Screenwriter new to the Forum with a question

[Alex25]

Hello all,

My name is Alex and I am currently working on a film project that takes place on a trawler. I had a question that I was hoping someone on this forum could assist me with. Thank you in advance for your help and sorry for my ignorance!

I'm trying to devise a way for my characters to purposely cause an accident on the trawler-- resulting in a cable or net snapping. Is there anything that could be done, possibly to the winch or the cables/nets themsevles, that would cause an accident without being overtly suspicious? Would love any suggestions. Thanks again!

[GregBrannon]

You're talking about a fishing trawler, actively fishing? I'm not a fisherman so can't answer your question, but there are others here who may be or have been. Most of us have recreational boats, not fishing boats.


And welcome, though I suspect your presence will be brief and participation nil.


Greg.

[Alex25]

Hi Greg,

Thank you for the quick reply. Yes, I am talking about a fishing boat that is actively fishing. I appreciate you letting me join and will try and participate as much as possible.

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Welcome aboard (if only temporarily). Is this "trawler" a commercial vessel? 99.9% of the boats owned and discussed on this site are "trawlers" in name only.


That being said, there ARE members who have worked on commercial vessels and might advise.


I say might because in this modern, over litigious world one could be charged with aiding and abetting. I would suggest you head over to the local commercial docks and buy some trawlermen a beer.

[Alex25]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. Yes, this trawler would be a commercial vehicle. And great idea on the beer! If there is anyone on the forum who has worked on a commercial vehicle and would be able to help me out, I would be more than willing to buy or send you enough beer to make it worth your while. Thank you!

[KnotYet]

Alex25, I would drive to San Pedro and cruise the area where the commercial boats
are docked next to Ports o' Call Village.
You can see them up close and depending on your people skills engage a fisherman in
some convo.
Grab lunch at Utro's if you get hungry!

[Alex25]

Great Idea! Thank you!

[KnotYet]

You're welcome.
Keep me in mind when you hire a special FX guy!

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. A25. Break a leg...

[Alex25]

Will do! Thank you!

[Lou_tribal]

I have a better idea, what about a trawler that catch a dead body in the net but that is not really very dead and come back to life as captain zombie nemo and eat the crew? What a staggering movie it would be! Lol

L

[healhustler]

On a large commercial trawler, I suppose purposely reversing while trawling the net may be a believable but sinister tactic of cutting or at least causing great damage to the net as it would tend to get caught in the propellors. If the net did not cut clean of the propellors (which would likely be the case) the net would wrap around the shafts and perhaps the rudder as well, bindIng them so they could not rotate, shutting down power and maneuverability. Unless you catch it in time, it would be major damage.

In line with the idea of a sinister purpose, a believable cable snap could come from the mast Or rigging cable stays letting go when attempting to force the boat beneath a bridge with insufficient clearance for the mast and rigging equipment of the trawler. Another believable situation would be when taking another trawler in tow, especially in tumultuous seas, the tow cable with snap.

[MYTraveler]

Originally Posted by Alex25

Hello all,

My name is Alex and I am currently working on a film project that takes place on a trawler. I had a question that I was hoping someone on this forum could assist me with. Thank you in advance for your help and sorry for my ignorance!

I'm trying to devise a way for my characters to purposely cause an accident on the trawler-- resulting in a cable or net snapping. Is there anything that could be done, possibly to the winch or the cables/nets themsevles, that would cause an accident without being overtly suspicious? Would love any suggestions. Thanks again!

There are all sorts of things that can go wrong, with all sorts of consequences. Perhaps you could have a crane cable break and gear come crashing down either smushing someone or narrowly missing them. Is your objective to create an accident that is not clearly the result of sabotage? Do you want to put one of the characters in the position of saving the day in the nick of time? Do you want to show the act of sabotage to the audience to built tension as they wait for disaster? Or are you going to keep the audience in the dark? Why do you need the accident in the first place? Is there a victim? Does he/she need to loose consciousness? Linger? Be lost overboard and maybe be dead or someone survive but no one on board knows? Some more specificity about the parameters of the accident would help to get our collective creative juices flowing.

[menzies]

The things you read on this forum!

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. MY. Wonderful questions. The ONLY people who I can see playing the leading rolls are Tom Mix and Margaret Rutherford.

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by RT Firefly

Greetings,
Mr. MY. Wonderful questions. The ONLY people who I can see playing the leading rolls are Tom Mix and Margaret Rutherford.

But which is which?
To the OP, fishing trawlers have been known to snag a net on some object on the sea floor with disastrous consequences and or loss of net. There are whole TV series about fishing trawlers getting in all sorts of strife especially in bad weather, an English one was the eponymous "Trawlermen", but there have been others, a veritable chamber of trawler horrors to investigate.

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BK. WHAT? You fail to recognize DAME Margaret Rutherford?

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by RT Firefly

Greetings,
Mr. BK. WHAT? You fail to recognize DAME Margaret Rutherford?

Now that looks less like "Her Maj" and more like Gerry Connolly, actor and accomplished "Queen" impersonator.
https://www.3aw.com.au/aussie-comedi...ns-got-talent/

[Benthic2]

If the sabateur was at the helm, he could intentionally go over a wreck so the net catches on the sunken ship ? You'd have to ask a real fisherman though if there is an intentional weak point like a shear pin in the rigging that would give way before you tore the crane off the boat. If the calamity doesn't have to involve the net, there are lots of ways to sink a boat from disconnecting a bilge pump or losening the right hose.

[Dougcole]

Originally Posted by BruceK

But which is which?
To the OP, fishing trawlers have been known to snag a net on some object on the sea floor with disastrous consequences and or loss of net. There are whole TV series about fishing trawlers getting in all sorts of strife especially in bad weather, an English one was the eponymous "Trawlermen", but there have been others, a veritable chamber of trawler horrors to investigate.

This.


I spent a few winter breaks shrimping in Fort Myers, on a small boat. We hung a net one night in a following sea and took green water into the cockpit. Probably the most scared I've ever been on a boat. Lots of chaos resulted, would have been a good time to push another crew member overboard without anyone noticing, if one were so inclined.