Artist bio

Willie Singh is an emerging Filmmaker and entrepreneur in Film and Video Production. Over a decade ago, he has worked towards creating his company Willsworld Production and has been involved in Video Production in Trinidad and Tobago over the years. Collaborating with other creatives, his experience expands from Private to Corporate with his passionate dream of Film Productions. He has worked on a few Short Films in the past and aims to achieve a series of Feature Films in the future. His recent collaborative achievements on the recent Short Film “Hush A Bye” has won international awards in 2019. This achievement has been increasingly excited thus far and has been very encouraging to produce more Films. He directed, written, and produced Wake up, a drama short film which gained entry at an international film festival. Willie is currently at the development stage of his first feature film which is written and would be directed and produced by him and collaborating team members of Willsworld Production.

Title

Temptation

Medium/Genre

Drama

Artist Statement

This film is very personal to me because its content and theme mirror my own experiences over the last two years. I’ve faced financial struggles but through it all, I have managed to keep my faith in God. I believe that this unwavering faith has guided me to create this film.

After completing the script, I endured through grueling pre-production, pulling crew, and cast members together. Production of the film was scheduled for a Sunday afternoon at five pm, hours before a nation-wide lockdown of our country, at midnight, was set to occur due to Covid-19. As a result, production was rushed as it occurred within a short space of time to allow the crew and cast members to return home safely. This resulted in a series of issues including; camera battery failure, improper green-screen capture, and VFX issues. The post-production process was plagued by continuous computer malfunction issues which were difficult to deal with especially during the lockdown.

From its inception, this film has challenged me to my fullest potential and limits as if someone was continuously testing my faith again. There were numerous times that I wanted to give up but out of respect for my crew and cast members and all of their support, dedication, and hard work, I am submitting what I have. Though the film’s VFX shots, Sound and Sound effects in certain areas were incomplete, I believe that God has made a way for us to reach this point and he would guide us to have the final production piece finalized at another point in time.

How it fits into contest

This film is a reflection of the spiritual battle found in Ephesians 6:10 and the related verses. This film shows Paul, a soon to be father, with financial trouble, being tempted to choose the easy way out by taking that which does not belong to him. Paul’s temptation manifests in the form of an internal and mental struggle that begins to overpower him and he stands firmly in the armor of God as he battles evil. The bible says " The greatest battle is fought in the mind" and this is true.

The protagonist Paul is a flawed servant of God, attempting to fight off evil by holding firmly to his faith. This faith is the armor of God, spoken about in Ephesians 6:10-20. It is the choices that we make when tempted, rather than the temptation itself that defines who we are. This film illustrates the themes in Ephesians 6:10-20 interestingly and uniquely, allowing any viewer to easily relate to them.

Credits

Writer/Director/Producer - Willie Singh
Director of Photography - Willie Singh
Casting Director - Willie Singh

Cast
Paul- Cheldon Knights
Satan - Scott Mc Donald
Pauls's wife - Shivana Khan-James

Script & Screenplay - Willie Singh
Visual Effects/Sound Design/Sound Effects - Willie Singh
Video Editing/Sound Editing - Willie Singh

Visual Effects Assistants
Nabil Creatyve Vfx
Vinod Panavila

Crew
Camera - Willie Singh
Boom Operator - Christopher Din Chong
Sound Recordist - Marlon Pinder
Production Assistant - Rosanna Lutchmie

"Break every chain" sung by: Giselle Benois
Keyboardist- Jordan Boodjarrat

Transcript / Lyrics

EXT. ROAD - EVENING
Poorly dressed for church, 25 year old Paul is walking on a lonely street with his Bible in hand.
On his way, he stumbles on a $100 notes on the roadside blowing in the wind.
He quickly picks it up
PAUL
Today must be my lucky day!
Paul then walks past an alley and notices a few more $100 bills, he soon discovers it leads to a big bag containing more $100 notes.
He gets excited and drops his Bible as he goes through the bag. He carry the bag and kneel down on the road and then holds up some money.
PAUL (CONT’D)
Oh man! Our prayer have been answered! Thank you Lord, thank you.
FLASHBACK
Paul and his wife (pregnant) having a conversation in their bedroom.
Sarah is by the window and Paul was about to leave for church.
SARAH
Paul.. Go with faith, pray that God would bless us and the baby, he know our struggles.
PAUL LOOKS AT THE BABY CRIB

PRESENT TIME
PAUL
Thank you Lord!
Paul is happy, he pick up the bag and his Bible and was about to get up.
Suddenly a male figure stands in front him pointing a gun.
The male figure is clothed similar to Paul
JUDAS
Hello brother... that’s mine!
Paul drops the bag and the Bible as he raises his hands
Judas stares at Paul seriously then quickly lowers his gun.
JUDAS (CONT’D)
Hahahaha! It’s not mine, you can have it.
PAUL
No! I don’t want it.. take it. Don't shoot me, please.
JUDAS
Take it! I know you need it, I've been watching you.
PAUL LOOKS CONFUSED AND SURPRISED
PAUL
How? ... Please I'm a Christian
JUDAS
Don't worry I know everything about you. Take the money.. Go!!
PAUL TAKES THE MONEY AND HIS BIBLE AND LEAVES IN A HURRY
JUDAS
I would need something from you!
JUDAS SMILES AS PAUL LOOKS BACK FROM THE DISTANT
PAUL
Panting and breathes heavy
JUDAS
Hahahahaha
PAUL SLOWLY STOPS AND LOOKS BACK AT JUDAS BUT HE IS NOT THERE. HE SWIFTLY TURNS FORWARD AND JUDAS IS IN A DISTANT IN FRONT HIM . PAUL HURRIES BACK THE OTHER WAY...HE STOPS AND LOOKS BACK AGAIN AND JUDAS IS GONE. HE SWIFTLY TURNS FORWARD AND JUDAS IS RIGHT IN FRONT HIM.
PAUL JUMPS IN FEAR AND DROPS THE BAG AND HIS BIBLE
PAUL
Ahhhh!!!
JUDAS
You cant run Paul... I know your every move.
PAUL
Stay away from me!
JUDAS
Hahaha, sorry I cant Paul
PAUL IS SLOWLY RETREATING IN FEAR SEES HIS BIBLE AND GRABS IT. PAUL HOLDS OUT HIS BIBLE AT JUDAS.
PAUL
Stay away!
JUDAS
Hahahah, I'm not a Vampire Paul
I know the Bible just as you do ... What I need is your soul
PAUL
Never! Depart from me Satan.
JUDAS
Satan? Are you referring to yourself? hahahaha
JUDAS HITS THE BIBLE AWAY AND ADVANCES TO PAUL, THERE IS A STRUGGLE AND PAUL PUSHES JUDAS AWAY
JUDAS
You're not that strong Paul
You're weak!
PAUL
God is my strength!
JUDAS
Let’s see!
JUDAS OPENS HIS ARMS UP AND HIS BLACK WINGS APPEAR AS HE CHARGES FORWARD
JUDAS HOLDS ON TO PAULS SHOULDERS FIRMLY
JUDAS
You are a thief!
PAUL
Ahh ahh God would forgive me!
JUDAS
I am your GOD! Take the money
I need your soul!
PAUL SLOWLY BECOMES WEAK
PAUL
Never! God would provide
JUDAS
I can give you everything in this world
PAUL
So can God
JUDAS
Ahhhhhh!
PAUL AND JUDAS STRUGGLES WITH EACH OTHER
PAUL
Lord give me the strength to overcome
JUDAS PUSHES PAUL DOWN TO BOTH KNEES
PAUL
Lord JESUS! Help me!
PAUL SCREAMS AS HIS WHITE WINGS OPENS UP, JUDAS IS MOST SURPRISED AS PAUL RISES TO HIS FEET
PAUL
Get thee hence SATAN! For God is with me!
JUDAS SCREAMS AS PAUL PUSHES HIM OFF, JUDAS DISINTEGRATES AND IS GONE. PAUL KNEELS DOWN, SCREAMS AND HOLDS HIS HEAD.

PAUL IS KNEELING DOWN, SCREAMS AND HOLDS HIS HEAD. HE LOOKS AROUND CONFUSED. THERE IS SILENCE AND EMPTINESS AFTER OVERCOMING HIS BATTLE IN HIS SUBCONCIOUS. PAUL RAISES HIS HANDS AND THANKS THE LORD
PAUL
Thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace.
PAUL LOOKS AT THE BAG OF MONEY AND THEN LOOKS AT HIS BIBLE. HE PICKS UP HIS BIBLE AND WALKS AWAY.

THE END

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