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Abilene |
A free-spirited and cynical young woman seeks redemption from a recent tragedy by confronting her three biggest fears—a new romantic interest, her mother, and herself. |
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The Domain |
In the not-too-distant future, a young intern discovers a government conspiracy regarding a worldwide epidemic, and must race against time to find a cure, inform the public, and protect his wife and unborn child from a sadistic and omnipresent government security organization. |
The Has-Beens
(just completed)
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A man hopes to define his legacy by risking his marriage and life savings on the outcome of his softball team's game against an arch rival — a team they have never beaten. |
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Reply All |
A government film archivist finds himself a hunted man after inadvertently disclosing the existence of a highly sensitive film. |
Mercury Sun Valley
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A man buys a broken-down car and must contend with an eccentric antique car dealer in order to drive the car to an important holiday dinner and keep his marriage and estranged family from falling apart. |
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The Passage |
A young boy travels back in time where he must come to terms with his family's Italian heritage and great-grandfather's traumatic adolescence. |
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Common Walls |
A man is tormented by and obsessed with the late-night noise in his apartment building—and becomes convinced that he has accidentally eavesdropped on a murder committed by one of his neighbors. |
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Italian Waltz |
An overworked American hotel manager reluctantly agrees to transport his father's remains to the family's ancestral Italian village with his estranged wife and son—where the clash of cultures, unexpected revelations, and self-discovery has both a comic and profound effect on the entire family. |
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Gypsy Soul |
A man's scheme to spice up his marriage with a menage a trois goes awry, when his wife begins to re-examine her sexuality and loss of purpose in life, and becomes obsessed with a most unusual woman. |
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The Deer (short) |
A young man ruminates over the major milestones in his life that occurred with his father. Through it all, he can't seem to shake the haunting and recurring image of a mysterious and majestic deer. |
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Format
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Original Screenplay (111 pp.)
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Genre
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Drama
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A free-spirited and cynical young woman seeks redemption from a recent tragedy by confronting her three biggest fears — a new romantic interest, her mother, and herself.
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Synopsis
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Abilene is simply trying to “get her shit together” — and face her greatest fear: Drive over the same bridge where six months earlier she drove into a lake, killing her 4 year-old daughter Zoe. Eric is a newcomer to town who’s being groomed to take over his uncle’s statuary business. Eric discovers Abilene’s talent as a Web developer and makes her an offer regarding her daughter’s unpaid and unfinished headstone: Build a new Web site for his uncle’s business. In exchange, Eric will make her a headstone.
Abilene views the project as a potential stepping-stone and a chance to start over again. Despite her mother’s disapproval, Abilene develops both a working and burgeoning personal relationship with Eric, though pulling forces conspire against them. However, an unexpected revelation results in: Abilene confronting her mother and revealing the truth about the car accident that nobody else knows, Eric and Abilene reconciling their relationship, and Abilene facing her greatest fear — the bridge over the lake.
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Remarks
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Character-driven narrative that is dramatic with occasional comic relief — humor that is slightly irreverent and sardonic, befitting the main protagonist of Abilene. The story is similar in tone and motif to Ordinary People, though perhaps viewed through the prism of a different milieu and time period. It has an independent aesthetic and alternative spirit.
Finalist—2006 Nicholl Fellowships
Finalist—FilmMakers International Screenwriting Awards
Finalist—Moondance International Film Festival
Runnerup—Washington State Screenwriting Competition
Quarterfinalist—AAA - Creative Screenwriting
Quarterfinalist—Cynosure Screenwriting Awards
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Elements
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Similar in tone to films like You Can Count on Me, Nobody’s Fool, and Good Will Hunting. Think Ordinary People — with a bit of attitude and humor.
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More
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One-page synopsis.
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Format
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Original Screenplay (115 pp.)
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Genre
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Science Fiction
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A young intern discovers a government conspiracy regarding a worldwide epidemic, and must race against time to find a cure, inform the public, and protect his wife and unborn child from a sadistic and omnipresent government security organization.
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Synopsis
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In the not-too-distant future, a worldwide epidemic has made it mandatory that all births be arranged via a government-run artificial insemination program. Noncompliance with the government mandate is strictly and brutally enforced by government security. People who have "illegal" pregnancies live in exile across the river at The Domain—a sprawling and lawless shantytown that is the epitome of disease and squalor run amok."
When a medical intern’s wife announces she’s pregnant with a naturally-conceived ("illegal") fetus, it sets in motion a series of events that ultimately casts the young couple as fugitives and subjects them to a relentless manhunt by the government in order to kill their unborn child and keep the news from ever reaching the public. They find themselves in a race against time to find a cure for the disease, inform the public, and find a place of refuge.
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Remarks
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Visual imagery is not meant to be apocalyptic or dark like Blade Runner. However, there is a an undercurrent of bleakness that permeates this particular society, which is otherwise orderly and tidy. The Domain should be a person's worst nightmare of squalor run amok—the mother of all shantytowns gone completely to hell in a handbasket. The climactic sequence inside Orion Sanatorium will show this facility of human experimentation to be a veritable house of horrors.
Semi-finalist—Walt Disney Studios/ABC Writers Fellowship
Top 10%—Nicholl Fellowships (6,000+ entries)
Winner—ScreamFest LA Film Festival (Best Screenplay)
Finalist—Filmmakers International Screenwriting Awards (Top 50 — 14th place, out of 1273)
Semi-finalist—American Accolades
Finalist—Script P.I.M.P. Screenwriting Competition
Finalist—PAGE International Screenwriting Competition
Finalist—Texas Film Institute Screenwriting Awards
Finalist—20/20 Screenwriting Contest
Winner—Hollywood Scriptwriting Institute
Winner—ShockerFest International Film Festival (Best Screenplay)
Finalist—ShriekFest Horror/Thriller/Science Fiction Film Festival/Screenplay Competition
Quarterfinalist—Fade-In Awards
Quarterfinalist—Writer's Network
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Elements
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Andrew the protagonist is a thinking man's reluctant hero (a younger version of those more bookish Harrison Ford action hero roles). A Jude Law type might be ideal. The female role (Fiona) is upfront and someone who holds their own—a dynamite combination of toughness and sexuality. Sidekick role (Marcus) will also hold prominent screen time and is cut from a more traditional macho persona. Cortez the villain must have a terrifying presence, but will reek of empathy, making him a rather enigmatic character.
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More
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One-page synopsis.
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Format
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Original Screenplay (120 pp.)
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Genre
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Comedy/Drama
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A man hopes to define his legacy by risking his marriage and life savings on the outcome of his softball team's game against an arch rival — a team they have never beaten
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Synopsis
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Max has been the coach of a softball team called The Has-Beens for the past fifteen years. When Max’s wife Rita announces she’s pregnant, Max vows to disband the softball team, but promises his teammates that the only way he’ll break up the team is if they finally beat their arch-rival in an upcoming championship game — a team they’ve never beaten. To make matters worse, Max gets goaded into betting the team tavern on the game, an establishment that many of the players have invested considerable savings in.
When Rita discovers the truth about Max’s precondition for breaking up the team — as well as the wager — she views this as the last straw in what has been an ongoing series of misadventures and lack of responsibility. Max makes one final grand and noble gesture to prove his love to Rita and leads the Has-Beens to victory, but not without overcoming adversity and personal conflict. In the end, Max realizes that his family is the number one priority in his life and that everybody does indeed have a legacy — even a bunch of Has-Beens.
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Remarks
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Similar in tone to a movie like Field of Dreams, but without the otherworld fantasy elements. Something you might see written by Cameron Crowe, James L. Brooks, Lawrence Kasdan, Lasse Halstrom et al. A rather wry, amusing slice-of-life ensemble film.
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Elements
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Similar in tone to High Fidelity, but with a slightly more family-oriented focus or story. Think of a more grown up version of the characters in Diner, with softball as a backdrop, but in a more adult and domestic milieu (now with families and kids). Bull Durham for the suburbs, but with a slightly less irreverent tone. The Big Chill meets Field of Dreams.
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More
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One-page synopsis.
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Format
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Original Screenplay (115 pp.)
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Genre
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Drama
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A young boy travels back in time where he must come to terms with his family heritage and great-grandfather's traumatic adolescence.
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Synopsis
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Michael is a headstrong fourteen year-old boy, whose estranged relationship with his great-grandfather takes a magical twist when he accidentally travels through time to an arriving sea vessel of Italian immigrants in the year 1927. In this seemingly hostile otherworld of immigrant America, he forges an unlikely alliance with a fellow fourteen year-old Italian boy—his great-grandfather. With his great-grandfather's help, Michael grapples with strange surroundings and fights his way back to present-day, reluctantly parting company with his new best friend. In the end, Michael learns to appreciate both his heritage and sometimes long-winded great-grandfather—but is it too late?
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Remarks
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This story is a bit along the lines of Back to the Future/Peggy Sue Got Married meets Field of Dreams territory. Mind you, it's considerably darker and edgier than something like Back to the Future (it has that Thornton Wilder's Our Town kind of overtone to it). Think of some of those darker moments in It's a Wonderful Life (that people tend to overlook or forget) and you're probably on the right track.
Although this story has a very bittersweet denouement to it, there's a redemptive story arc for the main protagonist that ultimately makes the story quite uplifting.
Quarterfinalist—Nicholl Fellowships (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Semi-finalist—Austin Film Festival and Script Magazine Open Door
Finalist—Final Draft Big Break Competition
Semi-finalist—PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Finalist—Maverick Films/Blueprint Screenwriting Competition
Semi-finalist—Hollywood's Next Success
Finalist—Taos Film Festival and Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition
Silver Award—Worldfest Flagstaff (family category)
Finalist—Hollywood Symposium
Honorable Mention—Filmmakers Magazine
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Elements
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Elliot (from ET: The Extraterrestrial) need not apply. The fourteen year-old protagonist has to be a bit tough-minded - similar in attitude to the kid from The Terminator II film.
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More
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One-page synopsis
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Format
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Original Screenplay (112 pp.)
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Genre
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Psychological Drama
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A man is tormented by and obsessed with the late-night noise in his apartment building - and becomes convinced that he has accidentally eavesdropped on a murder committed by one of his neighbors.
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Synopsis
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Martin Brooks is a man in his thirties and a hotshot software developer, who works with a bunch of overworked Generation Xers. When he and his girlfriend move into an apartment (planning to save up to buy the "perfect" house), he encounters a collection of eccentric neighbors, who keep very late hours and make a variety of strange and disturbing noise. In fact, on one particular night—Martin becomes convinced that he overheard a murder being committed in the apartment next door.
As Martin becomes less interested in sleeping and more preoccupied with the goings-on in the other apartments, his emotional state of mind begins to deteriorate. Is it all in his imagination? Or is he just hearing things? In the end, Martin attempts to answer these questions and climb out of his emotional abyss—ultimately finding his elusive peace-n-quiet. However, Martin, becomes well-acquainted with the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for—it just might come true."
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Remarks
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Rear Window meets Barton Fink.
Quarterfinalist—Nicholl Fellowships (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).
Semi-finalist—Acclaim Film Script Competition
Semi-finalist—Texas Film Institute
Semi-finalist—Red Inkworks
Semifinalist—Script Magazine Open Door contest.
Honorary Mention—Writer's Network
Finalist—American Accolades.
Quarterfinalist—Fade-In Awards
Honorable Mention—Filmmakers Magazine
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Elements
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A James Spader/Jude Law type actor, who can play a bookish/nerdy person who can also be a bit edgy and threatening—a pretty tough combination.
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More
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One-page synopsis
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Format
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Original Screenplay (112 pp.)
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Genre
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Comedy
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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An overworked American hotel manager reluctantly agrees to transport his father's remains to the family's ancestral Italian village with his estranged wife and son—where the clash of cultures, unexpected revelations, and self-discovery has both a comic and profound effect on the entire family.
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Synopsis
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Francis Cappo is a workaholic who lives by the motto: "A person can enjoy their work, or their life—but not both at the same time." Everything changes when Fran is forced to travel to and scatter his father’s ashes at the family’s ancestral village in southern Italy. Fran has one goal: Scatter the ashes and get going. However, pulling forces and a series of amusing vignettes conspire to continually thwart Fran’s efforts to scatter the ashes and leave the village.
The deliberate rhythm and quaintness of the village has an intoxicating effect on Fran’s restless wife and wayward son, though Fran stubbornly resists the pulls of its subtle charms and eccentric characters. That is, until a revelation regarding the family ancestry forces Fran to confront unresolved issues regarding his past and future. Ultimately, Fran finds out that you can indeed enjoy both your work and your life—at the same time—but with a slight twist.
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Remarks
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This is not a broad comedy along the lines of a Chevy Chase vehicle like European Vacation, nor is it as mannered as something like that little obscure 1986 movie by Peter Wang called A Great Wall. I imagine it would fall somewhere in between, and if written well, it could be that rarest of commodities—a crowd-pleaser that doesn't insult its audience.
Finalist—Maverick Films/Blueprint Screenwriting Competition
Finalist—Texas Film Institute
Semi-finalist—WriteMovies.com
Semi-finalist—San Diego Film Festival
Quarterfinalist—Cinestory
Quarterfinalist—Scriptapalooza
Quarterfinalist—Fade-In Awards
Honorable Mention—Filmmakers Magazine
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Elements
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Lead role could be well-suited for a comedic actor, who also has the range to hit dramatic notes. Perhaps not a Jim Carrey type, but start with someone like Tim Allen, and then work your way up. For additional comedic relief, Roberto Benigni could have a small role as one of the villagers—perhaps a goofy and hard-to-understand interpreter for the visiting family. However, he might steal every scene and become a potential distraction to the audience.
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More
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One-page synopsis
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Format
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Original Screenplay (107 pp.)
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Genre
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Erotic Drama
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A man's scheme to spice up his marriage with a menage a trois goes awry, when his wife begins to re-examine her sexuality and loss of purpose in life, and becomes obsessed with a most unusual woman.
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Synopsis
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Monica is a former writer/activist whose marriage is adrift and professional life at a crossroads. She reluctantly agrees to her husband's idea of a menage a trois with a hedonistic free-spirit named Fiona—a woman with a secret past. The plan to re-invigorate their marriage backfires, as a liberated Monica starts an affair with Fiona and quits her job. In the end, Monica discovers the importance of being true to oneself - even if it comes at a price or means having to risk everything to attain it.
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Remarks
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Similar in theme and tone to Sex, Lies and Videotape.
Winner—New Writers Scheme award (Melbourne, Australia).
Honorable Mention—Telluride IndieFest
Quarterfinalist—1998 Empire Screenplay Competition
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Elements
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An Australian director shopped this script in his native country, hoping to get it up - wearing either the producer or director's hat.
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More
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One-page synopsis
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Format
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Original Screenplay (16 pp.)
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Genre
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Drama
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Author
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Michael Raymond
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Logline
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A young man ruminates over the major milestones in his life that occurred with his father. Through it all, he can't seem to shake the haunting and recurring image of a mysterious and majestic deer.
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Synopsis
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Patrick sits trancelike on an airline flight—bound for an unknown destination. Looking like a man whose thoughts are a million miles away, Patrick seeks solace in the daydreams and reminisces of his childhood and adolescence—not all of them pleasant. Every sight, sound, and smell on the airplane triggers a flood of vivid and poignant memories of Patrick with his father.
Finally, Patrick reaches his destination, where he is found to be rendering a heartfelt and emotional tribute to his enigmatic father. As the tribute segues into a voice-over narration of bittersweet nostalgia and longing, Patrick reveals that all of his memories have now faded except for one—the recurring dream of a mysterious and ethereal deer.
In the denouement, Patrick and his son Casey revisit a small piece of Patrick's childhood, where an unexpected event provides Patrick with a great sense of wonder and closure. It is a moment that illustrates the power of ancestry, family, deja vu, and of course—the deer.
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Remarks
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Originally written as a simple homage to my father.
Finalist—International Family Film Festival
Semi-finalist—American Gem Short Script
Second Place—Practical Paradox Screenplay Competition
Quarterfinalist—Cinestory Screenwriting Awards
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Elements
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Odd structure for a short (and for me as a writer), which includes flashback storytelling devices.
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More
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One-page synopsis (same as above)
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