Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. As a celebration of spontaneous inspiration and creativity, Adobe Creative Cloud, in collaboration with the creative agency, launched a nationwide competition for college students to create a movie poster for a film that had yet to be created – until now. The winning poster was selected out of more than 1,100 submissions, and inspired In The Time It Takes To Get There, a short film created by the director. It features elements of the winning #MoviePosterMovie poster and stars some of Hollywood’s most recognizable talent. Humorous, quirky and imaginative, the film is a celebration of individual creativity and a unique approach to branded content that puts the consumer in control.

The director was inspired by the social media Influencers who are so prevalent in today’s culture and are the new “royalty” of the Millennial generation. The winning Adobe #MoviePosterMovie poster from student Sam West – most notably the candle in the poster – reminded him of the Frye Festival documentary he’d just watched and led him to the late 19th Century. He thought, “What would the morning of an Instagram star be like in 1865?” He thought that the industry of “social media Influencers” was ripe for satire, and secured Frye Festival ‘celeb’ Andy King to be part of his cast with a DM on Instagram.

IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THERE

3/3/19 Adobe

1 EXT. RIDICULOUSLY ENORMOUS CASTLE - MORNING 1

A PAIR OF PUFFY WHITE CLOUDS PART as our CAMERA SOARS through the air towards a cartoonishly large castle as though its lens is pasted to the taint of a loyal falcon returning home from service. WE SWOOP into a high window, over the sill, past the curtains and directly in TIGHT to the SNORING face of LUCILLE (20).

2 INT. CASTLE BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

A ROOSTER CROWS. Palatial doors to the bedroom open and the CAMERA SWOOPS IN and UP to reveal ELIZA, Lucille’s dutiful and beautiful minder, standing with TWO MAIDS behind her carrying trays of opulent breakfast.

ELIZA

Lucille are you kidding me?! How could you possibly sleep through your alarm again?!

Lucy groggily opens her eyes and looks to her right with a squint. A ROOSTER is perched atop her bedside table. Lucy looks miserable and sullen and definitely hungover.

LUCY

No. Not today. Pleeeeeease. Just let me have one day alone. I’m tired.

She pulls the covers up over her head to reveal a HANDSOME NAKED YOUNG MAN asleep at the bottom of her bed. He jolts awake and stares wide-eyed at Eliza.

ELIZA

Who the hell are you?

MAN LUCY

I work in the kitchen. He works in the kitchen.

ELIZA

Well don’t you think you should probably head back to the kitchen then?

MAN Yes Ma’am.

He scurries out of bed and runs off covering his bits. All the women watch him go. Eliza turns back to Lucy and shakes her head.

LUCY

Oh don’t look at me like that, he brought me cake when I was lonesome. I love cake.

ELIZA

Lucy we cannot go through this every single morning. You are required to post. Posting is what pays for this house and this staff and every other little thing in, around and about it; from the teddy- bear-shaped topiaries right down to the naked sous-chefs that spoon you while you sleep.

LUCY (miserable)

Ugh! What is it today? Eliza checks her notepad.

ELIZA

Today it’s “Hair Tonic.” They’d

like a picture of you holding their product, looking joyous amidst flowers on an ocean cliff. The caption is “Blessed Lifestyle.”

LUCY

What you mean that pink stuff? Ugh, but it makes me itch.

ELIZA

Well today you love it. May I please begin the dance?

LUCY Fine.

Eliza grabs an APPLE from one of the maid’s trays.

ELIZA

Here, have some breakfast.

She tosses her the apple and Lucy takes a disgruntled bite.

Eliza CLAPS HER HANDS and THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF A DAILY RITUAL BEGINS. Doors are flung open and a UNIFORMED STAFF of over a dozen people come WALTZING into the room to the rhythm of the MUSIC. Curtains are flung open, clothing racks, wig heads, food carts and make-up people all glide in.

In a moments time, the dark and sullen cavern has become a decadent cornucopia of hedonistic luxury and saturated excess. There is COLOR and glistening jewelry and baubles and... why are there so many different types of cheese?

Eliza conducts the staff as they swirl and primp Lucy who remains completely and utterly over it. After a FEW DISSOLVES Lucy is magically transformed. She lies on a chaise eating a cupcake as a maid puts on her shoes.

ELIZA (CONT’D)

Can you please smile? You look like death and we’re selling life.

LUCY

But I feel like death, why can’t we sell that?

ELIZA Because death is free.

LUCY

Can you just please shut the fuck up for like two seconds?!

The CAMERA WHIP-PANS to REVEAL the MUSIC has all been being played live by a TRIO OF MUSICIANS in the corner. They nod and obediently scurry off. Lucy shakes her head.

3 OMITTED

4 EXT. CASTLE - CONTINUOUS

Lucy, Eliza and a GAGGLE OF STAFF walk briskly towards a STAGECOACH bridled to a TEAM OF HORSES. A MERCHANT approaches them.

ELIZA * (to Lucy) * Merchants. Smile, please. Like a conductor, she gestures with her hands the shape of a smile to Lucy.

MERCHANT 1 Lucy, you look very beautiful today. Would you please consider posting about our new lip gloss, it’s distilled from actual baby- rhino tears.

ELIZA No, thank you.

Eliza pushes past him. A SECOND MERCHANT approaches holding a LARGE LETTER “T” MADE OUT OF bundled SAGE. It’s smoking.

MERCHANT 2 Lucy, please; just a moment of your time... This tea is guaranteed to help you lose weight. I swear by it.

(switching to a monotone/fast voice) Side effects may include dry mouth, diarrhea, dizziness, achey limbs, severe bloating, and homicidal thoughts.

ELIZA I’m so sorry, we’re running late.

Eliza pushes past him. * A handsome Grey Haired THIRD MERCHANT blocks them just before the carriage door. He’s holding a LIT CANDLE.

MERCHANT 3 (innuendo) Lucy, I would do whatever it takes for you to consider posting about * our annual “Festival of Fire.”

Lucy and Eliza wince.

ELIZA I have no idea what that is.

As Eliza goes to board the CARRIAGE, Lucy slides him her card. Once aboard, Eliza turns back to the Merchants:

ELIZA (CONT’D)

All of you, out! This is not the place for this! Please slide into our DM’s.

She slams the carriage door. WE PUSH IN FAST ON THE COACHMEN.

Hya!

COACHMEN

He gives the horses’ bums a WHACK of his WHIP and they’re away.

5 EXT. CARRIAGE - MOMENTS LATER

The Carriage RACES down a beautiful lane.

6 INT. CARRIAGE - CONTINUOUS

Eliza sits across from Lucy. She pulls out a PENCIL and NOTEPAD. Lucy stares out the window.

LUCY

I’m so tired of doing this day after day.

ELIZA

You can stop at anytime, Lucy. You would have to say goodbye to the countless little comforts you’ve come to enjoy like your precious little hand-holder.

THE CAMERA PANS TO REVEAL a LITTLE PERSON who is sitting next

to Lucy holding her hand. He furiously shakes his head “No.” Lucy turns back to Eliza and shakes her head “No” in the same way.

ELIZA (CONT’D)

Alright. What will today’s caption be attached to the post?

LUCY

(staring out the window)

You know that boy last night... He told me the sun is a star.

ELIZA

Yes and you are a star as well.

Ready to jot down that post whenever you are.

She dabs the pencil tip on her tongue and rests it on the

pad. Over the following she dutifully notates it all and never looks up:

LUCY

And that stars burnout. Without the warmth of the sun’s light all living things on Earth will eventually freeze and die. I love being appreciated. And I’m so grateful to be blessed with this lifestyle, but it’s an imagined reality, Eliza; an ultimately deceitful transaction is it not?

LUCY (CONT'D)

Gold for lies. Silver for smiles.

To what end?

(turning to Eliza)

If the only way to keep this horrible pantomime afloat is to continue hocking Hair Tonic that make me itch and... baby-rhino-tear lip gloss, I do feel quite confident I’d rather stop. I’d rather be penniless and have the heart of a single soul that loved me honestly than have a hundred million followers that merely love the false reflection of a dying star bouncing off my painted lips.

Eliza finishes writing that all down with a flourish.

ELIZA

... “painted lips.” Well said as always, darling. Now just give me a moment.

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a large pair of SCISSORS. She begins to surgically CUT AROUND all of Lucy’s words while she HUMS. This is clearly a daily ritual. Lucy rolls her eyes and looks back out the window. When Eliza’s finished, she holds up what’s left of the piece of paper. It looks like the blocks of a losing game of Tetris.

It reads: “Hair Tonic. Blessed Lifestyle.”

ELIZA (CONT’D)

The coach arrives at a majestic vista on the endless estate.

7 EXT. MAJESTIC VISTA - CONTINUOUS 7

As Eliza and Lucy exit the coach the CAMERA CRANES HIGH to REVEAL a beautiful view and a period-appropriate PHOTO-SHOOT CREW awaiting their arrival.

Perfect.

ELIZA Good morning everyone, lets get right to it please. We’re running behind.

(to a Maid) Violet, please take Lucy to her position.

Violet escorts Lucy to her place in a luscious tableau. Set- pieces carried by crew members seems to coalesce all around

her.

THE HAIR TONIC MERCHANT who’s been leaning on his HAND- PAINTED SALES CART rushes over with his ELIXIR and a VELVET BAG FILLED WITH COINS.

HAIR TONIC MERCHANT Good morning, Eliza. Lucy’s hair looks phenomenal as always. Here’s the tonic. And here’s the payment.

He hands them both to Eliza.

ELIZA Thank you, Mr. Pinkerton. Your “Hair Tonic” is an essential part of Lucy’s daily beauty regiment.

The PHOTOGRAPHER unravels along CORD CONNECTED TO THE CAMERA with a RUBBER BULB at its end and bring it over to LUCY. Eliza crosses to Lucy, who’s now sitting in a large Egyptian Throne, and hands her the Hair Tonic.

Several WORKERS put the set together around Lucy. The final step is lifting a LARGE GOLDEN PICTURE FRAME (the same shape as an INSTAGRAM FRAME) up from the ground until it lines up perfectly framing the tableau. A Worker drops a small plague into the bottom of the frame; it reads “Hair Tonic. Blessed Lifestyle.”

ELIZA (CONT’D) All right Lucy, it’s time.

Lucy still looks miserable.

Lucy...

ELIZA (CONT’D)

Eliza orchestrates her smile again. Lucy rolls her eyes and turns on the most radiant LOOK. It’s hopeful and excited and fulfilled and it makes you want to have her friends and her

life and her contentment. The CAMERA PUSHES IN ON HER GORGEOUS FACE.

LUCY

(a seductive whisper)

Selfie.

SHE SQUEEZES THE PHOTOGRAPHERS BALL and the VICTORIAN FLASH TRAYS FLASH. “FABOOOSH.”

8 EXT. POOR PART OF TOWN - LATER

Instantly, the CREW begins dismantling the set around Lucy. Today’s work is done. Lucy feels used once more.She saunters to an empty part of the lawn and plops down on the ground. She itches her nose. That fucking tonic.

ELIZA

Good work, everyone! Bring me the Owler! The OWLER STRIDES OVER in SLOW MOTION with an OWL on her arm.

ELIZA (CONT’D)

Owler, I need this owl to fly faster than he’s ever flown.

OWLER (re: Owl) Tell him not me.

ELIZA (to Owl) Owl, we’re running late and In The Time It Takes To Get There by horse we’ll have missed the window of optimal posting time.

The Cameraman hands Eliza the negative which she places in a LEATHER POUCH. The Owler attaches the pouch to the bird’s legs and he takes off to the sky. THE CAMERA CRANES UP HIGH AS THE OWL FLIES OVER THE LENS.

WE BOOM DOWN on the polar-opposite side of town. An OLD GRUFF MAN standing in mud hammers a POSTER to and ACTUAL POST. The Poster is the picture of Lucy smiling with the words “Hair Tonic. Blessed Lifestyle” beneath it.

Two POOR YOUNG GIRLS with greasy hair and dirty clothes stare up at the POST with wide-eyed awe.

Like.

Like.

LITTLE GIRL ONE

LITTLE GIRL TWO

The frame of the two girls CHANGES to appear like it’s being watched on a MODERN DAY COMPUTER MONITOR.

DISSOLVE TO:

9 INT. HAIR TONIC CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - DAY

Blue Rev. (mm/dd/yy)

THE CAMERA DOLLIES BACK AND AROUND to REVEAL WE are in the office of the PRESIDENT of Hair Tonic. (It’s the same actor as the Hair Tonic Merchant from the cliff.)He’s just watched the same short film we have. He’s smiling ear to ear.

He picks up his YELLOW PHONE HANDSET. PRESIDENT OF COMPANY

I love it. Tell them to post it.

He slams the phone down.

* BLACK. *