Tagline – “Rock Hard”
“25 words or less” – The meteoric rise and spectacular fall of a mid-1980’s Sunset Strip era rock band is followed by their subsequent redemption ten years later.
Full Summary:
Dakota James is an Indianan farm boy in his twenties who comes to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune with only a duffel bag of clothes and guitar to his name. Its 1985, the height of the heavy metal scene on Sunset Strip, and Dakota is determined to become a rock star like his idols in Aerosmith, Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath to name only a few of his influences.
James quickly befriends a fellow musician, Jules Morgan, while working in the kitchen at the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill and the two begin scheming to join forces after Jules tells him that his current band, Helter Skelter, is looking for a new lead singer. After a successful audition, Dakota joins the band and a new line-up is formed which also includes Jules’ brother, Freddie, and his childhood friend, Skylar Pennington.
Although they have big dreams, the band quickly realizes that fame doesn’t come easily as they struggle mightily to get an opportunity to perform at one of the famous West Hollywood clubs like The Troubadour, Whisky A Go Go or The Roxy. Their big break comes when Dakota develops a novel approach to get their foot into the door – he decides to pay the Troubadour club manager for the right to play a twenty minute set one night. The rest is history as they bring down the house with their kick ass style of rock n’ roll. This leads them to becoming a fixture on the heavy metal scene at the top clubs along, and around, Sunset Strip.
While the Sunset Strip gigs are good, Helter Skelter dreams go far beyond Los Angeles. The band signs with Geffen Records and their first album, “Total Destruction,” goes on to be #1 on the charts leading to a huge U.S. arena tour. Things are going great until egos start clashing which is fueled by the band’s addiction to sex, drugs and booze. In the center of the conflict is Dakota James, the new lead singer, and Freddie Morgan, the original founder of the band; neither wastes an opportunity to undermine the other when they get a chance.
Everything comes to a head when Dakota finds out after a concert that Freddie had sex with his Playboy Playmate wife, Donna, on their wedding night during a boozy after party at the Hyatt on Sunset Hotel. After learning this, Dakota starts a huge brawl with Freddie backstage at Wembley Stadium in London during their European Tour. This brawl causes irreparable harm as Dakota decides to leave the band that night with a simple middle finger held defiantly in the air towards Freddie.
Helter Skelter never released another album or even performed together again after the fight. Fast forward ten years later into the 1990’s during a time when the popularity of their music has faded in favor of other genres like alt rock; Dakota works in a motorcycle shop, Skylar tours empty roadhouses throughout the country as a one-man band while Freddie and Jules have their own new band, The Morgan Brothers, but can’t seem to break out beyond being a weeknight house band at Sunset Strip music venues. All four of them are struggling and Freddie, unable to handle not being on top anymore, seemingly spends more time overdosing and in rehab than being a productive member of society.
After a particularly bad overdose that almost kills Freddie, Jules manages to get all four band members back together for lunch. Although Dakota initially has no interest in reconciling with Freddie, he changes his mind when Rolling Stone magazine features Helter Skelter in a cover story on “One Album Wonders.” Not wanting their legacy to be based on four has beens, Dakota decides to forgive the past in order to get the band back together for a shot at redemption.
The band decides to make a big splash by hi-jacking The Morgan Brothers set at the Roxy which marks their first performance together in over ten years. The crowd goes wild and the reunited band rides the wave of goodwill to a series of bookings on Sunset Strip. It doesn’t take them long to reconnect with Geffen Records who gets Helter Skelter to produce a very successful second album, “Ambush,” and, in a most unexpected triumph, a sold-out U.S. stadium tour. Amazingly, in the ultimate story of redemption, Helter Skelter gets to the top of the music world again ten years after their break-up.Sunset Strip Screenplay
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
"The Prospect"
Tagline – “This is Swagger”
“25 words or less” – A two-time Heisman-winning college football star’s future is put at risk when he begins accepting illegal benefits and goods from shady boosters and agents
Full Summary:
Devin Marshall is an all-world college football star in Miami, Florida who has just won the Heisman Trophy in his junior year. He single-handedly puts the team on his back and gets them to the national championship game. Although he dominates the game, and is clearly the best player on the field, he fumbles in the waning minutes setting up his opponents for a game-winning field goal as time expires.
Universally believed to be the #1 draft pick coming out in his junior year by all pundits, Devin shocks everyone by announcing he’s returning for his senior year to take care of some “unfinished business,” namely to win a national championship with his fellow teammates.
His noble intentions quickly turn to selfishness as his great play catches the eyes of shady boosters and shady agents. Long the ethical athlete who has always turned his back to handouts of any kind, Devin finally acquiesces when he decides that he wants to “get his.” Tired of watching his extraordinary play make money for everyone except himself, Devin begins to bond with these men whom he thinks has his best interests at heart.
$100 here, a $1,000 there, complimentary bottle service at the hottest clubs on South Beach, strip club visits with VIP room access, free steak dinners at fancy Miami restaurants, yacht trips to the Caribbean and an endless parade of easy women; everything is available to Devin for the taking. It goes to show that it pays to run a 4.3 40… literally. All this attention and admiration goes to Devin’s head and his outsized ego makes him believe that he’s a modern day Superman who can do anything.
This feeling of invincibility turns dangerous as he begins to fall into a world of drugs provided to him by his seemingly endless supply of benefactors. Devin’s erratic behavior doesn’t hurt his performance on the field though, as he turns in an even better season his senior year than his junior one on his way to picking up his second straight Heisman trophy and a return trip to the national championship game.
But the constant pressures of success and effects from his drug use begin to take their toll on him. Can Devin persevere and win that elusive national championship he came back to school for? Can Devin parlay all his on-field success into becoming the #1 draft pick and untold riches in the NFL?
The Prospect Screenplay
“25 words or less” – A two-time Heisman-winning college football star’s future is put at risk when he begins accepting illegal benefits and goods from shady boosters and agents
Full Summary:
Devin Marshall is an all-world college football star in Miami, Florida who has just won the Heisman Trophy in his junior year. He single-handedly puts the team on his back and gets them to the national championship game. Although he dominates the game, and is clearly the best player on the field, he fumbles in the waning minutes setting up his opponents for a game-winning field goal as time expires.
Universally believed to be the #1 draft pick coming out in his junior year by all pundits, Devin shocks everyone by announcing he’s returning for his senior year to take care of some “unfinished business,” namely to win a national championship with his fellow teammates.
His noble intentions quickly turn to selfishness as his great play catches the eyes of shady boosters and shady agents. Long the ethical athlete who has always turned his back to handouts of any kind, Devin finally acquiesces when he decides that he wants to “get his.” Tired of watching his extraordinary play make money for everyone except himself, Devin begins to bond with these men whom he thinks has his best interests at heart.
$100 here, a $1,000 there, complimentary bottle service at the hottest clubs on South Beach, strip club visits with VIP room access, free steak dinners at fancy Miami restaurants, yacht trips to the Caribbean and an endless parade of easy women; everything is available to Devin for the taking. It goes to show that it pays to run a 4.3 40… literally. All this attention and admiration goes to Devin’s head and his outsized ego makes him believe that he’s a modern day Superman who can do anything.
This feeling of invincibility turns dangerous as he begins to fall into a world of drugs provided to him by his seemingly endless supply of benefactors. Devin’s erratic behavior doesn’t hurt his performance on the field though, as he turns in an even better season his senior year than his junior one on his way to picking up his second straight Heisman trophy and a return trip to the national championship game.
But the constant pressures of success and effects from his drug use begin to take their toll on him. Can Devin persevere and win that elusive national championship he came back to school for? Can Devin parlay all his on-field success into becoming the #1 draft pick and untold riches in the NFL?
The Prospect Screenplay
Saturday, August 25, 2012
"Bad Decisions"
Tagline – “You’re Never Too Old For Spring Break!”
“25 words or less” – Four friends decide to relive their youth one more time before turning 40 by planning a trip of debauchery to New Orleans during spring break
Full Summary:
Jimmy Chastain is in his late-thirties and just got divorced. Bummed out by his situation in life, Jimmy just wants to mope around the house and hide from the rest of the world for the foreseeable future.
Jimmy’s three best friends led by Bobby, a divorcee playboy pushing 40 years old, and Danny, a kindhearted, honest family man also pushing 40, and the younger Max, a perpetually single man who cares more partying non-stop than finding a decent woman, come up with a brilliant idea to get Jimmy out of his funk. Over lunch, they devise a plan to have one more “hoorah” before they get too old and decide to take a weekend trip to a popular Spring Break destination. To them it’s crucial to take the trip before they all turn 40 years old, because after that point “it would just be too weird to continue going on Spring Break and hanging out with girls that are young enough to be our daughters.”
The idea was relatively simple, but the execution proves to be much more difficult. Deciding on the perfect Spring Break trip isn’t easy – they debate the merits of places like Miami, South Padre Island, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Las Vegas, and even a cruise – but each destination presents their own issues. Stumped, Bobby stumbles across a Mardi Gras drink promotion at the diner and it finally dawns on him – New Orleans!
Although it initially takes some cajoling to get Jimmy to agree to go to New Orleans for Spring Break, he relents and reluctantly decides to travel with his three best friends. This reluctance magically goes away once they land at the airport as all four quickly embrace the debauchery that is “The Big Easy.”
The guys direct the airport taxi driver to bring them to the “middle of the action” and once they arrive on Bourbon Street it takes them less than an hour to make the first in a series of bad decisions fueled by drugs and alcohol.
Day long partying throughout the more popular drinking spots of New Orleans leads to co-ed sex parties which, in turn, lead to the group of friends looking to score more dope on their first night out. Unfortunately for them, their drug deal with a local gang goes terribly wrong and their bad situation escalates very quickly.
The friends find themselves not only having to hide from the dealers looking for revenge but also from a corrupt cop who is on the gang’s payroll and looking to dispense his own brand of justice on the guys as well.
Heart-pounding action through the streets of New Orleans is sprinkled with some light-hearted moments as the guys try desperately to escape the Crescent City in one piece. They have the brains to do it but do they have the street smarts and wherewithal to find their way safely back to New York City?
Bad Decisions Screenplay
“25 words or less” – Four friends decide to relive their youth one more time before turning 40 by planning a trip of debauchery to New Orleans during spring break
Full Summary:
Jimmy Chastain is in his late-thirties and just got divorced. Bummed out by his situation in life, Jimmy just wants to mope around the house and hide from the rest of the world for the foreseeable future.
Jimmy’s three best friends led by Bobby, a divorcee playboy pushing 40 years old, and Danny, a kindhearted, honest family man also pushing 40, and the younger Max, a perpetually single man who cares more partying non-stop than finding a decent woman, come up with a brilliant idea to get Jimmy out of his funk. Over lunch, they devise a plan to have one more “hoorah” before they get too old and decide to take a weekend trip to a popular Spring Break destination. To them it’s crucial to take the trip before they all turn 40 years old, because after that point “it would just be too weird to continue going on Spring Break and hanging out with girls that are young enough to be our daughters.”
The idea was relatively simple, but the execution proves to be much more difficult. Deciding on the perfect Spring Break trip isn’t easy – they debate the merits of places like Miami, South Padre Island, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Las Vegas, and even a cruise – but each destination presents their own issues. Stumped, Bobby stumbles across a Mardi Gras drink promotion at the diner and it finally dawns on him – New Orleans!
Although it initially takes some cajoling to get Jimmy to agree to go to New Orleans for Spring Break, he relents and reluctantly decides to travel with his three best friends. This reluctance magically goes away once they land at the airport as all four quickly embrace the debauchery that is “The Big Easy.”
The guys direct the airport taxi driver to bring them to the “middle of the action” and once they arrive on Bourbon Street it takes them less than an hour to make the first in a series of bad decisions fueled by drugs and alcohol.
Day long partying throughout the more popular drinking spots of New Orleans leads to co-ed sex parties which, in turn, lead to the group of friends looking to score more dope on their first night out. Unfortunately for them, their drug deal with a local gang goes terribly wrong and their bad situation escalates very quickly.
The friends find themselves not only having to hide from the dealers looking for revenge but also from a corrupt cop who is on the gang’s payroll and looking to dispense his own brand of justice on the guys as well.
Heart-pounding action through the streets of New Orleans is sprinkled with some light-hearted moments as the guys try desperately to escape the Crescent City in one piece. They have the brains to do it but do they have the street smarts and wherewithal to find their way safely back to New York City?
Bad Decisions Screenplay
Monday, February 27, 2012
"Held Hostage"
Tagline – “In the Rat Race of Life, We’re All Hostages”
“25 words or less” – A frustrated middle manager, brought to the boiling point by the demands of corporate America, decides to take out his aggression by torturing his bosses.
Full Summary:
Kevin Price is an overworked and stressed out middle manager living the corporate America nightmare in New York City. His freakish dedication to his around-the-clock office job over the last five years eventually costs him virtually everything in his life – his close friends, his family and, worst of all, his girlfriend – as he can’t find time for anything other than his all encompassing career.
Unfortunately this dedication does not allow Kevin to climb the corporate ladder as his overbearing boss, Mr. Benjamin, prefers to keep him as “his little secret” for his own self-interest so he can take Kevin’s ideas and gain favor with company management. This only irritates and frustrates Kevin more as he begins to wonder why he’s making all these personal sacrifices just to elevate his boss while getting no credit of his own.
After another weekday night of coming home from work after midnight, a burnt out and exhausted Kevin relaxes on his couch while watching a prison documentary series called “Lockup” where he becomes transfixed by the prisoner lifestyle – three meals a day, conjugal visits, daily exercise, TV time & leisure activities outside – and decides that jail actually offers a better life than what he has in his 18 hour-a-day cubicle existence in corporate America.
Eventually, Kevin finally reaches his breaking point at work when a perpetual slacker, but well-connected, co-worker gets promoted over him to a coveted position within the firm. Fed up and figuring he has nothing to lose, Kevin decides to take matters into his own hands and dispense his own version of workplace equality by taking his bosses hostage and torturing them.
However he quickly realizes that he doesn’t have a game plan for what to do after he takes his management hostage. What does he do with the men who have made his life so miserable over the last five years; the men he believes are directly responsible for the disintegration of every relationship he has in life? Does he really want to spend the rest of his life in prison? Can he figure out a way out of this predicament? Does he even want to escape or is he content with just playing out the end of his life in one final showdown?
Held Hostage Screenplay
“25 words or less” – A frustrated middle manager, brought to the boiling point by the demands of corporate America, decides to take out his aggression by torturing his bosses.
Full Summary:
Kevin Price is an overworked and stressed out middle manager living the corporate America nightmare in New York City. His freakish dedication to his around-the-clock office job over the last five years eventually costs him virtually everything in his life – his close friends, his family and, worst of all, his girlfriend – as he can’t find time for anything other than his all encompassing career.
Unfortunately this dedication does not allow Kevin to climb the corporate ladder as his overbearing boss, Mr. Benjamin, prefers to keep him as “his little secret” for his own self-interest so he can take Kevin’s ideas and gain favor with company management. This only irritates and frustrates Kevin more as he begins to wonder why he’s making all these personal sacrifices just to elevate his boss while getting no credit of his own.
After another weekday night of coming home from work after midnight, a burnt out and exhausted Kevin relaxes on his couch while watching a prison documentary series called “Lockup” where he becomes transfixed by the prisoner lifestyle – three meals a day, conjugal visits, daily exercise, TV time & leisure activities outside – and decides that jail actually offers a better life than what he has in his 18 hour-a-day cubicle existence in corporate America.
Eventually, Kevin finally reaches his breaking point at work when a perpetual slacker, but well-connected, co-worker gets promoted over him to a coveted position within the firm. Fed up and figuring he has nothing to lose, Kevin decides to take matters into his own hands and dispense his own version of workplace equality by taking his bosses hostage and torturing them.
However he quickly realizes that he doesn’t have a game plan for what to do after he takes his management hostage. What does he do with the men who have made his life so miserable over the last five years; the men he believes are directly responsible for the disintegration of every relationship he has in life? Does he really want to spend the rest of his life in prison? Can he figure out a way out of this predicament? Does he even want to escape or is he content with just playing out the end of his life in one final showdown?
Held Hostage Screenplay
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