Work Text:
HARD CUT IN.
A wide-angle drone-filmed scenic shot of the city of OTTAWA shot on an FPV drone. The shot shows a beautiful view of the city architecture of OTTAWA with the river and the canal visible framed by the natural and cultivated landscaped surrounds of the city. There is a sweeping pan as the drone swings to the right and curves back to the left giving a stunning view of the scenery; the water, the buildings, the green spaces. Then, the camera begins to dart quickly forward, getting closer and closer to the centre of the city.
CUT to GEORGE STREET.
The camera view is still moving forward, this time along GEORGE STREET and across BYWARD MARKET PLAZA. The camera moves past pedestrians who walk up and down the sidewalk while cars pass by on the street. The view then begins to narrow in on the BEAVERTAILS PASTRY stand.
There is a large, athletic looking man at the counter of the pastry stand; he is tall and broad and has light brown curly hair. The camera zooms in to a stop just behind the man. The man turns around sharply, as though he has just noticed the camera is there. He is holding in his hand a ‘beaver tail’ pastry. The man is ILYA ROZANOV.
He looks straight at the camera.
ROZANOV: Hello, I am Ilya Rozanov. You should visit Ottawa.
CUT to PARLIAMENT HILL.
ROZANOV is standing in the middle of the central walk at PARLIAMENT HILL just ahead of the entrance steps to the PARLIAMENT BUILDING. The PARLIAMENT BUILDING can be seen almost in full behind him. There is nobody else around. The Canadian flag is fluttering proudly in the wind at the top of the Peace Tower spire.
ROZANOV: Do you like world-class architecture and-
The sound of pipes and drums have begun to play. From the entrance way of the PARLIAMENT BUILDING, the Ceremonial Guard begin to appear. The Guard march down the entrance steps and form two distinct, orderly lines as they march in-step on either side of ROZANOV. ROZANOV stands his ground in the centre, showing no particular reaction as the Ceremonial Guard and their Band pass him by.
ROZANOV: Men in uniform?
ROZANOV smirks at the camera like he’s just told an in-joke that you may or may not be in on.
ROZANOV: You should visit Ottawa.
The last of the Ceremonial Guards pass by. The last guard from the line to the left of ROZANOV stops and lowers his bayonet. He blinks twice at ROZANOV.
GUARD: Aren’t you Ilya Rozanov?
CUT to BYWARD MARKET.
The camera travels low along a walkway surrounded by tables. At the tables people are eating and chatting and generally enjoying themselves. The camera navigates between people walking through, who dodge to miss it or are narrowly passed by the camera as it moves forward. The camera slowly comes to rest over the shoulder of ROZANOV, who is seated at a table eating from a plate of delicious looking and well-presented food.
ROZANOV stands up from his seat and begins moving through the crowd. He looks back over his shoulder to address the camera.
ROZANOV: Want to eat good food and explore one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets?
ROZANOV tilts his head meaningfully to the side, motioning toward the shopfronts and restaurants that surround him. As he is walking by, a couple notice him and start whispering to and nudging each other.
ROZANOV: You should visit Ottawa.
CUT to the NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA.
ROZANOV is standing in a large room surrounded by paintings. He has a museum guidebook in his hand which is fanned open somewhere near the middle. He looks up from reading the guidebook to speak to the camera.
ROZANOV: Think museums are boring?
His face flattens immediately into a forbidding and unamused look, probably best described as a Slavic Death Stare. He slams the guide closed in his hand.
ROZANOV: I don’t.
ROZANOV begins moving forward toward the camera, which backs up as he approaches it, showing more of the works of art they are passing.
ROZANOV: Ottawa is home to seven national museums. You should come visit them.
CUT to GATINEAU PARK.
ROZANOV is standing surrounded by beautiful tall trees in scenic surrounds. There is a large body of water behind him which is glimmering in the sunlight and looks very peaceful. ROZANOV himself is standing slightly side-on to the camera, with his hands on his hips. His bicep with his tattoo of a common loon is centre of the frame as he looks over his shoulder at the camera.
ROZANOV: Do you love nature and-
He is interrupted by the sudden low wail of a loon out on the lake. ROZANOV whips his head around toward the noise.
ROZANOV: нет.
ROZANOV walks off, hands raised in a gesture of surrender, as though he is about to be attacked. He never finishes whatever he was going to say about nature in Ottawa.
CUT to the OTTAWA RIVER.
Another drone shot, this time the drone flies along the OTTAWA RIVER appearing to skim close to the water. The camera passes close by a group of people white-water rafting on the river; a splash from the back of a raft rises up close to the camera shot as it zooms by. The speed of the camera's movement then increases as it quickly shoots through into a quieter section of the river. The drone weaves through between the paddles of kayakers.
Beyond the kayaks, the camera approaches a boat floating along the river. As the camera circles the boat, people can be seen in the background of the shot on the riverside walking along trails. The camera slowly rises toward the deck of the boat, until ROZANOV can be seen leaning comfortably against the railing and looking out at the scenery passing by. His hair is being tousled by the wind.
ROZANOV: Prefer outdoor activities like navigating a river or hiking beautiful trails? You should visit Ottawa.
ROZANOV pauses. He holds a hand out, palm up. From off-camera a pair of binoculars appear and are placed decisively into his open palm. ROZANOV brings the binoculars to his eyes.
ROZANOV: Ah, I can see my house from here.
CUT to the RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY.
The camera is moving backward gently as skaters on the frozen canal are moving toward it. The two skaters central to the shot are suddenly jostled. ROZANOV appears between them and lightly hip checks the two of them out of his way to get in view of the shot. Both of the displaced skaters are wearing OTTAWA CENTAURS jerseys with the number 81 on the sleeve; they gape at ROZANOV as he addresses the camera.
ROZANOV: Like to be on the ice? You should visit Ottawa.
The camera angle pans out quickly as ROZANOV very smoothly picks up his pace on his skates. The angle swings around and lifts up to follow along behind him as he powers along the skateway now moving at full speed. The shot hovers on a birds-eye view of ROZANOV quickly putting a huge gap between himself and the other skaters along the canal.
ROZANOV changes direction sharply with a spray of ice as the camera zooms back in and down quickly. He is now skating backwards as the camera follows him.
ROZANOV: Where else can you skate through a World Heritage Site on the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink?
CUT to CENTRE ICE at THE CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE.
A puck flies at dizzying speed along the ice toward the camera until it is trapped at the very last moment by a hockey stick. The camera pans upward until it can be seen that the stick that stopped the puck is being held by SHANE HOLLANDER. HOLLANDER is positioned beside the half boards with a very focused look on his face as he shifts the puck along the blade of his stick.
ROZANOV emerges from the tunnel and hops over to walk on the bench side of the boards.
ROZANOV: Single? You should visit Ottawa.
ROZANOV sidles up to the edge of the boards alongside HOLLANDER. ROZANOV leans over and kisses HOLLANDER. He grins.
ROZANOV: No promises, but you might find the love of your life.
CUT to outside the ENTRANCE of THE CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE.
ROZANOV: Oh...
ROZANOV stops and points up at the hideous OTTAWA CENTUARS logo adorning the entrance to the arena.
ROZANOV: There’s great hockey, too.
He walks forward three paces and crouches down to pick something up. It is the STANLEY CUP. ROZANOV hoists the STANLEY CUP up into his arms like he is a proud father and it is his baby. He winks at the camera.
ROZANOV: I'm Ilya Rozanov. You really should visit Ottawa.
ROZANOV, still cradling the STANLEY CUP, turns around and walks back toward the entrance doors to the CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE. The camera stays on him for a moment as he walks. And then begins to FADE OUT.