Most stars make it big and forget the small people. Not actor friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. With Project Greenlight, they have effectively gotten media coverage for themselves and for independent screenwriters nationwide. A blessing from these guys for a screenwriter is like a blessing from Oprah to the do-gooder.
Miramax Films & TV, HBO, and LivePlanet joined to create a first of its kind contest in which amateur screenwriters were invited to submit original screenplays via internet from September to November. The payoff is big. The winning writer, who will get the chance to direct, will be handed a $1 million production budget from the folks at Miramax. Damon, Affleck and Chris Moore have donated more than their notoriety to the contest. The three will act as Executive Producers for the final pick. And as if this isn’t enough, Miramax guarantees the winner distribution in theatres. In addition, Miramax will chronicle the movie making process in a 13 part documentary series, scheduled to air on HBO in early 2002.
The top 30 were selected from over 7,000 initial entries. Making Georgia proud were Atlanta’s own Brendan Murphy and Chris J. Grall. The two penmen have made it to the triumphant 30, while Murphy advanced to the very crucial top 10. Krall and Murphy also contributed a three minute video, required of all top 30 contestants, to air on HBO and to testify to their directorial skills. Their screenplays will be read and reviewed by Miramax and LivePlanet producers.
Murphy also received a little congrats in the mail. The prize package mailed to all who made it to the top 10 was valued at more than $8,000 and included: AVID Express DV 1.5 software for digital video editing, DVD delivery, and web streaming; a Dell Precision Workstation 220; and a Sony TRV 20 DV camera. After creating a scene they have chosen with their new equipment, the winning ten were flown to Los Angeles in late February to participate at an event where their scenes will be shown to press and members of the entertainment community. Project Greenlight executive producers and Miramax execs will select the top three finalists who will be personally interviewed by Miramax. The winning screenwriter/director will be announced in early March.
The 24 year old Atlanta finalist can’t believe his luck. No, he can barely believe his talent. Murphy is learning a lesson or two now about talent and about the business. Though his background in film is limited to a few acting classes and a few collegiate film classes, he has always been interested in writing, which he calls the most appealing aspect of the film making process “because it takes no capital to begin.”
Murphy may be looking some capital in the face soon with his winning play, “Speakeasy.” According to Murphy, the story “is about a small time magician in the middle part of his life. Financially, he’s in dire straights. His marriage is failing as well.” The story opens with a traffic accident involving Bruce and a Hungarian-American man named Frank. “At first, the encounter appears to be yet another small misfortune for Bruce whose trademark, of late, seems to be a series of set backs and small misfortunes,” said Murphy. But a friendship develops between the two men, who learn from their interaction. Murphy titled the story “Speakeasy” “both in reference to the scenes that book end the film as well as the idea that these character’s need to learn how to speak easy to one another. When language betrays you in a relationship, you’re forced to find other (and superior) forms of communication. Music plays a crucial role in the telling of this story, as does something I’d call ‘benevolent diversion.’ Magic.”
Murphy heard of the contest through a friend and, at the last minute, submitted his screenplay. He said he has been surprised and a little baffled by every turn that has taken him to the top 250, then the top 30, and finally to the top 10.
Fellow Georgian, Chris Grall can probably concur with Murphy’s feelings. Though Grall was cut before the top 10, he reached the top 30 out of the thousands of entries received. Grall, currently living in Cartersville, has paid his dues, as an actor studying with the Alliance Theatre school and playing bit parts in NY. Trying his hand at another medium, Grall has been happy with not only his success but his experience as a writer. Though the outlet is different, the impulse, he said, is the same – creative expression. Grall found the creativity of ‘behind the camera’ work more expansive and allowing. His script, entitled “Believe you Me” circles the life of three brothers and their evangelical mother in a small, Southern town. He examines how religion can be both bad and good, while trying to avoid absolutes or censure. One of the brothers struggles with suicide, unable to justify it because it is illegal according to religion. His struggle leads him home and therein lies the story. Grall still does acting work with locals like The People Store and Whoa!