This was a page that collided with ConsFlash0405En; so we're in the process of resolving it.
Flash video based on IE-DK dialogue at the Council Meeting of 18 May
This is a work area for people who may help make this video. We currently only have a script and a soundtrack; we need photographs and someone to make the flash video.
Photographs
If you know of any useful photographs that are redistributable, and could be incorporated in the video, please insert links right below this paragraph. We need a photograph of Bolkestein, of demos, of frowning politicians, of amendments, of MEPs, or whatever.
The script
Please note that I'm no director and no graphics artist. In scene 4 below I'm proposing certain tricks with fonts and colours, but until I really see it I don't know if it will look right. So feel free to change things if you think that I suck. Anyway, that's just a script; directors/implementers normally ignore/change whatever they like 
1
- We start in silence, and the text fades in.
One day, the European Commission made a proposal that concerned Europe's technological future.
- Fade out.
2
- The following three sentences fade in one after the other, one below the other. At the same time, a picture shows each time a sentence appears (maybe partially hiding the previous picture). Bolkestein for the first sentence, some other politician - ideas? - for the second, a demo picture (or a composite from demo + paperwork + amendments) for the third.
Some said it was nice.
Others claimed it would be catastrophic.
There was upheaval all around Europe.
- Fade out.
3
So the Council considered the issue very, very carefully,
discussed in great depth,
and made very, very thoughtful decisions.
- Fade out.
4
- The IE-DK dialogue from the council starts to play
(http://www.itia.ntua.gr/~anthony/tmp/soundtrack.ogg). The dialogue is also echoed on the screen. Initially, both Ireland and Denmark are in blue, and each part of the dialogue appears in fast fade-in (like the Windows Start menu :-).
Irish Chairman: Belgium: abstain.
And Denmark? Can I hear from Denmark please?
Denmark: I would really like to ask the commission why they couldn't accept the last sentence put forward by the Italians, which was in the original German proposal.
- Ireland's response is now not blue, but something between blue and red, still in normal typeface.
Ireland: I think the Commissioner already answered that question, I'm sorry Denmark. So are you "yes", "no", "abstain"?
- Denmark's still blue, but is now slightly smaller.
Denmark: I think we wouldn't, we're not hap...
- Ireland is now red, bold, and appears sharply, no fade-in at all. For the rest of the dialogue, Ireland always appears this way; Denmark remains blue fade-in, but each time it is smaller, until in her final phrase it is about half the size of Ireland.
Ireland: I assume you're a "yes".
Denmark: We're not happy.
Ireland: Are you 80% happy?
Denmark: But... I think we...
Ireland: We don't need you to be totally happy. None of us are totally happy.
Denmark: Oh, I know that, I know that.
Ireland: If we were, we wouldn't be here!
Denmark: I think we're not very happy, but I think we would, we would...
Ireland: Thank you very much.
Denmark: ... we would like to see a solution today.
Ireland: Thank you very much, Denmark.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm happy to say that we have a qualified majority, so thank you all very very much indeed, and thank you to commissioner Bolkestein.
5
Why was the Irish Chairman so eager to get Denmark's support?
6
- The following two sentences pop in order in black, which immediately fades out slowly to grey.
Get the facts.
Find the answers.
- After a short pause, the URL fades in. The colour is a difficult choice. Green's the obvious choice, but since the intended audience is someone who don't have a clue and who we try to make them click on the URL, and since the video so far has only presented a mystery, I'm afraid it might give the impression that we're simply some Greens with a vague cause. But this really depends on the country - for example, this might be risky in Greece, but not in that context.
