ALMOST US
The film
Storyboard
Scene 1
4 shots · 40sShot 1 · wide · 10s
Jayden sits on the low wall at the end of the school day while Malik tries to get his attention. Jayden’s joking answers hide that his focus is about to shift toward Amara.
- Malik: Bro, you're not even listening.
- Jayden Cole: I'm listening.
- Malik: What did I just say?
- Jayden Cole: Something important, probably.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 2 · close-up · 10s
Amara’s first message arrives, and Jayden’s careful reply opens a conversation neither of them yet understands will matter.
- Amara Hayes: Heyy.
- Jayden Cole: Hey, how are you?
- Amara Hayes: I'm gooddd, you?
- Jayden Cole: I'm good. What you up to?
- Not rendered yet
Shot 3 · medium close-up · 8s
Amara’s first message arrives, and Jayden’s careful reply opens a conversation neither of them yet understands will matter.
- Their conversation continues. Neither of them knows that this ordinary exchange will become an important memory.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 4 · montage · 12s
Across several ordinary school days, Jayden and Amara’s messages become the bright thread running through everything else.
- Everyone has that one person whose notification hits differently. Someone who can turn an ordinary day into something worth remembering.
Scene 2
5 shots · 57s- Not rendered yet
Shot 5 · medium · 14s
At 11:47 p.m., Jayden and Amara tease each other over the phone until their playful argument becomes a ritual neither wants to end.
- Amara Hayes: Why are you still awake?
- Jayden Cole: Why are YOU still awake?
- Amara Hayes: I asked first.
- Jayden Cole: And I respectfully decline to answer.
- Amara Hayes: You're actually annoying.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 6 · medium close-up · 9s
At 11:47 p.m., Jayden and Amara tease each other over the phone until their playful argument becomes a ritual neither wants to end.
- Jayden Cole: Yet you're still on the phone with me.
- Amara Hayes: Unfortunately.
- Amara Hayes: Okay, I'm actually tired now.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 7 · close-up · 10s
At 11:47 p.m., Jayden and Amara tease each other over the phone until their playful argument becomes a ritual neither wants to end.
- Jayden Cole: Alright. Go sleep.
- Amara Hayes: You hang up first.
- Jayden Cole: No, you.
- Amara Hayes: Jayden.
- Jayden Cole: Amara.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 8 · close-up · 11s
After the call ends, Jayden pins Amara’s chat to the top of his messages, and her immediate follow-up makes the connection feel chosen.
- Amara Hayes: Already miss annoying you.
- Jayden Cole: You're obsessed with me.
- Amara Hayes: Don't flatter yourself.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 9 · medium close-up · 13s
After the call ends, Jayden pins Amara’s chat to the top of his messages, and her immediate follow-up makes the connection feel chosen.
- Everyone else could message me. Everyone else could call. But somehow, none of that mattered when the person I wanted to hear from was you.
Scene 3
4 shots · 49s- Not rendered yet
Shot 10 · wide · 14s
On the grass near the field, Amara opens a serious question, while Jayden tries to hide behind a joke before agreeing to listen.
- Amara Hayes: Can I ask you something?
- Jayden Cole: Depends. Am I getting arrested?
- Amara Hayes: Be serious.
- Jayden Cole: Okay, okay. Ask.
- Amara Hayes: Why do you treat me differently?
- Not rendered yet
Shot 11 · medium close-up · 10s
Amara explains what she notices in Jayden’s care, and his joking expression fades as he listens.
- Jayden Cole: What do you mean?
- Amara Hayes: You actually listen. You remember things I tell you. You check on me.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 12 · close-up · 12s
Jayden names his care plainly, and Amara reassures him that being different is a good thing.
- Jayden Cole: Because I care about you.
- Amara Hayes: You're different, you know that?
- Jayden Cole: Good different or should I be concerned?
- Amara Hayes: Good different.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 13 · insert · 13s
Later, Jayden turns the possibility of something real into lyrics, writing a private song and keeping it from Amara.
- I wasn't looking for a roster. I wasn't trying to collect names or temporary feelings. I wanted something real. Someone I could build with.
Scene 4
5 shots · 57s- Not rendered yet
Shot 14 · over-shoulder · 14s
Near the trophy case, Keenan warns Amara against attachment, and she challenges him for presuming to understand Jayden.
- Keenan: I'm just saying, don't get too attached.
- Amara Hayes: Why?
- Keenan: Because you always end up getting hurt.
- Amara Hayes: You don't even know him like that.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 15 · medium close-up · 6s
Keenan’s final warning makes Amara fall silent, and Jayden notices only the troubled change in her face.
- Keenan: And you don't know what might happen.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 16 · close-up · 14s
That evening, Jayden checks on Amara and sends reassurance of his own, but her brief replies do not settle him before Malik urges him to ask directly.
- Jayden Cole: You good?
- Amara Hayes: Yeah.
- Jayden Cole: You sure?
- Amara Hayes: I'm fine.
- Jayden Cole: Okay. I'm here if you need me.
- Malik: Ask her what's going on.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 17 · medium close-up · 13s
Jayden reveals the source of his fear, while Malik tells him that avoiding the subject will not protect him.
- Jayden Cole: And say what? Why's there another guy on your profile?
- Malik: If it's bothering you, talk to her.
- Jayden Cole: I don't want to sound jealous.
- Not rendered yet
Shot 18 · close-up · 10s
Malik gives Jayden permission to admit what matters, and Jayden locks the phone after saying he fears losing Amara.
- Malik: You can care about someone without pretending nothing bothers you.
- Jayden Cole: I just don't want to lose her.
The story
Original input — click to expand
“ALMOST US An OJP Original Film Genre: Teen romance / coming-of-age drama Target runtime: Approximately 60 minutes Soundtrack: “Strangers Again” — OJP MAIN CHARACTERS Jayden Cole: A funny, loyal teenager who hides his deepest feelings behind jokes. Amara Hayes: A girl Jayden grows close to, but whose feelings and decisions leave him confused. Malik: Jayden’s best friend, who tells him the truth even when it hurts. Keenan: Amara’s close friend, who is protective of her. Thabo: Jayden’s other friend, who tries to keep him positive. Luke: A guy from Amara’s past who complicates the situation. SCENE 1 — THE FIRST MESSAGE EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD — AFTERNOON Students leave classrooms, laughing and shouting as the school day ends. Jayden sits on a low wall, scrolling through Instagram. Malik stands beside him, talking. MALIK: Bro, you're not even listening. JAYDEN: I'm listening. MALIK: What did I just say? JAYDEN: Something important, probably. Malik shakes his head. Jayden notices Amara’s profile. He hesitates before following her. A few minutes later, his phone vibrates. AMARA: Heyy. Jayden stares at the screen before replying. JAYDEN: Hey, how are you? AMARA: I'm gooddd, you? JAYDEN: I'm good. What you up to? Their conversation continues. Neither of them knows that this ordinary exchange will become an important memory. MONTAGE: Jayden checks his phone between classes. Amara sends voice notes, laughing halfway through them. They exchange jokes, talk about their favourite music and stay awake later than they intended. JAYDEN (V.O.): Everyone has that one person whose notification hits differently. Someone who can turn an ordinary day into something worth remembering. The screen fades to black. SCENE 2 — THE FAVOURITE NOTIFICATION INT. JAYDEN’S BEDROOM — NIGHT The time reads 11:47 p.m. Jayden is lying in bed, speaking to Amara on the phone. AMARA: Why are you still awake? JAYDEN: Why are YOU still awake? AMARA: I asked first. JAYDEN: And I respectfully decline to answer. She laughs. AMARA: You're actually annoying. JAYDEN: Yet you're still on the phone with me. AMARA: Unfortunately. They laugh again. Eventually, the conversation slows. AMARA: Okay, I'm actually tired now. JAYDEN: Alright. Go sleep. AMARA: You hang up first. JAYDEN: No, you. AMARA: Jayden. JAYDEN: Amara. They laugh before finally ending the call. Jayden opens their chat and pins it to the top of his messages. A new notification appears. AMARA: Already miss annoying you. JAYDEN: You're obsessed with me. AMARA: Don't flatter yourself. Jayden smiles at the screen. JAYDEN (V.O.): Everyone else could message me. Everyone else could call. But somehow, none of that mattered when the person I wanted to hear from was you. SCENE 3 — SOMETHING DIFFERENT EXT. SCHOOL FIELD — LUNCHTIME Jayden and Amara sit together away from the biggest group of students. AMARA: Can I ask you something? JAYDEN: Depends. Am I getting arrested? AMARA: Be serious. JAYDEN: Okay, okay. Ask. AMARA: Why do you treat me differently? JAYDEN: What do you mean? AMARA: You actually listen. You remember things I tell you. You check on me. Jayden looks away, embarrassed. JAYDEN: Because I care about you. Amara smiles slightly. AMARA: You're different, you know that? JAYDEN: Good different or should I be concerned? AMARA: Good different. For a moment, Jayden imagines a future in which everything is simple. JAYDEN (V.O.): I wasn't looking for a roster. I wasn't trying to collect names or temporary feelings. I wanted something real. Someone I could build with. Later, in his bedroom, Jayden writes lyrics in a notebook. At the top of the page, he writes: BEAUTIFUL GIRL. He keeps the song to himself. SCENE 4 — THE FIRST CRACK INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR — DAY Amara walks with Keenan. KEENAN: I'm just saying, don't get too attached. AMARA: Why? KEENAN: Because you always end up getting hurt. AMARA: You don't even know him like that. KEENAN: And you don't know what might happen. Amara goes quiet. Across the corridor, Jayden sees them talking. He cannot hear their conversation, but he notices that Amara seems troubled. That evening, he messages her. JAYDEN: You good? AMARA: Yeah. JAYDEN: You sure? AMARA: I'm fine. Jayden types another message, deletes it, then sends: JAYDEN: Okay. I'm here if you need me. There is no reply for a while. Later, Jayden notices Luke’s name and a heart in Amara’s social media bio. His expression changes. INT. JAYDEN’S BEDROOM — NIGHT Malik sits beside Jayden while he scrolls through his phone. MALIK: Ask her what's going on. JAYDEN: And say what? Why's there another guy on your profile? MALIK: If it's bothering you, talk to her. JAYDEN: I don't want to sound jealous. MALIK: You can care about someone without pretending nothing bothers you. Jayden locks his phone. JAYDEN: I just don't want to lose her. Malik has no joke for that. SCENE 5 — THE WRONG KIND OF SILENCE MONTAGE —”
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