Apology (2009)

LOGLINE:
A seemingly average man is subject to psychological intervention by his ex-girlfriend, and must justify his peculiar private relations to avoid being committed.

SYNOPSIS:
Calum seems to be a simple man who minds his own business. One day, his ex girlfriend convinces him to attend a psychological intervention on his behalf. Her doctor accuses him, in front of his friends, of corrupting others online with destructive ideas. Faced with the threat of commitment, Calum is finally forced to explain his obscure beliefs and actions.

BASED ON: Plato's 5th C. BCE dialogue “The Apology of Socrates." Socrates was tried (and ultimately executed) for a number of reasons, which probably included some political motivation. The main accusation against him, however, was that he corrupted others with his “godless” beliefs—a charge he steadfastly denies.

CONCEPT:
I'm adapting a literary dialogue from the classical Greek period, which symbolizes high hopes for rational inquiry, to our fractured postmodern world, in which many have stopped hoping for unifying ideals. I'm re-imagining a vaguely but explicitly moralistic hero, Socrates, within the dilemmas of contemporary ethics.

My visual style will be expressionistic, with German and Scandinavian influences. Expressionism emphasizes the subjectivity in postmodern thought. I have a key visual model in Carl Theodor Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc." I'm shooting in digital color, however, and my visual and emotional patterns will be more varied.

We plan a subdued soundtrack, with just a few Western orchestral instruments-- perhaps a piano trio. The music should set the mood for the "trial" (intervention), amplify a few emotional peaks, and suggest the subtext in subtler places.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE: (For theater shoot only:) Two evenings in the span of 8/17 to 8/20. TBA soon.

CAST:
Calum: Brett Brooks.
Dr. Smith: TBA
Alexandra: Bijani Casalan
Father Wilson: needed
Extras for "The Audience" shouldn't be a problem; but, the more the merrier!
CREW NEEDS:
Could use another grip or two.
Otherwise, things are looking good.
CONTACT:
Greg Cassel: (912) 713-7643 / gcasse20@student.scad.edu
Jennifer Olson: (912) 704-7609 / Ocnsdjenn@gmail.com

I'll send the complete script to anyone who wants to see it. I think it's the best thing I've ever written.
--Greg

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