Uninformed Norm [Record Offering commercial]

I had the privilege of a spot of acting for a 3 part promotional fundraising (offering) video for Record magazine - which I was once an editorial assistant for.

Meet Uninformed Norm:

Part Two, the following year:

Part 3, the following year

Record ad: May 4 2024

The Father 5000 - replacing the irreplaceable [Father's Day skit]

A fun drama skit on the theme Father's Day and how you can't really replace a father.
A follow-up mothers day skit, "The Family 5000" here: scottpublished.com/2023/04/the-family-5000-replacing-irreplaceable.html

 
[Presenter] Good morning everyone! As most of you will be aware, tomorrow is Father’s Day.
This is a day where we celebrate our dads, and the love and efforts they put into their family.
Unfortunately, for various reasons, there are many people who don’t have a loving father. But be assured. . . you do have a loving Father in heaven who is waiting for you.
But until then, for those who just can’t wait until we get to heaven, we would like to introduce the latest and greatest father replacement technology money can buy - the Father 5000!!!!
[Father walks on with fanfare soundtrack, which turns into shopping music]

[Father] Hello.... every....body!

[Presenter] The Father 5000 is built so life-like, it not only has a receding hairline. 

[Father glances sideways at presenter]

Christmas Cross ['Breaking news' skit]

 Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Christmas service - December 19, 2020

1 Newsreader
Tonight on Channel B news:
• Traffic chaos on the D1, as census travellers come to town.
• Accommodation lockout, as the inns fill up city-wide.
• Parliament requests ideas, for an end of year religious festival.
• Bethlehem Broncos name their new coach.
• And one puppy’s lucky escape from falling down a well.
But first to breaking news.
A bright light has been seen in our sky tonight.
We cross now to Edison for more on this breaking story.

Father's Wish [a Father's Day video Skit]

 Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Online service - Sept 5, 2020

You're Invaluable [Video for 'You're in' series part 2]

Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Online service - June 13, 2020

[Set to reasonably somber/thoughtful background music]

Point of view video angle shows a hand holding a key the while time.
It tries the key in several locks around a house, but it uselessly does not open anything.

The key is taken to the street and thrown in the curb side bin, only to be soon discovered it was needed to open the mailbox.

The key is retrieved. Opening the mailbox finds a note which says "You're Invaluable"

Your Call [skit on backing your beliefs]

Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Online service - May 30, 2020

[Using poker chips, monopoly money, or betting chips of some sort, the conversation plays out like a game of people betting in poker.]

Althea: Want to go out to that seafood bar? I hear they have some fresh oysters in!

Chris: Umm, no thanks! I don’t think they are very good for you.

Althea: Really? Nah, [tosses chips in] I reckon they’re fine.

Chris: Well, I’m going with it’s better to steer clear of them. [tosses chips in]

Althea: We’ll see.

 

Busy, Mum [a 'sorry' Mother's Day skit ]

Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Mother's Day service -May 9, 2020

 

KID: Mother’s day. It’s the one time of year when we remember our mothers, tell them how much we love them and thank them for all they do for us.

MUM: Could you put your socks in the basket please I’m about to do a load of washing.

KID: I’m busy!
Sorry about that.
We commemorate all the time and effort they put into running our families

The News [COVID-19 Coronavirus V's Easter Skit ]

Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Easter service - April 11, 2020

 

Worry is scrolling Facebook/news on his/her phone
Hope is reading a Bible

[After each statement the other 'acknowledges' with a grunt or 'yeah', but wasn't really listening (too engrossed in their own reading).]


W: Says here there’s no food at the supermarkets

H: Says here not to worry about what we might eat or drink


W: Says here unemployment could get to record highs

H: Says here all things work together for our good

I Am [7 act skit series on Jesus' 'I Am' statements]

1. I am the true vine – John 15:1-5
2. I am the bread of life – John 6:35
3. I am the light of the world – John 8:12, 9:5
4. I am the gate – John 10:7
5. I am the good shepherd – John 10:11-14
6. I am the resurrection and the life – John 11:25
7. I am the way the truth and the life – John 14:6

Each skit:

Two people sitting around at a retirement home, one with a newspaper (N), the other a Bible (B), with scripts on them if acting live.
Slow to speak and even slower to reply to each other for effect there could be a literal 4-5 second gap between lines as the elderly process the thought and come up with a response. Make the skit about 5 mins
Can be live or pre-recorded - Can be same or different couples - Can be any combination of genders


THE VINE


(video intro)

B: Hey [insert elderly person name]

[remember 4-5 second delay for slow thinking EVERY time...]

N: Yeah?

B: Wha-da-ya-reckon Jesus meant when He said ‘I am the true vine’?

N: Dunno.... You sure it says ‘Vine’?

B: Yeah, I am the true vine.

N: Where’s it say that?

B: In John... chapter 15.... verse 1

N: Maybe he was pointing out that he had skinny legs, like a grape vine?

N: Or maybe his skin was flaky like the bark of a grape vine... and was encouraging people to moisturise?

Think Big [Puppet play about Christians thinking big and not being afraid to mix with those in higher society]

Performance: Men' s ministry service Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - June 23, 2018

[muppet music plays, two men walk in with a large sheet hanging between them as a screen, puppeteers sneak in behind screen as they enter the room. Jack appears in middle of screen, police and prime minister on one of the sides.]


J: Hey, Tod, look!

T: [appears] Looking... what am I looking at?

J: It’s the prime minister of Australia!

T: Really? Looks like Pr Pablo to me?

J: NO! Over there!

T: Oh yeah! Wow... Let’s get out of here!

J: What??

T: Before he puts us in Jail!

Royal Christmas

Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church - December 24, 2016

Brief: A Christmas drama to introduce a sermon on 'What if Jesus was treated like royalty. What if Jesus never suffered'.

[ Door opens and Jo enters, crickets are heard in the background, moon/ stars on the screen]

Jo: Here we are. [looks around] This will have to do sorry. It’s like the last place available.

[put travel bag on ground]

[ Mary enters, holding back and heavily pregnant]

Mary: Oh, what a day! My back’s killing me!

Jo: I bet.... spare a thought for the donkey!

Disappointing Drama

 Brief: a drama skit on the Great Disappointment in 1844.
Written: Scott Wegener
Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church,  October 22, 2016

The preacher of the day comes in the regular entrance to the church, behind the congregating, and shouts "Jesus is coming, today's the day!" And two or three musicians follow, starting happily into the hymn 'When we all get to heaven', walking down the isle behind the preacher. 

If you drink, and drink and drive...

Brief: a short, fun, video commercial promoting Alcofree

Siren “whoops” as screen fades in from black with police POV cam as he walks up to the driver window of the pulled over car from behind. When he gets to the driver’s window the driver looks a little agitated but gives a sheepish smile. Camera shot is into the car window, driver on left of screen slightly.

Police: Can I see you licence please..... You were driving a little quickly back there.

Driver: [hands over ready licence, see police arm take licence] I was, yes, sorry.

Police: Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?

Driver: I have, that's why I was going so fast, sorry.

Police (cuts in): You have, have you. How much have you had tonight sir?

Driver: Well, 4 or 5 beers, a few glasses of wine and a few cocktails.

A Father's Gifts

Brief: A short children's story skit on Matthew 7:7-12 - that has to feature a real snake.
Written: Scott Wegener
Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church - November 28, 2015



Dad: Hi, how was school?

Child: Good. I’m hungry, may I have some bread please, dad.

Dad: Sure... [Goes out, comes back with a rock] Here you go. Chew on this.

Dr Whomework

Written: Scott Wegener and the Edinburgh College drama class
Performance: Edinburgh College Arts Evening - November 10, 2015 




Scene I: Staff Meeting

A large ‘box’ (Tardis) sits to the side of stage, covered by a large ‘sheet’.

3 teachers (plus extras) are sitting around a table with papers, cups of tea and biscuits.

MR OEMKE: Managed to give out any infringements this morning, Miss Judd?

MISS JUDD:  (excited) YES, Mr Oemke, two actually! One, to someone talking in class, that was a easy, but I had to be more creative for the second – I ended up picking one of the students who had handed in ALL their homework and accused them of cheating.

MR OEMKE: Hmm, it’s in your contract to give out 3 infringements a day, so make sure you find another one before home time, please.

MISS JUDD: No problem. I’ll just tell a joke and whoever doesn’t laugh with enthusiasm I’ll ping for showing descent. That’s what I usually do if I’m falling short of my quota.

MISS FOX: [reading paper] Hey everyone, looks like the government is thinking of reintroducing the cane for discipline! [teachers hi five!] That would be awesome! I NEVER thought I’d get the chance to use the cane. Sweet!

Dr Coulsen walks in, everyone goes silent instantly and sits up.

Christian Soldier

Brief: a short drama leading to a sermon on "The Christian response to war".
Written: Scott Wegener and the Edinburgh College drama class

Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church - May 2, 2015

Venue is set up with 4.2 sound:
- left, right and woofer at rear
- left, right and woofer at front.

There are two featured cast: Chris Christian and GI Joe neighbour.

Also required are two sound operators.

Chris enters slowly reading the Bible, and sits at a table with Weet-bix, SoGood and a bowl of breakfast, and puts Bible down and says a silent grace.

Chris, does three rhythmic tapping scrapes of the bowl - of which the third is the cue to start/sync both sound players - then keeps eating waiting the the sound fx to start

Sound FX begins with plane flying over from rear of church to front and a slightly delayed bomb rumble at rear then a louder blast, a second later, at the front. FX continue throughout with gunfire war sounds etc 

Chris looks up at the sound of plane, looks alarmed at first explosion and at second loud blast they (secretly) wobble the table, knocking over the Weet-bix and they scramble under the table.

StatusTrix

Brief: a short drama on the theme of social media and it's focus on short term character, not long term character.
Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church - February 14, 2015,
Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - February 9, 2019.

( 75% based on The Matirx scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D7cPH7DHgA )

[Neo sits in an interrogation room (table two chairs). Smith and two other agents, all wearing dark glasses, suit and ties, walk in slowly staring at Neo, two agents stand behind Neo, Smith sits in chair]

Agent Smith: As you can see, we've had our eye on you for some time now, Mr. Anderson. 
It seems that you've been living two lives. In one life, you're Thomas A. Anderson, program writer for a respectable software company, 
you have a tax file number, you pay your taxes, and you
 help your landlady carry out her garbage. The other life is lived on Facebook, where you go by the profile name Neo and are guilty of virtually every status update crime known to man.

In Heaven Tonight LIVE: Christmas Edition

Brief: A Christmas service drama without an obvious sermon.

Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church - December 20, 2014

In Heaven Tonight LIVE is a talk show like David Letterman where a presenter sits behind a desk and has celebrity guests that are light heatedly interviewed.

A desk is on the right side of stage with a guest chair/s or couch at centre of stage.

Jokes, free-flowing, but generally scripted, and fast paced - each guest has some fun but also some thought provoking concepts discussed (making this more than mere entertainment)

Set in Heaven, so there are retrospective questions of what happened on earth, as well as discussion about what they are up to in heaven.

- This is a ‘Christmas’ edition which has characters from the Christmas story of Jesus birth - the final guest being the biggest ‘sermon’ content of the production (written by Pr Rob Steed) This production covers an entire church service.

You could also have posters in the foyer, notes in the bulletin or video promos in the weeks before hand. Have a mug on the table with the logo glued to it.

Christmas Made Easy: Carols Programs

Brief: A Christmas drama (with a BIG finish).
Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church Carols Program - December 13, 2014

[Presenter] Welcome to chapter five of Christmas Made Easy, I’m your host, Ray Martin.

In this chapter we’re discussing how to run a successful Christmas carols program.

One of the simplest ways to build the ambience of your carols program is by adding Christmas lights. But make sure you don’t overload the power board by using too many lights.

[Assistant 1] Walks in while presenter is talking, is all tangled up in lights and, as kneeling down at back of stage, a camera flash and party popper goes off after presenter finishes paragraph. Assistant walks off waving hand as if clearing smoke.

The Last Cast (Tribute to Bruce Manners)

Performance: Lilydale Seventh-day Adventist Church - November 15, 2014
Brief: A skit on the topic of Stephen - God choosing an unlikely 'hero', AND a nod to this being Pr Bruce Manners final sermon before he retires. 

The room is divided into 6 speakers:

L1 and R1 roof speakers, L2 and R2 front ground level, L3 and R3 back balcony speakers.

Screen shows DVD, with audio playing through L1 & R1 speakers. On screen says: “Guardian Angel Communication Channel [Connecting]”

Hear dial-up internet connection sounds and then cut into pre-recorded voices...