TV PILOT 1st Scene of KODAK MOMENT, by John Cruz Alarid

When a vintage camera is accidentally found at a flea market, long buried secrets about the JFK assassination stand to be reborn. Paranoid camera buff JIM turns to his film developer grandfather GRAMPS and Chinese reporter girlfriend NATALIE race the clock to bring the ultimate truth to light, even as forces of the Illuminati hunt both of them down.

Genre: Drama, Political, Crime, Thriller

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Laura Kyswaty
Jim: James Boutcher
Ester: Julie McCarthy
Natalie: Lindsay Rolland Mills
Pilot: Luke Robinson
Gramps: Brandon Knox

 Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

Kodak Moment is a chilling thriller TV pilot spec script about the ILLUMINATI, a secret Dark Organization that conspires to control world affairs by masterminding events, governments and corporations.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

When a vintage camera is accidentally found at a garage sale and the film developed, long buried secrets about the JFK assassination stand to be reborn, setting off a spiraling turn of events and discoveries that threaten our heroes lives and their countries’ national security. A British journalist and her American conspiracy-minded boyfriend race the clock, the NSA and the ILLUMINATI to bring the ultimate truth to light. JFK meets EMEMY OF THE STATE and THE X-FILES.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Conspiracy theories rule the media. The timing is perfect for a Showtime/HBO style series that exposes the truth of the Illuminati and its intentions regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), the Iraq War, the ’08 recession, Global Warming and the Roswell 1947 UFO crash.

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

My favorite all time movie is Robert Wise’s The Day the Earth Stood Still. favorite movies are sci-fi thrillers as well as romantic comedies.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I have been working on KODAK MOMENT since 1999. I first wrote it as a feature script. It won Best Feature Screenplay in the 2006 Moondance International Film Festival and some other minor accolades. I was challenged to adapt it as TV series. My first draft finished 4th in the Over One Hour category in the recent Larry Brody’s People’s Pilot writing competition.

How many stories have you written?

So far I’ve written five screenplays and one TV Pilot script.

1). PSYCHIC WARRIORS is an Action Thriller written along the lines of the X-MEN and BOURNE IDENTITY franchises that follows the journey of a Marine helicopter pilot and family man who receives psychic powers from an unmanned alien spaceship and is recruited by the CIA. But when he learns of the Agency’s plans, he must escape back home and protect his family.

2.) LUCIFER’S REVENGE is a Horror Thriller that follows the journey of LUCIFER who was cast down unto Hell for his disagreement over the fate of mankind. However, God agreed to give him seven years of unchecked reign over Earth before the Armageddon. In 2021, he returns to possess the President of the United States. His goal: save mankind before the coming of Christ wreaks absolute destruction.

3.) NUMBER ONE RULE! is a showbiz comedy about a radio jock who enters therapy to help him come to terms with certain childhood issues so that he can marry a rich daddy’s girl and live the good life.

4.) The Road To Shambala is a high-spirited romantic comedy with a pulse-pounding rock ‘n’ roll flavor, set against the exotic and picturesque land of China. The story centers on a hapless American musician who, through a twist of fate, is not only given an opportunity to live his dream of performing on stage, but is also given a second chance to find love with the one woman he could never forget.

The Road To Shambala is currently under review at Paramount and Universal. They’ve had it since June. Still waiting for a response. No news is good news.

I’m current working on my 6th feature script, BLUE COATS, an action adventure about U.S. Marshals on the hunt for a fugitive on the Indian Reservation. BLUE COATS is U.S. Marshals meets The X-Files on the Indian Reservation.

What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I survived the Sixties. I’m a classic rocker. AC/DC’s top on my long list of favorite tunes. I love music. Even though some critics frown against indicating what music to use in scripts, I often do it. It helps me write.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

My biggest obstacle I’ve had with Kodak Moment is developing it into a TV series. TV is an entirely different animal with a complete a separate set rules to follow.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Besides writing, I’m passionate about Rock N Roll. I recently bought myself a Roland digital drum set and started taking drum lessons. My fantasy is to sit in on for a set with AC/DC.

You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

My experience entering my script via FilmFreeway was a breeze. The site is very user friendly. I refer submitting PDF files of my scripts. Printing scripts gets costly.

What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

The opportunity of winning a table reading of my script greatly influenced me wanting to enter your festival. A table reading by actors is an excellent tool in determining what works and what doesn’t in ones script. I’ve had two of my scripts table read by actors. I highly recommend it.

The feedback I received from your reader was excellent. I took some of the suggestions was able to tighten down and trim my script by a couple pages. I’m considering re-entering in the next competition.

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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox