Script for Montlake Passage

Originally this was entitled "Ship Canal Passage" because the boats pass through the Ship Canal in Seattle. "Montlake Passage" had a better sound to it.

Video: Ship Canal Passage
By
Patrick S. Poplin.

Location: Lake Union, the Ship Canal, and the Montlake Bridge.

The video should have a slow, lyrical, waltz-like feel to it. Musical underscoring can either be classical (such as “The Blue Danube”), movie score (such as “Love Theme” from Dances With Wolves), or pop song (such as David Crosby singing “On The Delta). We start with an Extreme Close-up of the Space Needle (the beach at Gasworks Park POV), and we slowly pull back to a Long Shot that reveals all of Lake Union, with sailboats cutting gracefully through the water, and yachts doing the same.

Cut to-

Medium Shots of boats cutting through the water. This is a montage of different boats going different directions, and should feel like a dance. Consider using dissolves to cross-fade between images.

Dissolve to-

LS of Lake Union, Ivar’s Salmon House barge POV. Pan Left, gracefully, to reveal the entrance to the Ship Canal, with the University Bridge in the background. Zoom in slowly on the canal as it goes under the bridge, if it is possible, to give the feel of sailing under it

Dissolve to-

Extreme Longshot of the Montlake Bridge, center of the University Bridge POV. Boat in foreground, and we watch as it moves toward Montlake.

Dissolve (cut?) to-

MS of Montlake Bridge, University of Washington Medical Center POV. Consider a Tracking Shot -style camera move to reveal the bridge-maybe coming around a tree or bush to reveal it.

Cut to-

LS of traffic on the bridge, Husky Stadium POV.

Cut to-

Tracking Shot –style camera move along eastern sidewalk of the bridge, starting from the stadium, and continuing toward the bridge tower. Pan Up to a MS of tower, and then back to street again.

Cut to-

LS of northeastern side of the bridge (across the canal), southeastern side of bridge POV. Pan Down slowly to walkway under the bridge.

Cut to-

LS, sidewalk underneath northern side of bridge POV, of Sailboat as it slows to a stop and signals bridge tower that it wants to pass.

Cut to-

MS of bridge tower, as it clangs the bell announcing that the bridge will soon raise.

Cut to-

Close-up of traffic light going from green to red.

Cut to-

MS of guard rail descending, and bridge starting to rise.

Cut to-

MS, UW Medical Center POV. The bridge is rising.

Cut to-

CU, sidewalk underneath northern side of bridge POV. The bridge, overhead, is still rising.

Cut to-

LS, UW Stadium POV. The bridge rises to its fullest height and stops.

Cut to-

LS, sidewalk underneath bridge POV, of Sailboat as it starts up and moves forward. Consider panning along with it.

Cut to-

CU of gap in bridge as Sailboat passes through.

Cut to-

MS, sidewalk underneath northern side of bridge POV, of Sailboat from the rear as it continues moving through the canal. Pan with it.

Cut to-

LS, Husky Stadium POV. The bridge starts to lower.

Cut to-

CU, sidewalk underneath northern side of bridge POV. The bridge, overhead, is lowering.

Cut to-

MS, Trail from boathouse on northeastern side of bridge POV. The bridge comes back together.

Cut to-

MS of guardrail ascending.

Cut to-

CU of traffic light going from red to green.

Dissolve to-

LS of the rear of the Sailboat as it continues through the canal. Pan with it and Zoom out slowly, to reveal Lake Washington in the distance.

Cut to-

Fade out. Allow music to play out.