Ryan Gipson ii
TWO JELLY DONUTS AND A CUP OF COFFEE: (excerpt)
INT. MATHIAS AND OAKLEY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
We see the back of two heads as they sit on their couch
passing a joint back and forth. As we get closer, the man on
the left takes a hit from the joint and lifts his head toward
the ceiling to exhale the smoke. He passes the joint to the
man on his right. He takes a hit before he speaks.
We see the back of two heads as they sit on their couch
passing a joint back and forth. As we get closer, the man on
the left takes a hit from the joint and lifts his head toward
the ceiling to exhale the smoke. He passes the joint to the
man on his right. He takes a hit before he speaks.
MATHIAS (O.S.)
Bruh. They- they don’t respect me
bruh. Like, niggas like me
deserve...more. I don’t know man,
I’m just over the cycle bruh, ya
know?
bruh. Like, niggas like me
deserve...more. I don’t know man,
I’m just over the cycle bruh, ya
know?
Oakley sits and listens. He’s really high.
OAKLEY
Yeah.
MATHIAS
I’m never late, I work overtime
everyday. Like why do they still
treat me like- nothing. My boss
thinks he so macho. Bro you’re old.
everyday. Like why do they still
treat me like- nothing. My boss
thinks he so macho. Bro you’re old.
Mathias passes the joint back to Oakley. He thinks about what
he’s going to say while he inhales.
he’s going to say while he inhales.
OAKLEY
Well bro, you go to work high
everyday.
everyday.
Mathias reclines back into the couch. He’s really high.
OAKLEY (CONT’D)
You’re only on time everyday
because I take you to work. You
work late because I’m always late
to pick you up.
You’re only on time everyday
because I take you to work. You
work late because I’m always late
to pick you up.
He leans over to pass his cousin the joint back.
OAKLEY (O.S.) (CONT’D)
I think you’re expecting too much
out of this job.
OAKLEY (O.S.) (CONT’D)
I think you’re expecting too much
out of this job.
Mathias takes the joint. He waits to hit it.
OAKLEY (CONT’D)
I mean...things are how they are
man. Gotta appreciate what we have
in the moment.
I mean...things are how they are
man. Gotta appreciate what we have
in the moment.
2.
MATHIAS
You crashed my car and still
haven’t gotten it out the shop.
Things are how they are, eh?
haven’t gotten it out the shop.
Things are how they are, eh?
He hits the joint and inhales the thick smoke through his
nose and passes the joint back. Oakley takes his next hit and
blows an O. He smirks.
nose and passes the joint back. Oakley takes his next hit and
blows an O. He smirks.
Malik Fabian-Mahmud
Sample from the sample
I can vividly remember him trying to explain to me when I was no older than 10, how sampling in music worked. He (My Father) played Rimshot by Erykah Badu, the live version followed by So What by Miles Davis. He made me close my eyes and listen for the similarities between the trumpet and the melody of her voice.
They were almost identical; she was singing the exact notes and rhythm the trumpet was in the other song. I remember him telling me he took his trumpet and made it her own. In my mind, I took it literally and pictured an old, battered trumpet in a dusty room and her picking it up and reclaiming it. From that point I always made connections when listening to music, figuring out where a producer got a sample from, then going back and listening to the sample itself, and repeating the cycle.
