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Synopsis
American jazz musician, John Garrett is in the final days of his life. An ex-patriot living in Sweden since the 1960s, he has enjoyed a unique position as a beloved musician, both locally and internationally. His many years on the road as a younger man came at a cost to his family. Married twice, he fathered a son and two daughters. Now, as adults, each child struggles with John’s pending death.
The audience is carried along in a series of flashbacks that build and reveal the story’s complex conflicts and psychological unfolding. We also witness the highly contrasting differences between Sweden and America in this multi-cultural family with regard to perceptions of wealth, prestige, talent and self-image. At the same time, we share the individual emotional strain that the family members face – each in their own distinct way – as John rapidly fades, leaving them desperate for closure.
The use of internal dialogs and shifting time frames make it possible to dive deeply into these personalities. A gripping psychological tale emerges to reveal the emotionally hungry child hidden within each adult.
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Overview (Story flow – Treatment)
Act I
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Scene 7 Scene 8
Doctor’s office Lawyer’s office Train/Cafe/Family home Train Home Kina’s apartment Home Home
John Garrett and his John goes into The siblings get Astrid meets a German Åsa and Robert have Astrid arrives in Kina and Astrid drive Åsa suggests they all daughter Åsa visit Stockholm to meet his ready to gather woman on the train to invited Björn and his Stockholm and she to pick up Anders and stay for dinner. the office of John’s lawyer. They discuss around their father. Stockholm and they girlfriend Gabriella goes to her mother, travel to the house During the meal oncologist for an how to organize his John’s younger become fast friends. to the house for a Kina’s, apartment. where they are Robert teases Björn update on John’s will and decide what daughter, Astrid, is They discuss Swedish Friday evening They relax and catch welcomed by Åsa and about his new job prognosis following to do with the house on a train heading culture in relation dinner. When they up, while discussing Robert. They sit with diving for golf balls his diagnosis for that John lives in back to Stockholm. to the rest of the arrive they all go John’s condition and John and Anders plays at a driving range. lung cancer. The with Åsa, her His son, Björn, is in world, and Astrid’s into John’s room to the visit they will a piano piece for his The good-natured doctor discloses that American husband a cafe with his family situation. say hello and share make to him in the old friend. Björn exchange shifts to John has a very short Robert and their two Italian girlfriend Astrid confides her some champagne with morning with the arrives as Kina and discussion about the time left to live. children. John is discussing concerns concerns about her him. Björn has not family’s oldest Anders depart, and family’s future. concerned about his about the family father’s condition. seen his father for friend, Anders now the siblings are Robert and Åsa float Cut between doctor’s differing property. Åsa and many months, so he Jönsson, a prior all under the same their idea to buy the office and flashbacks relationships with Robert are at home asks for some time bandmate in John’s roof for the first house for themselves of John playing a each of his children preparing dinner. alone with his jazz ensemble. time in several after John’s death. club. and how distribute Robert presses Åsa father. They discuss years. Björn and Neither Björn nor his assets in a fair about making plans to their life together Astrid go for a walk Astrid want to Åsa contacts her manner. cut a deal on the and shared concerns and talk about discuss any deals siblings to let them house with her about their father- unresolved family while John is still know that it’s time siblings so that they son relationship. He concerns. alive. Robert becomes for them to gather can stay there after joins the others for aggressive and around their father. John’s death. Åsa dinner and an insulting. As the tells him she doesn’t extensive discussion argument reaches a want to push too ensues over the fever pitch, little hard. John is now cultural differences Lisa enters saying bedridden, and Åsa between Sweden and that John is having leaves the dinner other counties, trouble breathing. table to go into particularly the USA. They all rush into John’s bedroom to the bedroom only to spend time with him. find that John has died while the family was arguing.
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Overview (Story flow – Treatment)
Act II
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6
Åsa’s office/bridge/ Robert’s office Restaurant Street/subway Park Park Kina’a apartment/ Konserthuset/ A series of vignettes Robert is in his Robert reluctantly Out on the street, he Increasingly confused Björn looks through showing each family office feeling joins his workmates tries to hail a taxi and intoxicated, the park and tries to member going about terrible after John’s at a restaurant for but none are Robert wanders into call the police. their business: Åsa death and the the celebrations. He available. He enters Vasaparken and calls Finally he finds returns to work and argument with Björn. calls Björn to try to the subway only to Åsa to come get him. Robert passed out on breaks down when she His boss enters and apologize, but Björn discover that the She’s very worried the bench. When sees a huge bouquet offers his rejects his trains to his part of but says she can’t Robert wakes to see of flowers on her condolences and entreaties and tears town are not running. leave the children in Björn helping him he desk; Astrid walks up reminds Robert that him apart with a He crosses the the middle of the breakdowns completely Västerbron and stands the entire office is total and concise platform and teeters night. Robert passes and begs for at the top to scan going out to description of all by the edge of the out on a park bench forgiveness for his over the city; Kina celebrate the the problems he sees tracks as other as they’re speaking. arrogance and goes through her desk company’s biggest in Robert and his trains pass through Now frantic, Åsa selfishness. Björn and reads some old deal ever, in which egotism with regard the station. His calls Björn and takes Robert back to love letters from Robert was a key to the family. Robert actions appear implores him to go to his apartment. John, as well as a player. is totally devastated suicidal and a young the park and find deed to the house; by Björn’s scathing woman of near-eastern Robert before he’s Anders enters criticism. He drinks descent comes to his robbed or beaten. Stockholm’s too much at the party aid and guides him After much Konserthuset to go to and leaves early to back up to the convincing, Björn his office and stops get home. street. agrees to go look for to study a signed Robert in the park. poster showing himself and John after a concert 20 years earlier.
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Overview (Story flow – Treatment)
Act III
Scene 1 Scene 2
Lawyer’s Office Graveside
The family gathers in John’s friends and the office of John’s family gather for his lawyer to go over the funeral service. terms of the will. Eulogies are read by The siblings are Astrid, Björn, Robert surprised to learn and Anders Jansson. that Kina is the de- The eulogy from facto owner of the Robert is a house, having rescued confession and the family finances apology to the after the death of family. Anders’s John’s first wife, eulogy is comprised Ulla, many years of the whole text of earlier. Still all his reminiscences traumatized by their that have been recent turmoil with occurring as a Voice Robert the siblings Overs throughout the choose to put away film. As the ceremony their emotions and ends the family, now accept the terms of feeling strong and the will without reunited, gathers in additional dispute. a circle in a Robert, in his collective embrace as contrition, says the camera ascends openly that he into the heavens doesn’t feel he above them. All to should interject in the music of the their affairs. gospel song “Down in the River to Pray”.
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Family Tree Associated Characters
Ulla (Svensson) John Garrett (76) Kina Karlsson (60) Anders Jönsson (72) Sture Falkenmark (67) Nicklas Olénius (59) Gabriella Argo (27) Garrett American
Deceased Dying - cancer ex-sambo John’s friend John’s Attorney John’s Oncologists Bjorn’s girl friend
Robert & Åsa live in the family estate
Björn Garrett Åsa Donovan Robert Donovan Astrid Garrett (41) (44) (50) (26) American
Married 14 years single single 2 children Per Donovan (12) Lisa Donovan (8)
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Cast John Garrett (76). American, internationally renowned jazz bassist. the least sentimental about the need to keep the family home. A bit of Gabriella Argo (27). Björn’s on-again, off-again Italian girlfriend Moved to Stockholm to take part in the European jazz scene during the a lounge-lizard and dilettante, he has been writing a novel for the for the past two years. Sensuous, smart and compassionate, Gabriella political unrest of the 1960s. Married his first wife, Ulla, shortly last 10 years. He is presently floundering in his relationship with believes more in Björn than anyone else but has difficulty in helping after his arrival in Sweden. They were married for 20 years and his smart, strong Italian girlfriend who he met on the Mediterranean him see his own abilities. Her solid family background and clear- produced two children, Åsa and Björn, before Ulla died in a car crash coast during one of his many trips to the Continent. headed lack of personal confusion are characteristics that are as in the mid 1980s. Later John falls in love with a family friend, Kina challenging to Björn as they are helpful. Karlsson and shortly after they have a daughter, Astrid. John and Kina Astrid Garrett (26). On her mother Kina’s side Astrid comes from were together for 11 years but they drifted apart for reasons that are privilege. As such, she has the luxury of being able to take it for Sture Falkenmark (67). John’s lawyer. Sture is a stuffy, old-fashioned unclear to the children. Throughout his career, John was on the A-list granted, to the envy of her older half-sister Åsa. Attractive and Stockholmer with upper-class pretensions. Despite this snobbery he is of bassists and played with all the greats. Conservatory trained, he vital, Astrid is still playing the role of the charismatic bohemian excellent at his vocation and understands John’s difficulties could have done anything in music. Loved and respected for his rebel child. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Art History from navigating the judicial hazards of Sweden’s socially engineered system contributions to Swedish jazz, he eased into retirement, playing the University of California, Berkley and has since settled in San and culture. locally and teaching. John is now on his deathbed with lung cancer and Francisco where she feels all the restraints and requirements of has chosen not to receive any palliative treatment. After years of Swedish life can be held at the greatest distance. Sensitive and Nicklas Olénius (59). John’s doctor, also a friend and admirer of John being on the road and focusing on his music, he is finally struggling empathetic to a fault, she is simultaneously strong and vulnerable, and his artistry. Warm and caring, Nicklas is a successful physician to make amends and affirm his commitment to his family – to the best which is reflected in her occasionally manic swings in temperament. in mid-career. With a genuine bedside manner he is an exception among of his ability. She loves her father more than anything, and as the only child of her the majority of Swedish physicians who tend to see each new patient as father’s second relationship, she has always been a Daddy’s girl. a faceless number. Instead, he always makes an extra effort for every Åsa Garrett-Donovan (44). Fashionable, conservative and attractive, Though she can seem aloof and even tough, she is warm-hearted and individual. Swedish educated, he is well travelled and fully Åsa has a mild, almost shy exterior but possesses enormous inner kind, with an innate sense of fairness. understands the pluses and minuses of the national healthcare plan. strength, ambition and stubbornness. Successful at work, she is nonetheless burdened by the absurd demands of her corporate job as Kina Karlsson (61). Self-sufficient, privileged and compassionate, Per and Lisa Donovan (12 and 8). Robert and Åsa’s children. Per and ‘Process Manager of Process Control’ at a pharmaceutical company. Kina moved in with John to become his common-law wife/sambo after the Lisa are John’s only grandchildren. Both are full of life and fun, Privately, she is typical of a certain type of Stockholm woman, with death of John’s first wife Ulla. Shortly afterwards, Kina gave birth which they love to share with their grandfather who is quick to shower very set desires, standards and demands, as determined by her to her only child, Astrid. As a descendant of genuine Swedish them with the affection he now realizes he denied his first two perceived social standing. In fact, John sees Åsa as a young version aristocracy dating to the Middle Ages, Kina is infused with natural children, Björn and Åsa. of her deceased mother, Ulla. Åsa loves her husband, Robert, and is a confidence, yet has the intellectual integrity to understand that she good parent to their two children. However, her insecurities often is nobody’s superior. She enjoys life-in-the-moment and tolerates no Fricka Kaiser (30 something). A German tourist who meets Astrid on her make her somewhat inflexible and controlling. She loves her father whining. Her laser-like intellect is an equal source of humor and train trip back to Stockholm. deeply and sees herself as the ascendant matriarch in the family’s terror for those upon whom she sets her focus. future. She also believes in holding on to the house and property as a means of preserving the family’s heritage, and the home that she and Ulla Garrett (deceased). John’s first wife and the mother of Åsa and Additional actors her husband have made there for their children. Björn. Ulla and John married within a year of his arrival in Sweden in B & O sales person the 1960s. Their relationship was impacted negatively by his time on Sture's Receptionist Robert Donovan (50). American, employed as a high-level commercial the road as a musician, and all the attendant pressures of that The Boss - Robert’s Swedish boss realtor. Likes being known as a ‘deal-maker’ yet he and his family lifestyle. She would have preferred that he stopped touring and Tobbe - Robert’s Swedish co-worker have lived for years in his father-in-law’s large home. Robert is of settled down like their life-long friend Anders Jönsson. Ulla was a Clive - Robert’s British co-worker Irish-American stock and has worked himself up from his tough, blue- classic product of the Swedish Folkhem: assiduous in her tasks as a Waiters / servers / customers / co-workers in restaurant collar origins in South Boston. To the outside world, Robert is seen wife and mother, and most happy in all things that ensure security, Delivery truck driver (for John’s home-care furnishings and items) as cocky, dapper and witty, but he can be bullying and sarcastic both consensus and non-confrontation. Ulla dies in a car accident shortly Young near-eastern woman (in Subway) privately and at work. Totally pragmatic and business-minded, he after they ended a 20 year marriage. Swedish couple (in park) shares with his wife an unsentimental air of entitlement. Despite his Young Swedish man (in park) character flaws, he is an excellent father and is infatuated with his Anders Jönsson (72). John’s oldest and best friend in Sweden. In his Priest - (Funeral) beautiful wife. younger years, Anders played keyboards with John on numerous jazz gigs Undertaker (Funeral Director) in Sweden and internationally. Unlike John, he opted for a quieter Björn Garrett (41). A sensitive child of the Swedish welfare state, lifestyle and landed a position as orchestral pianist for the Ghost Musicians Björn is a golden boy who was never challenged to rise to his full Stockholm Symphony in his late thirties. Several years prior to Bass potential. He has always cruised with his carefree continental retirement he then became a key administrator for the symphony and Piano lifestyle, confident that someday he will inherit his share of the even helped bring John’s talents to the symphony stage as his Sax or guitar family estate. Now, as an adult, he is an aspiring writer with talents compositions continued to influence the evolution of contemporary that are worthy of development, yet still has not amounted to much. He Swedish symphonic music. A true family man, Anders has done everything is handsome and charming but privately suffers from poor self-esteem right in keeping his marriage together and remaining on good terms and yearns for acknowledgement from his talented and adored father. with his children. He is one person who is trusted by everyone in the Robert and Åsa are quick to peg him as a loser, while Astrid is more Garrett family. empathetic and believes in his abilities. Of all the siblings, he is hodgearts.com [email protected] Stockholm + 46 76 224 0375 Rev 1.3 - 011115 DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line
Relational Timeline Married to Ulla - 1964 - 1984 - 20 yrs. Together with Kina - 1987 - 1998 -11 yrs. Åsa & Robert - Married - 2001 - pres. - 14 yrs.
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015 2020
John Garrett (b. 1938) 26 yrs. 46 yrs. 61 yrs. 77 yrs.
Ulla Svensson (b. 1940) 24 yrs. 48 yrs. 1985 (d) car crash 45 yrs.
Kina Karlsson (b. 1954) 30 yrs. 44 yrs. 61 yrs.
Robert Donovan (b. 1965) 50 yrs.
Åsa Garrett-Donovan (b. 1971) 13 yrs. 27 yrs. 44 yrs.
Björn Garrett (b. 1974) 10 yrs. 24 yrs. 41 yrs.
Astrid Karlsson Garrett (b. 1989) 11 yrs. 26 yrs.
Per Donovan (b. 2003) 12 yrs.
Lisa Donovan (b. 2007) 8 yrs.
Anders Jönsson (b. 1943) 72 yrs.
Sture Falkenmark (b. 1948) 67 yrs.
Dr. Nicklas Olénius (b. 1959) 59 yrs.
Gabriella Argo (b. 1988) 27 yrs.
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Time span of the film
Act I Act II Act III eulogy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2
day 1 day 2 day 1 day 2 day 3 day 1 day 1 day 1 day 1 day 1 3 days pass 1 day passes 1 day passes 1 day passes 4 days pass 1 -2 week(s) pass
Fragments of eulogy Flashbacks
18 days
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Locations
Doctors office
B & O store
Attorneys office (2)
Åsa’s office
Family Home - Various rooms
Kina’s Home
On Train
Jazz Club
Restaurant
Robert’s office
Subway station
Park
Cafe
Björn’s Apartment
Cemetery Skogskyrkogården (Forest Church Cemetery)
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Reflections on the music for “Dead End”
Songs samples…
Today, we expect that a great film will have an outstanding soundtrack. • "Frevo" with Charlie Haden and Egberto Gismonti in Montreal. Clearly, in a film about a jazz musician, the soundtrack has to function on a deep level. Conventional background music would be neither acceptable nor • "Muoayiyoum" Ambient choral a cappella builds to a climax Anders Hillborg, effective. • "Opening" Philip Glass – from Glassworks.
Historically, Bernard Hermann broke new ground during the 1950s in his work • "A Change is Gonna Come" Sam Cooke. with Alfred Hitchcock. Then Stanley Kubrick lifted music into the cinematic forefront. His cooperation with noted avant garde composers created a new • “Green Dolphin Street” Paul Chambers benchmark that still influences us today. • "My Hand is Cramped with Penwork" Traditional ballad with text from 11th century monks, sung by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, with Helen Davies on harp. Album: 'Songs of the Scribe' Now we see a growing trend in the use of short, popular musical works, placed to capture the feeling of a given moment on the screen. Often these tunes work • "Zydeco Cha Cha" as played by Aldous Mouton; "A Cajun Waltz", see youtube Smithsonian Folkways: Dewey Balfa recalls the lyrics to a on the strength of the viewer’s prior association, which enables and enhances Cajun Waltz. Probably traditional. Waltzes by Balfa include, "Family Waltz", "Le Misere De La Balfa", "Drunkard's Sorrow" and "Balfa Waltz". the relationship they share with the character. These musical choices can be effective, but they also risk being cliché or even exclusory for those who • "Alone Together", ballad from LP Always Say Goodbye. miss the cultural point of reference. • “Space Captain” In “Dead End” we are developing a soundtrack that draws on a wide variety of • "Silence", Charlie Haden and Egberto Gismonti In Montreal (Bass & piano). Also Brian Eno, "Prophesy Theme" from the film Dune. musical types. The purpose is to evoke the full spectrum of emotion via an intuitive sense of initial association, not prior recognition. Apart from • "Exquisite Corpse" by Anders Hillborg (string part towards the end of piece.). well-known jazz standards, many of the works are relatively obscure. They include: raucous zydeco; a cappella medieval poetry; vibrant electronica; • "Down to the River to Pray". Traditional gospel choral. blue-grass gospel; stark minimalism; and new symphonic works, among other • "Speak Low" Charlie Haden playing over the old recording by Berthold Brecht. From Album September Songs. styles. To most people in the audience each of these tunes will be entirely new. Yet each is chosen for its ability to reinforce the psychological current in the character and scene of the moment.
We include a short trailer-track for your review. In the script, each piece Attached you find a sample track of songs listed above. Time 00:02:57:00 can be found by searching on “music”.
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Script Schedule (first draft)
2014 2015 nov dec jan deadline
27 3 10 17 24 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26
Story Structure Script Development Review character development 16th locations (approx) Approximately 25 scenes relative time line 90 to 100 pages (one page = on minute) Average 185 word per page
8 weeks Approx. 2200 words per week = 12 pages per week
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Thank you
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