Sins of Our Forefathers (Notes and Concepts)

Sins of Our Forefathers is a new concept for a film I’ve wanted to write for years. Horror is not my most sought after genre in terms of watching but it is a genre that is often used for up and coming filmmakers. I have pitched this idea to friends and acquaintances and they have responded quite positively.

The story so far: During the outbreak of the American Civil War, a brigand of Confederate soldiers ambush a village of Shawnee natives, killing the men, women and children and laying waste to their homes. The lone survivor is the village shaman. Devastated and enraged by the heinous attack, the shaman places a curse on the land. Whosoever decides to build on this land will meet misfortune.

Months after the attack, a group of settlers lay claim to the land and begin to build the town of Nazarene, Texas. Over the years of the town’s existence, the townsfolk are met with tragic incidents, ultimately leading to the town being razed to the ground during a catastrophic fire. At the turn of the 20th century, Nazarene is practically a ghost town until 1949, with the construction of a maximum security prison, which has a housing capacity of 1200 inmates. As expected, accidents and deaths between inmates and correctional officers began to rise.

Our story takes place in 1980, a FBI agent, who is of mixed heritage (part Shawnee, Caucasian) arriving at the prison to collect his estranged father’s remains.His father was a correctional officer for the prisoner and died under mysterious circumstances. Looking to make sense of this, our protagonist investigates and looks to find a connection to the prison and the peculiar rise in accidents and deaths.

IDEAS AND CONCEPTS

Protagonist will be of mixed heritage (Native American and Caucasian). Father (Caucasian) is a correctional officer at a prison and a veteran of WWII. Mother (Native American) was a waitress at a diner the protagonist’s father frequented. During this time in America, interracial couples were highly frowned upon, which meant that they would have to hide the fact they were together, even though they were very much in love.

The protagonist’s mother eventually moved to the state of Washington. Protagonist would spend his school years (elementary through college) there, ultimately majoring in Criminal Justice. He entered the FBI as a special agent after successfully completing the training at the FBI academy. His father would continue his work at a maximum security prison in the area. He would remain there until his death. Due to the strange circumstances surrounding his death, there are no concrete answers as to why this happened.

Visually, the look of the Native Americans that will appear at crucial moments in the story will have pale faces with black eyes (achieved through contact lenses or paint around their eyes). They will appear somber, lamenting over something. They will be wearing the clothing indicative of their tribe. No blood will be shown on their bodies but we will see the wounds that mortally injured them, whether they are by gun or other means of violence.

Overall tone of the film will be reminiscent of 1980’s The Shining and 2008’s The Happening. The violence will be visceral but will serve the story, not just for the sake of violence.

Regarding The Flash (2023)

The ongoing legal troubles facing The Flash star Ezra Miller are leaving a dark cloud over the Scarlet Speedster’s first solo film outing. My expectations were at sea level (to put it mildly), with the supposed plot leaks and bringing back a 70 year old Michael Keaton to replace Ben Affleck in a fractured DCEU. With this film being DC’s first foray into the Multiverse, it all feels like a jumbled mess that will alienate even more of the fan base.

As Barry Allen, they (Miller) have been receiving mixed responses which only began to improve after their performance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. With the ongoing legal disputes that are surrounding the actor and their strange and concerning response to the allegations, Warner Brothers Discovery is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Pundits and critics alike have offered their suggestions on what WBD should do regarding The Flash. What is the best course of action in dealing with the alleged misconduct from one of the marquee actors leading a potential blockbuster franchise?

The rumored budget for the film, which is now scheduled to release on June 23rd, 2023 is $100 million plus. With actors such as Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Michael Shannon, Sasha Calle and Ron Livingston, this is an impressive ensemble cast. The film was originally going to hit theaters in November of 2022, but it was delayed. The film is, by all accounts, finished, as it has been test screened over the last few months. The most recent of which has garnered glowing reviews but no details are available in terms of positive or negative feedback. The current head of DC Films, Walter Hamada, is the lead producer of this film but due to the shock and awe tactics being implemented by WBD head David Zaslav, Hamada’s tenure is near its end (Earlier this month, WB President Toby Emmerich stepped down to focus on producing).

We have seen how allegations can drastically change one person’s career and life in a matter of seconds. While some of these high profile individuals are guilty of doing heinous things, allowing our judicial system (while very flawed) to do their due diligence seems to be a lost art. Rumors and allegations have taken the place of truth and concrete evidence. If Ezra is guilty of committing these deplorable acts, then they should be prosecuted to full extent of the law. If not, the evidence should and must serve as their shield.

I’m no legal expert but speaking as a concerned fan of Miller’s, I hope that they show themselves and face these allegations head on. I hope that they seek professional help and support while being cooperative in the legal process. Remember, it is innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. In terms of their role as Barry Allen/The Flash, the best course of action is to allow the movie to stay intact as is, with a few reshoots to allow the film to make sense thematically. Unless Miller is absolved of any wrongdoing, I don’t think this film will have a conventional, wide release. Allow the film to be purchased on demand and release it on HBO Max after the 30-45 day theatrical window. It could potentially lessen the inevitable financial loss this movie will experience as the situation unfolds.

I genuinely feel bad for the creatives that have worked incredibly hard on this film, especially Andy Muschietti, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle. This film had been announced back in 2014, when the first season of the CW television series premiered. Constant rewrites, director exits, COVID-19 and other issues have marred this production. I have no immediate plans to see this movie if it releases, yet as an aspiring filmmaker, I can’t help but feel a bit sad about how one actor’s legal troubles are having an adverse effect on their hard work.

The Batman, Part Two (Possible Villains and Story Elements)

Matt Reeves’ The Batman was a critical and financial success and anticipation is high for the follow up in Reeves’ planned trilogy of the Caped Crusader. The villain of the first film, The Riddler, was inspired by the Zodiac Killer, a serial killer who terrorized San Francisco in the late 60s through the early 70s. The Penguin, played brilliantly by Colin Farrell, starts as a second in command to John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone before he becomes a crime kingpin. Selina Kyle/Catwoman, played by Zoe Kravitz is portrayed as the confident, brash and sensual femme fatale that we have been well acquainted with in earlier iterations, but her chemistry with Robert Pattinson is what sells it in this film. The Joker, Batman’s greatest nemesis was also introduced in the film but shown in greater, more grotesque detail in a deleted scene. Played by Barry Keoghan, the Clown Prince of Crime is severely disfigured, with numerous welts and growing sores across his face. The signature Cheshire smile is a result of his disfigurement, akin to The Elephant Man or David Cronenberg’s The Fly.

The Joker is a potential main antagonist for the sequel, but I feel that there has been an over-reliance on the character when other members of The Dark Knight’s rogues gallery exist. With the state of Joker’s visage, I would be hard pressed to believe that Doctor Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn) would fall in love with him. Who (or what) could face Pattinson in the sequel?

Victor Fries/Mister Freeze – Unlikely. It would be hard to explain why a man would need to be in a cryogenic suit in order to survive within the confines of the Gotham City Matt Reeves and his team crafted. I wholeheartedly believe that a jail cell in Arkham Asylum being engineered by Hugo Strange to accommodate Fries would exist.

Doctor Hugo Strange – Likely. The revelation of Martha Wayne’s history of mental illness could case a domino effect in Bruce. The fear that he could be afflicted by a mental illness could weigh heavily on him and he would seek guidance from a reputable psychiatrist. It would be interesting to see how Bruce would interact with Strange, who has an unhealthy fascination of Batman. Could the bad doctor piece together the mystery of Batman’s identity?

Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent – Highly Likely. With the sudden death of the previous DA Gil Colson during The Riddler’s killing spree, Mayor Real will need someone to fill the seat, someone who will take a hard stance on crime. Enter Harvey Dent, a newly married prosecutor and former Internal Affairs officer who has gone toe to toe with the GCPD in battling corruption within the precinct. Dent is a public favorite and has the conviction rate to back it up. Seeing as most, if not all of the characters in the series have some issue or exposure to trauma and mental illness, it would great to see him grapple with his alter ego, ‘Big Bad Harv’ from Batman: The Animated Series.

Thomas Elliot/Hush – Highly Likely. One of the best Batman story arcs is Batman: Hush. It centers around an old friend of Bruce’s who returns to Gotham after Bruce (as Batman) suffers a critical injury that requires brain surgery. Successful, the two of them reconnect until a tragic accident takes Elliot’s life…or so we are led to believe. Thomas Elliot bears hatred towards Thomas Wayne for the death of his father, as his mother was an alcoholic and abusive towards him. In the film, Thomas Wayne asked Falcone to intimidate the journalist in an attempt to silence him for running an article that exposed the tragic history of Martha Wayne’s family (The Arkhams). Falcone is said to have killed the journalist so if Thomas Elliot is introduced, this will still serve as ample reason for Elliot to don the Hush persona and terrorize Bruce.

Andrea Beaumont/Phantasm – Unlikely. With Selina Kyle leaving Gotham for a change of scenery, Bruce will have to be bit more sociable and in the public eye when crosses paths with the beautiful and mysterious Andrea Beaumont. The love that Beaumont and Wayne have for each other was very strong that Bruce was willing to stop his crusade to be with her.

POSSIBLE STORYLINES

The Court of Owls – This could really explore how deep the corruption within Gotham and how engrossed the Wayne and Arkham families are. A seedy, cult like organization that is pulling the strings of those in charge. It would be a massive blow to The Riddler’s confidence when he discovers that he barely scratched the surface.

The Long Halloween – The first film is somewhat inspired by the classic Batman story in regards to Selina’s parentage, but there are other threads that can be addressed and it hinges on the introduction of Harvey Dent and his wife Gilda. The subplot revolving around the Falcone and Maroni crime families as well as a new serial killer that goes by the name of ‘Holiday’ (killer only commits murder on major holidays).

The Mask of The Phantasm – A sequel based on one of the best Batman films of all time could be interesting, if handled correctly. A revenge story that tinged with romance and prospect of a family legacy that exists beyond Batman’s crusade of saving Gotham.

DC Entertainment Overhaul – Content Ideas

Content for HBO Max and WBD (Warner Bros. Discovery)

DCEU

A more concise and coherent vision for the DCEU going forward

#RestoreTheSnyderVerse #ReleaseTheSchumacherCut #ReleaseTheAyerCut #MakeTheBatfleckMovie

Invest more in Henry Cavill as Superman, secure a long term deal that allows him to be more involved in the creative process.

Create an Elseworlds imprint for standalone films or franchises that are not connected to DCEU (The Batman, Joker); Matt Reeves Batman Sequels, Joker 2, Clayface, Harvey Dent/Two Face, Solomon Grundy, Mr. Freeze

Potential HBO Max Series with Potential for films – Lobo, Huntress, Booster Gold, Zatanna, a proper Teen Titans show (reboot the whole thing), Static Shock, Deathstroke, Cyborg, The League of Shadows/Assassins (Ra’s Al Ghul, Talia Al Ghul), New Gods (Darkseid, Trigon, Granny Goodness, Grail), Constantine, Watchmen

60-90 theatrical window before a film hits HBO Max (for legacy IPs like DCEU and Monsterverse, smaller projects can stick to 45 day window)

DC Properties for Live Action Films – Green Arrow, Batman Beyond, Green Lantern (with John Stewart), Ava DuVernay’s New Gods project, Atom (Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi), Nightwing

Revitalize The CW Arrowverse and incorporate it into HBO Max

Regular Content

Entourage Reboot

Ramble On (new series from Entourage creator Doug Ellin)

Dune (Dune: Part 2 shooting in early July, Dune Messiah possible 3rd film in Villeneuve trilogy), television series for subsequent novels on the same scale as Game of Thrones (Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Chapterhouse Dune, Heretics of Dune)

Mad Max Series – Furiosa prequel, sequel to Fury Road, Maybe a Logan style sendoff to character by bringing Mel Gibson back to play the character one last time

Police Academy Reboot

Family Matters Reboot

MonsterVerse

National Lampoon’s Vacation Reboot

The CW should be exclusively for shows that target teens and young adults (Riverdale, Kung Fu, Walker)

Yield (Themes, Music and Film That Inspired The Project)

Hello all!

I apologize once again about my brief absence from this blog, but due to school, work and a little hurricane named Irma, I have my been keeping my attention on those aspects of my life. Today’s post, as you can tell by the title, will contain the various themes, music, art and film that served as inspiration for Yield, my adaptation of the Hong Kong romantic comedy (see post New Ideas & Concepts for a brief description).

The Toolset of Inspiration

1. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (source material)
2. 500 Days of Summer (film and soundtrack)
3. When Harry Met Sally
4. Definitely, Maybe
5. The Temper Trap (Conditions & self-titled albums)
6. Once (film and soundtrack)
7. Elizabethtown
8. Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
9. Treasure – Bruno Mars
10. Sam Cooke (specifically Bring It On Home To Me)
11. Childish Gambino – Kauai
12. Crazy. Stupid. Love.
13. Great Expectations (1998)
14. This Isn’t What I Expected (2016)

Color will play a significant role in this project, specifically in production design and set decoration. The colors will reflect the protagonist’s mood or state of mind in key moments in the story. Key examples are her first encounter with the male leads, the moments in which her relationship with each begins to undergo change and her overall mood with each of them, with others or by herself.

What are the reasons why the protagonist is torn between the two male leads? With the handsome playboy type, she feels an immediate attraction to him due to his ambition and drive that led him to start his business. He has taken risks and they have paid off for him (a majority of the time). His confidence lets our protagonist know that he can handle rejection well but he has a playful persistence. He is obviously smitten with her, which gives him motivation to further pursue her affections. However, it is vital that he pursues her without crossing over into creep territory.

When our protagonist meets the ruggedly handsome artist, she sees his kindness and willingness to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on, even when he was enduring difficult times. After their last fateful encounter, that warmth exists as well as passion and zeal for his craft. This change in him was, of course, brought on by the protagonist. The artist goes to great lengths to demonstrate her positive impact on his life and career. She is unequivocally described as his ‘muse’.

Great Expectations (Character Descriptions)

Hello all, I am back once more with another post related to the three concepts/ideas I posted a while back. Although this one is a bit late, by a week or so. As you can tell by the title, it is for my adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations. Here is a rundown of all of the major players in this story. It is a long post, so if you’re interested, enjoy some music while reading what my frazzled mind has come up with.

Phillip Isaiah Parsons – Our protagonist, Phillip, or ‘Pip’ as he is often called, is a curious and bright young man who often daydreams of a better life while living with his older sister Katherine and her boyfriend Joe. We will see Pip grow from the naive and innocent nine year old boy to the 18 year old who has begun to remove his rose colored glasses in order the world as it really is and lastly to 28 year old man who has become somewhat hardened by life and his experiences but maintains his optimism. He has a talent for painting, having developed it through self study and Joe’s encouragement.

Estella Thompson – When Estella first set foot into the Thompson estate, she was a precocious and naive little girl that had a smile that could light up a room. Under Ms. Thompson’s influence, she gradually discarded her cheer for gloom and cynicism instead in her teenage and young adult years. She was taught that love doesn’t exist and to never show her true self. She first meets Pip at the estate, already molded into the cold hearted visage her adoptive mother shaped her into, but there may be cracks due to Pip’s warm heart and optimism.

Priscilla Thompson – The infamous and wealthy recluse (father owned a railroad construction company) was once a bubbly and charismatic woman that became the life of the party. However, once her fiancé schemed with associates of his to defraud her of her inherited fortune, she remained in her mansion, often donning the wedding dress she was in some 30 years ago. Lonely, she saw her adoption of Estella as a kindness, but it only served as a way for her to live vicariously through the young woman as she grew up in the estate. She would request Pip to used as a social experiment to test whether she took Estella’s heart and put ice in its place.

Leon Sanders – Leon meets our protagonist when he is a naive 10 year old boy. Leon at that time was serving 25 years for fraud and attempted murder alongside a fellow inmate. Even though he is a career criminal, Sanders is a man of principle and values honoring the terms of the deal. Sanders has lived a hard life and his descent into crime was his way to survive in this cruel and imperfect world. He portrays himself as a stoic man, but deep down he is a man prone to violence.

Katherine ‘Kat’ Gregory – Pip’s older sister and guardian. Katherine is a very straightforward person, not one to mince words. She had to undergo a big chance in her life, raising her younger brother after their parents’ sudden death. Katherine had dreams of leaving her hometown for the big city, but debt made it impossible for her to leave. On her good days, she’s pleasant. On days in which she had a bad day at work or if her husband or brother pisses her off, she is bitter and often takes out her frustrations on others, specifically Pip and her husband Joe.

Joe Gregory – Kat’s husband and Pip’s uncle/surrogate father. A shade-tree mechanic, Joe often is found in his makeshift garage, constantly tinkering with a neighbor’s car or their lone pickup truck, a 1987 Ford F-150 with over 200,000 miles on the speedometer. Joe will never part with it, even though he has invested a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money into it. With Pip, the two of them share a close friendship, often working together on the occasional odd job around the house or on vehicles. Joe always wanted children, so he sees Pip as the son he never had. Joe is a very patient and warm individual who would offer you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

Nathan Jaggers – Jaggers is a lawyer for a private law firm in Los Angeles. He appears in front Pip one day when he is has reached the age of 21 years old. Jaggers introduces an unique proposition to him on behalf of a mysterious benefactor: Move to LA to further develop your craft and all your worries will be taken care of. He is a shrewd individual and only shares the ‘necessary details’ regarding Pip’s change in lifestyle and social standing.

Steven Riley – Jagger’s assistant. Steven is a good man working in a cutthroat profession. He was an idealist, looking to right the moral wrongs within society by becoming a defense attorney. Yet, after observing firsthand how those wrongs became commonplace, he became disillusioned and resigned himself to becoming an assistant to a lawyer that has thrived in the ‘cesspool’, so to speak. When he encounters Pip, he sees a bit of his former self in the young man.

Will Jacobsen – A privileged young man and native to Los Angeles, Will has a clear advantage on Pip, instantly starting a rivalry between the two of them. Will is a collector of sorts, mainly due to his family’s influence and clout within the art community. He becomes romantically involved with Estella, a fact he constantly rubs in Pip’s face, knowing about their longstanding history. Will is narcissistic and often treats the women he gets involved with as playthings.

Oliver Wilkes – Pip’s agent once he arrives in LA. Oliver helps our protagonist get acclimated to the city and has done a good job finding work for a relatively unknown artist. Think of him as an Eric Murphy type from the hit television comedy/drama Entourage.

A Love Story In Three Acts (Character Descriptions)

Hello all, here is another post pertaining to the posts I made a couple of weeks ago. As you can tell by the title, these are the character descriptions for A Love Story In Three Acts. 

A Love Story In Three Acts – Character Descriptions

Jason Young – Late 20s – Early 30s. Slim, handsome. Jason is a calm and levelheaded person, but since his fiancé left him standing at the altar, he has become a bit more sensitive when the subject of love and relationships are mentioned. He has found comfort in alcohol, usually spending every weekend hitting up his local bar. Compared to his social drinker behavior before the ‘incident’, he now finds excuses to drink.

Erica Hines – Late 20s – Early 30s. Average, attractive. Erica has transformed from a bubbly and optimistic person who believed that there is love for everyone to a jaded and cynical individual that has resigned herself to being forever alone with cats and knick-knacks to keep her company. The cause of Erica’s new found cynicism is linked to a personal tragedy (fiancé Michael Kemp committed suicide) that left a significant emotional scar.

Nicole Peterson – Late 20s – Early 30s. Slim, attractive. The life of the party, Nicole tends to light up a room when she enters it. The ex-fiancée of Jason, the two of them were being polar opposites, but they were attracted to each other and fell in love. Yet, something changed in their relationship as Jason proposed to her. Was it a fear of commitment? Was Jason not the right one?

Patrick Hines – Early 20s. Slender, handsome. Erica’s younger brother, Patrick is your typical college student in terms of appearance but his demeanor is that of an older man. He and Erica were very close growing up, but after her fiancée’s sudden death, they became distant. Patrick is a considerate person but he can be a bit blunt in how he communicates with other people. Despite this, he just wants his sister to be happy.

Greg & Carolyn Young – Late 50s – Early 60s. Jason’s parents. Greg is the stoic type, not making a big fuss about things, yet always willing offer his help or advice to his only son. Carolyn is more outspoken than her husband and son, but it is always out of love and concern for her child. Greg is an ex-Marine trying to enjoy his retirement but you can always find him tinkering with things around the house. Carolyn is a psychiatrist who is in the process of writing a new book that delves into the effect suicide has on one’s loved ones.

Chris & Janet Hines – Late 50s – Early 60s. Erica’s parents. Chris and Janet are very open-minded people, looking to be friends with their children, rather than just parents. Chris and Janet are high school English teachers (10th and 12th grade, respectively) and adored by their students. In a similar situation with their son Patrick, they had a strong and open relationship with Erica, but since her fiancée’s sudden death, they have been unable to comfortably sit down together and talk about things.

Rebecca Kemp – Late 50s – Early 60s. Michael Kemp’s mother. Rebecca is a single mother that has went through a fair share of hardships but persevered for the sake of herself and her son. When her son announced his engagement to Erica, she was over the moon for the two of them and was hopeful for their future. His death came as a shock to her and shook her to the core. Both she and Erica feel ashamed and guilty, trying to determine if something they said or did may have had some adverse effect on Michael.

A More Perfect Union Notes

This is an original idea that I am developing. It is a crime drama set in the 1970s-1980s. I am sharing the characters, the character descriptions and the music/artists that inspired my thought process when I began to brainstorm this idea. This story will take place in the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area. This is during the time when the crack cocaine epidemic began to rise in the 1980s. I hope these notes provide a little enjoyment or distraction for you until I can return with more frequent posts.

A More Perfect Union Notes
Character Description

Christopher Mills – Late 20s-Early 30s. Clean cut and athletic. Comes from a respectable but modest family. He is a rising young star in the DEA, but his ambitions are driven by one person: his fiance Sandy Borden (a recovering drug addict).

Nolan Edwards – Early-Mid 30s. Clean cut and slender. The only son of hotel tycoons Teddy and Amelia Edwards. He displays his wealth arrogantly (luxury cars, clothes and women). His wealth enhances his vices (he moonlights as a drug dealer, with his drug of choice being crack cocaine). His arrogance and volatile behavior has alienated and corrupted the lives of many.

Joseph Chan (?) – Late 40s-Early 50s. Clean cut, average build. An expatriate from Hong Kong, Chan is a mildly successful businessman looking to fulfill his version of ‘The American Dream’*.

Margaret Chan (?) – Mid-Late 40s. Slender, attractive, softspoken. Wife of Joseph Chan. In effort of supporting her husband’s dream, she leaves her career as a schoolteacher to follow Joseph to America. Margaret misses her life in Hong Kong and is adjusting to American life.

Sandy Borden – Late 20s-Early 30s. Slender, attractive, bubbly. A recovering drug addict with ties to Nolan Edwards. Sandy is making great progress in getting her life back to where it was. As Christopher’s fiance, Sandy feels secure and happy for the first time in years. However, even a seemingly good thing has its flaws.

Jacob Mills – Late 50s-Early 60s. Clean cut, handsome, average build. Retired high school history teacher, Jacob is a highly regarded member of his community, having served as a city alderman and as a member of the board of education (in his son’s school district). He and Christopher share a close bond, talking frequently about subjects related to marriage to the growing drug epidemic in Washington, DC/Maryland.

Edith Mills – Late 50s-Early 60s. Slender, beautiful, softspoken. Retired middle school English teacher. She and Jacob provided a warm, open-minded upbringing for Christopher, which informs the close relationship he shares with his parents. Edith is also an accomplished author, having published a book with a collection of short stories and poems.

Theodore ‘Teddy’ Edwards – Early-Mid 60s. A bit rough around the edges, slender. Teddy strongly emulates President Teddy Roosevelt, the man he is named after. Like the legendary president, Teddy is a bit of an outdoorsman (fishing, hunting, horseback riding). However, he can be a bit abrasive and cold, especially to his only son Nolan (their relationship is tense, to say the least). Teddy is aware that Nolan is not living up to the Edwards’ standard, but can never truly pinpoint the cause.

Amelia Edwards – Early 60s. Slender, proper and beautiful. Amelia is essentially the face and public figure of the hotel empire she and her husband built. Amelia is oblivious to her son’s behavior and naively provides the resources that fuel Nolan’s addictions and unscrupulous behavior.

Benjamin Adler – Late 40s-Early 50s. Clean cut, average build. Christopher’s superior in the DEA. Benjamin is a 15 year veteran of the agency and his calm demeanor showcases that. Unlike Christopher, his motivations for his career involve a family tragedy (eldest son died of a drug overdose). He has a growing concern of the rising drug epidemic in the DC/Maryland area.

*-Chan’s business will not be stereotypical of how Asians are portrayed in film.

A More Perfect Union Notes: Part 2

Music For The Times (The music/artists that inspired A More Perfect Union)

Curtis Mayfield
Marvin Gaye (specifically Troubleman)
Otis Redding
Earth, Wind and Fire
Boston
Led Zeppelin
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Gil Scott Heron
Stevie Wonder
Diana Ross
The Jackson 5
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Kool and The Gang

The Exiled

One of my favorite novels of all time is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It tells the story of humble merchant sailor Edmund Dantes betrayed by his best friend Fernand Mondego, a man born into wealth but obsessed with Dantes’ beautiful fiancé’ Mercedes. Accused of a crime he did not commit, he is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the Chateau d’If, a prison far off the coast of France, reserved for criminals against the state. There, Dantes befriends a priest (Abbé Faria) , who was inprisoned by Bonaparte before his exile. Before the priest’s untimely death, he confides in Dantes the location of an immense treasure hidden near the island Monte Cristo. There over the next 14 years, Dantes uses his new found wealth to plot his revenge against those who betrayed him. This book was one of the first I fully enjoyed growing up. I have come to enjoy the 2002 film adaptation of the novel starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce. Yet, we have not seen a modern adaptation come to light.

This is my adaptation of the timeless story, entitled The Exiled. 

David Solomon does not come from a wealthy family, yet one that has been able to enjoy some luxuries in life. Even so, David has learned the value of hard work and has had the example of his father Brian to follow (his father is a well-respected owner of a couple of new car lots in the Miami-Dade area). The Solomon men carry a trustworthy reputation with them. David is a popular student amongst his peers in college and is the envy of all the boys and ‘good’ friend Gabriel Jones, dating Kristina Pierce, an intelligent and beautiful young lady majoring in pre-med. Kristina is more than a beautiful girl with a good head on her shoulders. She maybe popular, but like her boyfriend, she has a good standing with all the ‘cliques’ in their college. They seem to be the perfect couple, recently named ‘The Most Likely to Get Married’ by their senior class. However, Gabriel Jones lusts after Kristina, secretly flirting with her, hoping to win her heart to no avail. Gabriel is the second born son of Adrian Jones, Sr., the majority owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Adrian Sr. has tried to instill in his sons (Adrian Jones I is an EOD specialist for the United States Army) a sense of humility and self reliance but that was only passed to his eldest son. Gabriel takes advantage of his status, using it to obtain what he desires, except for Kristina.

Angered at the fact he cannot woo Kristina from David, he devises a scheme to remove him from the picture. Gabriel enlists the help of Philippe Dupre’, son of famous French restaurateur Jean Dupre’. Gabriel and Philippe are not the closest of associates (Gabriel sees Philippe as a snobby opportunist; Philippe sees Gabriel as a spoiled, insecure brat). Yet, Gabriel and Philippe share a hatred for David. With this in common, they form an uneasy alliance. To celebrate their upcoming graduation, the four of them (David, Kristina, Gabriel and Philippe) make a trip to Paris, France (an obvious graduation present by Philippe’s father). While David and Kristina are enjoying the Parisian nightlife, Gabriel and Philippe, along with a small group of thugs (or random male bar patrons in black ski masks) they paid off accost David and Kristina as they leave a random venue. The fight ensues, as David is outnumbered as he is savagely beaten. Kristina is in hysterics but is carried away by Gabriel. Philippe, reveling in this, gets up close to David and utters the following phrase in French: ‘You are in this position because you allowed it to happen. This is where you lose everything.’ Believing him to be dead, the thugs take his body and throw him on a passing garbage boat.

Several days pass as the Solomon family hold a private memorial service for David. Those in attendance include Gabriel, his father, Kristina and her grandmother Anna. Gabriel moves in on a grieving Kristina who is in a state of shock over David’s sudden ’death’. David’s father is ever vigilant, still keeping faith that his son is still alive. Gabriel makes these grand gestures (leading a ‘private’ search, holding a memorial service at their alma mater, etc.) to convince Kristina of his sincerity and selflessness. Slowly, Kristina begins to warm up to him.

During this time, we finally learn that David is in fact alive, having stumbled out of the boat. Suffering from post-traumatic amnesia, David longs for home but his pleas go unanswered. He struggles to piece together how he arrived in this situation. Barely speaking serviceable French, he is greeted with fortune by meeting British expatriate Dr. Norman McMillan. Whilst , David successfully piece togethers the events that occurred that fateful night, continuously uttering the phrase that was spoken to him while he laid bloodied and bruised. Dr. McMillan, a former member of the British SAS, teaches David the art of combat, reconnaissance, and stealth over the course of a year. Yet, McMillan requires that David stay longer. The reasons being are as follows: 1.) McMillan sees David as the son he never had and with his declining health, he will need assistance with his private practice; 2.) David will need $10,000 to gain passage on a freight ship, heading back to the United States. Resigned to this, David assists the doctor and doing odd jobs around the city.

Over the course of 10 years, we see Kristina and Gabriel entering their third year of marriage. However, it seems to be a loveless one. Gabriel has gained the approval of his father, therefore allowing him to be more involved in his father’s dealings. With these responsibilities come great rewards, some of which come in the form of beautiful women (some associated with the staff and athletes). Kristina is fully aware of Gabriel’s infidelity, but feigns ignorance, simply out of respect for Gabriel providing for her and her family during tough times. Philippe, now married to Janelle Ramsey, a fashion designer. Philippe has become the assistant district attorney for D.A. Oliver Grant, who is on the verge of retiring. Philippe is the obvious heir apparent, but he will have to face off against another man seeking the post. Philippe does not associate with Gabriel on a regular basis (which pleases both of them), but he knows an opportunity when he sees one. He hopes to garner financial support during his campaign.

Meanwhile in France, David seems to have adjusted to his surroundings, speaking fluent French. However, he has not relinquished his need for revenge. He also faces new problems regarding his friend McMillan. Due to his old age, McMillan has been subjected recently to the aggravation and harassment of Chase Girard, a corrupt and feared police officer. Constantly seeking ‘free samples’ of pharmaceutical drugs to sell for his own personal gain, McMillan is powerless in defending himself despite his military background. David is fed up by the situation and decides to fight back. During one of Girard’s monthly pickups, David corners one of Girard’s goons and roughs him up, warning him to never return. Yet, that warning was obviously unheeded.

While David is away for a night on the town, Girard and his goons return to McMillan’s place and begin to trash the place. McMillan in retaliation, grapples with Girard. At first Girard is amused but becomes annoyed when McMillan begins to demonstrate his fighting skills. However, Girard has the upper hand, stabbing McMillan in the abdomen. Girard leaves the scene, right before David arrives. He finds McMillan, dying and clutching an envelope. McMillan tells him this holds the key to finding his way home. He tells him, “Do not let your anger consume you. Use what I’ve taught you to improve your life, not to destroy the lives of others.” McMillan dies shortly after. The envelope contains a safety deposit number and pass code key, located at Banque de France. Upon his arrival, he is astonished to find a large quantity of money (dollars, francs, euros, etc.). David realizes that this was McMillan’s reason for persuading him to stay in France, as all his assets were bequeathed to him upon his death. Taking his newly gifted resources, he plans for his return to America, seeking revenge for the men responsible for his disappearance. While developing a name for himself under the guise Edmond Quinlan, he learns about his targets’ proclivities and weaknesses, using that knowledge to exploit and destroy them*.

*- The synopsis will see some tweaks in terms of names, characters and locations. Stay tuned for more updates!!