UPDATE : Sixth accolade at the "Outstanding Screenplay" Contest - January 2025!
Pitch
Feature film screenplay for a dramatic comedy (100 pages) set in England:
Annie, once psychologically abused by her employer, the famous playwright and stage director Evelyn Jones, reluctantly agrees to join him in his mansion for his final days, surrounded by his former collaborators. She finds him a changed man and ultimately decides to help him end his life on his own terms.
It's a dramatic comedy. People laugh until they cry.
Accolades
- Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition 2024
- Quarterfinalist, Final Draft Big Break Competition 2024
- Quarterfinalist, The Script Lab - TSL Free Screenplay Contest 2024
- Quarterfinalist, ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship 2024
- Quarterfinalist, Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards Fall 2023
This places me in the top 6% of discoverable projects on Coverfly.
Screenplay Feedback
Screencast Competition feedback:
The dialogue is some of the best I've encountered in a screenplay. It volleys seamlessly from humorous to heartfelt, conjuring some genuine laugh-out-loud guffaws (little Abi on page 82 is an absolute riot) as well as some tears. The story boasts of true depth within its characters; they keep you guessing at every turn, particularly the Butler, whose personality is so entrancing and multifaceted that it is a treat every time he is in any scene. The relationships between the characters, namely the core three, Annie, Evelyn, and Stefan, weave a tender yet jarring web of egoism and forgiveness. There is almost a whodunnit feel to the story, setting itself up to be another Knives Out or Gosford Park, only the mystery has already solved -- this story is instead about accepting the answer. It's an interesting approach to such a simple yet devastating premise. Evelyn works fabulously as a snappish septuagenarian, someone who has mostly accepted his fate but still cannot help but nip at those around him. Old habits truly do die hard, and it is a testament to those around him that they are able to see past the prickly exterior and recognize the real human within. Annie is truly hilarious yet multifaceted, and the side characters are also given wonderful repartee that shoots off of razor-sharp tongues. The various references to stage plays works fantastically with this setting, paving the way for both wonderful displays of humor and also moments of philosophical introspection.
Austin Film Festival Competition feedback:
Overall, THE STAGEMASTER is a dark comedy that manages to be funny throughout while concluding with a poignant commentary on death. The author excels at creating unique, fully formed characters and clever dialogue. The mystery component is a clever plot device, as it sets up audience expectations of a whodunit but humorously subverts those expectations. The author excels at writing funny dialogue that is unique to each character. Maxʼs speech on page 6 that alternates between a conversation and lines delivered on stage is very humorous. Annie repeatedly flubbing her speech about how she has grown into an empowered woman is both funny and conveys a lot about Annieʼs character. Stefanʼs parting lines to Evelyn on page 96 are surprisingly poignant and moving.
First Pages
Cover and first two pages of the script, click to enlarge (English only!):
In 2025, I will stop submitting the screenplay to contests and start reaching out to production companies to bring the film to life. If you know any that might be interested, please contact me: nicolas@boulengerie.com.
