Update on The Whiteman Scenario - The Film

It was not my intention to go this long without posting. I did, however, get pretty busy and then forgot the login for this blog - so, I've learned a few lessons here. Let's get up to date.

When I shot I FLUNKED SUNDAY SCHOOL in 2006 one of the key players in the success of that movie was Susan Fowler. Susan is a deeply experienced producer with credits longer than the list of banks that have asked for bailouts. There is not a job on-set she hasn't done or managed or both. I called her in early December to let her know that I was going to move the book to the screen and needed her input. She was driving past my house within an hour and came to get the book. The next morning at her office we talked about scope. By Hollywood standards this is a "small budget" film - but by indie film standards - it is BIG budget - Over $10 Million. She said she would have to think about how we might raise that.

That afternoon on her way home from work her lawyer called her to say, "Get to 'XYZ' restaurant NOW. There are investors asking about motion picture opportunities and they need to meet you." She did. She laid out all the projects she was pitching - all of them under half a million dollars - and they said, "That's nice - but we're serious." "Well," she said, "I did have a $10 Million cold-war thriller come in today." She showed them the book and the key executive took it home.

She called me the NEXT DAY to say - "I don't have a copy of your book." She'd only read the cover. I gave her more, learned about the prior meeting, and we waited a few days. The executive LOVED the book and we had a meeting. After explaining the scope and our options and plans he offered to introduce us to his principal. Note: We did not ASK to meet him - it was OFFERED.

I thought it might take me a month or so to get the screenplay adapted. Mark Haynes, a super-talented writer and friend - put me onto Chris Soth's eBook on scriptwriting structure. I knew I had to cut a LOT of the book but where to start was the challenge. From Chris's ebook I spent one whole Saturday outlining the book to movie dramatic curves on an 8 foot white board. From there I wrote the 8 mini-movie outlines that encompassed the plot. Including reading the eBook - this took about 7 hours. I started writing the next day and finished within 6 days - two of which I was out and didn't write a line. Essentially - four, ten-hour days and it was done. It almost wrote itself. Susan couldn't believe it. No one could believe it. I almost STILL don't believe how quickly it revealed itself to me. And it is a RIDE, let me tell you. A LOT of fun and very suspensful, exciting, and yet - with all the heart and spirit of the book.

Our 1st AD said, "This is about the best organized screenplay I've worked on. How long have you been working on this?" When I told him - a week - and this is the first draft - we almost lost him. He couldn't believe it wasn't a heavily workshopped script and wasn't sure he could "trust" me. Six hundred decisions and discussion points later - he knows how profound sitting with a story for over 30 years is in deepening ones understanding. He believes me now! My coach and mentor, David Neagle, says that when we open ourselves to Spirit - the truth flows. It surely did with these pages. The 30+ years of sweating it didn't hurt.

Christmas and prepping the budget postponed the meeting with the "decision maker" until this week but we DID meet with the financial executive. He is VERY interested in helping us raise this princely sum. Actually, he doesn't guarantee anything (these guys are VERY professional and NEVER say anything they can't back up) but, he DOES feel very confident he can help us meet this amount and our deadlines.

Within the next couple of weeks we will be contracting a Director of Photography, Production Manager, Production Designer, Set Designer, Costume Designer, Location Manager - and - the all important CASTING DIRECTOR.

Our hope is to be in principal photography by Mid-May to Early June :D.

Keep us in your thoughts... and if you want to support the project in ANY way (even as an extra!) let me know. Shoot us an email at info@TheWhitemanScenario.com

Steve McCurdy