Watch 1st Scene Reading of MERCY, by George Lewis

Watch MERCY, 1st Scene Reading:

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Kiran Friesen
PRESIDENT/JEROME – Bubba
MAX ROBERTS – Peter Nelson
TREY – Sean Ballantyne
ROSE – Fran Townend

Get to know writer George Lewis:

1. What is your screenplay about?

Mercy is a story that looks into the past and the future through the experiences of a man who wants to end racism and in doing so he becomes instrumental in electing the first African American President of the United States.

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

Mercy is a story, a lesson from our history that brings us closer to the enduring values inherent in our shared humanity. Mercy reminds us that although we have engaged in and witnessed acts of unspeakable inhumanity in the past, we are not beyond redemption. The powerful stories of these characters transcends the past and lifts their lives to a level that redeems them and others from the of racism and gives us hope.

3. How would you describe this story in one sentence?

Mercy is a story about Jerome White colloquially known as the Black Time Traveller who goes back and forth in history where he searches for the Imperial Wizard of KKK with support from friends Rose and Trey who protect him in the present during his forays into the past. Bringing him close to death, history intersects with the rise of a young black Senator and the modern day Wizard who are both headed towards the highest office in the land. The Black Time Traveller will play an incredible role in determining who gets elected.

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

The Fifth Element

5. This is a very tight, emotionally engaging and fun screenplay. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I first started writing Mercy under another title in 2008 and as it went through many iterations of the years. As the story changed, so did the title until I arrived at this story and the title Mercy.

6. How many stories have you written?

I have written a dozen stories and two feature length screenplays.

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

Originally, the story came from experiencing the aftermath of my younger brother’s death from racism and Jim Crow laws that denied him medical care that could have possibly saved his life. The screenplay started out to be about that part of my life but evolved to include much more.

8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

There were many. First, there was a steep learning curve and although I wanted to tell this story, I had resistance to sharing it through a lens that was powerful, but not necessarily entirely from my personal story. I had to surrender myself to the story that wanted to be written, still drawing from my experiences in unexpected ways. Another obstacle was my own self-doubt and insecurity on so many levels (“who am I to be writing this?” to fear that “hostile forces would find a way to defeat my efforts”). Medical problems arose like Congestive Heart Failure, Sarcoidosis an autoimmune disorder, and Depression. My fiancé left me, my dreams seemed to collapse around me and I moved in with one of my children, thinking…I’m done! I give up! There’s no chance! Lord come take me now.

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

I’m passionate about politics, mental health, films, story telling, the arts like Ballet, symphony and travel.

10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I loved the sense of openness and the feedback was simply first rate. I felt like I improved each time I resubmitted my project. The criticism was always right on point and made suggestions I could immediately put to use in making the story stronger.

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

Just don’t give up! And, pray! There will be challenges and obstacles but this is all part of the process since the writing process evolves over an extended period of time, setbacks and advances should be expected. I learned was a combination of patience and “how to handle the highs and lows” that would determine my success.

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Deadline: FIRST SCENE (first 10pgs) SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL Get script performed at the festival. Full feedback

http://www.wildsound.ca/firstscenescreenplaycontest.html