Independent film production company Brothers’ Ink Productions experiences and stories from the making of Reveille, Locker 13 and the writing of numerous screenplays and scripts.
In 2013, I came across a wonderful Australia actor named Aaron Pedersen who played outback detective Jay Swan in a marvelous little independent film written and directed by Ivan Sen. There was a followup sequel in 2016 called Goldstone and a new TV Series based on the films, also called Mystery Road, broadcast in 2018 ( and, I hope, many more seasons to come).
The biggest compliment I can give him as an actor is that he seems so genuine in all the characters I’ve seen from him that it actually feels like he is not acting but just happens to be the real character come to life that has stumbled onto the movie or TV set and is trapped by the cinematographers lenses and now inhabiting the world we see on film. He’s wholly authentic in spirit if not in flesh and blood. I never see him acting, or looking like he’s reciting lines written by a screenwriter…he just is.
I have since watched all 3 Jack Irish movies featuring Guy Pearce along with Pedersen and the 2 seasons of Jack Irish available on Acorn Media– all of them marvelous and engaging mysteries. In the US, we don’t seem to have any more mysteries written in film or TV, and we have to look to the UK or Australia for great stories in this genre.
Pedersen has worked with some fantastic actors over the years with some of them being my all time favorites with Hugo Weaving from Mystery Road, Guy Pearce in Jack Irish and award winningfavorites, Jacki Weaver in Goldstone and Judy Davis from the Mystery Road TV Show. We should starting seeing him in more prominent features and shows and hopefully someone in Hollywood will offer him a juicy part sometime very soon!
Goldstone (2016) Movie Trailer Aaron Pedersen Jacki Weaver – Indigenous Detective Jay Swan arrives in the frontier town of Goldstone on a missing person inquiry. What seems like a simple light duty investigation opens a web of crime and corruption. Jay must pull his life together and bury his differences with young local cop Josh, so together they can bring justice to Goldstone.
I don’t single out actors very often…rather as often as I should, but sometimes a performance is so perfect that it screams to be talked about. Logan Marshall-Green has one of the finest performances in a genre picture than I have seen literally in years. And because it’s a genre picture…meaning sci-fi horror action (not award season bound) it’s never going to be given the proper praise it deserves.
Logan Marshall-Green is BRILLIANT as Grey Trace, who is a self-described technophobe in a future version of earth that is FILLED with technology. His world gets literally turned upside down when his wife is killed by a group of military assassins and he is left paralyzed from the neck down. He sets his mind to solving her murder when he is given a second chance at life, and revenge, when an experimental chip, called STEM is implanted in his spine, giving him the ability to walk again. But along with that ability comes a whole computerized litany of technology-based abilities that he uncovers over the course of the mystery.
To see how incredible Logan Marshall-Green is in the role, you just have to go to the very first scene of his investigation to find his wife’s murderer, when he breaks into the house of one of the men who ambushed them. I won’t be a spoiler here or anywhere in this article by revealing any surprises or plotlines– but just know that it’s off the hook from here on out. The BRILLIANT part of his acting is to see his face react one way–while his body does the exact opposite. It’s a tour-de-force of acting that I simply have never seen before– and so good that you don’t realize what the actor had to do to be THAT natural and realistic. He reacts EXACTLY as we do as the audience–in complete awe.
My only word for it is BRILLIANT (obviously) and I truly hope that this film does well and that Logan Marshall-Green is finally noticed as a top-tier A-list actor. He’s becoming one of my favorite actors to watch, and I can’t wait to see what he has coming up next. You’d probably recognize him from Prometheus, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Devil or a slew of TV shows. Logan, if you ever read this– keep up the good work, man, I love it!
Upgrade, is written and directed by the fantastic Leigh Whannell. Everything he touches benefits from his contact. Leigh, you just released my favorite movie of the year. Great job.
Upgrade (2018) Movie Trailer Leigh Whannell Logan Marshall-Green – Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when Grey, a self-identified technophobe, has his world turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant called Stem.
May 25th, 2017 – Los Angeles: The film, “Capture The Flag”, about a Navy veteran (Dick Van Dyke) and an Army veteran (Louis Gossett Jr.) fighting over a flagpole in a retirement community recruit a group of ragtag US military vets to wage war against each other in a game that would give the winner the right to raise the flag every morning.
Twin Brothers Donovan and Adam Montierth team up with Producers Barry Van Dyke and Eric J. Adams to adapt the Emmy Award winning short film, “Reveille” into what they call their patriotic “Grumpy Old Men”. The film boasts an impressive ensemble that includes some of Hollywood’s great character actors, such as Barry Corbin, Paul Dooley, John Amos, and Rance Howard.
***
It feels like a natural progression to try and turn the Emmy Award winning short film, Reveille, into a feature film comedy. The twin brothers behind the veteran tribute are Adam and Donovan Montierth, and their company Brothers’ Ink Productions. The short film has also won awards at over 20 film festivals worldwide, as well as appearing on the Armed Forces Network and the Pentagon Channel. It’s touched a cord with audiences online as it’s become a viral sensation with over 10 million views.
In Capture the Flag, the playful banter, teasing and prank war that escalates into a paintball war game seems to fit the rivalry between different divisions of the US military well, and the bickering veterans degrading to childish behavior seems real and effective within the confines of their environment. Besides, it’s great fun.
“We felt that this was a movie that could find an audience and that people would connect with the heartfelt, comedic and patriotic tone of the screenplay.” Adam recently said. The twins soon realized that was true when they had the opportunity to have Barry Van Dyke see the short film and from there read the feature film screenplay, the twins were developing. He immediately felt a connection to Reveille and told the brothers that he wanted to help them get the film made.
It was just the spark the Indie film needed. “We’ve always been impressed with Barry and his work, so to have him come back with such a strong reaction helped validate the importance of the project to us.” Donovan goes on to say, “He immediately connected with the fun and heartfelt story.” So much so, that he shared the script with his Father, the legendary actor Dick Van Dyke. And Dick, having served himself in the Army Air Corp for two years from 1944-1945, immediately connected with the story and the characters. To the point where he surprised Barry by asking to play the lead role. Dick told Barry, “These are actor’s dream roles, I would love to play this part.”
Barry recalls that the response has been incredible. Everyone he’s introduced the project to has had a similar reaction. As a result, the team has been able to attach the Brother’s dream cast by adding Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., and legendary character actors such as Barry Corbin, John Amos, Paul Dooley and Rance Howard.
They have been courting some excellent directors for the project, but are keeping their choices under wraps for now. Barry has, however, managed to pick up another Hollywood great by introducing the project to his friend stunt coordinator / second unit director, Allan Graf.
The team behind the production is very passionate about creating a film that realistically but thoughtfully depicts the lives of a handful of war veterans and that would stand as a tribute to all men and women who have ever served under the American flag.
This Memorial Day Weekend, if you would like to know how you can honor our vets and help to bring back the type of family comedy that could be seen on TV during many US patriotic holidays for years to come, please visit www.Film4Vets.com.
Over the years, I’ve been a big fan of Luc Besson. Not only has he been a fantastic director, but a great writer and producer as well. I can really appreciate that kind of career, he’s got his hands on so many projects. He is amazing at developing interesting projects. Sometimes the ideas are originated by him and then handed off to other filmmakers, sometimes he takes them all the way through till release and he’s never one to turn away a great project that needs him to just produce. Here are my top 15 favorites that he’s had a hand in creating:
15 – Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
OK, Ok, this hasn’t come out yet, but I just know it’s going to hit my list. It’s the original inspiration for Star Wars and The Fifth Element, so I know I’m going to like it. This film is based on a French sci-fi comic book series created in 1967 by writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mezieres. Mezieres was also involved in creating visuals for Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element.
14 – Lucy (2014)
Many of his best stuff lay in 2 genres; Science Fiction and Action. This one film combines both aspects very well. In an interview on March 8, 2014, Besson said that this project took ten years to become a reality. Also, he admitted that he knew that some scientific assumptions were erroneous, ie; that humans use only ten percent of their brains. Nonetheless, he said that “(such an assumption) would be a great start for a sci-fi movie”. A woman, (Scarlett Johansson) accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
13 – 3 Days to Kill (2014)
Here’s one that Besson wrote but didn’t direct. It was directed by McG. A dying CIA agent (Kevin Costner) trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter is offered an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for one last assignment. The meaning and relevance of the film’s title is that it refers to the estimate number of days that Ethan Renner (Costner) has to complete his mission prior to facing death from terminal brain cancer. Reminds me a great deal of a great film noir movie called DOA (Dead on Arrival) about a man who has been lethally poisoned and has to solve his own murder before he dies.
12 – Lockout (2012)
If you can excuse the main character’s dive out of a spaceship and not burn up on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere and sky dive to a city below, then this is a pretty dang good flick. It totally would have made a fantastic “Escape From…number 3″ with Snake Plissken, but only because of Guy Pearce. He’s great. The plot totally reads like a Snake Plissken movie: A man wrongly convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the U.S. (Guy Pearce) is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president’s daughter from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates. Call it Escape From Outer Space. Besson came up with the original idea and even wrote a draft of the screenplay.
11 – Colombiana (2011)
Zoe Saldana is great, I did a blog about her a while back called Zoe Saldana Takes Over the World. Here’s a starring vehicle with her as an assassin, kind of a reoccurring theme with Besson, just look at Leon and Nikita. It’s no wonder as this film was originally supposed to be Leon part 2. The film was based off a script that was set to be a sequel for Leon: The Professional. The story was set to follow Natalie Portman’s character Mathilda as she tracked down and killed characters that had wronged her and Leon. Portman’s success kept her from availability and the script was eventually re-written into Colombiana and cast with Saldana.
10 – From Paris With Love (2010)
In Paris, a young employee (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy (John Travolta)looking to stop a terrorist attack in the city. John Travolta is the real reason to watch this film, he just crackles with electricity. When Caroline enters James’s apartment you can clearly see the book ‘Nikita’ which was written and directed by Besson, who wrote “From Paris with Love”. This is a spy genre film and it is interesting to note that the title of the earlier film To Paris with Love (1955) is said to have been the inspiration for James Bond creator Ian Fleming for the title of his 1957 James Bond spy novel, From Russia With Love which was later made into the 007 movie.
9 – District 13: Ultimatum (2009)
This is a sequel to one of my all-time-favorite stunt movies, District B13. Follows up with great stunts and action with Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle. For those of you that like the Daredevil series on Netflix, you’ll recognize Elodie Yung (Elektra) in the film. Cyril is a great stunt coordinator and he choreographed all the fight scenes in the movie and David, who invented Parkour, did all of his own stunts, without practice ahead of time. Most of the ones that you see in the film were of him performing the stunt for the first time.
8 – Tell No One (2006)
Luc Besson was lucky this project crossed his path. He was one of the Executive Producers on the film and it’s based on a fantastic book by Harlan Corben. Police find two bodies at an old murder scene and evidence to suggest the first victim’s husband is a murderer. The husband receives clues suggesting his deceased wife is actually alive and begins to investigate. This film is definitely worth finding, but it is in English subtitles, as it’s a French-language film. Originally, author Harlan Coben had optioned off his novel to Hollywood, with director Michael Apted attached. During this time, director Guillaume Canet, who had loved the novel, had been calling up Coben with his take on the novel. Coben was immediately impressed with Canet’s passion for the story, and his vision, stating that Canet understood that the novel was a love story first, and a thriller second, which Hollywood never got. When the option with Hollywood fell through, Coben contacted Canet and decided to give him a chance.
7 – Bandidas (2006)
In turn-of-the-century Mexico, two very different women (Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz) become a bank-robbing duo in an effort to combat a ruthless enforcer terrorizing their town. This is directed byJoachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, who are coming out with Disney’s Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales later this year. Steve Zahn also plays a character in the film, and it’s good to see Penelope and Steve back together again.
6 – Leon: The Professional (1994)
Mathilda (Natalie Portman), a 12-year-old girl, is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin (Jean Reno), after her family is murdered. Léon and Mathilda form an unusual relationship, as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin’s trade. Luc Besson got the idea of doing this movie while working on his previous movie, La Femme Nikita (1990). In that film’s third act, Victor the Cleaner appears to deal with the aftermath of Nikita’s botched mission. Realizing the potential of the character was underused in that movie, Besson decided to create a story that focused on the activities of such a character. Both Victor and Leon appear dressed in a long wool coat, sunglasses and a knit cap. Both are played by Jean Reno. The film’s working title was “The Cleaner”.
5 – The Big Blue (1988)
The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown. This film was such a hit in France that it played for over a year in theatres. The most financially successful French film of the 1980s. This film was probably the closest to Besson’s own upbringing. “I was never polluted by the world of cinema. I didn’t even have a TV until I was 16. My expression is a reflection of the world I have seen, and in that world everyone was barefoot in bathing suits, following the order of the sea, the natural order of sunrise and sunset. I never went to the cinémathèque. I didn’t know much about the masters of world cinema,” Besson has said.
4 – La Femme Nikita (1990)
Convicted felon Nikita (Anne Parillaud), instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained, stylishly, as a top secret spy/assassin. Luc Besson had Anne Parillaud train extensively with guns so that she would be completely at ease with them. Parillaud took to practicing loading and unloading a fake gun in her car which led to her being pulled over by the police and having their guns drawn on her in traffic one day as they thought her weapon was real.
3 – District B13 (2004)
I wrote about this great stunt film in my blog: David Belle and District B13. Set in the ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop and ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb.
2 – The Fifth Element (1997)
I just love this film, although, I would have to admit that Chris Tucker has ruined it for me over the years. He’s so obnoxious in the film that he virtually makes it impossible to re-watch the film. Other than that, fantastic film. I was so upset after the film was released that no toys followed the film, as I wanted to buy all the action figures after I saw it. They could have really sold a lot of toys if they had this prepped like the Star Wars films. Another film that I loved enough to write a whole blog about; Fifth Element.
1 – Taken (2008)This film proves that Luc Besson has a magic touch. Again, he just wrote and produced this one but was genius when he hired Pierre Morel to direct as he was perfect for the job. It also gave Liam Neeson new life as an action star. Liam Neeson initially expected the film to bomb, but he signed on, in order spend four months in Paris, and learn karate, while playing the kind of role he had rarely been offered in the past. Ironically, not only was the film a massive hit, but created a new on-screen image for Neeson, as an action hero. Liam Neeson performs a good amount of his own stunts. Over the course of the movie, Bryan kills 35 people in order to get to his daughter.
I first met James McEachin when I worked for a marketing firm around 2002, called BookZone. I was an online marketing consultant for authors and publishers and one of my clients, turned out to be James McEachin. At that point, James was a retired actor…but I knew him as an independent author and publisher. He had written the books; Farewell to the Mockingbirds, The Heroin Factor, Pebbles in the Roadway, Say Goodnight to the Boys in Blue, and The Great Canis Lupis. We were helping him with his website and helping him with marketing his books online.
We would have several discussions a month and often found ourselves talking about his acting career. Being a big film buff and at-that-time, wannabe writer and director myself, I was very interested in his acting and writing career. He is most famous for his roles in movies such as Play Misty For Me, Buck and the Preacher, 2010, True Grit, The Undefeated and on TV in Tenafly, the Perry Mason Mysteries, The Rockford Files, First Monday and so, so much more.
I was interested in his Army career as well and at that time, my twin brother and I had decided that we wanted to showcase our abilities in writing and film, by directing and producing the proper short film to do so. But we didn’t want to just do any old film. Our grandfather had died some months before and we were tossing back and forth, an idea of doing some kind of tribute film, for him as an American Veteran. We wrote a script we liked, very short about 3 pages and so I mentioned this to James after we were talking about his service one day and he asked me to send it to him.
I did, and he literally flipped for it. He wanted to play the Army Veteran so badly in our short. I was thrilled. Very quickly after that all the pieces seemed to fall into place and that summer in July in 2004, we set to film what would become our signature film, Reveille, with him and David Huddleston as the Navy Veteran. It was a magical 4 days, even through what would be the hottest days of the year. David and James went home and told us, they didn’t give the project much thought after that.
We finished post on the film and then scheduled a small screening in Los Angeles for David and James. They both loved the film, but afterwards, James said something that proved prophetic later. He said, “I don’t think you know what you have here. This is a really powerful film.” I think he was right. Here we had a short film, a tribute to our grandfather, that we then decided to add a tribute to all people who had served…which was supposed to be a sample of our work. A short film that could establish our abilities, become a calling card to get us hired as filmmakers in Hollywood.
The film became so much more than that. I think James, more than any other person recognized that early on. He asked if he could put the film online…now this was in 2005, before “films” went online. We filmed the short in 35mm and back then they didn’t have digital transfers, or digital was still in it’s infancy. We told him that would be fine. He got the film digitized in low rez, because video still took up a lot of space and he found a place to put it. There was a new thing called Google Video. A pre-cursor to YouTube. He put it up there and it went viral before anyone really knew what viral was.
It took off! It started to get passed around like you wouldn’t believe. Now, Adam and I were still going the traditional route with this little film, in 2005 and 2006 we went to over 30 film festivals with it, submitted it to the Academy Awards…all while online, it was being shared. We found that it became quite the little hotcake…1 Million views, 2 Million views, 3 Million…it would top out the year in 2006 just over 4 Million views. We were flooded with requests to show the film at schools, churches, events, tributes, memorials, to the troops in Iraq, on the American Forces Network, on the Pentagon Channel…we were overwhelmed.
Now, on the side, James McEachin started to represent the film and his character in his own way. He reached back and embraced his military career and started to speak to large groups of people in uniform. He spoke about what it was to be a Veteran, have pride for the service and the flag. He became an inspiration to so many people. He wrote a monologue featuring the “Old Soldier” character and performed that in front of massive audiences all across the country. He released a patriotic CD. He even produced, directed and wrote an unofficial sequel to Reveille that also had David Huddleston reprising his Navy character. James McEachin had a great career in the Army, then as an actor, then as a novelist and now it all came back full circle and he was having his last career as an image of pride.
We salute you, James, and your wonderful service to your country, our little film, and especially to the men and women who all serve under one flag.
And the last lost episode for the Locker 13 movie…it’s appropriately tited, L.O.C.K.E.R. and it was written by Jason Marsden:
BLACK.
FADE IN:
INT. WAREHOUSE – DAY
ECU on a LOCKER. Locker THIRTEEN, to be exact. It stands alone, atop of a Roman pedestal, heroically in the center of a large, black room. Locker 13, appears heavy, thick, weathered and ominous…but enough about that.
Across from Locker 13 is an audience of FARMERS. Several rows of chairs, inhabited by a group of old-ish, denim overall wearing, bearded, land owners of yore. They sit patiently when:
A DOOR opens from the black background, illuminating BRIGHT
WHITE LIGHT that floods the inside of vast room. From the door, at a quick pace, walks EDGAR JACKSASSY (30), smartly dressed and slick, followed by his minion, GUNTHAR RETCH (29) a lowly composite. Edgar walks pointedly towards the farmers, pulls himself up a metal chair right in front of Locker 13 and after a beat says to the group:
EDGAR
Chickens.
Gunther, stands off to the side. Obediently watching Edgar.
The Farmers, listen…intrigued.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
The Earth’s full of ’em. We all gotta have ’em. You’re familiar with how that goes I don’t have to tell you. (beat) But where do you PUT ’em?
Angle on the Farmers as they react with the occasional “harfrumps, and hmmmphs”.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Sure, a coop. Right? A coop for all their little chicken toes and chicken fingers to get caught, maybe broken?
Gunthar giggles to himself.
GUNTHAR
Chicken fingers.
Edgar shoots him a look. It freezes the room. Gunthar giggles again. Edgar composes himself and continues.
EDGAR
I know farmers. I like farmers. Heck, I’m like a farmer myself. Outstanding-in-my-field!
He impresses himself with his own joke and chuckles. The farmers weren’t amused. Gunthar is still trying to figure it out.
Edgar breaks the silence by marching up to Locker 13 and slapping it on the side! A dreadful, hollow, metallic sound reverberates from the slam! It grabs everyone’s attention. Edgar continues.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
This is what you came here for! This is what you need. The EA JACKSASSY, military production unit…L.O.C.K.E.R.!
Big hero shot of Locker 13! It’s ominous and spooky sitting in the middle of the room. It’s as if the other lockers just don’t want to hang around him.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Lithium OCtane Killius Earthanium Receptacle. (beat) This is model thirteen.
Gunthar wheels in a tray of, we-don’t-know-what, underneath a velvet sheet. Edgar walks around Locker 13 as he explains.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
The war’s over. But the battle has just begun! Military doesn’t need these anymore because we’re suddenly “pro” life. Goodness gracious. And at the same time, people want their chickens roaming the country side and free! Free range! Free range! Give a chicken free range and next thing you know it’s gonna want to vote!
Gunthar thinks about chickens voting.
The Farmers seem in agreement.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Do you know how many KFC’s there are in this country alone? Koo Koo Roos? Popeyes? Roscoes? El Pollo Locos? Stir fry, country fry, chow main, baked, broiled, sandwich, salad, I don’t have to tell you! Everyone needs chicken! “What about the vegetarians”, you say? Sure, there are plenty of hippies, dippys, yuppies and buppies, in the world. But our planet isn’t going vegetarian yet! We’re carnivores by nature! So rest easy my friends, for you have job security.
The farmers are lost and they’re seeming less interested.
Gunthar, is just lost. Edgar, ramps it up!
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Human kind is jonesing for fowl and you are the dealers! Demands will rise, as well as your stock! Cages are ‘spensive! And are you really gonna be the hillbilly bufoon on your block with thousands of chickens roaming the hillside like the Sound of fucking Music?! NO!(beat) That’s why you need this.
Edgar, returns his attention to Locker 13, touching the cool steel.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Made from the alloy, Killiusearthanium. This shit was top secret. Still is. Adamantium is pudding next to this. One, sixteenth of an inch thick. That’s paper thin!
Just as he says this, from the table of goodies, Gunthar, produces a perfectly timed paper lined hoop for Edgar to punch through in punctuation!
EDGAR (CONT’D)
But with hulk-like density.
Also from the goody cart, Gunthar hands Edgar a .44, which he cocks and points at Locker 13.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
And one hundred and ten percent bullet-proof!
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Sparks dance around Locker 13.
It moves not an inch.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
So your chickens will remain intact! Gunthar!
Gunthar, hops to it, unlocks Locker 13 and swings open the door. About a dozen CHICKENS pour out, excitedly! Feathers fly everywhere. Gunthar scrambles to collect the chickens.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
And it’s porous, which deters suffocation.
Edgar double takes as he notices a lone, dead, chicken resting at the bottom of the locker. Without missing a beat:
EDGAR (CONT’D)
That one was already dead.
ECU through the BULLET HOLE on the side of the locker, right to Edgar, who looks to Gunthar, indicating for him to “take care of it”.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Gunthar.
As Gunthar crosses, Edgar scoops the gum (Gunthar’s been chewing all this time) from Gunthar’s mouth and covers up the bullet hole on the sly.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Tragic. She was my favorite. In fact, that was her name, Tragic. She was the sick one.
As Gunthar collects the dead chicken, fresh BLOOD squirts out of the bullet wound, spraying Edgar and the Farmers. Gunthar, quickly runs out to dispose of the carcass. Edgar breaks the tension, by SLAMMING the locker door shut!
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Anyway. L.O.C.K.E.R. 13 is also predator proof! Anything kept inside, stays inside. Including odors. Foxes, wolves, possums, any carnivore with a keen sense of smell, and with chicken on it’s menu, will never detect your valuable feathered friends if kept in this baby. Gunthar!
Gunthar runs to attention as a rogue chicken innocently hobbles by. Edgar maliciously snatches it up! Then cradles it in his arms, kindly strokes it’s neck as he continues:
EDGAR (CONT’D)
For example. Pretend Gunthar, is a predator! A squat, ugly, ravenous beast that hasn’t eaten in weeks.
Gunthar, gets into it, trying to emulate Edgar’s description, with hilarious, physically comedic results.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
(re: chicken in his arms) Gunthar, try to get this chicken.
Gunthar, licks his lips, bears his “claws” and pretends to stalk and attack the chicken in Edgar’s arms. Just as he gets close enough, Edgar flings out his fist and WHAM! punches Gunthar in the face! Gunthar, spins from the impact and sails to the ground. Edgar continues to the farmers.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Now you shouldn’t have to exert yourself like that. Save it for your wives and daughters, eh? Your hands are your investment! Instead of challenging the problem with your fists, eliminate the problem altogether! (to Gunthar) Gunthar!
Gunthar struggles to his feet and opens the locker door.
Edgar carefully places the chicken inside.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Simply insert a chicken into our catch-proof locker doors, and…
SLAM! Gunthar shuts the door too fast and catches Edgar’s finger! He reels in pain!
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Ahhhgh!
Edgar holds his finger and stares daggers at Gunthar. Edgar takes a peek at the damage and a squirt of his own blood shoots in his face. ANGLE on the Farmers as they get sprayed…again.
Gunthar, meekly offers a hanky. Edgar snatches it away, wraps his hand, and continues…most condescendingly…
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Now say the predator happens to miraculously sense the chicken inside our locker right here. Which he won’t. But let’s say he does.(pointedly to Gunthar) Say, the worm infested, mange covered, diseased, gluttonous little bitch, approaches LOCKER 13 and tries to get inside. Go ahead. Try and get inside.
Gunthar looks to Edgar, sheepish. He doesn’t wanna. Edgar shoots him a look.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Go on now. That a boy.
Gunthar pretends to paw and claw at the locker door.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
That’s it, now try and bite it.
Gunthar reacts, confused.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Try to take a bite out of it. Open your mouth, really wide, then place your teeth around the corner there.
Gunthar, with trepidation, opens his mouth wide and places it on the corner of the locker. Just then ZZZZZZZAP!!!!
LOCKER 13, vibrates with colorful bolts of electricity like a
Tesla-Coil! Smoke emanates from the door, as well as Gunthar’s eyes, mouth, and ears! His hair stands on end.
His mouth, fused to the locker!
Edgar produces a STUN GUN, which he has jabbed onto the backside of the locker, unbeknownst to everyone. He releases the charge and a smoking Gunthar, falls to the floor.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
As a special bonus, not included in the final sale, we can equip L.O.C.K.E.R. 13 with a stun device, that would react not unlike the way you just saw. (beat) But what the heck, cuz I like you guys. I’ll just go ahead and throw it in for free!
L.O.C.K.E.R.’s door slowly swings open, revealing a very cooked chicken!
The Farmers react, skeptical. Edgar brings it home.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
I don’t know if I mentioned this, but L.O.C.K.E.R. 13 is the last one of its kind. The only one left in the entire state of Arizona! The only one left on this planet! Every land owner, barn-hand, and chicken farmer would sell me their youngest daughter for one of these (beat) What say we start opening bids!
Gunthar springs to his feet, albeit a bit wobbly, and holds up a sign reading “$1000.00”.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
One thousand dollars. For L.O.C.K.E.R. 13 and free predator deterrent. (re: fried chicken) And chicken dinner for one. Who’ll start the bidding at one thousand? One thousand dollars.
The Farmers ain’t biting.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Ah. We’re all here for a bargain, aren’t we. Well I beg your pardon. Nine-fifty!
Gunthar scrambles to find a sharpee in his pocket and crosses out “$1000” and writes “$950”.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Let’s open the bids at nine-fifty! (ala auctioneer)Nine-fifty,doIhearnine-fifty,ninefifty,rightherenine-fifty…
He trails off as the Farmers continue to stare, stoic.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
(to Gunthar) Let’s go to eight hundred.
Gunthar crosses off “$950” and scribbles “$800”.
The Farmers don’t budge. Edgar grows restless.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
(to Gunthar) No no no. Make it seven. Seven hundred.
Gunthar scribbles. Edgar tries the Farmers for approval.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Seven? How about six?
Gunthar makes the change.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
This is a military device here, gentleman! Billions of dollars in research went into…
Farmers don’t care.
Edgar’s finger is throbbing.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Alright, but I’m gonna get in trouble with my bosses if I… (new thought) Hey. If you don’t tell ’em. I won’t. Five-fifty.
Gunthar is growing weary of the changes. There is very little room left on the sign. ANGLE on the FARMERS – one, raspberries in disapproval.
Edgar stares at them with disappointment. He sizes them up like spoiled children. Finally he offers.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Seventy-five dollars?
A Farmer, FARMER #1, raises his hand.
Edgar jumps with excitement!
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Seventy-five dollars! (auction mode) Seventy-five, we got seventyfiveseventy-fivedollars. Do I hear two hundred?! Who wants to give me two hundred? TwohundreddoIheartwohundred…
He continues vying for two hundred as Gunthar finds a new piece of paper and writes “$200” on it. The Farmers aren’t budging. The bidding Farmer sits back, proud. Edgar is losing ’em.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Two hundred? No two hundred WegotseventyfiveI’mlookin. ‘fortwohundred. Seventy-fivetotwohundred? Seventyfiveto…eighty. Can I get eighty?
A different Farmer, FARMER #2, raises his hand. Farmer #1 scowls in offense.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
EIGHTY! I have eighty! Can I get eighty-five Whowantstogivemeeighty -five, eighty-five, wegoteightyIwanteighty -five, who’llgivemeeighty-five? Eightyfive? Anyone? Eighty-five?
Edgar notices a Farmer, FARMER #3, counting change in his hand.
The Farmers resume counting change, but none are biting.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Eighty-three, eighty-three, anyone, eighty-three.
The Farmers are still counting change. Some are even making trades and discussing combining funds.
Edgar looks to Gunthar, who has scribbled on everything in sight, trying to keep up with the bidding. Edgar sees no future in this.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Eighty-two dollars, and ninety-five cents, going once. One, authentic, military approved, L.O.C.K.E.R., going twice. This is model number 13. It will hold a capacity of 50 plus chickens, going, eighty-twoninety-five, still going twice…fuck it, SOLD! To that guy.
Edgar, half hearted, points towards the Farmers, then turns to Gunthar.
EDGAR (CONT’D)
Get the cash. Count it. And get them out of here.
Gunthar leaps to. The winning Farmer, celebrates. The other Farmers offer congratulations, rise from their seats and pile out.
We stay with Edgar, who retreats to the background, removes a pack of gum from his pants pocket, unwraps it and sticks it in his mouth in disgust.
SOFT in the FG: We can make out the commotion of Gunthar removing L.O.C.K.E.R. 13 from it’s pedestal and wheeling it out with the winning Farmer as Edgar shakes his head and checks his wounded finger.
After the Farmers exit, we FOLLOW Edgar as he makes the long walks back towards the door from whence he came. He throws open the door, bathing us in light and enters: INT. BACK WAREHOUSE – CONTINUOUS
A florescent lit kitchenette! There’s a fridge, water dispenser, several cabinets, drawers, rows of various tea, a coffee machine, plate of bagels and a vegetable plate. Edgar grabs a bottled water from the fridge, a bottle of vitamins from the cupboard, his favorite tea bag, and favorite mug, which he fills up with piping hot water. He searches for a band-aid, for his wounded finger, shortly followed by a change of shirt. He then unscrews the water bottle and dilutes the tea with a bit of cold so’s he can drink it right away. Gunthar enters and crosses frame.
GUNTHAR
I’m sorry I…
EDGAR
Shut up. No one asked your opinion.
GUNTHAR
You didn’t have to…
EDGAR
(mocking) You didn’t have to… (then) Just, shove them in there so we can get on with round two!
Gunthar Exits.
OFF SCREEN – We hear deep, guttural, BARKING sounds and Gunthar, opening a cage. We hear him ad-libbing distress as he is attempts to wrangle some boisterous, unseen, animals. We hear the sound of a door opening. A familiar, METALLIC DOOR. And Gunther, forcing the animals into it. Finally, he manages to corral all the creatures before finally slamming the door. A familiar METALLIC SLAM!
We PAN over to find Gunthar, pushing another L.O.C.K.E.R. on a dolly. The BARKING sounds are muffled, almost mute. Edgar, slaps a sticker marked “13” on the side.
Behind them, ala Raiders of the Lost Ark, HUNDREDS of L.O.C.K.E.Rs waiting to be sold.
Gunthar pushes the dolly through frame, we HOLD on Edgar.
Who gulps his tea, straightens his jacket, places his hair, and walks out of the room. We CONTINUE with him as he makes the long walk back to the pedestal, where Gunthar has placed the new L.O.C.K.E.R. 13. We PAN around to find, an audience of ESKIMOS! All decked out in their thick, winter coats, spears, etc. We continue PANNING, resting on Edgar, sitting in a chair, just like in the beginning. He looks at the Eskimos and after a BEAT, says:
Here is part 2 to the unfilmed segments of Locker 13. This next one is written by Adam Montierth and is called, Apache Tears:
FADE IN:
EXT. GOLDFIELD NEW MEXICO 1885 – DUSK
Five MEN on horseback ride slowly into town. The TOWNSFOLK eye the men suspiciously.
The lead horse carries a large grizzled man in dark leather. He is JACOB CALHOUN. He grins ominously with a full set of dirty teeth and looks over at his younger brother, RUSS CALHOUN. Russ smiles too, mimicking his Brother, but he is missing most of his teeth.
Russ is a thin reed with wild hair, resembling a weasel more than a man. He turns to look at the three following close behind.
One of the men has a face full of scars, aptly nicknamed SCARFACE. The man on the other side is horribly disfigured with a burn covering his bald head and half of his face, nicknamed ASH.
Russ frowns at the RIDER in the middle. He is a stark difference to the others, as he is ruggedly good looking.
He has strong hard features. It looks as if God made him out of granite.
RUSS CALHOUN
Why’d ya hafta bring him? He’s trouble I’m tellin’ ya.
JACOB CALHOUN
We need a safe guy, don’t worry he knows Sanchez.
RUSS CALHOUN
But I’ve seen his face before.
JACOB CALHOUN
Probably with Sanchez.
Russ looks back at Rider who gives him a steely gaze.
The men ride up to the bank in the center of town and hitch their horses on the post in front.
Scarface and Ash stay on their horses, the others dismount.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Now you two bone heads keep your eyes peeled this time.
SCARFACE
Boss, he’s as skittish as a mule.
ASH
Me? You’re as skittish as a Jack Ass.
SCARFACE
A Jack Ass is a mule…
JACOB CALHOUN
Enough! If’n you two… Don’t try me.
Scarface and Ash both nod. Then they turn to each other and glare daggers. Jacob turns to the others.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Alright, stick to the plan. Let’s go.
Jacob, Russ, and Rider head for the bank’s front door.
Before they have a chance to go in, a beautiful WOMAN in cowboy dress comes out of the bank.
It is HELENA STORM. She appears to be half Native
American and half Caucasian. She looks up at the three men and locks eyes with Rider in surprise.
A moment of recognition arises, as both pause in awkward silence. Riders eyes seem to plead with her.
HELENA STORM
Terence…
Russ snaps his fingers in remembrance and points at Rider.
RUSS CALHOUN
Terence Dean, I knew it. Marshal…Terence Dean!
Jacobs’ eyes squint in anger.
Russ goes for his gun, but MARSHAL TERENCE DEAN is too fast for him and immediately has his six shooter out and guns him down. Scarface’s horse jolts from the gun shot.
ASH
Let’s get outta here.
Jacob draws his Colt 45 and immediately grabs Helena from behind. He puts his gun to her head as Marshal trains his gun on him. Ash and Scarface ride off in a cloud of frantic dust.
Marshal Dean evaluates the situation as each man pauses in stalemate. Jacob eyes his brothers motionless form on the ground beside him. He quivers in rage as he spits his words out at Marshal Dean.
JACOB CALHOUN
You’ll pay dearly for that, Marshal. Now throw your gun down or I open up another hole in this pretty little thing’s head.
Marshal puts his hands up in surrender. He slowly and carefully places his pistol on the ground.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Now, see? That wasn’t so hard.
Jacob swings his gun around to the Marshal, but before he’s able to shoot, Helena lays an elbow hard into his face. In a flash she brings up a knife from her other hand and stabs Jacob in his shooting arm. He drops his gun.
Helena steps back. Jacob yells in pain and frustration as he looks up to stare at the barrel of Marshal Terence Dean.
Jacob freezes.
Marshal looks over at Helena, still in shock at the sight of her.
TERENCE DEAN
Helena. You’re alive!
Helena smiles at him, unsure of what to say.
Jacob smiles at her with an evil glint in his eyes.
JACOB CALHOUN
(Whispers.) Helena.
Terence clubs Jacob in the face with the back of his revolver.
EXT. GOLDFIELD NEW MEXICO – MORNING
The sun rises over the desert landscape. A stagecoach is drawn up to the jailhouse.
The door opens and Terence comes out with Jacob in handcuffs. Jacob has a bad bruise on his face left from the events of the previous day.
The towns’ SHERIFF follows them out carrying a bag. He throws it on the stagecoach.
SHERIFF
Do you really think it’s wise to leave so soon?
TERENCE DEAN
Jacob’s a popular man, the Judge in Tombstone’s anxious to see him. He’s got a date with the reaper.
SHERIFF
Give me time to send for my two Deputies. They can go with you.
Terence puts Jacob in the stagecoach and handcuffs him to the iron bars on the doors window.
Helena Storm walks over to the Stagecoach from across the street.
TERENCE DEAN
Thank you Sheriff, but we’ll be fine.
The Sheriff tips his hat and goes back inside.
Jacob smirks at the sight of Helena. Terence slams the door in his face. Terence walks over to meet her.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
I thought maybe you were a mirage. We didn’t get to talk last night before you disappeared. But thank you for coming to see me off.
HELENA STORM
Terence, I didn’t come to see you off, I’m the driver. This is my coach.
Helena has a hard time looking Terence in the eyes. She busies herself with getting the Stagecoach ready.
TERENCE DEAN
What? Helena, what the hell is going on here? I thought you were…I mean…the fire-
HELENA STORM
Yeah, the fire. There was a bad storm, lightning hit. I tried to stop the fire, but it was no use.
TERENCE DEAN
You were no where to be found, you made me think-
HELENA STORM
I made you…? Look, you were better off. I couldn’t wait for you forever.
TERENCE DEAN
I had work to do. I told you I’d be back.
HELENA STORM
You were gone for 13 months. I had to move on.
TERENCE DEAN
So the fire gave you a chance to start a new life?
HELENA STORM
Yeah, something like that.
FATHER WINTERS shows up. He looks uncomfortable with interrupting the heated conversation.
TERENCE DEAN
Father.
Father Winters nods politely and hands Helena his bag.
She secures it to the top of the stagecoach.
The Father opens the stagecoach door and hesitates at the sight of the prisoner in handcuffs. Jacob smiles wickedly.
JACOB CALHOUN
Father. How the hell are ya?
Father Winters nods politely and enters the stagecoach, clutching his Bible tightly.
TERENCE DEAN
Helena say something? You’re still my wife.
HELENA STORM
Another time and place maybe. You weren’t made to settle down and I couldn’t wait for you. You ran away long before I did.
Terence stands before Helena not knowing what to say.
She climbs up to her perch on the front of the stagecoach and looks down at Terence expectantly.
He stares blankly. She slaps the reins and the stagecoach takes off. Terence catches the open door and enters. He closes the door and sits back dazed.
They ride out of town. Jacob gazes out of the window as the stagecoach passes a plain pine box where his brother lie still. The undertaker shuts the lid and begins to nail it into place.
INT. DEAN’S RANCH – NIGHT – PAST
The cabin has been recently decorated with the comforts of a newly wed couple.
A younger Terence and Helena are in their king sized bed looking lovingly into each others eyes. A fire illuminates the room.
TERENCE DEAN
So how is Mrs. Dean enjoying her second day of marriage?
HELENA STORM
Better than the first. Every day seems like a dream.
TERENCE DEAN
It should.
HELENA STORM
I’m afraid that I’ll wake up one morning and you’ll be gone.
TERENCE DEAN
I’m not going anywhere.
HELENA STORM
But you’re not a rancher.
TERENCE DEAN
I am now. I don’t miss it. Wasting my life chasing demons.
HELENA STORM
You were good at it. Too good.
TERENCE DEAN
Yes I was, but I’ll be a better rancher. This is my heaven. My reward for being good.
HELENA STORM
I hope it’s enough.
INT. STAGECOACH – DAY
Terence shifts uncomfortably in his seat, lost in thought. Jacob eyes him closely. He looks at his gun and then to his handcuffs at the window.
Terence catches him and smiles for the first time. Jacob scowls. The Priest quietly reads to himself.
JACOB CALHOUN
So how do you know Sanchez?
TERENCE DEAN
Hung him in Wells. Robbed a stagecoach, killed the driver.
JACOB CALHOUN
Who hasn’t?
TERENCE DEAN
Had a nice chat before he swung. Told me where to find ya.
The Stagecoach begins to slow. Terence becomes alarmed.
He eyes Jacob suspiciously, who shrugs his shoulders.
Terence looks over at the Priest and then pokes his head out the window to see what’s up.
EXT. STAGECOACH – DAY
The Stagecoach comes to a halt. Terence exits, guns drawn. Helena grabs her rifle and jumps down from her seat. The Priest exits behind Terence.
JACOB CALHOUN
What about me?
TERENCE DEAN
Stay put Father!
The Priest hangs back with Jacob.
Terence and Helena see an old wooden foot locker on the road with a rusted iron padlock on the front. They slowly approach the chest, looking around.
HELENA STORM
What is it?
TERENCE DEAN
Trouble.
They look at the chest puzzled. Suddenly, they hear a knock from the inside. They both jump back. The knocking ceases.
Terence slowly walks forward and knocks back on the wood.
The chest begins to rock back and forth as a frantic voice is heard muffled.
Terence looks up at Helena who looks nervous. He aims and shoots the lock off the chest and opens the lid. A little man, BENNY LANG, jumps out. He is gagged and tied up. Terence unties him.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
What the hell?
BENNY LANG
Thank you kindly. I thought I’d never see the light of day again.
TERENCE DEAN
How’d you get in there?
BENNY LANG
That is quite the story, and see’n as I like to tell them, should make for a good time. Got anything to drink first?
BENNY LANG(CONT’D)
I done poured out all my fluids in that thing, if’n you know what I mean.
Helena tosses him a water canteen. Benny drinks greedily. He finishes and wipes his mouth on his sleeve.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Thank you again so kindly. There’s no end to your generosity. Ah yes, my current unfortunate predicament.
TERENCE DEAN
Cut to the quick, we need to move on.
HELENA STORM
Terence let him catch his bearings.
BENNY LANG
No need Ma’am, I’m sorry to delay. The situation is simple enough. Names Benny Lang, and I’m a gambler by profession. I happened on four fellers last night and they welcomed me into their camp. As is my nature, a poker game began and they didn’t take so kindly to my winning. They locked me in my trunk, evidently taking my wagon and all my worldly possessions with them, leaving me for dead. You’ve taken all the passion from my tale, in your haste, but there it is.
Terence takes an uneasy look around.
TERENCE DEAN(To Helena)
We need to move on.
BENNY LANG
Please sir, I don’t mean any disrespect to your generosity, but could you drop me off at the next stop.
TERENCE DEAN
I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Benny’s eyes plead with Terence. He looks to Helena for sympathy.
HELENA STORM
Terence we can’t leave him.
TERENCE DEAN
We’re only a half a day out, we’ll send someone back.
BENNY LANG
But sir, these men, were the unsavory types…
TERENCE DEAN
Evidently.
BENNY LANG
What if they come back? Plus, I don’t have food or water.
HELENA STORM
He can sit on top with me.
TERENCE DEAN
This is not a leisure trip. We are delivering a dangerous man.
HELENA STORM
Well then we better go now, but I won’t leave him.
Terence sighs in frustration, having dealt with her stubbornness before.
BENNY LANG
Thank you, thank you, I will be no trouble, I assure you. Heaven has sent two angels my way.
TERENCE DEAN
Let’s go.
Terence turns to go back to the stagecoach.
BENNY LANG
Please sir, could you help with my chest?
Terence turns back getting annoyed. Benny motions to the foot locker and smiles.
TERENCE DEAN
Leave it.
BENNY LANG
It’s my only possession now.
Terence looks at Helena and then back to Benny. He sighs again.
He walks over and closes the lid and then picks it up.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Again, many thanks. You don’t know, it’s been in my family for generations. I will be no more trouble to you.
Terence hefts the trunk on top of the stagecoach.
Helena helps Benny to the perch as Terence walks over to her.
TERENCE DEAN
You keep your eyes open, I don’t trust him.
HELENA STORM
Do your job Marshall, I’ll do mine. When this is over, we can go back to our own lives.
TERENCE DEAN
You mean our life?
Helena’s only response is to look away.
Terence takes her hand and feels for her wedding ring.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
What if I told you this was my last job?
Helena looks him straight in the eye.
HELENA STORM
I’ve heard that before, remember?
Helena steps up to her seat on the stage coach and grabs the reigns.
Terence is again left standing there as Helena starts the horses. He has to rush to catch the stagecoach door and climb in.
INT. STAGECOACH – SAME
Jacob is smiling broadly.
JACOB CALHOUN
Never gets old.
FATHER WINTERS
What’s going on Marshall?
TERENCE DEAN
Luke, Father, chapter ten.
JACOB CALHOUN
The parable of the Good Samaritan.
Terence and Father Winters stare at Jacob who continues to smile.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
With that in mind, my arm where your girlfriend dug her knife, is paining me. Is it possible to move my shackles?
TERENCE DEAN
When we get there.
JACOB CALHOUN
So kind.
TERENCE DEAN
Not another word.
Terence looks out the window at the passing red rock vistas.
EXT. DEAN’S RANCH – DAY – PAST
Young Helena exits the barn with a fresh bucket of milk.
In front of the house, she notices two US MARSHALS mounting their horses. Terence stands between them.
US MARSHAL # 1
See you day after tomorrow.
The Marshals see Helena, nod and then ride off.
Terence looks at Helena. She looks down worried and continues past him into their home. He tries to say something, but can’t find the words.
EXT. STAGECOACH – DAY
Benny and Helena sit silently on the perch. She steers the stagecoach through the winding desert, lost in thought. The sun is falling closer to the horizon.
BENNY LANG
Personally, I’m not one to settle down. Almost fell for a petite dancer in Georgetown, then I thought better of it and headed for the West. Heard the cards were highly regarded out here. They are, after all, my first love.
Helena smiles at Benny’s chatter, eager for a distraction from her thoughts.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Love takes commitment. The kind a traveller like me can’t afford.
He pulls something out of his vest pocket.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
You know what this is?
Helena looks down. Benny is holding a deep black obsidian stone.
HELENA STORM
A rock?
BENNY LANG
Yes, but do you know what they call it?
HELENA STORM
(More hesitation.) A rock?
BENNY LANG
Yes, of course. But it’s much more than that. They call it an Apache Tear and it’s very rare. Do you know how it got it’s name?
Helena shakes her head no.
BENNY LANG (CONT’D)
Alright, story time. There is a legend behind the Apache Tear. There were two young Indian lovers who were from different tribes. They were warring factions of the Apache people. They were commanded to treat the other as hostile, but they desperately loved each other. They would meet in secret, making an oath of their undying love. When their tribes learned of their treachery, they were each sentenced to death unless they denounced their love. They would not. Each one escaped from their tribe and they met again on the cliff of the mountain top, with the tribes in pursuit. With no other option before them, they jumped off the cliff to their death. Legend has it, the Apache Tears were made when the mountain wept.
HELENA STORM
That’s a beautiful story.
BENNY LANG
Commitment and sacrifice is true love.
Helena turns away with a tear in her eye.
HELENA STORM
That’s why it’s so rare.
INT. STAGECOACH – DAY
Terence is also lost in thought. Jacob eyes him closely.
JACOB CALHOUN
I’m gonna kill you. You know that?
Terence snaps into the present.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
For killin’ my Brother. You shouldn’t a done that.
Father Winters looks up from reading his Bible.
TERENCE DEAN
Actually, you killed him.
JACOB CALHOUN
How’s that?
TERENCE DEAN
Your life led you to that moment. You created it years ago when you became an outlaw. What do they say Father? Live by the sword, die by the sword? Only our swords have changed, haven’t they?
Terence pats the six shooter on his hip.
JACOB CALHOUN
Your moment’s coming Marshall.
Suddenly, the stagecoach begins to slow again.
Jacob smiles knowingly.
Alarmed, Terence pokes his head out of the window to see what’s going on.
EXT. STAGECOACH – DUSK
The stagecoach comes to a complete stop.
Terence exits with his guns drawn.
TERENCE DEAN
I told you not to stop.
Terence stops in his tracks and stares into the tree before him.
Two men ominously swing on nooses in the large oak tree by the road. The first has a crude sign painted on him in red that reads, “Horse thief”.
TERENCE DEAN (CONT’D)
This is not right.
Terence swings around just as one of Jacob’s men, Ash, comes rushing around the back of the stagecoach with a rifle. Terence raises his pistol.
SCARFACE
I wouldn’t do that Marshall. Drop your guns.
Terence slowly turns to find Scarface swinging in the trees with the first man, but he is very much alive and has two six shooters aimed directly at him.
Helena reaches for her rifle, but Ash is there to take it from her.
ASH
I don’t think so little darlin. You and the boy jump down.
BENNY LANG
Who you calling a boy? I’ve more whiskers than you.
Helena and Benny climb down from the stagecoach.
JACOB CALHOUN
You bone heads gonna keep me in here all day. I need the key in Marshall’s left vest pocket.
Ash walks over and cautiously approaches Terence.
SCARFACE
Marshall, why don’t you kindly throw my buddy the key then.
Terence looks up at Scarface who cocks his guns.
He takes the key from his vest pocket and throws it to Ash, who rushes it over to Jacob.
Jacob unlocks his handcuffs and rubs his bandaged wrist.
Ash hands him a gun.
Jacob triumphantly walks up to Terence.
JACOB CALHOUN
Well, well, well. Who’s moment is it now Marshall?
Jacob looks over at the dead man next to Scarface.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
Who’s that?
SCARFACE
He’s a horse thief. Where’d you think we got the idea.
JACOB CALHOUN
Get down from there.
Scarface struggles.
SCARFACE
Boss, I need help.
Jacob ignores him and turns back to Terence.
JACOB CALHOUN
You killed my Brother. Now it’s my turn.
Jacob turns to look at Helena. Terence moves towards Jacob who shoves a pistol in his face.
TERENCE DEAN
You got me, leave her alone.
JACOB CALHOUN
Or what, Marshall?
TERENCE DEAN
So help me, I will travel to hell to make you pay.
JACOB CALHOUN
Strong words, for a man in your position.
Jacob walks backwards towards Helena, with his gun drawn on Terence. He reaches her and looks around.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT’D)
We’re missing someone. (Yelling) Oh Father, come on out. I’ll need you to deliver some last rites.
Father Winters slowly exits the stagecoach.
Jacob turns back to Terence, as Father Winters raises a hidden pistol.
SCARFACE
Boss, look out.
Father Winters shoots Scarface dead, as a whirlwind of motion occurs simultaneously.
Scarface drops one of his six shooters and Terence catches it. Ash turns and shoots Father Winters, who goes down.
Terence shoots Ash dead.
Benny runs for cover behind the stagecoach.
Helena gets to her rifle and raises it to Jacob, just as he grabs the barrel and swings behind her.
Terence trains his gun on Jacob, who now has Helena in his grasp with his gun to her head. They face each other once more.
JACOB CALHOUN
Deja vu Marshall. Seems like we been here before.
TERENCE DEAN
Let her go, and you live.
JACOB CALHOUN
Nice trick in there with the padre. One of your Deputy’s I presume?
TERENCE DEAN
You can’t win. Give it up!
Jacob cocks his pistol and pushes it into Helena’s temple.
JACOB CALHOUN
Why Marshall, I’ve already won. I just want you to pay.
TERENCE DEAN
Don’t! Okay, okay. Take me, not her.
Terence drops his gun and holds his hands up in surrender.
JACOB CALHOUN
Oh how very chivalrous, but that’s not the point. How does the scripture go? An eye for an eye?
Helena swings a knife over, but Jacob intercepts it this time and throws it to the ground. He squeezes her tightly.
JACOB CALHOUN (CONT”D)
I don’t think so, little lady. Not this time. You see Marshall, I’m going to take something from you now.
With a wild banshee cry, Benny Lang jumps out from behind the stagecoach with a small Dillinger aimed at Jacob.
Jacob just turns and shoots him square in the chest. Benny looks helplessly down at the gaping hole in his chest and falls to the ground dead. Terence goes for his gun.
Jacob aims again at Marshall Dean. Both guns go off simultaneously. Jacob gets shot in the head and falls backwards.
Helena looks up at Marshall Dean breathlessly. He smiles. She smiles back. A red stain suddenly appears on his shirt. She hesitates unbelieving. He staggers to the ground.
She rushes over and kneels down and cradles him in her arms. She begins to cry. He struggles to breath.
HELENA STORM
Don’t leave me again, please don’t leave me.
TERENCE DEAN
I should have loved you more.
His eyes go blank as he stops breathing. She cries.
HELENA STORM
Please, please no. I will do anything. Just come back to me.
A voice is heard behind her.
It is Benny Lang now standing and uninjured. His eyes blaze red. Helena stares at him, puzzled.
BENNY LANG
Would you? Would you do anything?
HELENA STORM
What? I thought you were…
BENNY LANG
Sacrifice and commitment, remember. The sign of true love. Would you do anything?
HELENA STORM (Confused)
Of course I would!
BENNY LANG
Would you give your life? Your… soul for him?
Helena looks down at the still form of Terence and whispers.
HELENA STORM
Yes.
BENNY LANG
So be it!
Benny snaps his fingers and Terence wakes up. He looks into Helena’s eyes and kisses her. She immediately falls limp, dead.
Terence looks to Benny who smiles wickedly. He holds a white wisp in his hand. The faint voice of Helena can be heard in the wisp.
HELENA STORM (From the wisp)
I love you Terence, I always will.
The Marshall jumps up and goes after Benny, who quickly climbs up to the top of the stagecoach and opens his wooden trunk. Terence advances and Benny jumps inside, slamming the door shut on top of him.
Terence pulls the trunk down off of the stagecoach and it crashes to the ground open, empty. Terence yells helplessly in the desert.
INT. SALOON – NIGHT
Another time, another place, a seemingly normal poker game proceeds in a dark and crowded saloon. Benny Lang is smiling and rakes in another deep pot with a full house, aces high.
The GAMBLER across the table sits unblinking. Benny folds up the deed on top of the stack and puts it in his jacket pocket.
GAMBLER
That’s it, that’s everything. What have I done? I’ve ruined myself and my family. I would do anything to have the last few minutes of my life back.
Benny looks at him intently and his red eyes blaze.
I bet you didn’t know that there were officially 3 segments of the movie Locker 13 that went unfilmed, due to the fact that we couldn’t raise the funds to shoot them during the recession of 2008. I thought it would be interesting to publish in the blog the 3 missing scripts, for those of you that liked Locker 13 and would like to read what could have been. Would’ve made for a VERY different movie.
Here’s the 1st one called, Midnight Blues:
BLACK.
DANTE (V.O.)
Nietzsche once said, “The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.”
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY – SOMETIME AFTER DUSK
A plain black casket lay closed on a pallet above a freshly dug grave. The casket is closed.
The cemetery is void of people, except DANTE CHARON. In profile, Dante is a pale white haired man dressed all in black. His hat in hand, he looks sadly at the casket as he says his last good-byes.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
He never said anything about the bad times. There are some things we wish we could never remember. But sometimes…we have to. It’s the bad times that can remind us who we really are.
In silhouette, Dante looks up just as a CAR BACKFIRES, a flock of birds nearby release into the air with a start.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
So I guess the reverse must be true as well. The burden of a good memory is that one must suffer often the painful memories HE holds…almost as if he’s paying some kind of endless penance for some past mistake…
Dante’s hand reaches down and cups some earth, he pauses a second…then tosses it into the grave.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
But I guess that’s my fate. A life lived in solitude.
The morning sun hits Dante’s face. He is disfigured…
CLOSE-UP: DANTE’S EYE
His left eye is sealed shut and massive scars cover the surface from brow to cheek.
DANTE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
But it’s not only my life. I’ve made it my job.
Dante puts on his black hat. The hat of a chauffeur. He turns and walks toward a big black CADILLAC. But it’s no ordinary Cadillac.
It’s a HEARSE.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – EVENING
A WOMAN screams.
It is SARA LIPTON, a middle-aged woman, stern and of fading beauty.
She wrestles with 2 YOUNG MEN. A hand with a rag filled with some kind of liquid is roughly placed over her mouth. She slowly goes slack and loses consciousness.
The men start laughing. One of them, JAKE, looks nervous. His eyes shift back and forth as a hand wipes nervously at a white powdered nose. The burly man, JIM, slaps Jake on the arm.
JIM
It worked!
Jake laughs at Jim and nods. He looks down at Sara and nudges her with his foot as she lays sprawled out ungenerously on the carpet.
JAKE
It’s payback, bitch!
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
The Hearse door shuts.
Feet walk past to the back where it is parked next to a set of double doors.
The man in black passes a plaque that reads, “Phoenix City Morgue” on his way through the double doors.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY – SAME
The man in black walks to an entry desk in the back. A MAN IN A WHITE LAB COAT sits with his feet up on the desk watching “Matlock” from a miniature television while chewing on a piece of beef jerky.
His name tag reads, “ROBERT DIENER”.
He looks up and just about chokes on his jerky.
ROBERT
Holy shit!
Robert sees the scarred eye of Dante for the first time.
Dante ignores the reaction and pulls a name tag out of his pocket and waves it at him. It reads, “Dante Charon, Green Acres Cemetery”. He taps a clipboard.
DANTE
Here for a pickup.
Robert tries to compose himself.
ROBERT
Course.
He shuffles some papers around. Can’t find what he’s looking for. Dante seems to make him nervous.
DANTE
New here?
ROBERT
I been round the block if that’s what you mean…
Robert lifts the TV and looks under it. Dante breathes out slowly.
DANTE
This block?
ROBERT
Damn! OK, so I been here about an hour, it’s my first shift, I just had that file…
Robert tries not to look at Dante’s eye. But it’s obviously freakin’ him out.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
Ok, ok. So? You’re makin’ me nervous ok, could happen to anyone.
DANTE
Which one?
Robert stops shuffling papers. He’s confused.
ROBERT
What? I wasn’t lookin’ at the eye if that’s what you mean…I mean it’s frickin’ strange and all, but I’m no peep…
Dante looks at the clipboard.
DANTE
Cold chamber. Which one?
ROBERT
Oh, locker 13.
Dante nods and exits through a large metal door.
Robert sits back down and breathes out a huge jet of air.
ROBERT (CONT’D)
Sorry, about the eye…thing…
He trails off talkin’ to himself.
CUT TO:
INT. COLD CHAMBER – SAME
CLOSE-UP: METAL LOCKER DOOR WITH THE LARGE “13” ON IT DEAD CENTER.
Dante unlatches the metal latch. Cold air rushes out of the locker. Dante pulls out the casket on rollers. He pushes it towards the metal door in the back.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – SAME
Dante loads the casket into the Hearse.
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE – SAME
The door opens and Dante gets in and buckles up.
He lowers the visor to reveal a group of postcards, with a picture of Edward Hopper’s painting, “Nighthawks” on top. The postcards say, “Chicago Museum of Art” in the lower left hand corner of each card.
He takes the cards down and shuffles them until he finds the one he’s looking for. He puts them back under the visor with a picture of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” on top.
He closes the visor and starts the engine.
He reaches down and pulls out a “Hall and Oates” CD. He puts it into the CD player and skips to song number 4.
CUT TO:
ESTABLISHING – The city at night.
The Hearse drives through the freeway at midnight.
Hall and Oates, “She’s Gone” plays in the background.
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE FRONT SEAT – NIGHT
Dante thumps on the steering wheel with the music.
INT. HEARSE BACK – NIGHT
The casket lays in silence. Something’s not quite right. Something BUMPS softly from inside the casket.
INT. HEARSE FRONT SEAT – SAME
Dante looks out the rearview mirror.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – SAME
The Hearse pulls through the large metal gates of a cemetery.
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE FRONT SEAT – SAME
Dante looks left and right as he slowly drives down the small path.
INT. HEARSE BACK – SAME
The THUMPING gets louder, more insistent.
HEARSE FRONT SEAT
Dante stops the car and listens.
HEARSE BACK
The THUMPING is very loud and panicky.
HEARSE FRONT SEAT
Dante turns the CD player off and hears the thumping coming from the back.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
Dante gets out and walks around to the back. He opens it and pulls out the casket on rollers. The THUMPING is very fast and LOUD now.
He opens up the casket and Sara Lipton sits up and gasps for air.
She looks very much the worse for wear. Her hair is a mess, her makeup smeared on her face, and wearing what appears to be a mechanics grey jumpsuit. Dante doesn’t look surprised.
SARA
What’s going on! Why did you put me in here?
DANTE
I didn’t put you in there.
SARA
Where am I and how did I get here?
DANTE
You’re in the Green Acres Cemetery and I drove you here.
Sara gets out of the coffin and dusts herself off. She gets hysterical and runs over and starts beating on Dante.
SARA
ARE YOU CRAZY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT! THIS IS KIDNAPPING! I HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE…
Dante grabs her wrists and stops her from hitting him.
DANTE
Ma’am, calm down… I can help you through this.
She stops and cries.
SARA
You’ve done this before?
DANTE
I’ve helped people though a lot worse.
He points to his eye.
She notices it for the first time. This calms her down.
DANTE (CONT’D)
Do you remember who you are?
SARA
Of course I do, my name’s…
She’s puzzled. She can’t remember her name.
SARA (CONT’D)
My name is…
She’s terrified.
SARA (CONT’D)
I can’t remember…
Dante opens the car door and pulls out the clipboard.
DANTE
Sara Lipton.
She remembers.
SARA
YES! YES! Sara…of course my name is Sara!
He nods. She nods.
DANTE
Do you remember how you got in there?
She shakes her head. He shakes his head.
DANTE (CONT’D)
What’s the last thing you remember?
SARA
I remember working today. I’m a CPA…
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Sara is at her desk, she’s yelling at someone.
SARA
That’s it! NO MORE CHANCES! I’m sick of the lies! The backstabbing! I won’t take it anymore…
She throws a file into a startled man’s lap.
SARA (CONT’D)
GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE! YOU’RE FIRED, JAKE!
CLOSE-UP: Jake.
Jake’s eyes are panicked.
JAKE
You can’t do this! I been with this firm 10 years, I can’t start over…
She pushes him toward the door.
SARA
I just did! I never want to see you around here again! Don’t come back…
He walks away, stunned.
She SLAMS the door.
SLAM CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
Her eyes remember little things, but her brow furrows.
SARA
I had a bad day today…I can remember some things…but not how I got here…
DANTE
It will come to you.
CUT TO:
INT. HOME – EVENING
Sara comes home to an empty house. She opens the front door, turns on the hall foyer light. She reads the mail on a side table.
INT. KITCHEN – SAME
She opens the fridge. Hardly anything in there. Nothing interests her.
INT. BEDROOM – SAME
She turns on the bedroom lights and looks at the bed. There is only one pillow in the center of the bed. She leaves.
INT. FOYER – SAME
She stands in the empty room. She stands in an empty house.
She is alone.
She leaves and SLAMS the door behind her.
SLAM CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
She’s crying now. The memories are coming on stronger now.
SARA
I couldn’t go home so I went back to the office…
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE – EVENING
Sara screams.
She wrestles with 2 YOUNG MEN. A hand with a rag filled with some kind of liquid is roughly placed over her mouth. She slowly goes slack and loses consciousness.
FLASH CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
The memories are flooding in a torrent against her. She cries openly, trying to gain her composure.
SARA
It was Jake…he wanted to get back at me for firing him…but he was a junkie…I couldn’t have that in the office anymore. I covered for him way too long…
FLASH CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE – EVENING
She slowly wakes up from the floor. She gets up groggily. She can hear voices in the next room. She shakes her head and walks over to the door.
INT. ROOM – SAME
Jim and Jake are arguing. There’s a table between them with cocaine and hard liquor scattered about. A gun sits in front of Jim.
JIM
…we can get a ransom!
JAKE
From who? She’s got no friends or family, everyone hates her!
JIM
-Then what, JAKE? WHAT DO WE DO WITH HER?
JAKE
Make her clear her bank account! Get all the stuff from her house–
Sara opens the door and staggers in. She’s not quite right yet, still not lucid from being drugged.
SARA
I’ve got to get to the police! You’re going to JAIL! YOU’RE…
Jim picks up the gun, startled as she hobbles forward like a creature from a horror movie.
She sways forward, woozy, Jim thinks she’s coming to get him. He pulls the gun up and everything SLAMS to slow motion…
His finger pulls the trigger.
The gun FIRES…
She gets shot in the chest. Looks down at the gaping hole where her heart should be. She crumples to the floor.
CUT TO:
EXT. HEARSE – NIGHT
Sara stops. Dante nods.
DANTE
You remember now, don’t you?
She reaches up and unzips the jump suit to reveal a Y INCISION on her chest.
DANTE (CONT’D)
They only do a Y-Incision when there’s been an autopsy…
She looks at him, in amazement.
SARA
You knew?
DANTE
It always goes smoother when they find out for themselves. I’ve been through this before remember?
She looks over at the casket. She walks over and lifts it.
The body of Sara Lipton still lies inside. She is looking at herself.
SARA
But how?
DANTE
The ones who aren’t quite ready yet, just need a little time to adjust. To get use to the idea of passing through…
SARA
Passing through, where?
DANTE
A much better place.
She cries.
SARA
Really?
DANTE
Yes. You have loved ones, Sara. They are waiting for you.
SARA
For me?
DANTE
Yes, Sara. You’re not alone. There is a place for you, and you’re not alone. A much better place than here.
She walks forward and wipes her tears. She smiles up at Dante. She reaches over and touches his eye.
SARA
You see much better than we do, don’t you?
He smiles at her.
She turns and walks away.
SARA (CONT’D)
You’re the ferryman, aren’t you? The river Styx, come to bring me to the other world…
DANTE
The river Acheron actually. My name’s Charon.
He nods to her.
DANTE (CONT’D)
You’re free to go, Sara. Go in peace.
SARA
Thank you, Charon.
She smiles and slowly fades away.
He walks over and closes the casket.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT CEMETERY – MORNING
A plain black casket lay closed on a pallet above a freshly dug grave. The casket is closed.
The cemetery is void of people, except Dante Charon.
DANTE
Aristotle once said, “Happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of it…”
CUT TO:
INT. HEARSE – SAME
He lowers the visor and takes the postcards down. He shuffles them until he finds Georges Seurat’s painting, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.” He puts that on top and closes the visor.
He skips the CD to number 2 and “Sara Smile” from Hall and Oates starts to play.
It’s very rare for a film to cross genres effectively, but The Frighteners (1996) is just one of those special films. It’s altogether funny, and terrifying, but most of all a thrilling fantasy. The film is about Frank Bannister, who develops psychic abilities, after a car accident kills his wife and he is injured, allowing him to see, hear, and communicate with ghosts. He gives up his job as an architect, letting his unfinished “dream house” sit incomplete for years, and puts these new skills to use by befriending a few ghosts and getting them to haunt houses in the area to drum up work for his ghostbusting business; Then Frank proceeds to “exorcise” the houses for a fee. But when he discovers that an entity resembling the Grim Reaper is killing people, marking numbers on their forehead beforehand. With the help of his ghostly pals, Frank pursues this ghastly creature. Meanwhile, Dr. Lucy Lynskey is investigating Patricia Bradley, a woman who was involved in a mass-murder as a teenager, and has been experiencing ghostly attacks. Despite the fact that the police, and FBI Agent Dammers want to pin the murders on Frank, he and Lucy realize that something supernatural and sinister is happening in Fairwater and will stop at nothing to find the truth.
This film didn’t do too well at the box office, because frankly, no one knew what to make of it so the marketing fell apart. If you want to watch some both funny and scary…both fantasy and thriller…then this film can be a great mix! Michael J. Fox plays Frank Bannister with his usual charisma and instantly pulls you in effectively to this strange new world. No other actor was considered for the Frank Bannister role other than Michael J. Fox. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh were having a meeting with Robert Zemeckis (who produced) about the film and his name came up. Zemeckis liked the idea, and sent the script to Fox. The film was originally planned as a Tales from the Crypt (1989) feature, but producer Robert Zemeckis liked the script so much, he decided it should stand on its own and not be part of a series. Danny Elfman was so impressed with Peter Jackson’s previous movie, Heavenly Creatures (1994), that he offered to do the score for one of Jackson’s next movies, and agreed to this movie without even knowing what it was about.
Michael J. Fox performed many of his own stunts in the film. Ironically he broke his foot by a simple fall whilst filming in the forest at night. Peter Jackson said Fox’s injury was actually a blessing in disguise because it allowed him to work on the script some more, and edit some of the film’s scenes while Fox recovered for a week. When Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson were writing the part of the Drill Sergeant in the graveyard, they wrote the part as a spoof of R. Lee Ermey’s character in Full Metal Jacket (1987) with the intention of getting an actor in New Zealand for the role. But they didn’t feel the actors who auditioned were right and finally ended up approaching Ermey himself, and he said YES! The shot of R. Lee Ermey screaming down at Frank Bannister in the cemetery is a clear reference to the shot of him screaming down at Pvt. Joker in Full Metal Jacket.
The film’s serial killing couple is based on real life people. Charles Starkweather, the real life killer referenced in the movie, killed 11 people (and 2 dogs) during a nearly two month killing spree. His 14-year-old girlfriend (Carillon Ann Fugate) accompanied him for, and participated in most of the killings. He was caught, tried, convicted, and executed (by electric chair), in a seventeen month span. Caril was not executed, but sentenced to a “Life” term in prison. She was paroled after serving 17 years in prison. In order to trick the audience into believing that Patricia Bradley (the Caril character) was innocent of the Fairwater murders, Peter Jackson specifically wanted Dee Wallace for the part. He figured that her role as Elliot’s mother in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) was about the sweetest character you could find, and therefore no one in the audience would suspect her.
For several years I’ve been asked how we go about funding our movies independently, and so a discussion usually follows regarding all that goes into development and pre-production of a film. Now, there’s a lot involved, and I have at times tried to breakdown the process for people and all of the work that goes into it. As a way to clarify further, I will be adding “no-frills” versions of documents we’ve developed over time to present to investors, production companies, and/or producers that helped us along the way. Several of these documents we’ve polished and updated, but for educational purposes for those interested in independent film production, I can share paired down samples of what we use for certain documents.
My next sample is a very basic, Movie Prospectus.
It’s for a movie that we are still very excited about, but have put on the back burner for now, so I don’t mind sharing this as an example. I hope you find this to be helpful:
Business and Product
Company’s Business
Crossing Walter, LLC (herein also referred to as “CW, LLC” or “The Company”) is an Arizona-based company formed for the purpose of developing and producing a full-length feature film currently titled “Crossing Walter” (herein also referred to as “The Film”), a family comedy. Brothers’ Ink Productions serves as the Member-Manager of The Company.
Overview
We are seeking film production financing in the amount of $3,250,000 (three million two hundred fifty thousand US dollars) that includes the cost of pre-production, principal photography, and post-production for a theatrical and/or DVD release for the film.
$25,000 per Membership Interest, an aggregate of 130 Interests available for a total of $3,250,000 (three million two hundred fifty thousand US dollars) for the production. (PPM available upon request.)
This package has a high success potential due to the following reasons:
Recognizable TV actors, which makes the film more marketable, commercial and more attractive to a wider audience.
The Comedy genre is extremely attractive in the indie feature industry and sells well to foreign markets.
Brothers’ Ink is well established in the Phoenix Film market and will utilize their influence and reputation to recruit cast and crew for all stages of the production. This will create a buzz throughout the region and a sense of community for the film. The filmmakers and actors will in essence, market the film to all of their families and friends, building up an audience for the release of the film in the Phoenix market.
Brothers’ Ink has secured a letter of intent (LOI) for distribution…(Request to view LOI)
The Product – Crossing Walter
Crossing Walter, LLC owns the option on the original screenplay, written by John Waldron, who is also on board as Executive Producer.
Feature Film Logline
An average family man accidentally mistaken for a human trafficker gets deported the weekend of his daughter’s wedding. With no money or possessions, he struggles to cross the border and make it back home in time to walk his daughter down the aisle.
Synopsis
“Crossing Walter” is a film about Walter Wheeler, a compulsive tax accountant and over protective family man. His world is turned upside down when his daughter comes home for the weekend to announce that she is quitting college and getting married on Sunday.
At the advice of his hapless brother-in-law, Walter innocently picks up a few day laborers and gets mistaken as a human trafficker (coyote) and deported to Mexico. With no money or possessions, he struggles to cross the border and make it back home in time for the wedding.
Through the adventure, Walter finds a renewed strength with the love of his family and learns to let his children live their own lives. “Crossing Walter” explores the themes of love, endurance, respect and commitment and that nothing is more important than family.
Audience
Families
Couples
Genre
Comedy
Family
Comparative
Sideways
Little Miss Sunshine
Stranger Than Fiction
Garden State
Business Strategy
Brothers’ Ink, LLC’s business strategy is not predicated on luck. Given our knowledge of the film industry and the track record of our team, we are aware of the challenges and risks involved in moviemaking. We also know how to apply our professional experience in business affairs, creative affairs, development, production, and marketing to manage the inherent risks. We have a talented management team with business ownership backgrounds, film industry backgrounds, negotiating acumen, and storytelling abilities.
The film will be produced independently of a major motion picture studio. That is, it will be created and financed outside the major studios. However, Brothers’ Ink, LLC will seek leading distributors (including the distribution divisions of major studios) in the United States and abroad in order to obtain the widest possible distribution of the film and to maximize revenues.
The production cost of an average Hollywood film produced by a major studio continues to rise and now stands at over $60MM according to industry estimates. Each of the major studios has established units to produce pictures at lower budgets.
According to recent research from the Motion Picture Association of America, the average production costs for these subsidiaries and affiliated studios (companies such as Sony Pictures Classics, Fox Searchlight, New Line, and Miramax) is still high at $34MM. As a result, Hollywood has a strong incentive to work with independent producers who can deliver quality motion pictures that have wide audience appeal.
Brothers’ Ink, LLC plans to create a financially successful film without the burden of significant overhead charges, which in the case of major studios, have little to do with the production of the film. The Company will keep overhead to an absolute minimum and will devote our resources to delivering a quality film to the screen.
Brothers’ Ink, LLC will attempt to earn revenue and generate investor returns from the exploitation of the following film rights in the United States and worldwide:
Licensing the rights for theatrical exhibition
Foreign Distribution
DVD sales and rental
Pay-per-view
Television broadcasts (cable, free TV)
Other ancillary markets (including licensing and merchandising, etc.)
Obtaining an “acquisition deal” is a primary business objective. In this type of distribution arrangement, the independent producer raises production monies from investors, but distributor funds are not used to market and distribute the movie. The distribution agreement is usually entered into after the film is produced (i.e., the film is already “in the can”). This approach to film finance and distribution generally provides the producer and creative team with the most creative control and the investors greater profit participation.
In order to deliver the film on budget, the management of Brothers’ Ink, LLC plans to adhere to the highest standards of cost control and financing reporting. Key reasons for budget overruns on films are the lack of financial controls and the lack of overall project management. We will implement and maintain an accurate budget and related financial reports, a pre-production schedule, a shooting schedule and a post-production schedule. Tight internal procedures, the implementation of accounting policies in accordance with US GAAP, and outside review of financial statements by a CPA-certified auditor will ensure that the Company’s management and investors have an accurate fiscal assessment.
The Industry
Though the U.S. motion picture industry continues to be both profitable and financially stable, box office receipts, once the cornerstone of motion picture distribution, continue to become less and less important as emerging technologies both create new distribution methods and make those methods more accessible to independent filmmakers.
Filmed Entertainment
Strong box office receipts will fuel spending worldwide.
DVDs and digital distribution will continue to boost the home video market.
No other country’s film industry creates entertainment that is as well received as U.S. produced movies. In Europe, American films currently capture from 50%-90% of the box office.
The licensing of films for home Video/DVD and television (network and syndicated, pay cable, and basic cable) is now overtaking revenues derived from theatrical release. Nevertheless, the stronger the box office returns, the more money a film property will command in ancillary markets.
While the theatrical market has enjoyed steady growth, the home Video/DVD sector has been even more impressive, with digital distribution continuing a strong and steady growth worldwide.
The video IPOD, IPAD, IPHONE as well as online download and burn services create additional distribution methods for studios and independents alike. This bodes well for independent filmmakers who often find it easier to obtain home video distribution.
With robust industry conditions projected for the next five years the underlying fundamentals are in place to support independent film production and distribution.
Independent Films
The market for independently produced films in the U.S. has increased significantly in the last five years. The outstanding box office success of films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding ($368,744,044 Worldwide box office), Little Miss Sunshine ($99,121,298 Worldwide box office), and Napoleon Dynamite ($46,118,097 Worldwide box office) is well known. However, there is a well-established trend of independent films being embraced by ever-broader audience segments.
Above and beyond such record-setting results, there is a larger trend emerging at the box office. Independent films are no longer limited to niche or art house releases. Broad audiences across the country are now embracing independently produced films.
In part, this growth is being fueled by the continued expansion of theatres presenting independent films. “The proliferation of indie screens enables distributors to keep their films in cinemas longer, even if they aren’t breakout hits,” notes the business daily Crain’s New York Business.
Distribution and Marketing
When the film is completed, the Management team will explore the most financially optimal arrangement for Brothers’ Ink, LLC and its shareholders. This will include a domestic distribution deal with a major distribution Company, selling off of individual international territories and/or the combination of both. The intent of the management team is to structure a distribution deal that not only pays the Company monies up front but also ensures that the film will get the maximum exposure and marketing support by an established and well-known distributor. To this extent, the management team may accept distribution contracts that initially may not pay the most upfront for the picture but, at the discretion of the management team, presents the most viable opportunity to make revenues long-term.
As an example of the various opportunities that may be presented to the Company, a foreign distribution deal involves an advance against sales in all non-North American territories from a foreign sales Company. This advantage can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to several million dollars, depending on the perceived value of he film and the structure of the contract. The film sales Company will then sell rights to distribute the film territory-by-territory. The film receives monies over and above the advance after the advance and the foreign sales Company has recouped the distribution expenses. Generally a cap is established in the contract for all expenses of the film incurred by the sales Company. Additional revenues, if any, are split between the foreign sales Company and the producers of the film. The foreign sales Company will take a percentage of revenues from a low 15% to a high 40%, depending on the amount of the initial advance. All these points are negotiable and are dependent on the needs of the individual film.
Domestic distribution deals are similar, except that the distribution rights are sold to one distributor rather thank to multiple distributors in multiple territories. Generally, the domestic distributor will acquire all rights, i.e. theatrical, television, and home video, in order to maximize exposure and coordinate marketing and advertising.
Foreign and domestic theatrical distribution, as well as home Video/DVD, are the primary revenue streams for independent films. Additional revenue may be derived from television and ancillary markets. Success in these ancillary markets will usually depend on the quantity of success enjoyed by the picture during its theatrical exhibition.
Brothers’ Ink, LLC has developed several strategies to obtain distribution for the picture. First, we will leverage and further cultivate existing professional relationships in the entertainment business. We plan to develop direct connections to both studio distribution executives as well as to production companies with “studio output deals”. (Studio output deals allow certain high-profile production companies to utilize the global distribution arms of major studios.)
To gain access to an even broader set of distribution decision-makers, we will seek to create an aura of desirability for the film from the very beginning. We will generate publicity for the project in the pre-production phase and we will start creating “buzz” within the industry and the comedy fan community. This is accomplished by, among other tactics, communicating with industry trade magazines and providing updates to insider websites. This early level of awareness will help strengthen our position as we begin to brief executives at the major studios. However, based on the commercial potential of the film, studio executives will want to keep track of our progress. When the film is complete, we will enter it into festivals around the world. The festivals will enable us to expose the film to influential moviegoers and to gain press attention.
In addition, we will retain a sales agent to represent the film at major film markets including the American Film Market, which takes place each November in Santa Monica, CA and Cannes Film Festival, which takes place each May in France. Film Buyers from around the world gather at these markets seeking motion pictures for foreign and domestic distribution in theatrical, television and ancillary markets. All of these elements will help us to expose the film to influential moviegoers, to gain press attention, and help our film stand out from competitive films.
The film will be particularly appealing to distributors due to large audience appeal because of the family and comedy genres and the PG targeted rating. With a film that is well received on the festival circuit, which connects with a broad audience, we should be suitably positioned to obtain a distribution deal from a major distributor. We will seek distribution from companies that give the films a theatrical run, but that are also strong in DVD/Video distribution. While the film business is inherently risky, we are producing the film at a small enough budget that will enable us to generate a profit under a number of different scenarios.
Production
Principle photography is planned for the Fall/Winter of 2016. Pre-production has already begun. The films will be shot entirely on location in Georgia. For further information on the benefits of filming in Georgia, see ‘Georgia Motion Picture Tax Incentives’ on Page 13.
Rights
Brothers’ Ink intends to negotiate all ancillary rights to Crossing Walter worldwide. Ancillary rights include but are not limited to the following: Network TV, Premium Cable TV, Syndicated TV, DVD rental and sales, Pay-Per-View TV, Posters, Soundtrack CDs, Toys, Soft Drinks, Games, etc.
All rights are currently with John Waldron and Brothers’ Ink Productions. These rights are to be negotiated with each individual distribution territory worldwide. We seek to retain all publishing rights.
Merchandising
We are looking for partnerships with major advertising like Pepsi, Apple Computer, and Dominos Pizza to help with creating merchandising for the films to possibly include a music soundtrack, toys, clothing, special promotions, posters, games, books, etc. The merchandising rights will be negotiated as needed.
Licensing
Concurrently, we will negotiate television licensing, cable, DVD/Video and all other ancillary rights Worldwide.
Net Profit
Net Profits will be distributed after all expenses and fees are met and will be paid as follows:
90% to the investors, 10% to Brothers’ Ink Productions, until 150% of initial capital investment is reached;
For a profit projection, see Figure3.5 under ‘Revenue Forecasting and Projections’ on page 15.
Casting
We are committed to including at least two (2) “A” list actors that will attract studio distribution and/or audience interest.
Potential Cast:
WALTER:
Paul Giamatti
Jeff Daniels
Bill Engval
DeWAYNE:
Bruce Campbell
John Tuturro
Jim Belushi
PATRICIA:
Holly Hunter
Frances McDormand
Bonnie Hunt
GUY:
M.C. Gainey
Larry the Cable Guy
FAST FACTS
Rating
78 of the films in the top 100 grossing films of all time (Worldwide) are rated PG or PG-13.
22 of the films in the top 25 grossing films of all time (Worldwide) are rated PG or PG-13. Out of the other 3, two are G and 1 is R.
All 10 of the top 10 grossing films of all time (Worldwide) are PG or PG-13.
Genre
Over 50% of all the films on the one hundred top grossing films of all time (Worldwide) would fall under the Family or Comedy Genres.
Out of the 18 films entering the top 25 (Worldwide) since 2000, 13 of them are Family or Comedy.
So far in 2007, 8 of the top 10 grossing films (Domestic) are Family or Comedy.
Executive Summary
Brothers’ Ink Productions
In 2003, Donovan Montierth, Adam Montierth and Jason Walters created Brothers’ Ink Productions. They released their first 35mm short film, “Reveille” to audiences in 2004 and have since produced or partnered with other production companies to produce over 15 short films based on Brothers’ Ink scripts.
The company has participated in over 40 film festivals across the country, won over 20 awards for their films and screenplays, and sold and optioned several screenplays. Many of the films have aired on TV and most recently, Brothers’ Ink Productions signed a contract with the Department of Defense for them to play “Reveille” on the American Forces Network and the Pentagon Channel throughout 2007. Brothers’ Ink Productions won a Rocky Mountain Emmy® Award for “Reveille” on October 6th, 2007.
Brothers’ Ink Productions added Nick Stahr, Neil Mather, John Waldron and Adam Devaney as Creative Directors in November 2008. This enabled Brothers’ Ink Productions to increase production and in 2008 they produced 6 short films and went into development on 3 feature films.
Brothers’ Ink Productions is an award-winning production company focused on creating commercial films that are high in quality at conservative budgets. Brothers’ Ink recently finished their first feature film called Locker 13 starring Golden Globe Winner Ricky Schroder, Rick Hoffman, Jon Gries, Jon Polito, Curtis Armstrong, Krista Allen, Tatyana Ali and lensed by Academy Award Winner Russell Carpenter.
Member Managers
John Waldron
Executive Producer, Brothers’ Ink Productions
John Waldron is a professional stand-up comedian, comedy writer and producer. He produced and co-hosted “Morning Coffee”, an AM radio morning show on KFHX 1620 AM, produced and co-hosted “Happy Hour”, a drive-time comedy talk show on NBC radio, and has written comedy for KDKB’s “Tim and Mark Show”, “The Howard Stern Show”, and several local radio programs.
He has trained with David Razowsky of Second City, Tony Vicich of The Tempe Improv, and performed with the likes of Jeff Altman, Charles Fleischer, Franklin Ajaye, and Steve Bluestein. He has hosted several television programs, including “Arizona Express”, “Arizona Book-Nook”, and “Live!…on tape!”, a short-lived but hilarious comedy talk-show in the Phoenix Market. He has Directed, Produced, and Acted in several Brothers’ Ink films, including “American Big Game”, “Dirty Laundry”, “Relocation”, and “Neighborwood”.
Donovan Montierth
Executive Producer, Brothers’ Ink Productions
Donovan has written, sold and optioned several screenplays, including adapting two novels from popular thriller authors into scripts. Donovan was also included as an Honorable Mention in the Best American Mystery Stories 2007, edited by Carl Hiaasen, for a short story called, “Capacity to Kill” which is published in the Thuglit Anthology Hardcore Hardboiled by Kensington Press. Donovan won an Emmy Award along with his brother Adam for writing, directing and producing Reveille, which was shown on the Pentagon Channel and all over the world on the American Forces Network.
Adam Montierth
Executive Producer, Brothers’ Ink Productions
For many years, Adam has specialized in directing, writing and producing a plethora of programs in classic and new media. He specializes in providing a cinematic storytelling experience for advertisers/brand marketers that want to reach their audience in a new and effective way. Some highlights include a 30 minute interview with New York Best Selling Author J.A. Jance, a viral public service announcement for battered women, a10-minute short film about military veterans that was viewed over 6 million times on Google and the release of an informative children’s book called, “Dream” that included a book tour where he spoke to elementary schools throughout Arizona about the importance making your dreams come true.
In regards to utilizing private financing instead of having a major studio produce the film, “Crossing Walter” has two distribution options; 1) Negative Pick-Up1 or 2) Distribution Only2. Relative to the direct expenses of the comparative Family Comedies listed above, below is a breakdown of revenue, expenses and a potential return for “Crossing Walter”.
1In film production, a negative pickup is a contract entered into by an independent producer and a movie studio wherein the studio agrees to purchase the movie from the producer at a given date and for a fixed sum. Depending on whether the studio pays part or all of the cost of the film, the studio will receive the domestic, international, DVD and/or TV rights to the film, with net profits split between the producer and the studio. (source: Wikepedia.org)
2In film production, a distribution only deal is a contract entered into between an independent producer and a movie studio wherein the studio agrees to advertise, market and distribute the film. The studio will recoup Direct Distribution Expenses prior to the disbursement of net profits.
Description
Negative Pick-up
Distribution Only
US Theatrical Gross Box Office
$ 15,000,000
$ 15,000,000
US Gross DVD Sales & Rental
$ 17,931,051
$ 17,931,051
US Gross Network, Premium Cable & Syndicated TV
$ 7,500,000
$ 7,500,000
International Theatrical Gross Box Office
$ 22,500,000
$ 22,500,000
International Gross DVD Sales & Rental
$ 26,896,577
$ 26,896,577
Int’l. Gross Network, Premium Cable & Syndicated TV
$ 10,800,000
$ 10,800,000
Cumulative Gross Receipts (SUB-TOTAL)
$ 100,627,628
$ 100,627,628
Direct Distribution Expenses
$ 77,064,191
$ 71,234,140
Negative Cost (BUDGET)
$ 5,000,000
$ 5,000,000
Talent Residuals
$ 3,000,000
$ 3,000,000
Producer’s Gross Receipts
$ 18,297,624
$ 24,190,675
Talent Participation (if any, @ 7%)
$ 1,280,834
$ 1,693,347
Producer’s Net Receipts
$ 17,016,790
$ 22,497,328
Studio’s Share
$ 8,508,395
$ –
Producer’s Share (NET PROFIT)
$ 8,508,395
$ 22,497,328
Investor’s Share
$ 7,629,198
$ 21,538,894
Investor ROI
153%
431%
Brothers’ Ink Productions is looking for funding or Production Partner for the feature film with an expected budget of $3.25 Million. For Script, Prospectus, Executive Summary, PPM, Budget or more info:
Please contact John Waldron at CrossingWalter@Brothers-ink.com.
