LOGLINE

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It's the summer of 1982.  Following their parents' bitter divorce, 13-year old Mickey and his older brother Wade stay in the country with their farm-hand father, Acre.  This season of unexpected self-discovery for Mickey coincides with some mysterious and violent changes to the world at large.
The frightening insanity of George A. Romero's The Crazies
The character self-discovery of Call Me By Your Name
The unwholesome manipulation of 1985's Smooth Talk

QUICK PITCH

90 second (+) video pitch for BOYS.

FEEDBACK

Artist Vanessa Puopolo:  “'Boys' is an absolute wonder. It is simultaneously horrifying and heartbreaking. Positively riveting."

Filmmaker Monte Light:
"The scene between Acre and Mickey, after Acre's head is injured and Mickey is caught sipping a beer, is goddamn poetry.
​It's beautiful, poignant, the kind of stuff you win awards for."

PROPOSED CASTING

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ACCOLADES

2021 TOP FIVE Finalist @ Screamfest
2021 Top 20% @ Academy Nicholl Fellowship
2021 Feature Screenplay Finalist @ FilmQuest
2021 Top 25 Finalist @ NOLA Horror Film Festival
2021 Official Selection @ Indie Suspense/Horror/SciFi Film Fest
2021 Official Selection @ LA Int'l Horror Film Festival
2021 Horror Semi-Finalist @ Table Read My Screenplay Genre
2021 Official Selection @ Austin After Dark Film Festival
2020 Finalist @ ISA Virtual Pitch Challenge
2020 Official Selection @ Screamwriting Festival
2020 Official Selection @ ​Vegas Cinefest Int'l Film Festival

PRESS

Screamfest 2021 Screenplay Winners & Finalists, via MovieBytes
ISA Virtual Pitch Challenge Winners & Finalists:  including BOYS

HEY, SHANNON!

In what has become a tradition in most of my scripts,
​​I have a character named "Shannon" within the story.  ​In BOYS, "Shannon" is Mickey's beloved childhood doll.

READING

BASICS
[ A virtual reading was held in September 2020 ]
The Cast: Ryan Newton Harris, Katherine LaVictoire,
Joel Liestman, Monte Light, Motown Maurice, Matt Mercer,
Steve Newman, Whit Spurgeon and Suzanne Voss.

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL FEEDBACK

There are interesting ideas throughout Boys. The script works best when it focuses on what is unique about the characters and world of the story. The early beats of the women collapsing and one foaming at the mouth, and the farmer behaving strangely going after the cow introduce an interesting tension and mystery into the narrative.The third act of the script brings the events together and creates a strong tone that helps the script stand out.

SCREAMFEST FEEDBACK

"There is a fantastic sense of danger lurking underneath the entire script. It is impossible to tell who we can trust; nothing and no one feels safe."
  • ​GENRES:  Horror / LGBTQ / Drama
  • SUB-GENRES:  Coming-of-Age / First Love
  • PROTECTION:  WGA; West registered
  • LENGTH:  Feature-length
  • PAGE COUNT:  One hundred and six (106)
  • INSPIRATIONS:  During a daily meditation,​ a childhood memory sparked this idea.
  • BEGINNINGS:  Writing began on 05.19.20
  • DRAFTS:  A 5th draft is complete
  • NUMBER:  BOYS is my 13th feature spec​​
  • PROBABLE MPAA RATING: R
  • STORY CONSULTANT / EDITOR:  Jonna Jackson
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