I'm working up a script for a short (maybe five minute) animation I'm going to be producing. Working title is The Glorious One. It takes place at this bizarre event that appears to be some sort of political rally, or possibly a religious cult gathering.

We wander about the grounds and witness interactions between members of the crowd - all of whom are ridiculously gullible - and scammers who've set up tables or are operating out of car trunks. These guys aren't very sophisticated - their scams are hilariously amateurish but the gullible crowd still falls for them. Sample: One guy is selling a device that allows you to make money by breeding starfish. He demonstrates that if you pull off a starfish's leg it grows a new leg - and the leg grows a new starfish - so imagine what happens when you put a starfish into the starfish incubator (which is a blender!)

So work your magic...what crazy ideas can you come up with for more scammers and the sleazy but klunky scams they're trying to pull off?

Hmmm, what a wacky scene - a political rally with a religious cult vibe with gullible people falling for scams. Sorry , that’s too far out there to be believable. The only over the top suggestion I might have for an outlandish scam to fit this scenario would be a shady politician hawking gold tennis shoes and bibles. LOL, I couldn’t resist. I’ll see myself out.  

Haha, Kathy.   I concur. In these political times fact has become way stranger than fiction.

What about the 'ULTIMATE Covid Kit', bargain at just $100, contains a high-powered flashlight and some bleach?

I also asked ChatGPT for you... there's a couple that I've definitely heard/seen similar of before, i.e. have been real scams.

Absolutely, here are ten politically themed, hilariously amateurish scams for your animation, "The Glorious One":

1. **Patriot Shield**:
   - **Scammer**: A guy with a bunch of tinfoil hats and vests.
   - **Pitch**: "Protect yourself from government mind control and surveillance with our Patriot Shield gear! Guaranteed to block all government signals!"
   - **Reality**: It's just regular tinfoil hats and vests made from aluminum foil.

2. **Constitutional Coin**:
   - **Scammer**: A woman with a suitcase full of shiny coins.
   - **Pitch**: "This coin, made from 100% freedom metal, protects your rights under the Constitution. Carry it with you to avoid unlawful searches and seizures!"
   - **Reality**: It's a regular coin with a sticker of the Constitution on it.

3. **Freedom Air**:
   - **Scammer**: A man selling cans of "Freedom Air."
   - **Pitch**: "Breathe the pure air of liberty! Each can is filled with 100% American freedom, collected from the heart of our nation!"
   - **Reality**: It's just empty soda cans with patriotic labels.

4. **Liberty Juice**:
   - **Scammer**: A guy with a cooler full of bottles labeled "Liberty Juice."
   - **Pitch**: "This special juice boosts your patriotism and energizes you to stand up for your rights! Made with the essence of freedom!"
   - **Reality**: It's colored water with a fancy label.

5. **Election Insurance**:
   - **Scammer**: A woman with fake insurance documents.
   - **Pitch**: "Worried about your vote not counting? Buy Election Insurance and guarantee your vote will be counted in the next election!"
   - **Reality**: It's just a worthless piece of paper with official-looking seals.

6. **Political Influence Detector**:
   - **Scammer**: A man with a device that looks like a remote control.
   - **Pitch**: "Find out if your neighbors are influenced by foreign powers with this state-of-the-art detector. Protect your community from foreign interference!"
   - **Reality**: It's a TV remote with a fake antenna attached.

7. **Super PAC Pack**:
   - **Scammer**: A woman with a bag full of generic office supplies.
   - **Pitch**: "Create your own Super PAC with this easy-to-use kit! Includes everything you need to start influencing elections today!"
   - **Reality**: It's a collection of pens, papers, and a “How to Start a Super PAC” booklet she printed at home.

8. **Patriot Energy Drink**:
   - **Scammer**: A man handing out energy drinks.
   - **Pitch**: "Boost your patriotism and energy with our Patriot Energy Drink! Packed with freedom and vitamins!"
   - **Reality**: It's a regular energy drink with a patriotic label slapped on it.

9. **Freedom Firewall**:
   - **Scammer**: A woman selling USB sticks.
   - **Pitch**: "Protect your computer from government spying with our Freedom Firewall! Just plug it in and you're safe from all government intrusions!"
   - **Reality**: It's an empty USB stick with a red, white, and blue sticker.

10. **Conspiracy Neutralizer**:
    - **Scammer**: A guy with a spray bottle.
    - **Pitch**: "Neutralize any conspiracy theories in your home with this powerful spray! Spray it around your house and instantly clear the air of falsehoods and lies!"
    - **Reality**: It's just a bottle of water with a homemade label.

Anthony, those are all brilliantly hilarious!  I have an idea!  Since it’s election year in the U. S., maybe we could do an OWC where each writer picks one of these scams as the subject of a short. I can only imagine what the creative minds around here could come up with! It would definitely be entertaining.  

Quoted from kcranford Hmmm, what a wacky scene - a political rally with a religious cult vibe with gullible people falling for scams. Sorry , that’s too far out there to be believable. The only over the top suggestion I might have for an outlandish scam to fit this scenario would be a shady politician hawking gold tennis shoes and bibles. LOL, I couldn’t resist. I’ll see myself out.

Haha...yes, a certain politician's events were partly the inspiration for this idea. But I don't want this to be just a thinly veilled MAGA rally. Yes, there's a political satire element churning below the surface, but I want the scope to be more broad...it pokes fun at ALL the ripoffs artists that assault us on a daily basis - politicians, religious cults, phone and online scammers, people selling worthless products - etc.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood What about the 'ULTIMATE Covid Kit', bargain at just $100, contains a high-powered flashlight and some bleach?

Yeah, that could be funny...especially if the guy is going into contortions demonstrating how you get that into the body! Though again, that gets a litle too close to the ex-pres...I'm trying to avoid a direct reference to any one person and keep things broad.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood I also asked ChatGPT for you... there's a couple that I've definitely heard/seen similar of before, i.e. have been real scams.

I also tried mining CatGPT for ideas. It's a very cool technology...it's amazing that it understands the premise and comes up with ideas accordingly. But it hasn't yet come up with anything I can use. It has a sense of humor, it's just not MY sense of humor. The world still needs us human screenwriters (for the time being, anyway!) BTW, there actually IS such a thing as Freedom 2 O - it's highly overpriced bottled water that claims to "hydrate the spirit of freedom loving Americans across the country one bottle at a time"

@Kathy - great idea, though the reality of watching some of the 'voters' interviewed on YT and TikTok is wildly entertaining already

How about some guy who failed to break into the movie business through talent instead decides to scam millions from the multitude of other desperate hopefuls by charging them big money for coverage, while paying his teenage family members and their friends pennies to write it?

     

Hi Mick,
"The Glorious one" to me is the one invention that does everything. ACME Co on steroids. All things to all people, only (for dramatic effect) it has its limitations. It pokes fun at life and all the constructs punters think they want (but don't need)
It's a mirror to the political, marketing and disfunctional excesses accepted in society which you don't need to make up!
There's none stranger than folk.
All best - JtF

Quoted from Stoneyscripts If there is anyone who’d like to collaborate with me on the Body Snatchers screenplay please let me know immediately. I am looking for someone open minded and gutsy to really bring this script to its full potential. If you’re into sci-fi horror with a touch of action and humour let me know if you’d be interested. The script is up for you to read. You’ll see where I want to expand the narrative and plot lines. John Stone

Is this legit? You should start your own thread for this specifically, John, with Body Snatchers in the title and provide a link.