Friday, Jan. 31
10 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
297 Script Readings
Friday, Jan. 31 | 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | MKS 111
Neil Before Me Sisters 4Eva Piss-Off
The (White) House Always Wins
Special Thanks
Asher Allee-Moawad
Russell Boast
Katie Bottinelli
James Dutcher
Mickey Duzdevich
Susan Landau Finch
Montana Golin
Abby Haralson
Noela Hueso
Susan Isaacs
Nate Kim
Dan Leonard
Kareem Marashi
Nathania Oh
Joe Rosenberg
Joe Slowensky
Marita Tyler
Special Thanks
STUDENT STAFF
Ruhan Arora
Mila Asnis
Rosie Buchak
Melanie Cho
Macy Friday
Charlotte Mok
CHAPMAN ALUMNA
Naomi Cho
The Actors
Mila Asnis
Keiley Backstrom
Shenna Bautista
Keira Biala
Alexis Camins
Simone Carol
Nick Enea
Sheen Faulconer
Jordan Hadley
Ansley Lane
Andrea Martzipan
Aaron Mcpherson
David Allen Norton
Casey Peterson
Jonathan Tysor
Dashiell Victoria
The Screenplays
TITLE: Neil Before Me
WRITER: Adam New
LOGLINE: Amidst the space race in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin compete to be the first to land on the moon.
CHARACTERS:
NEIL ARMSTRONG (30s): Not the brightest star in the solar system, extremely immature and gullible.
BUZZ ALDRIN (30s): Selfish and arrogant, asks himself what his country can do for him, not what he can do for his country. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to claim the glory of being the first man on the moon.
MICHEAL COLLINS (30s): Pilot of the mission, sarcastic, and annoyed by his fellow astronauts.
THE DIRECTOR (50s): Hanging on by a thread, feeling the pressure of the responsibility of directing the moon landing.
RUSSIAN WOMAN (40s): Angry assassin with a Russian accent.
The Screenplays
TITLE: Sisters 4Eva
WRITER: Delaney Musgrave
LOGLINE: A spirited middle school girl is on a mission to complete a glittery bucket list, hoping to make this last summer with her sister the best one yet before college pulls them apart.
CHARACTERS:
AMBER MCALLISTER (13): A bright, dorky tween determined to preserve her bond with her older sister through a glitter-covered summer bucket list. She probably still believes in magic and the tooth fairy.
MINDY MCALLISTER (18): A barely high school graduate with a "cool girl" aura and faux confidence. She struggles to balance her sister’s demands and dealing with her own insecurities.
LISA MCALLISTER (40s-50s): A loving, practical mom who provides guidance as her daughters navigate their strained relationship.
TITLE: Piss-Off
The Screenplays
WRITER: Aly Pickett
LOGLINE: After a long night of drinking, Benji goes to relieve himself but, instead, ends up getting into a peeing competition with his old high-school rival.
CHARACTERS:
BENJI GRAY (26): Kind of a pushover who lets people walk all over him but he's not afraid to give them back an earful. He can be a little bit of a grudge holder though he’d NEVER admit it. With a gentle appearance, like a person who you’d ask directions from. More of a short king.
SARAH LOVELY (25): She is gorgeous and also never grew out of her VSCO girl phase (stay hydrated!). With long hair that she loves to toss and perfectly manicured nails at all times. She’s the type that people look at and imagine a life with but, when they get to know her, the dream is a little less vivid.
JUSTIN JAMESON (27): Picture your starting quarterback in high school but five years later. Yeah, that’s Justin. He’s tall with rippling abs that he’s unfortunately hiding, and hair that somehow is always perfectly quaffed. Though his eyes are gentle, you can tell he’s been through his fair share of hardships, just none having to do with his appearance.
THE CLOGGER: He comes to this bar every Saturday and somehow always finds himself in the bathroom. He’s not ashamed and is a very kind man, always warning people when things are about to get bad.
The Screenplays
TITLE: The (White) House Always Wins
WRITER: Lars Kahn
LOGLINE: Viewed as a loser, the Vice President of the United States attempts to win back the U.S. treasury after accidentally betting it away in an underground poker game.
CHARACTERS:
VICE PRESIDENT SHERMAN (35): Energetic, passionate, youngest VP ever who wants to get stuff done! She’s tired of being picked on her whole life and ready to change the game the right way with legislation!
PRESIDENT BOLTZ (60): A businessman with a deep southern drawl, wants to please his donors.
SENATOR TAINT (35): A curmudgeon, the polar opposite of Sherman’s enthusiasm, just there for the money.
HEIDEGGER (40): German Oligarch [exaggerated accent], wants to expand his wealth and political influence in the United States.
CROWD: A speaking part for all the extras, should either be multiple people reading together or Sherman, Boltz, Taint, and Heidegger reading together in a different voice.
The Screenplays
TITLE: Joined at the Wrist
WRITER: Rebecca Rodriguez
LOGLINE: After a wild night, two longtime best friends, Cleo and Mel, wake up hand-cuffed to each other. With their friendship recently strained, working together to free themselves seems unlikely, however, the new forced proximity causes the root of their issues to rise to the surface.
CHARACTERS:
CLEO (21): A college student majoring in bioengineering with big plans for her career after graduation. She puts up a straight-laced front, but when she’s with best friend Mel who she’s known since she was five, she feels free to let loose. Recently though, Cleo has grown tired of feeling like Mel puts everything else in her life before their friendship, causing deep-seated resentment to grow.
MEL (21): A college student majoring in political science. Mel prefers to ask for forgiveness later, rather than permission upfront. This leads to Mel getting herself and her best friend Cleo into hijinks that have bonded them for life. However, Cleo’s recent standoffish behavior has caused a rift between them and has left Mel wondering where their friendship stands.
HUDSON (22): A college student whose whole personality revolves around belonging to a popular fraternity on campus. However, his more empathetic side can be seen through his good intentions with his friends as well as his care for his pet goat, Kobe.
The Screenplays
TITLE: Something Casual
WRITER: Gigi OliverSmith
LOGLINE: College roommates Joanna and Cassidy must prepare the latter for a date with her dream guy. As the evening unravels, they learn not everything can be planned.
CHARACTERS:
CASSIDY (19): A pretty, youthful, excitable college girl who tries to be her best in every scenario. Though determined, she often gets in her own way. She cares about others' opinions even though she knows she shouldn’t.
JOANNA (19): A confident college girl who lacks the life experience to warrant the advice she gives, but it’s charming. She’s the voice of chaos but always means well and is there to support her best friend, Cassidy.
CONNOR (19): An attractive college boy who can be either dreamy and suave or awkward and endearing, depending on whether it’s the fantasy version of him or the real version.
TITLE: Dark Roast
The Screenplays
WRITER: Mattie Marshall
LOGLINE: A struggling comedian performing at a sinister comedy club discovers that her darkest secrets are the punchline, as reality unravels and forces her to face the truth she’s been avoiding.
CHARACTERS:
HARPER QUINN (32): A sharp-witted but emotionally fractured comedian. Harper’s humor masks a deep well of pain and regret stemming from a choice she made as a teenager. Her journey through the script is one of confronting her inner darkness while grappling with unresolved trauma.
YOUNG HARPER (17): The younger version of Harper, seen in a flashback. Vulnerable and overwhelmed, she struggles with the consequences of her decision to give up her child, a choice that has shaped her adult life.
BARTENDER (40s-60s): The enigmatic and vaguely unsettling bartender at The Last Laugh Comedy Club. Offers cryptic advice that forces Harper to consider the fears she buries deep within. Charismatic and slightly menacing.
NURSE (30s-50s): The kind but distant nurse who wheels Young Harper through the hospital. Represents the impersonal nature of the institution and Harper’s feelings of detachment during this pivotal moment.
NATE (40s): The manager at The Last Laugh Comedy Club, whose lack of presence is his defining feature. His graying hair is perpetually unkempt, and his rumpled attire suggests he dresses straight off the floor. There’s a quiet sharpness behind his dull demeanor it’s easy to mistake him for a nobody until he opens his mouth.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS (20s-60s): The crowd at The Last Laugh Comedy Club. Their reactions evolve from typical audience laughter to distorted and haunting as the story takes a darker turn.
WOMAN (30s): One of the audience members at The Last Laugh Comedy Club holding a swaddled baby. Her expression is described as soft and unreadable.
TITLE: Seahorse
The Screenplays
WRITER: Ainsly Griggs
LOGLINE: After a devastating breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Kai Marino experiences alarming and unexplainable weight gain and seeks to uncover the truth with the help of his deranged father.
CHARACTERS:
KAI MARINO (25): Kind, goodhearted, lovesick, passive, expressive emotions on his face. America’s sweetheart who doesn't like speaking up or getting into arguments with people. He is a daddy's boy, even though he barely sees his father. His eyes are wide like his dreams, and his heart is big like his stomach.
DYLAN LARSON (27): A lone wolf type. Money-driven, not very emotional, detached, and a logical thinker rather than irrational thinking, wild curly hair, and always stinks of cigarettes.
KENNY MARINO (65): A nurturing father who loves his little boy more than anything. Obsessive over marine life, and was a marine biologist for years before being forced into early retirement after being detected as mentally unstable.
The Screenplays
TITLE: Where’s My Pants, Dude?
WRITER: Evan Zheng
LOGLINE: Two teenagers wake up in a trashed hotel room with no memory of last night just a phone number scrawled on one of their butts and a jaw-dropping bill waiting to be paid.
CHARACTERS:
JACK (18): Jack is the son of a wealthy Texan businessman known for his confidence and adventurous spirit. Beneath his carefree and rebellious demeanor, he struggles with the pressure of living up to his family's high expectations. Though he enjoys flaunting his status with gadgets like the latest iPhone, his loyalty to friends is unwavering. Jack's sharp wit and penchant for taking risks often land him in trouble, but he approaches life with a charm that’s hard to resist.
NICK (18): Nick comes from a humble background, relying on student loans to fund his education. Sensitive and introspective, he dreams of finding love but is held back by his shyness. A romantic at heart, Nick is captivated by love stories in movies, which fuel his longing for connection. He is responsible and cherishes the second-hand iPhone gifted to him by his mother. His thoughtful nature and quiet humor make him an endearing contrast to Jack's boldness.
HOTEL MANAGER (30+): The hotel manager is a diligent professional in charge of a mid-range establishment. She prides herself on maintaining high service standards while handling difficult guests patiently and tactfully. Ambitious yet grounded, she aims for a promotion and sees every interaction as an opportunity to excel.
WOMAN (40+): Nick's mother is a passionate elementary school teacher who values education above all else. She is proud of her children’s academic achievements and often boasts about their university successes. A devoted and sometimes overbearing parent, she remains deeply involved in her children’s lives, often crossing boundaries out of love and concern.
JACK’S DAD (40+): Jack's father is a quintessential Texan entrepreneur who runs a successful small business and embraces the state's love of football and guns. With a strict parenting style, he is determined to instill discipline and traditional values in his only son While he forbids Jack from indulging in alcohol or tobacco, his larger-than-life personality and fiery temper make him both an intimidating and loving father figure
The Screenplays
TITLE: Playing the Part
WRITER: Keaton Kugler
LOGLINE: When an underachieving extra in a superhero movie accidentally saves the day, the newfound fame will teach him what it really means to be a hero on and off the screen.
CHARACTERS:
JERRY/HERO-MAN (mid-40s): Down-on-his-luck background extra who’s hungry for his big break (the starring role as “Hero-Man”) only he’s too busy imagining it to actually earn it. Gets swept up in the excitement of his accidental fame, despite his lack of real heroism. Deeply flawed but still redeemable. Paul Giamatti, Louis C.K. type.
MILES/BABY BANDIT (mid-30s): Charming, handsome up-and-coming actor who plays the comically villainous “Baby Bandit” in “Hero-Man.” Maybe the only person who truly understands Jerry, and doesn’t need him to be a cultural sensation to be his friend. Paul Walker, Greg Sestero best-friend type.
THE DIRECTOR (mid-40s): Eccentric visionary director behind “Hero-Man.” Convinced he sees potential in Jerry that doesn’t actually exist. Relaxed, but 100% committed to the bit. Completely oblivious to the fact that his movie is awful.
1ST AD (mid-40s): Eternally busy, yet genuinely thrilled to be on set Gets excited whenever they get to shout commands or speak to the director Loves having their job, but hates doing it.
PRODUCER (mid-40s): Chaotic loose canon; has no business being on a real movie set,especially as a producer. Goes from 0 to 100 in seconds. If they were a Muppet they’d probably be Animal.
WOMAN (mid-30s): An actress essentially playing the damsel-in-distress on the “Hero-Man” set. Very over-dramatic, hammy deliveries. Think Kristen Wiig doing a bit on SNL.
CROWD (30s and 40s): Mix of various cast / crew members who represent the public’s thirst for fame and spectacle, quickly idolizing Jerry as he’s thrown into the limelight.
NEWS REPORTER #1 (high 20s): Enthusiastic journalist who’s excited by all the attention Jerry’s getting in his moment of accidental fame Comedic representation of the media’s interest in sensationalism over truth
NEWS REPORTER #2 (high 20s): Curious, passionate journalist who also feeds into the hype of Jerry’s stardom. More excited to ask the question than to actually find out the answer.
Other Available AP Loglines
TITLE: Trash Pact
WRITER: Alex Bories
LOGLINE: After wandering into the woods, a creature hunts a man with a habit of littering until he’s learned his lesson.
Contact: bories@chapman.edu
TITLE: Proof
WRITER: Channing Bower
LOGLINE: A high school senior battling anxiety creates a video essay to get into NYU’s prestigious film school and prove she’s ready for college
Contact: chbower@chapman.edu, (303)507-0195
TITLE: In the Park
WRITER: Rosie Buchak
LOGLINE: When striking up a profound conversation with a young musician, a journalism student enjoys his companionship despite knowing that their paths will soon part ways.
Contact: buchak@chapman.edu, (818)359-2033
TITLE: Kintaro and the (Incredibly Specific) Cravings of a Hoss
WRITER: Jacob Chong
LOGLINE: When a giant, mysterious, and strangely stubborn foreigner arrives at his quiet Tokyo hole-in-the-wall, Kintaro must figure out a dish to satisfy the man’s cravings while avoiding possible doom.
Contact: jacchong@chapman edu
TITLE: The Garden
WRITER: Izzy Cosentino
LOGLINE: When a young boy awakens in a mysterious garden, he conjures into existence a companion in the form of a puppy. Their relationship grows and evolves as the garden changes around them, eventually leading to the destruction of the garden.
Contact: icosentino@chapman.edu
TITLE: Beneath the Begonias
WRITER: Madison Crabill
LOGLINE: When a woman joins an old friend for brunch, she attempts to navigate the tension caused by her affair with her friend’s husband only to realize that the meal has been set up to end a decades-long rivalry.
Contact: madisoncrabill@gmail.com, (919)260-8306
Other Available AP Loglines
TITLE: Getting Wise
WRITER: Aubrey Crasnick
LOGLINE: Discovery of a fraudulent ventriloquist act throws two joint performers into uproar, unrest, and mistrust.
Contact: ascrasnick@gmail.com, crasnick@chapman.edu, (413)324-6204
TITLE: Lucky Night
WRITER: Danny Diamond
LOGLINE: When Paul finds a dead body while preparing for a long-awaited date to show up to his hotel room, he must try to hide it before they arrive.
Contact: ddiamond@chapman.edu, (617)467-7805
TITLE: Hollow Halls
WRITER: Logan Hansen
LOGLINE: When an anxious girl wakes up beside an old crush, the two must work together to escape the labyrinthine hotel floor they find themselves trapped in.
Contact: loghansen@chapman.edu
TITLE: Mom's Call
WRITER: Challen Latham
LOGLINE: A depressed high schooler struggles with apathy and guilt, but will a twist in fate change their viewpoint?
Contact: clatham@chapman edu
TITLE: Clara Has a Headache
WRITER: Bella Lovey
LOGLINE: A young woman’s terrible headache is exacerbated when she discovers that imposters have replaced her family members.
Contact: lovey@chapman.edu
TITLE: Take A Moment
WRITER: Charlotte Mok
LOGLINE: When a girl mysteriously time travels to memories of her past, she encounters her final interactions with her overachiever best friend before her tragic death and tries to find better words to say goodbye.
Contact: chmok@chapman.edu
TITLE: Like Rats
WRITER: Toño Pacheco-Zarate
LOGLINE: Two strangers awaken in a mysterious tunnel with no memory of having arrived there; in searching for an exit, the otherworldly conditions of the tunnel cause them to regress to their worst selves.
Contact: pachecozarate@chapman.edu
Other Available AP Loglines
TITLE: Bare-Knuckles
WRITER: Remy Pierce
LOGLINE: When a young, redneck, bare-knuckle boxer is faced in the ring by his concerned father, he must decide whether to confront his anger and learn from his father’s unfortunate past or to continue making the wrong choices.
Contact: repierce@chapman.edu
TITLE: Sally’s Garden
WRITER: Hunter Tang
LOGLINE: When a 19-year-old dreamer with an autoimmune disease wants nothing more than to build the perfect garden, she must learn to accept help from others and embrace imperfection.
Contact: hutang@chapman.edu, (808)218-1936
TITLE: Your Last Stupid Drop
WRITER: Jianna Venturina
LOGLINE: Two adult siblings try to honor their estranged father after he unexpectedly dies and only leaves behind a single item: a half-empty, plastic water bottle.
Contact: venturina@chapman.edu, (626)622-2765
TITLE: Wrong House
WRITER: Haile Wiseman
LOGLINE: When two burglars are interrupted by the re-entering of the psychopathic owners of the house, they must survive the night and try to escape with their lives
Contact: hawiseman@chapman.edu, (818)426-5738