return to articles
Opening Format for Highway Patrol
from ZIV Television Programs



SERIES NUMBER ELEVEN #1B

by

Stuart Jerome

Final 4/5/55

1-4 TENTATIVE OPENING FORMAT 1-4

FADE IN:

5 TRAVEL SHOT - ALONG OPEN HIGHWAY 5

SHOOTING THRU A WINDSHIELD or from the front of a CAMERA CAR (showing no part of the car). MUSIC: STACCATO PORTION OF THEME. Speed of the car to be consistent with the tempo of the THEME. CAMERA sees a straight run down this highway gradually approaching a curve, We see a curve and just a little around the curve, and as far as we can see, the highway is entirely open. At this spot, SUPERIMPOSE TITLE anticipated for 'Sponsor presents'. As this FADES OUT, a second SUPERIMPOSURE : "BRODERICK CRAWFORD"

As the car goes into the curve we have our third SUPERIMPOSURE reading: "Starring In", at which point the car is now around the curve and about fifty yards away we see an impressive roadblock. Probably two parked patrol cars with some sort of a barricade, perhaps a motorcycle. Three uniformed men are in front of the barricade, The man in the middle has one hand outstretched to halt the approaching CAMERA CAR, The other two men are each off to one side of them standing ready with sub-machineguns pointed at the CAMERA CAR.

As we MOVE IN on this scene, we have the next SUPERIMPOSURE: "Officer of the State". At this point, the THEME reaches a CLIMAX and then goes into MELODY. As it is blended down, the NARRATOR'S VOICE COMES IN and covers the next group of scenes with:

VOICE OVER

Whenever the laws of any state are broken, or when the welfare of its citizens is endangered, each state has a duly authorized organization that swings into action. It may be called the State Militia or the State Police or the Highway Patrol. It is to these organizations, by whatever name they may be called, and wherever they may be found, that this program pays tribute.



5 CONTINUED: 5

VOICE OVER

(continuing)

These are the stories of the men whose training, skill and courage have enforced and preserved our State laws. These are the men whose highest ranking officers often came up through the ranks and continued to receive outstanding respect and loyalty from their men because they do their commanding from the scene of action.

CUT TO:

INT. LARGE OPERATIONS ROOM

6 SHOT - ROOM 6

complete with all equipment, communications, maps, teletype, etc. CAMERA PANS room, picks up teletype operator and MOVES IN on operating teletype machine, CAMERA MOVES IN on an ANGLE so as to indicate simply that the machine is in operation and not to attempt to read the message. Machine stops, girl tears off message in duplicate, and gives both copies to a Clerk. Clerk is in motion almost at the time the message is in his hands. He takes one copy direct to a microphone operator who immediately and silently starts broadcasting.

7 ANOTHER ANGLE 7

The Clerk continues on toward map area. On the way to the maps he is intercepted in motion by what is apparently an Officer -- his back to CAMERA. Clerk hands him the message as they continue to walk toward the map. Officer moves one indicator on the map to a given point and then indicates in pantomime with his hand to the Clerk how to move other indicators to converge toward a given area and makes a hurried exit thru the exterior door. Perhaps as we see the exterior door open, we then also see a Patrol Car parked at the curb.

CUT TO:

8 SHOT PATROL CAR 8

speeding away from this area.

RAPID CUT TO:





9 SHOT- PATROL CAR 9

speeding down the highway.

CUT TO:

10 SHOT - PATROL CAR 10

speeding around curve and making a clean CAMERA exit over the b.g. thru which the patrol car has just passed, we place the ZIV SUPERIMPOSURE. At this point, the VOICE OVER should be completed. However, the THEME is not quite finished.

We now come in with a CREDIT CARD stating:

"WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, THRU WHOSE COOPERATION THE AUTHENTIC PRODUCTION OF THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE."

(The above copy iS tentative and has yet to be decided upon and checked.)

The THEME is now UP and OUT and we

FADE OUT:

(OPENING COMMERCIAL)