TO BE KIND

ROLE: Writer
MEDIA: Feature Screenplay
DURATION: 82 Pages
CLASS: COM 340 & 440
PROFESSOR: Cynthia Savaglio & Gregg Bachmann
SEMESTER / TERM: SP 18 & SP 19
INSTITUTION: University of Tampa 

DESCRIPTION: In screenwriting I & II I started developing an early concept for TO BE KIND, beginning my freshman and sophomore year. Under the intent of learning screenwriting craft, I ended up created a story I grew to hate with characters whom I grew to adore and who became a part of my life. I am currently reworking TO BE KIND into a new and reformed draft. Infatuated by memories of her fractured familial and romantic relationships, Lily struggles trusting herself to form any bond with a captivating female daguerreotypist at the turn of the 20th century Montana. Lily wants to have transcending emotional connections with people, but her memories of her previous failed relationships with friends, family, and lovers are in her way as she has become convinced she is incapable of any such bond. What Lily needs is a healthy relationship, and to come to terms with the fact her past relationships were toxic both ways, and that she, her spiritual sister Madelyn, and her romantic partner May were all wrecks before they crashed into each other. TO BE KIND is about the tensions between memory and history. It is an internal conflict Lily struggles with, romanticizing her past relationships and failing to grasp their true unhealthy nature, and this is mirrored in the setting of the west, a place that has its own mythos and fictional identity that paints it as something beautiful, when in reality it was harsh, desolate, and hollow. While Lily’s past is painful, the story will end on a hopeful note as Lily finds a balance in these two poles: holding onto the beautiful moments, but also remembering the challenging truth to what broke the relationships as she finally finds a healthy one. At least, this is where I am exploring now… The earlier version of the script I created for the classes is below:

Excerpt from the script

As I continue to develop To Be Kind I update my “character bibles” which are in depth documents going over the influence, vision, and sociological & psychological make up to my original characters. All bibles can be found in the brainstorm document linked at the bottom of the page.

Lily’s “collage” shows an influence of people, images, and characters who have inspired her character in some way. Her collage is special because it include a picture of Lily an old friend of mine drew for me as a birthday gift. NONE of the images above are my own: they simply help me to inform Lily’s character.

TO BE KIND – ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

ROLE: Writer
MEDIA: Historiographical Essay
DURATION: 7 pages
CLASS: HIS 450 – Independent Study
PROFESSOR: Charles McGraw Groh
SEMESTER / TERM: SP 20
INSTITUTION: University of Tampa 

DESCRIPTION: I am currently in an independent study with Dr. Groh from the history department where I am conducting period research on the west to inform To Be Kind. Attached is an excerpt from the first essay I wrote and some of my notes from the research process, the whole of which can be found in my To Be Kind brainstorm document referenced at the bottom of the page.

Also included in my full brainstorm document, along with the character bibles and research, is a mood board:

Once more, NONE of these images are my own – they solely inform the direction of my work.