Let’s set the scene…
EXT. Streetside seting of downtown Chicago coffee shop-DAY.
AME sits at the farthest table from the door with a hot Americano. YOU walk up to her table. She looks up from her coffee with a warm smile.
AME
I knew you were a keeper.
Ame motions to the seat across from her.
AME
Here, sit down. Want anything?
You shake your head “no” as you sit down.
AME
You sure?
Ame looks into her cup.
AME
They’ve got pretty good coffee. That nice light roasted hand poured kind.
You shake your head again. Ame looks you square in the eye with a straight face.
AME
And bonus! it’s not ruining the economy. I know my generation ruined the housing market with avocado toast, but coffee is still safe. (raises her cup) For now.
You sense a joke you don’t completely understand. It’s not funny but the attempt is endearing.
AME
I once went to a coffee farm in Mozambique. I was supposed to be there for a 10 day holiday but that turned into 8 months and an existential crisis.
You have many questions, but don’t know where to start.
AME
Well, I mean we all had an existential crisis in 2020, didn’t we? Although I do like to schedule one every Tuesday…
AME flashes a side smile.
AME
For funsies. You should read The Stranger by Camus if you want a good existential crisis too.
This seems like another joke you don’t understand.
AME
I was living in China at the time, but itching for a change. I just didn’t know how. Then Covid hit and I got to be in Mozambique and it was…
AME searches for the right word.
AME
Refreshing?
You snort because this sounds like a joke.
AME
Really! I just needed to be somewhere new to…
AME pauses for a beat.
AME
To think. Because I was ready for more. And that’s also when I act together with scriptwriting.
Ame takes a quick sip of her coffee.
AME
I started out on Upwork making explainer videos for stupid cheap. I’m talking the whole package– script, video and voice over for $150. Thankfully I started getting clients through my website at some point.
AME looks upward in praise.
AME
Thank you SEO.
You laugh to yourself. Ame takes another sip of her now cold coffee. She doesn’t flinch.
AME
It was fine as a side thing. But during my 2020 existential crisis, I said to myself. You know what Ame? We need to get serious about this. And the internet must have been listening because (uses her hands to emphasize) it showed me what copywriting was.
A passing dog walks up to Ame and sniffs for food as his owner tries to pull him away. Ame beams at the dog.
AME
Oh hey friend! Oh look at you!
The owner wrangles him away with an “I’m sorry” look and walks dog away from table. –
AME
Fun fact. Whenever I’m unmotivated about work, I tell myself it’s all for my future dog Sunnybutter Sunshine and the backyard he needs to romp around in.
Your face questions if that’s a real name.
AME
Who can be sad and say that name? No one.
Ame waves her hand like she’s clearing the air.
AME
Anyway, we were talking about copywriting. I didn’t know scriptwriting was copywriting. Sounds stupid I know. But websites, emails…that’s what people think copy is.
Ame gestures toward herself.
AME
That’s what I thought it was too. And I didn’t know better until I joined a copywriting group. To learn how to write those types of copy.
AME turns her gaze away in thought.
AME
Is that ironic? My English friends love to tell me how Americans don’t get irony. Or sarcasm.
Ame comes back from her thoughts.
AME
Anyway, thanks to that group, I got my act together and learned that it doesn’t matter what you write. Emails, landing pages, scripts. You use the same principles to get action.
Ame downs the rest of her cold coffee.
AME
Once I understood that, it completely changed how I looked at scriptwriting. Because I wasn’t look at it like words on paper anymore. I was looking at it like a message people buy.
You mull over Ame’s word and imagine that mental shift.
AME
So that’s the story. My story.
Ame draws herself up dramatically
AME
Now I’m on the mission to write the perfect script! And if you need some help with your next video…
I can review your script or video and give you feedback so you can optimize it.
Write the entire script for you and save you a ton of hours
Edit your videos for you. Because editing sucks
AME
I got you boo.
Ame glances at the time on her phone. She becomes alert.
Ok gotta run. I already paid for the coffee. Your email’s on it’s way. And I’ll catch you tomorrow!