Watch Feature Screenplay Reading of BROWNIE AND FRAN by Arthur S Brown & Rory Leahy

Watch Performance Reading of BROWNIE AND FRAN:

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Jason Martorino
BROWNIE – Scott Beaudin
FRAN – Meghan Allen
TRAVERS/DAVID – Cole Reid
SHAYGETZ/HOWIE/LOU – Peter Nelson
KAPLAN/BERTHA/PAULINE – Julie Burris
ZELLY – Andrei Preda

Get to know writer Arthur S. Brown:

1. What is your screenplay about?

Brooklyn, NY 1948. The cold war is heating up, and mob entrenchment is at its peak. The U.S. is running a victory lap. Returning veterans want their share of the pie, and they’re willing to strike for it. Two young idealists meet, fall in love, and set out to save the world – while not getting corrupted doing it. These lovers are my parents, and most of the story is true.

2. Why should this script be made into a movie?

It reveals a time and place where so many conflicting forces were in play, and it was unclear which would prevail. It’s a tale with great historic scope and modern relevance. Worker’s and civil rights vs the rise of the modern corporation. Organized crime’s entrenchment in trade unionism. Themes still at play in the body politic – and two starry-eyed people skipping gleefully across the mine field.

3. How long have you been writing stories?

Do you believe in past lives?

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Favorite film hands down is Wizard of Oz. It delights on so many levels. It has wisdom (the hero you seek is within), adventure, existential struggle (“home” vs “out there.”), and of course music.

By the way, the spoken moral of the film is of course, “.. there’s no place like home.” I submit that the true moral is “somewhere over the rainbow” – leave home and seek adventure. I say that because we know that a day or so after the film ends, Dorothy is sure is hell not staying in Kansas.

5. What artists would you love to work with?

So many – Actors: Christoph Waltz, Steve Carell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Scarlett Johansson… Directors: Tarentino, Woody Allen, Linklater, Alejandro Inarritu, Joel Coen…

6. How many stories/screenplays have you written?

I’m the author of “Vegetarian Dining in NYC”, and “Everything I need to know, I learned from Cartoons!” I occasionally work as an actor and standup comedian. As a lyricist in the BMI Lehman Engels musical theatre workshop (which gave us “Little shop of horrors”, “Avenue Q”, and many others), I developed and produced a number of exciting projects, a couple of which are approaching completion (can’t be specific at this moment).

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

Jack Kerouac commented in an interview (and I paraphrase), that “no man can write a book about his father.” I took up the challenge. He also said, “Write in recollection and amazement for yourself.” I have. I believe my story is extremely relevant.

Has class warfare ended? Are working people still struggling against CEOs for a fair wage and basic rights? Do idealists still fall in love and try to save the world?

8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for
writing?

I find Final Draft enormously helpful. I like to develop an outline – what’s the story about? I write quickly. And when I’m
ready, I get eyes on it.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Standup comedy, growing tomatoes, as much sex as my wife will allow me, and bike riding.

10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Festival? Did the
initial feedback you received from the festival help your
screenplay?

I’m very grateful for the feedback from WILDsound. It was specific and on point. It helped me immensely.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Get an office job with a monitor facing the wall. Write – and
write quickly. Kill your darlings. Put your ego aside and let the characters tell their stories through you. Write some more. Keep writing.

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