Hi Jerry :)
Here's the plan for Total Recall: the two characters, then the whole story from the first second to the last, timed to your song.
The first part is shot by shot, because that's what I'm building now. The rest is the outline it leads into, so the first minute is made as the opening of the full film and not as a separate test.
Every time below comes from your final song, measured on the vocal. Tell me anything you'd change and I'll change it before I start.
Updated 09/10/2026 · part 2 is in production
1. Part 1 is approved and stays exactly as it is.
2. The awake world now has a subtle cool blue, so the dream and his real life read apart at a glance.
3. "Wake up" lands at 2:23, on the sung line. Below is every shot of part 2 with its time in the song.
Updated 07/10/2026 with your notes
1. Part 1 now ends on the open car door. We never see if she leaves or stays.
2. The wake up has clear clues for a first time viewer (scene "He wakes up" below).
3. No sound effects anywhere. The only sound in the film is your song.
4. No accusation at the paparazzi. Just his annoyed look while she plays it up for the cameras.
The two characters
Both come straight from your artwork: same faces, same look, same red and gold light. These are early look frames I made from it, and they stay exactly like this in every shot.
Him · the rock star
Early 40s, charismatic, a little guarded. Black leather jacket, aviators, the necklaces and bracelets from the artwork. Never on stage playing, never singing.
Confident, then uneasy, jealous, angry, and finally full of regret.
Her · the movie star
Mid 30s, elegant, at home in front of the cameras. Black evening gown at the event. She never does anything to provoke him: his jealousy is his own fight.
Confident, then frustrated, worried, let down, and finally distant.
The whole song at a glance
- A pure story film. No band, no stage performance, no lip sync.
- No sound effects: only your song.
- Every action lands on the line that's sung: when the words are about the fight, you see the fight.
- Cinematic, slightly stylized realism, with the colour and mood of your artwork.
- The dream stays a secret until "Wake up" at 2:23.
- Titles are minimal: "Total Recall" with "Scripted Edge" smaller underneath, over the opening and again on the closing image.
The night of the fight · 0:00 to 1:04
One celebrity event, three places: the main room, a private corridor, the entrance outside. I end the first part right after "But at night, I have total recall" at 1:04, so the cut lands on the end of the chorus and not in the middle of a line.
1 · The arrival
Night, outside an elegant celebrity event. Luxury cars pull up under warm lights, photographers crowd the entrance. He and she step out together: a glamorous couple, the centre of the night.
2 · Her moment to shine
Inside, the cameras turn to her. Flashes all around, she poses with ease. He stays a step behind, smiling at first, then something in his face shifts.
3 · The fight
A quiet corridor away from the party. They're arguing. Her frustration, his anger. She reaches for him, he turns away. On "can't be unsaid" a glass slips from her hand and breaks on the marble, seen and not heard.
4 · Jealousy
Back in the main room. She talks with guests, nothing more. He watches from the bar across the room with a drink in his hand, fighting himself.
5 · She works the room
She moves through the party, greeting people and laughing. Cut against him, alone at the edge of the room, closed off.
6 · He walks out
He puts the glass down and leaves. We follow him down the corridor to the exit. Across the room she sees him go, and her public smile drops into worry.
7 · Will she stay?
Did you leave, or did I convince you to stay?
Outside the venue, a car waits. She comes out after him. They see each other from opposite sides of the entrance, and neither one moves. She stops by the car door on "did you leave". He looks at her and stays where he is.
8 · Total recall
But at night, I have total recall.
The driver holds the car door open. She stands at the open door with one hand on it, and looks back at him. He takes half a step toward her and stops. We never see what she decides.
The rest of the film · 1:05 to 3:54
Part 1 stays exactly as you approved it, and part 2 carries on from its last frame with the same two faces. Every cut lands on the beat. The awake world has the subtle cool blue you asked for; the dream keeps its warm gold with a subtle red.
The tour
Take the stage. Fits of rage. Emotions pour.
Don't look back now. Embrace the crowd. The show must go on.
- 1:05Morning. She stands alone at an airport gate, lowers her sunglasses and walks away.
- 1:09He walks through a different terminal, bag on his shoulder, not looking back.
- 1:11One plane takes off into the sun, another rolls the other way.
- 1:13Backstage, he sweeps everything off the dressing room counter.
- 1:16He sits with his head in his hands.
- 1:19Her photo on his phone. He locks it and puts it away.
- 1:23From behind, he walks down the dark tunnel toward the stage light.
- 1:25The light swallows his silhouette. The crowd's hands in the haze. We never see him play.
Apart
- 1:29Alone at a tour bus window, city lights sliding over his face.
- 1:32She's on a film set between takes, checking her phone.
- 1:34He sits on the edge of a hotel bed, red neon on his face.
- 1:38She stands at a hotel window in another city, arms folded.
- 1:41His thumb over the call button. He pulls back.
- 1:43Her phone face down on the bed. She almost picks it up.
- 1:47Back of a car in the rain, eyes closed.
- 1:50She lies awake, looking at the empty side of the bed.
- 1:53He lies awake in another city, same look.
The paparazzi
He said. She said. Can't take it no more.
Rewind that moment in time. Take back all that was said.
Forgive or forget? Not sure.
- 1:55They almost walk into each other outside a hotel. The paparazzi rush in on "click whack".
- 1:58She smiles for the cameras, a hand on his arm. He doesn't smile.
- 2:00Close on his face: annoyed, let down.
- 2:03She leans in for the photos. He quietly takes her hand off his arm.
- 2:06On "rewind" time freezes: flashes hang in the air, they turn to face each other.
- 2:11Face to face in the frozen light. She almost speaks.
- 2:15Close on her on "not sure".
- 2:19Close on him as the light fades to dark.
He wakes up
Limelight gone. Nine to five. No emotion. Just gray.
Can't sleep. Need to return. The dream's a blur.
But I know it's more alive than this.
- 2:24Hard cut on "wake up": he jolts awake in a small plain bedroom, a cheap alarm clock by the bed.
- 2:26He sits up. The clues: a faded rock band poster, a dusty guitar in the corner.
- 2:29The TV left on all night: a film with the actress from his dream.
- 2:30A packed commuter train.
- 2:33An office desk under flat light, a plain name badge.
- 2:36Night. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to sleep.
- 2:39A flicker of red light crosses his face.
- 2:43He sits up and looks at the guitar.
The dream leaks in
- 2:47At his desk, a red glow spreads over the office window.
- 2:50In a grey crowd, for one moment, a woman in a gown glows red.
- 2:53At the bus stop, her face on a film poster.
- 2:57On the bus, red neon slides across his face.
- 3:00Her at the open car door, from part 1, the same line sung again.
- 3:04Alone at a small kitchen table at night.
- 3:07Walking home down a grey street at dusk.
- 3:11He lies down and red light starts to fill the room.
He chooses the dream
I'd rather immerse in the drama than be bored and awake.
- 3:14Half blue, half red on his face. He closes his eyes on purpose.
- 3:19The dream is back: his face in the red and gold, aviators on.
- 3:22He stands at the foot of the red carpet steps and walks up.
- 3:27Inside the party, she turns and sees him.
- 3:30A small smile. He walks toward her.
- 3:34Close together, her hand on his chest, his over hers.
- 3:40The guests fade into the dark. Only the two of them.
- 3:46Closing image: the two of them from behind in the red haze, "Total Recall" and "Scripted Edge" over it as the song ends.
That's the full story :)
Part 2 is being made now. I'll send you the whole film first, and once you're happy with it, the vertical clips, the Spotify Canvas and the thumbnail.