)
How are you affording three-one?
YOLANDA
I'm not.
They both laugh.
INTERVIEWER
Okay, okay. What do you study?
YOLANDA
Film.
INTERVIEWER
Film?
YOLANDA
Yeah.
INTERVIEWER
So you're gonna be famous?
YOLANDA
Hopefully.
INTERVIEWER
What's your name?
YOLANDA
Yolanda.
INTERVIEWER
Yolanda.
He turns the camera toward himself for a split second.
INTERVIEWER
She pays thirty-one hundred for an apartment in Manhattan. We're going to see if it's worth it.
Back to Yolanda.
YOLANDA
Wait, what?
INTERVIEWER
Can we see it?
YOLANDA
My apartment?
Camera drops to the side capturing the sidewalk.
INTERVIEWER
Yeah. I'll pay you.
She looks at him.
YOLANDA
How much?
INTERVIEWER
Fifty bucks.
YOLANDA
No.
INTERVIEWER
A hundred.
She considers it.
YOLANDA
You have a million followers?
INTERVIEWER
Not yet.
She smiles.
YOLANDA
Then one hundred fifty.
INTERVIEWER
You're negotiating?
YOLANDA
Yes.
INTERVIEWER
One hundred.
YOLANDA
One-fifty.
INTERVIEWER
One twenty-five.
A beat.
YOLANDA
Fine.
He extends his hand.
INTERVIEWER
Deal.
She shakes it.
INTERVIEWER (CONT'D)
Let's go.
The camera sets it's focus back on Yolanda. Yolanda turns toward the camera.
YOLANDA
This better not be embarrassing.
INTERVIEWER
No promises.
They continue down the sidewalk.
QUICK CUTS — VERTICAL VIDEO:
— Yolanda walking ahead of camera.
— The interviewer catching up.
— A taxi blasting its horn.
— Yolanda laughing at something we don't hear.